Set Apart: Holiness Lived
Pastor Joel Magpantay
Jesus gives us a new status of righteousness that enables us to live the daily process of becoming holy.
Colossians 1:21–23 ESV
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:10-12 ESV
…so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Colossians 4:12 ESV
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
Life Empowered by Christ
They will bear fruit in every good work (1:10).
They will grow in the knowledge of God (1:10)
They will be strengthened with power (1:11).
They will possess endurance and patience (1:11).
They will give joyful thanks to the Father (1:12).
Colossians 2:4 ESV
“I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.”
Colossians 2:8 ESV
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:21-23 ESV
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 1:21–23 ESV
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
1. Alienation
Colossians 1:21 ESV
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds . . .
Colossians 1:21 The Message
“At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got.”
If you fail to see your sin, you have failed to see the Holy God. We don’t consider our sins very evil until we see the goodness and holiness of God.
2. Reconciliation
Colossians 1:21 ESV
“… he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death . . .”
Hebrews 9:11-12 ESV
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
3. Restoration
Colossians 1:21 ESV
“. . . in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him . . .”
John 15:15 ESV
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
No matter who you were, you can be transformed into someone new and given access to someplace new…
…God’s presence.
4. Faith
Colossians 1:23 ESV
“…if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard . . .”
Everyone who puts their hope in Jesus’ life and death for the forgiveness of their sin has a new status.
How will you live differently as a result?
Do you believe he has made you holy?
Jesus has, and you can live each day with that reality shaping who you are and transforming you more and more into his image.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher