Redeemed

Colossians 2:13–15 NASB95

13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

INTRO: How confident are you about Jesus? Not just intellectually, but in practicum? Do you wrestle with guilt? Are you haunted by your past? Is your life today different than before you became a Christian?

ILL: I have talked with a number of Christians who, especially in their later years of life, reflect back and take a sort of spiritual inventory of their lives. They ask questions like, “Did my life reflect Christ?” “Am I really saved?” Why did I do such stupid stuff?!!?

Perhaps you can relate.

Today is Palm Sunday, and as we walk toward our resurrection celebration next week, I thought that it would be of value to spend some time thinking through what it means to be redeemed. We sing the words, but have we grasped their meaning?

The context of our passage is the Apostle Paul warning the church at Colossae not to be pulled in by false teachings. One false teaching that seemed to be prevalent was that of a works-based salvation that included supposed “secret knowledge”

In the midst of the warning, we have a picture of what redemption means for those who are ‘in Christ’.

Now, we all have a BC in our lives… BC meaning, Before Christ. That is, we all should be able to look at our lives before we encountered Jesus; before we learned the Gospel - and note some observations. In fact, take just a moment right where you are and write down what comes to your mind…

Before I met Jesus, I was...

Paul does not mince words in his description. Look at v. 13a (READ)

Dead in your transgressions. IOW- guilty, separated from God, spiritually lifeless and unable to save ourselves. There is no amount of work, no amount of striving or crying that will save you.

Before I met Jesus, I was dead in my transgressions. Like the thieves that hung on the crosses on either side of Jesus, I deserve the punishment; I have no case, I am guilty…

And speaking to a Gentile audience, Paul reminds them that they don’t even have a Jewish heritage that points to the one true God. Yeah, you see, there are so many false gods, but they cannot save, for they have no power.

But Jesus changes everything! The center point of Christianity is that God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus redeems. The promise of redemption is for those who are in Christ. When we are in Christ, we are a new creation, so the big question that God answers in our passage today is “What does it mean to be redeemed?”

I encourage you to use the sermon guide in your bulletin to follow along with me. We’ve talked about your BC, now let’s dive in and talk about your AC, after Christ. The message today is titled, “Redeemed.”

We’re going to phrase each point like this:

Since I met Jesus...

Our redemption is the result of God’s saving grace. We have been bought by Him. Now, this is exciting stuff- don’t let yourself be numb! Ok, first off, since I met Jesus, this is true of me…

I am Alive (13b)

You WERE spiritually dead, but in Christ, now you are alive.

Paul explained in v. 12, that we were buried with Christ and raised up with Him. That is to say that even though our sins effectively made us dead, Jesus brought us through that death and has given us life.

This, mind you, is present tense. So, how is it so? Well, here’s a clue- only God can raise the dead!

There is a key phrase in v. 13b that we mustn’t miss: “together with Him”

Apart from Christ, we are dead. But with Christ, we are made new. With Christ, we are given a new nature through the Holy Spirit. He is the living water, the bread of life, the way the truth and the life!!

Oftentimes, people will latch onto a works- based religion. They may very well recognize the holiness of God, but then try to pile on the good deeds (or perceived good deeds) and earn God’s favor. It does not work that way.

ILL: Imagine that you were to go out to a farm this afternoon and get a pig- you can bathe him, and put a tuxedo on him…or if it’s a girl, a nice dress and some lipstick. But you know what, that’s still a pig and it’s going to return to wallowing in the mud because that’s what pigs do.

In the same way, good deeds cannot make you spiritually alive. But Jesus can!

All of us here know that there is a big difference between life and death physically. Right? I mean, if you are alive you are breathing, your heart beats, your stomach growls…

The same is true of spiritual life and death. If you are spiritually alive then you have a heart for the things that God has a heart for. You love God and His Word. You hunger for His name to be glorified and for His will to be done here on earth as in heaven.

Because I met Jesus, I am alive! TODAY, I am a child of God- His blood runs through my veins, His spirit is within me and I have a joy that I cannot explain! I am alive… and will be for eternity because of I am redeemed!

This redeemed life is mine because since I met Jesus,

I am Forgiven (13c-14)

(READ 13c)

Let me emphasize this… “forgiven us ALL our transgressions”

To forgive means to release from debt.

It does not mean that God has looked at you or me and minimized our sin. It’s not as if he has said that our transgressing of His character and law are slight things that can be overlooked.

No, friends, our sin is real and costly. BUT JESUS… Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon himself. He paid the debt that produced our deadness. Our sin was imputed on Christ, so that through His death, God’s justice and holiness are maintained even as we are made free.

ILL: There was a man named Barabbas who was a notorious thief and murderer in Jerusalem. He was imprisoned at the time Jesus was brought to Pilate. Barabbas was guilty of various crimes and deserved death. Sitting in that prison, he was as good as dead.

But Jesus, though innocent, was the one placed upon the cross while Barabbas was released. Barabbas was given life. I have read that passage in Matthew a number of times and thought, “I am Barabbas...”

But there is a difference between you and I and Barabbas… you see, he was simply released, I am forgiven.

We see the difference as we look down to v. 14 (READ)

The certificate of debt- the IOU was cancelled. In God’s court, there is no longer any evidence of my sin! This is what God means when He said in Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

You see, When I met Jesus, when I came to him in faith and repentance, he cancelled my debt. He took the cancelled note, and he nailed it to the cross!

Yes, I still remember my debt… but every time I go to the cross, I am reminded that Jesus paid it ALL! And the truth of 1 John 1:9 rings clear-

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I am redeemed which means that I am alive and I am forgiven. I am His and He is mine. Finally, since I met Jesus,

I am Victorious (15)

When Jesus was on the cross, Satan thought he had won. You can imagine how he celebrated, but God turned this seeming defeat into triumphant victory!

(READ)

There is a historical picture here: When a nation won a military battle, they would return to the city in a parade, marching down the road with the captives- high ranking officials, kings, and army officers who were stripped of their power and dignity. No longer did the enemies have any power!!

Folks, there is one who is known as the ‘accuser of the brethren’. You see, I want you to know that Satan is constantly bringing up our sins before God. And it will be that when we stand before the Lord, Satan will dig up all of our past and thrust it before us.

“Remember how you lied! Remember how you robbed God of glory! Remember how you failed! LOOK!

But friend, Jesus has disarmed Satan. You see, those sins and failures have all been taken out of the way- nailed to the cross and if Satan wishes to accuse God’s saints of sin, he too has to go to the cross!

He has to lay his eyes upon his own defeat. All of his accusations upon those who are in Christ are simply shadows. And I remember reading Ps. 23 which says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You, my God, are with me!”

My shame and guilt were laid upon Jesus. And he has redeemed me. Bought me back.

That’s why we will gather next Sunday at sunrise and declare “HE IS RISEN!” And I with Him.

This morning, we commemorate this redemption by observing the Lord’s Supper. Before we do, I want to ask: Have you been redeemed? Are you alive in Christ or are you dead in your trespasses?

I am going to ask Donys to come- let us spend time in prayer. Perhaps you need to come and repent.. to accept the offer of redemption offered in Christ. Maybe you need to come and just give thanks because you have been redeemed.

[PRAY]

[Sing Jesus Paid it All]

Lord’s Supper - instructions.

Discuss: How do you know you are spiritually alive?

Discuss: How do you distinguish between earthly consequences and heavenly judgment when it comes to our sins?

Discuss: What practices help you embrace God’s forgiveness and grace?