Pentecost 10 If…then
Col 3:1-11, Eccl. 1:2,12-14 2:18-26, Luke 12:13-21
8/5
† In the Name of the Lord Jesus †
Grace and peace are gifts to you, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Basic@ Programming - Conditional Stattements
If you have been raised with Christ
See prior chapter for link with baptism
Back in the 1980’s, if you were interested in computers, it wasn’t quite as easy as it is now. There were no Windows, just black screens with white, gold or green dots. There weren’t internet explorers, and the internet crawled along at about 1 letter every other second! And you didn’t head to the store to buy a new program. Most of the time, you sat down, and wrote the thing yourself!
It was kind of fun, a cross between mathematical logic, and learning a foreign language. Okay, it was only “fun” for geeks, but hey, most of those geeks that didn’t become pastors made a lot more money than the highest paid athletes. The challenge was to place the commands and directions in just the right order, so that the computer could process the orders and accomplish what you wanted them to do. Usually, you would spend a month writing the program, thousands of lines of directions, only to realize that you missed on, back in the first line!
One of the favorite tools, of those who programmed in Basic or Pascal, was what was called the conditional directive, or more commonly referred to as the “if, then” statement. Here’s an example, you could ask for something to be input, say one’s age. And then, based on the value of the input string, your could print a response. Like “If” someone typed in 42 – “then” program could print out (clickclackclickclack) – my, how young…. “If” you put in 16, “then” it could print out – WARNING WARNING NEW DRIVER ON THE LOOSE! Or if you put in a number over 65, then…. Hmmmm, maybe I shouldn’t go there…
The conditional directive is also used in other languages, as we see the standard If/then combination, or variations of it, where a certain action should result in another reaction. That is the nature of the passage we are looking at in Paul’s epistle today, it starts with the if, If you have been raised with Christ, and then sets down the description of what happens next. Over the course of 11 verses, there are four sub-clauses, the “then” statements. And finally, one end statement…
So let’s start with line 10 If…
The “if” statement is the same for each of the clauses, and for each of us. It really is a simple thing, ‘if you are raised with Christ’, the text says. SO that is the condition, if it is met, then we know the “then” statement can, and indeed, does apply. SO the question, I place to each of you today is, have you been raised with Christ?
Here is the answer, from last week’s sermon passage,
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, Colossians 2:11-13 (ESV)
So, if you were baptized, buried with him in baptism, you have been raised with him, and you have the ability to answer – and we are! You have been raised with our Lord Jesus, by the powerful working of the Father! So, when an if statement happens to be mentioned, asking if you were raise with Christ, you might want to say, Yes, We are!
100 If Raised with Christ,
Then Seek (pursue) things above!
Then Think (have this mind, dwell) on things above
Marriage analogy!
If then you were raised with Christ, (and we are!), the first “then statement is repeated twice,
seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
So let’s look at the first half – to seek, or pursue, the things above, where Christ is. That is the appropriate challenge, and indeed the appropriate behavior for one who has been redeemed, counted justified, bought by the blood of Christ, and baptized by the Holy Spirit. Renewed, Restored, Resurrected!
Similarly, setting our minds on things that are above is proper, focusing on the love of God, and those things that strengthen our faith. Think of Phillipians 2, where Paul says, have this mind in your, which is yours in Christ Jesus, and then proceeds to describe how Jesus served, and then all of creation would bow and proclaim He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
One of the great analogies for our faith, is that we are the Bride f Christ. Now, it may be funny, but as I have done weddings, I have never had to tell the bride to focus her attention on her groom. Grooms, well, they are guys. They are looking around to make sure the other guys are jealous. But brides, they stare at their beau’s with great affection. Same thing – if one is raised with Christ, (and we are) then that is where their attention will go… as they realize the love of God for them, in Christ!
200 If raised with Christ,
Then put to death idolatry (examples)
That is why the next conditional directive makes so much sense. IF you are raised with Christ, (and we are), then, according to verse 5, you should put to death all forms of idolatry.
The list in verse 5 gives a basic list of sins what sins are idolatrous. We are talking about those where we feed and attempt to satisfy desires, no matter what the cost.
I copied the list from a simpler translation, but listen to them again. have nothing to do with sexual immorality, dirty-mindedness, uncontrolled passion, evil desire, and the lust for other people’s goods. Each of those sins, at their root, take our personal desires, our personal wants, and tries to satisfy them, no matter what the cost. They pervert good desires, good passion, and contentment with God’s blessings.
They aren’t the kind of thing that occurs to those that have set their minds on the things of God, those who pursue the mind of Christ. Those who have been raised with Christ. Instead of dwelling on sins of desire, whether for pleasure or for things, hear Paul’s advice to those in Rome,
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)
You were raised with Christ, you were saved by his death on the cross – so why behave, why give into the desires that controlled you in the past? You were freed from them, in your very baptism, where the Holy Spirit made you God’s people!
300 If raised with Christ,
Then put off old self, and its behaviors
If you are raised with Christ, (and we are!) the next part of your program is to put off, toss aside, all the old stuff. All the old behaviors, which before the Spirit’s cleansing work, dominated our life, we have been freed from! So why put that crud back into your life? How many of you want to live a life filled with, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth and lying to one another. What need is there to do this? You have been freed from it, yet how many of us will return to such things on Monday?
I love how Hebrews encourages us in dealing with this past, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
That’s the key to changing our thoughts, our behaviors. It doesn’t come simply by us making ourselves behave, and dealing with guilt. We cannot simply shed ourselves of the old ways, and live perfectly on our own. It just doesn’t happen that way. I wish it did! But as long as we look to ourselves, it won’t help. Hebrews is clear – Jesus is the perfecter of our faith, or as Paul said in Phil 1:6, 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
So how does this happen? Focusing on Jesus, trusting in His promises, dwelling where He has hidden you, in Him!
400 If raised with Christ
Then you have put on new self
And are renewed in knowledge of/after the Creator
So our program looks like this,
100 If you have been raised in Christ (and we are) then you seek the things above, and pursue them
200 If you have been raised in Christ (and we are) then you put to death idolatry
300 If you have been raised in Christ (and we are) then you put off old behaviors
And now 400 If you have been raised in Christ, you have put on the new self, which is renewed in knowledge after our creator.
Paul will discuss this in another passage, 2 Corinthians 3, that says as we focus on Christ, as in a mirror, we are transformed into Him image. For His love, which brought you to life, as the Spirit was poured out on you in your baptism, which gave you the gift of faith, and the forgiveness of sins.
How can we not be changed by Christ, as we consider that love poured out on us? How can we not be changed by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us? We might not even be aware of it! We may, instead listen to satan, or others, who point out our shortcomings, our continued sin. Instead – look to the cross, and as Hebrews advised, toss the rest aside, the sin and all that ensnares us.
777 End line
Ultimately, we come to the end of a program. The end of a program is noted when the result of the program is finalized, and the purpose realized. IN our case, it is described in verse 4.
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Imagine that scene, for a moment. Quite simply the most amazing thing I can think of viewing. As Christ is enthroned in heaven, as every knee is bowed, as every toungue confesses that He is Lord, there we are, with Him, the people who he too from the idolatry, from the sinful, worldly behavior, cleaned up, and gave the Holy Spirit to bring us comfort and guidance. We will be there, with Him.
To Him be all glory, honor and praise!
For he guides our hearts and minds, with the unsurpassing peace of God the Father! AMEN?
