Last week I made the statement that
“Christianity isn’t about YOU as much as it is about US.” This
may ruffle the feathers of people who believe that Jesus was specifically
thinking of them personally as he hung on the cross, you won’t find it anywhere
in Scripture – But we humans love a good YOU focused sermon anyway.
However, what we do find in the Scriptures is that Jesus thought much of US - His Church. Like it or not, the church of Jesus is a team sport where everyone participates according their gifts. (But that’s for another sermon) That’s why we need to be part of a group of other believers. It is impossible to think in US terms if I constantly think of ME and my ability to worship God alone. I know it’s not always easy (or even enjoyable) but it is necessary that we congregate with other converts to Jesus as WE (the Church) are His body. We actually need each other to grow in Christ. Sort of like how a tree needs the soil, the sun, the water, the earthworm, and all the other elements of healthy growth.
As we read the first part of Colossians it is important to note that Paul is speaking to everyone at the church in Colossi. When Paul uses the word YOU he is using a Greek word that is best translated as YOU-ALL (a second person plural of the singular YOU). Read through the first 14 versus of Colossians 1 this morning saying “YOU-ALL” when you see the word YOU to get the idea. Farther in the thought, Paul speaks of US and WE. Notice that Paul states that He (God) rescued US from the dominion of darkness and WE have redemption from sin. Paul is speaking to the group of individuals who are the Church, the body of Christ.
But the discussion of YOU, YOU-ALL, WE, and US is really just a distraction from the moral of the story which is Jesus and the Cross. God has redeemed us and brought us into the kingdom of His son whom he loves. It is necessary to have the discussion of salvation though faith, it is necessary to have the discussion of loving God’s people, it is necessary to have the discussion of morality, it is necessary to have the discussion of being enabled by the Holy Spirit, and it is necessary to have the discussion of YOU vs. YOU-All, WE, & US, but never should any of these discussions cause us to lose focus on Jesus and His Cross.
However, what we do find in the Scriptures is that Jesus thought much of US - His Church. Like it or not, the church of Jesus is a team sport where everyone participates according their gifts. (But that’s for another sermon) That’s why we need to be part of a group of other believers. It is impossible to think in US terms if I constantly think of ME and my ability to worship God alone. I know it’s not always easy (or even enjoyable) but it is necessary that we congregate with other converts to Jesus as WE (the Church) are His body. We actually need each other to grow in Christ. Sort of like how a tree needs the soil, the sun, the water, the earthworm, and all the other elements of healthy growth.
As we read the first part of Colossians it is important to note that Paul is speaking to everyone at the church in Colossi. When Paul uses the word YOU he is using a Greek word that is best translated as YOU-ALL (a second person plural of the singular YOU). Read through the first 14 versus of Colossians 1 this morning saying “YOU-ALL” when you see the word YOU to get the idea. Farther in the thought, Paul speaks of US and WE. Notice that Paul states that He (God) rescued US from the dominion of darkness and WE have redemption from sin. Paul is speaking to the group of individuals who are the Church, the body of Christ.
But the discussion of YOU, YOU-ALL, WE, and US is really just a distraction from the moral of the story which is Jesus and the Cross. God has redeemed us and brought us into the kingdom of His son whom he loves. It is necessary to have the discussion of salvation though faith, it is necessary to have the discussion of loving God’s people, it is necessary to have the discussion of morality, it is necessary to have the discussion of being enabled by the Holy Spirit, and it is necessary to have the discussion of YOU vs. YOU-All, WE, & US, but never should any of these discussions cause us to lose focus on Jesus and His Cross.
Without the singular focus on Jesus
and the Cross, everything else is just meaningless babble.
Read through the beginning 14 versus of Colossians 1 this morning. You may just find it beneficial to you.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201:1-14
Read through the beginning 14 versus of Colossians 1 this morning. You may just find it beneficial to you.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201:1-14
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