Introduction

  • So we come to the end of our journey thru Colossians…
    • We said it was an important study as it deals with sound doctrine in a world where the question is… “What is truth”
    • To me… the study has been jaw dropping… Challenging…
    • It leaves me with no doubts about the person and work of Jesus Christ. 
    • It leaves me with a massive personal challenge…
  • Paul's writing modus operandi… Doctrine then application
    • So my question to you is what impact has this series had on your life…
      • Have you been challenged to make changes in your life…
      • Has it been an encouragement to persevere in the faith…
      • Has it impacted on your worship of God and Christ.
      • Has the realization of the truth caused you to give glory to God
    • Or has it been simply of academic interest.
      • Let's move on to the next one. 
  • We need to understand that this letter was never written for purely academic purposes…
    • It was written to encourage change in the lives of believers… 
    • Later on he says share this letter with the other churches so that they too can grow… Colossians 4:16
      • And I dare to say that as the Spirit of God included it in the Bible he is saying share it with Medway Community Church as well.

Prayer… Purpose

  • I want to draw your attention to how Paul starts and ends this letter…
  • It is important to take note because it highlights his purpose in writing …
    • Colosse is a good fellowship… Colossians 1:3-8
      • There is faith in Christ
      • Love amongst the congregation
      • Hope of glory in Christ
      • The truth of the gospel was preached.
        • It's all there…
    • Nevertheless Paul is looking for more… Colossians 1:9-14
      • We pray for you and ask God to act…
        • Fill you with knowledge of his will

  • So that you may walk worthy of the Lord… Colossians 3-4:1
    • Please him in every way… 
    • Bear fruit in every work
    • Growing in knowledge of God.
    • Being strengthened in all power…
  • His purpose is to motivate further growth in Christian things. 
  • Then he ends the letter with a challenge… Colossians 4:2-6
    • Devote yourselves to prayer…
      • Be watchful… Protecting truth 
      • Be thankful… For the truth
      • Continue to pray for the work… Spreading the truth together  
        • There must be clear preaching 
        • Wisdom in dealing with outsiders
        • Using every opportunity
        • Able to answer all questions. 
    • This is all about walking worthy, growing in knowledge and bearing fruit. 
      • And it is all dependent on sound doctrine… Colossians 1:15-2:23
      • And in order to meet the demands of the work he challenges us to change and grow in Christ…
      • So the purpose of doing this study is growth in our Christian experience…
        • And if there has been no challenge something has gone wrong… 
    • So I come back to my question…
      • What impact has this series had on you. 
  • Lets highlight a few of the important verses that we have considered…

Supremacy of Christ

  • As we have moved thru the series we see exactly what he means by clear sound doctrine…
    • He explains exactly who we are called to follow…
      • Christ Jesus…
        • Who is the image of the invisible God… Colossians 1:15
        • In whom God was pleased to have ALL his fullness dwell… Colossians 1:20
          • There is no more to be known of God than that which is already in Christ Jesus.
        • He is the pre-eminent one over all creation… Colossians 1:15-17
        • He created it all for his purposes… Colossians 1:16
        • He is the creator and sustainer of all things… Colossians 1:17
          • Without him nothing exists or survives.
        • He is also the creator and head of the church… Colossians 1:18
      • So Christ is the one who holds supremacy over all things… 
        • There is no greater one In the heavens and on earth…

Sufficiency of Christ

  • Mankind has a massive problem… Colossians 1:21
    • Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds…
    • The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law nor can it
      • Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God… Romans 8:7
    • This is man’s insurmountable problem…
    • How can we overcome this problem… we cant… not possible. 
  • But Christ the all sufficient one is able… Colossians 1:21
    • Once you were alienated from God… But now he has reconciled you…
    • By Christs physical body thru death… Colossians 1:22
    • To present you holy in his sight without blemish free from accusation. 
    • So on the cross of Calvary we see the sufficiency of Christ's work.
  • The verdict… In him you are complete… Colossians 2:9
  • So the foundation upon which sound doctrine is built is…
    • The supremacy of Christ… who he is
    • The sufficiency of Christ… he is able because of who he is.
    • In him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge… Colossians 2:3

