Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe.
Now, Paul very quickly gives two reasons why the Christian is to keep looking up. First, Because you are united with Christ. This is an intimate Personal union and communion with Christ. But Paul gives us the second reason why we're to keep looking up. But to keep looking up, Because Jesus is returning.
Welcome to The Verdict, the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor John Monroe. Followers of Jesus Christ are called to live godly lives in an ungodly world.
So, how do we achieve this balance? And how do we stay relevant and engaged without being influenced by an unbelieving culture? This is our focus today as we continue our study in Colossians. To get us started, here's Pastor John Monroe with a message called Keep Looking Up. What do you find yourself thinking about during the day?
when you're drifting off to sleep at night. The Apostle Paul says, Set your mind on the things that are above. Today, in our continuing study of the book of Colossians, we come to the opening verses of Colossians 3. You may have heard the saying, He's so heavenly-minded that he is of no earthly use. And that sounds very clever, but it's thoroughly unbiblical.
The more heavenly-minded we are, the more use we will be on earth. But How can we maintain a godly balance? If you're just focusing on yourself, We will fail in displaying and proclaiming the Lord Jesus to others. The challenge today is to keep looking up. to Jesus Christ.
Our followers of Jesus. to relate to the world. How are we to live in the world without being worldly? How are we to live godly lives in a very ungodly world? I think there are two extremes.
I think you'll agree with me that there are two extremes to be avoided. First of all, there is isolationism. In this view, the world is viewed as bad, as evil, as a wicked place.
So, some Christians, because the world is bad, and because it is definitely wicked, they live isolated lives, kind of cocooned in their Christian homes and churches. Then there is the other extreme, the immersionism. Perhaps this is more common today in the Christian world. Often, in this view, there is such an identity with the unbelieving world. That non-Christians don't see any difference between the believer and the unbeliever.
That is, the Christian In this immersionism, lives in much the same way as their unsaved neighbor or colleague or friend. And our passage this evening, Colossians 3, verses 1 through 4, and I encourage you to turn there with me. Our passage this evening will help us, I think, to have a biblical Balance. I've called The title of this message this evening, Keep. Looking Up.
Let's read about it in Colossians 3, verses 1, 2, 3 and Four. If then... You have been raised with Christ. Seek. The things that are above Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died. And your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, Then you also will appear with him in Glory. Keep.
Looking Up Paul gives practical commands at the beginning of this section as he moves, as it were, from the doctrine to the practice. Christians, verse 1, are to seek help. Heavenly things. If then you've been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. The verb here, seek, is a present imperative, that is, it is a command.
The point is, keep seeking. Tonight, keep seeking. The things that are above. Tomorrow morning, when you get up, keep seeking the things that are above. It is a way.
of life. It is an orientation of the will. It's a continual attitude. Not just for an hour or two on Sunday when you come to worship at church. It's not just then that we focus on Christ, but all of life.
Is to have this orientation that we keep seeking the things that are. above. Is that true of your life, that you are seeking the things which are above? Make sure You are seeking the right things. In life, Paul reminds us here that we are to seek divine things, the things above.
We are to seek Christ and his kingdom. Jesus said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his. Righteousness. We're not only to seek heavenly things, but we're to think about heavenly things. What we think about demonstrates our priorities, our interests and our ambitions.
As a man thinks in his heart So Is he? Will you? Will I consciously choose To have this mindset. This attitude of setting our minds on the things which are above. Christianity Is a totally new way of living, but it's also a totally new way of thinking.
It is a way of looking at life totally different from the unbeliever.
Now that we're following Christ, all of life is to be changed. And I'm to set my mind, I'm to deliberately choose to think on the things which are above. I wonder if we understand that. That's why We're to keep looking up. to the one that we love.
our Saviour. Christians have A heavenly orientation. But we're easily pulled, aren't we, to seek and to set our minds on the natural and the physical. And these things, of course, spiritually weaken us and there are days Perhaps weeks, perhaps months. when we seem to spend much more time looking down Rather than looking up.
This past week, how much time did you spend looking up? How much time did you spend seeking the things which are above? How much time did you set your mind on the things which are above? That is a great motivation in the Christian life, isn't it? To keep looking to Christ.
and to Christ alone. Keep fixing our eyes on Jesus. What a transformation it would be at church. What a transformation in your home. What a transformation in the workplace.
If we thought about the things that were pure and commendable and above all thought. of Christ. What are the three things that you think most about? This past week. What have you been thinking about?
What have you been preoccupied about this past week? Money, your job, your health. It worked? Problems? Retirement?
Vacation? I must say I thought about vacation. Been back two weeks and I thought said goodness seems a long time since we had a vacation. She said, it's only two weeks we were at one. Sport It's rather convicting, isn't it, when we analyze our thinking.
What do we spend our time thinking on? What are we feeding our mind on? Listen to Paul. Colossians 3 verse 2 said Your minds. Here's a deliberate choice, brother or sister.
Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. Don't seek, don't think about the things on the earth. The latter part of verse 2. In the immediate context, the things that are on the earth refers to the philosophy, the legalism, the mysticism, and the asceticism, and the false teaching of chapter 2 that we thought about last week. Don't be distracted, brother.
Don't be distracted, sister, by these illusions of spirituality, of sophistication and happiness. And of course, the things that are on the world are also going to be defined in verse 5 and following, that Lord willing, we'll look at next week. These sins are sometimes very appealing, but they lead to bondage, despair, and ultimate death. And I know you want to turn from these sins. Begin by thinking on that which is above.
That's why One of the reasons Why we always want to praise God. and worship at church. Because if you're like me, sometimes you come through the doors of church and your minds are not on God or on Jesus Christ, they're on the distractions of the day. And perhaps you're irritated by something or someone. But as we come here and as we stand and we get our focus on our great God and on our lovely Savior, we are transformed.
As we set our mind on things which are above. And Paul now gives a powerful motivation to seek and to think on spiritual things. Why should we do this? Verse 1: seek the things that are above. Why?
That's where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. The false teachers depreciated Christ, but here is a reminder as to Christ's unique. And privileged position as our mediator, as our intercessor, as our victor. He is the preeminent and the supreme one. His redemptive work is completed, perfectly completed.
He has died for our sins, was buried and raised again, ascended to the right hand of God.
Now he is seated. Think about Christ. Set your mind on him. He is central in our life, the source of our joy and of our delight. At the human level, isn't it true?
That if you love someone, you think about them. It's unimaginable to say that you love someone and never think of them. If you love Christ, surely. A lot of our thinking is going to be on Christ. And the more you think of Christ, the greater your love.
for Christ. Will be. Notice that Paul says here in verse 4 as he talks about Christ, he says, Christ, who is your Life. That's a strong statement, is it? Christ is our Life.
He's not on the periphery of life. He's not a hobby. He's not something we pick up and put down as it suits us. No, he is central. He's at the very center of all of life.
He is central. to my possessions, to my ambition. To my work, to my family, everything is to revolve around Christ. This is the one who's triumphant over sin, over death, and over Satan. He's the author and the sustainer of all life, Paul has been brilliantly presenting.
He is the Lord God. Therefore, seek him, obey him, love him with all of our hearts. He's our very life, he's the way, the truth, and The life. And in that sense, The Christian, as followers of Christ, we have no life of our own. Remember the old hymn, Now I belong?
to Jesus. That's it. We belong to Jesus.
So when you get up tomorrow morning, think of Christ. During the the day when you're tempted to look down, think of Christ. When you're faced with a decision, Ask yourself, what would Christ have me to do? What is the mind of Christ on this situation? Thinking.
Thinking of Christ, keep looking up.
Now, Paul very quickly gives two reasons why the Christian is to keep looking up. First, Keep looking up because you are united with Christ. The Christian is united with Christ. We've seen this over and over again in Colossians. This is an intimate personal union and communion with Christ.
There's one. If then You have been raised with Christ. Verse 3, for you have died, that is, you have died with... Christ. The Christian has died with Christ, has been buried with Christ.
has been raised with Christ. And our baptisms, and we'll have baptisms next Sunday evening, these baptisms powerfully and beautifully illustrate, among other things, our union with Christ. This is our new identity. We are united, eternally united with Christ. Union and communion with the living.
Christ. The Christian then is eternally linked to this all-sufficient Christ that Paul has been presenting in Colossians. His life is our life. His power is our power. Really, you say absolutely.
That's why Paul can say in Philippians 4, verse 13, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. There's God who can do the impossible. We can do the impossible through Christ. His power is our power. The Christian participates in the resurrection life and power of Christ.
The old life has passed away. No longer are we to have the same ambitions, the same values, and interests. We're changed. We have a personal relationship with Christ. He is our identity.
He is our life. The most important thing about us is that we are in Christ. We saw that's how Paul begins his description of us in Colossians 1, verse 2. to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse. And then he says in chapter 1, verse 27, that not only are we in Christ, Christ is in you the hope of glory.
I am in Christ and Christ is in me. union and communion with Christ.
Now, since we're united with Christ, If then For the Greek grammarians, this is a first-class condition. We can translate it since. Since we are united with Christ, Our whole outlook, our whole orientation and thoughts are to be centered on Christ. The very last thing the Colossians should do is to embrace the false teaching floating around Colossi. The last thing we should do as followers of Christ is to embrace a worldly mindset or philosophy.
We are so united with Christ That the Christian's life is hidden with Christ in God. Isn't that beautiful? Expression verse 3, for you have died. And your life is hidden with Christ in God. Our life is hidden in this sense that it is identified with Christ.
