Summary: After examining what made the church at Colosse spiritually rich, Paul proceeds to expound on what would make them spiritually sound. In modern society, our churches are slowly moving away from sound doctrine and worship in order to entertain mass audien

The Spiritually Sound Church

Colossians 2:1-23

I. The Spiritual Connection between Believers (v. 1-5)

a. Labor to aid each other (v. 1-2a)

b. Discernment of danger (v. 2b-4; Romans 16:18)

c. Rejoicing in righteousness (v. 5)

II. The Spiritual Foundation of Believers (v. 6-7)

a. Rooted in Christ (v. 6-7a; Ephesians 3:17-19)

b. Established in faith (v. 7b)

c. Continuing in thankfulness (v. 7c; 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

III. The Spiritual Freedom of Believers (v. 8-23)

a. Free from defeat (v. 8-15)

i. Defeat of deceit (v. 8-10; Ephesians 5:6; 1 Timothy 6:20)

ii. Defeat of the flesh (v. 11-13; Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24)

iii. Defeat of the judgment (v. 14-15; Ephesians 2:15)

b. Free from legalism (v. 16-23)

i. Legalism defined (v. 16-19)

ii. Legalism exposed (v. 20-23; Hebrews 10:1)

REFERENCE NOTES

Romans 16:18— 18For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Ephesians 3:17-19—17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18— 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:6— 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

1 Timothy 6:20— 20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--

Romans 6:6— 6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Galatians 5:24— 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Ephesians 2:15— 15by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,

Hebrews 10:1— 1For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.