If you're not there already,
please open your Bibles and turn to Colossians chapter 2. If you
don't have a Bible with you, there should be one in front
of you in the pew or underneath you if you're in the front. Before we get started this morning,
I just want to I'm just overwhelmed by what God has been doing in
my own life and my own heart the last few weeks and preparing
to preach and teach here and serve with you here at First
Baptist. And it's been such a rich time
to see what goes on in my life in the private times within my
own home and the blessing that God has poured out to me, even
in my own family and being able to share things with my wife
and being able to see how he's really working, preaching and
teaching of his word out in my life. knowing that this is not
just a clock in here at First Baptist Sunday morning and then
clock out and go about the rest of my week. But truly, it permeates
every area of my life and it has been a rich lesson. So I
thank you for again, just it's an honor and a privilege to serve
you here. And I thank you for those of you who have encouraged
me and come alongside me during this time. And most importantly,
for those of you who have been praying for me, because it's
been such a blessing these last few weeks and I've seen God's
hand and every part of it. Last week we looked at Colossians
chapter 2, the very first five verses, and we really saw Paul's
heart here again. And we see Paul and his great
struggle once again for the church at Colossae and everything that
they were dealing with. And last week we looked at the exact conflict
and the confrontation and the problems the church at Colossae
was facing And let us remember again that Paul is writing in
prison and he's in Rome and he's writing to the church at Colossae
in regards to these teachings that they have come across from
these false teachers. And we know them today as the
Gnostics. And we looked at last week that the Gnostics saw all
flesh or matter as evil and not even existing. The only thing
good to them was spirit. So they denied that Christ had
a real body or that he really suffered pains and sorrows and
that he actually died on the cross. They thought that He just
came to teach mankind some important lessons, how to separate mind
from body, that He was just a man, that this Spirit that came and
filled His body departed right before He went on the cross. So the church at Colossae was
facing this. They were facing these teachings that were, as
we know today, as we hear these things, do not hold to the truth
of the Bible. To them, it was everything but
Christ. Yes, Christ is important, but it's more about what you
can do in your own mind and what you can think and what you can
work up in your own life. And throughout the first chapter
of Colossians, we really see Paul laying this foundation of
who Jesus Christ is, of who God is, and how He works. And we
must understand again that this Word, even as we read this morning,
is written by the Apostle Paul. under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Word that we read
is the infallible, inerrant Word of God. Paul's writing under
the authority of God. And we know at the end of chapter
1 that we see Paul's really purpose in this, and he says to make
the Word of God fully known to the church here at Colossae.
And he expresses his struggle and expresses the conflict that
he has to see these people whom he did not even know. People
that he had never seen before. And we see such a loving heart
and a spirit that is rejoicing during this time of conflict
because he wants to see them truly mature in Christ and wants
to see the evidence of the fruit of the profession of their faith.
