It is of upmost importance that we be established in Christ.
GOLDEN TEXT:
Colossians 2:6,7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him
The only way God will change who we are, is if we come as we are, willing for Him to fix everything we are!
With that said, we cannot do it on our own or depend on the flesh to draw closer to Christ. We have to be established in Christ through Christ.
Too many people try to fix the flesh in order to comply with religious standards. While living in salvation will cause a standard, a standard will never cause a life in salvation. The establishment must never be reliant on a work of the flesh, that is impossible. Let Christ do what only he can do!
BE ROOTED IN THE FAITH
A. Hold to Christ, Reject Deceptions
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
…….How did we receive Christ Jesus? What was our need? What was our character and emotion? In order to “receive” Christ as Lord, we must fall before Him in pure brokenness and humility, and in order to “keep” Him as Lord that is the way we must remain! Completely dependent on Him!
“so walk ye in Him!”
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
…….The roots of our relationship must run deep! The deeper the roots are in a tree system, the stronger it becomes and the harder the battle it can withstand. It is a beautiful thing to see a Christian endure hardness and never be shaken in their faith!
I want my roots to run deep!
…….Think about a concrete foundation, before it is poured, the soil is leveled and compacted. The mix must be free of any debris that will cause weakness in the hardening process. There are specific variables that must be in place for it to fulfill its purpose.
Now think about your foundation in Christ, how much do we try and hang on to things when Christ has tried time and time again to eliminate it. We must let Christ be our entire foundation!
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy (mans wisdom) and vain deceit (delusion), after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
…….The conflicting battle for truth has been going on since the beginning of the church, people preaching man made tradition, feelings and personal guilts rather than Christ crucified.
On the other hand, there are so many who water down the Gospel, teaching that you can live any way you desire and still be in the kingdom.
It is sad that people can become so wrapped up in a way particularly other than pure biblical doctrine, and not only be deceived by it, but deceive others in the process.
Our message and life should be this: I am saved and transformed only because of His mercy and grace, knowing that no one is exempt from His love! There was nothing I could do to attain it, therefore it is not up to my opinion on who can receive it.
B. Your Are Complete in Christ
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality (first, beginning), and power:
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
…….While the circumcision of the flesh became an act of tradition, the circumcision made without hands is the cutting away of everything that will cause spiritual death. There is no way to live in salvation and tolerate sin and unrighteousness at the same time.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism (submersion), wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
…….There must be a submersion in salvation. We must die to this flesh and raise up new in Christ.
AFFIRM YOUR LIFE WITH CHRIST
A. You Are Alive With Christ
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting (to smear, erase) out the handwriting of ordinances (laws, legal documents) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
…….While the law said we couldn’t be saved, Christ made salvation available to all!
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities (rules) and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
…….Forgive my carnal thinking, but I can simply see Jesus Christ standing over all mankind with a book of rules that condemned every gentile, and page by page ripping it in half!
B. What Is Real Is of Christ
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
…….This scripture alone disputes every religion whose basis reflects on legalistic rules and views.
May we always evaluate ourselves in our beliefs and assure in all aspects that we line up with Biblical truth.
While Godly convictions are necessary for all believers, we must never apply them to someone’s else’s life.
While observances and works are necessary, the learning of such will never cause salvation. Anyone who depends on rules and works for salvation are worshipping legalism. Salvation will lead us to works and observances, but it can never be the contrary.
REJECT MAN MADE RELIGION
A. Let No One Disqualify You
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head (Jesus Christ), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
…….People who live continuously condemning others, whether openly or mentally, are shallow minded and absent of Christ-likeness. It is not a mind of Christ that leads to this, but rather a work of Satan.
We must keep Christ in His place, that is at the head! When we focus on the head, it bind us together with chords of unity and love, and His Spirit increases in our ministries!
B. Abstain From Legalism
Col 2:20 Wherefore (why now) if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments (fundamental steps) of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (rules),
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
…….Paul here asks the question, why now after you have been delivered from the bondage of man made rules, do you place yourself under the power of them again? To shorten this up, why do people in the church embrace legalism?
Somewhere in past generations, our church leaders and church government have forgotten how to skim through and eradicate the fake.
Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
…….Not once will you see someone criticize another under the operation of the Spirit. The only thing this satisfies is the flesh. The real church will grow, though not everyone will look the same and act the same, the true Spirit of God will cause an increase.
I’ve heard the saying many time, “Well Jesus only had twelve followers with Him and one of them betrayed.” But I also remember Him speaking about greater than this will you do under the operation of the Spirit, and when Peter preached 3000 were saved!
With that said, if we are more worried about trimming the church rather than growing it, we should focus on trimming ourselves.
We must let God be God and get out of His way if we refuse to be within His way!
Read this song when you get a chance:
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth’s become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who’s writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we’re for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet
‘Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost ’cause and I was the outcast
Yeah
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet