Perfect In Christ

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you perfect in CHRIST?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to share CHRIST by preaching, admonishing and teaching, because we are already perfect in CHRIST.

IV. TEXT:

Colossians 1:28 (Amplified Bible)

Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).

V. THESIS:

We need to share CHRIST by preaching, admonishing and teaching, because we are already perfect in CHRIST.

VI. TITLE:

Perfect in CHRIST

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: Between 60 to 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: To exhort and edify believers

D. To whom written: Church in Colosse, a city of Asia Minor

E. Main themes: Church, as body of CHRIST. CHRIST as Head of the Church. Warnings against trusting worldly wisdom

F. Keywords: CHRIST - the Head of all

Colossians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

G. Key verses:

Colossians 2:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Proclaim CHRIST

"Him we preach and proclaim,"

1. Our theme is CHRIST not ourselves.

a. Example of Philip, the Evangelist

Acts 8:5 (Amplified Bible)

Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people];

b. Example of Saul turned into Paul

Acts 9:20 (Amplified Bible)

And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!

Colossians 1:23 (Amplified Bible)

[And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister.

2 Corinthians 4:5 (Amplified Bible)

For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus’ sake.

B. Admonishing one another in CHRIST

"warning and admonishing everyone"

1. To admonish, means is "to warn" or "to instruct"

Share GOD's love for us, and you have already warned them, it's good to be positive carrying GOD's good news which is the gift of Grace for us, we are all undeserving of His Love yet He has chosen to save us before the foundation of the world. Now out of gratefulness to the LORD, is it too much to share this good news to others?

Ezekiel 3:18 (Amplified Bible)

If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you do not give him warning or speak to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.

Isaiah 58:1 (Amplified Bible)

CRY ALOUD, spare not. Lift up your voice like a trumpet and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins!

Ezekiel 33:9 (Amplified Bible)

But if you warn the wicked to turn from his evil way and he does not turn from his evil way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

C. Teach CHRIST to everyone with all wisdom

"and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God),"

1. Our teaching should center and focus on CHRIST.

a. Example of Ezra

Ezra 7:10 (Amplified Bible)

For Ezra had prepared and set his heart to seek the Law of the Lord [to inquire for it and of it, to require and yearn for it], and to do and teach in Israel its statutes and its ordinances.

Remember CHRIST is the end of the Law so in essence Ezra is preaching the Law - that is CHRIST.

Romans 10:4 (Amplified Bible)

For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.