“Christ’s Exaltation, Our Exclusion”

Col.1:15-23(2:9-15) Jan.10, 2010   Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)

●    POPULAR PREDOMINANT LIES

    ○    little lies / heresies grow to make a big difference
    ○    heresies in Colosse area: ceremonialism, asceticism, angel worship, deprecation of Christ, secret knowledge, reliance on human wisdom & tradition
    ○    modern-day parallels

●    ALIENATED ENEMIES, DEFIANTLY DEAD

    ○    alienated, enemies of God, on account of evil behaviour (1:21; Ps 14:3; Eph 2:12; Jas 4:4; Ps 5:4f; Eph 4:18f; Col 2:13)
    ○    sin a subtle, perverse parasite, often hidden

●    OUR EXALTED RECONCILER: THE DIVINEST DOES THE DIRTY WORK

    ○    best in Being: image of God (1:15,19; Heb 1:3; 1Jn 14:9; Col 2:9)
    ○    cosmic Creator & Coherer (1:16ff; Heb 1:3; 2Pet 3:10; Rev 6:14)
    ○    Tops in time & turf (1:15ff, 2:10,15; Php 2:9; 1Pet 3:22)
    ○    Transcendent Trampled Reconciler (1:19f, 22; 2:13f; Gen 3:15)
    ○    Bible God’s letter inviting reconciliation

●    BLAMELESS BULLDOZERS

    ○    Jesus gives Purpose (1:16)
    ○    Jesus gives Support (1:17f; Eph 4:15f; Heb 7:25)
    ○    Jesus gives Life & Aliveness (2:11,13; Rom 2:29, 6:11ff)
    ○    Jesus gives the Blessedness of Blamelessness (1:22; 2Cor 5:21)
    ○    Jesus gives the Balance of a Bulldozer (1:23)

●    RECONCILIATION’S RESULTS

    ○    David Brainerd: gripped by truth of Christ crucified –> morality, sanctified living follow