23-0625p Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(0:45) Good evening, Church. (0:48) And those that are on the phone, welcome here. (0:57) It is a pleasure once again as it has fallen upon me to, in the rotation, to deliver the message tonight. (1:13) After the lesson this morning, I hope I can do justice to the lesson that I have.

(1:22) But I want to talk about on things above. (1:27) And this is taken from Colossians 3, 1 through 3, which says, (1:36) If then you are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. (1:51) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

(1:58) For as you die and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (2:05) But I want to take some phrases here from these. (2:17) And the first one is, If then you were raised with Christ.

(2:25) Now, how are we raised with Christ? (2:30) It happened when we were buried with Christ in baptism, as it is stated in Romans 6, 3 and 4. (2:52) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (3:04) Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, (3:10) that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, (3:18) even so we also should walk in nearness of life. (3:25) And then in Colossians 2, verse 12, says, (3:35) Buried with Him in baptism in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead. (3:51) So when we were buried in the watery grave of baptism, (3:58) that is, we were baptized into Christ’s death, as we said.

(4:06) We were buried with Him through baptism into death. (4:15) And we’re going to get into that part in just a little while. (4:23) But we were raised out of that watery grave, (4:32) and we are reminded that this was done through faith.

(4:39) If we believe that in what was promised to us by Jesus when He said, (4:50) He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. (4:57) We believe that. (4:59) We believe what Jesus said, and we were baptized through faith.

(5:09) We then were raised with Christ. (5:15) Then He said, Seek those things which are above. (5:23) Seek those things that are above.

(5:28) And the reading that Roger read to us, Matthew 6, verses 19 and 20, (5:44) and I’m going to also read verse 21. (5:50) Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, (5:58) and where thieves break in and steal. (6:01) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, (6:10) and where thieves do not break in and steal.

(6:16) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (6:23) A couple of things here. (6:28) Some will think that storing up or putting money into a bank, (6:40) this isn’t necessarily forbidding that.

(6:45) But if we’re going to let what we put in the bank just sit there, (6:52) and we make no use of it, (6:57) we’re like the man that hid the talents. (7:03) He buried his talents. (7:06) And all he had when the key master came back was that one talent.

(7:21) It’s not necessarily forbidding not having a bank account, (7:27) but it’s just where we let it just sit there, (7:35) and it will grow interest, and it’s just laying there. (7:44) And another thing that I want to comment on, (7:51) I think some have the idea that this is primarily stating (7:57) that when someone wins someone up to become a Christian, (8:12) that that is laying up the treasures. (8:16) Well, that could be part of it.

(8:20) That could be within the scope of laying up treasures. (8:28) But in Matthew 19 verses 21 and 22, (8:38) this is about the rich young ruler that came to Jesus (8:42) asking what he must do in order to inherit eternal life. (8:51) And after Jesus points out to keep the commandments, (8:59) and he said to him, which ones? (9:01) And Jesus said, you shall not murder, (9:04) you shall not commit adultery, (9:06) you shall not steal, (9:08) you shall not bear false witness, (9:11) honor your father and your mother, (9:14) and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

(9:19) The young man said to him, (9:21) all these things I have kept from my youth, (9:26) what do I still lack? (9:30) And Jesus said to him, if you want to be perfect, (9:35) go sell what you have, give to the poor, (9:39) and you will have treasure in heaven, (9:42) and come follow me. (9:45) Now, for this young man, (9:50) he was to take what he had, (9:52) because he had great possessions. (9:56) And the Lord told him then to go and sell all he has, (10:06) and then give to the poor.

(10:10) We can in effect sell some things ourselves, (10:20) but may not be physical things, (10:26) but it’s those things that will keep us from going to heaven. (10:36) And then in Matthew 6 and verse 32 or 33, (10:46) it says, but seek first the kingdom of God (10:50) and his righteousness, (10:52) and all these things shall be added to you. (10:57) So we seek the kingdom, (11:00) that will be one of those things (11:02) that could be considered above.

(11:08) Then Jesus said in John 14, 1-4, (11:16) he was speaking to his disciples, (11:20) he was telling them what was going to take place, (11:24) in chapter 13, (11:28) but he said, beginning in the first verse of John 14, (11:36) Let not your heart be troubled. (11:40) You believe in God, believe also in me. (11:44) In my Father’s house are many mansions.

(11:47) If it were not so, I would have told you. (11:51) I go to prepare a place for you. (11:54) And if I go and prepare a place for you, (11:59) I will come again and receive you to myself.

(12:04) That where I am, there you may be also. (12:10) And where I go you know, and the way you know. (12:17) But the Lord is pointing out that (12:22) in the Father’s house are many mansions or dwelling places.

(12:30) And then he said, I go to prepare a place for you. (12:34) And if I go and prepare a place for you, (12:38) I will come again and receive you to myself. (12:43) That where I am, there you may be also.

(12:47) But where is Christ? (12:48) He is sitting at the right hand of God. (12:52) He’s there in heaven. (12:55) And he is on his throne, ruling.

(13:00) So, then we must set our minds, (13:07) as he says in verse 3, or verse 2, (13:13) set your mind on things above, (13:15) not on things on the earth. (13:20) For you die, and your life is hidden with Christ. (13:28) Back in Romans 6, (13:31) when we were baptized, (13:37) buried in the water and grave, (13:39) we died to sin.

(13:43) We died. (13:48) And when we were raised up, (13:52) we were a different person. (13:56) But let’s listen to what it says in verse 7 and 8. (14:00) For he who died has been freed from sin.

