MEMBERSHIP OF CHRIST'S CHURCH: A NEW SPIRIT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Membership Of Christ's Church
a) The Messiah or Christ — who is the Son of God — is the King of the kingdom of heaven. Paul tells us that we have been transferred from the world into that kingdom (Colossians 1:13). A few verses later, Paul puts this fact another way. Christ is the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:18). In the companion epistle, Paul tells us that we are members of this body (Ephesians 5:30). This spiritual body was made possible by the sacrifice of Christ's fleshly body enabling our forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation (Colossians 1:14, 21-22)
b) We realize how great a privilege it is to be a member of the church whose Head is Christ. This marries that fact with Paul’s comments in Colossians 3:8-17.
c) Here Paul outlines the characteristics that God expects of members of his kingdom or church.
2. A New Spirit
Colossians 3:12-15
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
a) Paul now tells God's holy and beloved to "put on a heart" that reflects the heart of Christ. He lists some characteristics of the kind of heart Christ expects to see in members of his church.
i) Compassion and kindness.
ii) Humility and meekness.
iii) Patience and forbearance.
iv) Willingness to forgive.
v) Love (the perfect bond).
vi) Peace and gratitude.
The End ...
1. Membership Of Christ's Churcha) The Messiah or Christ — who is the Son of God — is the King of the kingdom of heaven. Paul tells us that we have been transferred from the world into that kingdom (Colossians 1:13). A few verses later, Paul puts this fact another way. Christ is the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:18). In the companion epistle, Paul tells us that we are members of this body (Ephesians 5:30). This spiritual body was made possible by the sacrifice of Christ's fleshly body enabling our forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation (Colossians 1:14, 21-22)
b) We realize how great a privilege it is to be a member of the church whose Head is Christ. This marries that fact with Paul’s comments in Colossians 3:8-17.
c) Here Paul outlines the characteristics that God expects of members of his kingdom or church.
2. A New Spirit
Colossians 3:12-15
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
a) Paul now tells God's holy and beloved to "put on a heart" that reflects the heart of Christ. He lists some characteristics of the kind of heart Christ expects to see in members of his church.
i) Compassion and kindness.
ii) Humility and meekness.
iii) Patience and forbearance.
iv) Willingness to forgive.
v) Love (the perfect bond).
vi) Peace and gratitude.
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