Episode 316 - Jesus...as Umpire?

Colossians 3:12-17 is the basis for today's podcast.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:27

So you actually looked up something before we uh started recording. Yeah, I have I had my Greek New Testament with us.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

So Oh, you brought the Greek New Testament. I can read that almost fluently. Yeah, let's just use it. Well, let me read the interpret. Okay, I'm kidding, of course. Now we joke about that. We do. But I've learned a lot of Greek. You have learned a lot. I have learned a lot of Greek, but I but when we say that I speak fluent Greek, well, that's a stretch. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Because uh I think fluent is the key word. Yeah, let me let me just say though. I mean we we joke about this, but we we draw from the original languages because it's so insightful. Oh yeah. Hebrew and Greek have more word pictures, and and Greek has so many more nuances, you know, just for the word love or knowledge. And so when you pull it out and then it's got verb tenses, we don't have in English.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Right.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

And that's why aorist is so important. We don't have an aorist verb in our vocabulary in English. And so you're there's some great insight into what Paul originally said in the Greeks. That's so true.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

So that's why we do that. So well, anyway, well, I I'm glad that you're here. Uh because it's Who are you? Oh, well my name is Robert Twakefield. Who are you? I'm Peter Sears. Well, welcome to the show. Welcome all of you uh for listening to the show today. We are in Colossians chapter three. Our goal is to get through uh 12 through 17, and here's what's really cool. Okay. Uh because we have talked about in this chapter alone, we've talked about identity, and then we talked about the integrity uh in the last episode. And now we're gonna talk about imitation. It's going to so he is laying out for us uh who we are, how it looks like, and who we're to imitate. Right. And I think that's really cool. So this is verses 12 through 17 of Colossians chapter 3. So go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive, as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, and be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another, with all wisdom through psalms and hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

All right, so that is the word of the Lord. So Yeah. I think we can get through these five verses. Do you think? Yeah, we'll see. All right, so let's start there in verse 12. Uh it talks about uh put on then as God's chosen ones, uh holy and beloved. Before Paul is giving us any kind of single command, he's he's anchoring them again in what their identity looks like. Yes. Um, because he did that the very first part of this chapter, and he's doing it again. I love the way Paul reinforces in his writings. He'll say something and then he'll say it later on. Yeah. And I think that's what he's doing right here.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Yeah, what I like, you know, he's been using this phrase, take off, get rid of, you know, and so now he's saying put on. Right. You know, if if you remove all these things and don't put anything else on, you're naked. Exactly. And so he's saying, you know, take these things off. You don't want to be wearing these garments anymore, but here's what you do want to put on. And so that's where he's going to resume.

SPEAKER_00 4:19

Right. And so this this right here, he's when he's talking about these things, anchoring them in their identity, uh, he says they're chosen. Yeah. You know, God initiated that. Yeah. Now we talked about being chosen in our Ephesians series, I believe, did we not? We did. And uh it's not a a predestination type thing where you, you know, you like you use the duck duck goose analogy. Right. It's not that. He just knew who was going to respond.

SPEAKER_01 4:46

Well, also, I mean, I don't think he's talking about that aspect. This is not a doctrinal statement. He is simply knows he's writing to a church. Those who are hearing this letter are all the elect. So he's just he's identifying their identity in Christ. This is who you are. Okay, gotcha. You you're the elect, you're chosen. You're chosen, you're called. Right. And so it's not a matter of saying, some are, some aren't. He's saying, I'm talking to people who are, therefore, you need to live like that.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

That's right. And then he tells them that they're holy, yeah, that they're set apart for his purposes. And then the finally, beloved, they're deeply loved, they're just not being tolerated, they're loved. Yeah. So I love how he starts off this verse 12 uh as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. Then he lists uh the wardrobes of this new humanity, if you will. Yep. Um, and so let's talk about these. Uh a compassionate heart. What do you think that's talking about?

SPEAKER_01 5:48

You know, a compassionate heart is, yeah, I I I was um I remember where I was, I'm not gonna say. So I I was going past a room and there was a lady talking on the phone crying. I just my heart broke for her. And so I, you know, I wanted to, I mean, if she wasn't talking on the phone, maybe I would have said something, but I prayed for her. You know, and so how many times do we see stuff and and we're just not sensitive, we're calloused, right? You know, we're judgmental, you know. Uh here's here's one for you. Someone comes forward, they go to the altar, they fall on their knees and go, Oh, they did that so last Sunday. Right. You know, it's like don't be like that.

SPEAKER_00 6:32

Absolutely not. Uh so compassionate hearts, that it's at that gut level mercy, if you will. Um the next thing that he mentions is kindness. Yeah. Uh, which is, you know, kindness is is something that's seems to be gone in our culture now. Sure.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

It's holding the door, it's giving a smile, it's it's greeting someone. It's it's just being nice.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

Yeah. It's not hard.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

No, it's not hard. It's not hard at all. Humility, um, that that's a tough one. Yeah. Um for for all in line at the grocery store checkout before us. Right. You know, go ahead. Go ahead. Are you sure?

