FROM RAGS TO RICHES TO RESURRECTION


TEXT:  Colossians 3
Introduction:
	A. The greatest duty ever delegated to man, the greatest privilege ever afforded
	     to humankind, the greatest opportunity ever presented to the world is that of
	     going to heaven.
		1. I just happen to have a list of those who are going to heaven from this
		    area (begin to read from directory).
		2. Is that the way it works?
		3. Only those who have gone from the rags of sin to the riches in Christ
		    get to go to heaven.
		4. Society gives entrance based on physical clothing.
			a. God bases His judgment on our spiritual garments.
			b. James 2:2-3

I. FROM RAGS: 3:5-9
	1. Vs 5 - reads like a program guide for the entertainment media.
		a. Put to death - justifiable homicide or self-defense.
		b. One of us is going to die: my sinful desires or my soul.
	2. Vs 6 - God's present attitude toward sin.
		a. As a parent, what would your reaction be is your child flirted with the
		    forbidden.
	3. Vs 7 - past tense... as it should be.
	4. Vs 8 - "Put off"... like an old tattered robe.
		a. Sounds like children involved in petty quarrels.
		b. "Did you hear the one about the traveling salesman and the farmer's
		    daughter? Well, it seems that..."
		c. Should I finish it? If it isn't appropriate here, it is not appropriate 				    anywhere. God hears all of our words.
	5. Vs 9 - Including lying to ourselves. Syllogism:
		a. If not everyone that saith unto me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom
		    of heaven, and
		b. Everyone thinks he is going to heaven, then
		c. Someone is lying to himself.
	6. Put off the rags of sin, and put on the riches in Christ.
		a. Ezekiel 16:1-14 - God clothes us in riches.
		b. Rom. 6:4-13; 8:8-13 - However, we make the choice to wear the clothes
		c. Prov. 23:21 - religious laziness can bring us from riches back to rags is
		   we are not active and vigilant.

II. TO RICHES: 3:10-17
	1. Mark 8:36-37
	2. Vs 10 - The new man equated to a superior man, more like God.
	3. Vs 11 - Our old rags mean nothing in this new kingdom. God doesn't care what
 	    we were wearing when we came in.
	4. Vs 12-14 - Much more attractive outfit than vs 8-9.
	5. Vs 15 - True wealth, at peace with all.
	6. Vs 16 - Plus a little taste of heaven here on earth.

III. TO RESURRECTION: 3:1-4, 23-25
	1. We have to change clothes before going to heaven; put off the rags of sin and
	    put on the riches in Christ.
	2. Going to heaven takes more preparation than just becoming a Christian.
		a. 1Peter 2:2; Hebrews 6:1-2.
	3. Our desire to go to heaven MUST be greater than any other interest in this life!
		a. Old, Southern, Black spiritual song: "Everyone talkin' 'bout heaven ain't
		    goin' there."
		b. We must learn sincerity when we say, "I want to go to heaven."
		c. We aren't playing church here at Westview; this is serious; every tick of
		    the clock brings us that much closer to eternity.
		d. Whether I go to heaven or hell depends on which one I devoted my time
 		    and attention to today and every day.
		e. Token service will not get me into heaven!

IV. GOING TO HEAVEN IS A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
	A. Acts 2:36-41
		1. Who was saved? What of the others in town?
		2. Phil. 2:12
	B. Works of righteousness are personal, done on an individual basis.
		1. 2Tim. 2:15
		2. 1Cor. 16:1-2
		3. 1Cor. 11:23-29
		4. Gal. 6:1-4, 7-10
	C. Diligence and perseverance are essential.
		1. 2Peter 1:3-11, 3:9-14; 1Peter 1:3-9

V. WE OFTEN LOSE PRECIOUS TIME THAT SHOULD BE SPENT PREPARING FOR HEAVEN.
	A. 2Cor. 6:2; 1Thes. 5:1-6
	B. "I'll serve the Lord when..."
		1. Young: "...when I get older and settle down."
		2. Middle aged: "...when I am not so busy working, raising kids, preparing
		    for retirement, etc."
		3. Older: "...I'm retired and weary; I can't do much now."
		4. Yet all three upon dying, would expect God to reward them with eternity
 		    in heaven.
			a. For what?! A lifetime of promising to serve the Lord some day?
			b. When will we cease postponing our duty to God, and put our
			    hands to the plow?
	C. Time is wasted pursuing spiritually unprofitable things.
		1. 2Tim. 2:14, 16, 23; 2Peter 2:1-3, 9-10.
		2. There are those who fritter away their lives thinking themselves to be
		    the guardians of the brotherhood with the only answers. Quit wasting
		    time fighting on the Internet, and get to preaching the Gospel!
		3. Romans 14:17-20 - There is enough revealed truth to keep a man
		    occupied for the rest of his life.

VI. REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHERS THINK, SAY AND DO, I WILL SERVE THE  
LORD; AND WITH HIS DIVINE MERCY AND GRACE, LIVE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.
	A. Joshua 24:14-15; Phil 4:13.
	B. Matt. 6:24 - Focus on that one goal; divided attention will lose.	
	C. 1Cor. 10:12 - Don't become overconfident; it is the beginning of the end.
		1. Temptation to believe we are right regardless.
		2. Become blind to errors that we take unrepented to the grave.
	D. Heb. 6:17-19 - Put confidence in God's promises.
		1. 1John 2:25; 5:13-14
	E. Don't let the unrighteous, professed Christians or alien sinners, drive you away
 	     from God.
		1. 2Tim. 3:1-9,13; Gal. 5:16-26

IV. GETTING TO HEAVEN MUST BE THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IN MY LIFE, OR I WILL NOT GET THERE.
	A. I must hate sin.
		1. No one here would say that they love sin; yet, we permit ourselves to
		    enjoy its pleasures.
		2. Rom. 6:16; James 1:12-16
	B. I must be in Christ.
		1. Romans 6:3-5
	C. Once in Christ, I must work toward my goal.
		1. Eph. 2:10; Col. 3:1-4; 1John 3:2-3; Luke 17:10; Phil. 3:8-13
	D. And, I must work to bring others with me.
		1. 2Cor. 5:17-20

Conclusion:
	A. Do I really want to go to heaven?
		1. Then I must put off the rags of sin and put on the riches in Christ.