What's Your Focus?

Colossians 3:1-4

The book of Colossians is about Christ. In fact, Christ is the theme of the entire Bible. I’ve said many times that Christianity is about Christ. This passage will help us to really see the centrality of Christ and the necessity of staying focused on Christ.  

In todays’ passage, we see the major shift in Colossians.

Here at the beginning of Chapter 3, we have a shift to the “practical” side of the letter.

• In this passage we will see the starting point of practical holiness. 

How you begin to move down the path toward genuine spiritual growth. 

1. If/Then

Paul is not saying, “well, if you were saved....” or “if your salvation has resulted in this....”

We have a fact that Paul is pointing out. He’s saying:

• Because this is true in your life

This connects with and flows from verse 20 in Chapter 2 You died to the elemental spirits...

He next goes on to say:

a. Since: You have been Raised

Remember: we died to the elemental spirits - the elementary principles of the world. 

We have died to the flesh. We have been raised with Christ. 

You have experienced a radical change of spiritual environment and this should affect your whole mode of life. 

• You have entered into a whole new reality with Him.

One of the best things that Paul does in this passage is to show us the superiority of Christ over and against the false teaching. 

Imagine what the false teachers might reply to all this. Remember that he’s essentially attacked every point of their teaching. They might now say “so, you just sit and do nothing? We’ve go this great list of things that we say will draw you closer - give you higher knowledge and we promise the “real experience” of Jesus. 

Plus - it works for us....” It’s worked for me - look at this great “ecstatic vision” I had

Paul doesn’t just leave it there. Paul now shows us a far superior path. A true path. 

• Forget what the false teachers would tell you - THIS is the path: 

This will be the result of following God’s path and plan. 

You’ll have the right mindset. You’ll think rightly. 

And when you experience true legitimate spiritual growth.

And all of that other “checklist” stuff won’t appeal to you at all.

• When we follow God’s path, the inventions of man are easily dismissed (and actually despised)

He’s told us not to continue living in sin. Though sin is no longer our master, sin can still overpower us if we’re not properly focused. 

Philippians 2:12 – ...work out your own salvation...

We do this by living out the realities and truths of what the life of a believer is.
We do this by abiding in Him (1 John)

• You need to remember that we already have everything we need. 

2 Peter 1:3  – His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Because this passage mentions Christ five times in only four verses, it’s obviously about Him, right?

Obviously Paul believes that Christ is sufficient. 

He is the beginning and the end of the truly spiritual life.

He said that Christ is sufficient and everything else (especially this entire book) points to that.

• The reason that so many Christians don’t truly live the full, joyous, victorious Christian life is they don’t seek to pursue and understand Christ above everything else. 

They don’t saturate themselves with Scripture. 

They’re not seeking to be changed by the Word.  

They’re not being obedient to it. 

• The path to holiness is knowing Christ 

Understanding the Gospel (who He is/what He has done)

Paul wants to make sure that we’re not ignorant or forgetful of who you are and how you are to live.

• Ignorant - you never really read it. You never heard it.

• Forgetful - you haven’t stayed on top of it.

It is the power of Christ, abiding in us, that controls and helps us to conquer our sinful passions.

b. Then: Keep Seeking

The word “seek” here means: to desire to have or experience something, with the focus of making an attempt toward it.

The word seek here is the same that we see in Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...

Things that are above – the heavenly realm. 

The word means “above” or “upward” as opposed to below.

• Your interests should be centered on heaven and Christ

Your attitudes, ambitions, and whole outlook on life are molded by Christ

• Setting the heart toward heaven is the aim of the practical pursuit of the Christian life.

Setting the mind refers to the inner disposition. 

Almost everyone writing about Colossians quotes Lightfoot when he says this:

• You must not only seek heaven, you must also think heaven. 

How can you structure this? How do you achieve this?

Reading Scripture is obviously the starting point. The more you will shape your thinking.

• Be intentional about your thinking.

Shaping and framing your thinking correctly. 

But the main idea here with all of this is this:

2. Be Obsessed with Heaven

The end of verse one is such a great phrase.I think it will help us to pull this entire passage into sharp focus.

seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Here’s what that means:

• The right hand of God as the symbol of divine power

With His right hand Yahweh:

both saves the oppressed and punishes the enemies of the righteous 

Ecclesiastes 10:2, Matthew 25:33, Psalm 110:1, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:32-33, 1 Peter 3:22 

What better place is there to seek than Christ and Heaven, where He is seated?

