The Phil Files

Last Updated: 9.09.08

Several times in Colossians, Paul stresses that the believers are “saints” — lit. “holy ones” — God’s special people (Col 1:2, 4, 12, 26 — lit. “holy ones.”). But, how do we communicate that in a world where “saints” often means something totally different and holiness is often heard to be “self-righteous” or “religiously pompous” or “irrelevant to real life”?

Core Threads

On first glance, the key Scriptures (1:2, 9-14, 19-23; 3:5-14) point us in several key directions as the initial threads of our focus.

1. We don’t earn “holy” or merit “holy” but are given this identity by grace in Jesus: chosen (3:12), qualified (1:12), reconciled (1:20, 1:22), rescued (1:13), redeemed (1:14), forgiven (1:14; 2:13), made alive (2:13), canceled charges (2:14), strengthened (1:11), and presented as holy (1:22).
2. We must continue to trust in what Jesus did for us to be sufficient (1:21-23; 2:6-8).
3. We must strive to live the character of Jesus (3:5-14; cf. 1:22) — a “holy life” or see 1:10 for a definition of living worthily and pleasing God and living fruitfully and growing in the knowledge of God — but our efforts are not enough to get us there; we have to have the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and the prayer of other believers for us (1:8-9).
4. Our motivation for holy living, however, is never earning a better standing with God, but we are …
   a. responding to the character of our Father in heaven (1:19-22)
   b. showing our appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus (3:12-13)
   c. sharing community with others seeking God’s character (1:2, 12; 3:12-14)

How do we emphasize these in our worship gatherings?

Which of these do you believe we can speak to with our sining? … communion time? … time in the word? … community focus time? … leaving to share?

LIFE

The real issues we face in a discussion of holiness is what I call “the stained glass ghetto.” The term is almost poison to those seeking Jesus and turned off by religious hierarchies and institutions. The “in your face” truth we must face is that hypocrisy at almost every level of those professing to know Christ has made outsiders skeptical. Yet, we face a crisis inside, in that we have lost any real call to live for God in any special way. Again, holiness involves both the character and compassion of God. But we often oscillate between one extreme or the other — read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, which were written to churches 3 decades later and see how they are either struggling with the compassion issue (a good example is the Ephesian church that has lost the love it had at first) or the character issue (a good example is the Laodicean church). Jesus becomes the model for us here. He displayed both character (sinless) and compassion (his demonstrated love).

Why do you think “holy” and “holiness” are generally not considered good qualities by those outside of Christian faith?

How have our actions as believers made it harder for us to use these terms and they mean anything good to those who are not Christ followers?

What are some ways to describe holiness, or what are some images for holiness, that we can use to speaking meaningfully to our neighbors?

Why do you think it is so hard for us to emphasize and display both the character and compassion of Jesus?

How do we challenge each other to be holy people so our walk and our talk are more consistently true?

Do you think Colossians 1:10 is a good three point definition of holiness (honor & please God, live productive lives, know God better and better)?

Which of these do you need to work on with the most focus?

How can we learn to better honor and please God?

How is knowing God better crucial to the other two?

iSpy

What video or graphical or story elements could help us with our focus on holiness?

So far, the Run the Race video is the one we are looking at using.

With Water, Pure is Better

Preliminary Ideas for Our Time in the Word

“I ain’t no saint!” Uh … yeah, you really are!

How much poison in a glass of pure water makes it impure? How much sin can I have to be impure? Can I be clean and pure again?

Beauty — what are the most beautiful things I’ve seen? Some are pristine — lakes, streams, babies, bride/groom — but others are weathered by life and time, scars that are wounded and made beautiful — Grand Canyon, mountains, glacial lakes. Jesus declares us pure before God (1:20-23), but we are also to pursue that purity in our lives (1:23; 3:5-14). Even more importantly, Jesus keeps purifying us as we pursue his character and compassion in our lives.

We seek to be “holy people” — people who do right by God [guy from Zimbabwe military paratrooper who hated religion and is leery of church because of his experience with "church leaders" who drove up in their Mercedes] — not just to please God but to be a blessing to others.

[Does anybody else think it's crazy, inappropriate, that we can pay 12.00 for food and have to eat it with plastic forks and paper napkins with Styrofoam cups on uncleaned tables? Or to pay $25.00 or more for a meal and the silverware is waters potted and the place isn't clean? {Our experience and revisit!} What is the price for something special? Well, God is saying I want you to be something special -- for me and to others. I made you for more. I am at work in you ]