SPEAKER_00 7:08

Yeah, absolutely. I'm sure. Yeah. Uh it's just it's just being humble. Uh meekness, uh, that is strength under control. I love that. Oh, don't you love that? Yeah. Meekness uh is a grow when he lists and then patience, long suffering and slow to retaliate. And so, you know, look, that patience is something that Oh, don't pray for it. Yeah. Uh Lord, give me patience, but give it to me now. No, no, no. That don't work. It doesn't work. No, it does not. Uh and it's uh this guy wrote it's kind of like a uniform, like a military uniform or a firefighter, if you will. Uh he doesn't get to put the gear on to become a firefighter. He's a firefighter, and he gets to put on the uniform. It's the other way around. Right. So that that's good. Uh verse 13, bearing with one another, forgiving each other. Oh boy. Yeah, here we go. Here we go. Yeah. So talk about uh verse 13, bearing with one another.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Relationships are difficult. They are, you know, and so if you're going to have long-term relationships, then bearing each other and forgiving one another is paramount. Absolutely. So all of us, you may not have figured this out, but you one day you will. We're all quirky. We're all a little bit weird, we're a little bit off, and and some people just by their their nature just puts you off. Yeah. And so Paul says, bear with each other. Just just love them anyways, despite their quirkiness. Right. You know, and and and when they do something that's off-putting, just forgive them.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

Yeah. And there's where we have our trouble. Yeah. Yeah, because we want to hang on to that. And we shouldn't. And we shouldn't hold on to that. No. I shared that, I'll share that illustration I shared in men's class the other night. Okay. Uh what forgiveness is like. If you don't forgive someone, it is like you're sitting across the table from the person that you haven't forgiven. And between you two on the this table, there's a big jar of poison. And you look at that poison and you pick it up and you drink the poison, you put the glass down, and you look at that enemy or that unforgiving person waiting for them to die. Right. When the whole time the poison you just drink is eating you up on the inside. Absolutely. And so that's what unforgiveness looks like. Yeah. And and Paul is is uh is telling these Colossians, listen, just forgive each other. It's not worth it. No, it's not. It's uh because it like it's it just eats you up inside instead of eating them up. Right. So that's really a a really important part of this whole thing. Uh verse 14 talks about it.

SPEAKER_01 9:59

Well, because I, you know, Paul really at the end, he he talks in verse 13. The the reason, you know, the high watermark here is we should forgive as the Lord forgave us. Oh, there you go. You know, when when we start looking at the the list, the enormity of what Jesus has done for us, and if we're to imitate him, as you said, this is what Paul's talking about, then forgiveness is on the top of the list. Oh, absolutely. Love is on the top of the list, which he gets to in verse 14, but forgiveness is going to be one of the hallmark characteristics of who Jesus is.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

Right. You know, it reminds me of Matthew 18. Yeah. Uh the the the parable where the guy was forgiven such a huge debt, and the next thing he goes, he goes and finds the guy that owes him twenty dollars. Right. You know, and that's the paraphrase. Go look at Matthew 18 yourself. But uh, you know, that's exactly right. As the Lord has forgiven us, we must also forgive. Yep. Because that's the standard now. And it I think it's different in it's different in the world. Yes, it is. You know, you know, you do me wrong, I'll get you back. Yep. And and that that is not the standard that Jesus wants us to live by. He has forgiven us, so we should be able to forgive others. Absolutely. So all right. Now can we go to verse 13? Okay, okay. And above all these, put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Yeah. Wow. Put on love. It's like it's like putting on a belt. You know, it holds everything together.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

Yeah, I I've kind of got it. It's put a bow on it. Open a bow. Yeah. It's it's it's you know, you got this wonderful gift, and then you add a bow. And that's what love does.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

Talk about that phrase perfect harmony. It it it just it's just this glue, if you will, yeah, in the Christian community. Yeah. Um it just seems that if you got this perfect harmony, this is not going to be perfect as far as everything that goes on, but the love part of it will keep it make that harmony perfect.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

You know, I think. Well, I yeah, you're you're right. But I think that is probably the most desirous thing that people are looking for in church is this unity. And and it's not something that you can tangibly feel, but you you know it when you see it. And you know, there's a lot of people they walk into a church and they go, something's off. That's true. There's there's some friction here, there's some, you know, hostilities. But the same can be said, man, I walked in here, I felt like I was at home, I felt there was love, I felt accepted. And and that's who we should be as Christians. And and it's not just when people walk into church, it's when they talk with us. Exactly. They should feel that same thing. Right. Have you ever walked into a church and felt that? Both of them, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Yeah, that felt that there was some issues going on. Absolutely. Yeah. You can really feel it, can't you? Yeah. Yeah, that there's some kind of divisions or you know, these these people are mad at each other. A lot of times you can just walk in and see that or feel that. Yep. And and that's you're right. That is not the perfect harmony that that Paul is talking about right here. So uh, you know, it's it's kind of like, you know, I I was in the band. Right. Uh and it's kind of like have you ever seen an orchestra tune up? Uh-huh. Okay, so they're playing all these notes and everything. Then they all come together and they tune into one note. Every instrument is different, right? But one tuning brings them all together. So that's this perfect harmony that that he's talking about here. Yeah. And uh, I just had to get a uh, you know, a band. I'm glad you did. Uh reference.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

And Jesus is the conductor.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

And he is the conductor. I love that. Okay. Uh verse 15, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Wow. Um this this peace of Christ, talk about that for a second.

