COLOSSIANS 2:16-23

HOW IS A PERSON REDEEMED? Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

WHAT BEING REDEEMED DOES NOT DO Does not make you perfect now Does not make you healthy now Does not make you successful now Does not make your marriage perfect Does not make you problem free now Does not keep you from pain & suffering Does not put you in the “inner circle”

THE BENEFITS OF THE REDEEMED IN THIS LIFE Forgiveness of all our sins Accepted as righteous because Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us Adopted into God’s family with all the privileges of all of His children Made a new creation and enabled progressively to die to sin and live for Christ Given the privilege of prayer Given the privilege to represent Christ

THE BENEFITS OF THE REDEEMED AFTER THIS LIFE Made perfect in holiness & righteousness Given an immortal healthy body No sadness, problems, pain or suffering Live forever in the presence of and in perfect relationship with all believers Live forever in the presence of and in perfect relationship with the One Triune God Given the privilege of perfect worship

TRUTH FOR THE REDEEMED What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died— more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:31-35

DANGERS FOR THE REDEEMED IN THIS LIFE Being religious but not Christian False worldviews Legalism Worship of angels Cults Asceticism Not holding fast to Christ alone Not being united with other believers

FALSE WORLDVIEWS See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Colossians 2:8-10

LEGALISM Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 2:16-17 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. Matthew 23:27 External rules without internal relationship

INTERNALLY IN CHRIST BRINGS EXTERNAL CHANGE What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1-4

ANGEL WORSHIP & CULTS Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 2:18 False humility to worship intermediaries you can control Wicked to worship any thing but Christ Arrogant cult leaders always have a “new vision or word from God”

ASCETICISM If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ( referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. 2:20-23 Asceticism is man made, looks spiritual; produces pride, is external only, and fails to change internally

NOT HOLDING FAST TO CHRIST and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 2:19 “No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No Power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand ‘til He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

NOT UNITED WITH OTHER BELIEVERS and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 2:19 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

How should the truth that you have died and been raised with Christ affect your daily life?