So read with me in Colossians 2. We'll be going through verses
6-10, Lord willing, this morning. So follow along with me. Colossians
2, verses 6-10. We read, Therefore, as you received
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in
Him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding
in thanksgiving. 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. For in Him, the fullness of deity
dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head
of all rule and authority." So we see in this first verse here,
in verse 6, we read, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him." So the first point I want us to look at here from this
verse is that Paul's exhortation to the church here to stand firm
in the truth, to move forward now in their faith. So they are
to press on. This first point here is to press
on. We read, therefore, as you received
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. In verse 5, we saw Paul
designed to just rejoice in the lives of the of the Colossians,
that they stand firm and show the discipline and show the steadfastness
in their lives in the midst of this trial, in the midst of this
false teaching. We read, therefore, as you received
Christ Jesus the Lord. And I want us to really understand
what he is saying here. As you received Christ Jesus
the Lord. What does as you received Christ
Jesus mean? In this phrase here, we see that
there is an acknowledging of who Christ is, and there is a
trusting Him as Lord through the gospel. This word specifically
in the Greek talks about an aggression in regards to receiving. It isn't
just here, pass the plate, I think I'll take some of it. There is
a full, grasping, trusting in this receiving. It is personal,
it involves the whole being, It speaks of a coming to Christ
through faith and to take Him as your Master. So the first
thing we see is receive Christ. How can we receive Christ? We
need to first understand. How is it that we can receive
Christ? You don't have to turn there,
but if you want to make a note of it, listen here. In John 1, verses
12-13 we read, But to all who did receive Him, who believed
in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. who
were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God." John 14, 6, as Jesus said to
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me. 1 John 5, 11 reads, And this
is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son. Whoever has the Son, has life. Whoever does not have the Son
of God does not have life. So we see, in order to receive Christ Jesus the Lord, it is
a work of God. And we need to understand that
that is a foundational truth that we learn in the Word of
God that this receiving, this saving receiving, this salvation
is of God first and foremost. Completely of Him. So, how can
we receive Christ? We see it as of God. We receive
Christ as what? And we see, we receive Christ
Jesus the Lord. Dr. John Piper writes in regards
to receiving Christ, he says, surely the answer to the question
is, receive Him as what He is. Not what you think He is, or
what somebody told you He is, or what you like Him to be, but
as what He is. He goes on to say, and when you
received Him as a six-year-old, you received Him as a ticket
out of hell that you carried in your back pocket. And frankly,
when you sit down, it makes you uncomfortable. That's not saving
and receiving. He's Christ. Son of God. Savior. Wrath remover. Sin forgiver.
Righteousness provider. Soul satisfier. Strengthener. Oh, what He isn't for us. So there is an understanding
of what we receive Christ as. All Christians, Matthew Henry
writes, in profession at least, receive Jesus the Lord. Receive them as Christ, the great
prophet of the church. Anointed by God the Father to
reveal His will. As Jesus, the great High Priest
and Savior from sin and wrath. by the expiatory sacrifice of
Himself, and as Lord or Sovereign and King. Received Him, consented
to Him, taken Him for theirs. The great concern of those who
have received Christ is to walk in Him, to make their practice
conformable with their principles. This is how we receive Christ.
This is who we receive. And understand, we receive Christ
as what He is. We do not make Christ. what He is. Scripture never speaks
of anyone making Christ anything in their life or of their life
except God, according to Acts 2, verse 36. The biblical mandate,
for example, is not to make Christ Lord, but rather to bow to His
Lordship. Those who reject His Lordship,
for example, or give mere lip service to His sovereignty are
not saved. according to 1 Corinthians 12,
verse 3, and Luke 6, verses 46-49. God is not amused by those who
verbally or intellectually acknowledge Him as Lord. We read that in
Matthew 7, verse 22. Rather, a true Christian is known
by the fruit of their works which flow from saving faith. James 2, verse 20. So we see
and understand what this receiving Christ is. what it means to receive
Christ Jesus the Lord. In the next part of the verse
we see Paul say, so walk in Him as you have received Him, therefore
as you have received Him, therefore now walk in Him. This walking
in Him is a progress, it's a moving forward, it's a conduct of your
life. The Hebrew word for this is to
live. So we see that having been rescued by God, through Christ,
by the power of His Holy Spirit, we are now to live in a manner
that proves the grace that we have been granted. How does this
look? If we truly have received Jesus
as Lord, and if we're truly called to walk in Him as Christians,
what does this look like? Well, if you're here in Colossians,
just look back at chapter 1, verse 10. We read, walk in a
manner worthy of the Lord. pleasing to Him, bearing fruit
in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." So
we see a walking. We see a bearing fruit. We see
an increasing. Do you see? It's a perpetual
lifestyle. It is an ongoing, evidential
