Transcript PRAYER FOR THAT WHICH WE ARE HERE FOR

A TALE OF TWO
COMMUNITIES
Walsgrave Baptist Church
5th July 2009
Community?
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Two definitions
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“a group of people living
together in one place”
“a unified body of
individuals”
Colossians 3
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Fallen community of
darkness
Risen community of light
Colossians 3:1-5
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set
your hearts on things above, where Christ is
seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds
on things above, not on earthly things. For you
died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in
God. When Christ, who is your life, appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to
death, therefore, whatever belongs to your
earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust,
evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:6-11
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you
once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of
all such things as these: anger, rage, malice,
slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do
not lie to each other, since you have taken off
your old self with its practices and have put on
the new self, which is being renewed in
knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here
there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or
free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Colossians 3:12-15
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever
grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all
these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ
rule in your hearts, since as members of one
body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as
you teach and admonish one another with
all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in
your hearts to God. And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him.”
The Community of Darkness
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Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to
your earthly nature: sexual immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is
idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is
coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the
life you once lived. But now you must rid
yourselves of all such things as these: anger,
rage, malice, slander, and filthy language
from your lips. Do not lie to each
other……there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised
or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or
free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
sexual immorality, impurity,
lust, evil desires, greed,
anger, rage, malice, slander,
filthy language from your
lips, lie to each
other……prejudice
…“a group of people living together in
one place”
The Community of Light
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clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with
each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another. Forgive as
the Lord forgave you. And over all these
virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity. Let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of
one body you were called to peace.
open to all, compassion,
kindness, humility,
gentleness, patience. Bear
with each other, forgive
whatever grievances you may
have, forgive as the Lord
forgave you, love, perfect
unity, peace of Christ
…“a unified body of individuals”
What about the church?
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Light or dark?
Romans 7:18-19 “I know that
nothing good lives in me, that
is, in my sinful nature. For I
have the desire to do what is
good, but I cannot carry it out.
For what I do is not the good I
want to do; no, the evil I do not
want to do—this I keep on
doing!”
Wolverhampton?
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E tenebris lux…..
….out of darkness
cometh light
But how?
Human effort!
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New year resolutions!
Man made religion
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Colossians 2:21-23
““Do not handle! Do
not taste! Do not
touch!”?…Such
regulations indeed
have an appearance of
wisdom….. but they
lack any value in
restraining sensual
indulgence.”
Christ the only way!
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Creator: “For by him all things were
created…all things were created by him
and for him. He is before all things, and in him all
things hold together.” (Col 1:16)
Redeemer: “For God was pleased to have all his
fullness dwell in him, and through him to
reconcile to himself all things…..by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
(Col 1:19-20)
Deliverer: “having disarmed the powers and
authorities, he made a public spectacle of them,
triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col 2:15)
Out of darkness:new
life in Christ
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Our state:
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Our responsibility:
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Col 2:12 “buried with him in baptism and
raised with him through your faith in the
power of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Col 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever
belongs to your earthly nature”
Freedom in Christ is available to us
Into the light – the imitation of
Christ
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“God’s chosen
people, holy and
dearly loved” (Col
3:12)
“the Spirit himself
testifies with our
spirit that we are
God’s children”.
(Romans 8:16)
Worship him….gratefully, and the
virtues follow
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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as
you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to
God.” (Col 3:16)
Imitating Christ, we enter the community of
light
Out of darkness cometh light
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Transformed lives in Christ!
Psalm 51
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Have mercy on me, O God, according to your
unfailing love; according to your great
compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from
my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is
always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done
what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved
right when you speak and justified when you
judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time
my mother conceived me.
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Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you
teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you
have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my
iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your
Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant
me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
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Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and
sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who
saves me, and my tongue will sing of your
righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare
your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a
broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not
despise.