The World Behind Me, the Cross Before Me
Series: Remember My Chains
December 10, 2023
Frank Foreman
Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. --------- The old familiar tune, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, reminds us of the importance of repentance in following after Christ. That verse affirms this with the words, "The world behind me, the cross before me," as a commitment to lasting change that occurs with genuine repentance. ---------- It is not simply a matter of recognizing our sinfulness and telling God we are sorry about it. It is allowing Godly sorrow to lead us to a state of repentance, as the Apostle Paul wrote in one of his letters to the church in Corinth. The expected effect of a repentant heart is a lasting change in the direction of one's life. Sin doesn't magically disappear, but the the desire to repeatedly engage is sinful activity should wane and temptation should not have the pull on our lives as it once did because of the change of heart that has occurred.
Episode Notes
Big Idea: Before we can reach the world… We must leave the world.
1. Set your mind on things that are above.
(Journal) Colossians 3:1-4, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Matthew 6:33, But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2. Put to death what is earthly in you.
(Journal) Colossians 3:5-9a, Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another…
Romans 6:6, We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
3. Put on the attributes of Jesus Christ.
(Journal) Colossians 3:9b-17, …seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Next Step: What in the world is most difficult for you to let go?
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