Thank you so much for the responses to yesterdays blog, and I hope you will keep them coming. I am very encouraged by them and look forward to reading more of them. As we move forward I want to discuss these qualities more and look at the biblical instruction.
I've been reading Paul's letter to the church at Colossae, and he speaks to issues that have been raised by your comments. In Colossians 2, toward the end of the chapter, Paul speaks to an issue that I believe plagues the modern church. Even though these Christians had received the new life only Christ could bring, they were now once again trusting in their rules and works to be changed. Today, church has become less about the real, genuine, eternal change only Christ can bring, and more about us setting up rules to legislate behavior. Even though we have changed kingdoms, we are still focused on earthly things.
In chapter 3 Paul says, "since you have been raised up with Christ, keeping seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on the things that are on the earth." Paul then goes on to expound on what this type of life should look like in the rest of the book.
He begins from the negative side, by telling us what must be put aside. Verse 5 - consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. These were things you once walked in, but now put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth - do not lie to one another. How different would our churches look if all those who were born again would put aside these evil practices. We are in such a deep need for holiness in our churches.
Paul begins here and so it must be where we begin the discussion. We need conviction from the Holy Spirit and a radical move of genuine repentance among the believers. Our works and rules have failed to bring life change. (v23) We must call out for the Spirit of God to fall among us. It begins with cleansing.
We will continue this discussion on Monday. Let me here from you, share with others.
Brad
Contributors
- bradmarchman
- I am the husband of a wonderful wife Casey and the father of three beautiful children, Brady, Griffin, and Mary Beth. I am the pastor of Lawrence Drive Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia and I hope this blog can provide some joy and encouragement for you.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thank you so much for the responses to yesterdays blog, and I hope you will keep them coming. I am very encouraged by them and look forward to reading more of them. As we move forward I want to discuss these qualities more and look at the biblical instruction.
I've been reading Paul's letter to the church at Colossae, and he speaks to issues that have been raised by your comments. In Colossians 2, toward the end of the chapter, Paul speaks to an issue that I believe plagues the modern church. Even though these Christians had received the new life only Christ could bring, they were now once again trusting in their rules and works to be changed. Today, church has become less about the real, genuine, eternal change only Christ can bring, and more about us setting up rules to legislate behavior. Even though we have changed kingdoms, we are still focused on earthly things.
In chapter 3 Paul says, "since you have been raised up with Christ, keeping seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on the things that are on the earth." Paul then goes on to expound on what this type of life should look like in the rest of the book.
He begins from the negative side, by telling us what must be put aside. Verse 5 - consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. These were things you once walked in, but now put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth - do not lie to one another. How different would our churches look if all those who were born again would put aside these evil practices. We are in such a deep need for holiness in our churches.
Paul begins here and so it must be where we begin the discussion. We need conviction from the Holy Spirit and a radical move of genuine repentance among the believers. Our works and rules have failed to bring life change. (v23) We must call out for the Spirit of God to fall among us. It begins with cleansing.
We will continue this discussion on Monday. Let me here from you, share with others.
Brad
I've been reading Paul's letter to the church at Colossae, and he speaks to issues that have been raised by your comments. In Colossians 2, toward the end of the chapter, Paul speaks to an issue that I believe plagues the modern church. Even though these Christians had received the new life only Christ could bring, they were now once again trusting in their rules and works to be changed. Today, church has become less about the real, genuine, eternal change only Christ can bring, and more about us setting up rules to legislate behavior. Even though we have changed kingdoms, we are still focused on earthly things.
In chapter 3 Paul says, "since you have been raised up with Christ, keeping seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on the things that are on the earth." Paul then goes on to expound on what this type of life should look like in the rest of the book.
He begins from the negative side, by telling us what must be put aside. Verse 5 - consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. These were things you once walked in, but now put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth - do not lie to one another. How different would our churches look if all those who were born again would put aside these evil practices. We are in such a deep need for holiness in our churches.
Paul begins here and so it must be where we begin the discussion. We need conviction from the Holy Spirit and a radical move of genuine repentance among the believers. Our works and rules have failed to bring life change. (v23) We must call out for the Spirit of God to fall among us. It begins with cleansing.
We will continue this discussion on Monday. Let me here from you, share with others.
Brad
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