Who Are We In Christ? From the Book Of Colossians part 7
What a glorious time to be alive and see prophecy come to life. Good morning church and welcome to part 7 of the study of the book of Colossians called "Who Are We In Christ ?" Last week's message seemed to speak to a few people. Praise the Lord! There have been those who have written to me on-line and through phone calls that to me confirmed I was on the right track. As we get further into this, the more things I feel will be brought to light that many, including myself, had not seen or thought of. Thank You Jesus. Turn if you will to Colossians chapter 2 and mark your place, and then please turn to 1 John chapter 1. Just like the book of Hebrews, we can't be positively certain who penned this book. Most Bible scholars say it's from Apostle John and was most likely to the churches near Emphases. I want us to look at the strong and powerful message he was sharing in just this passage. 1 John 1:5-10 KJV This then is the message which we have heard of Him, (Jesus) and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Fellowship with the Father, which has been made possible through the incarnation of Christ, the eternal Word, can be maintained only by walking in the light, which signifies the recognizing of our sins with frank confession of them and forsaking of them as they're revealed to us, and belief in Christ crucified as the remedy for sin. Church, do we get this? It isn't just knowing that we have sinned, but dealing with that sin. I like what the late brother David Wilkerson said. It is being in anguish over that sin. It is truly giving that sin to Christ. Our sins were judicially dealt with at the cross which results in eternal life, but unconfessed and unforsaken sin in the believer brings the loss of fellowship with God and chastisement. 1 Peter 2:24 KJV Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Confession of sin would not bring fellowship with God, unless the sinner had accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross. 1 Corinthians 11:31-33 KJV (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (33) Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. Prayer. I believe this message is going to be powerful, leading some, if not all to a repented heart. Praise God! My friends, we need to be rooted in Christ. Not for just a while, but all our days. Amen? Let's go to Colossians, and we'll pick up in chapter 2, verse 8. Glory to God! Colossians 2:8 KJV 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. Church, our faith and understanding needs to be in Christ and His Word. Do we get this? I've shown you this verse often and we need to get this deep in our heart. It's from the great faith chapter in Hebrews. Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Christ is the wisdom of God, and is of God made wisdom to the humble. The treasures of wisdom are not hidden from us in Christ, but for us. Supposed supplies of spiritual wisdom from any other source are a delusion. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ, not figuratively, but literally, for He is both God and man, the manifestation of the Father to us. Friends, what Paul was addressing to the Colosse church, like we looked at last week was false teachings and we need to look at these things in our day too. They're here and not only are they in our days, but running a muck here in America and the world. You have false teachers leading congregations astray with philosophy, like in Paul's day. Empty deception, the traditions of men, and the elementary principles of the world. The Greeks were known for their love of wisdom. Philosophy means “love of wisdom.” But if you love a wisdom or teaching that is not of Christ, then you love an empty idol. Can anyone think of a religious group that loves their statues? Even their magnificent churches? This will bring me hate mail, but Catholics are a good example of this with its empty philosophies of men that advocate unbiblical doctrines such as purgatory, penance, the mass, veneration of Mary, etc. These things are not based on Christ, or on the Word of God. For those who saw the movie God's Not Dead, we see how one young man boldly proved many theories about creation very wrong. I know I've mentioned this before, but please, please if you get a chance to see this movie, do. "Brother Jim, what other types of philosophies do I have to watch out for?" Glad you asked. Evolution. It's okay if you murder an unborn baby, because it really isn't living. It's okay to live a homosexuality lifestyle. There are those who claim that it's normal to live that way. God made that person that way. Wrong, wrong and very wrong. We trust in the Bible. Yes? God's Word says this is an abomination. Does that sound like God is okay with it? Absolutely not. But the devil has it in our faces and now our government okays it, so people think it is okay. Wow, that just struck a nerve with me. Here is one. Take care of yourself first. Really? Have faith in family, your doctor. Put your faith in the government. Oh yea. That sounds like a place to put your faith. No, friend. Jesus said in Mark 11:22 KJV And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Again in John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. Let's look at some old testament verses about having faith in God and see if it's important. Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. God doesn't just deliver us that trust in Him in times of trouble, but will give you grace to rejoice during your trials. I am finally starting to recognize that. Praise You Jesus! Colossians 2:9 KJV For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Friends, this verse right here most just speed right past. You might think, "I know God is part of the Godhead. In fact, brother Jim, I know that the trinity is Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit and they are all one." Praise the Lord, you are right, but back then and even now, there are cults that deny Jesus as God. Again, I ask you, do you believe the Bible is true? Was every word inspired by God? God doesn't lie? So by your own admission the Bible is true, these words weren't made up in the past 100 years to fill a gap, or to appease some church somewhere. Jesus is God and part of the Godhead. We also believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever? Praise God. And that He is not a respecter of persons? He didn't have this verse just for the church of Colosse? Jesus left His throne, church, as God. We all know John 1 1-4. John 1:1-4 KJV In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. (2) The same (The Word, Jesus) was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Praise Jesus. 'Wow, brother Jim, why dwell on this verse? Let's get to the next verse.' Not so fast, my friend. The title of this message is "Who Are We In Christ?" Here you go. Jesus, is so unique, and I think many take that for granted. Then you have part of the very heresy that Paul was warning the Colossians against. The Gnostics were teaching that Jesus was not God in flesh. They taught that He was merely an angel who appeared to us and one cult of today's age is doing the same, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Only in Jesus can you have the fullness of life. Only when we surrender our lives to Him. Glory to God. I love this next verse, and it could be a whole study in itself till we get it in our minds and in our hearts. Everything that we have and need is in Christ. In Him we are complete. Praise Jesus. Colossians 2:10 KJV And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Do we get this, friends? You and I have everything we need in Jesus. Everything. Not just bits and pieces. In fact, I would ask all of you today to do some research on your own this week. How are you complete in Jesus? Next week, I will ask if anyone wants to share their findings. Praise Jesus. What else do we see in this verse? He, (Jesus) is the head of all principality and power. Glory be to God. Paul is sharing with the Colossians and you and me, my friends, that Jesus is in charge of all things. I've said many times that it seems like this word is about to explode. When you or I feel like the walls are crashing in all around us, Jesus is still in control. So why don't we just surrender to Him? Friends, since we are complete in Christ and He is the head over all rule and authority, we need to look to Him alone for all of our spiritual needs. We will close now, but I want you to really get a revelation of what has been taught here today, as it's that important. Christ is the wisdom of God, and is of God made wisdom to the humble. The treasures of wisdom are not hidden from us in Christ, but for us. Church, supplies of spiritual wisdom from any other source are a delusion. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ, not figuratively, but literally, for He is both God and man, the manifestation of the Father to us. Praise God. prayer. Communion.
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