SPEAKER_01 13:59

Well, you know, if we're in Christ, we're going to be at peace. So if if we're trying to live our life as Paul is outlining here in Colossians, if we're if our filter is, is this pleasing to God or not? Then we're going to have this sense of peace in our heart. You know, it you know, I we we have to constantly analyze our spiritual life. That I I read this phrase: the let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts is let Jesus be the umpire.

SPEAKER_00 14:30

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

Playing the cause. You know, is it in or is it out? Right. You know, we're not fit to judge. He is.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Right. Yeah. I love I'm writing that down. Jesus as umpire. That's really good. Okay. Uh yeah, but you're right. I mean, he he's this piece is this the deciding factor, if you will. I mean, he is really, if you let this piece of Christ rule in your hearts, when when you rule in your heart, I mean, that's everything, isn't it? Yeah. Uh, because I just don't think you would need anything else. And then he adds this, and then he adds, and be thankful. You know, gratitude uh is this atmosphere and this new humanity he's describing here. So, you know, being thankful.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

You know, I've noticed Paul kind of taxed that thankfulness on a lot.

SPEAKER_00 15:19

He does, doesn't he?

SPEAKER_01 15:20

And because he said, you know, i if if you maintain this this heart of gratitude for everything, then it's just going to, again, just kind of run through your life. So even when suffering or tragedy or pain or it didn't quite didn't quite turn out the way you want it to, and yet you still maintain a thankful attitude about it, then we're allowing the peace of Christ to rule our heart.

SPEAKER_00 15:47

It reminds me of my brother. Okay. Uh I can see that because he was diagnosed with with cancer again, and um, you know, the road has not been easy. The road has been, but he has just been thankful to God that he's still here. Yeah. And, you know, well, at least at least my problems are are unique to me, but you know, I'm gonna continue to live for him. There you go. And he's just that's just a yeah, you you gotta adapt that attitude as as one of the followers of Christ because that's the peace that he's given us. Yeah, otherwise you're bitter. Exactly right. Yeah, exactly right. And then in verse 16, he says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Well, when you think about this word dwell, that's making its home inside of you.

SPEAKER_01 16:33

Yeah, I put the word meditate. You just kind of ruminate it. You know, like a cow chews its cud, that's rumination. And that's what we're called to do, is just just feast on it. So we talked earlier about starting our day in the word. Right. Just let those words keep running through our mind, thinking about him. Absolutely. And that word richly, uh, it's plusia, and it means both in quantity and in quality.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

Oh, yeah. That's important. Yeah. Because I mean, if you got one without the other, what have you got? You just got part of it. So richly, yeah. This is the let it uh dwell in you richly. Um then he's talking about some things about teaching, admonishing, uh, and singing. Uh the three kinds of songs there. Yeah. Uh psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. So psalms uh I think are scriptural songs. Right. Um so that's one thing. Hymns are theological songs. Yeah. And then spiritual songs are uh praise. Yep. Spirit prompted praise.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

So when you think about these three, if you're teaching one another, uh you're shaping each other's, you're shaping the minds of others, you're you're you're trying to correct lovingly. These are the ways to do it with these three kinds of songs.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I like that he mentioned all three. He could have picked one. All right. But he's saying, man, there should be a song in your heart. And I don't care if it's something from the Old Testament, I don't care if it's something that's new, or I don't care if it's something that you just make up because you're joyful in the Lord. Just let you sing with it to God with gratitude in your heart.

SPEAKER_00 18:16

With gratitude in your heart, with all this thankfulness in your heart. Uh here's the illustration this guy wrote. It says it's like letting scripture move from the guest room to the master bedroom. Wow. It's central, it's not peripheral. There you go. I don't like that. Yeah, that's true. I thought that was good. All right, fine. Verse 17, and whatever you do, do everything in the name of Lord Jesus. Yeah. All right, so this is this is a sweeping summary, if you will. Yeah. Well, whatever you do.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Yeah. When he's going to talk more about this. Yes. But verse 17 reminds me of Revelation chapter 4, verse 10. Okay. Where uh the picture is we're surrounded by the throne, and there's the 24 elders, and it's just before we we go into holy, holy, holy, it says that everyone took off their crowns and laid them at his feet.

SPEAKER_00 19:08

Laid them at his feet.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

And so this is what 17 is. No matter what we're doing, no matter what we say, may we do it to the Lord, and then in turn we give thanks to God the Father for all that he's allowed us to do. It's not about us, it's all about him.

SPEAKER_00 19:24

It's all about him. Yeah. So good. It really is. I mean, it's just really good. This chapter three has just been fantastic. I love it. It's been so very, very good. All right, so that's gonna wrap up this episode of Two Brothers One Bible Podcast. I'm Robert Twakefield. Peter Sears, and we are going to, in theory, finish this chapter in our next podcast. In theory. Okay. It's just a theory. Okay. So thanks so much for listening and God bless.