Part 2 - 09/16/12
Colossians 1:27
To them [saints] God has chosen to make known among the
Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
An expert at Antique Roadshow might ask, "Do you know the story of how this came into your family?"
Jesus Christ left glory and came to Israel - God's chosen people.
Most did not receive Him, but some did.
Jesus took the form of a human being, touched dirt, bled and died. Then He ascended back to His glory in heaven.
Paul knows the gospel beyond a shadow of doubt. He came out of Judaism with its rich, rich heritage as God's people. Jesus went right past them to the Gentiles - people Jews called "dogs."
CHRIST IN YOU - not in Jews only. Your birth certificate is meaningless, he says to his fellow Jews. It will not cut it with God!
Finish the title of this movie: The Invasion of the_____________!
(Body Snatchers)
Remember the movie? Sci-fi-came out in 1956 and remade in 1978. Aliens came to earth to take over people's lives. A man walks into his home - his wife recognizes him, but after a few minutes she knows it is not really him -- he moves and acts like a robot - no emotion. A doctor discovers the plot and sees truckloads of "pods" coming into town.
Some people think "Christ is you" is like that.
"No, thank you," they say. "I'm not going to be a robot for anyone. Every day die to self? I'm not perfect, but I'm not going to do that!"
Most young preachers reach for more and bigger churches. Later
they begin to learn the truth.
Wherever you are, God has placed you with other people - in whom Christ lives. Don't look over their heads to someone else.
God is in me - He is still working.
You should consider: Christ is in you, loving you, loving your personality. Not your sinful expression of life, but YOU and your
real personality.
After He saves you He transforms the root of sin in you and becomes a partner with you in your "makeover."
He takes us as we are, but He makes us into something new.
Do you recognize Christ in others?
When I first began my journey with Christ I lost a couple of friends. I walked in intensity and alienated them.
Now I am learning to walk in freedom and love.
III. Do you know what it would be worth today?
You will have to decide for yourself.
In 2009, when in Raleigh, North Carolina, a woman brought in a piece of jade her father had given her years before. What was it worth today? 1.07 million dollars. It was the first million dollar appraisal in the show's history.
How do you appraise your salvation? You are a multi-faceted diamond. God is shaping and tuning that diamond.
Discipleship occurs when people are impressed with the attractiveness of Christ and confronted with the deficiency of lesser gods.
When you talk to others who have not begun their journey with Christ, remember they are idolaters. No doubt about it. Help them see how deficient their god(s) is (are.)
We don't make Christ attractive. We don't make Him awesome. We don't make Him better than the world. He already is.
I hope someone today has been attracted to Christ. It's time to begin the journey of following Jesus only, not all religions.
This sermon is not meant to take you from level 1 to level 10. If you get from level 1 to level 2 you will begin to realize there is something more ahead to journey toward.
The Baptist church is full of folks who claim to know Christ. Maybe in their 50's and 60's, who had at one time an encounter with God, but did not continue the journey, and have missed out on the mlti-faceted richness of the glory of the mystery nof Christ in us.
These are just notes - this was a "rich, rich" message - hear it all at our website - fbc-bc.org.
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