Scripture Focus (Colossians 2:6-17) – “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. [16] 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. [17] These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
I. We Are To Move Forward With Purpose (Colossians 2:6-7)
A. You start by acknowledging (Colossians 2:6) – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
B. You mature through abiding (Colossians 2:7a) – “Rooted and built up in Him…”
You can’t be built up until you have rooted down!
C. You abound while continuing (Colossians 2:7b) – “…established in the faith {stability}, just as you were taught {understanding}, abounding in thanksgiving {gratitude}.”
II. We Are To Move Forward With Awareness (Colossians 2:8-12)
A. Be aware of spiritual substitutes (8,11)
1. Intellectualism (Colossians 2:8) – “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.”
2. Legalism (Colossians 2:11) – “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.”
B. Be aware of the Savior’s sufficiency (Colossians 2:9-10) – “For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled {completed} in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
C. Be aware of symbolic significance (Colossians 2:12) – “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.”
Baptism signifies that you have died to everything and are alive to Him.
III. We Are To Move Forward In Victory (Colossians 2:13-17)
A. Victorious over spiritual death (Colossians 2:13a) – “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him…”
B. Victorious over condemnation (Colossians 2:13b-14) – “…having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
C. Victorious over spiritual enemies (Colossians 2:15) – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.”
D. Victorious over shallowness (Colossians 2:16-17) – “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