The Debt We Owe

Colossians 2:6-15

Centered on Christ

Colossians 2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

When they received Him they accepted Him as Christ Jesus the Lord.

Since the Colossians have received Jesus as Christ and Lord, they need to continue to live their lives in Him.

Centered on Christ

Colossians 2:7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

1. They are to be rooted in Jesus.2. They are to be built up.3. They are to be established.4. They are to abound in thanksgiving.

Fullness of Christ

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.

One of the traps used by false teachers to lure us away is empty and deceptive philosophy

Based on human traditions Based on elemental spirits of the world Not based on Christ

Fullness of Christ

Colossians 2:9-10 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.

Not only does deity dwell within Christ, but believers have been filled with Him

Jesus is also the head over every power and authority.

Fullness of Christ

Colossians 2:11-12 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.

The idea of a circumcision of Christ is a unique concept to this letter.

Fullness of Christ

Paul explains that this circumcision happens when we are buried in baptism.

It is through the rite of immersion that we contact the power of God which was used to raise Christ from the dead.

Notice, that our resurrection with Christ takes place in immersion through our faith.

Fullness of Christ

Colossians 2:13-14 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.

For those who experience the rite of immersion are made alive with Christ.

Fullness of Christ

Paul compares our sins to an IOU or a record of debt we owe God.

What God decided to do was to take this legal debt we owed Him and to nail it on the cross, thus canceling the debt.

Fullness of Christ

Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

He stripped these spiritual rulers and authorities of their power by His action through the cross and made a public spectacle of them.

The Debt We Owe

When we sin we create a debt with God that we cannot pay.

Jesus’ work on the cross pays the debt He did not owe.

Will you allow Jesus to pay the penalty for your sins and make you a new creation?