Bob's BLOG: Connedted as ONE

This is message SEVEN in the series
"Connected thru Colossians."

the two goals of this series are to
1. change how we live as believers
2. expand what we know for sure

Read Colossians 3.12-17 by clicking on this link

How is real Christian UNITY possible?

There is the story of the police being called to a church because a fist fight broke out at their annual business meeting. That would be shocking enough if the church was not called "The United Friends Fellowship Community Church."

The idea of being one in not where you start, it where you arrive when other conditions are meant. Paul writes and says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people..." Therefore points to everything that has gone before. Paul has just finished sharing with the Colossian church that they are CONNECTED in six distinct ways. They are connected in PRAYER, thru JESUS, as the CHURCH, thru the CROSS, are FREE and are connected to HEAVEN. What Paul is about to teach them is only possible if they have discovered and are practicing these as part of their lives as believers. These connections are needed if we are going to have unity and be as one in Christ Jesus.

There are four ways we are connected that help us be united and one in Christ.

FIRST: We are UNITED as God's CHOSEN people.

This means we all make PERSONAL choices that will help us in our closeness to each other. We are called to put on or clothe our self with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Each one of these are personal choices and waiting for God to give us one of these qualities is the wrong approach. Each of these are choices. I can choose to be kind or not. I can show compassion or not. I can develop patience or not. The key is that these do not come from God they are my responsibility to develop and use as a member of the body of Christ.

Then we can make the TEAM choices. We are to bear with each other. This does not mean to tolerate each other the word bear means to support or to help someone who is weak or needs help. This is our responsibility. We are also to forgive whatever grievances may occur between us. People do not always see everything the same way but they are, as Christians, suppose to find workable solutions. That is what happened in Acts when the widows had a grievance about how the food was being given out. Then there are the times when sin enters between Christians, that is when we are to Forgive as we have been forgiven. Jesus has forgive us all our sins and we are responsible as believers to work towward forgiving all sins. That is how we put on love which binds us together as God's chosen people.

SECOND: We are UNITED by the PEACE of Christ.

Peace in the world is the absence of conflict or having enough power and weapons to make someone leave you alone. The peace of Jesus is very different. Jesus said, "Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14.24 This peace is different in that it "RULES the HEARTS of his followers. Hearts is plural and means that this applies to all believers. When he rules it is better understood using the root meaning of the word rules. It means that He is the UMPIRE of our lives. He is the one that makes the final decisions. That is why it so important for unity that all the believers be connected to Jesus. When we have conflict it comes down to the fact that Jesus is the boss, the umpire, or the one who makes the final decision. That makes us members of ONE BODY and working together as a team.

THIRD: We are UNITED by the WORD of Christ.

This word is to dwell or live in each one of us. Jesus clearly said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." John 15.10 This is how we allow the word of Christ dwell in us.

We have a responsibility to each other as we gather for fellowship and worship. During these times together we should expect someone to TEACH and others to learn. We should expect that sometimes we will be ADMONISHED so we can improve. This is not about putting down or lording over, remember we are to help each other. If nothing else you can think of this as a spiritual performance review. We will not improve unless we know what we need to work on. We are to SING. Here is where I am weak. Let me explain. When I was in college I took a course called, class voice. About 25 people taking turns learning to sing in public, well in public. The best singers got to take Private Voice lessons. At the end of the year after I finished my last song in the class the teacher said, "Bob, you are the most improved student in the class." That sounded great, then he said. "It is a good thing God called you to preach because you are still the worst singer in the class." Now most people would be hurt by that, but not me, I already knew that. Paul says we are to SING and use Psalms (which means to strike = musical instruments), and to use Hymns (which means to sing out loud) and spiritual songs (which means to take the instruments, our voices and sing to God).

The word unites us as we gather together.

FOURTH: We are united by the NAME of Christ.

That means that whatever we do, whether in word of deed it is to reflect that we are believers and followers of Jesus who is the promised Christ. We are to do ALL in his name. That cover a great distance and a lot of varied circumstances, but that is what it means to be a believer. It is because of this we are to "be thankful" vs. 15, live "with gratitude in your hearts" vs. 16, always "giving thanks to God the Father" vs. 17.

The key to our understand of the name of Jesus was taught us my Jesus. "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." This unites us as no one else on earth can be united. We are united under the power name and leadership of Jesus.

HOW ARE WE CONNECTED AS ONE?