May 30, 2021

“ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR LIFE?”

“THE LAST DAYS”

COLOSSIANS 1:21-24

What should be our “attitude” for the day we live in?

God’s Three R’s For The Last Days:

1.   Reconciliation

Colossians 1:21-22 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”

“Reconcile”-means to bring together, to union, to put back together or to piece together.

“In your mind”-the battlefield is the mind of man.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.”

“by wicked works”- these are the results of what’s going on in our mind.

Ephesians 4:17-19 “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

“Yet now He has reconciled”-God picks up the broken pieces and through Christ makes us whole.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, have you been reconciled to Him?

That is the issue. This reconciliation was done “in the body of His flesh through death” vs. 22

*The Goal

Colossians 1:22 “In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”

“To present you holy”-this is your inner relationship with God, it starts in the heart.

“And blameless”-our sin is dealt with.

“And above reproach”-free from accusation

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s prayer for believers

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

The work of reconciliation-God did this through Christ.

The ministry of reconciliation- We as believers are to take this message to others so they can be reconciled to God.

The word of reconciliation- Jesus has made it possible for all people to be reconciled.

2.   Reward

Colossians 1:23 “If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

Remember salvation is by grace but once we receive Christ we have a responsibility to appropriate it in our lives.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Because we have been saved we are to do the works that are pleasing to God.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

But when you are presented before God, how will you be presented? Some will be presented holy, without blame but some will be ashamed.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Two things we need to do to be presented holy:

* “continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast” vs. 23

You need to know the Word of God.

* “and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel” vs. 23

Don’t be moved away from the hope:

Titus 2:13 “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Hope defined:

1 John 3:3 “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Two ways to overcome the attacks:

* To be grounded and settled in the Word of God

* Be not moved away from the hope that Jesus is coming again soon.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

3.   Rejoicing

Colossians 1:24 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

There is no rejoicing without suffering.

2 Timothy 2:12 “If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.

If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”

1 Timothy 1:16 “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

Philippians 2:17 “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

God comforts us and we are to comfort others. The ministry of reconciliation.

Colossians 1:24 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

What is your attitude toward the last days?