Now with all this talk of heaven - I must warn you. 

There are many books about heaven on the market today. People telling their “story about how they went to heaven and came back.” Tim Challies calls it “Heaven Tourism” and explains it this way: “the Bible gives us no reason to believe that a person will truly die, truly experience the afterlife, and then return. Those who have a biblical understanding of life and death and heaven and hell will know that for a person to die and visit heaven, to experience sinlessness and the presence of Jesus Christ—for that person it would be the very height of cruelty to then demand that they return to earth.”

For the full article about these books, check out Tim Challies blog. 

a. Why? You have Died

Through your faith in Christ, you have died to the entire system of this world.

You no longer have to sin. You’re no longer a slave to sin. What does this really mean?

John MacArthur says it this way: That the penalty for sin has been paid. The wages of sin is death, so we must die. By union with Jesus Christ, we die the required death in Him, so the penalty is paid and sin can never claim us again.

• The penalty is paid, sin cannot claim us

You cannot rise again with Christ unless you have first died with Him. 

• We must be dead, so that we may live. 

Here is the theological framework for this.

Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are the essential moments of salvation and all of history. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) And they mark the transition from the old to the new era.

By trusting in Christ, you have identified with Christ in these events and so experience the benefits that come with them.  

Not only are you dead, but your life is hidden with Christ in God

Hidden? You mean I’m an undercover Christian? People shouldn’t know that I’m a Christian? Of course not!

• You’re united with Him. A common life – 2 Peter 1:4 

• This ‘new life’ isn’t physically visible - a lost person won’t get it. 

1 Corinthians 2:14 –  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned

This is something you need to remember. This is why people will look at you weird sometimes. Why persecution comes.

But I think the main element to this is that

• You’re eternally secure. Your salvation is so certain, it’s as if you’re already there. 

John 10:28, 1 Peter 1:4, Psalm 27:5, and of course: Romans 8:31-39

The main idea is safety. God has everything under His control. I’m safe! No worries. 

• God will keep us secure in our relationship with Him. 

b. Christ is your Life

There is a relentless Christological focus to Colossians

If you’re wondering why I keep saying “Christianity is about Christ” and why it’s printed on the top of the sermon notes every week, it’s because that’s what Colossians tells us and it’s something we can never forget.

• Our union with Christ should be the central focus of our lives.

What He loves - we love.

What He hates - we hate.

• Christ doesn’t merely give life, He IS life. 

Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21-23, Christ is your life, not this world: 1 John 2:15-16 

• Not just the author of it, but the constant source and supply of it. 

Christ is the source, center, and goal of the individual and corporate lives of believers. 

Our lives are completely bound up with Him

Past: Christ died - we died with Him

Present: He was raised - we were raised with Him

Future: He will return - we will appear with Him in glory

c. Glory appearing

 ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Christ is now ignored or rejected by the world (ignore is the same as reject)

But one day - He will come back. He will come in glory.

It’s at the second coming that everything comes together. That His glory appears. That our spiritual lives will finally be what they are to be. This is what we look forward to. 

1 John 3:2   Philippians 3:8-11 . 

The coming of Christ will be the manifestation of our life.

• Why would we not focus on Him now?

All the things that we have all been looking forward to and thinking forward to will all come to be. 

• It will be glorious!

Reflection Questions:

• Do you understand that you have died to your old self? 

• How are you seeking the things above?

• Do you understand the glory, majesty, and authority of Christ?

• Do you think about heaven and Christ often?

• Do you know you’re saved? How? 

• Is Christ your life?

Are You Wearing a Spiritual Mask?

Colossians 2:20-23

1. You are Dead!

²⁰ If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, 

• Dead to the sinful nature. 

Now this is a different dead than verse 13. 

If = since = because

It’s Paul’s way of stating something that is unquestionable.

Since you have been saved. Because you are focusing on Christ so as to not be dragged away

For a believer - this is how it is. 

We died with Christ.

These events essentially reversed and cancelled the effects of Adam’s sin. 

• It’s not just a reminder of our death, but an indication of the effects of our death. 

