Christ Is Our Life

Our church has been going through the book of Colossians. Jesus is on full display - Who He is! What He has done! Why it matters! In our trek through the book, we got to Colossians 3:4 which has this phrase - 

Christ, who is our life

We hit the pause button so that we could dive into Christ is our life. For eight weeks, we're considering the life of Christ together. We'll spend four weeks on the humiliation of Christ and four weeks on the glorification of Christ.  In week one, Pastor Rusty walked through the Incarnation of Christ. In week two, I had the privilege of considering how the Temptation of Christ made it possible for Christ to be our life. You can listen to it below. Here is how we jumped into it:

Sometimes I wonder why I am overcome by the same temptation repeatedly.

But that’s probably something that only I wrestle with.

“You may never find yourself in exactly the same situation as me or really anything like it. I don’t know what is wrong with you. Maybe you tear up when you think about the words you screamed at your kids this morning. Maybe you’ve deleted the history cache of your phone for the hundredth time this week, promising yourself you’ll never access those videos again. Maybe the prescription drugs in your desk drawer right now are the only things keeping you sane, but you fear they’re making you crazy. Maybe you just can’t stop thinking about the smell of your coworker’s hair or the clink of that ice cube in the whiskey glass. Maybe what you’re tempted to do is so wild that we can’t speak it here, or maybe so tame that I wouldn’t even think to mention it. I don’t know what it is, but I know what is behind it all. You’re being tempted right now.” -Russell Moore, Tempted and Tried

Whether you have your eyes opened to it or you’re blind to it, temptation is at work in your life.

You’re being tempted right now.

There is a scheme, a method, an assault taking place on you right this very moment.

There is a kingdom of darkness that has an onslaught of satanic powers against you.

There is a rival empire of righteousness ruled by a King of Righteousness. If you’re not a Christian, you experience temptation.

If you’re a Christian in the room, then the onslaught of temptation has been increasing since God saved you because of your identification with the Empire of Jesus.

Well, the good news is, we are not the first people to struggle with temptation. Adam and Eve, our first parents experienced it, the nation of Israel experienced it, and Jesus, who is your life, experienced temptation.

Today, we will consider how Jesus’ experience of temptation brings us life from Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.