sermon 2009/3/1

DATE: 2009/3/1
SCRIPTURE READING: Col. 3:5-14
SERMON: Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
讲道题目: 主怎样饶恕了你，你也要怎样饶恕人。
Today’s scripture talks about the transformation of the Christian in character and conduct. Paul here uses the method of contrast to make his point; he contrasts the old and the new, the good and the bad. His point is that the gospel completely transforms the believer, making him a new person.
I. Being a Christian requires a “putting off.”This is a foundation of everything Paul understood by the Christian faith. He believed deeply that one who becomes a Christian must put some things behind him. Christianity is a new way of life. It means giving up some former practices or attitudes, a change we call “conversion.”However obvious this may seem, it is often at this point that the church fails. When someone comes to unite with the church we welcome him, we congratulate him, and surely we should do this. But how often do we confront him with the real and difficult demands of the gospel? How often do we say, “There are some things you have to leave behind”? We hardly ever speak so bluntly. We don’t wish to offend. Paul was not timid about this. He spoke plainly and clearly: “seeing that you have put off the old nature.” We should be so blunt with ourselves. Have we put off some things? Are we done with the type of things Paul lists: anger, slander, foul talk? Paul is right in saying that those who are Christians ought to be rid of these things.
II. Being a Christian requires a “putting on.”Paul was not content to be negative. He was not concerned with only reminding Christians what they must give up. He said also that the Christian must “put on the new nature”. He must become a new person in Christ. There is an important lesson here. We tend to define Christianity in terms of what we don’t do. We don’t curse, we don’t cheat on our spouses, we don’t steal from our customers, and we don’t ell lies. This misses the whole point. The Christian should be known by the positive things his life stands for. His life should be an indication of the freedom that was evident in Jesus, the freedom from the law that Paul constantly referred to. To put on the new nature was, to Paul, a positive thing. What are the positive evidences of the new birth? Paul lists some of them: compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, patience, and love. These are the things by which the Christian ought to be known.
III. Being a Christian requires forgiving one another. Paul’s point is that putting on the new nature has great results. Those who are truly changed will give evidence of it is their relationship with others. Because they are Christians they will regard other brothers and sisters in an entirely different light. What is the result of becoming Christian? It is brotherhood. For the Christian such distinctions as Jew and Greek, slave and free man do not hold any longer. In our time the Christian looks at another without seeing a Chinese man, or a Caucasian man, or a Latino man, or a black man, or a poor man or a foreign man. He sees a brother. The classifications so casually applied are no longer valid. Christians see their brothers and sisters as people whom Christ has forgiven. “Christ in All,” in Paul’s words. Paul pointed to what we ought to see, what we need to see, but often what we often refuse to see. The relationship of men to Christ overcomes all human relationships and destroys the barriers we have built to separate us from our brothers.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”(Col.3:13-14) In this season of Lent let us confess our sins to God and receive God’s forgiveness so that we can forgive one another too.
Let me be the first one to make a confession. Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ. In the past I have sinned against you. I told you a lie. I said I dreamed one day I will fill up the pews in this church. I was boasting when I said those words. I was glorifying myself and not glorifying God when I said those words. I am sorry. I cheated you. Will you forgive me? I sincerely ask you for your forgiveness. Will you forgive me? Those who will, please, raise up your hands. Thank you. Now I am speaking to those who do not put up their hands. I want you to know I confessed my sin to God. And God told me He had forgiven me. So I am not worry even though you do not forgive me today. I pray that you will go home tonight and ask God for forgiveness. God will forgive you if you ask sincerely. Then next week you will come back and tell me, you can forgive me. Then we will all work together as one church to deal with this corporate sin of the church.
Before I end this sermon I want to step down from the pulpit and receive that blessing of forgiveness from you. Can those of you who just raised their hands come out and give me a hug to tell me you have forgiven me? I want to hear those words of forgiveness once again from your own mouth... Amen.

Sermon Synopsis:
Today’s scripture talks about the transformation of the Christian in character and conduct.
I. Being a Christian requires a “putting off.”
II. Being a Christian requires a “putting on.”
III. Being a Christian requires forgiving one another.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

讲道大纲
今天的经文讲到基督徒品格和行为的改变。
甲．基督徒要脱去旧人。
乙．基督徒要穿上新人。
丙．基督徒要彼此饶恕。
倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。