You have died with Christ to the elemental spirits...

Elemental spirits - the basic components of the physical universe and also the spiritual forces that sort of run them.  The ESV is helpful - *elementary principles.

The reality is that you have been set free.

• You’re a slave to a new master. 

It’s not that you’re no longer in the world. You obviously are. But:

• You no longer count the world as your true home 

The world (the elementary principles) no longer dictate who you are or how you are to live. 

2. Don’t resurrect yourself (why would you?)

Don’t be raised up and then go back to that. When you’ve been raised to walk in a new life.

Don’t raise yourself back to what you were. It’s just not rational to go back to where you were before.

why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ²¹  “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ²² (referring to things that all perish as they are used)— according to human precepts and teachings?

Asceticism is a life of rigorous self denial

• Through our union with Christ, we are set free from man-made rules designed to promote spirituality.

To be an ascetic is to go back to a worldly system of religion - based on worldly principles.

Paul is saying - this doesn’t make sense to go back...

• When you’re captured by Christ, everything changes

There is no spiritual value in keeping human precepts and teachings. 

Here’s something else to take note of:

Verse 21 – do not handle, do not taste, do not touch

The jewish requirements were not to eat. But the false teachers were adding to it. 

• This “Jesus+” goes beyond what the Bible says 

Men add to the Bible to create their own “get spiritual” structure.

The reason that asceticism is so appealing is that it’s easier than just trusting in Christ alone.  

In the 1800s, a well-known Scottish preacher (Alexander McClaren) wrote:

Christ did it all on the cross. Why would you try to live - to live this resurrection life yourself? Why would you try to generate your own holiness when Christ has already done that?

He died to present you holy and blameless and above reproach

All of this “stuff:” 

Do not handle, do not taste, to not touch... It’s a man-made checklist.

It won’t bring you spiritual maturity. 

In reality - it’s a spiritual mask.

3. The Mask

The bottom line is that all of this stuff is a false humility.

Self-invented service - something a man chooses for himself to appear holy. It has no authority from God because it’s according to human precepts and teachings.

²³ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and 

asceticism and severity to the body, 

We can all easily fall into this mask trap.

• We all have a tendency toward mask-wearing

Whatever you’re doing demonstrate,  to show others, to prove that you’re spiritual, that you’re holy - it’s probably a mask. 

We need to be in authentic community 

• We need to be fully engaged in the body

so that we can be real.

so that we don’t feel the need to wear a mask.

we’re comfortable enough to let them see the real us

so that others are involved enough in our lives that they

can easily spot it if we try to put on a mask.

Paul is saying that 

• Any list or any structure or method that is not here in Scripture is human precepts and teachings and it’s a mask. 

When we’re in community - involved in each other’s lives - we can do this.

John Piper says: 

• Sanctification is a group project.

We cannot achieve the spiritual growth we are intended to if we are not involved, engaged, and committed to the body of Christ. A local church. 

4. Ultimate Value (Substance)

they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. 

The ultimate value is Christ - focusing on Christ.

I’ll be saying this until the day I die. Colossians 1:28 – Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

• The fullness of the Christian life is the alternative to this false teaching. 

The false teachers said: “If only you could subdue the body through this harsh treatment, you’ll be there” they say. Paul simply says: “It won’t work” 

(This does not mean that what you do with your body is unimportant or irrelevant. 1 Corinthians 6:20 – for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. )

It means that these “human systems” are wrong.

Anything that seeks to add to Jesus...  

• Anything “Jesus+” is actually minus Jesus. 

The false teachers were elevating their rules and practices above Scripture and giving angels and other spiritual beings credit. The result is that they lost sight of Christ. 

The ultimate value is Christ The substance belongs to Christ.

Self-imposed religious devotion is something man came up with and it has no real value.

• We must work from the inside out.

We must let Christ do the work because inside we are dead.

We cannot resurrect ourselves. We cannot conjure up - with some elaborate spell - life within.

Only Christ can do that. 

All of this “stuff” that we come up with to do. It is of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh

• Christianity is about Christ. 

I really mean that - I hope you understand what I mean

Acts 17:28 – In him we live and move and have our being

Reflection Questions

• What are you doing to be focused on Christ all throughout the day?

How are you being intentional about knowing Him more?

