Colossians #6: This. Jesus.

William Bridges wrote in a book on transitions - “Before you can begin something new, you have to end what used to be. Before you can learn a new way of doing things, you have to unlearn the old way. Before you can become a different kind of person (church), you must let go of your old identity.”

This week we will be praying for our new unified ministry in our community; again, even thought we don’t fully see it now… areas including:

The name and structure of the new ministry

The pastor and leadership

The transition of locations

The transition of members

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Good News!

I have some good news for you today… you in the mood for good news? I mean, if you don’t you are in luck… because you can go anywhere else today… I mean anywhere and find all the bad news you could possibly handle. But not here. So if you are looking for bad news… you are in the wrong place. You can leave now.

Cause all i have is GOOD NEWS. All I have is the best news… all I have is a message of hope. Of encouragement… News that will make you want to smile and tell some body… go ahead and… let’s practice… even if you are by yourself… smile real big.... like a cheesy school picture… smile and say I’ve got good news!

Tell someone next to you… he’s got good news!

Now, tell someone else… you’re my second choice… but this good news is for you too!

Now go ahead and get out your bibles and open them up to Colossians chapter 2. if you don’t know where that is, it’s towards the end of the New Testament… Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians… The way I remember it… God Eats Pizza Cold… Gal, Eph, Phil, Col

Colossians chapter 2.

In preparing for today, I heard a story told by another pastor that I thought was fitting. Pastor David Landrith told this story of a soldier who had gone to fight in WW2. Yesterday was D-Day… when we remember the start of America’s involvment in that war, and those who served in that pivotal war in our history. But this soldier had a girl here at home, they were the pair in town that everyone knew were perfect for each other… We probably had some of those couples here in town didn’t we....

Only in this story, he went to war and while he was overseas, he met another girl and they fell in love. He served for years in Europe while they were married, but eventually it was time to come home and when he moved home, he brought his wife. Now his old girl knew all this had happened… the town knew it had happened, so it wasn’t a surprise to anyone that he and his wife came back to his home.

One day he’s there, alone, and there’s a knock on the door… you guessed it, it was the old girlfriend. Before he knew it she had walked right in house.

Right there he should of known he was in trouble… we can all see this as going no where good right.

Well in she comes and she starts trying to catch up… pouring on how much she missed him… how much she worried about him… reminding him of all the good times they had shared before he left for war.

He started getting suspicious… that she wasn’t there just to catch up. But to get him to break up. But it was too late. His heart belonged to someone else. Instead of getting into a conversation about what could have been… he focused on what was.

So he just started talking about his wife. He went on and on how great his wife was, a great cook… so funny… beautiful… everyone likes her… He started showing pictures of her… going on how he can’t wait to have kids… how wonderful her family is… on an on… so much so that the old girlfriend lost interest in him… because he had no interest in her.

He focused on the one he loved, and that defeated any temptation he may have sensed.

That’s what Paul is writing to us in Colossians about.

Again and again, Paul is going to describe for us how amazing Jesus is… calling us... reminding us… to be captivated again in the glory of Jesus...

We need that every now and again…

and again and again.

It’s not that we forget, but life starts happening… we get tired… we get stressed… and we are tempted to take our eyes off Jesus and put them on the something else.. and that thing begins to distract us from our first love.. that’s the way John described it in the Book of the Revelation.

We’ve seen it play out over the last week or so. You’d be hard pressed to say that current events haven’t been overwhelming for your thoughts. The events of our world today have certainly been a cause for concern. As serious as it is, as followers of Jesus we have to see it through the lens of faith… through our relationship with Jesus. If it’s my pain… I need to see it through my relationship with Jesus. If it’s my frustration… I need to see it through my faith in Jesus. If its anger… I need to see it through my love for Jesus. Otherwise, I’m tempted to come up with all sorts of ways it should be dealt.

You see, Paul had heard about their faith.... and he had heard about these false teachers who were coming in and adding to the Gospel. And Paul knew when you added to the Gospel, you were making less of Jesus. Paul wanted the church in Colossea and the church here… to know that Jesus was Enough. That It wasn’t Jesus plus anything… it was just Jesus.

Say that… Jesus is enough!

Sounds like a great sermon series title.

Let’s get started.... if you have your bible, open it up to today’s text… Colossians 2:6 is where we begin today.

Colossians 2:6–7 NIV

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Just as...

Let me ask you a question.

What did you have to do to receive Christ as Lord. You may be thinking.. .I had to come to church or my friend had to invite me. I don’t mean where were you when it happened.

What I mean is, what did you have to do in order for Jesus to come into your life? What did you have to do in order for Jesus to love you?

