Developing Godly Values

2004021

Topic # 1415

Introduction:

A. Col. 3:1-17 – we must concern ourselves w/developing the new life. So that we will be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.

1. 1-3 – Set mind on things above if raised up in Christ.

2. 8-10 – put aside anger; wrath; malice

3. 12-15 – put on compassion; kindness; humility; etc.

4. 16 – let word dwell in us through teaching of God’s word.

B. Imagine…potential sitting in this room!

1. Devil tricks us into thinking that there is much lacking here…potential not good…problems… Pessimistic view….

2. Reality is that we have potential to have a good productive and blessed life with Jesus Christ!

3. But simply being baptized alone will NOT insure sustained life.

a) just the fact that a baby introduced to life in this world does not assure that it will grow to maturity.

b) Conditions must be met! If not, life will be extinguished quickly!

4. If basic necessities for sustaining/developing spiritual life are met – Christian life can do nothing but grow!

C. Must all look at self & ask: Am I growing/maturing in Jesus?

1. Can I look back and see progress? If not, why not?

I. Understand that you have been born for maturity!

A. Birth is a start in life – not the goal!

1. physically…a baby goes through various growth stages to physical; mental; and emotional maturity…again…maturity is the goal!

2. Spiritually: God does not lead us through the experience of a new birth for us to remain a spiritual baby! God’s will is that we grow to spiritual maturity!

3. Eph. 4:15-16; (grow up) Col. 1:28 – to be complete in Christ.

a) See also Col. 2:6-7 – rooted; built up.

b) Heb. 6:1 – press on toward maturity.

c) 2 Pet. 3:18 – grow in grace/knowledge of Christ.

B. All spiritual nourishment/every spiritual experience/every bit of spiritual discipline and all Christian education must combine to work toward maturity!

C. EVERYONE and EVERYTHING must continually grow – or it will die!

II. How was your attitude before coming to Christ?

A. Before coming to Christ…. how would you describe your attitude toward God?

1. w/o knowledge; understanding?

2. Insensitive to sin?

3. Would you describe yourself as having been a product of the godless society?

B. Notice way Paul described way of the Gentiles in His day:

1. Rom 1:21-22

2. Eph. 4:17-19

C. Contrast w/Christian. Eph. 4:20-22 – you did not learn Christ in this way…

1. See Eph. 4:23 – spirit of your mind – talking about one’s attitude or mentality.

2. Christians called upon repeatedly to acquire a Christian mentality as a means of being transformed. Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:10

D. If I am going to be a Christian – and start living like one – I am going to have to start thinking like one.

1. Why? We = product of our thinking.

2. See Prov. 4:23; 23:7

E. We must determine to know all we can about Jesus!

1. So that we can learn to think as Jesus did.

2. See from His perspective; Do as He did.

F. Notice instructions of Jesus to Christians:

1. Mt. 11:29 – learn from me.

2. Jhn. 13:15 – follow My example; do as He did.

3. Paul – Phil. 2:5 – told Christians to possess the mind of Christ.

III. How do we acquire the mind of Christ?

A. How can we think as Jesus did?

1. His mind has been revealed in what He said & did.

2. TO know this means we are going to have to study on regular basis. 2 Tim. 2:15

3. Going to have to keep studying His mind until it becomes a permanent part of our thinking.

B. This = something that we have to acquire for self.

1. not inherited; not by osmosis

2. not as a gift – no magical working of the HS will impart this gift to us.

3. To obtain it means we will have to ready & study

C. This will require discipline!

1. Only those who discipline themselves & sit down & concentrate will be successful.

2. Hard to bring our minds into focus all the time.

3. Regular; daily study hard to do – but possible.

a) want to

b) not only meditate upon Scriptures – but good/wholesome material – Phil 4:8-9

IV. Then…put what you learn into action!

A. 1 Jhn. 2:29 – Practice righteousness! Do what Gods’ word has shown to be right!

1. Look to Jesus as an example. Seek to control your life by using His example as a pattern to follow. Heb. 12:1-2.

B. We are far from perfect.

1. fight a daily battle with sin. Not alone in this!