• Are you living in such a way that your life points to HIM?

Are you so filled up with Christ, so saturated with Him - that it rubs off on those you come into contact with?

Are you a sponge, soaking up Christ and His Word?

• Do you realize that you don’t have to sin anymore?

...well I’m not perfect.... so you give in! WHAT?!!?

The law of the Spirit of Life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 

Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit...

Here’s how to live according to the Spirit:

• Are you saturated in Scripture?

That’s where it begins. (remember last week’s challenge to read through Colossians daily?)

• What mask are you wearing?

In what ways are you trying to earn your salvation?

Your holiness or your sanctification?

Do you have it backward anywhere?

Are you doing anything to convince someone that you’re spiritual? 

• Are you fully engaged in the Body of Christ?

Are you involved so that others can spot it when you’re wearing a mask?

Remember - Sanctification is a group project!

The ultimate value is found in Christ

Colossians 1:15-18 – 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. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 

Convinced Otherwise?

Last week we looked at the arguably the most beautiful doctrine in all of Scripture - Forgiveness. 

This week’s message was about not being convinced otherwise. We are saved through faith in Christ alone. There is nothing else. Many would try to convince you otherwise. Don’t listen to them. 

Colossians 2:16-19 is the passage we looked at this week:

1. Judgement?

We need to understand judgment right. The word here is krino - to judge

It means - to make a judgment based on the correctness or value of something - to evaluate. To assess. 

All too often, we look at verses like

Matthew 7:1   James 4:12 –    Romans 14:4   1 Corinthians 4:5 

On the surface, these would seem to present a pretty compelling case against judging others, right?

But we have this as well: 1 Corinthians 5:12-13  (The mean-spirited judge black robe  - declaring GUILTY!)

To make an assessment of a brother in Christ isn’t necessarily wrong - if it’s done with the right attitude and the right motive.

• You can’t just be indifferent to sin in a brother’s life

TIf someone is standing in the street in the bus lane, is it judgmental to say to them -”That’s not a good place to stand...?”

You need to read the entire passage

Matthew 7:1-5 ...You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 

It’s pretty simple. You have to have the right motive.

• Their sanctification must be the motive. 

We also have the tendency to spot the things in others that we struggle with ourselves. 

The other idea here is that of cleaning a speck out of someone’s eye - If you have a speck in your eye, are you going to the rough, uncaring person or the one that’s gentle and careful?

Hebrews 10:24 – stir up one another to love and good works

The judging in this passage is an intimidation kind of thing. 

• The remedy to being dragged away by false doctrine and “ear tickling” teaching is to be growing. 

To be growing, you must be hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture. 

The idea here in this passage is that 

• We should not let anyone impose on us some sort of spiritual growth plan or formula that isn’t centered around Christ.

Category: Legalism

He gives us some specific ways that this happens with these people.

• Legalism is the religion of human achievement. 

• It’s primary argument is Jesus+

• The measure of spirituality becomes conformity to manmade rules

The problem with Legalism – it’s super deceptive - you can be inwardly rebellious and disobedient and as long as you appear to be conformed to the rules/code/standard...

You can be lost, but as long as you appear to be conformed to the code... you’re good.

Remember - it’s always been about the heart.

• Those things (the good works) are the result, not the cause. 

The false teachers had a checklist. 

• Diet (Food and Drink):

The dietary laws of the Old Testament aren’t in effect for a believer.

• Festival

Passover, Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Lights (they’re no longer necessary)

• New moon 

The first day of the month (the New Moon) sacrifices were offered (Numbers 28:11-14)

• Sabbath

Jews had to worship on the Sabbath. 

These things are a “shadow of the things to come.

2. Substance & Shadows

• A shadow - isn’t real. 

It would be crazy to try and take hold of a shadow.

• Fulfillment is the “world” that we live in. 

Advertising - you’ll be better, stronger, cooler, more hip if you buy our product. 

• You’ll be more fulfilled if __________ 

This is the way of American culture that we all live in.

• Instead of focusing on, submitting to, and being conformed by Christ - we sometimes look to checklists.

But it’s not about the list - even when it’s there. It’s about Christ!

The Christ-focused person says:

• I’d rather read my Bible because here is where I find substance. 

