To walk as gods on this earth IN HIM we have to know the HIM we are IN. Last week we continued looking at our position in Christ. These “IN HIM” Realities are vital to understanding who we are in Christ and obeying what God has for us to do. Stop relying on yourself and look at who you are IN HIM to see what your authority on this earth looks like.
If you haven’t yet, check out the previous two posts in this series.
And if you have already read those, then let’s get started by looking at the text for today.
Remember our primary text for this month is Psalms 82: 5-6
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Psalms 82:5-6 KJV
We are looking at who we are as “children of the most High” – Christians.
Our Text
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:6-10 KJV
You must be a Christian to be IN HIM
Let’s start by looking at verse 6 of our main text. Colossians 2:6 says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord…”
The primary requirement for any of the blessings of God listed in the Bible is Jesus. You must first receive Christ to be a partaker of the power and authority that Jesus gives us.
Salvation comes not because of our ability to pay for it, but because we accept Jesus and the work He did on the cross.
You don’t go to heaven because you are good and you don’t go to hell because you are bad.
IN HIM is accepting what He has already done
He sent Jesus who went to the cross, paid for sin, poverty and sickness, died, rose again and God is saying, “Now that sin is paid for we can have a relationship.” It is a free gift you simply need to accept.
Our Life is hid IN HIM
Jesus already paid for all our sins. When we accept what Jesus has done, we die to ourselves and get life IN HIM.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 KJV
When you became a christian, you gained life because of Christ. Now you don’t live anymore but Christ lives in you.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
Now everyday life is by faith in Jesus because I don’t live.
You must be rooted IN HIM
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:7 KJV
The next verse is very important. The only way for you to know who you are IN HIM is to be rooted and established in Christ. This verse goes on to say, “as you have been taught”.
This is why it is so important to go to a faith filled church that preaches the word of God.
Without the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, you cannot be abounding in thanksgiving.
(Thanksgiving is how we enter into the presence of God. Psalm 100:4)
To have a relationship with God, you have to know who you are IN HIM.
Become Rooted by READING THE BIBLE
Growing up in a Christian house and going to church this was always pushed. The Bible is the inspired Word of God Himself. If you want to know who you are IN HIM, you have to know the HIM you’re IN.
If you want to know who you are IN HIM, you have to know the HIM you’re IN.
That sounds basic, but it’s so true.
The Bible compares Christians to ambassadors of Christ. Think about this. Say there was an ambassador who came over from Great Britain to speak with the president. What would happen if he knew nothing about his country?
If that man knew nothing about the laws of the land or the customs. He wouldn’t be taken seriously! And yet we do the same thing all the time. We try to live our lives professing to be Christians yet denying the power of God all the time!
We make God a “Sundays only” religious experience.
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
You must reject Religious Traditions of Man
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8 KJV
Paul is saying in this next verse a very important truth. Sometimes churches will get their ideas about religion and God and try to put people in bondage over them.
They will say, “You have to wear this kind of clothing.” or “You cannot eat that kind of food.”
People sometimes meaning well will misunderstand the Bible and whole entire sects of religion will follow because someone did not rightly divide the Bible.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
This is why it is so important to study the Bible. That is exactly what Paul is saying here in verse 8 of Colossians 2. “BEWARE” or watch out for philosophy and vain deceit.
You know sometimes men and women who think they are smart like to over complicate things. Jesus said you must be one of these (talking about the little children) to enter heaven.
People will get their doctorates in theology or religious ideas in the way sometimes of what the Bible is truly saying.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV
When you hear things that try to condemn you and put condemnation on you. Generally, take a good hard look at that statement. The Bible says that God is our father. Think about your own father.
He might set up rules to follow, but it isn’t jail. Sometimes we make Christianity into jail.
Some say, “Oh that’s just a bunch of DOs and DON’Ts.” Um yes… It’s life saving protection.
- Don’t steal.
- Don’t kill.
- Do love your neighbor.
- Do be patient.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water
Now make sure you don’t take this point too far. It’s not “reject all religious traditions”. It simply says those “after the traditions of man”. The only way that you will know the difference is if you STUDY (not casually read) the Bible.
Because you are IN HIM you have access to HIS Authority
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:9-10 KJV
Jesus is the head of all principality and power. This just means that everything everywhere is under Him. But He gave us that name to command.
Think about a police officer. He does not act on his own authority, but on the authority of the government.
Jesus is the authority that we act upon.
Many christians have a God’s way up far away from me, and I’m just a worthless sinner on the earth mentality.
But God has made you a co heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Now anything with a name has to bow its knee to the name of Jesus.
- Sin
- Sickness
- Death
- Pain
- Devils
- Demons
- Poverty
And anything else with a name.
Christians are made to walk this earth in it but not of it. We have spiritual authority over principalities and powers because we are IN HIM.
0 Comments