I’m just going to wait for someone to come up with something… no I”m not because you can’t come up with anything. You didn’t do anything to get Jesus to save you… he did it because he loves you. It’s grace, and we receive it by faith. Some of y'all were nasty folks, one day you were gossips, you were workaholics who ignored your family, you were emotional basket cases, you were addicts, you were drunks, you were unforgiving, honerey, unloving, hateful… then you met Jesus… well you are still a mit honerey, but your life has been changed. He came to you just as you were… a desperate beggar… because you couldn’t save yourself.

Paul says… now with that same effort, with that same approach… live your lives in him… some translations may say walk in him… in a posture of surrender. It’s as though we live our lives with our hands out palms up.

Lord I’m yours… everything I have, everything I am… Yours.

The Kingdom belongs to those who come to Jesus as a child… trusting completely in him.... trusting him, adoring him, loving him. Much like homecoming soldier… Paul says, be caught up in your love for Jesus.

This goes against what was being taught in Colossea. Look in verse 8

Colossians 2:8 NIV

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Jesus is Enough

Here Paul makes clear his warning to the church.

He knows their faith, he has already said to them… I love how firm your faith is.... But don’t take it for granted.

He says don’t get caught up in philosophy… itself should be a warning to us… philo meaning love and sophy meaning knowledge.

Paul says dont’ get caught up thinking you need to know more… by relying on

Human traditions, spiritual forces or anything else that isn’t rooted in Christ.

We need to hear this too.

I know you believe… I’m sure you have faith… but don’t get caught up in thinking you need to do something or believe something more than what Jesus has told us in Scripture.

As for human traditions, in Colossea they probably looked very different from us today.

Jesus spoke again and again to the Jewish people about spiritualizing their traditions. The OT had taught them to never forget, to remember to practice the remembrances because they would always remind the people of God’s faithfulness… but over time the Jews began to make the traditions the point instead of the one to whom the traditions were intended to point us to - God.

The same things can happen to us today… our traditions can become the object of worship rather than a tool to help us worship. We have to worship this way… or that way. There are probably some in our community who won’t worship with us because it’s not in their building… or doesn’t have their music… or their whatever. When we sanctify our traditions… we miss the point.

The same is true for what the NIV calls elemental spiritual forces of the world.

Since the beginning of history, people have been captivated by the power of what Paul refers to as elemental forces in the world. He’s speaking of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water… not the band. The kids gave me a fire pit a few years ago for fatthers day.... we use it every week. Often times Michelle and I will be sitting out under the stars and she asks me… what you thinking? And I’m like… nothing… jsut watching the fire. My mind is completely blank… it’s entertaining… captivating to watch… same with a waterfall.

Its easy to see how people woudl begin to spiritiualizee them. The stars in the sky… horoscopes. Sure you may read them for entertainment, but thats a dangerous slope you are waalknig on there. Because you tend to look for confirmation of what you have read and before long, you are amazed by creation rather than the creator.

You see in the ancient world, they saw God as being up there… and people down here. God was so perfect he could never come down here… so instead God hasd all these spiritual beings occupy the space betwween us and him.... and what you had to do was use these spiritual forces, beings, traditions, to navigate your way to God.

Jesus was just one of these spiritual beings.

Paul says that looking anywhere other than Christ we are missing the point.

Jesus + Anything is not Jesus

Jesus plus anything… human traditions, or spirituality.. does not save you.. in fact when you add something to Jesus for salvation, or redemption… you actually make Jesus less important, you diminish his work on the cross.

So if it’s Jesus plus these spiritual forces or traditions, then Jesus didn’t accomplish what he set out to accomplish. If it’s Jesus plus baptism this way, or Jesus plus communion this way, or Jesus and this theology… Then when Jesus said “it is finished” from the cross… he misunderstood.

He didn’t misunderstand though… he knew exactly what he was doing… that’s what Paul goes on to describe in the closing 6 verses.

Colossians 2:9–15 NLT

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

I would ask you today to highlight or underline these 6 verses because they are a powerful picture of the work of God in Jesus for us.

The Jesus that we have to add to his work isn’t Jesus. Let me say that again… a savior who’s work you have to enhance… isn’t a savior.

But a savior who does it all… is enough.

This. Jesus. is Enough

Paul says.. you couldn't need anything more than Jesus, because all the fullness of God was in him.

Colossians 2:9–10 NIV

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

That’s a lot to consider in itself, the divinity of Jesus. But he was all God… not that Jesus is all there is to God. But Jesus was All God. In Him God accomplished all that needed to be accomplished.

This is a pointed reminder… are we living as though this were true or are we waiting on God to do something more?

