Are you living out your faith?
Colossians 2:1-10
I. Three reasons to live out your faith (v.1-3)
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other friends who have never known me personally. Col 2:1
A. To build up one another.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:24-25 (NKJV)
B. To grow closer to one another.
My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. Col 2:2a
C. To have complete understanding of God’s plan.
I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself. Col 2:2b
In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 3:3
II. Three ways to live out your faith (v.4-7)
I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments. Col 2:4
A. Live out what Christ has portrayed.
For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I am very happy because you are living as you should and because of your strong faith in Christ. Col 2:5
B. Live out what Christ has proclaimed.
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Col 2:6
C. Live out what Christ has planted .
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Col 2:7
III. Four warnings to living out your faith (v.4,8)
A. We will be challenged by persuasive arguments.
I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments. Col 1:4
B. We will be challenged by philosophy’s appeal
Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy Col 2:8a
C. We will be challenged by people’s agenda’s.
and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking Col 2:8b
D. We will be challenged by people’s actions.
and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. Col 1:8
IV. Reward’s to living by faith (v. 9-10)
For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body,and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. Col. 2:9-10 (NLT)
A. We are made complete.
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Phil. 1:6 (NKJV)
B. We begin living the abundant life.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (NKJV)