2. We will stumble…a lot!

3. But we have hope – 1 Cor. 10:13. God will help us as we go through life.

C. John Newton: I’m not what I ought to be, but still I’m not what I want to be, I’m not what I hope to be; but still I’m not what I used to be, and by the grace of God, I am what I am.

IV. A godly value system will help you stop habitual sin!

A. 1 Jhn. 2:1-5.

1. We must stop rebelling against God & His will. Before coming to Christ – we rebelled against him. This much change.

2. Now…doing God’s will must become the practice of our life!

B. Must hate sin; flee from it; fight against it; treat it like the plague; and long to be completely delivered from it!

1. Where we fall into trouble (doubt) I think is because we do not treat sin in this way….treat it as not a bad thing – conscience plagues us.

C. It should also be understood that we will sin – again and again. See 1 Jhn. 1:8-10.

1. There will be sinful thoughts; shortcomings; omissions; defects; etc.

2. But….the Christian is characterized by working as hard as possible to prevent these and working on eradicating them.

3. The Christian longs for the day when such sin will be no more.

V. A godly value system will help you overcome the world.

A. 1 Jhn. 5:4

1. Christian no longer dominated by unbelieving people around him.

2. No longer conforming to the standards of the world.

a) quit living to please men.

b) Doesn’t mind going against the stream of the world’s ways.

B. The Christian lies to please God & not men – more concerned about offending God than men. His first aim is to please God! Gal. 1:10!

C. The Christian will find little pleasure in doing what the world does in pursuit of happiness.

Conclusion:

A. Col. 3:1-17

1. 3:1-4 – this is the person who has developed Godly values!

