How to walk in Jesus (3)

Read Colossians 2:6–7 “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.”

Introduction

This past year, a man in Florida jumped into warm, stagnant water, and died.

In the water were deadly amoeba, that eat away at the brain, and form in warm, stagnant water such as abandoned pools.

But there is something worse than stagnant water, and that is a stagnant spirit.

Years ago in another church, while I was still in seminary, there was a bible study group that I attended for 3 years.

And one day I was going to teach a bible study in the leader’s house.

He was a senior in his 70s.

I needed print my bible study not…

So I ask him, if I can print it out on his computer.

And he said sure, and his computer was in his basement, in a secluded room.

You could already tell, that something was not right.

And I stumbled upon inappropriate things on his computer.

Some of these files were over 10 years old.

And after that, he was no longer teaching that study.

When a Christian fails to grow for entire decades, the results are destructive.

Some of us today listening, have become stagnant.

There is little to no spiritual growth in your life.

There may even be a hidden sin that you’ve been unable to overcome for a very long time.

But why?

Why do some Christians become stagnant and even lifeless?

It’s because they don’t know what to do once they’ve become a Christian.

Like a baby that comes out of the womb, but never learns to walk.

It’s because they don’t know how to walk in Jesus.

And that’s the title of our sermon today: How to Walk in Jesus.

Because I don’t want you to live defeated, uninspiring lives.

I want you to enjoy victory and growth in the Christian life!

1. Receive the real Jesus (v.6)

Before you can even walk in Jesus.

You must have already received Him.

That’s why Paul writes, therefore, as you received.

But what does it mean to receive Jesus?

It doesn’t mean, receive or accept Him into your heart and have this warm fuzzy feeling.

Here’s what it means.

The Greek word translated received means receiving what was passed down from God to the prophets, to Christ, and to the apostles.

But wait, there’s more.

Notice how Paul says, therefore.

Referring back to v. 3 when he wrote, ‘the firmness of your faith in Christ’.

So what receiving Christ means, is to place your trust and faith in the message that was passed down from God all the way to the apostles: the gospel.

Because for Paul to even command us to walk in Jesus, you must have first have already received Jesus.

So, you need to ask yourself, ‘have I received Jesus?’

If you have not yet received Jesus, then you must do so today.

Some of you hearing this might be thinking, ‘whew, I’m safe,’ I received Jesus!’

But did you receive the Jesus that was taught and passed down by the apostles?

Did you receive the biblical Jesus?

Did you receive the real Jesus?

So then, does that mean there are fake Jesus’?

Absolutely there are fake Jesus’.

Because, Jesus is just a name!

Paul had a friend named Jesus, Col 4:11

Colossians 4:11 (NKJV)

and Jesus who is called Justus.

Growing up, I had a lot of latino friends, and some of them had the name Jesús.

And I thought, ‘that name looks awfully familiar!’

‘Nah, it can’t be!’

Until one day a music pastor named Jesús was hired at a church I was in, and my friend said, ‘Jesús is just a Spanish version of Jesus!’

And then a lightbulb went off in my head, and I thought, ‘ohh, he’s right!’

But obviously, this is silly.

Whenever we say Jesus, none of us think of Justus or Jesús.

But you know what people today often think of when they hear the word Jesus?

Many of them think, Jesus the good teacher, or Jesus the myth!

There’s even a Jesus in the Q’uran, a Jesus in the book of Mormon, even Hindus and Buddhists believe in Jesus.

You see, anytime you mention Jesus to someone, everyone has their own version of Jesus.

So I’m not asking if you received Jesus aka Justus or Jesus your Spanish friend.

I’m not asking if you received the good teacher Jesus, the mythical Jesus, or the Mormon Jesus.

I’m asking if you received the real Jesus.

So who is the real Jesus?

How can we tell who is the real Jesus if there are so many different versions and ideas about Jesus?

Thankfully, Paul tells us, he writes, ‘Christ Jesus’.

Now most people when they hear Jesus Christ, they think, ‘first name, last name’.

But Christ is not a last name.

It’s a title.

So what does Christ mean?

Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah.

Messiah means anointed or chosen one.

For example Psalm 2:2 says,

Psalm 2:2 (ESV)

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,

So Jesus Christ really means, Jesus the Anointed One.

In other words, Jesus of the Bible.

Not the Q’uran or Book of Mormon.

Jesus of the Old Testament.

Now some people say, ‘in Jesus’ day they didn’t have a Bible’.

