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Reverent Obedience. Building Character Colossian 3:16-17. Important Distinction. Between the character of Christians and that of good, moral people of the world Christians are redeemed and are conforming themselves to the image of Christ (Acts 10:1-2, 22; 11:14)
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Reverent Obedience Building Character Colossian 3:16-17
Important Distinction • Between the character of Christians and that of good, moral people of the world • Christians are redeemed and are conforming themselves to the image of Christ (Acts 10:1-2, 22; 11:14) • God’s elect, Col 3:12 (1 Pet 2:9-10) • Obedience and Christ’s blood, 1 Pet 1:2 • Conformed to His image, Col 3:10 (Rom 8:29)
Incomplete Character • Building character depends on our willingness to be shaped by the hand of God through faithfully obeying Him, Col 3:16-17 (Phil 2:12-13) • Without reverent faith and submissiveobedience to Christ’s authority, our character is built on a foundation of futility and failure, Matt 28:18; 7:24-27
Col 3:16 • We must have a heart that desires to do God’s will, Mark 4:13-20 • Welcome it, hold it fast and bear fruit, 1 Ths 2:13 • Those who are reverent before God put His word in their hearts in order to obey Him, Psa 37:30-31; 119:11, 73-80 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
Col 3:16 • It reflects reverence for God, Jno 6:67-68 (Psa 119: 38) • We will attain wisdom, Psa 119:96-100 • We will teach and admonish one another • Singing with grace, Eph 5:19 • With God’s word, 1 Cor 14:26 When the word of Christ richly dwells in us…
Col 3:17 • Insist on positive (revealed) authority, Mark 11:27-33 • Test everything by Scriptures, 1 Ths 5:21-22 • Some have said we “do many things without Bible authority” • They are misguided and wrong! Our character compels us to submit to Christ’s authority in everything
Col 3:17 • Submit to Bible authority • “No pattern” view is growing • Commands, approved examples and necessary inferences are being rejected for how to establish and apply Bible authority • “Nor does the NT ever tell us to follow some interpretive system of commands, examples and necessary inferences…lacking any Biblical support…” (Edward Fudge, Wineskins, Mar-June, 2010) Our character compels us to submit to Christ’s authority in everything
Col 3:17 • Submit to Bible authority • NT “interpretive system”: • Commands, Matt 28:20 • Examples, Phil 4:9 • Necessary inferences, Rom 1:20 (evidence forces only one correct conclusion) • Biblical, Acts 15:7-21 • Same pattern for all the churches, 1 Cor 7:17; 4:17 • Hold fast pattern, 2 Tim 1:13 Our character compels us to submit to Christ’s authority in everything
Col 3:17 • Obey Christ from a heart of thankfulness • Not demanding a reward (earning) • Dutiful service to God, Luke 17:10 • Thankful obedience is a mark of mature character (mature faith), Phil 2:12-13 Our character compels us to submit to Christ’s authority in everything
Isaiah 64:8 • The character that God forms in us conforms to the image of Christ, Col 3:9-10 • Renewed in knowledge • Fashioned for lives of reverent obedience But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.