Now, the Christian enjoys a life of personal fellowship and communion with Christ, largely hidden. This is union and communion. Our life is also hidden in the sense of it being a secret life. The Christian life is a life of faith. Unbelievers don't understand it.
It's mystifying to them. You're going to go back to church on a Sunday evening? Are you kidding me? Are you telling me you actually enjoy reading your Bible? It's unimaginable.
To the unbeliever. The unbeliever's happiness is based on the things on the earth. When they have a lot of things, when things go well, they are happy. Our joy is sourced In Christ. What excites us is not the material, but the invisible.
It's Christ. It's the eternal. The world is no longer the center of our life, no longer the center of our thinking. Our life is also hidden in the sense of it not only being a secret life. but also a secure life.
Psychologists tell us that insecurity And inferiority are some of the biggest personal problems people have. Anyone here insecure? Remember the Peanuts cartoon? Lucy says to Charlie Brown, you look dreadful.
Well, I feel inferior, he says. Don't worry, lots of people have that feeling, says Lucy. What, that they are inferior? asked Charlie Brown. No, that you're inferior.
Replies Lucy. I like that. Insecurity. What do people think of me? Ooh, not everyone thinks I'm wonderful.
I wonder if so-and-so likes me. How do I look? How do I come across? Does this passion really love me? Will she ever leave me?
What about my retirement? What about my health?
Well, I get into college. What if I fail? The people of God are to be the most secure people on this planet. Not because of our own accomplishments, no, not at all. But to use Paul's beautiful expression here, Our life It's hidden.
with Christ in God. We have a double security. My life is in Christ, and I'm also in God. Jesus says that in John 10: I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father who gave them me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. How wonderful to know that as I go through life, I am in the hand of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, I'm in the Father's hands. And the Father and the Son are one. That is the greatest security system in the whole world, and there is nothing in this world. There is no threat. There is no disease, there is no tribulation, there is no attack from hell itself which can sever us from this eternal bond.
Our life is hidden with Christ in God. What does that mean to you? our security in Christ, why do we worry? Why do we fret? Our life is hidden.
with Christ in God. But Paul gives us the second reason why we're to keep looking up. Verse 4, we're to keep looking up. Not only because I'm united with Christ and my life is hidden with Christ, I'm to keep looking up. Because Jesus is returning.
Look at verse 4. When Christ who is your life appears. then you also will appear with him in glory. The hidden life of the Christian with Christ and God is not hidden forever. The power and glory of Christ are largely unknown, invisible, hidden to this world.
But one future day, Christ is going to be revealed. He's going to appear. And his brilliant glory and holiness will be displayed and visible to everyone at his return. Christ is coming back, and when he does, his brilliant glory, justice, and power will openly be displayed. What is known now only to followers of Jesus will become known to the whole world.
I'm to keep looking up. Because soon The Saviour will come. And soon his glory will appear. Then every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Then every knee will bow to his Lordship.
He will be revealed, and we also will be revealed with him in glory. We shall all be changed. We shall share in his likeness and glory. This is our. indescribable destiny.
We shall not only be with him For all of eternity, we will. but we shall also be like him. For all of eternity. Therefore, keep Looking Mm-hmm. He's the one who saved you.
He's the one who makes you secure. He's the one who's blessed you with every spiritual blessing. He's the one that gives you his power. He's the one that answers your prayer. He's the one that never leaves you nor forsakes you.
And he's the one that's soon coming back. Therefore, keep looking up. What is life for you? Your family, money, sport, work. Often, we devote a great deal of time and energy to pursuing largely insignificant matters.
We're like dogs chasing a car. What's the dog going to do with it when it catches the car? For the growing Christian Christ is our Life. Keep looking up. See everything in the light of eternity.
Seek the things above. Cultivate your life in Christ. May He fill our thoughts, our ambitions, our dreams, our life. We are united with Christ. Therefore, keep looking up.
We live in the world, yes, but we're citizens of heaven. Meantime, we live in what C.S. Lewis has called enemy territory. But Christ is returning. Therefore, always keep looking up.
Most of you know that one of the great heroes of mine is Robert Murray McShane, a Scottish pastor who died when he was 29. He says, For every look itself, Take ten looks at Christ. That's good. I realize life is tough. I'm not minimizing your problems, brother or sister.
But for every look itself, take ten looks at Christ, that's it. Always keep looking up to Christ. and to Christ alone. This is the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us.
From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity. Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org.
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The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ. We invite you to join us for our Sunday services. For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? One of my heroes of the faith is Robert Murray McShane, who said, For every look itself, take ten looks at Christ. That's tremendous advice. Today, Keep looking up to Christ and to Christ alone. Don't allow your attention to be diverted by trivial pursuits and don't allow your circumstances to discourage you.
Look up. Keep looking at Christ and seek first the kingdom of God.
Next time, Paul deals with the reality of living in a sex-saturated world. Don't miss the program. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
