Thank you for stopping by and taking to time to watch, listen, or read this week’s message, In Christ Alone.
I hope you find encouragement in your faith in Jesus, and maybe even learn something new along the way 🙂
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In our lives, we talk about the things that are important to us. We often know the topic of conversation when we meet up with others. For some, family is where it’s at, while others will only talk about their jobs and nothing else. We know those who will discuss politics and conspiracy theories if given the chance. Some we look forward to, but others we might look for a way out.
For Paul, his topic of conversation was always about Christ. His writings and teachings, as we have been discussing in Colossians, were focused on Christ alone.
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So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
— Colossians 2.6-15
From this passage, there are several things Paul touches on. He encourages his readers, and us today, to…
1. Keep Growing in Christ
He tells the Colossians, since they had received Jesus as their Lord, to continue living their lives in Him. What does that look like? It is making the effort to pursue Him in all things.
As we pursue Him, we will become rooted and built up in Him. He must become the foundation of our lives. With Jesus as the foundation, we will find strength in Him. We will find this strength through our faith. The scripture tells us at He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. Part of that supply is the strength we will need to get through each day.
As we grow in Christ, it should lead to an overflowing of thankfulness. Considering all that He has done for each one of us, our response should be that of giving thanks. What are we thankful for? How has He impacted our lives?
As he encourages the Colossians to grow in Christ, he reminds them to…
2. Keep Trusting in Christ Alone
Paul tells his readers to let no one take them captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which comes from human tradition. Back then, there were many “requirements,” many traditions to follow to be right with God. Paul is reminding the people of the importance of trusting in Christ alone.
This is not much different from the religion we find today. What are some traditions that are often expected in the church? Are there things being done simply because it’s always been done that way? Do we place requirements on others, beyond faith in Christ, for salvation?
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Paul also talks about the elemental spiritual forces of the world. This would include human reasoning, believing in only what makes sense to us. It would also include the “other” gods that the people were looking to and not just on Christ alone.
Again, this is not much different from today. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not make sense. The fact that we are saved by grace through faith seems unlikely. There has to be more for salvation. The truth of the matter, though, is it is through Christ alone and nothing else.
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We can trust in Christ along because, in Christ, the fullness of the Deity lives in Him. The fullness of God lives in Jesus. He was fully man AND fully God. Because of this, we have been brought into fullness. If Christ is in us, then the fullness of the Deity also lives in us.
Not only does the fullness of the Deity live in Jesus, He is also the head over every power and authority. He is in complete control of all things. Because of this, we can trust in Him completely and in Him alone.
A great example of this are the elections that just took place. Many fear this event whenever it comes around. We voice our opinions to be sure people will vote for the “right” person. However, the truth of it all is that no matter who is elected, Jesus is in charge. Many are placing too much trust in man when our trust is to be in Christ alone.
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Paul encourages the Colossians to grow and trust in Jesus, then reminds them to…
3. Keep Remembering the Work of Christ
Even though Paul was writing to the Colossians, he is also writing to us today. He answers the question, why should we grow and trust in Jesus? What has Jesus done for us?
He states that, in Christ, our hearts have been circumcised. Through this circumcision, we are no longer slaves to the flesh, slaves to sin. Instead, we have the ability to conquer our sins. Not by our own strength, but by the strength of the One who is in us. Yes, it will take effort, but we can overcome the flesh.
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We are also buried with Christ in baptism. The act of baptism is a symbol of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. When we go through the waters of baptism, we, too, are saying that we have died to ourselves and have been raised to life through faith. Going back to trusting in Christ alone, we are raised to this life through Christ, not in the act of baptism itself.
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Paul reminds his readers that even though we were dead in our sins, God made us alive. Because of sin, we do not deserve life. However, through faith in Jesus and by the grace of God, we have been given life.
An important point here, to receive this life, God forgave ALL our sins… past, present, future. He cancelled the charges against us. Yes, we are guilty of sin, but the charges don’t stick anymore. He has taken away our sins. They are no more. It’s as if we had never sinned.
Sin has no hold on us anymore because Jesus nailed them to the cross. When God looks at us, He sees a clean slate. Even though we still sin, because we are fallen creatures, the slate is always clean because of Christ. Can we believe that? Can we accept it?
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We also must remember that Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities in the earthly realm. He defeated them by the cross, through His death and resurrection.
On this earth, we are surrounded by one who is attempting to keep us from a relationship with God. We must remember, though, that Jesus overcame the enemy. The enemy has no hold on us any more. Even though he will do what he can to knock us down, if we will grow and trust in Christ alone, we shall overcome!
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As we consider our life of faith…
Are we growing in Christ?
As we grow, are we trusting in Christ alone?
To grow and trust even more, are we remembering all that Christ has done for us?
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Have a Great Day!