Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and

dearly loved. . .

Louis Heckert, 92 year old Grand Lake Man Improving after

moose attack while walking

to church.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. . .

Colossians 3:5-14Colossians 3:5-14 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to

your earthly nature: sexual immorality, your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. But now you must rid yourselves of all idolatry. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, not lie to each other,

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. them all together in perfect unity.

Living the Christian LifeLiving the Christian Life3:5 ‘3:5 ‘Put to deathPut to death, ,

therefore, therefore, whatever belongs to whatever belongs to your earthly nature: your earthly nature:

Immorality, Immorality, impurity, impurity, lust, lust, evil desires evil desires and greed’and greed’

3:8 ‘3:8 ‘Rid yourselvesRid yourselves of of all all

such things as:such things as:Anger, Anger, rage, rage, malice, malice, slander, slander, filthy language, filthy language, and lying.’ and lying.’

3:12 Therefore, as God's 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy chosen people, holy and dearly loved, and dearly loved,

clothe yourselvesclothe yourselves with with compassion, compassion, kindness, kindness, humility, humility, gentleness gentleness and patience. and patience.

3:13 3:13 Bear withBear with each other each other and forgive whatever and forgive whatever grievances you may grievances you may have against one have against one another. another.

ForgiveForgive as the Lord as the Lord forgave you. forgave you.

3:14 And over all these 3:14 And over all these virtues virtues

put on put on lovelove, which binds , which binds them all together in them all together in perfect unity. perfect unity.

Moral purityMoral puritySexual puritySexual puritySelf controlSelf controlSelf disciplineSelf disciplineMental purityMental purityLovingLovingImpulse controlImpulse controlDelay gratificationDelay gratificationGenerous Generous ContentmentContentmentGratitude Gratitude PatiencePatienceCompassionateCompassionateForgivingForgivingKindKindEncouragingEncouragingClean up languageClean up languageHonesty Honesty Integrity Integrity

Living the Christian LifeLiving the Christian LifeMoral purityMoral puritySexual puritySexual puritySelf controlSelf controlSelf disciplineSelf disciplineMental purityMental purityLovingLovingImpulse controlImpulse controlDelay gratificationDelay gratificationGenerous Generous ContentmentContentmentGratitude Gratitude PatiencePatienceCompassionateCompassionateForgivingForgivingKindKindEncouragingEncouragingClean up languageClean up languageHonesty Honesty Integrity Integrity

How would you like to know a person like How would you like to know a person like this? this?

A person who regards you with utmost respect and will not A person who regards you with utmost respect and will not use you to further their own self interests, sexually or use you to further their own self interests, sexually or financially. This person’s inner thoughts about you and financially. This person’s inner thoughts about you and conversation with others about you will be consistent with conversation with others about you will be consistent with the respect you feel in their presence. You will feel safe, the respect you feel in their presence. You will feel safe, secure, important and better about yourself in their secure, important and better about yourself in their presence. presence.

This person will be patient with you, listen to understand This person will be patient with you, listen to understand what you have to say and your feelings; and will speak what you have to say and your feelings; and will speak honestly with you, both affirmation and correction. Even honestly with you, both affirmation and correction. Even when disagreeing this person will relate to you with when disagreeing this person will relate to you with respect and care.respect and care.

This person will not attempt to conform your behavior to This person will not attempt to conform your behavior to their preferences but will accept you as yourself. They will their preferences but will accept you as yourself. They will help you, not harm you, serve your needs, forgive you help you, not harm you, serve your needs, forgive you when you wrong them but will not hesitate to point out when you wrong them but will not hesitate to point out your faults in a loving manner when its in your best your faults in a loving manner when its in your best interest. interest.

The falloutThe fallout ‘ ‘Put to deathPut to death, ,

therefore, therefore, whatever belongs to whatever belongs to your earthly nature: your earthly nature:

Immorality, Immorality, impurity, impurity, lust, lust, evil desires evil desires and greed’and greed’

‘ ‘Rid yourselvesRid yourselves of of all all

such things as:such things as:Anger, Anger, rage, rage, malice, malice, slander, slander, filthy language, filthy language, and lying.’ and lying.’

1.1. Divorce, prostitution, Divorce, prostitution, pornography, venereal pornography, venereal disease, child disease, child molestation, rape, molestation, rape, abortion, kidnapping, abortion, kidnapping, povertypoverty

2.2. Crime, theft, assault, Crime, theft, assault, burglary, murder, burglary, murder, drugs, addictions, drugs, addictions, cheating, insider cheating, insider trading, white collar trading, white collar crime, income tax crime, income tax cheating, false cheating, false advertising, starvationadvertising, starvation

3.3. Relational tension, Relational tension, conflict, fights, conflict, fights, arguments, murder, arguments, murder, divisiveness, law suits, divisiveness, law suits, divorce, employee divorce, employee problems, road rage, problems, road rage, vengeance, paranoiavengeance, paranoia

4.4. Damaged reputations, Damaged reputations, fractured fractured relationships, relationships, suspicions, social suspicions, social turmoil,turmoil,

1.1. Law enforcement Law enforcement agencies, courts, agencies, courts, medical health medical health agencies, sex agencies, sex education, social education, social services, welfareservices, welfare

2.2. Anti-monopoly Anti-monopoly laws, stock market laws, stock market regulations, income regulations, income tax audits, banking tax audits, banking regulations, FBI, regulations, FBI, litigations, truth in litigations, truth in advertising advertising statutes, OSHA, statutes, OSHA,

3.3. Referees, Referees, mediation, courts, mediation, courts, medication, medication, restraining ordersrestraining orders

4.4. Wordy legal Wordy legal contracts, oaths, contracts, oaths, penalties for penalties for perjury, perjury, investigative investigative reporters, law suits, reporters, law suits,

En

orm

ous

hu

ma

n s

uffe

ring

!