lifestyle. If you look over at Colossians
3, if you turn over to chapter to Colossians 3, verse 17, we
read what also this looks like. And whatever you do in word or
deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through Him. So there's a doing everything
in the name of who? The Lord Jesus. And giving thanks
to God the Father through Him. You don't have to turn here,
but in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7, we read, for we walk by what? Faith. Not by sight. So there's
a walking by faith. Galatians 2.20 reads, I have
been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the
flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave
himself for me. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 1
through 2, we read, therefore be imitators of God as beloved
children and walk in love. as Christ loved us and gave Himself
up for us. A fragrant offering and a sacrifice
to God. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 1, we
read, finally, there then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord
Jesus that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and
to please God just as you are doing, that you do so more and
more. And finally, 1 John 2, verse
6, we read, whoever says he abides in Him, We read in Colossians
here, it says, so then walk in Him to walk in Christ. 1 John
2 says, whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same
way which he walks. This is a very important truth
that we must understand when Paul is talking about Christ
and as believers that we are in Him. If we're truly in Him,
there's going to be evidence that we are in Him. How will
we know? And we just read what that looks like. So He wanted
them to press on in this. He wanted them to move forward
in their faith. Because if it's truly faith,
if they're truly in Christ, there is a pressing on, there is a
moving forward. Then He exhorts them to be planted. We read in
verse 7 of Colossians chapter 2. Rooted and built up in Him
and established in the faith. Just as you were taught, abounding
in thanksgiving. So, from this walking in Christ,
receiving Him as Lord, walking in Him. If you are truly walking
in Him, you will be rooted and built up in Him. If you are walking
in Christ. We have the word rooted here.
And this word rooted is to be firm, to fix, to establish, to
cause a person or thing to be thoroughly grounded. If you look
at chapter 1 of Colossians in verse 23, We read, if indeed you continue
in the faith, firmly establish the same word and steadfast and
not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard.
If you are walking with Christ, if you are truly walking with
Christ, you will be rooted in Him. What's the negative of that?
If you're not walking with Him... Remember, he's speaking to Christians
here. He's speaking to the church at Colossae. He's speaking to
the Colossians here. If you're not walking with Him,
you will not be rooted in Him. You know, this made me think
of an illustration last night as I was sharing this with my
wife, and walking with someone, and we have, when we're little
children, and I remember as the rebellious, sinful little child
that I was, anytime I'd go to the mall with my parents, or
with my mom, or to the store, and I'd see something that I
want, and she says, no, you're not getting anything today. And
here I go, throwing my fit, my tantrum. I was the youngest of
four, so I had this view of entitlement, since I was the baby, I get what
I want, although my mom wasn't having it at all. And when it
came to these things that I wanted, she said, no. Started to throw
my fit. And what would happen sometimes, I'd be walking along,
my mom just dragging my feet, and I was so upset, wanting to
go home. Sometimes she'd take us straight home and deal with
us there. But there were times when we
would go about walking, and I was so upset, and I was so consumed
about my own thoughts and my own needs, that I just start
to... I see her walking, and I start to wander off. And if
you've ever had that experience, that feeling, ever as a child,
as an adult, as a parent with your child, when you know, my
child's right here, so I'm going to go right over here, and then
you look back, and they're gone. We know that fear that grips
us, that feeling that goes through us, I thought I knew where they
were. What? And that complete understanding
of, I'm out of control here. I don't know where they're at.
So this walking in Christ. If we're truly walking with Christ, we're
going to know He's there. We're going to understand. And
we're going to be rooted in that. We're going to be so firm and
fixed that He is right there with us. And the negative is
if we are not walking with Him, we have no idea. We're going
to be wandering and straying from Him. Just as we looked last
week, the natural tendency of sheep is to wander and to stray.
That's why Paul is saying you've got to walk with Him. Walk in
Christ. In Him, because He is in you. walking and this planting and
this being rooted should remind us of a very common passage of
Scripture in the Old Testament. Psalm chapter 1. Psalm chapter 1, if you want
to turn there with me. Psalm chapter 1, verse 1 through
3 reads, Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law
of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by
streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and
its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. We see this very same point here
in the book of Psalms. That the one who is truly walking
in Christ, the one who is truly in Christ, will be delighting
in Him. Meditating on His law day and
night. And when this happens, when we
are walking in Him, we will be like a tree planted by streams. of water. We have had the opportunity
to go to Muir Woods up in Mill Valley and to see these large
redwood trees and to know the importance of the fog there.
