The Foundation of the Christian Life.

Steve Gentry

[0:09] We’re going to have a seat. [0:10] Welcome to Village Church. [0:11] If this is your first time here, my name is Steve, one of the pastors here at Village [0:14] Church. [0:14] And as always, I am thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you. [0:18] If you have a Bible, go ahead and open it to Colossians chapter three.

[0:22] We’re going to be starting in verse one this morning, but we are jumping back into Paul’s [0:28] letter to the Colossian Church we’ve already covered, chapters one as well as chapter two. [0:33] And we’re going to be starting chapter three this morning. [0:36] But to give you just a brief recap, we’ve seen thus far, Paul defend the gospel from [0:42] the false teaching of legalists that would mix earning righteousness through adherence [0:47] to the law, but also to things that were outside of the law, the elemental principles of this

[0:52] world, as he put it. [0:54] He wanted to mix those with the grace of Christ, and Paul expounds on why that is an error, [1:00] but also through that shows the absolute supremacy of Christ over all things in this world. [1:07] But specifically for the purpose of the Colossian Church, he focuses in on the supremacy of [1:12] Christ in salvation, and that adding anything to the purity of the gospel of Jesus does [1:19] not strengthen it.

[1:20] Instead, it reduces it truly to the doctrine of demons, to the condemnation of anyone [1:25] who believes it. [1:27] And so Paul exhorts the Colossian Church to cling to Christ and to Christ alone for salvation, [1:33] to live out the new life through faith in Jesus alone. [1:38] And so as we jump into chapter three, we’re actually going to see a transition here to [1:42] where he goes from talking about just simply what salvation, what justification is, to

[1:49] actually Paul wants to spend the rest of the book dealing with what does the Christian [1:53] life look like. [1:55] And in the first four verses of chapter three, he really lays a foundation for what the [2:00] Christian life is built upon and how the Christian life comes out of this adherence to true faith [2:07] in Jesus Christ in him alone. [2:10] And so if these legalistic notions from chapters one and two, these false teachings are rejected,

[2:18] it brings with it another temptation when you reject them. [2:21] And that is the temptation to believe that no obedience is involved in the life of following [2:27] Jesus Christ, that no changes really take place. [2:31] And this antinomianism or this thought that we are actually to live against the law of [2:36] God comes into your mind. [2:39] And that if you don’t do anything to earn your salvation, then nothing also needs to

[2:44] be done in keeping your salvation. [2:47] Not that you keep your salvation, but that there are evidences in your life that you [2:53] are actually saved. [2:55] The false teaching that Paul deals with here in chapter three is the false teaching that [2:59] through the grace of Christ, you actually have a license to sin. [3:04] In Romans chapter five, the thought was that the more that you sin, the larger grace looks

[3:08] in your life. [3:09] So God would actually have us to sin more because the more that we sin, the greater [3:14] the grace of Jesus Christ looks. [3:16] And of course, Paul begins Romans chapter six, verse one, saying, by no means can that [3:20] be true in the Greek. [3:21] It’s the harshest form of no.

[3:23] May ganoito is the way that it’s said in Greek. [3:26] It actually means that it couldn’t even be in the realm of possibility for that to be [3:31] true. [3:31] And Paul answers the question as to why can’t that be true in Romans six? [3:35] He says, because you who have died with Christ now live under the power of his resurrection. [3:42] Walking in Christ gives the experience of freedom from the condemnation of sin and a

[3:48] brand new vision of walking our redemption out by living our faith in Jesus Christ every [3:57] day. [3:58] Through the resurrection and our faith in that resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are [4:03] raised to life that we didn’t have before. [4:06] We’re raised to live by the power of the Holy Spirit that we didn’t have before. [4:10] And so when you are raised from the dead, you seek life rather than death.

