Christian life is a many-faceted relationship to Jesus Christ

• Through

• In

• Under

• With

• For

• To

• Like Christ

• These

prepositions

indicate the

magnificence

of being a

Christian

“With Christ”

• What reaction does that cause?

• Most think of heaven

• That's where we'll be when we're with Christ

• Gravestones: "With Christ, which is far better"

Jesus’ promise:

• John 14:1-3 NIV "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Paul's desire:

• Philippians 1:23-24 NIV I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Paul's confidence:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Paul's confidence:

• 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

If we know the Bible, “with Christ” makes us think of heaven

• By comparison, Christ’s presence with us here is so feeble as to be thought of as an absence:– 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NIV Therefore we are always

confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

• Every Christian longs for the day when faith will be sight with Jesus

• But not yet

Remember the Gadarene demoniac:

• Mark 5:18 NIV As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.– Wanted to go with Jesus, but couldn't, because he

had a responsibility on earth to tell

• Forerunner of Christian escapists, who want to be with Jesus & out of the world– They do not feel responsibility to tell others

Must be with Christ on earth before we can be with Christ in heaven

• Like the Corinthians, many think old bonds are eradicated & old responsibilities abdicated

• 1 Corinthians 7:20 NIV Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.

“With Christ” does not eliminate relationships, it transforms them

• Jesus' command to make disciples was accompanied by a promise:

• Matthew 28:19-20 NIV Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Fellowship with Christ

Colossians 2:20-3:4 NIV

• Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Colossians 2:20-3:4 NIV

• 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Four "with Christ" statements

• We died with Christ– Colossians 2:20 NIV Since you died with Christ to the

basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:

• We have been raised with Christ– Colossians 3:1 NIV Since, then, you have been raised

with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Four "with Christ" statements

• Our life is hidden with Christ– Colossians 3:3 NIV For you died, and your life is now

hidden with Christ in God.

• We will appear with Christ in glory– Colossians 3:4 NIV When Christ, who is your life,

appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Four relationships with Christ

We have died with Christ

• Colossians 2:20 NIV Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:

• No better way to indicate the end of anything than to speak of its death– Paul says the old, unconverted life is finished

– We are dead to sin and guilt

Familiar texts:

• Galatians 2:20 NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

• Galatians 6:14 NIV May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Familiar texts:

• Romans 6:3-4 NIV Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

We have been raised with Christ

• Colossians 3:1 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

• New life of freedom & forgiveness has begun– Evidence of resurrection power in our lives

– Philippians 3:10-11 NIV I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Our life is hidden with Christ in God

• Colossians 3:3 NIV For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

• Where is Christ?

• Seated at the right hand of God

• He has ascended, has been exalted and is enthroned

As a man, Jesus had a hidden life

• Occasionally, the glory shone through in miracles, transfiguration, etc.

• Ordinarily, he seemed quite ordinary– People asked, "Isn't this the carpenter's son?"

– If they had identified him as the Lord of glory, they wouldn't have crucified him

– People had difficulty understanding the paradox of Jesus – God and man

• Now, he is hidden from public view

Christians have a hidden life

We look the same on the outside

• Physical features, tastes, temperament, relationships are all basically the same

• Nationality, parents, friends & job still the same

• Something has changed on the inside– We have a hidden life – calm confidence, serenity,

love, sensitivity, sympathy all begin to grow within us

– There's a growing control over evil in our lives

This because of our relationship with Christ:

• Redeemed through Christ

• Accepted in Christ

• Living under Christ

• Others only occasionally get a glimpse of the changes going on inside us

The reason for the changes – Christ is our life

• Colossians 3:4 NIV When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

• We will appear with Christ

Jesus is coming!

• His second coming will be different– First coming in humiliation; second in glory

– First coming was incognito; second will be acclaimed

– Revelation 1:7 NIV Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

• Our hidden life will be over & we’ll be seen for what we are – glorified children of God

These four events are more than historical – they are personal

• Jesus died– We’ve died with him

• Jesus was raised– We’ve been raised with him

• Jesus has been exalted– We’ve been exalted with him

• Jesus is coming in glory– We’ll be glorified with him

Effects of being with Christ

We have new ambitions

• Colossians 3:2 NIV Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

• “Things above” – things compatible with the kingdom of Christ – righteousness, joy, peace

• This is the same idea as Jesus expressed:– Matthew 6:33 NIV But seek first his kingdom and his

righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We have a new standard of morality

• Inconceivable that we’d go back to old ways

• Colossians 3:5-7 NIV Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

We have a new approach to relationships

• No more abusive behavior– Colossians 3:8-11 NIV But now you must rid

yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

In its place, embracing behavior

• Colossians 3:12-14 NIV Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Foundation of new life is theological – we are with Christ

As a Christian, say to yourself constantly:

• I died with Christ to the old life; it's over

• I've been raised with Christ to new life; it's begun

• I've been exalted with Christ to God's presence

• I'm going to appear with Christ in glory one day

• This conviction has more power to transform us than any other conviction in the world

• How can you be united with Christ in his death, resurrection & ascension & in his future glory?

Romans 6:3-8 NIV

• Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Have you been buried with Christ?

Are you living your life with Christ?