And they're right by the coast and by the water. And we see
these massive trees sprouting into the sky. And as Christians,
this is what we should desire to be these trees that are planted. In Christ. Jeremiah 17.7 also
reads, Blessed is the man whose trust is in the Lord. He is like
a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream
and does not fear when heat comes. For its leaves remain green and
is not anxious in the year of drought. For it does not cease
to bear fruit. So if we are walking in Christ,
we will be rooted in Him. And the rest of verse 7 reads, or the second part of it, that
we will be built up and established in the faith. So if we're rooted,
then we are also built up. And we understand this building
up if we look into the Gospels and see Christ when He says that
He will build His church. Christ is the cornerstone, as
we know. And Paul speaks to the Galatians
and wants to let them know that they are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and the prophets, as we read in Ephesians 2, verse
20. Acts 20, verse 38 says, And now I commend you to God and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to
give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
1 Corinthians 3.9 reads, For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 1 Peter 2.5 reads, you yourselves
like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God through Christ Jesus. So we see this that as we have
been instructed in Christ Jesus, as we have heard even as we looked
at verses 28 and 29 of chapter 1, when Paul says we preach Christ
to all men, We warn all men. We instruct all men. This is
this process. This is the understanding that
we have when the Gospel is proclaimed and then taught. That there is
a warning. There is an instructing. When
we have heard, learned, and then we are able to trust in Christ
through the Gospel, we are to be established in the
faith. That's the next part of verse 7. We have to understand
that this building and establishing and being built up is only found
in Christ. Right? This building and act
of building, if we remember the parable from our Lord, He talks
about buildings. Two houses being built. Right? We have the house that is built
upon what? Rock or sand. So we see the rock, who is who?
Represents Christ. And we see the sand as being
every other way. There's only two ways. It's either
Christ or not. And we know that upon Christ,
the rock, we are rooted, we are firm, we are established. We
are established, as this word says, is to make firm, certain,
and secure. When we are built upon Christ,
we are secure. When we are not, when we are on the sand, what
happens? Is there security in building a house upon sand? No.
Right? Because it says when the rains
came and the winds blew and crushed that house, and great was its
fall, it says. But if we are in Christ, we will
be made firm, we will be certain, and we will be secure. How? How do we know that we have this
security? Well, who is the builder? It is God. 2 Corinthians 1.21
reads, And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ. You see, our faith has been granted
to us by God through His mighty Word. Hebrews 2.3 says, How shall
we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared
at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who
heard. Our faith is built upon the Gospels,
upon Jesus Christ Himself. When we hear the Gospel, when
we are granted the faith to believe in Christ, we are established
in Him. Hebrews 13.9 reads, Do not be
led astray. And we see the same understanding
here that's very applicable to the church at Colossae here.
