One Essential To Be The True Church of Christ
Colossians 1:18-23
Thesis: to challenge God's people to dedicate themselves
anew to being God's people.
Introduction:
1 - The problem God's people had under the old covenant
was one of maintaining their identity as God's people.
2. God must have known that His new covenant people
would have a similar problem because there are several
warnings in the New Testament concerning the loss of
identity. (I Tim. 4:1-6; 11 rim. 4:1-5.)
3. Since it is possible for God's people to lose their identity,
we need to pause and see if we meet the criterion for
being the true church of Christ. (111. accrediting agencies
for colleges: Are you fulfilling your stated objective?)
4. In this lesson we shall consider.
A. An Examination.
B. An Explanation.
C. The Application.
Body:
1. An Identification.
A. One thing: Christ must be the head. (Col. 1:18.)
B. Communication of vital connection to Christ!
1. Control center.
2. In other passages the body metaphor is used to
describe relationship of people to one another. (I
Cor. 12.)
3. In Colossians: Relationship to Christ.
11. An Explanation.
A. How can He so function? He is not here. (Col. 3:1,2.)
B. Some explanations:
1. He has an earthly representative.
2. He works through special leaders - "Latter-day
prophet.
3. Special leading of Holy Spirit.
4. The commandments and doctrines of men. (Col.
2:22.)
C. He functions as the head through His New
Testament. (Heb. 9:16,17.)
D. Challenges to headship of Christ.
1. Human philosophy. (Col. 2:8.)
2. Old law. (Col. 2:14-16; note verse 17, wthe body
is of Christ.)
3. Mysticism. (Col. 2:18-ff; note verse 19, "...not
holding The Head'.)
III. The Application:
A. Will worship or true worship. (Col. 2:20-23; note Col
3:16.)
1. The word of Christ, or the commandments of
men?
2. Singing or Praying? (Col. 3:16.)
B. Value: Heavenly, not earthly. (Col. 3:1-2.)
C. Morals, Ethics. (Col. 3:5-11.)
D. Relationships. (Col. 3:12-15.)
Conclusion:
1. It is one thing to claim that we are the true church of
Christ, ft is another thing to be that church.
2. The claim, in the name, and what we are must be the
same.
3. Most of the New Testament epistles were written to urge
people to be the true people of God.
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