Set Your Mind to Christ

The scripture for this sermon comes from Paul's letter to the Colossians verse 3:1-11:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

In our scripture for this morning, we find Paul talking about something that is a very important aspect of our faith: our baptism.  Some of us were baptised at the church in town, some of us may have been baptised in a pool at camp, some of us baptised in many other churches; some of us may have been put completely under the water, for some of us the water may have been poured over heads and some of us may have been babies when we were baptised.  But no matter the case of how, when or where, our baptism represents a change in our hearts and minds.  Each baptism represents a changing of self just as Christ changed has changed us.  We emerge from baptism just as Christ emerged from the tomb.  Paul is telling us that we must set our hearts and minds to Christ and not get caught up in earthly desires.  However, this may lead us to change our way of thinking in ways that are not always beneficial.  

For example, some people completely quit thinking about those who need our help in the here and now and wait for eternity but Paul is reminding us to do otherwise.  Even though Paul is warning us of our earthly desires, he is not encouraging us to withdraw from the work and activities of this life.  Paul makes it quite clear that there are ethical characteristics that Christians should avoid: lying, slander, rage, anger, impurity and greed to name a few.  It is important that we keep our eyes focused on what is going on around us but our hearts should be focused on Christ.  Paul is encouraging us to view everything that goes on in our lives against the background of eternity and to no longer live as as if this world is the only thing that matters.

I really need to a break from preaching from the letters of Paul for a while because it makes my brain hurt!  Paul’s writings are somewhat complex and many times they can be difficult to fully understand the points that Paul is making.  The essence of our scripture this morning is twofold: first, Paul is telling us that our baptism means that we are hidden in Christ, and second, we are revealed to others through our Christian actions towards one another.  I know what you are thinking, how can we be hidden in Christ yet be a part of this world...?  I know it does not make much sense but bear with me.  When the greeks would talk about death, they often referred to it as being “hidden in the earth.”  When we turn our hearts over to Christ, we are supposed to get rid of those things that hinder us from completely submitting to Christ.  The parts of us that are so stuck in this world, the ways of thinking that has been so stamped on our lives through human nature all must perish.  In doing this, it can be difficult for the world to recognize us which means that we will be hidden in Christ.  The best analogy I can think of is the life cycle of a tree.  In the spring and summer and tree is putting out  new leaves, producing seeds, and growing branches and roots.  But in the winter, a tree goes dormant which makes it difficult to know which trees are dead and which ones are living.  In the winter, the life of the tree is hidden.  But in the spring, it is obvious to us which ones are dead and which ones are full of life.  When it comes time for spring, in other words when it comes time for the resurrection of Christ, life will be obvious.  It will be easy to tell who lived a life according to Christ and who didn’t.  Secondly, Christ revealed himself to his disciples after he was resurrected.  Christ’s teachings were not completely obvious to those who followed him and we too must reveal our faith to those whom we know by not doing as the world does.     Christ is our spring season, verse 4 says “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.”  

Change is something that is difficult for me and I guessing that goes for some of you as well.  I mean,  I went to college 25 minutes from home because I wanted to change as little as possible!  This is just one example but I am sure some of you have similar examples.  Change is difficult but it is that change that Christ so desperately wants from each of us.  Paul telling us that we need to change is not enough for us to make the necessary changes in our lives.  Change takes a complexity of decisions and forethought.  It is one thing to be called into a relationship with Christ but the sincerity of that decision is manifest in the changes that relationship brings to your life.  Just because I say I am an astronaut does not make me an astronaut.  If would have go through a series of difficult changes to make that I reality, one of them would be much of the food I so dearly love.  But saying we are Christians does not make us Christians.  Our faith is shown by the changes we make in our lives and it is those changes that Paul is encouraging us to make this morning.  In verse 9 Paul tells us to take off our old self and in verse 10 he calls us to put on the new self.  Is it difficult to not gossip, for sure; is it difficult to not get angry, no doubt;  is it difficult to not be greedy at times, definitely; but we are called to change.  It is through the changes that we make in our lives that Christ is revealed to those around us.  

In closing, I encourage all of you to remember your baptism.  Your baptism does not necessarily mean the ceremonial act of baptism.  More importantly, your baptism is the time in your life where your faith made sense, when you accepted the acts of Christ as your saving grace.  Take with you the love of Christ and use it to change who you are and how you interact with those around you.  Scripture can be difficult to understand but the Holy Spirit is there to help us.  I encourage all of you to not take lightly the ability of the Holy Spirit to get you through many difficult situations.  If you are here today searching for the love of God, wanting to change your life for the better, then you have the opportunity to accept His love and grace this morning.  I encourage all of you to make a conscious decision every morning to live a life for Christ.  Make the changes in your life so those around you can see God through each of you.  Amen.  

God Bless,

Clinton W.

Fairview Christian Church