“Heaven on Earth”
Colossians 3:1-14 - April 15, 2018
Message 2 of 3 in the Series “Finding Your Way Back to God: A Study of Colossians 3”

Quick Recap

Week One – Seeing Deeper.

1.Christianity is more than “Sunday” and Christianity is more than “Someday”.

2.Christianity is a “person” and Christianity is a “place”.

Week Two – Living Different.

Last Week’s Key Question: If every Christian in our city lived this week on earth as they’ll one day live in Heaven, would our city look different?

Matthew 6:10—“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Today’s Key Question: How do we live on earth like we’ll live in Heaven?

Colossians 3:1-15—“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.³For you died,and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears,then you also will appear with him in glory. ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,which is idolatry.⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.⁷You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.⁸But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.⁹Do not lie to each other,since you have taken off your old self with its practices¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.¹¹Here there is no Gentile or Jew,circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Today’s Question: How do we live on earth like we’ll live in Heaven?

Answer #1: Learn what to take off.

Answer #2: Learn what to put on.

Spiritual Math: If we want to live on earth like we’ll live in Heaven we have to subtract some things and add some things.

#1: Learning What to Take Off.

Colossians 3:5-9—“Put to death,therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:sexual immorality,impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,which is idolatry.⁶Because of these, the wrath of Godis coming.⁷You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.⁸But now you must also rid yourselvesof all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,and filthy language from your lips.⁹Do not lie to each other,since you have taken off your old selfwith its practices…”

“earthly nature” – A description of your spiritually broken and sinful nature before you became a follower of Jesus.

“earthly nature” = Me without Jesus.

Galatians 5:16-17—“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whateveryou want.”

Christianity is NOT just adding Jesus to your earthly nature.

Christianity is NOT just a Mr. Rogers temporary wardrobe change.

Christianity IS a continual “taking off” of your earthly nature…like it’s a spider web you’ve walked through.

“put to death” – v. 5

“rid yourselves of” – v. 8

“taken off” – v. 9

Practical ways to take off the “earthly nature”: [4 A’s]

1.Acknowledge it. Ps. 51:3

2.Admit it to somebody close to you. Jms. 5:16

3.Address what needs to change. 2 Cor. 5:17

4.Accountability from a trusted friend or family member. Eccl 4:12

#2: Learning What to Put On.

Colossians 3:9b-14—“…you have taken off your old selfwith its practices¹⁰and have put on the new self,which is being renewedin knowledge in the image of its Creator.¹¹Here there is no Gentile or Jew,circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,but Christ is all,and is in all. ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Christianity is MORE than not doing things.

Legalism helps Christians take off the old self without ever helping them put on the new self.

It’s possible to not look like the world AND to not look like Jesus.

Christianity is continually pursuing the spiritual nature through…

1. Growing in your knowledge of who Jesus is.

2. Growing in your likeness to who Jesus is.

3. Growing in your relationships with people who need Jesus.

4. Growing in your relationships with people who have Jesus.

5. Learning how to be patient with people, how to forgive people, and how to love people like Jesus does.

“put on the new self” – v. 10

“clothe yourselves” – v. 12

“put on” – v. 14

Levels of Spiritual Transformation

1. Information – That makes sense in my head, I want to learn more.

2. Inspiration – That makes sense in my heart, I want to do more.

3. Incarnation – That makes sense in my soul, I want to become more.

Heaven on Earth Challenge

1. Take off one thing in your earthly nature this week and rid yourself of it going forward. [Use the “4 A’s”]

2. Put on one thing from your spiritual nature this week and clothe yourself with it every day.

Worship Experience Pastor Christian Newsome

Share