Pirates in the Care of Demons: COmplete in Christ

Dec 1

Colossians 2:3 (ESV)

3 in whom [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Christ are hidden all the riches of wisdom and knowledge – All the answers are in Him.

Our minds are like colanders – affected by experiences we have that contradict the Word of God – need to take the truth of God’s word and plug up the holes – to keep more of the Word of God

Colossians 2:4 (ESV)

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)

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.

Colossians 2:8 (ESV)

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.

DOCTRINES OF DEMONS

Will always add or subtract to the gospel

Pervert the nature or character of God

Steal your identity in Christ

If you allow sin, it deadens your sensitivity to the Spirit.

How do you know if you’ve been plundered?

You are back under law

You are trusting in your ability, self-righteousness

You are unforgiving, suspicious of others

Your identity and self-worth are in something other than Jesus

Colossians 2:9–10 (ESV)

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.

TRINITY!

Colossians 1:15–16 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Image of Invisible God

Firstborn of all creation – Firstborn means pre-eminent one, the one to receive the inheritance (First Lady Melania Trump – not the original lady, but first in position, in honor).

Multiple times the second born called the firstborn (Genesis 48:14, Jeremiah 31:9 – Ephraim called the firstborn)

Jacob and Esau (Esau first, but Jacob gets the inheritance) Exodus 4:22 Israel is called “my firstborn”

John 8:56–59 (ESV)

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

John 1:1 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Errors Explaining the Trinity:

1. Modalism (H2O ice, water, steam) – God just changes forms (denies the Personhood of the Trinity)

2. Tritheism – 3 separate gods (results in polytheism instead of 1 God in 3 persons)

3. Aryanism – Jesus was not fully God, but a created being subordinate to the Father

Every analogy of the Trinity breaks down

Three persons, 1 Godhead

ILLUSTRATION: Stand on top of a mountain. From one side see clear to the ocean to the east and see the sunrise. Face opposite direction toward west and can see sunset.

I don’t fully understand everything about a combustion engine, but I trust my car will run when I have gas and turn it on, it will move.

Why do we think that we would be able to understand God? Scientists still wrestling with quantum physics

Colossians 2:9–10 (ESV)

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.

Jesus is the head of all rule and authority! He is the boss, he is King! He has power and authority over everything! HE IS GOD!

Colossians 2:10 (ESV)

“and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”

Colossians 2:10 (NASB 2020)

10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;

Filled = complete

Are you complete?

Most of us would say no. I lack something.

I lack height.

I lack intelligence

I lack luck

I lack money

I lack good looks

I lack ___________

What do you lack?

THE WORLD Tells us YOU LACK

YOU NEED

OR YOU COMPENSATE BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE

YOU ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST!

Satan – “you lack spiritual gifts” – you don’t have discernment, you don’t have tongues, you can’t prophesy, you can’t heal people

Satan is trying to sell you something you already have or don’t need

1 Corinthians 12 – the Body, many members/parts – 1 body

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 (ESV)

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

YOU ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST!

I don’t feel complete.

Because you have drunk too much of the world’s standards, or worldly comparison in the church.

OR Deluded by plausible arguments – casting doubt on God’s character, His goodness, or on the finished work of Christ.

Colossians 2:11–12 (ESV)

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.

Fullness of deity in Christ, You are Complete in Him,

NOW how are you complete?

Circumcision of the heart (OT) – circumcision made without hands

Analogy between circumcision and baptism

Circumcision was identifying with the people of God

Baptism is identifying with Christ – THROUGH FAITH

Circumcision cuts away the flesh – in the Christian our fleshly nature.

Colossians 2:13 (ESV)

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…

Before coming to Christ – we were spiritually dead

Ephesians 2:1–2 (NLT)

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

I’m dead in my sin – not awake or even aware of spiritual things, not until God awakens me (John 3 – You must be born again)

FRUSTRATED EVANGELISM – until we realize the person needs to respond, BUT God makes them alive – SEE NEXT VERSE

Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV)

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.

GOD MAKES US ALIVE!

CUTS AWAY THE DEAD FLESH, makes us alive!

Born again!

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV)

HOW MADE ALIVE? Forgiving all our trespasses/sins

Are you more alive to Christ or to the World?

Colossians 2:12 (ESV)

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.

Made alive by God, died with Christ

EITHER

Alive to God and dead to this world OR

Dead to God and spiritual things and alive to this world (alive = controlled)

Understand died with Christ

Colossians 2:11–14 (NLT)

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

Romans 6:1–11 (NLT)

1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Died with Christ – dead to sin, decide in your heart “no” – I don’t need you, I don’t want you. To partake of sin is death.

ILLUSTRATION: Lori’s gluten allergy – when she realized that eating the bread made her feel sick, she associated pain with the bread, no longer looked appetizing

We often associate pleasure with the things that are killing us and avoid thinking about the pain.

Be killing sin or it will be killing you – John Owens.

The things that control you, and feed your flesh need to associate with death and pain

PORN = DEATH

FAME = DEATH

BEAUTY = DEATH

MATERIALISM/RICHES = DEATH

UNGODLY RELATIONSHIP = DEATH

APPROVAL OF OTHERS = DEATH

Colossians 2:15 (ESV)

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

Colossians 2:14–15 (AMP)

14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. 15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

Colossians 2:14–15 (TPT)

14 He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation. 15 Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his!

TPT - The Passion Translation - not really a translation but a paraphrase or commentary on the Bible. Not reliable, but can be occasionally useful for a different perspective or reading.

Colossians 2:15 (ESV)

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

THEY HAVE NO WEAPONS! - only lies and fear

All comes back to the GOSPEL! Do you believe the Gospel?

Do you daily come and embrace the Gospel?

Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)

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.

Pirates in the Care of Demons: COmplete in Christ

Understanding Myself and Others

Holiday Season with Jesus or Judgment