We read in Hebrews 13.9, Do not be led away by diverse and strange
teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened
by grace. Let us again remember the purpose
behind this letter to the Colossians. They have been faced with this
false teaching. Paul knows of it. and the suffering
in prison, and his desire is great to really see this church
as they're facing it. Oh, here it is. You are being
put to the test now. Take joy, he wants them to take
joy in this time of testing. Allow your roots to spread deep
into Christ. Get it in. Allow it to grow. And then get it out through the
living by faith. Thirdly, From being planted in
Christ, we see this exhortation to praise Him. In the end of verse 7, we see
an abounding in thanksgiving. So this abounding, we know, is
an overflow and an abundance of thankfulness. And you see,
it just flows together. If we are truly rooted in Christ,
if we are established in Him as a rock, and as God is the
one who is doing it through us and for us, Doesn't that cause
the Christian to praise Him? That I'm upon a rock and I cannot
be moved because it is God who is the builder. It is Christ
who is the rock who is holding me. There's beauty there. And as we'll get and we'll look
even more so later in this, this thankful heart that we are to
have is one that truly understands what the gospel is. Truly understands
what salvation is. that it is not by us, that even
as we read this morning, that we were lost and we should have
died. That we know the wages of sin is death. The soul that
sins must die. We know that we are deserving,
fully deserving of His wrath and His judgment. And it is only
by God's grace that He has saved us and that we are able to receive
Christ. So it is a grateful heart towards
God for His grace and mercy. By giving us His Son as a ransom
for the penalty, and for the Spirit who regenerates us and
seals us, true saving faith is accompanied by inexpressible
joy and gratitude. From praise we see now this exhortation
to, in verse 8, pay attention. Why will they understand that
what they have in front of them, they're faced with this false
teaching. Let's read in verse 8 of Colossians chapter 2. 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. So we see here first, see to
it We don't really speak like that to each other. Go see to
it, or see to do something. In regards to following through
with a duty or a task, we are to see
to things. But the seeing to it here is
to discern, to observe, to understand, to consider, to contemplate,
to weigh carefully, to examine, to beware. See to it. We are to understand what's going
on around us. Be aware of your surroundings. Our Lord wrote
in Matthew 7, verse 15, He wrote, Beware of false prophets who
come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
So we are to pay attention to who? We see this next part of
the verse. See to it that no one takes you
captive. This understanding of someone
taking you captive is as a predator with its prey that is seeking
to grab you and take you and devour you. Who does this remind
us of? Right, look at what the Church
of Colossae was dealing with first in Colossians chapter two,
where we go down to verse 18. We see in verse 18, let no one
keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement
and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen,
inflated without cause by his fleshly mind." This is what the
Church of Colossae was dealing with. This is what those Gnostics
at the time wanted to take them captive with, or take them captive
and take them to this new understanding. And we must recall that our enemy,
as was mentioned, Satan, is a great deceiver. Revelation 12, 9, we
read that he deceives the whole world. And we also know that
he is known as a predator hunting his prey. Do not be fooled to
think that, well, he's not going to worry about me. And although
we may never deal one-on-one with Satan, we know that he has
an army. He has a host. He has the world
in his lap. The system of this world and
the way that it's run. So don't ever think that I don't
have to see to... When am I ever going to come
across philosophers and empty deceit or come across false teachers? He tricked Eve in the garden.
He provoked King David to number his army. He went before God
and tried Job. He sought to sift Peter as wheat. And he even tempted who? So if he's going to tempt Christ,
is he not going to tempt us? And he is a deceiver. He is a
predator. He doesn't say, hey, I'm coming
over right now, just so you know, just so you get ready. He's going
to trick us. He is cunning. And Paul wants
us to now see to it. carefully examine what's going
on so that no one will come and take you away. And we see what
it's by as well. Our Lord taught us to be on the
alert and that there will be wolves in sheep's clothing, people,
things that will seem harmless. Oh, look at that little lamb.
Let me go up and see what it's about. Oh, look at this. Whatever
it may be, whether it may come through the TV, whether it may
come through the radio, whether it may come through a book, whether
it may come through a person, whatever it may be, it is going
to seem harmless. They emerge as one who looks
harmless, and we are instructed to avoid them. Romans 16, 17
reads, and also 1 Timothy 6, 5. We understand as well, according
to 2 Corinthians 10, 5, that we must also destroy arguments
in every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God
and take every thought captive to obey Christ. So this is who
we are to see to. Those that want to take us captive
are a great enemy. And what are they trying to take
us captive by? What are they using? Philosophy and empty deceit we
read in the next part of verse 8. And this word philosophy in
context here is referring to someone who is a lover of wisdom,
a friend of wisdom. And it refers specifically to
secular philosophy. Elevating human wisdom over the
wisdom of God. And these are what the Gnostics
were teaching at this time. That you have the wisdom and
knowledge in yourself. Christ taught you how to do that.
