Col. 2:6-7: "As You Revieved Christ Jesus"

Intro:

Last week we saw that although distance was a factor it was not the most concerning thing to Paul. He wanted to encourage the Colossian’s hearts in what they had in Jesus. They might not have had Paul, but they had Jesus!

Were you able to cennect with someone face to face this week to check in on their heart?

Some have referred to this section 2:6-15 as the heart of Colossians and verse 6 is the heart of 6-15.

Today Paul is going to calrify some really important things about Progressive Sanctification

I know that we have some gardeners and builder in our church family.

Outline:

Theology: “As You Received Christ” (vs. 6)

Practice: “Abound in Thanksgiving” (vs. 7)

Summary: Walking with Christ does not start with a big “do” but with a big “done”.

Prayer:

Theology: “As You Received Christ” (v. 6)

Received (v. 6)

Therefore… in Light of the facts previously presented:

Transformation begins with being in Jesus

Faith bearing, love increasing hope is only found in the gospel

In order to be mature in Christ, Jesus must be ranked #1 in my life

Reconciliation through Jesus produces a stable and steadfast hope in the Gospel.

Christ in me is more powerful than Crisis outside of me

Physical distance and deluded arguments have nothing on the treasure of Jesus

These are the facts

These are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that gives full assurance

as you received- “parelabete” verb, aor, act, ind, 2nd, pl to recieve, to formally receive authroitative teaching (as from an approved source). This is something that has already taken place, usually in the past.

The Christ Jesus- The person, not just the information about Him! The message that was brought through Epaphras. They did nothing for it, they did not earn it, they did not secure it, but they did receive it.

The Lord- by God’s grace, through faith. Just as you have received the Christ Jesus, the Lord, by grace through faith now...

This goes so weel with Communion- remember what you have received. Wee took in, we received the symbols of Jesus work.

Walk (v. 6)

In Him- in what you have recieved...

Walk- “perpipateite” verb, pres, act, imp (command), 2nd, pl, to walk to live or behave in a specified manner- this is a command to the Colossian church, walk around in Jesus, as you walk, walk like HIm, in the power that He powerfully works within you. Salvation and sanctification are both by grace through faith in God’s sufficient provision infused with divine enablement. In other words, God has given you what you need to get the job done

Good Theology is meant to lead to right living

Application/Implications:

What will it look like for us to walk about in Jesus this week. Maybe we need to set a time and place this week where we can go on a walk about with the specific purpose of rehearsing all that we have received in Jesus. Not only can you count you steps but we can count our blessings.

knotice, he does not say, “as you feel today” so walk. Or “as you have the personality or natural ability to”, so walk. nor, “as things go the way you would like them to” so walk. As you have recieved in Christ Jesus t he Lord. The creator and sustainor of everything.

Salvation- we have no problem saying, “yes, I have recieved everything I need to enter heaven through what Jesus has done”.

Sanctification- this is where the challenge lies. We are not quick to look at what we have received as being of help in the moment as much as we look to it for the future.

Think of just one area of your life and run it through this diagram

Actions/Words

Emotions

Desires

Transitional phrase: Paul has a little review time with the readers of this book, he reminds them of what they have in the gospel before he moves to how they should live. He prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing…Proclaiming Jesus through warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom in order to present them mature in Christ. So what does that look like…There are 4 participles that will help them and us understand that...

Practice: “Abound in Thanksgiving” (v. 7)

Passive Participles (v. 7)

Rooted (horticulture)- “errizomenoi” verb, perf, pass, part, nom, mas, pl- to be established, conceived of as if a plant being or becoming fixed in the ground

Jer. 17:8 “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.””

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Paul starts by focusing on who they are in Christ before moving to what they do in Christ. Character comes before conduct, idenity preceeds influence, Indicatives inform imperatives.

This is something that God had done in the lives of the Colossians and it is having continual affects.

Walk with confidence in your connection to God because it was His work that connected you

and Built up (construction)- “epoikodomoumenoi” verb, pres, pass, part, nom, mas, pl- to be built up, to be or become nearer to fullness or completion (as of moral strength or one’s conscience).

in Him! This is key, he is not talking about being rooted or built up in the tradition of the Jews or in the traditions and plausible arguments of men before they came to know Jesus. The only way they can live out the Christian life is if they are connected to the vine and integrated like a stone in the foundation of Jesus

Being built up implies that the people of Colossea were not finished yet. This is key to progressive sanctification. Depending on the timing of the great earthquake and this letter image what a relief and hope this would have brought.

Walk knowing that God is not finished with you but has promissed to finish His work

and Established- “bebaioumenoi” verb, pres, pass, part, nom, mas, pl- to be established (settled) to be or become settled securely and unconditionally (in or on something… and that somethings is...

in the faith- the Gospel of Jesus. This is a result of being rooted and built up in Him. God Himself is doing the establishing, as he is doing the building up, and the rooted. His divine action is essential for these, they are not done by the people themselves. Christian growth cannot happen without divine involvement. The Colossians could not become more like Jesus without Jesus!

Present Participle (v. 7)

Just as

you were taught- “edidachthete” verb, aor, pass, ind, 2nd, pl- to be instructed or becoming informed of instructions or directions for some task

Abounding - “perisseuontes” verb, pres, act, part, nom mas, pl- to abound, to be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities

in thanksgiving- This is the only thing in this section of walking in Jesus that we are to respond with. In light of all that God has done through Jesus and promises through the HS, we are to respond with thanksgiving!

“As luxuriant green leaves are a sign of a healthy plant, profuse thanksgiving is ‘the unfailing mark of a healthy spiritual life’. Those who bubble over with gratitude for what God has already done are not easy prey to anxiety and doubt. They have no need or desire to look for fulfillment elsewhere and cannot be taken in by fasle promises or shaken by bigoted detractors” (NIVAC, 140).

What state are the leaves of your tree today? What season are you in right now?

Maybe luxuriant green

Maybe starting to turn

Maybe falling off and dead

Application/Implications:

In what ways might the reality that we are rooted in Christ influence the way you walk this week? Is there any mightier influence that this?

You are a work in progress! (TELL the person next to you!) Can we all take a sign of relief?! No one is completely done here!

Progressive sanctification is not the process by which I add more to my life that I don’t presently have, it is about more accurately living out what I have already been given. God has already given you everything you need to get the job done. This is how we can walk in Christ and aboud in thanksgiving.

Summary: Walking with Christ does not start with a big “do” but with a big “done”.

Song: There is a redeemer, our music team is going to help us with abounding in thanksgiving as we sing

“Thank you o my father

for giving us your son

and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done”- Pray and thank God for giving us His Son! Ask Him to help you enjoy the work that He is doing in your life

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. Paul uses the term “Therefore in verse 6, try to summarize all that has been said so far? In other words, what have they received already in Christ?

3. According to verse 7, what does it look like to “walk in Him”?

4. What is the response Paul gives to being taught these things at the end of verse 7?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. What have you received in Christ that you are the most thankful for?

2. Describe the summary statement in your own words, “Walking with Christ does not start with a big “do” but with a big “done”.

3. What specific “leaves” (words, actions) seem to be troublesome in your life these days? Which “pathways” (emotions) are making thanksgiving a challenge this week? How can this passage be helpful?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

What will it look like for you to walk about in Christ this week? What do you need to be reminded of that you have received in Christ? Who will you walk with?

Describe one example this week of when you chose to abound in thanksgiving for what you received in Christ in a way that changed your emotions, words, and actions.

Work through the “tree” diagram with a specific example from someone’s life in the group.