HCC Sunday Service
Title:
Alive with Christ
Text:
Colossians 2:13-15
INTRODUCTION
Today we’re gonna
Continue our series
in Colossians.
Let’s turn together
in our Bibles to
Colossians
chapter 2.
& we’re gonna read
verses 13-15.
Colossians 2:13-15.
& when you find that
In your Bible
pls stand for
the reading
of God’s Word.
The title of today’s
teaching is:
Alive with Christ.
In Colossians 2:13-15
the Scriptures say:
Colossians 2:13–15 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us;
he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
You may be seated.
Last week
We talked abt
how to stay filled
w/ God’s fulness.
We saw that:
God’s fulness is found
in Christ’s body
which is the Church.
In the Church—
The fullness of God
is available to
everyone.
&by living
a careful
& connected life
In the Church
We will stay filled
w/ God’s fulness.
In today’s passage
Paul focuses on
how the cross
made it possible
for us to become
a part of the Church.
We’ll see there
At least two things
God did thru the cross
To make us
Alive w/ Christ.
PRAYER
Let’s pray.
Holy Father
we thank You
for Your precious Word.
Open our eyes
to the reality
of what we
study today.
Give us wisdom
& understanding
Frm the HS
So we may know
You better.
& give us grace
to live in it.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
[Transition:
The 1st thing
God did thru the cross
to make us alive
w/Christ
in the Church is...]
God CANCELLED our charges through the cross.
In Colossians 2:13
Paul says:
Colossians 2:13 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh...
Notice this is
past tense
for those of us
who are in Christ.
We were dead
in our sins.
We were dead
in the uncircumcision
of our flesh.
We saw last week
Our flesh is
not our physical body.
Our flesh is
everything we were—
& the lifestyle we lived
outside of Christ.
So Paul says:
We were all
spiritually dead
in our sins
when we lived
outside of Christ.
Paul gives us
more details
abt that lifestyle
in Ephesians 2:1-3.
Paul says:
Ephesians 2:1–3 (NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Outside of Christ
We were all
dead in our transgressions
& sins.
We lived daily
in disobedience.
We lived our lives
following the
sinful ways
of this wicked world.
We were all
walking on
the broad road
that leads
to destruction.
We all gratified
the sinful desires
& thoughts
of the flesh.
We were all
disobedient
to God.
& Paul gives us
some insight
into one source
of our disobedience.
He says:
We followed the ruler
of the kingdom
of the air.
& this ruler
is the spirit
who is now
at work in those
who are disobedient.
Paul’s talking abt
a supernatural being
that drives ppl
to disobedience.
The Greek word
the NIV translates
“at work”
Is the word ἐνεργέω.
It’s where we get
the English word
“energizing.”
So, Paul’s saying
there’s a supernatural
spiritual being
who energizes ppl—
to be disobedient.
That supernatural being
is Satan.
Outside of Christ
We all chose
to continually obey
the cravings
of our sinful flesh.
& Satan gave us
All the energy
we needed to keep
pursuing evil desires.
Our thoughts
were sinful.
Our desires
were sinful.
Our behavior
was sinful.
We were
Children of
Disobedience
As we followed
The devil
Who was our
Spiritual father.
We were dead
in our sins
& transgressions.
& we deserved
God’s wrath.
We no longer
Stress these truths
in the church
like we shld.
We don’t talk abt
the control Satan
has over this world.
& the spiritual war
we’re all in.
We don’t discuss
The real
plight of ppl
who are not
in Christ.
We act as if
They’re not
that bad.
& as if we
were not that bad
outside of Christ.
I mean
we weren’t saints
or angels
but we were still
pretty good ppl.
But that’s:
A terribly twisted
& unbiblical view
of what ppl are
outside of Christ.
As Paul explains in
Titus 3:3 (NIV)
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Outside of Christ.
We’re selfish
& sinful;
Detestable
& disobedient;
Malicious
& misled.
We’re slaves to various
sinful passions
& pleasures;
We’re evil & envious.
We side w/ Satan.
We’re driven by
our sinful desires;
& we follow
our flesh.
& as Paul reminds us
in Romans 3:10-12
Outside of Christ
Romans 3:10–12 (NIV)
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
That’s God’s view
of all of humanity
outside of Christ.
There are no
Good ppl
outside of Christ.
We’re dead
in our sins.
We’re dead
in the uncircumcision
of our flesh.
We’re by nature
deserving
of God’s wrath
bcs outside of Christ
our nature is corrupt
& we despise God
& His ways.
But God
wanted something
dfrnt for humanity.
So, God did something
for humanity.
In Colossians 2:13:
Paul says
Colossians 2:13 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.
& in Ephesians 2:4-5
Paul says
Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV)
...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—
it is by grace you have been saved.
