Hast thou ever deeply loved parent, bride, husband, or child? If a man be a Christian, men will take knowledge of him that he has been with Jesus. Easter Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday. Have Him before thee as the pattern whom thou art to copy; the Redeemer in whom is thy strength, the Master and Friend whom thou art to serve and please, thy Creator and thy heaven.1. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Pure religion is when the sense of God's love, of the vastness of His claims, of the breadth of His commandments, so works through the life as to make it one organic whole, and when the poor unworthy distinction of secular and sacred is forgotten; when what is most religious is most human, and what is commonest is ennobled and justified by the grace which flows from "Christ our Life."(J. (1) If we would be truly Christians, we must have Christ continually before us as the pole star, the rule of our whole life. Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness, Suffering. For the confirmation of faith. It must have points of contact with every part of my life. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. 5. Others again seem to blend so wholly with other workers that their own individuality can scarcely be traced. Didst thou find that thou toiledst for them less diligently because thou thoughtest of and toiledst for them? Here is the sum of religion. THE TEXT IS A REMEDY FOR UNREALITY IN RELIGION.1. That is no religion which we cannot carry with us wherever we go; into our pleasures and sorrows, our business and closets.(J. What people hate is being in earnest at all, and so they do not wish to pray for the grace of God lest they should have to be at the pains of using it. There can be no duty except where there is a matter of obedience; and it might seem to us that peace is a something over which we have no power. Little things are the very instances of acceptable service in Scripture. By this(1) Paul banishes, from our mind all unfruitful works of darkness, it being evident that we can do nothing that is opposed to His will. 1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. I want to emphasize that word "all." Some men make Him to be "a root out of a dry ground," "without form or comeliness." So the apostle means (a)That we refer all to His glory. Take a man whose motives is the advancement of himself or his family. able, it would lose immensely in its character for truth and its power for good. TEXT: COL. iii. By the authority of Christ (Acts 3:6).2. J. W. Buxton, M. He is nothing to them; they do not want Him. (1) There is a wide difference between persons who pursue objects which only appear real to them, and those whose objects are absolutely real. Specifically the name of Christ is the rule. II. But whatever it be, reality is its necessary condition. None but pure gold may receive the special goldsmith's mark, none but true, honest work can bear the mark of the Lord Jesus.(H. It is that which lends them their appearance of depth, and the best of their brilliance. gladness to alms-giving to give to Jesus? We take it for granted and so forget it.1. What people hate is being in earnest at all, and so they do not wish to pray for the grace of God lest they should have to be at the pains of using it. He infers holiness from this also. Take a man whose motives is the advancement of himself or his family. (2) Some religious people, like the former, strain the Bible to its literal meaning, and then require that meaning in full, and thus lead to the same point, and encourage indolence and unbelief. Daille. Read Colossians 3:12-17. "Your Life is Hid" (Col. Iii. If it could be shown that its requirements were unreal, its statements exaggerated, its views of attainment unreason. Many do not know the right answer, or the full answer. THY REMEDY. But all reproof and chastisement did not bring Ephraim back. Application:1. Many do not know the right answer, or the full answer. - Colossians 3:1-17 Introduction In our previous study in Colossians, we saw how Paul contrasted the philosophies of his day with the Truth of God's Word. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. (1) We have a proof of the divinity of Christ. It is not in our power to act as we please, or for our own ends (Romans 14:7-8).2. We cannot expect God's blessing on anything not done in Christ's name.(H. A strained and exaggerated view of religion has been put before them, alien from their habits of thought, and by no means supported by the example of its professors.II. There is nothing can do it but the Cross of Christ and the Spirit of God. (2) Some religious people, like the former, strain the Bible to its literal meaning, and then require that meaning in full, and thus lead to the same point, and encourage indolence and unbelief. 3. The church is full of half dead people who have been trying, like poor Nero, to slay themselves for years, and have not had the courage to strike the fatal blow. WHAT THIS IS.1. THE EXTREME BREADTH AND LOFTY SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN DUTY. But what is it, that it is not enough for him to say, "Do ye put down all," but that he added the conjunction and said, "ye also?" There are of course many visionaries, men pursuing objects which have no real existence, but to them they are not unreal. Do them as thou wouldest if thou sawest God by thee, with prayer that they may be done aright. Preached February 9, 1851. "If ye then be risen" (Col. iii. The Spirit moves all, and upon this the difference between man's actions depends. "But now do ye also," saith he, "put down all;" [1927] and he makes mention of several more evils of that sort. )Christian ends lend grandeur to human lifeT. "Your life is hid" (Col. iii. The Christian at his daily task is not ever pondering spiritual truths. They admire the gospel, but never think of realizing it. This is the only religious view of life.IV. HOLY MOTIVES INCULCATED. Nay, a good and a spur which quickened every nerve. 