Paul cares about your spiritual freedom and so do I. At the cross, It Was Finished! “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The supremacy and sufficiency of Christ not only deals a death blow to sin, but it also stands in the face of religion. Make no mistake, the enemy of your soul wants to entice you not only with secular philosophies, but nice sounding religious wisdom. Don’t be fooled. Don’t be cheated. Don’t give in!

We tend to look a lot of different places to meet our needs before we look to Jesus. We’re like Israel of old who the Lord confronts through the prophet: “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus is sufficient to meet our deepest needs!

I want to become a mature disciple – how do I do that? I don’t want to be deceived by enticing
arguments – how do I make sure that doesn’t happen? In this text, Paul gives some of the most
beautiful and simple pictures of a growing Christian. From what they have received in the past, to
how they must walk in the present, and how to be on guard in the future. Let’s learn obedience and
unmask the tools of the enemy who wants to hold you hostage this morning.

At the end of Colossians chapter one we felt the heartbeat of Paul to see disciples made. Now as chapter two opens we see the great agony he has that the Colossian church be healthy and strong. What undermines that health? Division that comes when enticing words draw people away from their firm understanding of the supremacy of Christ. If you lose full confidence that Christ is enough, you open yourself up to error. When you open yourself up to error, you open the door in the church for unity to be wrecked. We need the firm and loving protection Paul provides in our text today for our steadfastness and the church’s unity.

Friend … whether this is the first time you’ve been to church, or the first time in a long time, victory can be yours today. It’s not about jumping through a hoop, walking an aisle, or doing religious duties. It is all about dying to yourself and trusting Christ alone as King of your kingdom. Because He died and rose again, He alone is victorious and the only one who can give you victory in life and in death. “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).”

As a new church, we get to start with a fresh plan to help each other grow as disciples … a clear plan, a simple plan, a do-able plan. Before the ministries and programs of the church start, we intend to establish a framework for spiritual progress and joy that we can all commit ourselves to, for the good of each other and the glory of God.

It’s been said that people are messy, ministry is people, therefore ministry is messy! It’s true. Ministry is messy, and it is also hard. In the Christian world, we often hear of the latest methods and fads about how to “best do ministry.” Paul kept it simple. He kept it Christ-centered. That’s what we want to do at Redeemer. If you were to open the chest of the Apostle Paul and see his heart you would find that it beat with a passionate love for Jesus Christ. This is what fueled his service, his ministry philosophy, and all he did for the progress of the gospel. Paul kept it Christ-centered. So should we.