It’s Time to Grow Up!
Pm November 29th 2009
Colossians 2:6-14
Introduction
There’s a rebuke in the book of Hebrews which we as Christians would do well to take to heart:
Hebrews 5:11-14 says, “Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
He’s saying, “We have a lot to say about Jesus, but you don’t listen the way you used to. You let the world dictate your philosophy, so it’s hard to explain the deeper things of God.”
These folks had been in church all their lives, and they had sat under enough teaching that they themselves should be able to teach. But because they had become dull of hearing they continually needed only simple truths the same way a baby needs only simple foods like milk. But babies are supposed to grow in size and appetite, and as they age they are expected to process more complex and solid foods. In the same way, believers are expected to mature beyond what is simple.
The reason is clear: those who mature learn to discern good from evil. You and I should consistently grow in spiritual maturity, but this process takes a lifetime. In the book of Colossians, we find some very important steps to help us.
Read Scriptures: Colossians 2:6-14
I. Maturity Occurs When We Walk In Him
Vs. 6 “…as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…”
We received Christ Jesus by confessing His Lordship and turning away from sin. Now Paul commands us to continue by walking in the same way.
Walking is a way of life.
I knew a guy in high school who bench pressed more than 450 pounds. He didn’t walk into the weight room one day and start doing it, though; he had to work towards it. He would wake up at 4:00am every morning to drink a protein shake, he would snack on lunch meat several times a day, and he would take gobs of vitamins. He would go to the weight room every day where he would work hard to build his muscles.
The same dedication is expected from Christians. We aren’t supposed to be theological weaklings or spiritual dwarves. When we walk in Jesus we will grow up in our faith.
But, what does that mean to walk in Him?
1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
“Darkness” is a metaphor for “ungodliness and immorality.” Walking in the light (or walking in Christ) is the exact opposite of walking in darkness. To walk in Christ is to make a life of godliness and morality. To walk in Christ is to perpetually submit to His Lordship and to renounce sin.
This is the first step of maturity, but it’s not sudden or easy. Every day we make the decision to obey or rebel. Every moment we make the decision to walk in darkness or light. When we fail we make the decision to either get up or stay down.
II. Maturity Occurs When We are rooted in Christ
Vs. 7 “…having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed…”
There are two word pictures given in verse seven. First, we have been “firmly rooted in Him.” I think of a tree being rooted in the ground. The branches don’t take the responsibility of stability because that is the job of the roots. This leaves the branches free to produce leaves and to function as a tree.
The second picture is found in the two phrases “built up in Him” and “established in your faith.” This brings to mind a house being built up and established on its foundation. The house won’t sink because of the foundation, so the house is free to function as a house.
When we are rooted in Christ and established on Christ we are free to function as intended.
If our spiritual life is rooted in anything else, we won’t spiritually mature through life’s storms. When things go haywire we’ll fall back on what we know and what we can produce. It’s the story of the seed that fell among the thorns in the parable Jesus told about a farmer scattering seeds in Luke 8:14, the parable is relating to the word of God being taught: “as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity”.
Spiritual maturity happens when we receive the Word of God and let it “bear fruit with perseverance”. In other words, we are rooted in Christ.
III. Maturity Occurs When We Decide on Gratitude
Vs. 7 “…and overflowing with gratitude.
Hunter doesn’t pay bills, cook meals, buy clothes, or change the oil in our car. But guess what: there are times when he may complain about his clothes, or about the food that is set before him. I know he is still very young, and even as he is getting older he is getting better.
Think about this: your gratitude should match your age. The older you are, the more breaths you’ve taken. You’ve had more opportunities to see beauty, to experience love and happiness, to learn, and to grow. You should be more thankful the older you become!
Those who are less grateful indicate less maturity.
IV. Maturity Occurs When We Build On Knowledge
Vs. 8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Some people are taken captive through philosophy and deception according to the tradition of men and the elementary principles of the world.
I think of two major influences in American Christianity which compete with Biblical philosophy: media and government education.
The media tells us what’s important by deluging the airspace with lust, greed, pride, selfishness, and fame. Many people buy-in. Think of the obsession we have with Hollywood stars—people make money finding out what brand of coffee someone drinks! Think of the preoccupation our world has with sex—it’s used to sell everything from four-wheelers to shampoo.
Government education pushes the atheistic theory of evolution, that abortion is a rightful choice, and that homosexuality is a valid alternative lifestyle. They have set themselves up as teachers of empty deception which is not according to Christ.
It’s the Christian’s responsibility to know Biblical philosophy (or the Biblical world view) and to reject those things which are against it.
But too often we either don’t know what we believe or we prefer darkness to light so that we accept deception as part of life. Jesus makes it clear that a choice must be made: we can’t serve two masters, and friendship with the world is enmity towards God (Jas. 4:4). When we try to combine worldly and Biblical philosophies, we end up with a horrible mess.
Just in case any of Paul’s readers decide these commands aren’t for them, Paul gives…
Three Reminders
1. He Has Authority
Vs. 9-10 says, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority…”
This verse starts off with the word “for.”
To paraphrase, he says, “Walk in Him just as you were instructed. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception…for in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells and He is the head over all rule.”
No one’s opinions, feelings, or commands matter when it comes to this…He is the Ruler of rulers.
2. You Pledged Allegiance
Vs. 11-12 “…and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
You have been spiritually circumcised, and you have been buried and resurrected with Christ. You’re marked for life, and you owe your allegiance to Him.
3. You Are Indebted
Vs. 13-14 says, “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
You were dead, now you’re alive.
You were under the penalty of sin, now you’re forgiven.
You had a debt, but now it’s paid.
You no longer owe a sin debt, but you owe your life to the one who brought you to life by forgiving your debt.
Conclusion
How are you doing in growing as a Christian, are you growing, are have you become stagnant. As a Christian, I don’t want to be stagnant, have you ever smelled stagnant water, it stinks.
Maybe you are like those to whom the writer of Hebrews wrote too, “your hearing has become dull”. Maybe the Holy Spirit’s voice in your life has been drowned out by the world and you have ceased growing as a Christian, maybe you need tonight to get serious with God on this issue, and say “God give me fresh ears to hear you and to be taught by you through your Word.
