THERE’S HOPE FOR THE CHURCH THAT EMBRACES THE SAVED

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  ‎For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.   When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  ‎Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  ‎Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.  ‎But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  ‎Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” (Colossians 3:1-11 NKJV)

We dip ‘em and drop ‘em—have you heard that expression before?  It means that Baptists are notorious for getting decisions, but not much for gaining disciples. 

Last week we rightfully celebrated baptism, but already we are making plans for those children to be taught more about what it means to follow Christ.  We know that physical growth is to be paired with spiritual maturity.  This past Sunday morning, we had a group of folks who met beginning at 8:00, and stayed until the afternoon as through this new member class, and ongoing ministry, we make every effort to connect them with the church.

As someone has well said, “We are good at obstetrics, but poor at pediatrics.”  Yet, all the New Testament shows that the Gospel not only is meant to save sinners, but is meant to strengthen saints.

There is no hope for the church that is distracted from disciple-making.  At best, such a church becomes a revolving door, with members coming in and others going out, as fast—or faster.  The front door of evangelizing the sinner is essential, but the back door must be nailed shut by embracing the saved.

It has been noted that a lot of Christians have a spiritual experience like an old iron bedstead—firm on both ends and sagging in the middle!  They are firm on the end of their conversion by Christ and on the end of the consummation with Christ, but in this present time, they aren’t amounting to much.  Our story commences with regeneration, and concludes with glorification, but the chapters in between need to be connected by sanctification—and that’s what Paul is calling for in the third chapter of Colossians.

There is hope for the church that welcomes new people with open arms, connects them to truth through the teaching of the Word, gives support and encouragement that strengthens them in the challenges which must surely  come—that has a love that will not let others go.