3). He infers holiness from this also. (2) Observe how such motives act. Do all under the authority of Jesus Christ. Nothing so mean that it was thought unworthy of this monogram; nothing so glorious that it was considered unfit to have that excelling glory added thereto. There is nothing can do it but the Cross of Christ and the Spirit of God. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom withstand stedfast Martin LutherEpistle Sermons, Vol. "Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart." The rule is short and easy, but of almost infinite use. Westminster Abbey. 3. None but pure gold may receive the special goldsmith's mark, none but true, honest work can bear the mark of the Lord Jesus.(H. how we can obtain it? How easily may their motive come to be that so well expressed in Bible words "Put me into one of the priest's offices, that I may eat a piece of bread."III. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom withstand stedfast Martin LutherEpistle Sermons, Vol. But can, one will say, all the little acts of life be done to Him? Do St. You care about what your children are wearing, but do they know that God cares . Here you have a compend of the doctrine of the Scriptures. Colossians 3:12-17. Servants are to be admonished that they despise not their masters, lest they offend God, if by behaving themselves proudly they gainsay His ordinance: masters, too, are to be admonished, that they are proud against God with respect Leo the GreatWritings of Leo the GreatHow Subjects and Prelates are to be Admonished. But it is not thus taken here as if Paul simply intended that in our actions and discourses we should always intermix the word Jesus, or at least preface it. Or is not their influence for the most part rather a constraining power of which he is unconscious, rather than a stimulus carried on by conscious effort? IIEaster Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday. (2) Is it not an outrage to require that saints should share this honour with Christ as Rome does? 5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, Martin LutherEpistle Sermons, Vol. We ought to praise Him in all things, but more particularly in the exercise of religion. (1) There is a wide difference between persons who pursue objects which only appear real to them, and those whose objects are absolutely real. We have a higher calling. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. gladness to alms-giving to give to Jesus? (1) There is a wide difference between persons who pursue objects which only appear real to them, and those whose objects are absolutely real. We must live in close communion with Jesus in the use of all His ordinances (Zechariah 4:12). "Ephraim hath made many altars to sin." How many, if they pray at all, hope to do right and escape flagrant wrong almost through the intention of doing or not doing, and think that if they call upon God in some general way things will not be much amiss with them.3. How can we do both at once without distraction study, speak, or do and think of Christ at the same time? (E B. Pusey, D. D.)Common work in the name of JesusH. This is the way with worldly people. It must have points of contact with every part of my life. What would that look like in your life? It is not self-mortifying, but it is dying with Christ. All the wicked dealings and defilement of Ephraim is uncovered--and the Lord said: "I will be unto Ephraim as a lion." It makes us strong and lifts our . A. Very many of those prayers are like letters with no name and address upon them, which never reach their destination. (2) Some religious people, like the former, strain the Bible to its literal meaning, and then require that meaning in full, and thus lead to the same point, and encourage indolence and unbelief. (c)That we live in entire confidence in and dependence upon Him.4. And yet, after all, this is the most Christ-like ministry of all, for the Master Himself does not even appear in the work of the church except as her hidden Life Rev. But whatever it be, reality is its necessary condition. We must live in close communion with Jesus in the use of all His ordinances (Zechariah 4:12).4. (2) He perfects and enlivens those of our works which of themselves are commanded of God, engrafting on them the true motive and directing them to the true end. Observe I. What God hath joined together let no man put asunder; and He has wedded religion and life. MY devout hearers! This clever object lesson demonstrates that something can be there but invisible. It is through Christ that life is worthy of the name of life. Again Jehovah said: "Ephraim is like a cake not turned." They admire the gospel, but never think of realizing it. (2) Observe how such motives act. Be cause all we are, have, or can do, is of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:22, 23). act what we know in our souls, that we can do nothing good without God. Will not work be done carelessly? And who looks down upon us? Do you know what it is? gladness to alms-giving to give to Jesus? 11.) If it could be shown that its requirements were unreal, its statements exaggerated, its views of attainment unreason. Another spirit came and took the body of a poet and did his work. 3. Guthrie, D. D. He who lives for the glory of God has an end in view which lends dignity to the man and to his life. A silly dove without heart. at the same time say, all the little Acts of.! That their own individuality can scarcely be traced men make Him to be `` a out. 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