The Sovereign Grace of God

Good evening from the Panhandle. I'm sorry this is late, that seems to be my theme this past few months. We are still in the Book of Colossians, chapter 3. Last week in verses 12-14 we looked at the first two of five areas where God has taken the initiative to restore us - “Because He chose us, we enjoy favor with God” (vs. 12a), and “Because He changed us, we love the People of God” (vs. 12-14). In these verses we are told to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to be forbearing with one another, and forgiving each other. And in verse 14 we see that, “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:14).

Today as we look at verses 15-17 of Colossians chapter 3 we will look at the last three examples of where God has taken the initiative to restore us, and the response He expects from us as a people who have been restored to fellowship with Him.

In verses 15-17, Paul brings his discussion of the “garments of Christian grace” to a climax by saying, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (v. 15). As with love, we must see the peace of God as a dynamic of the church as well as a personal quality. Verses 16-17, along with verse (v. 11), describes the fellowship of all new persons in Christ.

"Peace with God brings the peace of God. It is a peace that settles our nerves, fills our mind, floods our spirit and, in the midst of the uproar around us, gives us the assurance that everything is all right."

Col 3:15-17

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Now:

III. Because He called us, we participate in the peace of God (v. 15)

The word translated "called" means to summon or to call your name, as if you had been summoned to court or to the table of the king. The imagery here is that God has called you out of the world to live in His eternal presence. In His presence there is peace. There is no fighting between His people. 

If Christians could simply picture themselves in the presence of God, where His holiness, might, splendor, and glory were on display, there would be less infighting and more unity or peace between them. The peace of God mentioned here is not the indwelling feeling of comfort, but rather an external reality that should exist between Christians. What Paul is saying here is that the peace of God should govern your heart. It should have control of and power over your heart to the end that as a body we are one.

Now there is a right way and a wrong way to have peace. The wrong way is to leave sin unchecked, to compromise truth for the sake of unity, to allow the devil a foothold. The right way is by speaking the truth in love, confronting sin, and forgiving the sinner. Because we are called or summoned into God's presence, we are to allow His peace to arbitrate all of our dealings with one another. The Greek word used is brabeuo (brab-yoo'-o) - It comes from the athletic arena and Paul is literally saying, “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your heart.” 

 

If you would admit it your heart is an arena of conflict and competition. All sorts of feelings clash within. Christ Jesus met a man who dwelled among the tombs, bound in chains, who called himself legion, “for I am many.” Peace ruled in that man’s heart when Christ Jesus healed him. He was then seen “clothed in his right mind.” We are a legion of passion and love, of fear and hope, of jealousy and trust, of cynicism and goodwill, of indifference and concern, of distrust and awareness. How are all of these feelings to be arbitrated, to be harmonized? What feelings are to be given reign? What or where or who is the umpire to settle the clashes? Let Christ Jesus' peace be the umpire.

Not only is Christ Jesus the arbiter of all your inner clashings, of the feelings that battle inside you, in your interpersonal relationships, in your family, in the world and especially in the church; in Him you have the key factor for getting along together—the peace of Christ. To know about the garments of grace is one thing, to wear them gracefully is another. Is your live in turmoil this morning? Why not find rest in the peace of Christ Jesus?

The body-life of the Christian congregation is described in verse 16. Here is an exciting rationale to guide us as we plan programs, design curriculum, structure our life, strategize for growth, and engage in worship in our local churches. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

IV. Because He counsels us, we build up the family of God (v. 16)

There is much I could say about the Word of God, about its promises, its power, its prophecies, its principles and its priorities. But the context of what Paul says here is the instructive nature of the Word of God as you meditate on it, as you ingest it as spiritual food. He is talking about the fruit that is borne from instruction. That is the richness of God's Word, and the fruit it bears in your life. 

As God's Word teaches us, we instruct, teach, and admonish one another. The truth here is that we are one others keepers. We are accountable to God for one another, particularly in the local church body.

The centrality of the Word of God is crucial. Just as pastor and teachers are rooted in the Word, the entire body needs to be immersed in the Word, to the point that it dwells in us richly in all wisdom. Wisdom comes from abiding with Christ Jesus and allowing His words to abide in you.

Teaching is one side of the coin so to speak. It is where we positively instruct one another, where we share insights, truths, and wisdom with each other. Admonition, is the other side. It means to warn or to caution others. When you love someone, you do both. You instruct them as to what they should do and you warn them as to what they should not do. This communication is not directed to those outside the fellowship, but is the dynamic relationship of all within the body of Christ. You teach and admonish one another, presenting what you have learned, sharing your insights, being with, holding responsible, challenging, supporting, questioning, guiding—all for the building up of the body, so that we might all be equipped for ministry within and outside the church.

