SERMON: TESTED AND APPROVED

11 January 2015

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Romans 16:10

Romans 16:10a. Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.

            -- Admiral William H. McRaven, a 36-year Navy SEAL veteran, was asked to give the commencement address to the Class of 2014 at the University of Texas in Austin -- his titled his message "10 Lessons to Change the World." -- I want to share with you his first about how to change the world:

            -- "Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors would show up in my barracks room [for inspection] -- and the first thing they would inspect was your bed -- If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack

            -- "It was a simple task—mundane at best. -- But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. -- It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors -- tough battle hardened SEALs -- but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

            -- "If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day -- By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed -- Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter -- If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right

            -- "And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better -- If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed."

            -- this morning we are going to start a new sermon series on changing the world --specifically, on what you can do to change the world -- I have taken the title of this series, "Tested and Approved," from Paul's description of his friend Apelles here in Romans 16:10

            -- as Paul closes this letter to the church at Rome, he ends with personal greetings to the people he knows there in that community -- he has something to say about all of them, but his words about Apelles speak volumes -- "Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ"

            -- we know nothing about Apelles apart from these five words -- but what five words they are -- they speak to Apelles' faith, character, and integrity

            -- Paul tells us Apelles' faith had been tested in some way -- perhaps through persecution -- perhaps through tragedies of life -- perhaps through abandonment by friends and family -- we don't know -- but Paul tells us Apelles withstood the test and emerged victorious -- approved unto God -- approved in Christ

            -- that is my personal desire for all of us as we start this new year together -- to be men and women who can be described as Apelles -- "Tested and Approved in Christ"

            -- we begin by taking care of the little things and building on the foundation of our faith -- we begin by choosing to be disciples -- not just in name but in practice -- men and women who choose obedience -- who choose character -- who choose integrity and faithfulness to Christ above all the world has to offer and our own selfish desires

II.  The Cardinal Virtues of the Christian Life

            -- last year we went through a sermon series on the Seven Deadly Sins and discussed the dangers of each -- today we are going to pick up where that series left off and begin looking at the life-changers -- the Cardinal Virtues that are essential to our Christian life

            -- these were first listed for us in an epic poem in 410 AD and different versions of them have appeared over the years as men and women have tried to live out their Christian faith in this world -- the virtues we will be discussing in this series are prudence or wisdom -- courage -- temperance or self-control -- justice -- diligence -- and humility

            -- these virtues are the behaviors we need to adopt and to live out in our life if we are to be the men and women Christ has called us to be -- what we are talking about is conforming our life to Christ -- intentionally choosing to live our lives according to a high moral standard, based on the teachings of Christ

            -- these are the little things Admiral McRaven talked about in his commencement address -- these are the little things that change who we are and make us capable of withstanding any test or trial that comes our way -- these are essential to our Christian lives

            -- the one word that we need to hold onto throughout this series is the word integrity -- integrity is a reflection of your character

            -- all of us in here put on an act every single day -- every day we put on a persona -- we put on a good face for the world -- we act like the world thinks we should act as a Christian -- but if we're honest with ourselves, we'll have to admit that a lot of times we don't act like that when we're alone

            -- integrity is being who Christ wants you to be in public and in private -- integrity is being a person who exemplifies the Cardinal Virtues and the characteristics of Christ -- whether you're in public or you're by yourself

            -- Socrates wrote, "The first key to greatness is to be in reality what we appear to be" -- we are called to be men and women of integrity -- we are called to live lives of holiness and righteousness through the power of Christ in us -- that's what this series on the Cardinal Virtues is all about

III.  Putting Off the Old, Taking Up the New (Colossians 3:1-14)

            -- so as we begin this series, I want to invite you to turn over with me now to Colossians Chapter 3 and let's briefly look at this passage that summarizes our goals in this series

            -- let's start at verse 1

Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

            -- writing to the church at Colossae, Paul begins this section by reminding them of who they are in Christ -- they are no longer the men and women they used to be -- they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb -- their sins have been forgiven -- they are new creations in Christ -- raised with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly realms

            -- because of that, Paul tells them to set their hearts and their minds on the things above -- not on the things of the earth -- as Jesus said, where your treasure is, is where your heart should be -- their treasure was in heaven, so their hearts and minds needed to be focused on heaven and the things of heaven, not on what the world says is important

            -- our Christian life does not begin when we die -- we are not saved just so we can go to heaven -- we are saved that we might have life and have it abundantly -- and that life begins when we change our focus and our goal and our direction from what we want and what the world wants to what Christ wants for us

            -- verse 5

Colossians 3:5-11 (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.

