Title: Walk in Christ
Introduction: When you have received Christ as your savior you find hidden treasure. As a young boy I remember we would grab a shovel and start digging a hole in the ground. We talked of finding a buried treasure or something valuable that had been buried for a long time. I would venture to say that many of you did the same thing.
Core: Paul wrote to the believers at Colosse we see in chapter 2 verse three that in “Whom (that is in Christ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The greatest treasure we can have is the wisdom and knowledge we find in Christ Jesus. The treasure chest we need is the one we possess and hopefully have with us this morning. The treasure chest is the Bible in it we find the greatest treasure of all, Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ.
Body
I. Everything we need to know and understand is found in this book
A. That is the most valuable lesson anyone can learn
1. God’s treasure chest the Bible is our guide for living
2. We see how we are to walk in Christ in this book
3. I don’t know everything
4. But I know this one thing, that is where to find the Answers
B. They are found in the Bible
1. God’s Holy word
2. It is our guide for living
3. By Faith in Christ we have the full treasure chest of God’s knowledge right in our hands
4. The Bible God’s Holy inspired and written word
C. When we were younger we went to school
1. We had text book with many things written in them
2. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
3. Science and History were taught
4. The greatest text book we have is the Bible
5. It teaches reading, writing and Arithmetic
6. Science and History, but mainly it teaches about God and His provision of Salvation.
D. God’s Holy Word
1. We find in it instruction for living
2. We find in it instruction for relationships
3. We find instruction for a peaceful life lived in Christ
4. We find in it God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
II. You may say why study the Bible, what is the purpose
A. Paul tells us in Colossians chapter 2 verse 4 that when we don’t use the treasure chest of God’s word and gain wisdom and knowledge We can be drawn away from God and enticed
1. It says any man can beguile you
2. You can become a victim of a false prophet
3. A false teacher
4. Many are enticed and beguiled with the science books in school today
B. Many have faltered and believed the religion that Darwin taught
1. Drawn away to believe in Evolution
2. To believe that man and beast evolved
3. To believe a lie from satan
4. Many are enticed and beguiled by men who have honey dripping from their mouths
5. Giving enticing feel good messages that don’t convict and don’t bring us to repentance
6. That is the danger in our world today
C. People want their ears tickled
1. They don’t want to hear about sin and a need for salvation
2. They want to hear that they are just fine and just need to do good in order to go to heaven
3. God’s word doesn’t tell us that
4. God’s word says we must admit to being a sinner in of a Savior
5. That Savior is Jesus Christ
6. He died for our sins
D. Paul says in Colossians chapter 2 verse 5 that He found the Colossians steadfast in the Faith
1. That gave him joy
2. He beheld their order
3. Their steadfastness
4. They were standing side by side in unity
E. That is what God wants us to be doing
1. Standing fast
2. Standing side by side
3. As soldiers do in battle
4. Holding the line and fighting on
5. Being steadfast is holding the line
6. Have a solid front that can’t be penetrated by the enemy
F. The Colossian church had that reputation
1. What about South Dayton
2. What would Paul say about its reputation in the past
3. Paul wanted them to continue
4. To stand firm and not be lead away by a great orator
III. Through the years what has South Dayton stood for
A. What is its reputation
1. Would Paul give it this great commendation
2. Or would he give it the same condemnation he gave the Corinthian church
3. Let’s take it further
4. What would Paul do for your walk
B. He says in verse 6 of Colossians 2 if ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him
1. Are you walking in Christ
2. First what does it mean to be a Christian
3. Many have the wrong idea about how to be saved
4. Some say you must follow the ten commandments
5. But James says if you violate one you violate them all, James 2: 10 for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
6. We all falter and fall into sin so Salvation cannot come by works of righteousness which we have done, Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
C. Once you have received Christ as your Savior you are to begin walking in Him
1. Walk in the Spirit
2. Do as Ephesians 5:18 tells you “be ye filled with the Spirit”
3. That is let the Spirit be in control of your life
4. That doesn’t mean you will have some great emotional experience
5. It is not some great thing that occurs
6. Do you remember the day you were saved
7. Not the calendar date but the way you felt
8. I remember the day I was saved
9. A big smile on my face
10. I wanted to tell everyone that I saw that “I had Jesus in my heart”
11. You see the moment salvation comes you are first “Indwelt by the Spirit”
12. At the same you are filled with the Holy Spirit, that is what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is all about
13. You are identified with the Holy Spirit, That is He comes into your life and you become the temple of the Holy Spirit
14. You are filled by the Holy Spirit He is in control of your life, do you remember when you lost that joy and what caused it
