Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity (2024)
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Colossians 1:9-14
Colossians 1:9-14
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we have in our epistle this morning a message of beautiful encouragement given to the Church in Colossae who were being pulled away from the faith by Empty philosophies, and the teachings of men, which were taking them captive and leading them away from Christ. This is a great tragedy especially when we consider what the Son of God did for us that no other man has done or even hoped to accomplish, Jesus redeemed us from our sins and paid the debt that we owed to God, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood, his innocent suffering and death so that we might be brought into Christ’s Kingdom as citizens.
The Domain of Darkness
We are all born in darkness.
This is emphasized throughout the Scriptures, that in our fall, we have turned away from God, and no one does what is right. All of mankind is under the power of Satan. When we speak of the consequences of sin, it is that
Spiritually speaking we are all dead.
We do not have the capacity to do what is good or right. We do not even the ability to choose god, sin has corrupted mankind in body, mind, and spirit that even when we see what is good we flee from it and end up chasing after evil. For is good, and as sinners
We do not naturally fear, love or trust God.
Now this surprises people and they say ah, i’m not that bad, sure i’m not perfect, but on I’m not the worst. You misunderstand the measure of goodness, it is not on a scale of 1 to 10. Rather we are judged as either good or evil, there’s no inbetween, and for you to be declared good, you have to be as holy as God is holy. When foul or coarse language slips from our lips, why? Do you have no fear of God? When you indulge in gossip and slander, where is the love that you are to have for others? That same love which God himself showed you? When it comes to trouble in this life, what do you look to for hope? Your friends, your family, your own skill or ability, a political party, or the money you have stashed away? You are to be trusting God when things go awry. The Law condemns us all. So how on earth is anyone saved if this is true, that we are all villains, who don’t fear, love or trust in God? Well you were
Transferred to God’s Kingdom
Jesus rescued you.
He reached down and lifted you up and brought you to life even though you were dead and never on your own would you choose Him. JEsus chose you, Jesus saved you, and Jesus redeemed you that you might belong to His Kingdom.
You contribute nothing to your salvation.
This is scandalous to the world, and many struggle with it, especially those who wish to be good, or to have some worth or merit or recognition in this world, that is why the pharisees and sadduccees had such trouble with Jesus, and sinners were overjoyed. The Pharisees thought they were blessed by God because of their devotion, and their hard work, and they had no need for grace or mercy. Those struck down by the Law, realize their desperate need and find great hope in Christ.
You are transferred to Christ’s kingdom.
That is the greatest news ever, we didn’t save ourselves, if we had to we would all be lost, for our works are not good enough, indeed they never will be. Jesus entered into this world to rescue you from this land of darkness for Jesus is the light and life of mankind. Even when we did not deserve him or want him, Jesus rescued us and wanted us to be in His Kingdom even though we could do nothing. That’s love, true love, that he was willing to lay down his life for us. That’s why
Glorifying Christ Alone
The focus of Church is Jesus.
It wasn’t our work, it wasn’t our greatness, it’s about what Jesus has done for you. I mentioned this in the sermon last week about funerals, because the greatest thing in the world that drove the disciples forward across the globe was to share with everyone what the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord had done not only for them personally, but that Jesus had come so that whoever believes in Him have eternal life. But they cannot believe in whom they had not heard, and they cannot hear unless someone is preaching to them the words of Christ. That’s why we are
We are Christ-centered.
The focus on a Sunday morning isn’t about how you or I feel about things, it is about what God has done for us through His Son, it’s about the gifts that Jesus secured for us that save us, and give us eternal life and salvation. It is about the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for sinners like you and me, that while we were yet under God’s wrath and punishment for our sins, that
Jesus brought us peace by His blood.
Jesus tore down the dividing wall of hostility between God and man, so that all who take shelter in Christ’s work on Golgotha, who are bound to His death in Baptism, and receive His body and blood shall be saved. That’s why our church service is built all around those things, so that we might not look into our hearts, but rather have our eyes always fixed upon Jesus. For this we give thanks to God. It is for this reason, that we lament when folks
Returning to the Darkness
You can choose to leave Christ’s Kingdom.
While Jesus rescues us, and brings us to life, and frees us from the kingdom of Satan and the slavery to sin, he does permit you to walk away from it.
This is why we are warned about Satan.
For Satan hates that which God created and wishes to see it destroyed, and he works to separate mankind from our creator and wishes to see it destroyed. From our perspective this may seem extreme, but you must understand his pride, and his hatred of God, and how he cannot abide that which is good.
The philosophies of men can be snares.
It is easy for us to identify other religions, but we have to be on guard. They pull us in easily, and they’ve got weird names that we don’t use as much but which guide our culture. Secular Humanism the belief that mankind has limitless potential and seeks to become a god. The power of positive thinking if i just visual what I want I will attain it, and if it doesn’t happen I didn’t visualize it enough. There’s nihilism, and existentialism, and you many of the religions of the east that are coming in like Taoism. They will offer you enlightenment through meditation and mindfulness, when what they are doing is teaching you to worship yourself, your desires, the stars, and planets, and even nature and so you worship the world that is passing away.
They promise enlightenment, but they’re darkness.
They will offer it to you in whatever you want to pursue except in one place, in the Christian Church. Everything else is acceptable, good, and worth having, but when it comes to the Christian faith, then its a no go. Because if you can get people to turn away from Christ, and shut their eyes, you can easily lead them back into slavery, and that is not why Christ set you free.
Abide in the Light
Seek the knowledge of God.
Not what your heart says, or desires, or what passes for wisdom in a world that is struggling to figure out what the truth even is. Rather look to God’s Word and see there the wisdom and knowledge and insight that God has blessed mankind with in these pages, that we might have forgiveness in the Cross of His Son. That you might have peace not as the world gives peace, but that peace which surpasses all understanding.
God’s Word equips us for good works.
That is why you are here on earth to serve and be an aid to your neighbor, life isn’t just about you. That’s what you find in the religions of men is that they justify selfish desires and what sinner is against that, if it feels good, how can it be wrong for me? That’s a horrible philosophy which prioritizes fleeting moments. Whereas our works are meant for our neighbors to help out those who are in any need.
The Word also grants patience with joy.
We don’t often think of patience and joy going hand in hand, we want patience and we want patience right now, and we are not feelign paritcularly joyful! What do we know about Jesus and His Kingdom? Christ reigns right now, and is bringing everything to an end in preparation for his return. We aren’t here to live only this life, rather we look ahead to eternal life! If everything we want in this life doesn’t happen right away, that’s ok, we know that God’s Kingdom will come, and that allows us to meet this life with a bit more joy than the philosophies of this world that death is our end. When we compare this life with eternity, this life is quite brief.
So my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us give thanks to God that we have been rescued by Christ from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Since we have been brought with a price let us repent of all sins, and remain in Christ’s Kingdom where we have been brought and walk in the ways that are pleasing to the Lord, let us attend to the hearing of the word, let receive the gifts of absolution, the sacrament of the altar, and be united with those that have also received a share of the inheritance of the saints in light. For we have been made God’s family, and that is a reason to rejoice. In jesus name. Amen.
