Sermon by: Dr. Todd Morris
Text: Colossians 2 (Read 1-8)
Title: Walking Safely on a Dangerous Trail
Date: August 11, 2002
Introduction: Throughout this letter Paul has expressed his concern for the believers at Colossi. In verse 1 he again does so, and continues on throughout this chapter warning them about the enticements of sin. The key word to this whole chapter is found in verse 8, and that word is “beware.”
In this chapter Paul deals with walking as a believer in such a way that you will avoid temptation and stay true to the calling Christ has upon your life. I toyed with several titles for this message before settling on this one; one was “Secrets for Safety on the Journey.” Yet I settled on this one because of how dangerous I believe the journey of life is for the believer. At every turn there are things and people who would throw us off the trail and cause us to disgrace ourselves and our Savior.
So, how do we walk safely on the danger trail?
I WALK AS IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST AS LORD (6)
A. It is important to stay close to your conversion experience.
1. How serious sin seemed!
2. How wonderful Grace seemed!
3. How sensible faith seemed!
B. We must remember that our first love must be Christ.
C. Gypsy Smith: “I have never lost the wonder of it all.”
D. We must walk by faith in the wonder of His love.
II WALK ROOTED IN CHRIST THE LORD (7)
A. “Rooted and built up in Him.”
B. We should be like the roots of a tree.
1. Reaching out to take in the water of the Holy Spirit.
2. Absorbing nutrients for growth from the Word.
C. We find all we need in Christ (8-9).
1. Not in philosophy, but in faith.
2. Not in the world but in the Word.
III WALK REFRESHED IN CHRIST AS LORD (7)
A. “As ye have been taught”
B. Old truths about Christ keep refreshing us (10).
1. We are complete in Him.
2. He is more powerful than our enemies.
C. We have been made alive by His forgiveness (13-15)
1. The debt of our transgression of the law has been paid.
2. Satan has been defeated.
IV WALK REJOICING IN CHRIST AS LORD (7)
A. “Abounding with thanksgiving”
B. We are saved by Grace and are thankful for it.
1. No longer in bondage to the law. (16-18)
2. Dead to sin and alive to Christ (19-23)
C. We rejoice in the victory we have in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion: What are the dangers we need to avoid?
Pride, False Teachers, legalism
God’s grace is sufficient for our every need.
If we walk by faith, we are safe on the trail!