All of humanity
deserves God’s wrath
for our disobedience
to God.
But even when
we deserved
God’s wrath
Bcs of our
disobedience—
Even when we
hated God—
God loved us.
& bcs of
God’s great love
for humanity.
God showed
great mercy
to us.
& He demonstrated
His love
for humanity
by making us alive
w/ Christ
thru His grace.
Paul explains it
this way...
In Romans 5:6-8.
He says:
Romans 5:6–8 (NIV)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Why did Christ come
when He did?
It was just
the right time
for God to demonstrate
His great love
For humanity.
How?
By helping us
who were
hopelessly helpless.
By saving us
who were
still sinners.
God demonstrated
His great mercy
& love
for you & me
By sending
His divine Son
to become
a divine-human
So that
thru our union
w/ God’s Son
we cld live.
So that
thru our union
w/ the Lord Jesus
we cld be changed
by putting off
our old self
& putting on
the new self
we were created
to be in Christ.
& in that new life
instead of
being driven by
the spirit
of disobedience
We now have the HS
who drives us
to be obedient to God.
& the reason
any of this is possible
is bcs of the cross.
When we were dead
in our sins
& the uncircumcision
of our flesh
God made us alive
w/Christ
thru the cross.
& Paul goes on
in Colossians 2:13-14
to explain how
God made us alive
w/ Christ
thru the cross.
Paul says:
Colossians 2:13–14 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us;
he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
Outside of Christ
we’re all
legally indebted
to death.
We broke
God’s law—
& we’d earned
the wages of sin.
& as Paul tells us
in Romans 6:23
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
...the wages of sin is death...
We were condemned
& had earned death
& the punishment
of eternal fire
for our sins.
But God made a way
For our sins
to be forgiven.
God made a way
for our sins
to be taken away.
How?
He nailed all
our charges
to the cross.
Our sin debt
was nailed
to the cross
in the body of Jesus.
God cancelled
our charges
bcs thru the cross
the Lamb of God
bore our sins in
His body
& took away
our sins.
As Peter says in
1 Peter 2:24.
Talking abt Jesus
Peter says...
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
There is a widespread
misunderstanding
Abt what God did
w/ our sins
thru the cross.
Some of that
is based on
misapplying passages
like Psalm 32:1-2.
There David says this
Psalm 32:1–2 (NIV)
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
Ppl often read this
as if David were saying
the reason the blessed
person is forgiven
is bcs their sins are
‘covered up.’
& this is then applied
to the cross.
& this interpretation
often results in
a view of the cross
as a cover-up operation.
As if Jesus
died on the cross
in your and my place
so that God cld cover up
our sins
By clothing us
w/ the righteousness
of Christ.
& it’s that
bad theology
that leads to the idea
of sinning saints.
Where nobody actually
becomes righteous
in Christ.
We’re still
an ungodly mess
But God sees us
as righteous
bcs of what Jesus did.
But the cross
is not a cover-up
operation.
When the Scriptures speak
abt our sins
being covered
It does not mean
covered up.
‘Covered’ is used
in the same sense
we use the word ‘covered’
when talking abt
someone covering
the cost of something.
ILLUSTRATION
Think of it like this:
Imagine we’re at
a restaurant
We’ve finished
eating our meal
& the server
brings us separate checks
to show what we owe.
You look over at me
& notice I’m frantically
digging through
my pockets.
& you realize
I have no way
To pay for
My check.
So,
You lean over
& say:
“I’ll cover
your check.”
What do you mean?
Do you mean
You’re gonna
Cover it up
w/ your hand
& pretend
it’s not there?
No.
You mean:
You’re gonna
cover the cost
of the check.
In that situation
I owed a debt
I cld not pay
So you covered
that debt for me.
In the same way:
thru the cross
the cost of our sins
was covered—
You & are
Were helpless
We cld not
Pay that debt
we owed.
So, the Lord Jesus
covered our debt.
He picked up
the check
& paid for it.
The price He paid:
Was the precious blood
He shed on the cross.
Now
The Lord Jesus
Had committed
no crimes.
He committed
no sin.
Far frm being a criminal
He was the only
perfect person
who ever lived.
So when Jesus
goes to the cross—
He goes for crimes
he never committed.
He goes
for your crimes
& my crimes.
As children
of disobedience
You & I
committed the crimes
that deserve death.
We were
all criminals.
& God had every right
to leave us to ourselves
& let us all
die in our rebellion
& sins.
You deserve
condemnation.
I deserve
condemnation.
We deserve
God’s wrath.
But
instead of
condemning us—
Instead of giving us
What we deserve—
The gracious God
& Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ
allowed His Son
to become a sacrifice—
to pick up the check—
to take our sins
on Himself—
& pay a debt
He did not owe—
So He cld take away
our sins.
