Conceived by Him, Received in Him, Buried with Him, Justified through Him

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Conceived by Him, Received in Him, Buried with Him, Justified through Him.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You seeking Your wisdom and understanding. Open our minds and hearts to Your Word today. May Your Holy Spirit guide us as we investigate into the truths found in Your book of Colossians. Let this message transform our lives, drawing us closer to You and strengthening our faith in Jesus Christ. In His precious name, we pray. Amen.

The letter to the Colossians, written by the Apostle Paul, addresses a church under threat from false teachings and philosophical traditions that sought to undermine the supremacy of Christ. This letter is sometimes referred to as addressing "the Colossian heresy" because it confronts these dangerous teachings head-on. Paul’s message to the Colossians is a powerful reminder that our faith and salvation are founded solely in Christ, not in human traditions or philosophies.

Historical Context:

The church in Colossae was a young and relatively small congregation, located in a city that was a melting pot of various religious and philosophical influences. Paul wrote this letter to combat the growing threat of syncretism, where elements of different beliefs were being mixed with Christian doctrine. This blend included Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, and local mystical practices. These false teachings were leading believers away from the true gospel.

Paul emphasizes that in Christ alone is found all wisdom and knowledge. He warns against being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Colossians 2:8).

Main Points:

Conceived by Him (Colossians 2:6-7):

Paul begins by urging the Colossians to continue living in Christ, rooted and built up in Him. Our spiritual conception begins with Christ, as we are born again through faith in Him. This new life is characterized by being deeply rooted in His love and built up in His truth.

Received in Him (Colossians 2:9-10):

In Christ, the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and we have been given fullness in Christ. We receive completeness in Him, lacking nothing. He is the head over every power and authority, and in Him, we find our true identity and purpose.

Buried with Him (Colossians 2:11-12):

Through baptism, we are buried with Christ in His death. This symbolizes the putting off of our old sinful nature. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too are raised to new life through faith in the power of God. This transformative act signifies our unity with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Justified through Him (Colossians 2:13-15):

When we were dead in our sins, God made us alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us. He nailed it to the cross, disarming the powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are justified—declared righteous before God.

Do you know about the Cross of Christ...

The Cross is:

The Bridge:

There was a vast chasm separating two cliffs. On one side stands humanity, trapped in sin and unable to reach God on the other side due to the immense gap. The cross serves as a bridge, allowing us to cross over from the side of sin and separation to the side of reconciliation and relationship with God.

The Cross is:

The Rescue Operation:

We were trapped in a deep, dark pit with no way out. Our various attempts to escape fail, and all seems hopeless. The cross represents a rescue mission where Jesus descends into the pit, lifted us out, and brought us to safety. The cross is the means by which humanity is rescued from sin and brought into the light of salvation.

The Cross is:

The Exchange:

Consider a courtroom where a person is on trial, facing a death sentence for their crimes. Jesus steps in, takes the punishment upon Himself, and exchanges His righteousness for the person's guilt. The cross is the place of this great exchange, where our sins are transferred to Jesus, and His righteousness is given to us.

The Cross was

The Cure:

We were terminally ill patients who had no hope for recovery. The doctor discovers a cure but knows it requires Him to sacrifice His own life to create the remedy. The cross is the cure for the disease of sin. Jesus, the Great Physician, gave His life to provide the antidote that brings us eternal life and healing.

The Cross is:

The Payment:

Sin is a overwhelming debt, with no means to repay it. Someone has to steps in and pay off the entire debt, setting you free from your financial burden. The cross is where Jesus pays the debt of our sin in full, setting us free from the penalty and power of sin.

The Cross is:

The Victory Banner:

At the battlefield where a decisive battle has been fought and won. A victory banner is raised to signify the triumph. The cross is that victory banner, symbolizing Jesus' triumph over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Through the cross, He secures eternal victory for all who believe in Him.

The Cross is:

The Adoption Ceremony:

Think of an orphan who has no family or inheritance. Through a legal process, they are adopted into a loving family, gaining a new identity and inheritance. The cross is the adoption ceremony where we, once orphans in sin, are adopted into God's family, becoming His children and heirs to His promises.

Paul’s letter addresses what’s called “the Colossian heresy.” This heresy included elements of Jewish legalism, asceticism, and mystical visions, which some false teachers claimed were necessary supplements to faith in Christ. Paul refutes these claims, asserting that Christ alone is sufficient for salvation and spiritual growth. Human rules and traditions are not supplements to Christ; it is the Gospel of Christ and the cross that brings us salvation, eternal life and imperishable crowns.

I have told you before that I want a crown for each day of my heavenly week:

Monday

The Crown of Life (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10): For those who persevere under trial and remain faithful.

Tuesday

The Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:25): For those who exercise self-discipline and run the race of faith.

Wednesday

The Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8): For those who long for and love the appearing of Christ.

Thursday

The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4): For faithful shepherds of God's flock.

Friday

The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19): For those who lead others to Christ.

Scriptural Support:

Galatians 1:11: Paul emphasizes that the gospel he preached is not of human origin but received by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9: Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so no one can boast.

Romans 6:4: We are buried with Christ through baptism into death and raised to live a new life.

Conclusion:

The message of Colossians 2:6-15 is clear: Our salvation and sanctification are in and through Christ alone. We are conceived by Him, received in Him, buried with Him, and justified through Him. Let us reject human traditions and philosophies that seek to add to the gospel and instead hold firmly to the truth of Christ’s sufficiency.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the profound truth that our lives are complete in You. Help us to remain rooted and built up in Your love and truth, rejecting any false teachings that seek to undermine Your supremacy. Strengthen our faith and convict our hearts to live fully for You. For those who do not yet know You, may they come to accept You as Lord and Savior. For believers, deepen our conviction and commitment to Your gospel. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Invitation:

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I invite you to do so today. Confess your sins, believe in His sacrifice on the cross, and receive the new life He offers. For believers, let this message renew your commitment to live fully for Christ, knowing that in Him, you are complete. Amen.

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