August 5, 2007 marks the 10th Sunday after Pentecost with readings from Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-26 (Vanity of vanities); Colossians 3:1-11 (Put on the new man) and Luke 12:13-21 (Divide the inheritance). Chosen to preach on is Colossians 3:8 which reads, “But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”

On the one hand the Bible teaches that we are right with God by grace through faith on account of Jesus Christ. Then a verse like this comes along which gives the impression that unless you put off these sins (anger, wrath, etc.) the wrath of God will come upon you (verse 6). How can each of these be reconciled? Theology is the art of making distinctions and one of the most important L&G distinctions is that between justification and sanctification.

The tendency, of course, is to read this passage as though it was based on a religion of Law in which what you do makes a difference as to whether you go to heaven or hell. Every religion of the world teaches that the way you get qualified to be with God eternally is by your works in some form. However, Colossians 3:8 cannot possibly mean this in light of two chapters earlier in which the apostle Paul reveals in 1:12 to give “thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

Thus, if we have already been qualified for salvation, then what is this all about that we are to “put off anger, wrath, malice, etc.”? The answer is found by keeping in mind another analogy of father to child. Were the child to ask the question if he truly were the child of the father, the father would point to his birth or adoption certificate to prove that the child qualifies as a child of that father.

However, if the child, who is now assured of his relationship within the family, questions how he should behave, the answer would be to act as a member of the family. We Christians cannot possibly behave sinlessly but we can continue with the struggle between the old Adam and new Man (Romans 7) so that the Holy Spirit can bear His fruit in our lives.

The Christian life is not found in perfect obedience but in continual repentance (contrition plus faith in Jesus Christ) which forgives our sins and keeps us clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. While none of these “fruit” become the basis of our salvation–Christ’s death and resurrection alone is such a basis–they do become the evidence for God on the Day of Judgment that we are indeed His child.

Thus, the life of sanctification is not a struggle to become qualified for heaven but a response to a gracious, merciful and loving God that we have already been qualified by God Himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We press forward knowing with confidence that our failures (sins) are forgiven by the One Who never leaves us nor forsakes those who trust in Him alone for full and complete salvation.