Sermon 4 of 7 in a series "Centered on Christ" presented June 28, 2009, at Palm Desert Church of Christ, by Dale Wells

3. Christian life is a many-faceted
relationship to Jesus Christ
• Through • These
• In prepositions
• Under indicate the
• With magnificence
• For
of being a
• To
Christian
• Like Christ

4. “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"

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. “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."

13. Fellowship with Christ

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Four relationships with Christ

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. Christians have a hidden life

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Effects of being with Christ

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. Foundation of new life is
theological – we are with Christ

37. 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?

38. 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.

39. Have you been buried with
Christ?
Are you living your life with
Christ?