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Colossians 2 : 1-23
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
The Background
A. Paul is writing to the Church of Colossae.
1. The people of this church have been assaulted by all kinds of people with different ideas.
2. They were told they were nothing if they didn't do all these people were piling on them. 3. They were on the verge of losing who they really were, according to Christ.
4. So Paul was about to remind them.
B. And this is dead on for many of us, too.
1. We get told all kinds of things.
2. If you're gonna be somebody, you have to do this.
3. You have to look like this.
4. You have to dress like this.
5. You have to have money like this.
6. If you're not, you are not who God wants to you to be.
7. You're a failure, an outsider, you're in the way, you're not worth much.
C. But I want to point out who The Bible Says You Are.
1. If you are a follower of Christ, this is who you really are.”
Intro
A. Just who are you?
1. Are you who others say you are?
2. Are you who some people at school say you are?
3. Are you who some of the people you work with say you are? 4. Are you who society says you are?
5. Are you who YOU THINK you are?
6. Really, just who are you?
B. I think, for most of us, we've got it all wrong about us.
1. We've had people characterize us for so long we're now believing it.
2. We've compared ourselves to others and come up short, defining ourselves as less. 3. We still hear the words that might have been said yesterday or 30 years ago, and we believe they were right; that's who we are.
C. In my years in ministry, I've seen what seems to be a growing trend. 1. I've had it happen in my own life.
2. And I talk to other Christians who have it happening in their lives.
3. I call this CHRISTIAN LOW SELF-ESTEEM.
D. Here are some symptoms.
1. You belong to Jesus but you feel like you've failed Him"
2. You're afraid to have a good time because Christians aren't supposed to have a good time.
3.The world says you're a weak person needing a prop, and you feel weak.
4. You go through some hard times, and you just know God doesn't care about you anymore.
5. You walk around hopeless waiting on God to take you home.
6. You have no desire to serve or do anything because you just aren't good at anything.
E. So we mope through life.
1. We drag around defeated.
2. We shun people because we don't want to hear their little comments about us.
3. We float in and out of churches because we never feel like we're good enough to stick around.
4. We're just a nobody and nobody likes nobodies.
5. Ever feel that way?
6. Feel that way now?
F. Well, we're going to knock that nonsense down this morning.
1. We're going to find out who we really are.
2. And who we really are is a long way from who you think you are. 3. We're going to do a counseling session.
4. And God's Word is going to be the counselor.”
1: You Are Complete!
A. READ COLOSSIANS 2:10
Colossians 2 : 10
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
1. I've read that the Greek here is a nautical term: You are ready for the Voyage of Life.” “2. In Christ, you have all you need for life and godliness.
3. No outside additions are needed.
4. We lack nothing to be all Christ wants us to be.
5. Christ is sufficient.
6. We are everything we need to be in Christ.
Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world
B. This means we don't have to drift. 1.We don't try other things to be somebody.
2. We don't have to look a certain way to make ourselves something we're not. 3. All of this comes from thinking Christ is not enough.
C. You already have everything you'll ever need.
1. You have everything you need because of your union with Christ. 2. You are completely and totally complete in Jesus Christ.
2: You Have a New Life and You are Truly Alive!! A. READ COLOSSIANS 2:12 and 2:13.
Colossians 2 : 12-13
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
B. New Life
1. You are not who you were.
2. You are not that person people remember.
3. You are not that person that you keep going back to.
C. Your old self
1. That sinful, nasty, dirty you died on the cross with Jesus.
D. Your new self”
“1. The forgiven, complete, loved you came out of that tomb with Jesus.
E. Truly Alive
1. That's life with an advantage.
2. We can live like we were meant to live.
3. Alive, fully aware of what true life is.
4. We have been given the opportunity to be all God intends for us to be.
3: You Are Free!!
A. READ COLOSSIANS 2:20.
Colossians 2 : 20
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
B. Freedom.
1. Free from trying to live up to somebody else's standards. 2. Free from trying to perform to earn God's favor.
3. Free from living sinfully.
4. Free from condemnation.
C. Free to love.
1. Free to be all God has called us to be.
2. Free to go directly to Jesus.
3. Free to enjoy the life Jesus has given you. 4. You have been set free by Christ!”
Conc.
How do I get back to Who God says I am?
A. READ COLOSSIANS 3:1-4.
Colossians 3 : 1-4
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
B. You Renounce all others opinions of you.
1. You tell God, "I am not going to let others take away who I really am in You."
CYou Renounce the Devil.
1. READ 1 PETER 5:8-9.
1 Peter 5 : 8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
2. You stand firm against him and tell him, "Your lying to me is over." 3. I will not listen anymore.
D. You Repent Before God
1. You turn from the sin of believing everybody else and you start believing Him.
2. You Go Live Your Complete, New, Full Life in the blessing and grace of the God who gave it to you.”
