Abounding In Thanksgiving (Colossians 2:1-15)
Rev. William L. Barron, November 8, 2020Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Although Paul was never in Colossae as far as we know, he said he was with that church in spirit, and he meant it. He was saying that he really cared about them. He encouraged them to walk with the Lord to remain faithful, to be knit together, and to partake of all the blessings made available in Christ. The mystery he talked about is Christ Jesus. Our real treasure is Christ, not money. In Him, we find wisdom, knowledge and a relationship. We learn how we are to live, and this brings glory and honor to God. We are to resist evil and temptation. Our foundation in Christ is critical. We must lean on God’s word—all of it. We are built together into the Church, whose establishment is the Truth. The Word of God is Truth. We cannot trust in ourselves or in the rulers of this age. Doing this will not carry us into maturity. In Christ we will be abounding in thanksgiving and will live life abundantly, living for God. The sacraments are important in this. Circumcision is fulfilled in baptism. Circumcision is a testimony of putting off the body of flesh. Under the New Covenant, circumcision’s reality is the cutting of the foreskin of the heart, our inward desires and inclinations, that in the believer points to the process of sanctification. Jesus’ baptism points toward the crucifixion. We are united with Him, His death and resurrection, in baptism. Both sacraments point toward Calvary. They are signs of what God has done. They lead us to look away from ourselves and toward Christ. His righteousness is credited to us—thanks be to God.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Thanks--To God | None | Heavenly Virtues = Life In The Church » |
Colossians 2:1–15 (Listen)
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 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. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
(ESV)