[4:17] And so the changes that will happen in your life come because your view of the world and [4:23] the way that you live in it are going to be forever changed. [4:27] I want to begin by reading verse one. [4:31] The apostle writes, if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are [4:37] above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. [4:42] Number one, this morning, I want you to see in the text that Christians measure by God’s

[4:46] standard. [4:47] Christians measure by God’s standard. [4:51] Salvation begins with God and is gifted from above. [4:56] And so the root, the anchor of what he’s talking about there in verse one is actually the [5:00] authority of God through Christ in your life. [5:04] When he says that Christ is now seated at the right hand of God, what he’s saying is

[5:08] that Christ is seated at a place of authority. [5:12] But if you’ll remember when we were dealing with Colossians chapter two and verse 20 of [5:17] chapter two, he asks an if then question. [5:20] If you are a Christian, then this will be true. [5:24] And he obviously begins chapter three with the same mentality. [5:28] He’s saying if then you have been raised with Christ, and he means that for two purposes.

[5:33] The term for if can actually also be translated as since you have been raised with Christ, [5:38] but that doesn’t change the impact of the statement. [5:41] It is an invitation to consider the implications of your faith in the gospel. [5:47] Regeneration or the born again experience has an impact that necessitates and brings [5:55] necessarily change in your life. [5:58] The outcome of faith will be a life in which you serve God and seek to obey him, albeit

[6:05] imperfectly. [6:06] It will still be the mission in your life to seek obedience to God. [6:10] But then secondly, it is an invitation to consider if you’ve been raised with Christ. [6:17] If he says since you have been raised with Christ, this is going to be true, then it’s [6:20] bringing your attention to ask the question, well, what if it isn’t true? [6:25] And that’s why the translation if exists.

[6:28] What is the impact on being raised to new life in Christ? [6:34] The rest of the verse speaks of the authority of God in Christ over you through faith. [6:38] So if you have been raised with Christ, you live under a new authority. [6:43] You live under the authority of Jesus Christ. [6:47] Seeking the things that are above notes the source of salvation that Jesus provides. [6:54] You did not save yourself.

[6:56] And so it’s only logical that if you didn’t save yourself in salvation, you’re not going [7:01] to live for yourself. [7:03] You are not the ultimate authority in your life. [7:06] He who saved you would be the ultimate authority in your life. [7:11] Friend, you cannot do anything or earn anything to provide for yourself the salvation that [7:18] you need.

[7:19] This serves as a present reminder of everything that Paul taught in the first two chapters. [7:26] He’s basically summing it up right here. [7:28] Since salvation is the work of Christ alone, he is the supreme source of salvation, and [7:34] it is faith in him alone that saves. [7:38] Then you will not live seeking the things of this world. [7:44] You will seek the things from where Christ came.

[7:48] You will seek the things that are above. [7:51] And so Paul turns your attention away from what he previously in Colossians chapter [7:56] two, verse 20 called the elemental spirits of the world. [8:00] Those things that you are tempted to seek salvation in towards the presence of God, [8:06] which transcends this world. [8:09] The book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man that ever existed said, you will only

[8:13] find the purpose of life when you get over the sun, since there is nothing new under [8:18] the sun. [8:19] And so since salvation transcends creation to the very creator, therefore your vision [8:27] for life must go beyond created things and must return to the designer of your life. [8:36] And that is God. [8:37] He is the designer of your life.

[8:39] Think about it this way. [8:41] Jesus descended to this world from the realm of heaven to save you. [8:47] Therefore, since your salvation is not of this world, salvation is of God. [8:52] The purpose for your life is not of this world either. [8:57] The statement in verse one there where Christ is seated at the right hand of God is of course [9:02] another statement of the supremacy of Christ over all of creation.

[9:06] He is supreme in salvation. [9:08] And since he is supreme in salvation, that means he is supreme in authority. [9:13] This is an allusion to Psalm 110, which says he will be seated at the right hand of God. [9:20] It reveals that Jesus fulfills these Old Testament prophecies of an authoritative [9:25] Messiah. [9:27] Since Jesus rose from the dead, putting sin and death to open shame, he now has taken

[9:33] his place as the authority over all things. [9:37] And so in this present era, this authority is submitted to by who? [9:43] By those who trust him. [9:46] If you’ve trusted in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you then are part of his body, [9:51] the Church of Jesus Christ. [9:52] And you are the ones in this world that submit to Christ in all things.

