Slides: Freedom and Fullness in Christ

Freedom and Fullness in Christ
Colossians 2:6-10

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Martin Luther's captivity

• Became a monk in a monastery

• Starved and beat body

• Prayed to Mary and 21 saints each week

• Relied on rituals

• Pursued pardon from priests

• Studied for doctorate in theology

Luther's liberation

"Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the righteousness of God and that statement that “the righteous shall live by his faith.”  Then I grasped that the righteousness of God is the righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning. This passage became to me a gate to heaven."

Justified through faith  in Jesus Christ

We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose… Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Galatians 2:16, 21; 3:11)

Turning to a different gospel

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel… O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  (Gal 1:6, 3:1-3)

Freedom and Fullness

1. Christ is your life. Continue in union with Him. (Col 2:6-7)
2. Christ is your freedom. Don’t be kidnapped and enslaved. (Col 2:8)
3. Christ is your fullness. Find contentment in in him (Col 2:9-10)
   

1. Christ is your life. Continue in union with Him.

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

a. Receive

b. Walk

c. Rooted

d. Built up

e. Established

f. Abounding

2. Christ is your freedom. Don't be kidnapped and enslaved.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Triple trouble

• Philosophy and empty deceit

• Human tradition

• Elemental spirits of the world

by philosophy and empty deceit

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)

according to human tradition

• Human tradition of reason: believing what makes sense, not God’s revelation in Christ

• Human tradition of rightness: trusting my goodness, not trusting God’s grace in Christ

• Human tradition of ritual: using ceremonies like magic, not living God’s life in Christ

• Human tradition of results: using formulas to get results, not guided by the Spirit of Christ to glorify God

Deadly religion 

“Churches, by no means all but too many, have become as dangerous to the health of our soul as porn shops.”

“The message of religion: Get it reasonably right, and life will go reasonably well.”

“Religion is the invention of the devil. The world has taken out the patent. We humans have mortgaged our souls to buy the product, and we think we’ve gotten a good deal.”  (Larry Crab, SoulTalk)

according to the elemental spirits (stoicheia) of the world

• Elemental spirits who are fallen angels block the gate out of this evil world-age.

• Elemental spirits who are good angels block the gate into Paradise.

• Evil angels and good angels are opposites, but they have this in common: they wield God’s law as an accusation against us, and they doom us unless Christ rescues us.

When we were children, we were enslaved to the elementary principles (stoicheia) of the world…Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles (stoicheia) of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Galatians 4:3,8-9)

and not according to Christ

What would happen if Satan ran a city? It might have proper behavior and no Christ.

American religion: formulas of what I can do to get nice results, NOT faith in Christ.

• Believe current opinions, not Christ’s truth.

• Start with my goodness, not Christ’s cross.

• Live by my efforts, not Christ’s Spirit.

• Chase my goals, not Christ’s glory.

Rowing as slaves in our own strength, or sailing in freedom?

• Religion enslaves you and forces you to row in your own strength.
• Christ's Spirit is the wind, filling your sails of the ship and moving you forward in His power. 

Freedom and Fullness

1. Christ is your life. Continue in union with Him. (Col 2:6-7)
2. Christ is your freedom. Don’t be kidnapped and enslaved. (Col 2:8)
3. Christ is your fullness. Find contentment in in him (Col 2:9-10)

3. Christ is your fullness. Find contentment in him.

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. (Colossians 1:19)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:1,14,16)

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.