Risen With Christ

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[What an incredible transformation we have experienced through our new birth.  Paul expresses this metamorphosis by asking, “If ye then be risen with Christ . . .” (vs 1).  The old hymn has us singing,  ] 

[Since Jesus Came Into My Heart Lyrics: ]

[What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart! ]

[Refrain ]

[Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Floods of joy o'er my soul
Like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart. ]

[I have ceased from my wandering and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins, which were many, are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart! ]

[Refrain ]

[I'm possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
Since Jesus came into my heart! ]

[Refrain ]

[There's a light in the valley of death now for me,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
Since Jesus came into my heart! ]

[Refrain ]

[I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And I'm happy, so happy, as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart! ]

[Refrain ]

[Now our text focuses us upon what ought to be the greatest demonstration of this glorious transformation in all the world; the affect of the New Birth upon our family.  If you have been resurrected with Christ, then there ought to be evidence of this resurrection pouring out of your life and it ought to demonstrate itself in the way you live your life which will undeniably affect your home and family.  ] 

[The world ought to look at the families of born again Christians and ought to see the wonder and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ pouring out of our homes.  A Christian’s home ought to be a taste of heaven here on earth.  A Christian home ought to manifest everything that our Lord states ought to be present in His kingdom people.  What are those manifestations?  Well, they are not those things that this world thinks are important; such as worldly treasures and luxuries.  Instead they are those things that God says are important and that when truly realized bring comfort, contentment, and satisfaction in life.]

[Our text has already given us direction concerning what really matters in life and we will go back and be reminded of these characteristics.  It is important to notice that as soon as the Apostle finishes writing about these divine characteristics, the ones we studied just last week, he immediately turns our focus upon the home.  The home, the Christian family is the foundation for a glorious community and culture.   Every hope and desire for a fulfilling life and future finds its root in a resurrected, transformed, born again family and home.] 

[So, following our text lets consider first the home in general and its importance in our world and our Lord’s kingdom.  ] 

Let us consider the,

 A. Hindrances To A Resurrection Family (vs 8-9) [– But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; - this list in our text gives us a direct understanding of those characteristics that will make our lives miserable.  They will likewise make your home or family miserable.  In other words there are some obstacles that get in the way of our glorious resurrected home and family.  We must understand that these hindrances are both personal and communal.  You can allow one or two of these characteristics into your own heart and life and it will affect your entire home.  These vexing characteristics have the tendency of being like a bad virus in that they find a host in the home and quickly spread throughout the household and can become a plague in ones whole community.] 

[Illustration - Get a little gossipy malice in your mind and start to share it with those in your home and it wont be long until it finds it way to your Christian friends homes, into your non-Christian families homes, into the community in general and  the next thing you know, and much quicker than you would ever hope or think, the whole culture around you is permeated with a bit of malice you started.  By the way, the interesting thing about the virus of malice and gossip is that it mutates as it goes so that you may hear the bit of malice that started in your heart and words and may not even recognize that it is the bit you started in the first place.] 

[As I consider the many hindrances to a resurrection family three things seem to be pre-eminent in my mind.  I am certain there are many others but I choose to bring up these three in this message because it seems to me that these are prominent in our day.] 

The Resurrection Family Is Hindered By, 

1.    Our Waywardness (Deut 12.8; Psalm 36.1-4; Prov 12.15; Isa 53.6) [– There is a type of waywardness that I believe we see more in our day than most desire to admit.  It is warned against in the Bible time and time again and I believe is the ensign or banner of apostasy. Especially the apostasy of our day.  It is the tendency for every person to do what is right in their own eyes.  Moses warned of this waywardness in the second law.  He wrote,] 

[Deuteronomy 12:8 ⁸ Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. ]

[Moses was warning about an apostasy of worship, wherein every man worshipped in his won way and place.]

