Living the New Life

30 December 2012
Aaron Bjerke

Colossians 3:12-7
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  16Let the word of Christ swell in your 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.  17And 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.

Being a Christian is life transforming.

VISION OF A NEW LIFE (v.12-15)
--v.12: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
--Shift in identity - call to be something greater than we can achieve.
--"Our Father" puts us in Jesus's shoes.
--Spiritual experience can often be in the mundane.

REALITY OF A NEW LIFE
--Faith isn't separable from action.
--Inconsitent action requires a deeper Christianity.
--v.13: Forgiveness comes from acknowledging God's forgiveness of us which allows us to forgive.
--v.14: God's love isn't dependent on the object, but rather on Himself -- Love as you have been loved by God

POWER OF A NEW LIFE
--v.15: A peace found through Christ.