2. Does this describe you?

3. Have you set your mind on things above?

4. Have you put into action what you have learned?

B. There is nothing more important!

C. Need to become a Christian? Do so today! Do so while you have chance.

D. I N V I T A T I O N



Developing Godly Values 2004021 Topic # 1415 Introduction: A. Col. 3:1-17 – we must concern ourselves w/developing the new life. So that we will be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. 1. 1-3 – Set mind on things above if raised up in Christ. 2. 8-10 – put aside anger; wrath; malice 3. 12-15 – put on compassion; kindness; humility; etc. 4. 16 – let word dwell in us through teaching of God’s word. B. Imagine…potential sitting in this room! 1. Devil tricks us into thinking that there is much lacking here…potential not good…problems… Pessimistic view…. 2. Reality is that we have potential to have a good productive and blessed life with Jesus Christ! 3. But simply being baptized alone will NOT insure sustained life. a) just the fact that a baby introduced to life in this world does not assure that it will grow to maturity. b) Conditions must be met! If not, life will be extinguished quickly! 4. If basic necessities for sustaining/developing spiritual life are met – Christian life can do nothing but grow! C. Must all look at self & ask: Am I growing/maturing in Jesus? 1. Can I look back and see progress? If not, why not? I. Understand that you have been born for maturity! A. Birth is a start in life – not the goal! 1. physically…a baby goes through various growth stages to physical; mental; and emotional maturity…again…maturity is the goal! 2. Spiritually: God does not lead us through the experience of a new birth for us to remain a spiritual baby! God’s will is that we grow to spiritual maturity! 3. Eph. 4:15-16; (grow up) Col. 1:28 – to be complete in Christ. a) See also Col. 2:6-7 – rooted; built up. b) Heb. 6:1 – press on toward maturity. c) 2 Pet. 3:18 – grow in grace/knowledge of Christ. B. All spiritual nourishment/every spiritual experience/every bit of spiritual discipline and all Christian education must combine to work toward maturity! C. EVERYONE and EVERYTHING must continually grow – or it will die! II. How was your attitude before coming to Christ? A. Before coming to Christ…. how would you describe your attitude toward God? 1. w/o knowledge; understanding? 2. Insensitive to sin? 3. Would you describe yourself as having been a product of the godless society? B. Notice way Paul described way of the Gentiles in His day: 1. Rom 1:21-22 2. Eph. 4:17-19 C. Contrast w/Christian. Eph. 4:20-22 – you did not learn Christ in this way… 1. See Eph. 4:23 – spirit of your mind – talking about one’s attitude or mentality. 2. Christians called upon repeatedly to acquire a Christian mentality as a means of being transformed. Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:10 D. If I am going to be a Christian – and start living like one – I am going to have to start thinking like one. 1. Why? We = product of our thinking. 2. See Prov. 4:23; 23:7 E. We must determine to know all we can about Jesus! 1. So that we can learn to think as Jesus did. 2. See from His perspective; Do as He did. F. Notice instructions of Jesus to Christians: 1. Mt. 11:29 – learn from me. 2. Jhn. 13:15 – follow My example; do as He did. 3. Paul – Phil. 2:5 – told Christians to possess the mind of Christ. III. How do we acquire the mind of Christ? A. How can we think as Jesus did? 1. His mind has been revealed in what He said & did. 2. TO know this means we are going to have to study on regular basis. 2 Tim. 2:15 3. Going to have to keep studying His mind until it becomes a permanent part of our thinking. B. This = something that we have to acquire for self. 1. not inherited; not by osmosis 2. not as a gift – no magical working of the HS will impart this gift to us. 3. To obtain it means we will have to ready & study C. This will require discipline! 1. Only those who discipline themselves & sit down & concentrate will be successful. 2. Hard to bring our minds into focus all the time. 3. Regular; daily study hard to do – but possible. a) want to b) not only meditate upon Scriptures – but good/wholesome material – Phil 4:8-9 IV. Then…put what you learn into action! A. 1 Jhn. 2:29 – Practice righteousness! Do what Gods’ word has shown to be right! 1. Look to Jesus as an example. Seek to control your life by using His example as a pattern to follow. Heb. 12:1-2. B. We are far from perfect. 1. fight a daily battle with sin. Not alone in this! 2. We will stumble…a lot! 3. But we have hope – 1 Cor. 10:13. God will help us as we go through life. C. John Newton: I’m not what I ought to be, but still I’m not what I want to be, I’m not what I hope to be; but still I’m not what I used to be, and by the grace of God, I am what I am. IV. A godly value system will help you stop habitual sin! A. 1 Jhn. 2:1-5. 1. We must stop rebelling against God & His will. Before coming to Christ – we rebelled against him. This much change. 2. Now…doing God’s will must become the practice of our life! B. Must hate sin; flee from it; fight against it; treat it like the plague; and long to be completely delivered from it! 1. Where we fall into trouble (doubt) I think is because we do not treat sin in this way….treat it as not a bad thing – conscience plagues us. C. It should also be understood that we will sin – again and again. See 1 Jhn. 1:8-10. 1. There will be sinful thoughts; shortcomings; omissions; defects; etc. 2. But….the Christian is characterized by working as hard as possible to prevent these and working on eradicating them. 3. The Christian longs for the day when such sin will be no more. V. A godly value system will help you overcome the world. A. 1 Jhn. 5:4 1. Christian no longer dominated by unbelieving people around him. 2. No longer conforming to the standards of the world. a) quit living to please men. b) Doesn’t mind going against the stream of the world’s ways. B. The Christian lies to please God & not men – more concerned about offending God than men. His first aim is to please God! Gal. 1:10! C. The Christian will find little pleasure in doing what the world does in pursuit of happiness. Conclusion: A. Col. 3:1-17 1. 3:1-4 – this is the person who has developed Godly values! 2. Does this describe you? 3. Have you set your mind on things above? 4. Have you put into action what you have learned? B. There is nothing more important! C. Need to become a Christian? Do so today! Do so while you have chance. D. I N V I T A T I O N