SF907 - How To Be In Christ (Colossians 2 6)
Colossians 2:6
Introduction
What does it mean to be “in Him” to be “in Christ?”
Our theme for this weekend and the coming year is “So Walk In Him.” I want to begin tonight by defining what we mean when we say, “walk in Him.” Specifically, what it means to be “in Him,” to be “in Christ.”
Paul instructs us in this verse to walk in Him the same way we received Him. So the question is how does one receive Christ.
Understanding what it means to be “in Christ,” means understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In order to have a proper understand the gospel we must understand what the Bible tells us about God, man, and Jesus.[1]
1A. God – The Holy And Loving Creator
1B. The Bible tells us that God is the Sovereign Creator
Out of His pleasure and freedom, God created and sustains us.
Psalm 100:3 (NAU) Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Therefore, we are utterly dependent upon Him for everything we have.
We have no inherent rights. (Acts 17:24-31)
God is light, which symbolizes His majesty, purity, and holiness.
God sets the standard of right and wrong.
He is God Almighty in heaven over His creation.
2B. The Bible tells us that God is a personal creator
We are neither impersonal machines nor animals.
Our significance is derived from our unique creation in the image of God who is a person.
God is love, and made us for the purpose of communion with Him – to worship and honor Him, and to fellowship with and delight in Him.
God has an absolute claim on our lives as our Creator.
We are responsible to reflect God.
Matthew 5:48 (NAU) "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
2A. Man – The Sinful Creature
1B. The Bible clearly defines sin.
Sin is man’s willful rebellion against God, sin is refusing to do what God commands, and determining to do what God forbids.
Because of sin, we find ourselves:
Playing God
Ø We run our lives as if God did not matter; we ignore God; we try to be self-sufficient and self-made people, in doing so we deceive ourselves
Jeremiah 17:9 (NAU) "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
Isaiah 64:6 (NAU) For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
Fighting God
Ø By violating and disregarding God’s Law for living; by wanting to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong.
Romans 3:10-20
James 2:10 (NAU) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
2B. The Bible clearly sets forth the consequences of sin.
Both physical and spiritual death are due to the wrath of God.
Romans 6:23 (NAU) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Bible speaks of two kinds of death.
Living death
Ø Separation now from God resulting in guilt, loss of identity, purposelessness, distorted relationships, and so on.
Isaiah 59:2 (NAU) But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Eternal death
Ø Separation of our souls from God forever. Hell is real.
Revelation 20:15 (NAU) And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
We are self-deceived if we think we are living out of our own resources, when actually we are creatures and guilty rebels under judgment who cannot help ourselves.
The truth is we have chosen to reject God.
Romans 1:15-25
3A. Christ – The Merciful Redeemer
1B. The Bible presents Christ as the greatest teacher.
Christ’s words and life reveal the nature of God. He communicates to our conscience, and we submit to His authority in Scriptures.
John 6:68 (NAU) Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
2B. The Bible presents Christ as the sin-bearer.
He offered Himself as the innocent, substitutionary sacrifice for sin on behalf of all who acknowledge their sin.
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJ) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He took the guilt of sinners upon Himself and endured God’s judgment for it in His death on the cross.
Mark 10:45 (NAU) "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
He redeems them by His blood poured out, which satisfies the just anger of a holy God against sinful people.
Isaiah 53:5 (NAU) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
3B. The Bible presents Christ as the King.
He rose from the dead (conquered sin and death) and ascended back to His Father to be Lord.
Acts 2:22-24 (NAU) "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
His life of perfect obedience is vindicated by the resurrection and He freely and sovereignly gives His reward of righteousness to undeserving sinners.
Isaiah 43:25 (NAU) "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.
Ephesians 1:7 (NAU) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
He dispenses grace (unmerited favor) to whomever He will and rules, in love, over all who are united to Him.
Acts 2:36 (NAU) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified."
Jesus as the God-man is the only way to life – by His life, death, and resurrection as Redeemer.
4A. Our Necessary Response In Order To Be “In Christ”
On the basis of these historical truths, and because Christ is alive today, God invites and commands us to:
1B. Turn from our rebellion to Christ as Lord with our whole selves:
In our minds
Ø We agree with God that we have wronged Him and deserve His judgment.
Ø We realize that His goodness shown to us in many ways was designed to humble us unto repentance.
In our emotions
Ø We despise our sins and our sinful nature.
In our wills
Ø We determine to turn from our rebellion and serve our Creator and Redeemer.
Ø We see Christ alone as the payer for and the power over our sin.
Isaiah 55:7 (NAU) Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
2B. Trust in nothing that we can do, but only in the finished work of Christ as Savior:
With our minds
Ø We recognize Christ as the necessary and sufficient payment for sin.
With our emotions
Ø We long for Christ and rejoice in His love for the undeserving.
With our wills
Ø We commit our lives to Christ by casting ourselves upon Him as our only hope for reconciliation with God.
Ø We transfer our trust from ourselves to Him.
Ø We take for ourselves His gift of forgiveness and righteousness.
Ø We ask for God’s mercy.
John 1:12 (NAU) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
A person can only become a Christian by turning from a sinful life to Christ and by trusting in Him as Savior and Lord.
There is a cost to becoming a disciple of Jesus
Mark 8:34-38
Luke 14:25-33
Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to turn and trust.
Application
What now?
Read Psalm 51:1-17, Isaiah 53:1-11; Galatians 2:20 and pray to God for His help.
When He answers you, tell a Christian friend and your pastor.
Seek counsel and help in walking in obedience to His command concerning baptism, church membership, and the study of His Word.
How To Be “In Christ”
Colossians 2:6
1A. God – The ------------------ And Loving Creator
1B. The Bible tells us that God is the Sovereign _____________________
Psalm 100:3
2B. The Bible tells us that God is a _____________ creator
Matthew 5:48.
2A. Man – The ______________________ Creature
1B. The Bible clearly ____________________ sin.
Sin is man’s willful rebellion against God, by refusing to do what God commands and determining to do what God forbids. Because of sin, we find ourselves:
Playing God
Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:6
Fighting God
Romans 3:10-20; James 2:10
2B. The Bible clearly sets forth the consequences of sin.
Romans 6:23
_________________________ death
Isaiah 59:2
_________________________ death
Revelation 20:15; Romans 1:15-25
3A. Christ – The Merciful Redeemer
1B. The Bible presents Christ as the greatest __________________.
John 6:68
2B. The Bible presents Christ as the _____-bearer.
Isaiah 53:6; Mark 10:45; Isaiah 53:5
3B. The Bible presents Christ as the ___________.
Acts 2:22-24; Isaiah 43:25; Ephesians 1:7; Acts 2:36
4A. Our Necessary Response In Order To Be “In Christ”
1B. ______________ from our rebellion to Christ as Lord with our whole selves:
Isaiah 55:7
2B. _____________ in nothing that we can do, but only in the finished work of Christ as Savior:
John 1:12; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 14:25-33
Application
What now?
Read Psalm 51:1-17, Isaiah 53:1-11; Galatians 2:20 and pray to God for His help.
When He answers you, tell a Christian friend and your pastor.
Seek counsel and help in walking in obedience to His command concerning baptism, church membership, and the study of His Word.
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[1] The following outline is an adaptation of Will Metzger’s outline in “Tell the Truth,” 46-47.