Thoughts from Colossians 1 from Tchividjian

I am in the process of reading Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian.  Chapter 6 was a great reminder of the great news of the gospel for you and me.  Tchividjian shares how Colossians 1 rocked his world as he went through a difficult situation in his church.  I have listed the verses he refers to below.
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
As you read these words, I would encourage you ask yourself the following questions:
  •   Do you feel worthy?
  •  Are you worried about how sin disqualifies you?
  •  Are you part of the family of God?
  •  Do you feel shame or the need to prove yourself to God & others?
Tchividjian points out several past-tense words in the passage above.  You are qualified, delivered, and transferred.  So, in Christ, you are already qualified so you don't need to feel shame or unworthiness.  You do not need to try and prove you are qualified to God or others because Christ has already qualified you.

In Christ, you are delivered from the domain of darkness.  You don't have to believe the lie that Satan says "just keep sinning because that is who you are.  You are unworthy, full of shame, and need to isolate from others because no one would love you if they knew what you did or think or are."  Christ's death on the cross has delivered you from Satan's kingdom to God's.

In Christ, you are transferred into His kingdom so you are already part of the family. "In Christ, you're in! . . .But God was assuring me that my identity, worth, and value had nothing to do with my strength or ability to win. It has nothing to do with me at all. It had everything to do with the finished work of Jesus for me. . ."you now are, and forever will be, safe and sound in Jesus. . ."

I encourage you to read Colossians 1 on a regular basis as a reminder about who you are in Christ.

Let me close with a few great quotes from this chapter:
"Because of Christ's finished work, Christians already possess the approval, the love, the security, the freedom, the meaning, the purpose, the protection, the new beginning, the cleansing, the forgiveness, the righteousness, and the rescue we intensely long for and, in fact, look for in a thousand things smaller than Jesus every day--things transient, things incapable of delivering the goods."
"The gospel represents both the nature of Christian growth and the basis for it."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sermon Notes-"Transitional Thoughts"

Introduction: As I was thinking and praying about what to share during my final sermon on staff, I began to think of the transition that I am making as well as the church.   We as pastors have been consistently focused on three priorities over the last several years: prayer, worship and equip.   So, even though I may no longer be on staff in a few weeks at this church, as a member of this church I believe just as strongly that Hesston MB needs to continue to be about these priorities in the days ahead.   However, the more I prayed about it, the more I realized that to get to these priorities, we as a church also had to make some transitions so that is why I am entitling this message “Transitional Thoughts”.   Transition is defined as “the process or an instance of changing from one form, state, activity, or place to another.” Educate to Equip- Ephesians 4:11-16 ·          What is the difference?   o    To educate the focus is information; to equip the focus is transformation o
Read more

Sermon Notes "Plans" based on Acts 10:24-48

Introduction: I would like you to think about the word “plans”. Write down on your bulletin some plans you have for: this week, summer, your future, etc.   I am a planner so I love to know what is going to happen.   Yet we also need to keep in mind a Scripture from Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” We are going to see from the story of Peter and Cornelius, two great leaders who had plans yet God had a different plan and purpose for them and for others. Prepared- vs. 24-29 ·          Vs. 23-24-Peter and Cornelius have visions (10:1-23) o    Peter is told not to call common what God has made clean (15). As Peter is trying to figure out what it means, some men come and find him. o    Cornelius is told to call for a man named Peter and is given his location and he sends his servants to find him. o    Peter makes preparations and goes to Caesarea, Cornelius gets ready for his guests and invites his close fr
Read more