[9:58] All those who trust in Christ will necessarily submit to the authority of Christ. [10:05] And we reveal that trust by practically submitting to that authority in every day activity in [10:14] our lives. [10:16] And so Christians then, because of this, must not view the world the same way other people [10:21] view the world. [10:22] If you are a Christian, you simply cannot view the world the same as someone who is

[10:27] not a follower of Jesus Christ. [10:29] Christians live under a different authority. [10:32] Christians seek the things above. [10:35] And Christ being at the right hand of God is about more than just something that you [10:40] agree with. [10:41] I think many of you think that the authority of Christ in your life is just something

[10:46] that you assent to. [10:48] It’s just something that you kind of intellectually, well, I agree, Christ, he is the ultimate [10:53] authority in my life. [10:54] And then you walk out into your life and you live under your own authority. [10:58] You do whatever comes naturally to you. [11:01] You live in such a way as to say Christ is your authority, but live under the standard

[11:08] of a different authority, a worldly authority, an authority that is only sourced in this [11:14] world. [11:14] And ultimately what we all will be deceived to believe apart from the power of faith [11:19] in the Holy Spirit in our lives is we will submit to autonomous authority, our own authority. [11:27] That’s not the Christian worldview. [11:30] This is about a view of what is presently and what is to come in our lives, as well

[11:37] as what is to come in this world. [11:39] The Christian worldview encompasses everything. [11:42] It answers the question, what am I here for? [11:46] But it also answers the question, what is everything outside of me ultimately about? [11:53] And faith in Jesus Christ changes the answer to both of those questions. [11:58] I am here to submit to the authority of Christ in all things.

[12:02] And all of this exists to bring ultimate glory to God the Son through the way that I deal [12:11] with it. [12:12] Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6 takes this idea further to state that through Christ we are [12:19] seated with him in the heavenly places. [12:21] It is kind of chronology of salvation. [12:23] He says, and raised us up with him, with Christ, and seated us with him in the heavenly places

[12:31] in Christ. [12:32] And you say, how does that work out? [12:34] Well, this is an allegorical statement of the present reality of your life. [12:40] In other words, the standards of this world do not factor in to the life that you live [12:47] anymore. [12:48] It is the view from above that matters.

[12:52] It is the view from the throne of Jesus Christ that matters to you. [12:57] And everything in your life must be brought into submission to that reality because spiritually [13:04] speaking your life transcends this world. [13:08] Your life goes to the throne of Jesus Christ where your authority is from. [13:14] This is the antithesis of unbelief. [13:18] It’s the opposite.

[13:20] Unbelief puts you in a closed and hopeless system by which you can only trust that which [13:28] is of this world. [13:30] So if you don’t believe the gospel, the only thing that you can seek is this world. [13:37] You can’t seek the things that are above apart from Jesus Christ. [13:41] And so when someone that doesn’t believe the gospel disagrees with your worldview, why [13:47] are you so surprised?

[13:49] They can’t fathom what it is to view the world the way a Christian does. [13:53] They can’t understand it. [13:56] You say, why does my unbelieving family not understand how important my faith is to you? [14:00] Because they’re still blinded by sin. [14:02] They can’t seek the things that are above. [14:05] They can only disagree with you, which will lead to them vilifying you, which will ultimately

[14:10] lead to them looking at you and believing at some point that you are in some way their [14:14] enemy. [14:14] Why? [14:14] Because you serve a different king than they serve. [14:19] You serve a different kingdom than they serve. [14:23] They can only fill their lives with this present reality.

[14:29] While you, because of the salvation you have in Christ, because of the lordship of Jesus [14:34] Christ in your life, you can only seek the things that are above. [14:39] To do opposite would be to deny your very faith. [14:43] And if Christ rose from the dead, that would be a foolish thing to do. [14:46] By the way, he did rise from the dead. [14:49] Faith in Christ revolutionizes your worldview to transcend the physical realm, to go to

[14:58] the realm of God. [15:00] Christians do not and cannot view the world the same way non-Christians do. [15:06] And so my question is, why are you trying so hard to view the world the same way non-Christians [15:11] view the world? [15:13] So many of you are exhausting yourselves trying to view the world the same way unbelievers [15:19] view the world.

[15:19] Why would you want the cheap seats when you’ve been invited into the box seats of God? [15:27] Christians are free to measure the world by God’s standard. [15:35] But make no mistake. [15:37] You are not free to measure and appeal to the world by whatever means they decide we [15:45] must. [15:47] I see so many people compromise their faith because they are afraid of people.

