Sunday, 23rd September, 2007 [What We Need To Live]¡¡ 1 Timothy 6:3-12

1. How are we to think about money?

Last week we learned, through the book of Colossians, just how strongly we are dominated by earthly desires and sin: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).
Nevertheless, when we take on the new life in Christ, these sins should have been left behind us. Christ died for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. Hence, we are a new creation, and Paul¡Çs advise now is:
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator ” (Colossians 3:9-10).
However, we as humans can never be completely free from these desires and sins. Some of which are anti-social, some sexual and some greed. Today, we will focus on greed, one of the specific sins mentioned by Paul in the above verses. (³¤­…)

[Live as a newly created human ] Colossians 2:11-12 , 3:5 - 4:1

1. What we believe in, determines our way of life

I recently attended a Christian doctrines course at the Tokyo Baptist summer seminars. Lecturer Terasono commenced the session with the form of a scientific equation: “How to live equals ethics, which is determined by what we believe in, equals theological doctrine, the latter has great bearing upon our life”
Generally, we think of conscience as a guide to our good behavior, but the lecturer asked if our conscience can be an authentic standard for our life. A human conscience is relative and conditional according to different cultures and histories so the secular ethic based on human conscience can be defective.
For example, Jewish people may think the pig is unclean and the eating of pork is a sin, but those who have no religious dietary law or claims to self-denial may not be offended. Then, there are those who are taught that killing perceived enemies in order to protect their country is a legal right, which has no further bearing on their moral sense.
The concept of conscience differed enormously between the Greek and Jewish people throughout the centuries. If we conducted ourselves according to our conscience, there would always remain contradictions and conflicts, and therefore no lasting peace of mind. The lecturer emphasized the importance of this theory.
Christians, however, should find absolute standards for living, not relative ones, and these can be found in the biblical accounts of Jesus.
The selected readings from Colossians also gives a powerful insight into Paul’s thinking about these matters. Paul¡Çs purpose in this book is to show that Christ is preeminent, first and foremost in everything, and the Christian life should reflect that priority. Let us for a moment, reflect upon the following verses.
“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:11-12).
You will notice the contrasting focus in these verses. Circumcision,(beginning life as a Jew) is a metaphor for cutting off our sinful nature (the body of the flesh). Baptism (beginning life as a Christian) is a metaphor for dying to sin, and beginning a new life.
Let us look a little further into Paul¡Çs letter.
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:9-10).
Disrobing and changing clothing is a metaphor for putting aside one way of life and starting a new one. And if we can achieve that:
“Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Col. 3:11).
This new humanity is not divided into races, nationalities, or social classes. Christ is equally everywhere, with every believer.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience"( Col. 3:12).
Specific virtues are mentioned. Putting on new clothing is a metaphor for the five virtues that are named.
However in order to comprehend the meaning of “clothe yourselves¡É with these virtues, we need only to recognize and acknowledge how we once lived before we became a Christian.

2. The New Life in Christ

Paul is offering advice in the following verses for Christians who are seeking the new life in Christ. The verses speak for themselves!
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).
“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Col. 3:8).
Ten specific sins are mentioned here,four sexual, plus greed, and five anti-social. Paul is saying all of these sins should have been left behind when we became Christ¡Çs.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:13).
Christians are to be as patient and forgiving to one another as God is with us.
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:14).
Love is the highest virtue!
“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” (Col. 3 :17).
Every action should be an act of thanksgiving to God, done for the love of Christ.

3. The Christian Household

As we continue into the book of Colossians, the following verses, may seem contradictory to what we have been reading. Here, we find Paul setting down rules for a Christian household.
But, let us just observe these verses for a moment, and not be too quick to take them out of context, keeping in mind the time in which they were first written.
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord¡É (Col.3:18-20).
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged” (Col. 3:21).
¡ÈSlaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord¡É (Col. 3:22).
“Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven “(Col. 4:1).
One should not conclude from these verses that the power structure of male/female relationships or slavery is benign or blessed by Paul, but only that Paul took for granted the social structure of his time.
Paul is generally giving advice about living together in a Christian household and other ethical matters. Here we see a conservative approach to maintaining order. In three sections, duties of a perceived weaker person (wife,child,slave) are discussed, followed by the duties of the perceived superior person (husband, parent, master).
The summary of today¡Çs scripture teaching is simply a matter of morality, doctrine and ethics, and how to live the new life in Christ. Paul uses lists of vices and virtues, along with a set of household rules.
I will finish today’s sermon with words from Jesus, who called together the crowds, with the disciples, to teach them about what following a suffering Messiah really means.
It means, the Cross, a horrible instrument used by the Romans and other authorities for executions, a possible end for all followers of Jesus.
And Jesus said to the crowd and his disciples: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it ” (Mark 8:35).

