Colossians 3:1-11

Seeing is believing. We've all heard and probably said that one before. It's an old cliché used in many sermons before, I'm sure. The unfortunate thing is that it's not simply a cliché, but has been adopted by many as a way of life. "I'll believe that when I see it!" How many times have you heard or said that line? We don't just naturally trust, and sometimes for good reason, but as a result, we become conditioned. Our minds are bred to believe that unless we can see it, we should not believe or trust it. And though there are times when that is wisdom speaking, there are other times when that is Satan speaking.

Please look around our sanctuary today and see if you can see Jesus anywhere. Not a picture or likeness of him, but the real Jesus-the flesh and blood man who died and rose again for us. Do any of you see him? …..Me neither. And there you have all some people need as proof that Christ is not with us any longer. Oh, they will admit that He was a man who once lived, and they even might say some nice things about him, like He was kind; He healed people; He was a good teacher….but the bottom line for them is, He is no more. I don't see him walking around here; I can't touch him; so He no longer exists.

From a human standpoint, that's a pretty good argument, isn't it? I mean, if you were talking about any other man whom you know to have died, and even risen again-like Lazarus-that argument holds up pretty well, doesn't it? I don't see him walking around, so he is no more.

And Christ knew we would be tempted to disbelieve, that's why he had the account of Thomas recorded for us. Thomas said, "Not till I see him will I believe He is risen." And then Jesus said for us as well as Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe." He knew we would be tempted to think all this Bible talk is simply some ancient stories. He knew we would doubt. Thomas doubted on our behalf.

But Christ also said that all those who do believe are blessed. They've been blessed with a faith. But faith isn't a fist you shake at someone until they believe; faith is a hand opened up, pointing at the cross. Others look down your arm, up past your hand, and out to where it's pointing; to the cross. The faith that God gives is nothing more than an arm, firmly pointing at Christ, so that Christ and Christ alone might be seen. And it is there, where they will see God in the flesh, who has come to take them from death to life.

They don't need to see us. What do we have to show them? Your text tells you what you have to offer when you are not hidden with Christ in God: Evil desires and idolatry! Idolatry is shown every time you're selfish. Ever been selfish? Verse five goes on to name some other signs of death: Sexual immorality, impurity, and lust. These things don't show life in Christ, they show death without him. And verse six says it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming! The wrath of God already came for these sins once! It exploded upon a cross two-thousand years ago, because God hates sin! That's why He gave us a hiding place in Christ; because he hates sin, but he loves us so much!

GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HIDES US IN CHRIST, SO THAT WHEN OTHERS SEE US, HE MIGHT BE SEEN!!

So, the question remains, when we show impatience and pride, are we showing our death or our Lord? Verse four says that Christ IS your life now. Which is why the very next thing we are told is to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly natures. Have you ever heard the phrase, "That's as clear as mud"? How can Christ ever be clear if others are forced to find him through our muddy sin? In fact, if that's primarily what others see; if the immorality, lust, evil desires, and greed is what we consistently portray, we are no longer hidden with Christ, but exposed with the Devil. When those sins are seen, we boast of our death! And the devil does a dance on our graves.

Christ is not done with you yet. He has a mission. So he hides us in God, so that others might be raised from the dead with him. Your faith makes such a strong bond with Christ that his Father considers you one with him. So for that reason, and that reason alone, we are called holy and dearly loved, so that when others see and hear us, they will no longer see and hear what has died, but what has risen!

So, do we fake it, for the sake of Christ? Is Scripture telling us to put on an act? Are we to simply act kind and patient with one another so that we just appear to look like Christ? Just about every one of us could do that-and has done that before, right? When was the last time you acted kind, but harbored unkindness in your heart? When was the last time any parent acted patient, while their nerves were bursting with impatience? If that's all Scripture is saying, then we've got it made! We can fake it any day of the week.

But no, Scripture is not talking about faking it, or putting on a front. The Holy Spirit is talking about being dead to your old nature so that your new nature in Christ might be seen. If we find ourselves just pretending to be Christlike, then that is not our Lord working within us. But because we have been hidden with Christ in God, our new nature will simply be Christlike; it's who we are now! In other words, there won't be any need for faking it! And so our text tells us that with that new life secured in Christ, we need to remember that when we died with him, we also put to death the sins for which he died. Christ became sin for us, so that He might be our life and breath now. And so, if it is Christ who gives us our breath, it is Christ who will be seen by our breathing.

This breathing will be a blessing for Christ. This is his work, after all. To motivate our hearts to spread his love is his mission. It's not only a blessing to us to be a part of that mission, but it is a blessing for Christ. He lives to give love to others! That love comes in the form of proclaiming his forgiveness and salvation-to others. So every time He succeeds in doing just that through you, it is a blessing for him! God desires that all come to the knowledge of truth. Jesus said, "I am the truth." So when you bring his love to a friend or family member or better yet, to a complete stranger so that a new friend is made, then the truth is spread a little bit more, and Christ is blessed by the work He's done through you.

And we get to be a part of it all! But why? Why did God pick us to be a part of all these blessings? He could have just left us alone to go about our busy lives, having no real purpose. We could just be getting up in the morning, brushing our teeth, going off to work or school, coming home, eating dinner, watching TV, then going to bed so that we can start it all over again the next day. He could have left us in that pitiful situation. But He didn't. He reached down with his mighty arm and pulled us up to hide us in Christ, so that everything we say and do could be done for him; so that He would be seen and we would be blessed, and He would be glorified and we would be made holy. He was born so that we would have purpose and value. So that our day to day lives would have purpose and value. Why? Because He loves us, as only a God can love.

So put to death all the evil, for your text says that it's because of the evil that God's wrath is present in this world. Hear once more the Word of God, verse 6: "Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." He once directed all his wrath upon Christ, then raised him from the dead as a shield for us, protecting us from any further wrath. Therefore, let us not direct others' attention to his wrath by our sin.

Did you realize that our sin directs others away from Christ? When we fail to put to death our greed, we display idolatry as the way of life. We proclaim self as god, rather than God as God. Paul lists a few more of those sins, lest we forget that that's exactly what they are. In verse 8, he says, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Is Christ proclaimed when we slander each other? Hardly. How about with filthy language or violent rage? People don't see a loving God in these things; Sin is proclaimed, and therefore God's wrath is proclaimed. He goes on to say in verse 9 don't lie to each other, that belongs to the old nature; you've taken off the old nature-what are you doing lying to each other?

We no longer work for that company called Sin Incorporated. The devil is no longer our boss. If we keep peddling his product, our new employment becomes questionable.

In other words, let the devil have his sin; Christ died for ours. For when sin and wrath are seen, damnation is promoted, and we end up giving the devil free advertising. But when Christ is seen, salvation is given. And all the company of heaven laud and magnify his glorious name, evermore advertising him and singing, 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabbath. Heaven and earth are full of your glory!' And do you know how the earth could possibly be full of his glory?

BY HIDING US IN HIM, SO THAT WE ARE NO LONGER SEEN, BUT CHRIST MANIFESTS HIMSELF TO THE WORLD.

I'd like to end with some final words from Paul. His words to the Colossian church are very appropriate for us today as well. They sum up what it means to be hidden in Christ, so that Christ might be seen among us. He says,

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Amen.