The punishment
that brought us peace
w/ God—
along w/ the sins
of the world—
were laid on
God’s divine-human Son
on the cross.
By the wounds
of our suffering Savior
the ungodly
& unrighteous
can be healed.
& be changed
So we can become
the righteousness
of God
in Christ.
In Christ
the cost of sin is paid
once & for all.
We can die to sin
& live for righteousness
Bcs God made us
Alive with Christ
thru the healing wounds
of cross.
The cure
to heal all humanity
for all time
was accomplished
by what Christ did
thru the cross.
& that cure
is still available
to the whole world.
But where do we find
that cure?
& how do we access
that cure?
I’ll answer those
questions
in a little while.
But 1st let’s
talk abt a 2nd thing
God did to make us
Alive with Christ
thru the cross.
[Transition:
God cancelled our charges
thru the Cross...
And...]
God conquered our captors through the cross.
Outside of Christ
We were all
a part of
the same kingdom.
We were all under
the domain of darkness
ruled by the spirit
who energizes
the disobedient.
We were all under
the sway of Satan.
We were captives
to the spiritual rulers
authorities & powers
of this dark world............
& the spiritual forces
of evil
in the heavenly realms.
There are real
spiritual beings
& real spiritual battles going on
all around us.
Forces we can’t see
Fighting for the souls...
of humanity.
& on our own
Humanity is helpless
Against these
evil forces.
We’re no match
for the rulers
& authorities
that hold us captive.
So, we need
someone
to Save us
frm our captors.
& that someone is
the Lord Jesus.
& in Colossians 2:15
Paul tells us
how the Lord
conquered our captors.
Paul says:
Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
This language is
Meant to draw our minds
to what happened
when military forces
conquered their enemies.
The ppl
on the winning
side wld be gathered
to a public place.
& there
In front of everyone
The mighty men
of the defeated military
Wld be stripped
of their armor
& weapons.
This was a vivid picture
That showed
These rulers & authorities
Had no more power
of the ppl.
& that’s what Jesus did
Thru the cross.
He disarmed
our enemies.
Jesus took away
their weapons.
Stripped them
of their
armor & their power
in public.
As we read
in Hebrews 2:14-15.
Paul says:
Hebrews 2:14–15 (NIV)
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Thru His death
Jesus disarmed
the devil.
Jesus disarmed
all the rulers
& authorities
& their power over us.
Jesus trampled dwn death
by His death.
The powers of darkness
Made a huge mistake
when they killed Jesus.
Bcs His death
was their undoing.
& this was God’s
brilliant plan
bfr the foundation
of the world.
To have His Son
come into
this world.
Not w/ guns blazin’
Or swingin’
a sword.
God’s plan was
to conquer
our captors
Thru His divine-human
Son’s death
on the cross.
God conquered
our captors
thru the cross.
& this means:
Satan has
no more power
over us
when we’re connected
w/ Christ.
Listen to that again:
Satan has
no power over us
When we’re connected
w/ Christ.
& neither do
the powers
of darkness.
In Christ we’re freed
frm the powers
of darkness—
Freed frm the powers
of our captors
Freed frm the power
& practice of sin
thru the cross.
Too many
Christians cower
in the corner
being bullied by Satan.
They live as if
nothing changed
When they
came to Christ.
They still
live in the past
as if they still belonged
to this world.
They listen to the lies
of the enemy.
Satan tells us:
“You’ll never
“be free
“frm that sin.
“You’ll never
“be free
“frm that addiction.
“You’ll always be
“in bondage
to something.
“You’ll never be
“any better
“than you are now.”
“You’re past sins
“will always
“control your life.”
Satan constantly
says stuff like that
to ppl.
& Christians
eat that stuff up.
Nod their heads
in agreement
& Satan wins.
But we need
to see those statements
frm Satan
for what they are:
Lies.
Lies!
Right frm
the lying lips
of the father of lies.
In John 8:44.
Jesus said this
Abt Satan:
John 8:44 (NIV)
“He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The devil is a
murdering...
liar.
That’s not just
what he does...
That’s who he is.
Lying is a part of
his nature.
There’s no truth
in him.
Every word
the devil speaks
is lie:
Designed to deceive ppl.
This has always been
The main tactic
of Satan...
& the evil powers...
& authorities.
Though they
Have been stripped
Of their powers
thru the cross
They seek
to keep us captive
thru deception
& lies.
So, we need to learn
stop listening
to Satan’s lies.
We’ve gotta learn
to counter
Satan’s lies
w/ the truth:
In Christ
& thru the cross
We’re no longer
bound by Satan.
We’re freed frm
the power
& practice of sin.
We’re freed frm
The power
of our enemies.
God conquered
our captors
thru the cross of Christ.
A very long time ago
The Lord swore
an oath to Abraham.