[15:53] The only reason anyone compromises their faith is out of fear of man. [15:58] You are afraid someone won’t like you anymore. [16:00] You are afraid someone won’t talk to you anymore. [16:04] I see so many parents in their 40s and their 50s, even into their 60s, compromising their [16:11] faith because their children have chosen unbelief and they won’t call you if you don’t follow [16:18] them down the treacherous road that leads to hell.

[16:21] That’s a fool’s bargain. [16:23] Why would you do that? [16:25] Why would your standard be the standard of those who cannot understand faith in Jesus [16:31] Christ? [16:31] Because we seek the things that are above and through that we measure by a standard [16:37] given by God in Christ and in his word to the church for the good of the world around

[16:46] you. [16:46] It doesn’t help anyone for you to compromise your belief. [16:50] It doesn’t help them at all. [16:52] They can get mad at you. [16:54] They can vilify you. [16:56] They can hate you.

[16:58] But the most unloving thing you could do is in the face of that, compromise your faith [17:06] to appease them. [17:09] We do not kneel to the world. [17:11] We kneel to God for the sake of the world.

[17:18] It’s like bargaining with a two-year-old about dinner. [17:22] When you compromise, you know how foolish that is? [17:25] You know what a terrible standard that sets? [17:29] To build your life around the whims of a child who cannot understand the wisdom of [17:36] adulthood.

[17:38] And some of you are like, well I do that too.

[17:41] Well you’re just going to create hellacious demons all around you, aren’t you?

[17:49] Jesus makes the authority of God not just attainable for you, a reality for you. [17:58] He descended to this world, lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death where he [18:07] took the penalty for sin, for your sin, onto himself and then rose from the dead, winning [18:13] that victory over sin and death, and then sitting at the right hand of the Father in [18:18] full authority over our lives, through our lives. [18:25] An unbelieving world is held accountable and reached for the sake of the Gospel through

[18:31] that posture and that posture alone. [18:34] When you live by God’s design, you not only understand the reality of the world around [18:41] you, you understand what real love and real authority look like. [18:46] Look at John 17 verses 18 through 19, Jesus is praying for Christians and he says to the [18:53] Father, as you sent me into this world, so I sent them into the world and for their [18:59] sake I consecrate myself that they also may be what?

[19:02] Sanctified in truth, not sanctified in error, not sanctified by the lies of the enemy, [19:12] not sanctified by the sins of this world, sanctified by what? [19:15] By truth. [19:15] We learned last week, what is truth? [19:17] Truth is just reality.

[19:20] As Jesus Christ was sent down into this world, we are sent out into the world with a heavenly [19:28] perspective of our design, but as well as our purpose and mission in this world. [19:33] And so the implications of the Gospel on your life are not unrealized and for the future. [19:43] That’s the way some people view faith. [19:45] They pray a prayer, they come to faith in Jesus, and then you’re just waiting for eternity.

[19:50] No. [19:52] That means that the implications of the Gospel in your life are unrealized implications. [19:57] Because God doesn’t want you to live that way. [19:58] God wants you to live under his design. [20:00] God wants you to realize the power of the Gospel in your life. [20:04] You must now seek the things that are above so that Jesus can send you out into this

[20:12] world sanctified by your truthful Christian worldview, proclaiming the salvation of your [20:20] authoritative King, Jesus. [20:22] And that is why number two this morning, only the heavenly minded are any earthly good. [20:27] Only the heavenly minded are any earthly good. [20:32] Look at verse two.

[20:35] Set your minds on things that are above. [20:38] Some of you need to underline that. [20:41] Your minds are so filled with this world. [20:43] Your minds are so filled with just what’s right in front of your face. [20:47] Your minds are so filled with idolatry. [20:49] You cannot even imagine what that would be like.

[20:52] Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [20:57] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [21:06] Friend, I must tell you something that many people don’t tell you about salvation, about [21:10] Christianity when you first come to faith in Christ. [21:12] Faith in Christ necessarily puts you in opposition to the world. [21:17] Necessarily does.

[21:18] There’s no other avenue. [21:20] There’s nothing else Christianity could do except for put you in opposition to the world. [21:25] I have found that the more people focus on living like everyone else around them, the [21:33] less they seek the things that are above. [21:35] And isn’t that just logical?

