Sunday's Comin': Independence Through Dependence

Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

This weekend, we will celebrate our independence from Great Britain with cookouts, parties, and fireworks. We will laugh, watch kids play, eat hot dogs, and enjoy the company of family and friends.

Independence is a great thing. To be free from whatever of whoever bound us is cause for celebration.

We, as Christians, should also celebrate our independence; not yearly, but daily. Because of Christ, we experience a wonderful freedom. We are free from the bondage of sin, “but thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18, NASB95).

Paul was sharing with the Colossian church that they are free from lying, idolatry, rage, perverted language and so on.

But how do we live this truth out in our lives? We must remember that our independence from sin comes from our dependence on Christ.

This weekend, as you celebrate our national independence, take time to also celebrate your spiritual dependence on Christ and His work.

I’ll see you this Sunday as we speak from these passages: Colossians 3:5-10.

Will Dungee