15. I bet you committed some sin
16. That joy comes back, that zeal comes when we confess that sin as 1 John 1:9 tells us.
D. We see several scriptures that show the Spirit indwells us at the point of our Spiritual Birth, that is the moment of salvation
1. Acts 5:32 32 and we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
2. How do we obey God by Believing that Jesus is the only means of salvation
3. 1 Corinthians 3: 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
4. The verse right before that says 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
5. That means that many will be saved and won’t be walking with God, they won’t be filled with the Spirit in their Christian walk, but they will be saved and then Paul say
6. We as believers are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and He dwells in us, that occurs at Salvation don’t you see
E. So we go back to Colossians verse 6 of chapter 2
1. Understand this we are told as Believers in Christ to walk in Him
2. The moment of Salvation you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and He will never leave you
3. What you do to your body you are doing to the Holy Spirits temple
4. We can only have power to be a witness if we don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by walking in sin
5. By not walking in Christ we might say.
6. The reason we see sooooo many powerless believers today is that they allow soooo many things in their lives
7. Openly and in secret
8. They grieve the Holy Spirit and are Powerless in accomplishing God’s purpose for their lives
F. We see so many churches that are powerless too
1. Many churches split over minor things
2. Many fail to realize we are fellow laborers together with God
3. We are not to be working in our own strength
4. But in the power and strength of the Lord through the Indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit
5. That makes the difference between preaching and worldly oratory.
6. We have many orators in our world today, many have television programs and large churches attracting great crowds
7. Orators take the Bible and read from passages in a captivating way, but that is not preaching, because preaching must come by the power of the Holy Spirit
8. He must anoint the speaker and the message or it is simply oratory and not cutting the heart to conviction.
9. The reason so many churches today are powerless is because its members have for so many years not allowed the power of the Holy Spirit to move in their church
10. Instead they have allowed:
a. Vanity
b. Pride
c. Selfishness
d. Carelessness
e. Worldliness
f. Unkind thoughts
g. Unkind feelings
11. All these things grieve the Holy Spirit
12. So many things we might add that cause churches not to grow and be what God expects them to be.
13. They grieve the Holy Spirit
14. They hinder the testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ
IV. Paul says this can be prevented when we walk in Christ we become Rooted and built up in Him see verse 7
A. Rooted like a tree
1. Firmly planted and grounded in the word allowing the Holy Spirit’s leading and guiding
2. Built upon the foundation of Faith in Christ
3. Established in that Faith
4. Having received Christ we are to walk in Him
B. Established by your faith
1. Faith is how we gain salvation
2. Faith is how we are trusting Him to guide us
3. Faith is how we trust Him to provide our every need
4. Faith is how we trust and obey Him in the direction He wants this church heading
5. Faith is how we trust Him to guide us in accomplishing His purpose for this church
6. Faith is believing all things work together for His good not ours but His.
V. Paul then warns us that if we don’t walk in Christ, if we aren’t rooted and established as we have been taught and abounding in thanksgiving
A. “Then verse 8 says you will be spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit
1. After the tradition of men
2. After the rudiments of the world
3. And not after Christ
4. You will be corrupted he is saying
B. Beware not to fall into satan’s trap
1. Beware not to fall for worldly philosophy
2. Beware not to fall for teaching that tickles your ears
3. Beware lest you be spoiled by those seeking vain glory
4. Beware that you don’t do as the Pharisee’s and fall into traditionalism in your worship
C. That is why it is so important for me to ensure I am rightly dividing the word of truth
1. Ensuring the Holy Spirit is my guide
2. Not leaning on just one commentary
3. But searching 2, three or more
4. Ensuring I feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit in what I teach and preach
D. That is why I love teaching book by book, verse by verse in a setting like Sunday Night services
1. We get the full meaning
2. That is why I rely on what I studied to ensure I don’t misspeak
E. Paul said not to go after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ
1. Don’t follow after the basic teachings of the world
2. Don’t seek man’s way
3. Seek God’s way
4. Follow Christ
Conclusion: If you have received Christ so walk in Him. If you are believer and have received Christ are you walking in Him! If you have received Christ as your savior, walk in Him. Paul tells us to walk in Christ, to be rooted and built up in Him and all is established by our Faith in Him. We are to walk in Christ because we have received Christ as our savior. Walking in Christ means leaving the world behind and following Christ because we have been made complete in Him verse 10 tells us. We become complete when we walk in Christ. Our church and our lives as believers will become complete when we walk in Christ, isn’t that what we want to do and be, complete in Him.