Separate the mind from the body. You can do it on your own. You
can be God. Philosophy and empty deceit. This empty deceit is vain. This false impression to trick
someone into believing something that has no value. And we saw
that again in verse 18, this worshipping of angels, the self-abasement,
these worthless... Because if they knew what the
Word had taught, if they knew what Paul had taught, if they
knew what those Epaphras, especially if Epaphras came and preached,
they would have known. And if they didn't, if they weren't
aware of it, Paul is grounding them in the truth to remind them
of what the truth is. 1 Corinthians 3, verses 18-19
reads, For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. It's foolishness. Ephesians 5-6,
Let no one deceive you with empty words. Paul writing to Timothy
in 1 Timothy 6-20 writes, Guard the deposit entrusted to you.
Avoid the irreverent babble and contradiction of what is falsely
called knowledge. Why? Why are we to see to it
that no one takes us captive by philosophy and empty deceit?
Because we see in the next part of verse 8 that it is according
to human tradition. And this human tradition is from
one man to another. And this is the way that the
gospel was proclaimed, and we'll see in a minute, the rest of
this verse, what the importance of this tradition, or the unimportance
of this tradition, but the importance of Christ. So this tradition
is one giving over which was done by word of mouth or in writing.
And we also see, according to the elemental spirits of this
world, the basic components of philosophy by man. So here are
some of these basic components of the philosophy of the Gnostics
at this time. Christ is not God. Spirit left
Him before He went on the cross. Worship angels. Worry about submitting,
putting your own self in check, denying yourself of worldly pleasures.
That will bring you spirituality. Christ is unimportant. And ultimately, we see that these
philosophies, this empty deceit, this tradition, the elemental
spirits of the world, The last part of verse 8 says that are
not according to Christ. And that is the ultimate understanding
that we must understand. That it is not according to Christ.
This is sufficient enough. When we face any false teaching,
when we face it from our friends at work, when we face it from
our families, when we face it if we turn on the television,
when we face it if we're reading a book, that we know if we come
across something that does not sound like truth, we better know
it from here. Because He's talking about someone
who wants to take you captive. There's a battle that's going
on. And we know from Ephesians that
we are to put on the armor of God. And what is this considered?
It's the sword. And as we know, soldiers in those
days, even when they were relaxed and around the camp and at ease,
they knew where their sword was. So as Christians, when we come
across false teachings, when we come across something that
is questionable, when we come across something that we know
to be untrue, are we killing it? Are we putting it to death
by the Word of God? Do you know and have enough inside
of you and hiding it in your heart to defend yourself? We understand that a true child
of God, someone who is truly saved and has true saving faith,
according to Ephesians 4, 20 to 24, that we have heard about
him and were taught in him, Christ, as the truth is in Jesus. We
are also told to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. If we
truly are a child of God, we have been taught and instructed
in the gospel. Colossians chapter Or before
that, Galatians 4, verses 3 and 9, we also read, as a true child
of God who has received Jesus Christ, we know that we were
once enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But
now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by
God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary
principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? My wife and I had the opportunity
the other day to have a little date night on a Friday night.
We normally don't have those, because our Friday nights are usually
always taken up. And as we were out and about
on a Friday night, and I see what everybody is involved, what
the world is involved in. And it just dawned on me, I was
able just to see myself there, because that was myself, and
pursuing the pleasures of this world, and really realizing the foolishness behind it. For
myself, I dealt with this party lifestyle, this filling up of
what the world had to offer me, and just thinking about the concepts
and the things that we once did. You really were a slave to the
principles of this world. What the world taught you, you
believed it. Hook, line, and sinker. from
the music to the television shows, you approved of it, you affirmed
it, and you talked about it, you wore it, whatever it is,
you were a slave to it. But we are no longer slaves to
it, the Word of God says. Look at Colossians 2, verse 20.
Go down to verse 20. Paul also says the same thing.