It’s not the shadow - it’s the real thing

Why would I look at the shadow when the real thing is right there?

The world can entertain me, but ultimately that’s empty.

In the pages of Scripture I meet Christ and learn more about Him. And that is better than TV, not so that I can “check it off,” but because the deepest desire, the more intense longing of my heart is to know Him better.

This checklist is a shadow. 

3. Disqualification Scenario

If you seek the checklist things, if you fall into their trap, you become, in a way disqualified.

• Mysticism

Definition - the pursuit of a deeper or higher subjective religious experience. 

It looks for 

• feelings, intuition, and other internal sensations 

OVER

objective, observable, external data.

With mysticism, the final authority comes from within. It’s “Jesus+” more “+” than Jesus really. 

• Asceticism - humility that is false. (they were delighting in it - it was really pride in disguise)

“I am the most humble person I know”  It wasn’t a character in Dickens’ David Copperfield that first said that.

• Worship of Angels - denying that there is one mediator (1 Tim 2:5)

Praying to anyone other than God falls into this category.

Here’s the irony - these guys want to disqualify you if you don’t adhere to their system.

Their Jesus+ system. If you don’t, then in their eyes, you’re not qualified. 

BUT - if you do submit to their system - that’s the disqualifer - that’s the thing that will pull you away from Christ faster than anything. I’m not saying you’ll lose your salvation. 

You won’t get what you’re seeking (which is what they’re offering)

• It’s a whole different map - it CANNOT get you there. 

BUT - if you ignore that - and focus on Christ - you’ll get actually more than what they’re offering.

You’ll get the substance - the real thing. 

Any “checklist” religion - is going to lead to pride not humility.

• If you can accomplish these “things,” then you have something to brag about

BUT:

• If you have accomplished nothing - (and HE has accomplished it all)

You have nothing to brag about, – only thanksgiving!

You didn’t choose Him - HE CHOSE YOU!!!! 

4. Hold On

Hold on to Christ for dear life.Because that’s the only thing you can do.

He’s the only help you’ll find. He’s the rope that drops to rescue you when the ledge you’re on is about to crumble away and the only thing you can do is hold on. 

• The false teacher does not hold fast to Christ

5. It’s still about Christ

• Remember: Christianity is about Christ

Spiritual growth is from God. It is focused on Christ.

Ephesians 4:15-16 - the body growing

Here in Colossians we see the individual growing

The Head is Christ, right?

It’s all about connection to Christ. 

• Our strength and growth come from Him. 

• Remember to constantly ask yourself - do I look more like Jesus Christ than I did a month ago? Six? A year ago?

Doing all of this correctly leads to 

6. Growth (Abide)

It means: To continue,  to remain, to stay. It’s a present - active verb, meaning It’s a continual ongoing thing.

If you really want to understand abide - read 1 John all the way through in one sitting. 

Make note of the word “abide” when it comes up (it comes up 23 times in 1 John)

• Focused on Him

in your words: Matthew 12:34 - the overflow the heart the mouth speaks. 

In your thinking 1 Corinthians 2:16 - we have the mind of Christ

Your actions Philippians 1:27 - your manner of life will be worthy of the gospel

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 

• What would it look like if, for one entire week, you put other people’s interests, needs, and desires above your own? Really thinking through that constantly?

   • At work 

   • At home

   • At church 

What would that look like? This is both a question and a challenge...

• How will you ensure that this week, you’ll look at what Jesus did for you?

Instead of looking at what you have done for Him, which is easy to do.

• How will you be saturated in Scripture?

Charles Spurgeon said “if you cut me, I want to bleed Bible...” 

Read all the way through Colossians every day this Month. Every day - sit down - 15-20 minutes. (Can’t find 20 minutes to read the Bible? Hmm...)

Next month, start reading 1 John - focus on abiding in Him.

• How will you abide in Christ this week?

What God Accomplished

Colossians 2:13-15 –  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. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. 

1. Who You Were

Paul says “you, who were dead”

The word for dead is nekros - it means dead

We see it in the NT 145 times. 

Most of those are referring to physical death. But about 20 times, it’s used to refer to spiritual death.

• What does a dead person do?

Breathe?  Think? Make Decisions?

Dead means dead. No life. No activity. Nothing. 

We can understand spiritually dead because we understand physically dead.

