Lisa Godard (Lisa)

Sermon Outline “Christmas in Colossians” - Hidden with Him” Colossians 3:1-11 2012 Theme: Until He Comes Until Jesus comes - let us celebrate His 1st coming like the angels - give like the Magi - see Him clearly as He is - let everyday be Christmas and Resurrection Day - let Christ be born and formed in us by faith Colossians 3:1-11 The same Jesus whose birth we celebrate is the centerpiece of a huge, eternal plan. I)The underlying, overarching truth: A)Christ was born, lived, died, rose again, ascended to the Father’s right hand. B)In Christ, we died, rose again, ascended. We live in Him. C)Our lives are hidden with Him in God. D)When He comes again, our true life will be realized. II)Our proper response to the truth: A)Keep looking up. B)Put to death the residue of the old you. C)Live out the new you. D)Welcome all in Christ. Until He comes, celebrate His coming, give Him your life, see Him as He is, & let Him be born and formed in you.

Sermon Outline “Christmas in Colossians” - He is the Substance” Col. 2:16-23 2012 Theme: Until He Comes - looking for Jesus to come again & seeking to live according to that perspective. Until Jesus comes, let’s joyously celebrate His 1st coming, give Him the gift of ourselves as living sacrifices, see Him as He is - the incarnate God & Savior/Lord, let everyday be Christmas and Resurrection Day & let Christ be born and formed in us. Last week: Christmas in Colossians 2:9-15 The same Jesus laid in the manger is the eternal God. He is “the head of all rule and authority” He died on the cross, was buried and was raised in triumph In Him: We are filled/completed, dead to sin, raised to new life, forgiven, triumphant. Christmas in Colossians 2:16-23 - The same Jesus who came as a baby is the substance of all Biblical symbol and ceremony and all we need and are searching for. Jesus is the real thing. Paul’s concern: False teachers were insisting that the Colossian believers must keep all the Jewish special days and practices (festivals, ceremonies, abstinence of certain foods, etc). Others advocated worshiping angels and self-abasement as a means to be more spiritual. The believers were confused and began to question their faith. Paul’s argument: Jesus has done all you need for salvation, and all those special days and practices only point to Him. You don’t need them anymore; You have Him and need only Him. “The substance belongs to Christ” Substance - “body, that which casts a shadow, as distinguished from the shadow itself” (Strong’s). No amount of rituals or ceremonies or restraints can make you right with God or transform your life. Only Jesus satisfies. Paul urged the Colossian believers to hold “fast to the Head…” - hold fast to Christ & Him alone. Everything else is but a shadow. He is the substance - follow Him! This can be illustrated by considering some of the things Paul mentioned: Circumcision (vs11) - cutting off of the flesh. It’s in Christ that our flesh/old man is cut off, put to death. We died with Him. No need for literal circumcision any more. Special Days/Festivals (vs16) - Passover - sacrifice of the lamb and blood placed on the door posts. Jesus is our Passover lamb - there is no other sacrifice needed or accepted. - Day of Atonement - “scapegoat” sent away into the desert, bearing the confessed sins of the people; sin offering given to pay for sin. Jesus is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Acts 4:12 Sabbath (vs16 - probably refers to the Sabbath which was part of special feast days) - day of rest, set apart for God (still need). Christ Jesus is our Sabbath; we rest in His completed work! Worshiping on Saturday or Sunday does not make us right with God or more mature in Christ. Regulations (vs20-21) - eating meat offered to idols, touching a unclean animal or person, etc. These represent things that might be for our own good to practice, but they are matters of conscience. These would include our traditions. They cannot save or make us righteous. It is in Christ that we are saved and made clean and imputed with His righteousness. Asceticism (self-abuse)/Worship of Angels - These are wrong attempts to be righteous or appease guilt or reach God. They might also include false religions or worldly ways to find satisfaction (alcohol, drugs, pornography, sensuality, etc.) Christ is the only door to God. He alone is the Way, Truth and Life. John 10:10 - Following Christ is the only way to abundant life. Until He comes, celebrate His coming, give Him your life, see Him as He is, & let Him be born and formed in