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles
of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do
you submit yourselves to decrees? We have died. to these elementary
principles. And from last week, especially
that we see that true wisdom and knowledge and the treasures
and the riches are found in who? Are found in Christ. They're
not in the world. True wisdom and knowledge can
be found alone in Christ. We see also from this paying
attention to those around us that are and the teachings around
us that are untrue. We look now at Christ, because
it's not according to Christ. So, as Christ has the true wisdom
and knowledge and the treasures that we are to seek, why? Who
is Christ? First, we know that verse 9,
one of the most glorious passages in all of Scripture, we read,
Colossians 2.9, For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells
bodily. Jesus is God. And we see in Him this Greek
word, plurima, I believe is how you say it, is the fullness of
God. The complete embodiment of God. This word, plurima, was used
by the Gnostics. It was their own word. And Paul
is using it against them. Because Christ is the fullness.
It is not found in the philosophy of these Gnostics. And Paul uses
it here to refute the Gnostics, teaching that Jesus was not simply
just a spirit that filled this man and left before the cross. That Jesus was and is the God-Man. And as we know from prophecy,
Isaiah 7, verse 14, we read, Therefore the Lord Himself will
give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel." And what
does Emmanuel mean? God is with us. John 1 verse
14 as well. We know that the Word is God. In verse 14 we specifically
see that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have
seen His glory. Glory as of the only Son from
the Father, full of grace, and truth. We know also from the
book of John 10, verse 30, and also in chapter 14, we see that
I and the Father are one, coming from the lips of Jesus Himself.
2 Corinthians 1, verses 21 and 22, we read, God establishes
us with you in Christ, and Christ has put His seal on us and given
us His Spirit as a guarantee. Titus 2.13, waiting for our blessed
hope, the appearing of the Lord, the appearing of the glory of
the great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 1 John 5.20, and we know that the
Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we may
know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His
Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal
life. We have heard this from the Apostle
already, right? In chapter 1 of Colossians, verse
16 and 17, we read, For by Him all things were created, both
in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things have
been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things,
and in Him all things hold together. Apostle again, declaring that
Jesus is God. He is sufficient. He is the full deity of God. There's little question that
the Bible teaches that Jesus is God, writes John MacArthur. Only cultists and unbelievers
dispute this truth. Scripture declares Him to be
God. God the Father addresses him as God, Hebrews 1.8. He displays
the attributes of deity. He is omnipresent, if you look
at Matthew 18.20. He is omnipotent, according to
Philippians 3.21. And he is unchanging, according
to Hebrews 13.8. He forgives sins, Matthew 9.2-7.
He receives worship, Matthew 28.17. And he has absolute authority over all things." Verse 18 of
28 as well of Matthew. We are seeing God in action when
we read the works of Christ. When we hear His words as recorded
in the New Testament, we are hearing the words of God. When we hear Christ express emotion,
we are listening to the heart of God. And when He gives a directive,
it is the command of God. There is nothing He does not
know, nothing He cannot do, and no way He can fail. Jesus is
God in the fullest possible sense. We also see that Jesus is powerful. Verse 10 of Colossians 2, And
you have been filled in Him who is the head of all rule and authority. As Christians, we have been made
whole. We have been filled in Him. We have been justified.
We are complete in Christ. We are perfect, declared righteous
in Christ, positionally righteous. And we know that from that, there
is sanctification. The working out of that perfection
into our own life. And it is in Christ alone. Jesus
is sovereign. We know that Christ is Lord and
Master of the church and He is first. He is preeminent. He reigns
over all things and all authority is His because He is God. Jesus
claimed equal authority with God. John chapter 15 verse 17. Jesus had power and control over
his own life. John chapter 10, 17 verse 18
through 18. And judgment has been committed
to Jesus. John chapter 5, 22 through 23. And all will bow to his authority.
Philippians chapter 2, 11 through 12. Jesus is Savior. Jesus surrendered all in order
to save his people. Philippians 2, chapter 7 through
8. Jesus suffered the guilt, shame,
pain, and death of His people according to 1 Peter 2, 24. Jesus
sacrificed Himself to pay the penalty of our sin. Romans 5, 8 through 9. Jesus
saves through His life, death, and resurrection. Romans 1, 4.