[21:38] And so why are you so worried about what everyone around you is doing? [21:42] Why are you so worried about measuring up to worldly implications? [21:48] Why are you so worried about the expectations that unbelievers, the people around you will [21:54] put on you? [21:55] But sometimes it’s worse than that. [21:57] Sometimes it’s the earthly expectations of those who claim faith in Christ, yet have

[22:02] none. [22:03] And they will lead you to be consumed by the things of this world. [22:08] And that is leading you down a path of the antithesis of discipleship. [22:16] Friends must be honest, we are often more committed to the principles that define unbelievers [22:21] than we are to the principles that define life in Christ. [22:26] Faith in Jesus will make you countercultural.

[22:30] If you are surrounded by unbelievers and you are a Christian, expect that the most important [22:37] things in your life will make no sense to them and don’t change. [22:43] Faith in Jesus gives you that Christian worldview that I mentioned, but it only comes through [22:49] faith in Jesus. [22:50] Sure, the facts of Christianity can be understood by anyone, that’s by design, the facts. [22:59] But to grasp it, you have to have it.

[23:03] Unbelievers can’t understand the Christian life because they don’t have the power of [23:07] the Holy Spirit. [23:08] This isn’t new. [23:10] St. Augustine wrote this sentence, you must believe so that you can understand. [23:16] St. Anselm later summarized Augustine, he said, I do not seek to understand in order [23:22] that I may believe, but rather I believe in order that I may understand.

[23:27] Why is this true? [23:29] Simply put, because the Christian faith is supernatural.

[23:34] Faith requires the supernatural regeneration from the Holy Spirit. [23:43] God makes you alive in Christ through faith. [23:48] Therefore the only way to obey this imperative that Paul gives, set your minds on the things [23:56] that are above. [23:57] That’s an imperative. [23:59] He doesn’t say if you feel like it.

[24:01] He doesn’t say if you have time. [24:03] He doesn’t say if you want to graduate to discipleship 301. [24:08] No, he just makes a statement, no qualification, this is the Christian mindset, there isn’t [24:12] another one. [24:14] The only way to do that is through faith in Jesus Christ. [24:18] Then you must be prepared for those without faith in Jesus Christ to misunderstand you

[24:23] a lot. [24:24] To be a Christian is more than an intellectual belief or intellectual understanding. [24:30] Galatians 2.20 furthers this idea, the apostle Paul writing again, he says, I have been [24:35] crucified with Christ. [24:36] No, he says I am dead.

[24:40] He’s saying faith means that Christ was on the cross paying the penalty for my sin. [24:45] He’s my substitute, therefore it is as if I am up there with him. [24:50] Since that is true, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. [24:55] And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and [25:00] gave himself for me. [25:02] The life I now live in the flesh, what?

[25:07] I live by faith.

[25:10] Does that look like change?

[25:13] It is. [25:14] That is a revolutionary vision. [25:16] That’s the heavenly mindset. [25:19] I view the world as though I died with Christ. [25:24] And the Roman six comes back and says, as though I live with Christ because it’s all [25:30] of Christ.

[25:32] Christians can only then view the world through Christ. [25:36] That’s it. [25:38] We don’t have another option. [25:40] Some of you are looking for one. [25:43] Some of you wish there was one. [25:45] Some of you think you formed one.

[25:47] You think you figured it out. [25:50] How to be of the world and of heaven at the same time. [25:53] Well, that’s called just being dead in sin. [25:56] You haven’t figured it out. [25:58] In our contemporary era, Christians have been seemingly discipled to be concerned with [26:05] being too Christian.

[26:09] You don’t want to be too Christian, do you? [26:11] That’s where the phrase, don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good, comes [26:16] from. [26:17] Well, friends, that’s not the Christian worldview. [26:21] That’s poor discipleship. [26:23] It is faulty thinking.

[26:25] It is fearful thinking. [26:28] The opposite is true. [26:30] Only the heavenly minded can be any earthly good because God commanded us to be heavenly [26:36] minded. [26:37] Set your mind on things that are above. [26:41] What do you think that means?

[26:44] This past Sunday, this is what some of you were waiting for.