11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

            -- since we have been raised with Christ -- since we have new life with Him -- we need to start acting like it

            -- one day this successful businessman was walking down the street when he was approached by a beggar -- the guy was obviously homeless -- his whole appearance was unkempt -- long, dirty, uncombed hair -- dirty clothes -- he carried all his possessions in a bag slung over his back -- he held his hand out and asked for a couple of dollars so he could get something to eat

            -- as the businessman reached in his pocket and started to hand the man some change, he looked at him and realized he knew him -- it turns out this beggar was a friend of his from high school -- they talked for a moment and he found out the beggar had made some bad choices -- started drinking and using drugs -- and eventually found himself out on the street with no job and no money and no home

            -- the businessman said, "Come with me" -- and he took him home with him and got him cleaned up -- they went to the barber and got him a shave and a haircut -- they went to the department store and got him new clothes -- and the businessman told him, "Now listen, you come by my store on Monday and you tell the manager I sent you -- he's going to be expecting you and he'll have a job for you and we'll put you up in a spare room in the back of the store until you get on your feet again"

            -- the beggar thanked his old friend for all that he had done and went on his way -- Monday came around and the businessman went by the store to see how his friend was doing -- the manager told him that no one had come by all day -- every day that week, he'd check and still, the beggar had not come by

            -- one day the businessman is out and walking down the street and who does he see but the same beggar standing on the street corner asking for money -- he goes up to him and says, "What are you doing here? -- why didn't you come by my store and get the job I promised? -- why didn't you take the life I was offering?"

            -- the beggar dropped his eyes and said, "It was just too good to be true -- I just couldn't believe I could change and I didn't believe you really had a job for me -- it was just easier to go back to what I knew"

            -- if we're not careful, we'll do the same thing this beggar did -- Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for our sins and offer us a whole new life with Him -- but we have to do something with the gift He has given -- we have to move forward in faith and make some changes in our lives

            -- Paul tells the folks in Colossae, "Look here -- you have been raised with Christ -- you have a new life -- so you need to put to death your old nature and your old ways

            -- put to death your sexual immorality -- your impurity -- your lust -- your evil desires and greed -- get rid of your anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language -- stop lying to one another -- that's who you used to be, but that's not who you are now -- remember who you are in Christ and live the new life you have been given

            -- verse 12

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

            -- if we're going to be who God wants us to be, then we're going to have to make some drastic changes in our lives -- the reason why we need to get rid of the old way of living is to make way for the new

            -- we are called to be imitators of Christ -- to look and act like Him in this world -- do you know what the word Christian literally means? -- it means "little Christ" -- and that is who we should be

            -- that means we have to be different from this world -- different from who we used to be before we trusted in Jesus as our Lord and Savior and were given the Holy Spirit to empower us and make us holy

            -- we are called to be reflectors of God's love on this earth -- when people see us, they should see Christ in us

            -- so Paul tells us here -- get rid of the old stuff and clothe yourself with the things of God -- put on the virtues of Jesus -- compassion -- kindness -- humility -- gentleness -- and patience -- bear with each other -- be patient and kind one to another because we're all on this journey together even though we may all be in different places along the way

            -- forgive others as God forgave you -- and let your life and your actions and your being be characterized by love above all else

IV.  CLOSING

            -- what does it take to be approved unto God? -- what does it take to be tested and approved in Christ?

            -- the Apostle Peter asked that same question in 2 Peter 3:11 -- "What kind of people ought you to be?" -- now that Christ has saved you -- now that Christ has sent His Spirit to indwell you -- now that you have been filled with God's divine power -- what kind of person should you be?

            -- he goes on to answer that question in the rest of verse 11 -- "You ought to live holy and godly lives"

            -- Paul reminds us here in verse 12 that we are God's chosen people -- holy and dearly loved -- and he tells us we should act like it -- we should put off the old and put on the new -- we should choose to take up the virtues of Christ and live a new life -- a different life -- than the one we used to live

            -- so as we begin this series together on the Cardinal Virtues of the Christian Life, let me ask you:  what if we became like Apelles? -- what if we patiently sought to acquire the virtues that matter? -- what if we came to realize that the only approval that really matters is God's? -- what then?²

            -- that's the questions I want you to answer in your own heart and in your own life as we go through this series together

            -- let us pray

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1 Admiral William H. McRaven, "Admiral McRaven: 10 Lessons to Help Change the World," Real Clear Politics (5-22-14) [Preaching Today: http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2014/october/7102014.html]

2 Modified from message by Jennifer Dukes Lee [http://manettecommunitychurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/November-2014-Newsletter-Web.pdf]