Rooted
Notes
Transcript
Story about the poison ivy that I struggled with.
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 whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
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,
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.
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,
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
A Relationship with Christ Roots and Establishes You
A Relationship with Christ Roots and Establishes You
As you received Christ…
This implies that you receive the free gift of salvation that is available in Christ Jesus.
This means that the advice that Paul is giving is meant for those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Important titles attributed to Jesus:
Christ. More than a name, it is the title of the messiah, the anointed one of God.
Lord. This means that God is in charge. He is the ruler and in charge of your life.
So Walk in Him
We are called to walk in the Lord.
Live a life that is following after and in accordance with God’s will.
This means that you must follow after and follow where He is leading.
Rooted and built up in him
This means that what we are rooted into should be Christ.
Our purpose
Our meaning
Our goals
All of this should be rooted in Christ.
Christ is also a firm place to be rooted.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Established in the faith.
This is the evidence of being built up in the faith.
If someone just gets married or just moves to a new city there is often this perception of “getting established” before making big decisions.
Paul highlights here the need to be “established in the faith”
Just as you were taught.
We should look to Scripture, and we should look to us who have walked with the Lord and are more established to help us along.
If you see someone where you are wanting to go in life, you ask them to teach you what they know.
Apprenticeship.
Abounding in thanksgiving.
Because of what Christ has done, all of this should always be done in a way that celebrates what God has done.
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.
See to it… From this, we need to prepare for the onslaught that will come against us in the world.
Philosophy
Empty Deceit
According to Human Tradition
According to the Elemental Spirits of the World
NOT according to Christ
Christ is the ultimate authority. All of these things are explanations and attempts to understand the ultimate truth found in Christ.
They seek to explain and discover truth that is revealed in Christ.
At best these things are mistakes, at worst they are malicious, and potentially demonic.
This is how rumors spread, glimpses of truth, that miss the main point and go down paths that
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Christ is the supreme authority and thus this is where we should pursue our hope and knowledge.
The whole fullness of diety dwells bodily
We have been filled in him.
We do not need fear these arguments because we have been filled by Christ. The supreme authority is over all things.
A Relationship with Christ is Sealed by the New Covenant
A Relationship with Christ is Sealed by the New Covenant
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, and by the circumcision of Christ.
This is the answer to the Judiazers.
There were those who sought to have the Old Covenant forced upon gentile believers.
The Circumcision of the Old Covenant
Circumcision is the sign given to Abraham as the seal of his Covenant with God.
It is fulfilled by the Abraham and his people through keeping God’s law.
They follow him, and he will bless them.
The covenant is that if someone is not circumcised, they are cut of from his people.
The Circumcision of the heart in the New Covenant
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, God made alive together with him,
The sign of the new covenant is baptism.
The understanding of Baptism: “Buried with Christ in Baptism and raised to new life through faith.”
We were DEAD in our trespasses and uncircumcision of your flesh
God made us alive together with him.
Forgiving our trespasses
Canceling the record of debt with its legal demands.
We cannot fulfill the law
We must stop seeking to earn our salvation.
The debt has been paid.
A Relationship with Christ Means Your Debt Has Been Paid
A Relationship with Christ Means Your Debt Has Been Paid
having forgiven us all our trespasses,
Forgiving our trespasses
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demand.
Canceling the record of debt with its legal demands.
This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
He set aside, Nailing it to the cross!
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious though. My sin not in part but the whole, was nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him.
Job - Satan bringing accusation and seeking to condemn.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Do you know Christ this morning?
Your debt has been paid, will you accept this free gift?
Are you trusting Christ alone for your salvation? Or do you think you have to keep or earn it?
Are you rooted and established in Christ?
Walking in him?
Prepared to stand against any that would seek to lead you away from Christ?