[26:48] During the Super Bowl, there was a commercial. [26:52] And I’ve seen a bunch of these commercials. [26:54] They’re all terrible. [26:55] I know some of you like them, but they’re all bad. [26:57] They’re all faulty. [26:59] If they add campaign, he gets us.

[27:02] Hobby Lobby paid for it. [27:03] Nate Schloman said Hobby Lobby is the bud light of home decor.

[27:10] Some of you, somebody’s going to explain it to you on the way home.

[27:18] But controversy erupted because they made an attempt at evangelism. [27:25] The problem was that it presented a faulty view of the love of Christ that did not in [27:31] any way communicate the gospel according to God’s standard. [27:36] Rather, the attempt was made to make Christians palatable to non-Christians rather than setting [27:44] the mind on that which is above. [27:47] It sought to set the mind on that which is of earth.

[27:52] It failed the cause of Christ because it sought to reconcile things that are necessarily offensive [27:59] to God as that which we can find middle ground and compromise on, seeking that which is [28:07] above will put you at enmity with the world. [28:12] And friends, in opposition to what their entire mission statement was, Jesus teaches righteous [28:21] hatred towards sin.

[28:24] Jesus teaches you to hate sin. [28:27] And so to make a blanket statement, Jesus didn’t teach hate is flawed at best. [28:33] It is a lie from hell at worst. [28:36] But he taught you a righteous form of hatred. [28:38] Why would you hate anything? [28:40] Well, you would hate anything that brings about the wrath of God for all eternity.

[28:44] And that is what sin does. [28:46] There are consequences to unbelief. [28:51] And that consequence is eternal condemnation under the wrath of God. [28:58] Wrath. [28:59] There’s a lot of hatred in that wrath. [29:03] Hatred towards sin.

[29:06] The heavenly mindset is one that would teach repentance, not pithy sayings that don’t apply [29:13] to reality, that defame the name of Christ. [29:17] Christians have a God entranced vision of all things. [29:24] The apostle writes in Colossians there, you have died. [29:28] That happening is what brings about repentance in your life. [29:32] You die to your life of sin.

[29:36] You die to the world of sin. [29:39] And then the text says, your life is hidden with Christ in God. [29:45] What does that mean? [29:46] He’s talking about union with Christ and that union requires the death of sin. [29:52] And that’s what the cross gives. [29:53] It happened on the cross.

[29:55] That union will draw a stark contrast to your vision of the world and your vision of life. [30:03] I mean, the New Testament is filled with statements of how countercultural Christianity is in [30:08] a sinful world. [30:09] First Peter, chapter two, he writes of the Christians that have been dispersed in modern [30:15] day Turkey. [30:16] He says, beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of

[30:20] the flesh, which wage war against your soul. [30:23] Peter explains to them that this is not just because they are not in Jerusalem anymore. [30:30] They are sojourners and exiles in any part of this world because of their faith in Jesus [30:36] Christ. [30:37] Hebrews 11, 13 makes a similar statement about those who died for their faith. [30:42] He said, these all died in their faith, not having received the things promised, but

[30:47] having seen them and greed them from afar and having this is the important part, acknowledge [30:53] that they were what strangers and exiles on the earth. [30:59] He says, those that made the ultimate sacrifice and died because of their faith were simply [31:04] acknowledging how much stranger and exile on the earth. [31:08] That’s why death is not the worst thing that could ever happen to you. [31:12] Hell is.

[31:15] And those people were filled with faith and said, I’d rather die for my faith and wake [31:20] up in heaven. [31:22] Then live condemned to hell for eternity. [31:25] Ephesians 2, 19 puts it in a contrast. [31:28] He says, so then you Christians are no longer strangers and aliens. [31:33] Note the contrast there.

[31:36] Sojourners, exiles, strangers and exiles. [31:38] You are no longer strangers and exiles, but what fellow citizens with the saints and [31:43] members of where the household of God. [31:48] Yeah, you might be a stranger and exile on earth, but you’re a citizen of heaven. [31:52] And that is far better. [31:54] Without Christ, we are strangers and aliens to God in Christ.

[31:59] That is no longer our story. [32:01] In Christ, we are citizens with the saints. [32:05] We are members of the household of God. [32:08] So all of your striving then to be and feel at home in this world. [32:18] Is a denial of what you are in Christ.

