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Text: Colossians 2:10-15
Victory over the flesh (vss 10-11)
- The Cross
- The cross was the ultimate subjugation of all carnal lusts and ambitions. It was where Jesus Christ in a body of flesh said not my will but thine be done.
- John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
- At the cross, Jesus Christ disarmed every weapon in the arsenal of the devil by making the flesh serve God unto death.
- Look at 2:10 and 14-15.
- The cross never looked like a victory from a carnal perspective. In fact, the cross is not a victory from the perspective of the flesh. Which is the point; that the cross is the ultimate defeat of the flesh being submitted to the will of God until it dies.
- God has to get you out of that body if you’re going to live forever. And God has to get you out of that body if you’re ever going to be able to serve Him.
- 1 Peter 2:11
- The Circumcision
- Circumcision as an illustration of the work of the Holy Spirit of God
- I’ve got to admit that some things in the Bible are weird and uncomfortable. But they’re in the Bible and God uses circumcision to explain the work of the Holy Spirit of God.
- Genesis 17 God prescribes circumcision to Abraham and his family
- It was personal
- It served as a reminder. A way for Abraham to remember God’s covenant with him. God didn’t need to remember it, but Abraham did. Circumcision like the Holy Spirit is the reminder – John 14:26
- It couldn’t be undone.
- It was the seal of imputed righteousness – Romans 4:11-12
Vicarious life through faith (vss 12-13)
- Baptism of the Spirit
- Matthew 3:11 Jesus Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit of God.
- Water baptism has always been the public testimony of an individual’s repentance from their former ways.
- Romans 6:1-4
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
- Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
- Body of sin
- Dead means pleasing the flesh
- Dead is defined in 1 Timothy 5:6, But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. Living “in pleasure” is how God defines dead; that is walking according to what pleases the flesh.
- Consider the example of Moses who clearly made a choice to live by faith instead of live in pleasure. Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Moses was making a choice with his will fully engaged to ignore the pleasures of sin in order to faithfully follow God.
- See it again with James 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Death – slaughter – is associated with living in pleasure. So when God says dead He means someone is being fattened up for the slaughter. They are feasting because they are condemned – eat drink for tomorrow we die. It’s the philosophy of the god of this world and the philosophy of most people whether they go to church or not.
- That’s exactly what Ephesians 2:3 describes “dead” as: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
- Dead is also defined by God as being carnally minded. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- Dead is also defined as the body you live in. Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death. So here is arguably the greatest Christian lamenting the death he is living inside of. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Paul said in Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
- FORGIVENESS! Is in Christ!
Voiding the charges (vss 14-15)
- Void means no longer legally binding.
- Isaiah 53:12
