Complete in Him Colossians 2:6-15 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Paul s point in this book is to demonstrate the supremacy of Jesus above Jewish legalism and Greek Gnosticism. Legalism is a human work Gnosticism is a religious experience Rather than focus on what is wrong with legalism and Gnosticism Paul highlights Jesus throughout the book. In this passage Jesus is a) Christ Jesus the Lord (6) b) in whom the fullness of deity dwells bodily (9) c) the head of all rule and authority (10) First: Confessing Christ Christ = Greek for Hebrew Messiah a) Christ is the person who fulfils all the OT promises. 44 Messianic Prophecies of Jesus Prophecies of Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment 1 Messiah would be born of a woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20 Galatians 4:4 2 Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1 Luke 2:4-6
3 Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:22-23 Luke 1:26-31 4 Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18 Matthew 1:1 Romans 9:5 5 Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 17:19 Luke 3:34 Genesis 21:12 6 Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 Matthew 1:2 7 Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:33 Hebrews 7:14 8 Messiah would be heir to King David's throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 Luke 1:32-33 Isaiah 9:7 Romans 1:3 9 Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalm 45:6-7 Daniel 2:44 Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12 10Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23 11Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14-15 12A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18 birthplace. 13A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah Isaiah 40:3-5 Luke 3:3-6 14Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Psalm 69:8 Isaiah 53:3 John 1:11 John 7:5 15Messiah would be a prophet. Deuteronomy Acts 3:20-22 18:15 16Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6 Matthew 11:13-14 17Messiah would be declared the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:16-17 18Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Isaiah 11:1 Matthew 2:23 19Messiah would bring light to Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:13-16 20Messiah would speak in parables. Psalm 78:2-4 Isaiah 6:9-10 Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35 21Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:18-19 22Messiah would be a priest after the order of Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:5-6 Melchizedek. 23Messiah would be called King. Psalm 2:6 Zechariah 9:9 Matthew 27:37 Mark 11:7-11 24Messiah would be praised by little children. Psalm 8:2 Matthew 21:16 25Messiah would be betrayed. Psalm 41:9 Zechariah 11:12- Luke 22:47-48 Matthew 26:14-16 13 26Messiah's price money would be used to buy a Zechariah 11:12- Matthew 27:9-10 potter's field. 13 27Messiah would be falsely accused. Psalm 35:11 Mark 14:57-58 28Messiah would be silent before his accusers. Isaiah 53:7 Mark 15:4-5 29Messiah would be spat upon and struck. Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67 30Messiah would be hated without cause. Psalm 35:19 Psalm 69:4 John 15:24-25
31Messiah would be crucified with criminals. Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38 Mark 15:27-28 32Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34 John 19:28-30 33Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced. Psalm 22:16 John 20:25-27 Zechariah 12:10 34Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. Psalm 22:7-8 Luke 23:35 35Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments. Psalm 22:18 Luke 23:34 Matthew 27:35-36 36Messiah's bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46 John 19:33-36 Psalm 34:20 37Messiah would be forsaken by God. Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46 38Messiah would pray for his enemies. Psalm 109:4 Luke 23:34 39Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side. Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34 40Messiah would be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60 41Messiah would resurrect from the dead. Psalm 16:10 Psalm 49:15 Matthew 28:2-7 Acts 2:22-32 42Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalm 24:7-10 Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51 43Messiah would be seated at God's right hand. Psalm 68:18 Psalm 110:1 Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44 44Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5-12 Romans 5:6-8 SOURCE: 100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus: Messianic Prophecies Made Before the Birth of Christ by Rose Publishing In the book Science Speaks, Peter Stoner and Robert Newman discuss the statistical improbability of one man, whether accidentally or deliberately, fulfilling just eight of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. The chance of this happening, they say, is 1 in 10 17 power. Stoner gives this illustration to help visualize the magnitude of such odds: Suppose that we take 10 17 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man Jesus is God s plan A: and there never was a plan "B." b) Jesus is the person who redeems us Matthew 1:21 - you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Genesis Jesus is our Creator Exodus He is the Passover Lamb Leviticus High Priest Numbers Water in the desert Deuteronomy He is our Eagles wings of deliverance Joshua Commander of the army of the Lord Judges He is the Lord of Peace Ruth He is our Redeemer 1 Samuel He is the Prophet, Priest and King 2 Samuel Rock of Salvation 1 Kings Builder of a temple that will never fall 2 Kings He is the reigning King 1 Chronicles Son of David that is coming to rule 2 Chronicles the King who reigns eternally Ezra Priest proclaiming freedom Nehemiah the One who restores what is broken Esther Protector of his people Job Mediator between God and man Psalms He is our song in the morning and in the night Proverbs our Wisdom and Strong Tower! Ecclesiastes our meaning for life Song of Solomon Author of faithful love Isaiah He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace Jeremiah the weeping Messiah Lamentations He assumes God s wrath for us Ezekiel Son of Man Daniel He is the Son of God with us in the fiery furnace Hosea Faithful husband even when we run away Joel He is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit Amos delivers justice to the oppressed Obadiah He is Mighty to Save Jonah The great missionary Micah He casts our sin into the sea of forgetfulness Nahum He proclaims future world peace Habakkuk He crushes injustice Zephaniah He s the Warrior who saves Haggai He restores our worship Zechariah He is Lord and King over all the earth Malachi Sun of righteousness who brings healing Matthew The Messiah who is King Mark The Messiah who is a Servant Luke The Messiah who is a Deliverer John The Messiah who is a God in the flesh Acts The Spirit who dwells in His people Romans The Power of God unto salvation 1 Corinthians Our resurrection
