Northlake Church | November 5, 2017 | Mike Garner
Colossians 2:8-15 | Week 8 | Alive
Locations & Times
Northlake Church
3610 Lohman Ford Rd, Lago Vista, TX 78645, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome to Northlake Church!
Welcome! We're glad that you found us! As you get to know us, you'll see that we are just like you, people learning what it means to follow Jesus in their everyday life. In order to take away some of the mystery of what happens on Sunday mornings around here, we've jotted down a few tips on visiting Northlake Church for the first time, click the link below to visit our website to get to know us a little better! We pray that today, you are encouraged, that you feel welcomed and that you are reminded just how much Jesus loves you!
http://www.mynorthlake.com/im-newOnline Giving
We believe all that we have comes from the gracious hand of our God. It's not ours to keep; we've been entrusted by Him to be good managers of all that He has given us. So we view the giving of our time, talents and resources to the Lord as an act of worship. Regarding the stewardship of our financial resources, there are several ways we can participate in worship through giving...physically giving at one of our Sunday Gatherings, via check or cash and digitally giving through our church app, our website, or clicking on the link below to access mobile giving. Give as the Lord leads you, not under guilt or compulsion, with a thankful heart. Thank you for worshiping God in this way and being a part of helping Northlake Church accomplish its purpose of making disciples who make disciples!
https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/QVNS25
COLOSSIANS 2:8-15 | ALIVE
KEY THOUGHT...
We are DEAD in our SIN...but can be made ALIVE in CHRIST!
We are DEAD in our SIN...but can be made ALIVE in CHRIST!
COLOSSIANS 2:8-15 ESV
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.
EPHESIANS 2:1-7 ESV
1 And YOU WERE DEAD in the TRESPASSES and SINS 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD in our TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
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.
EPHESIANS 2:1-7 ESV
1 And YOU WERE DEAD in the TRESPASSES and SINS 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD in our TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
FIRST THINGS FIRST...
[Colossians 2:8-12]
A. Paul warns the Colossians not to be deceived by "the philosophy" and empty deceit (according to human tradition and elemental spirits of the world) that was being given to them by the false teachers, but to hold on to the truth about Jesus that they had been previously taught.
B. Paul reminds them again of the truths of Jesus they need to hold on to...
--- He is FULLY GOD and FULLY HUMAN
--- He is the HEAD over everything, not just the Church, but even over the spirit world
[COLOSSIANS 2:10, 15]
C. Paul reminds them of who they are SPIRITUALLY because of these foundational truths...
--- We have been spiritually FILLED in him [Jesus+nothing, He is sufficient]
--- We have been spiritually CIRCUMCISED in him...putting off our flesh
--- We have been spiritually BURIED with him...spiritual baptism
--- We have been spiritually RAISED with him...through faith in the powerful working of God raising Jesus from the dead
D. Paul reminds us again of our condition before any of these things were true of us...he wants us to remember that...
--- We were DEAD in our TRESPASSES (and sins...EPH 2:1-3)
--- We have been MADE ALIVE through Jesus (EPH 2:4-7)
[forgiven us all our trespasses, canceling the record of debt, set them aside nailing them to the cross]
[Colossians 2:8-12]
A. Paul warns the Colossians not to be deceived by "the philosophy" and empty deceit (according to human tradition and elemental spirits of the world) that was being given to them by the false teachers, but to hold on to the truth about Jesus that they had been previously taught.