Then the Lord reaffirmed
This oath
several times
in the Scriptures.
Luke records
what Zechariah said
abt this oath
in Luke 1:69-75.
He says the Lord...
Luke 1:69–75 (NIV)
“...has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”
The horn of salvation
The Lord raised up is
the promised Messiah—
the Lord Jesus.
Jesus was raised up
on a cross.
& there He defeated
our enemies publicly
when He died
for us.
Jesus was buried.
& then God
raised Him up
frm the grave.
& in doing that
He defeated death.
& now
thru our union
w/ Jesus
we can serve God
w/o fear
of our enemies.
No fear of Sin.
No fear of Satan.
No fear of Death
or the Grave.
We can now
serve God
in holiness
& in righteous
Bcs thru the cross
God cancelled
our charges.
& God conquered
our captors.
Now bfr we close:
Let’s go back to
the questions
I asked earlier:
Remember I said:
In Christ
the cost of sin is paid
once & for all.
The cure
to heal all humanity
for all time
was accomplished
by what Christ did
thru the cross.
& that cure
is still available
to the whole world.
& then I asked:
Where do we find
that cure?
& how do we apply
that cure?
These are the most
important questions
we’ll ever ask.
& knowing the right answer
to those questions
is essential
for salvation.
Where do we find
the cure?
We find it in Christ
in the Church.
The Church is
Christ’s body
Thru which we gain
Access to what God
in Christ
thru the cross.
How do we apply
the cure of cross?
For many years
Ppl who claim
To speak for God
Have been telling
Ppl to apply the
Cure of the cross
in the wrong way.
They tell ppl
To ask Jesus into
their hearts
or pray a “Sinner’s Prayer”
& all their sins
Will be wiped away
bcs of what Jesus did
on the cross?
But asking Jesus
into our hearts
& the Sinner’s Prayer
are both
modern inventions.
Those are both
examples of
the human traditions
we’re supposed to avoid.
Those traditions nullify
the Word of God
& are not in line w/
the Apostolic Faith.
The Apostles
of the Lord teach us:
If we want what
God promises
us in Christ—
the forgiveness—
the removal
of our sins....
the freedom frm
our captors....
The healing
The only way
to have those promises
is to be united
to Christ.
So the cure
of the cross
is applied
when we’re united
to Christ.
& we do not get
united w/ Christ
by asking Him
to come into our hearts
or saying a prayer.
So how
do we get united
w/ Christ?
Paul answers that question
in the passage right bfr
today’s passage
in Colossians 2:11-12.
Paul says:
Colossians 2:11–12 (CSB)
You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
The healing balm
of Christ’s cross
that cancels our charges
& the power
of the cross
that conquers our captors
are applied to us
When we’re united
w/ Christ
in baptism.
In baptism
our sinful flesh
is cut off.
The old person we were
outside of Christ
is buried w/ Christ;
We rise out of
the water healed—
a new person
empowered by God
to live a new life.
We’re free
frm condemnation.
There are no charges
against us.
We’re no longer
God’s enemies.
We’re no longer
under God’s wrath.
We’re no longer
held captive by
our enemies.
Why?
Bcs the person we were
outside of Christ
was crucified w/ Christ
along w/ our sins.
The person we were
outside of Christ
is dead & is buried
in the waters of baptism.
& we rise w/ Christ
Free to live a
new life
empowered by
God’s grace.
So, to be made alive
w/ Christ
we’ve gotta be
united to Him
in baptism.
& I want to draw
your attention
to a very important phrase
in Colossians 2:12.
Paul says:
Colossians 2:12 (CSB)
...you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Notice the phrase
“working of God.”
Remember back at
the beginning
of this message
we talked abt
the spirit of Satan
who is now
at work in
the disobedient?
& I said the word’s
‘at work’ mean
Satan energizes
ppl to be disobedient.
Well
That’s the same word
Paul uses here
to talk abt God.
When we’re baptized
into Christ
we do so w/
the understanding
that God is at work
in the water.
God does something
To us thru
The water when
We’re baptized.
When we come in faith
To the waters
Of baptism
God energizes that water
& performs a miracle
in us.
When we’re baptized
into Christ
What Christ did
thru the cross
is applied to us.
Our debt is paid
God cancels
our charges.
We’re free frm
The penalty
The power
& the practice of sin.
We’re free frm
slavery to Satan
& the fear of death.
We’re born again
& we’re made alive
w/ Christ
in the waters of
baptism.
Let’s learn to live
Our lives in light
of this truth.
If we’ve been baptized
into Christ
the cure of the cross
has been applied
to our lives.
We are dead to sin
& alive to God
w/ Christ.
& we can now
live a new life
free frm our enemies
free frm the penalty
the power & practice
of sin
As we’re energized
by God’s grace
to live
as Christ lived.