Are you living in Freedom?
Colossians (2:8-23)
I. Are you living in freedom from philosophies and
traditions of men?
A. The freedom from spiritual nonsense.
Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.
B. The freedom that comes from being complete.
For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, 10and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. Col. 2:8-10 (NLT)
II. Are you living in freedom from legalism?
A. The freedom comes from being delivered from our old
sin nature.
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure—the cutting away of your sinful nature. Col 2:11
B. The freedom comes from our sins being forgiven.
12For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. Col 2:12-13
C. The freedom comes from what only Christ can do.
14He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. 15In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ. Col 2:14-15
D. The freedom is not being bound by legalism.
16So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself. Col. 2:16-17 (NLT)
III. Are you living in freedom from the worship of angels?
Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don’t let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud. 19But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God. 20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, Col. 2:18-20 (NLT)
IV. Are you living in freedom from asceticism?
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, 21“Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.” 22Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. 23These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires. Col. 2:20-23 (NLT)
CONCLUSION
1. Remember, He is "THE" way.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)
2. Are you in Him?
And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. Eph. 1:13 (NLT)