[Psalm 36:1-4 ¹ The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. ² For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. ³ The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. ⁴ He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. ]

[This is an apostasy of action or desire.  It is every man determining his own right and wrong.  This is situational ethics played out in an individual’s heart and life. ] 

[Proverbs 12:15 ¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. ]

[The prophet warned,] 

[Isaiah 53:6 ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.]

[Our waywardness, our wandering in our own sense of right and wrong must be put off as Paul stated in,] 

[Colossians 3:9-10 ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ]

[Understand my Christian friends that when you continue in our waywardness, by calling your wrong right and calling right wrong, then you bring confusion and division into your home, family, and community.  This is exactly what we see in our culture and world today.  Mothers and fathers wrestle with right and wrong.  As a result their children wrestle with right and wrong, and the home lacks peace, integrity, love, and unity.] 

[What is the cure to the fracture of waywardness in the home and family, it is the Word of God, and only the Word of God.  It is not the manipulation of the word of God.  It is not the twisting of the Word of God.  It is the appeal to and trust in the Word of God.] 

2.    Our Worldliness (Exo 23.2; 2 Pet 2.7-8; Rom 12.1-2) [– Almighty God warned,] 

[Exodus 23:2 ² Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: ]

[Though all the masses of our world run after some worldly vice and evil we must know that evil is evil no matter how many people are doing it.  In our day we subject ourselves to the multitudes of our world and their wicked ways every day.  We send our children to walk in this world’s vices everyday at school, we work in our world’s vices everyday at work, and then we come home and watch our world’s wickedness on our televisions and in our entertainment.  Christians have become lost and vexed just as righteous Lot did.  The Bible states of Lot,] 

[2 Peter 2:7-8 ⁷ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸ (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ]

[Are we like vexed Lot?  Is your home a resurrection home?   Do those things that should mark a resurrection home mark your family?  Is their peace, godly love, joy, kindness, holiness, and purity in your home?  If there is not then why not?  Many would quickly proclaim  because of my husband, my wife, my children, or someone else.  But the truth is likely that if there is no resurrection life in your home it is because there is no resurrection determination in you!] 

[Romans 12:1-2 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ]

[I tell you parents, youth, children and all others, if there is no resurrection glory in your family then perhaps worldliness is one of your hindrances.]

3.    Our Wantonness (James 4.1;Exo 20.17; Psalm 10.3; James 1.13-15) [– This is the desire to have more and more.  It is greed or covetousness.  James wrote,] 

[James 4:1 ¹ From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ]

[God commanded,] 

[Exodus 20:17 ¹⁷ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. ]

[The Psalmist wrote,] 

[Psalm 10:3 ³ For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. ]

[James wrote,] 

[James 1:13-15 ¹³ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: ¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. ]

[Our own prosperity often works to our families demise.  Peoples desire to have the next high provided by drugs and alcohol will destroy their family.  My Christian friends be careful with your desires.  Exercise self-control over your lusts and desires of they will control you and will rob your family of its resurrection glory.] 

B.     Honing Of The Resurrection Family (vs 12) [ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, . . . – Paul also links the family with those characteristics that mark the resurrection life of the born again Christian.  There are characteristics that the children of God must put on in order to make their homes and families the resurrection families that God wants them to be.  As with the hindrances to the resurrection family I will note three things that will help your home to be a resurrection home.] 

A Resurrection Home Must, 

1.   Be Gracious (Col 4.6; 2 Pet 1.1-4; 1 Pet 3.7) [ - Now grace is giving someone something more than they deserve.  This is what our Lord did for us and it is what he calls for us to do for others.  The Bible ask God’s resurrected people to be like their Lord Jesus Christ and to be graceful in every regard.] 

[Colossians 4:6 ⁶ Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.]

[Peter wrote,]

[2 Peter 1:1-4 ¹ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: ² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: ⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ]

[Again,]

[1 Peter 3:7 ⁷ Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.]

[Those who are resurrected with our Lord Jesus Christ must fill their lives with gracefulness.  You pour grace into your life by pouring the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ into your life.  As you become more and more like Jesus you will become more and more graceful.] 