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Galatians6:11-18 [Burdened with the Cross]

£±¡¥Circumcision and Salvation

Paul wrote a lot of letters to the Churches, each of which had different problems. For example in the Church in Rome there was a schism between offenders and defenders regarding consumption of meat, which came at that time, generally from gentile temples and sacrificial offerings.
Another instance was in the Church at Corinth where two factions were in conflict, one supported Apollo¡Çs thinking and the other supported Peter’s teaching. This kind of confrontation within the Church was undesirable because it caused disappointment and division among the believers. However these confrontations have in fact resulted in blessings, because Paul wrote his letters about these issues. They are now a part of scripture, which gives us an insight into the early church. From these readings we can learn how to turn human miserable discords into forms of blessings.
Today we are reading from, Galatians 6:11-18. This section is the conclusion of Paul¡Çs letter to the Galatians. First, we will take an overview of the problem which occurred among the Galatians. The oppressive theology of certain Jewish legalizers were causing the believers in Galaticia to trade their freedom in Christ for bondage to the law.
It concerned two ways of thinking about circumcision. Though the Church in Galatia has been founded by Paul’s own preaching, other traveling preachers, sent by the Church of Jerusalem, came after Paul’s departure. They taught that converted gentiles could not become real Christians without circumcision.
Paul writes this forceful epistle to do away with the false Gospel of works, and demonstrate the superiority of justification by faith. “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” ( Galatians 2:21).
And he continues: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” ( Galatians 3:1-3)
Moreover, Paul went to the extreme by saying this; ¡ÈMark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all” (Galatians 5:2). He severely accused the preachers who were promoting circumcision (legalism). “As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! ” (Galatians 5:12).
Jews were obligated to be circumcised because God ordered Abraham to do so: “You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you” (Genesis 17:11-13). From that time, all new-born Jewish males were circumcised on the 8th day after their birth.

2. Why they insist on the circumcision so strictly ?

Here Paul said, “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!” (Galatians 6:11). It seems that Paul wanted to emphasize this matter by commencing to write in large letters, because this passage was of such great importance. ¡ÈThose who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ “(Galatians 6:12).
Paul is making two points here:
1.These preachers make the people feel obliged to become circumcised, in order to be approved by other believers for efficient preaching, but their purpose is not for the Galatians’ own salvation or benefit. A similar tendency might be observed in today’s society and Church. Too often leaders estimate the degree of success by their preaching ability, or by counting the number of baptized persons, and by going so far as to compel new believers to receive the baptism, even if they are not yet ready to do so. Such baptism is no longer an act of God, but of human making, becoming a type of church-business.

2. The judaizers intention was to avoid conflict with the Jewish Church by observing the respected laws of the Torah, the Jewish Bible. The preachers from the Church of Jerusalem had naturally their own arguments. They thought it would be better to stay away from useless conflicts with Jewish traditional churches. They could not understand why receiving circumcision would be such a non-christian act. Because, after all, it was a law written in the Torah.
The same argument was taken by Japanese christians during the world war II in saying: “We must remain good Japanese by respecting our Emperor, because we are Japanese before we are christians. The Church must collaborate with the nation to realize the ideal of prosperity throughout the zone of the Far East.” And so they contributed to the belligerent Japanese policy.
Perhaps its the same for the American christians vis à vis war in Afghanistan, or in Iraq. They might think their support will help their government, who is seeking to create a more peaceful world. However, this way of thinking for christians is totally false, for our nationality is of the Kingdom of God - we are first and foremost Christians.
Paul said: “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 “(Galatians 6:14). We must not do anything which is inappropriate to God’s teaching even in order to avoid persecution or oppression from the secular world. We must bear the Cross, and seek for the glory of God, who resurrected Jesus Christ. Only the teaching of God, not human’s, can save us.

3. The Foolishness of God and the Burden of the Cross

We chose 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 as today’s verses of invocation. “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength¡É.
God had His unique Son crucified in order to save us, which represents God’s love to us. God will not save us for what we have done or what we have not done, but He showed clearly His will for our salvation through the Cross. What we need is not circumcision, nor strict observation of laws, but faith to live as a newly created human.
Paul insists on that when he says: “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. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” (Galatians 6:14-15).
If we refuse God’s offer of salvation, we always remain what we are. But when we accept this invitation, our way of life will be changed. A newly created human might be exposed to this earthly world when expressing a different opinion. But, concessions to false teachings in a secular society will not set us upon the path to a new life in Christ
However, in order to avoid conflict with others, we could keep our faith inside of the Church, and remain contented to attend Sunday services.
But, by doing that we might loose our relationship with the real world, which will not please God anyway, and Jesus might accuse us at the Last Judgement by saying: “¡ÇHe will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’¡É (Matthew 25:45).
Even though we do not look for trouble or disagreements with the secular world, we must act when it becomes necessary. For example:
Against wars, we might feel the necessity to declare that there is no such thing as a righteous war. But, when we take this pacifist stand we might become at risk to ridicule and abuse, which could well be for us the ‘marks of Jesus’. About this, Paul says: “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” ( Galatians 6:17).
This letter closes with a contrast between the Judaizers - who are motivated by pride and a desire to avoid persecution - and Paul, who has suffered for the true gospel, but boasts only in Christ. May we be encouraged to learn from Paul’s writings, as we endeavor to live the life of a Christian.

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