Yes they did, it’s called the Old Testament!

The Jesus Paul is referring to, is God’s promised savior, prophesied in the Old Testament.

Jesus the Anointed One is the one who fulfilled the Old Testament promises.

That’s what Jesus Christ means.

The real Jesus is the biblical Jesus.

And what that also means is that Jesus is not only in the New Testament.

But the Old Testament as well.

Many people think in the Old Testament, God is a mean and angry God that kills anyone instantly who displeased Him.

And that in the New Testament, Jesus came and was all love.

But as we see here, Jesus is in both the Old and New Testament.

Look at Psalm 2:12

Psalm 2:12 (LSB)

Kiss the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Jesus is both just and loving.

Jesus is both merciful and full of wrath.

That is the biblical Jesus.

That is the real Jesus.

Is your Jesus one who only knows love but not justice?

Or is your Jesus the one who gave His life on the cross, rose again and will come again to judge the world?

Did you receive the biblical Jesus?

Did you receive the real Jesus?

There’s one more description Paul uses to refer to the real Jesus.

He writes, Christ Jesus the Lord.

Today, we rarely ever call someone lord.

The only time we ever use the word lord is in reference to God.

In fact when you Google the word lord, the one time it wasn’t referring to God, it refers to a Columbian drug lord.

We truly don’t know what lord means anymore.

But lord, doesn’t just mean God or some drug lord.

You see, when Paul wrote this, he was referring to a title that was common in his time.

A lord in Paul’s time was someone who had sovereignty or ownership over people and land.

He had responsibility of providing and protecting his land and people, because he owned them.

His people could not go anywhere or do anything without their lord’s approval.

They could not change their lord if they wanted to, because the lord owned them.

So when Paul calls Christ Jesus the Lord, that’s the picture in his mind.

That Jesus is the sovereign ruler over all, because He owns all, including His believers.

That’s why Paul writes in Romans 14:7-8

Romans 14:7–8 (LSB)

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

You see, our life doesn’t belong to us.

Not even our death belongs to us.

Both our life and our death belongs to Christ Jesus the Lord.

Because He owns us.

Now if someone had a Lord, it also meant they were in complete obedience to him.

The Lord had full authority over his servants.

Whatever work he gave them to do, they had to do it.

No debate, no discussion.

If they disobeyed they would be disciplined.

They were in full obedience to their Lord.

That’s why Jesus points out the absurdity of calling someone lord, and then not doing what the lord commands them in Luke 6:46

Luke 6:46 (LSB)

“Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

When people call Jesus Lord, they are saying that Jesus owns them.

So if they turn around and refuse to obey the Lord, why are they calling Him Lord in the first place?

Don’t you know what Lord means, Jesus is saying?

So the question: is owns your life?

Do you live life like you own your life?

Is everything you plan and do based on what you want?

Or do you live life according to Jesus’ lordship?

Who is your lord?

You or Jesus Christ?

You see, this is the real Jesus.

The real Jesus is not your co-pilot.

You are not riding shotgun with the Lord Jesus.

You are in the back seat.

Because Jesus doesn’t own only the seats, and the car itself, but he also owns you.

So if you think you already received Jesus, ask yourself, ‘did I receive the real Jesus?’

Did I receive Christ Jesus?

Did I receive Christ Jesus the Lord?

Because before you can walk in Jesus you must first receive the real Jesus.

2. Keep walking (v.6)

So if you’ve already received the real Jesus you can’t just talk the talk, but you must walk the walk.

This is what we see here when Paul writes, so walk in Him.

Because Christians need to walk in Jesus in order to grow.

But what does it mean to walk in Jesus?

To walk in Jesus simply means to live a God honoring life because you are united with Him.

John makes this more clear,

1 John 2:6 (LSB)

the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

In other words, live like Jesus.

Walk in Jesus’ path.

Because as you walk in Jesus’ path, you will constantly come to crossroads in your life.

Decisions to make.

You can decide to walk the path of sin or you can decide to walk the path of Jesus.

If you want to walk in Jesus you need to follow the path that He is on, and not go your own way.

And you experience this on a daily basis.

Every time you see something inappropriate online you can decide to walk in Jesus’ path or the path of sin.

You can scroll up, or you can continue looking.

Speaking of continuing, when Paul is commanding us to walk, he’s not talking about a one time thing, but a continuous walk.

That’s also what Proverbs 2:20 says

Proverbs 2:20 (LSB)

So that you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.

You keep walking in the paths of the righteous.