Paul says that just as Jesus was the fullness of God in the flesh… so are we completed when we are united with Christ.

Jesus is enough for our salvation

We aren’t lacking anything… even though we strive and strain.. we do so out of ignorance or hubris… but either way, it’s spiritually pointless.

In verse 11, Paul explains how we are completed in Christ. We don’t feel complete… but that feeling is in us… not because of a lack in what Jesus accomplished.

Colossians 2:11–12 NIV

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Because the fact of the matter is, we are given a new nature. Our sinful nature has been killed when we come to faith in Christ. The way of death in us has been killed. that has been cut away. What’s left? Life.

Jesus is enough for our forgiveness

Jesus secured our forgiveness by nailing SIN to the cross… and because the curse of sin is broken, we are no longer being judged for our sins.

I’m talking about all out sins… the sins of our past… and the ones we haven't even committed yet. All our sins.

Does this mean that I get to live however I want… if I’m already forgiven?

No. In fact a person who has been forgiven much, who is surrendered to Jesus out of thanksgiving wouldn't even consider such a thing…

The truth is, if you have experienced the forgiveness of Christ, the last thing you want to do is do anything that would create distance between you.

When you are in Christ, your forgiveness is complete. There is nothing more to do.

The third thing that Paul tells us is that Jesus is enough for our victory.

Jesus is enough for our victory

Look at verse 15

Colossians 2:15 NIV

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Jesus didn’t just defeat sin… he did it publicly, allowing himself to be put on display. A display that has changed the world.

That’s some good news. You are victorious in Christ.

You remember when the Ravens won the superbowl… my son and I were so excited… wooo hooo we won… Unbeliievable… teh lights went out… the NFL was against us… but we won.

We didn’t win… the ravens won. I didn’t get a ring… the players did.

That’s not the way it works on Team Jesus. He shaares the victory with us. It is our victory.

In Christ… You have victory over the schemes of the devil. He wants to take you off track… but Jesus is too much. Satan wants to see you fall to temptation to create distance between you and God… but Jesus is too much. Satan wants to see your marriage fall so you will turn your back on God… but Jesus is too much. Satan wants to see you overwhelmed financially, stressed out emotionally, burdened spiritually... but Jesus is too much for him.

Jesus is too much for satan… but for you... Jesus is enough!

That’s good news!

Maybe you needed to hear that today.

Life has you down, overwhelmed, stressed. You are looking for God to give you a sign that he’s still there. Your sign is the cross. It’s empty becsue Jesus is alive. He has delivered. He will deliver for you… follow him. We have all fallen short, but Jesus makes up for our failures. You need This Jesus

Just write that down THIS JESUS in the comments or the chat.

If you need this Jesus, then pray with me… and we all need this Jesus… but if you want to experience the full life that this Jesus promises.

You might stand up… you might take a knee… you might lift your hands in a posture of surrender… but pray with me

Then i invite you to pray with me.

Lord, thank you for Jesus who lived and died for me, so that I could become the child of God you created us to be. Forgive me of my sin, I’ve failed you and myself, but Lord, you know that; and You love me anyway. You loved me before I messed up and you love me even though I still mess up. You loved me so much you sent Jesus to die that I might be restored to you. Thank you for forgiveness. Thank you for giving me a new life. I ask you to help me live, to live for you in victory. God I give you my life. Use me for your glory. Keep me close, send your Holy Spirit to equip me and keep me full of your strength. Thank you Lord I love you Lord… Amen!

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COMMUNION

Father, You created us in Your image to represent Your love here on earth through our relationship with You and for each other. But rather than follow you way, we chose our own way. A way of sin that led to death.

But even though our love for you failed, your love for us remained steadfast. You chose to deliver us from bondage to sin and death, You made a covenant to be our God, and You taught us and led us through the voices of Your prophets through even today.

And so, with Your saints here on earth and in heaven we praise Your name and join their unending hymn:

ALL: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are You, and blessed is Your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection You gave birth to Your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit, giving each of us a new calling, to follow you, to live for you, to serve, to love just how you have shown us in Jesus.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, He took bread, gave thanks to You, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this is remembrance of me."

When the supper was over, he took the cup, Gave thanks to You, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, In remembrance of me."

And so, In remembrance of these Your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

ALL: Christ has died; Christ is risen; will come again.

Pour out Your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By Your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at His heavenly banquet.

Through Your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in Your holy church, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, now and for ever.

ALL: Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

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Benediction

Life is much more than an accident.

Where ever you go, believe God needs you there.

Where ever you are, trust God has put you there.

He has a purpose for you being there;

Christ, alive in you, wants to do something

through you, no matter where you are

Believe this and go in His grace

and His love and His power. Amen.

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