First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Michael J. Imperiale
Salt Lake City, UtahAugust 15, 2004
“Every Step of the Way”
Colossians 3: 12-17
Introduction
Winnie the Pooh is walking along the neighborhood river bank when he spots his stuffed donkey friend Eeyore floating down stream. Pooh calmly asks if Eeyore had fallen in. “Silly of me, wasn’t it,” says Eeyore, obviously troubled about the possibility of drowning. Pooh remarks that his friend really should have been more careful.
Eeyore politely thanks him for his advice (even though his pleading eyes say he needs more than just advice). Almost with a yawn, Pooh notices, “I think you’re sinking.” With that Eeyore asks him if he would mind rescuing him.
Pooh pulls him from the river, Eeyore apologizes for being such a bother, and Pooh (ever so courteous) says, “Don’t be silly… you should have said something sooner.”
Even though the creatures in Winnie the Pooh are imaginary, we can see ourselves in them. As many of the episodes teach the theme of helping one another, we can see how downright insensitive we often are when friends or family members are drowning in the problems of life.
As the first Christian churches developed, as these communities of followers of Jesus formed, as the gospel spread all over the Roman Empire, the apostles had to interpret, apply and teach people how to live their new found faith. Epistles, almost half of the New Testament, letters in the Bible from Romans to Revelation, answer questions, give instruction, describe how Christians believe and live together in the gospel of Christ.
Here in Colossians 3, Paul offers one of the great passages of the New Testament. He lists the wonderful graces that God offers us for our life together as a church.
I. Chosen, Holy, Dearly Loved Every Step of the Way (vs. 12)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,” you are chosen by God for this new life of love. Originally, these three words were owned by the Jewish people, the nation of Israel. They were the chosen people; they were the dedicated nation; they were the beloved of God. But now Paul follows God’s intent all the way back in Genesis 12 with the call of Abraham and the God’s good news fully shown in Jesus the Messiah by offering these three powerful words to the Gentiles. Chosen, Holy, Loved. From Creation to the people of Israel the Church, God’s love and grace have gone out to the ends of the earth. On the sixth day, God said, “Let us make human beings in our image… And so God created human beings, in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1: 26-27). God told Abraham, “All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). John begins his account saying that Jesus “came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12). And Paul wrote in Galatians 3, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (vs. 26-28).
II. God’s Graces Every Step of the Way (vs. 12-14)
“Therefore,” since you know Jesus as your Savior and your Lord, since you have been born again by faith in his name, since God has his call and claim on your life, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” After all, that’s what love is all about. That’s what Jesus is all about.
We have all heard the idea that others will not care how much you know until they know how much you care. In Jesus and Paul’s world, human suffering was everywhere. Widows, orphans, the aging, the infirmed were cast aside and had no way of providing for themselves. It is because of this heart of compassion that Jesus has for people that has spurred the church on to bring mercy to the world. It is not too much to say that everything that has been done for what we now call “human rights” has come from the inspiration of followers of Christ. So, clothe yourselves with compassion.
The word for kindness is chrestos. The word for the Messiah is christos. Paul loved this play on words how Jesus was more than just a good man, he was a kind man whose neighbor’s good was important as, even more important than his own. Christos chrestos. The Old Testament prophet Micah knew what the Messiah would be like and how God would be pleased by the faithful response of his people. He offers a simple definition of faith: “God has already told you how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do justice (look out for what is fair and just for your neighbor), love kindness (be compassionate and loyal in your love), and walk humbly before your God (don’t take yourself so seriously but do take God seriously). That’s Micah 6:8. Clothe yourselves with kindness.
Did you hear about the pastor who was voted the most humble pastor in America? The congregation awarded a medal but took it away the next Sunday when the pastor wore it! Humility is a tricky thing. It is best shown in the next two words: gentleness and patience.
“Please be patient… God isn’t finished with me yet!” All of us need and appreciate when others bear with our weaknesses, faults, and rough edges. High expectations are good, but grace and forgiveness are even better. Here’s Paul’s best advise for how to live together as a church, as a Christian family. “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
All of these graces from the Lord our God are relationship builders. God’s heart’s desire is for his family of faith to live in the overarching love of Christ every step of the way.
III. Peace through the Word Every Step of the Way (vs. 15-17)
Have you noticed how Paul uses the passive voice in this instruction for how to live the Christian life and how to be a church together? It is not something we do or have to do. It is something that the Lord does in us. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… clothe yourselves with love which is the perfect bond for your faith and for the church.”
Living in the peace of Christ does not mean that suddenly all differences of opinion are eliminated. But it does mean that loving Christians work together seeking the mind of Christ and cooperative life and ministry. The word rule comes from the Olympic Games as Paul urges us to let peace be the umpire or referee in our hearts. The heart is the center of our hopes and fears, trust and distrust, jealousy and love. The rule of peace will promote peace in our souls and in our church.
When Paul wrote Colossians, the early church had only the Old Testament in writing and the life and teachings of Jesus passed on verbally from person to person, church to church. How blessed are we to have the entire New Testament, the four Gospels, the book of Acts, and the 22 emails (letters of Peter, John, Paul and others).
John Wycliffe was banished as Oxford’s Professor of Divinity after he offered his masterful translation of the Bible into English in the 1380s. He was branded as “an instrument of the devil” by an alliance of church and state authorities. Yet his translation of the Scriptures, the word of Christ, infused a new depth and beauty into the English language that imparted to all who read it the good news of God’s saving grace. When driven into exile, he felt sure that his translation of the bible would be destroyed. Wycliffe wrote in the flyleaf of his Bible: “This Bible is translated and shall make possible a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Little did he know that 400 years later, his words would be immortalized by the president of a new government, founded on the shores of a new continent, as he rose to dedicate the struggle for political independence and freedom of Christian religion.
Conclusion
Here we are, more than four thousand years after Abraham, two thousand years after Jesus and Paul, 600 years after Wycliffe, 200 years after Washington, still being encouraged to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; to put on love; let the peace of Christ rule; let the word of Christ live in us richly every step of the way. “And whatever you do, in word and in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
So, when you see someone floating down the river of life struggling to keep from sinking and drowning, reach out with a hand of rescue, the love and compassion of Christ.
Let us pray together.
