It's What's On The Inside That Counts

Colossians 2:13 & 14

Paul wanted the churches to be encouraged and united together in love.

Colossians 2:1 & 2a ~ "I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2.a ~ My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding."

Paul wanted the churches to be anchored in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2: 2b ~" ...in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, v.3 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Paul wanted the churches to guard against deception.

Colossians 2: 4-5 ~" I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. v.5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."

Paul wanted the churches to keep growing in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2: 6-7a ~ "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him. v.7a Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught."

Paul wanted the churches to be thankful.

Colossians 2: 7b ~" ...and overflowing with thankfulness."

Something to think about:

• Would you be willing to help make the church you worship in a safe place to be?

Paul warned against the danger of human tradition.

Colossians 2:8 ~ "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Paul warned against the danger of legalism.

Colossians 2: 16 ~ "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink. or with regard to a religious festival. a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day."

Through Jesus' death and resurrection, Christians experience grace "in the putting off of the sinful nature".

Colossians 2: 11-12 ~ "In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, v.12 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead."

Christians are alive in Christ, having their sins forgiven.

Colossians 2: 13 ~ "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins."

Christian indebtedness to God due to sin was nailed to the cross when Jesus died.

Colossians 2: 14 ~ "Having canceled the written code, with it's regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away nailing it to the cross."

Jesus has disarmed all powers and authorities at the cross.

Colossians 2: 15~ "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

Paul warned against the danger of mysticism.

Colossians 2: 18 ~ "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions."

Paul warned against the danger of asceticism.

Colossians 2: 20-21 ~ "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: v.21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!?"

Things to think about:

• Please examine your belief structure to see if you are engaging in any form of spirituality that has taken you away from Jesus Christ.

Application:

• The church is founded on Jesus Christ.
• The health of the church is in being connected to Jesus Christ as the Head of the church.
• The future of the church is dependent on Christians continuing in their faith in Jesus Christ.

Safety to your faith is only found in Jesus Christ. By finding Jesus and knowing who He is is the only way to safety. If your belief isn't sound you can be deceived. Paul wanted them to know and be anchored in God. These churches needed to know ho to stand strong against deception.

You not only start a race, but you keep on running the race and then you go on to finish the race. Like a tree that is planted. The seed gets planted and the roots start to grow. Soon it starts to sprout into a great and mighty tree with roots that are strong and deep.

If we do not love we will bite and devour one another. The two great commandments of love are: to love God with all of our might and our strength, and the other one is to love one another as we love ourselves.

God tests us the most as to how we love one another at home. Do we live for the other person or is it all about 'me'? If you consume love from others and all you do is just 'take, take, take, take' and you don't give in return...you will dry up and die inside. We live in a society that is all about 'me. What's in it for 'me'. Me...me...me...! Looking for a 'guru' and a 'pie in the sky' to take care of us. It's not just all about 'me'. I't all about 'love'. To love God and to love each other ~ that's what is needed in the church and in the home.

Romans 1: 16 ~ "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."