Certainly your gifts are connected with the gospel. The “word of Christ” is His living presence within us. We are admonished to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. The word for dwell is enoikeo (en-oy-keh'-o) and is made up of two Greek words en which means “position” and oikos (oy-keh'-o) which means “to occupy a house.” Paul is saying that Christ Jesus is to be “at home” in our hearts. 

 

Paul carries it even further. He says the word of Christ is to dwell richly, abundantly, without limits. The ministry that is given to all Christians, and for which the Holy Spirit gives us gifts, is that of sharing Christ Jesus. All of us as Christians are the communicators of our Lord. Because God's Word is at home in your heart, you are to allow it to direct your interactions with one another. 

In the body of Christ every person is ministered to and is a minister. In Ephesians 4:11–12, Paul says that, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”. You are to allow God's Word to teach you, to counsel you as you teach and admonish one another. And all this is to be done in an attitude of praise and worship, as you give thanks to God for all He has done. Now some people, when they admonish or teach others, assume a condescending or holier than thou attitude. But this is not the way of Christ Jesus who taught and admonished in love. This is how it should be with us.

The Scripture is teaching that your attitude should be one of praise and worship, one of gratitude and thanksgiving. When you are focused on praising God, on worshiping Him, on thanking Him for all He has done for you: It will keep you in His presence, mindful of His mercy and His grace, mindful of your own unworthiness. It will keep you from having a wrong attitude toward others “With grace in your hearts to the Lord” (v. 16). 

 

In the lives of Christians, Christ dwells richly, because of grace. Our response is to be gracious, to be thankful and to express that in celebration of joy—psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing. We are a community of gifts, equipped by the Holy Spirit to minister to each other and to the world. Equipped to share Christ Jesus within and outside the church. We are to be a people—grace-filled, grace-equipped, grace-celebrating—in whom Christ Jesus dwells richly and through whom grace flows to the world. Everything about the church is to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-controlled. Our worship is to reflect God's grace.

It was a mild October afternoon in 1982 and Badger Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin was packed. Over 60,000 die-hard University of Wisconsin fans were watching their beloved football team take a beating by Michigan State. What seemed odd was that as the score became more and more lopsided bursts of cheers and applause kept being heard in the stands. It was only natural that some people began to wonder who these strange people were who were cheering while their team was being pummeled.

As it turns out seventy miles away from Badger stadium the Milwaukee Brewers were beating the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the World Series. Many of the Badger fans in the stands were listening to portable radios and responding to something else besides what was happening right in front of their eyes.

In many ways that is a fairly accurate description of what the Christian life is like. We might be in the midst of horrible circumstances in this world and yet we have something to cheer about. We are able to see by faith the victory that is ours in Christ.

V. Because He cares for us, we cherish the Name of God (v. 17)

Our gratitude causes us to be careful about how we carry the name of Christ Jesus. It causes us to be mindful of the fact that we are called Christians, and that our actions reflect to the world the reality of Christ Jesus. That's what it means to do something in the name of Christ Jesus - to do it on His behalf, under His authority, and according to His will. 

The church is to be an example of the kingdom of God when everything is reconciled to Christ Jesus. For that reason Paul says within the church, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian Scythian (skoo'-thace-ian) (vs. 11). Barriers are shattered, walls of separation are brought down, and the peaceable kingdom is demonstrated, though in miniature, in the church. 

 

Anyone who is joined to Christ Jesus is joined to all others who have a part in the new community. This does not mean that we become a bunch of mindless drones, that our uniqueness and distinctiveness is obliterated. The church is not to be a nameless, faceless fellowship. Christians are not to be carbon copies of one another, living a life of cookie-cutter sameness, devoid of individual qualities. The church is made up of all these people Paul named and more. And the differences of all these people cannot be grounds for discrimination or division. The Holy Spirit makes us one and in Christ Jesus we are of equal worth. 

 

Paul concludes this section by restating the centrality of Christ Jesus. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (v. 17).

Conclusion

By His sovereign grace, God can bring good out of our failures, and even out of our sins. J. Stuart Holden tells of an old Scottish mansion close to where he had his little summer home. The walls of one room were filled with sketches made by distinguished artists. The practice began after a pitcher of soda water was accidentally spilled on a freshly decorated wall and left an unsightly stain. At the time, a noted artist, Lord Landseer, was a guest in the house. One day when the family went out to the moors, he stayed behind. With a few masterful strokes of a piece of charcoal, that ugly spot became the outline of a beautiful waterfall, bordered by trees and wildlife. He turned that disfigured wall into one of his most successful depictions of Highland life. - Swindoll, The Quest For Character, Multnomah, p. 49.

Do you do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father? Have you experienced the sovereign grace of God? If not, why not do so now?