(14:06) But if we die with Christ, (14:08) we believe we shall also live with him. (14:14) That’s what we do, (14:17) what takes place in baptism. (14:21) Very much like when you plant a seed in the ground (14:25) and the outer layer decays and falls away.

(14:31) That dies. (14:34) Well, we die, (14:37) and the old man that we had was crucified with him, (14:46) that the body of sin might be done away with, (14:50) that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (14:54) So, we die to sin.

(14:58) And of course, Paul in the 6th chapter of Romans (15:02) is showing that someone might reason, (15:09) well, if grace abounds much when we sin, (15:15) well, why not just keep on sinning? (15:18) Well, when we were baptized, (15:20) we separated ourselves from sin. (15:25) And therefore, when we come up out of the grave, (15:30) we are free from sin. (15:33) But we ought to keep on keeping our minds (15:40) seeking for things above, (15:45) and not on the things of the earth.

(15:51) And what are those things? (15:53) Well, he says in verse 5, (16:00) Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth, (16:05) fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, (16:11) and covetousness, which is idolatry. (16:16) Now, he mentions these, (16:19) and he says these we are to put to death or put aside (16:26) and not participate in these anymore. (16:32) And he says, because the wrath of God, (16:36) or because of these things, (16:39) in verse 6, (16:41) The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, (16:46) in which you yourselves once walked (16:50) when you lived in them.

(16:53) So they once walked in them. (16:57) And you know, when we die in Christ, (17:02) when this old sinful nature, (17:06) the old man has been crucified, (17:10) then we have a new man. (17:14) These things we ought to look at (17:20) and look upon.

(17:24) But then we are told in Colossians 3 in verse 8, (17:37) But now you yourselves are to put off these (17:41) anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, (17:48) out of your mouth. (17:51) And these things we are to put off. (17:54) We are not to make use of these things.

(18:02) But you know, when we put those things aside, (18:06) this may sound negative to some people. (18:12) Well, we’ve got some positive things (18:15) that this may sound in the negative. (18:20) As one co-worker at the job that I retired from, (18:29) she said, (18:31) I have to give up the joyful things here, (18:39) the fun things here on this earth, (18:41) in order to have those things after this life.

(18:46) Always living for now, the present time. (18:52) Just not wanting to give up the pleasures (18:56) and thinking of the things that are now. (19:02) But now, I’m going to read Colossians 3, 9-14.

(19:11) Now here is a negative thing. (19:16) It says, (19:16) Do not lie to one another, (19:20) since you have put off the old man with his deeds, (19:25) and have put on the new man, (19:28) who is renewed in knowledge, (19:30) according to the image of him who created him. (19:36) For there is neither Greek nor Jew, (19:40) circumcised nor uncircumcised, (19:44) barbarian, sentient, slave nor free, (19:49) but Christ is all in all.

(19:52) Therefore, as the elect of God, (19:57) holy and beloved, (19:58) put on, (19:59) now see, we were told to put on, (20:04) put to death. (20:04) Now we’re told to put on some things. (20:10) Therefore, as the elect of God, (20:13) holy and beloved, (20:15) put on tender mercies, (20:17) kindness, (20:18) humility, (20:19) meekness, (20:20) longsuffering, (20:23) bowing with one another, (20:24) and forgiving one another, (20:26) if anyone has a complaint against another, (20:33) even as Christ forgave you.

(20:37) So you also must do, (20:40) but above all these things, (20:44) put on love, (20:47) which is the bond of perfection. (20:52) And since Tom this morning talked about perfect peace, (20:59) verse 15 said, (21:01) and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, (21:06) to which also you were called in one body, (21:13) and be thankful. (21:16) So here are things that we need to have thought, (21:26) the things that are above, (21:27) those things that we need to do, (21:33) have tender mercies, (21:35) be kind, (21:37) have humility, (21:39) meekness, (21:39) and longsuffering.

(21:40) These things are considered things above. (21:49) These are the things, (21:51) because these things will eventually, (21:56) if we put these things that are thought, (22:01) that are above, (22:03) and we put these things into practice, (22:07) we will be where Christ is. (22:12) We’ll be there, (22:14) because here’s what it said in verse 4 of Colossians 3, (22:22) When Christ, who is our life, appears, (22:28) then you also will appear with Him in glory.

(22:36) This is what we ought to be thinking of, (22:39) being with Him. (22:41) And if we are going to be with Him, (22:45) then we need to do those things that will eventually, (22:52) when this life is over, (22:55) we will be with Christ. (22:59) So then if you were raised with Christ, (23:04) seek those things which are above, (23:07) where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.

(23:12) Set your mind on things above, (23:16) and not on things on the earth. (23:18) When we talked about what can be earthly, (23:22) these things such as fornication and cleanliness, (23:28) passions, evil desires and covetousness, (23:32) or to put off the anger, the wrath, the mouths, (23:36) the blasphemy, the filthy language, (23:40) let us put on the new man, (23:47) who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him (23:52) who created Him. (23:55) Now, this is mainly for the Christians.

(24:01) This letter, Colossian letter, (24:04) was written for those who have become Christians. (24:09) These are things that we need to think on. (24:14) To think on things above.

(24:18) That’s what we need to do. (24:20) So may the Lord help us as we go through life. (24:26) May He help us to do the things (24:30) that will be necessary for us to do.

(24:35) May we always look toward our goal, (24:40) which will be heaven, the crown of righteousness. (24:44) Be there with God throughout eternity. (24:47) This is what Christ came to provide for us.

(24:54) So for those of us then, (25:00) we need to be faithful to Him. (25:05) And in that, we urge everyone of us (25:09) to think on the things that are above. (25:16) And let us do that while we stand and sing.