2 Corinthians He is the down payment of what s to come Galatians He is our inheritance Ephesians He is our peace at the right hand of the Father Philippians He is the God that supplies all our needs Colossians He holds the supreme position in all things 1 Thessalonians He is our comfort in the last days 2 Thessalonians He is our returning King 1 Timothy He is our Crown of Righteousness 2 Timothy He is Christ our Helper Titus He is our Hope Philemon He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother Hebrews He is our High Priest James He is the Great Physician 1 Peter He is our hope in times of suffering 2 Peter He is the restorer of all things 1 John He is our Love and Light 2 John He is Christ come in the flesh 3 John He is our prosperity, health and peace Jude Jesus is the Lord coming with 10,000 of his believers Revelation Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End, and He is coming again and the One who makes all things new! Jesus never struck a jarring note, never made a misstep. On Him circumstances left no fingerprints. Popularity never caused Him to hasten a footstep. Hostility never caused Him to falter. Temptations never loosened a moral fiber. As all the rivers are gathered into the ocean so Christ is the ocean in which all moral excellencies and spiritual pleasures meet. Even His enemies said they could find no fault in Him. Even His worst foe proclaimed Him innocent. - R.G. Lee c) Lord is the ultimate person beyond whom there is nothing V 9 - For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, V 10 - who is the head of all rule and authority. To the artist, He is the One altogether lovely Song of Solomon 5:15 To the architect, He is the Chief Cornerstone 1 Peter 2:6 To the astronomer, He is the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2 To the baker, He is the Bread of life John 6:35 To the banker, He is the Hidden Treasure Matthew 13:44 To the biologist, He is Life John 14:6 To the builder, He is the Sure Foundation Isaiah 28:16 To the carpenter, He is the Door John 10:7 To the doctor, He is the Great Physician Jeremiah 8:22 To the educator, He is the Great Teacher John 3:2 To the electrician, He is the Light of the world John 8:12**
To the engineer, He is the New and Living way Hebrews 10:20 To the farmer, He is the Sower and Lord of harvest Luke 10:2 To the florist, He is the Rose of Sharon Song of Solomon 2:1 To the geologist, He is the Rock of Ages 1 Corinthians 10:4 To the horticulturist, He is the True Vine John 15:1 To the judge, He is the only righteous Judge of man 2 Timothy 4:8 To the juror, He is the Faithful and True Witness Revelation 3:14 To the jeweler, He is the Pearl of great price Matthew 13:46 To the lawyer, He is Counselor, Lawgiver, and True Advocate Isaiah 9:6 To the newspaper man, He is Good News of great joy Luke 2:10 To the oculist, He is the Light of the eyes Proverbs 29:13 To the orphan, He is the ultimate Father John 10:30 To the pharmacist He is the only guaranteed prescription - To the philanthropist, He is the unspeakable Gift 2 Corinthians 9:15 To the philosopher, He is the Wisdom of God 1 Corinthians 1:24 To the preacher, He is the Word of God Revelation 19:13 To the priest, He is foreshadowed in the Tabernacle Exodus 25:8 To the rancher, He is the Good Shepherd John10:11 To the sculptor, He is the Living Stone 1 Peter 2:4 To the servant, He is the Good Master Matthew 23:8 10 To the sick, He is the only Cure Luke 9:11 To the statesman, He is the Desire of all nations Haggai 2:7 To the student, He is the Incarnate Truth 1 John 5:6 To the theologian, He is the Author and Finisher of our faith Hebrews 12:2 To the toiler, He is the Giver of rest Matthew 11:28 To the tourist, He is the Map John 14:6 To the traveler, He is the Way John 14:6 To the sinner, He is the Lamb of God who takes the sin away John 1:29 To the weary, He is Rest Matthew 11:28 To the Christian, He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior Second: Practicing Jesus Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him a) Rooted like a tree horticultural term Depth in experience b) Built like a house architectural term Height in worship c) Established like a student - educational term Expanding in knowledge d) Abounding like a vine horticultural term Reaching out in joy Colossians 3:9-10 - Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Where do I get this picture of Jesus? The Gospels. Dare to read Mark!
Conclusion: Because Jesus is everything He is, He is worthy our affection. CG Interaction: 1 What human works do people want to add to salvation? 2 What religious experiences do people want to add to salvation? 3 What works/experiences are natural to you to add to salvation? 4 How well does Jesus fulfill OT prophecy? What does this say about him? How does this knowledge increase your faith in Him? 5 How does the OT point to Jesus? What OT foreshadowings of Jesus are meaningful to you? 6 - Do you lack experience in Christ, worship, knowledge or joy? How can you gain experience as a Christian? How can you cultivate worship? How can you increase your knowledge? How can you become a joyful person? 6 Where can you find a true picture of Jesus? 7 What do you need to put off because it doesn t look like Jesus? 8 What characteristics of Jesus do you need to put on? 9 What word, picture, etc, best pictures Jesus for you today? How can you see him more clearly, to love him more dearly and follow him more nearly?