[A godly resurrection home will be a grace filled home.  By the way how many people in a home must be graceful to bring grace into a family?  I believe that many here today would agree, “Yes, I want a grace filled home!  What a glory it would be to have a grace filled home.”  But they think, it will never happen in my home.  My spouse is a scoundrel and sinner, they will never bring grace into our home.  You Are Right!  They won’t bring grace into your home, but you can and you must.  If your spouse is a lost, wayward, sinner, then you cannot expect them to be the agent of grace for your home.  You are the agent of grace for your home and if you will pour godly grace into your home then grace will be present in your home.  But keep in mind tainted grace, sinful grace is no grace at all.  Keep your grace holy and pure at all times.] 

2.      Give Guidance (Eph 6.4; Matt 5.13-16) [- A resurrection family is anything but a silent family.  The family of God must be a training ground for holiness, righteousness, and faith.  Paul wrote,] 

[Ephesians 6:4 ⁴ And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. ]

[But not only must godly parents teach and train their children but the whole household is intended by God to be a beacon of hope for the world around them.  Jesus said,]

[Matthew 5:13-16 ¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[A resurrected family is a family that permeates the darkness of our world with the glorious light of the redeemed life.] 

3.    Be Given (Deut 6.4-9) [- In a world that is as busy as ever a resurrected family  needs time and a lot of it.  But not just occupied time, a resurrected family needs God focused time.  Moses wrote,] 

[Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: ⁵ And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. ⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. ⁸ And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. ⁹ And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. ]

[A resurrected Christian, who is permeated with Christ, ought to have Christ in their life every moment of every day.  But mind you my Christian friend, that hateful attitudes and comments, harsh and unkind words, and mean spirit are not marks of the resurrected life, they are marks of the worldly and lost life.] 

[Let the presence of Christ and God permeate your home by allow His presence and characteristics to permeate your life.] 

C.     Heritage Of The Resurrection Family [- My Christian friend, we, the resurrected with our Lord, are a light in our world no matter what.  We are the light of the world and the world has been and does look at us and ought look for us.  However, I fear that many have made the light of Christ in us a light of danger rather than a light of hope and safety.  If the light of a light house has led ships into danger and destruction then it won’t be long and those in need of a light will stop looking to that light.  You are a light, what kind of light are you?  What kind of light is your home and family?] 

[There is a heritage for a resurrection family.  Their heritage is at least two fold.]  

There is the heritage of their, 

1.   Reputation (Prov 31.23,28) [- In Proverbs we read about the virtuous or godly woman.  We could easily call this godly woman a resurrected woman, if she lives under the New Covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Many characteristics or traits are listed about this godly woman.  Notice right in the midst of the passage,] 

[Proverbs 31:23 ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ]

[Proverbs 31:28 ²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ]

[This woman’s family praises her because of her godliness in the midst of her home and on behalf of her family.  Not only does her family praise her but her husband is know in the gate of the city.  In other words, this woman has made her whole family and home known in the community by her godliness.  One could easily say her and her family have become a light to all that are around them.] 

[My Christian friend, you have the power to build up or tear down you family and home and its all a matter of what you will put on or take off as a child of God.]  

2.      Reward (1 Cor 7.10-14) [- To have a godly home is to be desire.  A resurrection family is worth having.] 

[How does one have a resurrection family and home?  It starts with you, and it starts today, and it lives in and through you.  Is your spouse lost and undone without Christ?  Don’t be discouraged, you lie the resurrection life and be the agent of grace and godliness in your home.  Do you feel its futile to live a godly life in a home filled with lost people.  Don’t dismay, live the resurrected life among them regardless.] 

[1 Corinthians 7:10-14 ¹⁰ And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: ¹¹ But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. ¹² But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. ¹³ And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. ]

[As you live the resurrected life among them they just might get saved and begin to live the resurrection life with you.]

CrossRoads Baptist Church, May 02, 2010