And we read this also in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 30-31, And because of
Him you are in Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from
God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that as it
is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Lord
in judgment over Sabbath and over all. Acts 10.36 Jesus is
called Lord, or Master, no less than 747 times in the New Testament. 92 times specifically in Acts.
And we know Hebrews 5.9 reads, and being made perfect, He became
the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Do you see
this importance from Paul to the church at Colossae? Knowing
who Jesus is, because they were being taught a different Jesus.
Are you able to discern between this Jesus that is being taught
from these false teachers and the true Jesus? This Jesus is who we receive
in true saving faith as fellow Christians. Galatians 3.26-29
For in Christ you are all sons of God through faith. For as
many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ,
There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free.
There is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ
Jesus. And if you are Christ, then you
are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. And
this is the Christ when we proclaim unto all people to surrender
to. We preach Christ as we read in
28 of Colossians 1. Preach Christ crucified, the
sovereign Lord of mankind and Savior of His people. Salvation
is found in Christ alone, entrusting in Him alone. Salvation belongs
to those who receive Him, as we read in John 1.12. But they
must receive Him for all that He is. If you deny that Jesus is God
in the flesh, Scripture says, that you are not from God, that
this is the spirit of antichrist. Any spirit that acknowledges
Jesus as coming into flesh, remaining in the flesh, crucified, resurrected, is from God. Negatively, anyone
who does not acknowledge that Christ came into flesh, remained
in the flesh, resurrected, is known as antichrist and deceiver. They are not God's. They are
of their father, the devil. The Gnostics denied Christ as
being God, proving that they were false teachers, and therefore,
according to Galatians 1.9, they are to be accursed before God.
Any message that leaves out these essential truths, any gospel
message that leaves out these essential truths of who Jesus
Christ is, is a defective message. Therefore, it is not the power
of God unto salvation if we decide to leave out that Jesus is the
all in all. That he is, I am. This urgent
message was given to the church at Colossae and it is given to
us today. So may God grant us the grace
to be doers of his word and not hearers only. The Puritan John
Flavel wrote, the gospel offer of Christ includes all his offices. And gospel faith just so receives
him. To submit to him, as well as
to be redeemed by him. To imitate him in the holiness
of his life, as well as to reap the purchases and fruits of his
death, it must be an entire receiving. of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
this is important for us to understand. And as I close here, we'll go
over a few questions that I want you to consider, and I'm going
to show a quick video as well as they prepare that after I
finish here. If we truly understand and have
received Christ, is your trust in Him as the God-man Is it in
Him today? And is it not in a moment in
the past? In your receiving Christ, how
has your life in Christ now been growing and bearing fruit? And
how was it planted since you received Him? Do you abundantly
express your thanks to God for the faith that you have received,
knowing that true saving faith is accompanied by inexpressible
joy and gratitude. Is it evident in your life? Do
you see it in your own life? You don't even have to ask if
other people see it. Do you see it yourself, that
you are joyful for the gift of salvation that you have received?
Are you living with a wartime mindset in regards to false teaching
that surrounds you today? Are you able to discern false
teaching? when it comes across the TV or in a book or by friends
or co-workers or family? If not, how can you begin to
do so? Are you convinced that Jesus
is the God-man? And if you are, are you able
to defend it? If someone were to come across
and deny that Jesus is God, are you able to show them through
the Word of God and in Scripture that He is. In your evangelism, do you preach
the true Jesus of the Bible? Because we know the true message
of the gospel, who Jesus is, the true understanding that in
order to receive Him, it is from God. That this is the power of
God unto salvation. And as we looked at a minute
ago, that any message that leaves out any of these essential truths
is a defective message. So my prayer this morning is
that God will use each one of us mightily, and that he may
be glorified in our lives through our thoughts, through our actions,
studying his word, and through our proclamation of the gospel
and to our being lights and salt of this world. That just as Paul
was urging the Colossians. To stand firm, to know who this
true Jesus is and to rejoice in it again, remember Paul's
writing this from prison and he's rejoicing in this opportunity
to teach the Colossians. That he may see fruit from them.
So we'll show this short video, and then I'll close in prayer.