[32:23] Friend, if you feel like a world filled with sin, just isn’t your home. [32:30] That’s because your home is hidden with Christ in God. [32:36] Friends, you can never feel at home among unbelief. [32:42] If you’re a follower of Christ, you will never feel at home among unbelievers who [32:46] have their great treasure in their worldly game. [32:49] Their great treasure is a closed worldview where this is all that there is, where their

[32:53] great treasure is sinful ideology. [32:56] See, my home is the kingdom of God, because that is where my life is currently hidden. [33:04] And that is where my mindset must constantly be drawn in this world. [33:11] And so what do you do? [33:13] Number three, live according to the future vision of faith. [33:17] Live according to the future vision of faith.

[33:22] The future factors greatly into the present. [33:25] How do I know that? [33:25] Look at verse four.

[33:28] When Christ, who is your life. [33:32] I love the way Paul makes these statements. [33:35] I Paul is very sarcastic, just like Jesus was. [33:38] And I love it. [33:39] It’s my love language.

[33:42] And so, Paul, he begins with this if then statement. [33:46] And then here he has added all of this up to what you are in Christ. [33:52] He finishes verse three with your union with Christ. [33:55] Your life is hidden with Christ in God. [33:57] And then he begins verse four by making the statement that I think was meant and is meant [34:03] by the Holy Spirit to draw conviction to my stony heart, to say when Christ, who is your

[34:11] life, what he’s saying is true, isn’t it?

[34:17] Think about it. [34:18] Is it true? [34:19] Is he your life? [34:21] When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will appear with him and glory. [34:32] This is the unrealized part. [34:36] This is the future part.

[34:39] This is where the investment of life in Christ finds its ultimate fulfillment at the [34:48] return of Christ. [34:50] But when he makes that statement, Christ, who is your life? [34:53] That is a priority statement. [34:55] That is him begging the question, are my priorities right?

[35:03] That means that the primary motivator and focus of your life is Jesus Christ.

[35:11] He is whom your life is built around. [35:15] This is what drives you to build the life that you have. [35:18] He is who you seek. [35:21] He is who you love your life. [35:24] Then, if this is true, is defined by your faith in Jesus Christ. [35:30] And friend, I will tell you that is in direct opposition to the messages that you are inundated

[35:36] with every day by all forms of media, by all influence in society. [35:43] And my fear for some of you is you are buying the lies of the world. [35:50] And to put it simply, Christ is not your life. [35:56] There are other things that matter more to you. [35:59] And that, of course, begs that question from verse one, if.

[36:05] But then he says, Christ, who is your life appears? [36:09] And so understand, he says, when Christ appears. [36:14] Grammatically speaking, what he’s doing there is he’s not saying if.

[36:19] He’s saying it’s a foregone conclusion. [36:22] It’s as if it has already happened. [36:25] That’s how certain the return of Christ, the triumph of the gospel. [36:31] That’s how certain all of it is true. [36:33] He’s writing about it as if it is present tense because it’s going to happen. [36:38] But that statement offers conclusion to the phrase hidden with Christ from verse three.

[36:45] It will not be forever hidden is his point. [36:50] That word appears can also be translated as revealed. [36:55] This is a future view of the fulfillment of your faith. [36:58] This is about the resurrection of believers to eternity. [37:01] This is about the fulfillment of my citizenship in heaven right now. [37:06] Second Corinthians says I am an ambassador for Christ.

[37:09] I’m a citizen of heaven, but I’m at an outpost for Christ in this world, [37:13] which is not my home, but there will be a day where I’m called home. [37:19] The Christian faith will not return void. [37:26] The authority of Christ over this present age stretches throughout all eternity. [37:32] And the glory of Christ will be revealed. [37:37] You also will appear with him.

[37:44] In glory, finishes verse four.

[37:49] Will not maybe.

[37:52] I love that he doesn’t even say, I hope so. [37:55] He has a well, if our investment pans out in the end. [37:59] This is guarantee. No question. [38:03] It’s happening. How can you endure [38:07] this life filled with hope and faith because it’s hard? [38:12] Life is overwhelmingly difficult.

[38:17] I think that in my state and some of your I know [38:21] are walking through darker days than I am. [38:24] I know that. I’ve walked with some of you. [38:29] Through some days where you didn’t know if you would endure.