“Christmas in Colossians” - Colossians 2:9-15 2012 Theme: Until He Comes - looking for Jesus to come again & living according to that perspective. Until Jesus comes, our celebration of His 1st coming should rival the angels - “Glory to God in the highest!” Until He comes, we should give Him gifts that rival the Magi’s - ourselves as living sacrifices. Until He comes, we should see Him as He is - the incarnate God. Until He comes, let everyday be Christmas and Resurrection Day. Until He comes, let Christ be born and formed in you and me. Let’s see Christmas in Colossians. Colossians 2:9-15 I)This same Jesus laid in the manger is the eternal God. “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (vs.9). Colossians 1:15-20, John 1:1-3, 14 “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate deity.” “Fullness of God in helpless babe…” II)This same Jesus born a lowly babe is “the head of all rule and authority” (vs.10). Isaiah 9:6-7 III)This same Jesus born of the virgin Mary died on the cross, was buried and was raised in triumph (vs.11-15). IV)In Him: - We are filled (made complete) - vs.10. - We are dead to sin - vs.11-12. - We are raised to new life - vs.12-13. - We are forgiven - vs.13-14. - We are triumphant - more than conquerors - vs.15. Romans 8:27 Until He comes, celebrate His coming, give Him your life, see Him as He is, let Him be born and formed in you.

“Until He Comes: Walk In Him” - Colossians 2:1-8 IV)We, too, must be taught - 2:7-8. Many (even Christians) are deceived and taken captive by the philosophy and human tradition and elementary principles of the world. We must be taught the elementary (1st) principles of Christ, so that we can follow, or walk in, Him by faith. “C. H. Dodd (Gospel and Law) identifies seven major propositions in the ‘didache’ (Apostles’ teaching): 1)The New Testament Christian is enjoined to reform His conduct (Ephesians 4:22-24). 2)The typical virtues of the new way of life are set forth (Galatians 5:22-23). 3)The proper Christian relationships within the family, the primary unit of the Christian community, are reviewed (Ephesians 5:22, 25; 6:1). 4)Right relationships within the Christian community are set forth (Romans 12:9-10). 5)A pattern of behavior toward pagan neighbors is described (Colossians 4:5-6). 6)Correct relationships with constituted authorities are defined (I Peter 2:13-14). 7)There is a call to watchfulness and responsibility (I Peter 5:8).” (Quoted from “A Distinctive Way of Life,” by Kevin Perrotta, which is a chapter in Leading Christians to Maturity.) Like those in the early church, we must give ourselves to being taught (be willing students) - Acts 2:42. First, we must learn the 1st Principles of the faith, then we can walk in Christ by faith, and then eat “spiritual meat” (deeper teachings of Scripture). Until Jesus comes, we must come to Christ by faith and learn to walk in Him by faith, giving ourselves to being taught.

“Until He Comes: Walk In Him” - Colossians 2:1-8 No secret: Life is difficult, complicated, fragile, unsure. Everyone needs solid footing, direction, clarity, confidence. It is not cliché to say that all we need for life is found in Jesus. 2012 Theme: Until He Comes - looking for Jesus to come again & living according to that perspective. Until Jesus comes, we can find life only in Christ and learn to live life in victory and confidence by walking in Him. Colossians 2:1-8 Paul had been given the Good News to share with the Gentiles, a mystery revealed - life in Christ, not just for the Jews, but for all who would believe - Colossians 1:24-29. False teachers had infiltrated their ranks, casting doubt on the gospel message and the sufficiency of Christ. The Colossian Christians were confused, unsure - Colossians 2:1-5. “Plausible arguments” - “specious discourse leading others to error” (Strong’s). Paul labored and prayed for their understanding of Christ in them, resulting not only in salvation, but in transformed life. Paul’s writing informs us as well. I)We, too, can have relationship with God through faith in Christ - Colossians 1:27 - Christ within is life, hope! Jesus is the firm foundation, the cornerstone. He is the One who saves and upon whom we must build our lives. II)We, too, (once we come to faith in Christ)can have wisdom for living. In Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” - 2:3. Matthew 11:28-29 III)We, too, can be “rooted and built up in [Christ] and established in the faith” - 2:6-7. We receive Christ by faith and so are brought to life - Romans 1:17b. We are to live our lives by faith, as well, not our own efforts, but by the Holy Spirit’s leading - Galatians 2:20. IV)We, too, must be taught - 2:7-8. Many (even Christians) are deceived and taken captive by the philosophy and human tradition and elementary principles of the world. We must be taught the elementary (1st) principles of Christ, so that we can follow, or walk in, Him by faith.