1.

2.

3.

4.

Commandments:Don’t murderDon’t adulteryDon’t stealDon’t lieDon’t covet

NegativeHuman nature:Self-centeredAnger/rageRevenge MurderLust Discontent AdulteryStealingLyingWanting what others haveSelfish

New relationship with God:• loved• secure• worth• significance• empowered by Holy SpiritNew nature:• like Jesus

New attitudes/behavior

Try to be a good person, but: battles old nature:Self-absorbed, centeredTries self improvementEducation, counselingExercises will powerInconsistent Fails, blames, justifiesFrustrated

Moral purityMoral puritySexual puritySexual puritySelf controlSelf controlSelf disciplineSelf disciplineMental purityMental purityLovingLovingImpulse controlImpulse controlDelay Delay

gratificationgratificationGenerous Generous ContentmentContentmentGratitude Gratitude PatiencePatienceCompassionateCompassionateForgivingForgivingKindKindEncouragingEncouragingClean up Clean up

languagelanguageHonesty Honesty Integrity Integrity

Colossians 3:5-14Colossians 3:5-14 Put to death, therefore, Put to death, therefore,

whatever belongs to your whatever belongs to your earthly nature: earthly nature:

sexual immorality, sexual immorality, impurity, impurity, lust, lust, evil desires evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. and greed, which is idolatry. But now you must rid But now you must rid

yourselves of all such things yourselves of all such things as these: as these:

anger, anger, rage, rage, malice, malice, slander, slander, and filthy language from your and filthy language from your

lips. lips. Do not lie to each other, Do not lie to each other,

Therefore, as God's chosen Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with clothe yourselves with

compassion, compassion, kindness, kindness, humility, humility, gentleness gentleness and patience. and patience. Bear with each other Bear with each other and forgive whatever and forgive whatever

grievances you may have grievances you may have against one another. Forgive against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. together in perfect unity.

Requires New Nature!Requires New Nature!

I focus

God is and does

Jesus is and does

I have done and am

I can do

I focus

God is and does

Jesus is and does

I have done and am

I can do

Common conceptions Biblical reality

Almighty, Holy, Creator, personal, loving,

Son of God, lived on earth, died on cross for our sins, rose from the grave,

Misconceptions

Misconceptions

Put my faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and SaviorBorn again, Christ in me, I died, got a new nature, empowered

Whatever. Stuck with old nature

Try . . . .Try . . . .Frustration!

Set my heart/mind on things aboveSet my mind on earthly things

Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 1-2

Colossians 1-2

Colossians 1-2

Colossians 3-4

Love, joy, peace, courage

Put to death old nature stuff:Get rid of old nature stuff:

A New NatureA New Nature

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your off your old natureold nature with its practices and have with its practices and have put on the put on the new naturenew nature, which is being , which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9Creator. Colossians 3:9

Christ in you, the hope of glory! Colossians Christ in you, the hope of glory! Colossians 1:271:27

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creationcreation; the old has gone, the new has come! ; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Did you get started right?Did you get started right?

2:6 So then, 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lordjust as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, , continue to live in him . . .continue to live in him . . .

2:9-12 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in 2:9-12 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the in the putting off of the sinful natureputting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision , not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, done by Christ, having been buried with him in having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of Godpower of God, who raised him from the dead., who raised him from the dead.

2:20 Since 2:20 Since you died with Christyou died with Christ . . . . . . 3:1 Since, then, 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christyou have been raised with Christ . . . . . . 1:27 1:27 Christ in you, the hope of gloryChrist in you, the hope of glory! !

““Hey, I’m a Christian and I go Hey, I’m a Christian and I go to church on Sundays. What to church on Sundays. What else is there?” else is there?”

Barna Update, March 20, 27, Barna Update, March 20, 27, 20062006

Virtually all of church going people and “62% of Virtually all of church going people and “62% of unchurched adults consider themselves to be unchurched adults consider themselves to be Christian.”Christian.”

““The worst thing,” Barna commented, “would be for The worst thing,” Barna commented, “would be for millions of people to accept Christ as their savior and millions of people to accept Christ as their savior and then live the remainder of their life as if nothing had then live the remainder of their life as if nothing had changed other than their eternal destiny. changed other than their eternal destiny.

Are you saved enough? Are you saved enough?

Do I have a desire for righteousness? Do I have a desire for righteousness? Am I experiencing a growing empowerment Am I experiencing a growing empowerment

to actually live righteously, getting rid of the to actually live righteously, getting rid of the old and putting on the new? old and putting on the new?

Do I feel compassion for others that Do I feel compassion for others that motivates me to take care of their needs?motivates me to take care of their needs?

Am I routinely talking with others about Jesus Am I routinely talking with others about Jesus who has made such a difference in my life? who has made such a difference in my life?

Keep on getting saved until it works!