MEMBERSHIP OF CHRIST'S CHURCH: A NEW SERVICE
(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 Service
Colossians 3:17
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
a) Many people of the world are self-serving but when we become members of the church, we become servants of the Messiah and no longer serve ourselves. That's what Paul means when he says, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." There is a parallel statement in verse 23 where Paul is speaking to slaves. "Whatever you do, do your work from the heart as for the Lord rather than for men".
b) This gives us a whole new outlook and a new work ethic. We serve others as though serving Christ. We bring Christ to people through the service we give them, whatever that may be — whether our job is to sell them a product, build them a house, cure their illnesses, or simply shine their shoes. We do it for them as slaves of Christ, trying to please him and to enhance his reputation among the people we serve.
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 Service
Colossians 3:17
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
a) Many people of the world are self-serving but when we become members of the church, we become servants of the Messiah and no longer serve ourselves. That's what Paul means when he says, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." There is a parallel statement in verse 23 where Paul is speaking to slaves. "Whatever you do, do your work from the heart as for the Lord rather than for men".
b) This gives us a whole new outlook and a new work ethic. We serve others as though serving Christ. We bring Christ to people through the service we give them, whatever that may be — whether our job is to sell them a product, build them a house, cure their illnesses, or simply shine their shoes. We do it for them as slaves of Christ, trying to please him and to enhance his reputation among the people we serve.
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