B. Paul reminds them again of the truths of Jesus they need to hold on to...
--- He is FULLY GOD and FULLY HUMAN
--- He is the HEAD over everything, not just the Church, but even over the spirit world
[COLOSSIANS 2:10, 15]
C. Paul reminds them of who they are SPIRITUALLY because of these foundational truths...
--- We have been spiritually FILLED in him [Jesus+nothing, He is sufficient]
--- We have been spiritually CIRCUMCISED in him...putting off our flesh
--- We have been spiritually BURIED with him...spiritual baptism
--- We have been spiritually RAISED with him...through faith in the powerful working of God raising Jesus from the dead
D. Paul reminds us again of our condition before any of these things were true of us...he wants us to remember that...
--- We were DEAD in our TRESPASSES (and sins...EPH 2:1-3)
--- We have been MADE ALIVE through Jesus (EPH 2:4-7)
[forgiven us all our trespasses, canceling the record of debt, set them aside nailing them to the cross]
THE BAD NEWS...YOU ARE DEAD
--- COLOSSIANS 2:13"And you, who were DEAD in your TRESPASSES and the uncircumcision of your flesh"
--- EPHESIANS 2:1-3"And you were DEAD in the TRESPASSES and SINS in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH, like the rest of mankind...."
Paul says that we are DEAD because of OUR SIN. We see it described in other bible verses as well...
--- JAMES 1:15"Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to SIN, and SIN when it is fully grown brings forth DEATH."
--- ROMANS 6:23"For the wages of SIN is DEATH."
Adam and Eve started this whole thing...when God told them if they ate of the fruit they would DIE, what did that mean for them...what did it mean for us?In Genesis we read their story. It starts awesome, but takes a terrible turn. In the beginning, they were in perfect relationship, full of life and purpose, totally fulfilled. We read a description of what that looked like in GENESIS 2:25..."they were naked and felt no shame..." but that all changed after they ate of the fruit God had forbidden. Death came, and it infected everything...and we still feel its affect today.
A. DEATH affected us RELATIONALLY
B. DEATH affected us SPIRITUALLY
C. DEATH affected us PHYSICALLY
--- COLOSSIANS 2:13"And you, who were DEAD in your TRESPASSES and the uncircumcision of your flesh"
--- EPHESIANS 2:1-3"And you were DEAD in the TRESPASSES and SINS in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH, like the rest of mankind...."
Paul says that we are DEAD because of OUR SIN. We see it described in other bible verses as well...
--- JAMES 1:15"Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to SIN, and SIN when it is fully grown brings forth DEATH."
--- ROMANS 6:23"For the wages of SIN is DEATH."
Adam and Eve started this whole thing...when God told them if they ate of the fruit they would DIE, what did that mean for them...what did it mean for us?In Genesis we read their story. It starts awesome, but takes a terrible turn. In the beginning, they were in perfect relationship, full of life and purpose, totally fulfilled. We read a description of what that looked like in GENESIS 2:25..."they were naked and felt no shame..." but that all changed after they ate of the fruit God had forbidden. Death came, and it infected everything...and we still feel its affect today.
A. DEATH affected us RELATIONALLY
B. DEATH affected us SPIRITUALLY
C. DEATH affected us PHYSICALLY
THE GOOD NEWS...YOU CAN BE MADE ALIVE!
--- COLOSSIANS 2:13-14"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."
--- EPHESIANS 2:4-7"4 BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD in our TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and RAISED US UP with him and SEATED US with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
God did not let the sin of Adam and Eve determine the end game. They did not die without hope, without a plan. Even in the Garden, when God expelled them, he clothed them before they left the Garden, covering their shame. This was foreshadowing of Jesus and his death on the cross for us, once and for all removing the guilt, shame, wickedness and sin of those who repent and believe...taking on the penalty of death and exchanging it with LIFE...everyone who repents and believes will be made ALIVE in Jesus!
Paul wants us to know that Jesus has done some things for us that we could never have done for ourselves...dead people can't do stuff! Through the complete obedience, sacrificial love, unending grace and limitless mercy of Jesus, everyone now has access to his gifts...
A. Jesus has offered to us the gift of LIFE...he can MAKE us ALIVE
B. Jesus has offered to us the gift of FORGIVENESS...he can FORGAVE our SINS
C. Jesus has offered to us the gift of a CLEAN SLATE...he can CANCEL our DEBT
--- COLOSSIANS 2:13-14"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."
--- EPHESIANS 2:4-7"4 BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD in our TRESPASSES, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and RAISED US UP with him and SEATED US with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
God did not let the sin of Adam and Eve determine the end game. They did not die without hope, without a plan. Even in the Garden, when God expelled them, he clothed them before they left the Garden, covering their shame. This was foreshadowing of Jesus and his death on the cross for us, once and for all removing the guilt, shame, wickedness and sin of those who repent and believe...taking on the penalty of death and exchanging it with LIFE...everyone who repents and believes will be made ALIVE in Jesus!
Paul wants us to know that Jesus has done some things for us that we could never have done for ourselves...dead people can't do stuff! Through the complete obedience, sacrificial love, unending grace and limitless mercy of Jesus, everyone now has access to his gifts...
A. Jesus has offered to us the gift of LIFE...he can MAKE us ALIVE
B. Jesus has offered to us the gift of FORGIVENESS...he can FORGAVE our SINS
C. Jesus has offered to us the gift of a CLEAN SLATE...he can CANCEL our DEBT
YOUR RESPONSE...
1. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAD...REPENT AND BELIEVE: If you have never fully trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, you are still dead. Dead in your sins, separated from God, and enemy, an object of wrath, doomed to remain spiritually dead after you physically die, separated for ever from God's presence, hopeless, helpless. My call to you today is that you would repent and believe.
We need to recognize that when the Scriptures say we were dead, there was nothing we could do to earn God’s affection. But God reached in and RESUSCITATED you and BROUGHT YOU BACK TO LIFE. Your greatest need was to be saved.
--- If you think you need an encourager, you’re looking for a friend.
--- If you need somebody to motivate you, you need a coach.
--- Maybe it’s just a vacation you think you need. These are all fine, but they’re not your greatest need.
--- If you are dead, you need life. You need a savior to come and rescue you from death. That’s what Jesus came to do.
--- JOHN 5:24-25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."
2. FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE...REJOICE IN THE GRACE OF JESUS: For those who have already received life, we still have the chance to respond to Jesus...remembering his grace that was freely given to us! If you are feeling the affects of your sinful life, turn to Jesus and trust him, remember he is at work sanctifying you from the power of sin, daily! Trust him with your sin, with your relationships, with your money, with your future...he is an amazingly loving and gracious father who turns the dead to life!
If God has made you alive in Christ, then respond with joy, give thanks, sing loudly praises to Jesus and proclaim your love for him over and over again...praise him for being rich in mercy, great in love and incredibly kind towards us in Jesus. We too need to REPENT and BELIEVE!
1. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAD...REPENT AND BELIEVE: If you have never fully trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, you are still dead. Dead in your sins, separated from God, and enemy, an object of wrath, doomed to remain spiritually dead after you physically die, separated for ever from God's presence, hopeless, helpless. My call to you today is that you would repent and believe.
We need to recognize that when the Scriptures say we were dead, there was nothing we could do to earn God’s affection. But God reached in and RESUSCITATED you and BROUGHT YOU BACK TO LIFE. Your greatest need was to be saved.
--- If you think you need an encourager, you’re looking for a friend.
--- If you need somebody to motivate you, you need a coach.
--- Maybe it’s just a vacation you think you need. These are all fine, but they’re not your greatest need.
--- If you are dead, you need life. You need a savior to come and rescue you from death. That’s what Jesus came to do.
--- JOHN 5:24-25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."
2. FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE...REJOICE IN THE GRACE OF JESUS: For those who have already received life, we still have the chance to respond to Jesus...remembering his grace that was freely given to us! If you are feeling the affects of your sinful life, turn to Jesus and trust him, remember he is at work sanctifying you from the power of sin, daily! Trust him with your sin, with your relationships, with your money, with your future...he is an amazingly loving and gracious father who turns the dead to life!
If God has made you alive in Christ, then respond with joy, give thanks, sing loudly praises to Jesus and proclaim your love for him over and over again...praise him for being rich in mercy, great in love and incredibly kind towards us in Jesus. We too need to REPENT and BELIEVE!