Above All Christ: Free in Christ Colossians 2:11-15 Introduction Complete victory MJ winning 6 titles, never losing. Main point: Total domination of all His enemies. Paul is building the case that we are completely and totally free in Christ, because Christ has completely and totally vanquished all of our enemies. Transition: As a Christian he has completely saved us from sin. Complete from beginning to end. I. Complete Salvation. Colossians 2:11 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, (ESV) 1
A. Death to the flesh. Illustration: OT circumcision, the physical act, was never intended to be a saving act. In fact, no physical or religious duty can save us from the penalty of our sin. Going to church, being baptized, giving your money, serving in children s ministry; none of them save you. The outward signs of scripture always reminders of spiritual and heart realities. OT saints (BTW: only men) were to have the outward sign to remind them that they had a human/sinful nature from which they needed saving. Saving from sin, saving from their human nature, which was a spiritual reality of the heart. Deuteronomy 30:6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (ESV) 2
Stephen upon proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to fellow Jews in the book of Acts was trying to help them understand that they outward act of Circumcision was not what God was looking for: Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. (ESV) 1. We need the removal of our sinful hearts. 2. Which is the work of the Holy Spirit. (Circumcision made without hands) Main Point: This is Jesus discussion with Nicodemus in John 3. You can t see the Kingdom of Heaven unless you are Born Again. This is the work of the Spirit of God that opens our spiritual eyes that we might see the things of God, and understand our depravity of heart, and our desperate need 3
for the gospel. Removing our sin nature is the work of Jesus Christ alone, through the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Through the Prophet Ezekiel God said it this way: Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (ESV) Colossians 2:12 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. (ESV) While our flesh has been put to death the Holy Spirit has made us B. Alive in Christ. 1. Baptism is our symbol of our union with Christ. a. Christ death washes away our sin. 4
b. And as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too, by the Holy Spirit living within us, walk in a new life. Galatians 3:26-27 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV) 2. Our God raises the dead. BTW: This is incredibly life and hope giving. We believe in a God who raises the dead. He has already done it, so we know he can do it, and He promises to do it for those who believe in Jesus. Transition: The vanquishing of all of Christ enemies is a sure thing, and salvation will be complete. So here is a question what is taking so long? We are in the in between time, the now and not yet of God s coming kingdom. God is being patient, giving all 5
men the opportunity to repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why, even though we have a new heart, we still battle with sin. (Romans 7) This is why we look forward to our future and final resurrection, upon Christ s return, when he will destroy the last enemy, death itself (1 Corinthians 15:26) Transition: Christ completes our salvation from beginning to end. Christ also offers: II. Complete forgiveness. Colossians 2:13-14 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. (ESV) 6
Tying these 2 sections together Paul reminds: A. Being spiritually alive is the gracious work of God. Illustration: If I had a dead person laying up here (Which would represent our spiritual condition apart from the work of God) and I began to bark commands at them of things they should be doing: 1. Love God. 2. Love others. 3. Grow in holiness and righteousness. Main Point: It s not that these things are difficult, its that they are impossible apart from the being made alive in Christ. God has done that for us. By B. Forgiving our sins. 1. Cancelled our debt. Law of God demands perfection. The law of God is His character. The OT law, 7
including the 10 commandments, are essential to our salvation as Christians. Why? Because they reveal to us the character of our God. Our problem is we can t keep them and so what each of us deserves is the curses of the law. That is the debt that we owe, every single human being. Main point: But God canceled our debt, but substituting His Son to pay the debt He didn t owe. How? 2. Nailing His son to the cross. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (ESV) C. Complete forgiveness is offered in Christ. 1. Graciously offered. 8
Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us (ESV) 2. Our sins are completely removed. Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (ESV) 3. Our God is eager to forgive. Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (ESV) 4. Motivates us to be a community of forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 9
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV) Transition: We, as believers live free, because our salvation is sure and complete, our forgiveness is complete, and because of our unity in Christ, total victory over all of Christ enemies is assured. III. Christ has complete victory over all His enemies. Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (ESV) A. Who are the enemies of Christ? 1. World Philosophies and false thinking. 2. Flesh sin nature. 3. Devil. 10
B. Christ puts His enemies to open shame: Illustration: The word here is the same word used of a Roman General after he would defeat a distant country. The General would announce the his victory by returning home and parading around the loot they had won, and dragging behind the bedraggled prisoners. Main Point: This is what Christ has done to His enemies. He has mocked death, and injustice, and sin. And he shows off His saved sinners to glory of God the Father. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) C. Christ reverses our shame. Illustration: The rulers (Government Rulers, Jewish Religious rulers, Satan 11
Himself) and authorities thought they had won. They didn t like that Jesus was challenging their authority: 1. They stripped him naked. 2. The put him on a cross for public contempt. 3. And they celebrated in triumph over Him. On the cross it looked like all the powers that be had won, and once again death reigned supreme even over the sinless one. But 3 days later, as Jesus rose from the grave, He flipped the script, and turned the tables. And he took all the rulers and authorities captive and beaten. Satan couldn t stop the resurrection, the government couldn t stop the message, and the grave can no longer hold His children. Jesus took all His enemies and He: 1. Stripped them naked as the façade they are. 12
2. Held them in public contempt as appeared to many. 3. Lead them through the streets in a public triumphal procession as the redeemed children of God continually sing His praises. Conclusion That sin you keep thinking about: Forgiven. That injustice against you that you keep thinking about and leaves you stewing with anger day in and day out: He ll take care of it in His time. That shame you feel: Nailed to the cross. That story you hope no one finds out about: He wants to use it to show off His forgiveness and redeeming grace. When we repent of our sins, and believe in Jesus as the Christ, we are united with Him. Victorious over all His enemies, and trophies of His amazing grace. 13
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