What would it take to become alive? A miracle. 

What about Lazarus?

You know the story, right? Lazarus - friend of Jesus

In John 11:43 – [Jesus] cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

If you were at a Funeral and someone shouted at the coffin, “HEY! Get up!” what would you think?

John 11:44 – The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 

Wow! THAT was a miracle.

So was your own salvation.

You were dead.  Dead means dead. Just as physical death means you can’t respond. Spiritual death means means the same thing. 

Ephesians 2:1, Psalm 14:2-3 – Why? Because they’re dead....

• BUT GOD – one of the greatest phrases in the Bible.

Ephesians 2:4-5 – but God, being rich in mercy... when we were dead... made us alive.

Colossians 2:13 – you, who were dead i... God made alive.

BUT GOD!

Titus 3:4-5 – But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our saviour appeared, ⁵ he saved us

This is the bridge between points 1 and 2

2. What God Did

You were Dead BUT GOD made you alive!

together with him. Again, we see an emphasis on our union with Christ - we are with Him. Together with Him.

What better place is there to be than right there with Christ?

Not only did he make us alive

• He forgave us. 

That should bring great joy to every other aspect of your life.

• Memorize and meditate on the Gospel

Think about it every day - what deeper joy could there be? 

Why would you not want to think about that every day?

Everything else pales in comparison. 

• Forgiveness is the most important truth of Scripture

Psalm 130:3-5   Psalm 32:1-2   Micah 7:18  Matthew 26:28   Acts 10:43   Acts 13:38-39    Ephesians 1:7    Hebrews 8:12   Psalm 86:5 

having forgiven - charizomai - root: charis - grace - gift

Forgiveness and being made alive go together

• There should be nothing that brings you more deep, abounding joy than knowing that you have been forgiven. 

Record of debt - the idea is a handwritten certificate. It’s like a contract you sign. 

This is the evidence brought forth against us - and we wrote it with our own hands. 

• It’s a signed confession.

We owe God a debt because we have broken His law.

You have violated God’s law at pretty much every point. 

The list of charges against you is quite long. 

And it you wrote it yourself and signed the confession.

But when God forgave you - He erased it. 

• That list has been wiped clean.

Like a dry erase board that shows no residue.  It’s totally clean. 

What happened on the cross?

2 Corinthians 5:21 –  God punished Jesus for all of the sins you have and will commit. 

Then He looks at you as if you had never sinned.

• He looks at you as if you had lived the perfect life of Jesus 

How can this not fill you with almost unexplainable joy?

How can you not go through every day with a huge smile on your face no matter how your day is going. 

3. How He Did It

• The evidence is gone. There is no evidence

We can sit down to trial - but it’s okay - there’s no evidence against us.
The judge Himself took care of it by taking off His robe, stepping around, into the box, and taking the punishment for the crimes on the list. Now - he looks at us and says “not guilty” because there are no sins to accuse us of. They’ve been taken care of. Jesus took the punishment. So I stand justified. Not guilty. Free. 

When Christ was on the Cross, He said - It is Finished! (meaning, it is “accomplished”)

That was quite a bold statement.
But what was finished or accomplished?

Our forgiveness!

...by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

4. What Happened?

Keep points 1, 2, & 3 in mind and look at these passages:

Ephesians 2:1-10

Romans 3:10-24; 5:6-9; 6:1-4; 8:1-6 

Titus 3:3-7 

Colossians 1:13-14; 1:21-22; 2:13-15 

Reflection Questions

These are goals I would have for you.

Remember - the pastor’s role is to encourage and catalyze the spiritual growth of the congregation. 

The goal is to present you mature in Christ

So what will you do to grow toward these ends:

• You were dead. More fully understand your need for Him and the miracle that He accomplished in saving you.

You sin because you’re a sinner. Not the other way around.

• How will you know increasing joy as you grow in your understanding that He forgave you

These two actually work together, answering each other.

 The better you understand how dead you were, the more joy you will experience in knowing that He erased the [long] list of your sins

• Know the gospel more and more each day. 

Knowing the gospel better will drive you to deeper depths of understanding and greater heights of joy.

• How will/should you live, knowing that the enemy has already been defeated?

• Will you strive to know the Gospel deeper and proclaim it as often as possible?