[38:34] Is how do you do it? [38:36] Because, you know, my life is hidden with Christ. [38:39] My hope is hidden with Christ. [38:42] My faith is hidden with Christ. [38:44] My worldview is hidden with Christ. [38:46] But one day it will appear.

[38:51] It will be revealed.

[38:54] Everyone will see it.

[38:58] He is Lord of all. [39:01] That’s why Paul and I’m reading [39:02] the extended section of scripture right now, but in Romans chapter eight, [39:05] that’s why it was such confidence. [39:07] Paul could write this starting in verse 34, who is to condemn? [39:12] Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that.

[39:15] Who is raised? [39:16] Who is at the right hand of God? [39:17] Who indeed is interceding for us? [39:20] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [39:23] Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine [39:27] or nakedness or danger or sword or the kitchen sink?

[39:32] As it is written for our sake, this is our temptation to say for our sake, [39:37] we are being killed all day long. [39:38] We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. [39:40] It is a temptation to get hopeless in the face of tribulation. [39:44] And Paul says in verse 37, I love it. [39:46] He doesn’t even qualify. No.

[39:49] And all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [39:55] For I am sure that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things [40:01] present nor things to come, nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else [40:07] in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God [40:13] and Christ Jesus, our Lord. [40:15] Do you want bulletproof faith?

[40:18] That’s what it looks like. [40:21] There is ultimately nothing that can defeat us. [40:26] If you’re a follower of Christ, death itself is powerless to defeat the Christian [40:29] because we have the resurrection power of Christ. [40:33] Kill me. I will get up. [40:36] Why are you then?

[40:41] So trepid. [40:43] Fearful and living out [40:46] every part of your faith in front of the world. [40:50] What are you afraid of? [40:52] Who are you afraid of? [40:54] Who are you trying to please?

[40:56] Who is your authority?

[41:00] Friends, you can only lose if your faith is fake.

[41:07] How will people come to faith in Christ [41:12] if they can’t see the legitimacy of your faith? [41:16] Because the entire Christian life requires belief [41:20] in the triumph and return of Christ. [41:24] One more scripture, [41:26] Revelation 19, 15 through 16 paints a beautiful picture of the return.

[41:32] This is from his Jesus’s mouth comes a sharp sword [41:36] with which to strike down the nations. [41:38] He will rule them with a rod of iron. [41:41] He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God, [41:45] the Almighty on his robe and on his thigh. [41:49] He has written a name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

[41:55] He gets us.

[41:58] I believe that the sword is representative of the authority, [42:03] as well as the triumph of the gospel in this present age. [42:08] But the rod is also representative of his condemning authority [42:15] for all who do not believe. [42:18] Friend, do you know why your faith is going to endure you? [42:22] It is because of the name written on Jesus’s thigh.

[42:28] He is the King of Kings. [42:30] He is the Lord of Lords. [42:33] He alone has the victory. [42:36] He is reigning right now, and he will reign forever. [42:42] Therefore, seek the things that are above.

[42:48] Therefore, set your mind on things that are above, [42:54] because that is where our king reigns. [42:59] Trust him and live for him. [43:03] A few application points. [43:05] First, measure your life by God’s standards.

[43:11] Don’t believe the lies of this world. [43:13] They will tell you to live for many things that will waste your life, [43:16] that will return void and will not echo through eternity. [43:20] Do not measure your life by this world. [43:23] Live, secondly, in opposition to the world standards.

[43:28] You got to figure out. [43:31] What is it that they want me to live for that I can’t? [43:34] What is it that they want me to live for that I not only need to avoid, [43:37] but that I need to be against and I need to live in opposition to it? [43:43] Thirdly, prepare to live misunderstood because of your faith. [43:48] This is petrifying for some of you.

[43:50] You’re afraid people aren’t going to understand. [43:53] Well, I’m just going to tell you straight up, they’re not. [43:56] Live it anyway. [43:58] And you’re doing it for their sake. [44:01] Do not kneel to the world, kneel to Christ. [44:03] And finally, flaunt.

[44:04] Yes, flaunt the triumph of Christ for the sake of others. [44:11] I kneel to no man. [44:13] I kneel to Christ and Christ alone because he alone is king.