Man's way

  • Consequently we have no need of man's way…
    • Philosophies… Plural… Colossians 2:8
      • A mishmash of thinking that changes constantly
    • Legalism…
      • The Law of Moses was only ever intended to highlight our sinful problem not to solve it… Colossians 2:13-15
    • Mysticism… Worship of angels…
    • Asceticism…
      • Religious practices, that have an appearance of wisdom and good
      • Harsh treatment of the body… Colossians 2:23
  • The verdict…
    • They lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence… sin 
      • They do not solve the problem 

Reconciled to God

  • Alienated and enemies of God…
    • As human beings there is nothing we can do to alter the situation…
      • We cant alter the past indiscretions
      • And we can't control the future because of our sinful nature. 
  • But in Christ that entire situation is changed when we are reconciled to God.
    • Notice sound doctrine does not say…
      • With God but to God…
        • He does not change… He is perfect… the Standard.
        • We must change… to be like Christ.  
    • That is why the doctrine says we are… Colossians 1:21-22
      • Holy in God’s sight…
        • Without blemish…
      • Free from accusation… 
        • The law can’t touch us.  
    • We are given completeness in Christ… Colossians 2:9
      • We need no more… there is no more to be had. 
    • This speaks to the sufficiency of Christ. 

Conclusion

  • So we have this completeness in Christ as a gift…
    • What are we doing with it…
  • So as we go into chapter 3 Paul changes from sound doctrine to our responsibility…Practical application…
    • Since/because you have been raised with Christ… Colossians 3:1
      • Set your minds on things above 
      • Where he is…
  • That's the challenge of sound doctrine…
    • That is what Paul's prayers are all about…
  • We can’t deny this truth because we are made by him for his purposes… Colossians 1:16
  • So then just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord… Colossians 2:6
    • Continue to live… in him…
    • Rooted and built up… in him
    • Strengthened… by him
    • Overflowing with thankfulness… to him.
  • So what has the impact been on you. 
    • Are you taking his rules for holy living seriously…
      • Are you changing the old way of life… Where you lived for self
      • In exchange for the new in Christ… Living for him… Colossians 3:5
  • The knowledge is not for academic purposes but for daily living. 
    • The entire purpose of salvation is about transformation…
      • That is why Paul writes the way he does…
    • It starts with reconciliation… through Chris… to God
      • And leads to sanctification… via application.
      • And does not stop until Jesus takes us to be with him in glory. 
        • And that is in line with Paul’s prayers.
  • Listen…
    • If there is no change there is a massive problem…
    • A question mark hangs over our reconciliation… salvation. 

Evidence of salvation

  • How is your player rating… 1=10
    • Here's how you judge…
  • Sound doctrine… you do not hear because you do not belong… John 8:47
    • Do you value sound doctrine… 
    • Are you prepared to defend sound doctrine at all costs.
  • Obedience… Can't call me Lord and not obey… Luke 6:46
    • No Lord is a contradiction. 
    • As the challenge comes to us from Colossians…
      • How do I respond .
  • Repentance… You can't live in sin continually… 1 John 3:9
    • We all make mistakes… and God forgives…
    • But there must be evidence of growth and victory in our lives.
  • Love for the fellow believer… 1 John 3:14
    • We don't always agree… but loving one another is a fundamental truth
  • Production of spiritual fruit… know them by their fruit… Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 7:16
    • Work out the salvation in you… Phil 
    • There must be evidence
  • A personal relationship (Fellowship) with Christ… 1 John 1:4
    • A fellowship with people I am at one with and who I love. 
    • How often do I chat to Jesus and share my concerns…
  • These are some very practical gauges indicating real salvation.
    • Paul's letter is designed to encourage us to live for Christ in such a way that others can see in us Christ.