You don’t stop.

Keep walking.

And it’s not about the speed of the walk either!

Abraham Lincoln once said,

I’m a slow walker, but I never walk back.

Walking in Jesus is not about how fast you walk, or how quickly you walk.

It’s about continually walking in Jesus’ path.

Don’t worry if you are not walking or growing as fast in the Lord as others.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep walking one step at a time.

You see, the real problem is not to challenge people to walk in Jesus.

It’s challenging people to keep walking.

Because too many people think that following Jesus is a one time action.

‘I got baptized once or I said a prayer once’.

‘I punched my ticket to heaven’ so I’m good, I can continue sinning.’

And it’s because there’s a lot of confusion surrounding this topic.

So I’m going to repeat this and make this very clear.

Receiving or putting your faith in Jesus is a one time event.

But walking in Jesus is not.

It’s continuous.

Walking in Jesus is something you do your whole life!

You see, even Jesus rebukes people who think walking in Him is a one time event.

Matthew 7:21–23 (LSB)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Now Jesus is not saying, ‘you can lose your salvation.’

But He is identifying fake Christians from real ones.

Not everyone who calls Jesus, ‘Lord’ will enter his kingdom because these people call Him Lord, but don’t keep walking.

Instead they walk in sin.

And Jesus tells these people, ‘I never knew you, depart from me.’

And if that’s you, Jesus does not know you.

Because real Christians walk in Him.

Real Christians keep walking.

3. Be strong in Jesus (v.7)

If I tell you to be strong there’s only so much you can understand.

But if I show you a picture of an olympic athlete with big muscles, then you truly get it!

So here, Paul gives us pictures to show us what it looks like to walk in Jesus.

And these pictures all give us images of strength.

We see this when Paul writes, ‘rooted and built up in Him’.

Whenever we think of the word rooted we automatically think of trees and that’s exactly the image Paul wants us to see here.

Trees are so strong that did you know the oldest tree today is around 5000 years old?

In other words, walking in Jesus looks like being a tree, being able to endure and to be strong no matter the season, not matter the trial.

There’s another image Paul gives us, and that’s built up.

Do you guys remember that nasty thunderstorm that happened a few months ago?

Poles were laid flat all over Westminster, and power was eliminated?

I hope you were in a building during that storm!

Because if you were in a building like I was during the storm, you would have been safe!

Because buildings are immovable!

And that’s what it looks like to walk in Christ.

We become strong like a tree.

We become immovable like a building.

When loved ones pass away, when health fails, our faith in Christ has not moved.

But at the end of the day, no tree is strong, no building is immovable, without deep roots or a solid foundation.

You see the psalmist describes the tree as sending its roots by the water and being planted by the water.

Psalm 1:3 (LSB)

And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

Peter says as stones, we are built upon the Cornerstone, 1 Peter 2:6

1 Peter 2:6 (ESV)

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

The source the tree draws from, the Cornerstone the stone is built upon is Jesus Christ.

It is impossible to be strong or immovable unless the source of our strength is from Christ.

Jesus said in John 15:5

John 15:5 (LSB)

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Jesus is saying, if I am your source of strength, like branches connected to a vine, you will bear much fruit but if not, you become useless.

If you want to be strong in Jesus, you must draw from Him.

You must stay connected to Him.

Do you pray every day?

Do you read His Word every day?

Are you plugged into a growgroup?

But there is another picture of strong Christians, and that’s certain Christians.

This is what Paul is saying when he writes, and established in the faith.

Established refers to a document that guaranteed something.

Like a high school diploma guarantees that you indeed graduated from high school.

Or a driver’s license guarantees that you are legally able to drive.

To be strong in Jesus looks like one who is guaranteed in their faith.

They are certain about what they believe in and are certain about their salvation.

Because their salvation is set in stone just like one’s graduation is set in stone when they receive their diploma.

And for Christians, the diploma of our salvation is the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NKJV)

Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Paul is writing that we will for certain rise again into eternal life because God gave us the Holy Spirit as our guarantee or certificate of salvation.

If you have the Holy Spirit, you are certain that you have eternal life.

No graduate who has their diploma is concerned about completing high school classes anymore.

Likewise, Christians should have no doubt about their salvation because they have their spiritual diploma, the Holy Sprit.

But this is nothing new to you.

You already know this.

That’s why Paul writes, ‘just as you were taught’.

The Colossians already knew this, because their pastor already taught them this!

You already know your salvation is secure because you have already been taught this!

