Christ Catalyst for Change Catalyst A substance that

Christ, Catalyst for Change Catalyst: A substance that causes a change, but is itself not changed. What can cause change in our lives without being changed? Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Theme The all sufficiency of Christ to save, for He is the fullness of God in you.

Outline I. 1: 1 – 1: 23 The Person and Work of Christ II. 1: 24 – 2: 7 Paul’s Ministry in Christ III. 2: 8 – 3: 4 The Cure is Christ IV. 3: 5 – 4: 6 The Way with Christ V. 4: 7 – 4: 17 Brotherhood Through Christ

Christ in Colossians • • Col 1: 14 Col 1: 15 Col 1: 16 • • Col 1: 16 Col 1: 17 Col 1: 18 We have forgiveness of sins in Him. The Son is the image of the invisible God. The Son is the first born over all creation. In Him all things were created: on heaven and earth, visible and invisible, all powers, rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him. All things were created for Him. He is before all things. In Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body. He is the beginning. He is the first born among the dead.

• Col 1: 18 He has supremacy in everything. • Col 1: 19 All the fullness of God dwells in Him. • Col 1: 20 He is reconciling all things to Himself, whether in heaven or on earth. • Col 1: 20 He made peace through His blood on the cross. • Col 1: 22 We are reconciled by God through Christ’s physical body. • Col 1: 22 We are presented holy in God’s sight by Christ. • Col 1: 24 Christ is the head of the body. • Col 1: 27 God’s glorious mystery is Christ in you. • Col 1: 28 Christ is the one who is proclaimed. • Col 1: 29 Christ’s power works in Paul and us.

More Christocentric Passages • Col 2: 2 -3 God’s mystery is that all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. • Col 2: 5 Your faith in Christ needs to be firm. • Col 2: 6 Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue in Him. • Col 2: 7 Be rooted and built up in Him. • Col 2: 9 In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. • Col 2: 10 In Christ we have been brought to fullness. • Col 2: 10 He is head over every power and authority. • Col 2: 11 In Christ we were circumcised. • Col 2: 11 Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, was put off by Christ. • Col 2: 12 You were buried with Him in baptism. • Col 2: 12 You were raised with Him in baptism.

• Col 2: 13 God made us alive in Christ. • Col 2: 13 God forgave all our sins in Christ. • Col 2: 14 God cancelled all our debts in Christ. • Col 2: 14 Christ took away our condemnation. • Col 2: 15 Christ made a public spectacle of our enemies. • Col 2: 17 The reality is in Christ. • Col 2: 18 The body grows by its connection with Him. • Col 2: 20 You have died with Christ. • Col 3: 1 You have been raised with Christ. • Col 3: 1 -3 We are seated with Christ at the right hand of God. • Col 3: 1 -3 We are hidden with Him and He is at the right hand of God.

• Col 3: 4 Christ is your life. • Col 3: 4 You will appear with Him in glory. • Col 3: 11 Christ is all and in all. • Col 3: 13 The Lord forgave us. • Col 3: 15 The peace of Christ can rule our hearts. • Col 3: 16 The message of Christ can dwell in you richly. • Col 3: 17 Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. • Col 3: 17 Give thanks to the Father through Him. • Col 3: 18 -20 Submit to you husband, master and parents in reverence for Christ. • Col 3: 18 Husband love your wife in Christ.

What Do We Have in Christ? (Coll 1: 15 -20) He is the image of the invisible God. He is preeminent over all creation. By him all things were created. He is before all things. All things hold together in him. He is head of the Church. He is the firstborn from the dead. All of God’s fullness dwells in him. All are reconciled through him.

What is the Catalyst for Transformation?

HOPE OF GLORY Col 1: 27 Christ in us. The hope of glory.

Mystery in Christ? • V 26 -28 Paul says God’s eternal plan was a mystery. What is this mystery? Christ in you. The hope of glory! (Ephesians 3: 8 -11) • Do you feel the incredible privilege that it is to know the answer to God’s eternal plan? You know something that the prophets of old longed to know.

A Question…. What is the most common word or expression used in the New Testament for a person who is saved? Saved? Christian? Disciple? Forgiven?

The Answer…. In Christ, in Him, In the Lord 164 times in Paul alone.

Philippians: Life in Christ Phil 1: 1 -30 To Live is Christ Phil 2: 1 -18 Living Like Christ Phil 3: 1 -21 Put Your Confidence in Christ Phil 4: 1 -23 Practical Living in Christ

So… What do we have in Christ? Philippians 1: 1 Saints in Christ Jesus Phil 4: 7 peace of God Philippians 2: 1 Encouragement in Christ. Gal 3: 26 Children of God. Coll 1: 14, Eph 1: 7 Redemption Colossians 2: 10 fullness Coll 2: 11 -12 Put off the flesh

We Have Everything in Christ! Ephesians 1: 3 every spiritual blessing Ephesians 1: 4, 11 chosen 1 Corinthians 15: 22 we will be made alive/resurrected 2 Corinthians 5: 21 we become the righteousness of God Romans 6: 23 have eternal life Romans 8: 38 -39 secure love of God

2 Timothy 1: 9 grace 2 Corinthians 5: 17 a new creation 2 Corinthians 1: 20 all God’s promises fulfilled

Even More in Christ Romans 8: 1 No condemnation Coll 1: 27, 2: 3 The mystery is revealed in Christ. Coll 2: 17 Reality is found in Christ. We were made these things. We are being made these things. We will be made these things.

Paul’s Goal: To be found in Christ. Phil 3: 7 -10 To Paul, everthing else was garbage by comparison. It was worth less than nothing compared to knowing Christ and to being in Christ.

Refuse! A mathematical equation: Jew + Benjamite + Pharisee + top 2% righteous + top 2% devoted = 0 Actually, it adds up to less than nothing.

Knowing Christ/Being in Christ All things Being in Christ

If We are in Christ, How and when did we get into Christ? Gal 3: 26 Baptized into Christ How do you get in there? Romans 6: 4 Baptized into Christ Believe into Christ? Repent into Christ? Pray into Christ? You were out here

Galatians 5: 1 Freedom in Christ

Freedom!!!!!!

Yeah; We’re Free!

Freedom in Christ How does this work? Colossians 2: 13 -15 In Christ we are debt-free!!!!

Cancelled Debt V 13 -15 “having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness” canceled - ἐξαλείψας - exaleiphas besmear: equivalent to cover with lime (to whitewash or plaster), to obliterate, erase, wipe out, blot out (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Forgiven sins was a mountain of bankruptcy that never could be paid off. “the certificate of debt, with its obligations” Holman Christian “the handwriting in the decrees against us” - Berean Literal -papyrus debt records illustrated debts cancelled by blotting them out and then cancelling them- doubly cancelled. What is the payment for sin? Rom 6: 23 death

Cancelled Debt Mt 18: 23 -27 The king cancelled 10, 000 talents of debt. 1 talent = 6, 000 denarii = a day’s wages 10, 000 talents = 60, 000 million days of wages or 164, 383 years. Today an average day laborer makes $80/day. King cancelled $4, 800, 000 of debt!

No More Obligation (except to love Christ) Colossians 2: 16 -23 Freedom from religion. Rules-based Christianity is a shadow. v. 19 We have died to the basic principles of this world. stoichea