And so if you want to be strong in Jesus, stick to what you already know!

Don’t seek after new teachings.

As it has been said, ‘new teaching, is old heresy’!

The temptation that we often face today is not staying glued to biblical teaching.

It’s ‘discovering’ new things.

Because we always want new things in our modern culture.

We don’t want an old car we want a new car.

A few weeks ago the iPhone 15 released and sold out instantly!

That’s what people want.

People want the iPhone 15, 16, 17.

Not the iPhone 8.

But when it comes to the Bible, when it comes to Jesus,

There is nothing new.

There is no Bible 15, 16, 17.

There is no Jesus 15, 16, 17.

The Bible, Jesus Christ, is perfect and complete!

There is nothing to improve!

Don’t be moved by new and trendy ideas about the Bible or Jesus.

Because that’s what cults like to use to lure people in: new theories.

One cult that I encountered often, opens up conversations with people by asking, ‘did you know God is a mother?’

And they teach that because people have mothers and fathers, God must also be a mother and a father.

And people get really interested in this idea, but little do they know that this cult worships an old Korean woman and man, as God the mother and father.

Whenever you encounter something new about Jesus, don’t be fascinated about it.

Stick to what you already know from the pastors who already taught you.

Be strong in Jesus.

4. Always give thanks to Jesus (v.7)

In 2021, a Harvard research article revealed that people who give thanks were statistically happier than those who complained, and those who were neutral about life.

And happy people are stronger people.

That’s why Paul writes, ‘abounding in thanksgiving’.

Abounding can also be translated as overflowing, so ‘overflowing with thanksgiving’.

When you fill a cup more than it can hold it overflows.

So what Paul is saying is that because God has made our cup overflow with blessings, we should also overflow with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 3:20 (LSB)

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us,

And when we are overflowing with God’s blessings of salvation, peace, and joy, we can’t help but give thanks!

So what do you give thanks for?

Do you only thank God for when he gives you food, a safe ride home, and good health?

But not give thanks to God in the tough times?

James 1:2 (LSB)

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,

James taught us to rejoice when we encounter, what?

Trials!

James is writing, give thanks when God gives you a trial!

And not just a small trial, but James says various trials, meaning small, medium, and even big ones!

Because there is a reason.

James 1:3 (LSB)

knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance.

The reason why we can give thanks even in difficult times, is because trials are really a blessing in disguise.

That’s how God keeps our blessings overflowing, that even the trials are a blessing!

Because trials are a test to make you become stronger.

Trials are the spiritual gym of the Christian.

And I’m not saying there is zero pain.

There is.

No pain, no gain.

But there is also hope.

Psalm 30:5 (LSB)

Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Some of you are experiencing real pain.

Difficult pain.

But God’s Word says, ‘Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning’.

If you know the Lord, I want you to have hope, because the pain you are feeling is only for a moment.

There will be joy in the morning.

Spurgeon said this about this Psalm,

Tears clear the eyes for the sight of God in his grace; and make the vision of his favor more precious. A night of sorrow supplies those shades of the picture by which the high lights are brought out with distinctness.

If you want to know how to walk in Jesus, always give thanks to Him.

For the good times and the bad.

Gospel/conclusion

If you are listening today and you don’t know the Lord.

You call Him Lord but don’t follow Him.

Then He does not know you.

The pain that you experience today, is not temporary.

There will not be joy in the morning.

But more pain.

Eternal pain.

But still there is hope for you.

Because Christ offers His salvation to all.

Put your faith alone in Christ alone in His sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection so that you may experience joy, not just tomorrow but today!

And if you would like to talk about it please find me, the other pastors, or others at church and we would love to explain more.

Let’s pray!

Ushers – Call the ushers to come forward. Communication Card – keep it with you. Pick it up and say something like,

“our ushers are coming forward to collect our tithes, offerings, and communication cards.

You may already start filling it out by giving us your name and address.

On the communication side, you can share any prayer requests, comments, or questions you may have. If you are our guest in worship, this card is all we need from you.

For those online, you can also fill out this card online.

I will say a prayer for us and as I pray, you keep writing.   Prayer for offering – Right here you pray for the offering then take your seat. Song – The praise team will come back and lead us in a song while ushers collect. Dismiss – at the end of the song, you come back to the mic,

thank folks for coming,

invite them to meet in the foyer for coffee and donuts and stay for Grow Groups at 9:45.

At 11:00, you thank them for coming and wish them a wonderful Sunday!