Don't Be Deceived Pt 2

I welcome you to Calvary Chapel, invite you to stand with us, and we'll pray and we'll get started.

Father God, we thank you. Thank you for another day. Lord, we just thank you for this time that we can come and spend time in your word and lift praise to you. Father God, I want to take a moment here, Lord, to just lift up Israel to you. Lord God, they are your special chosen people. And Lord God, they are being attacked from every side. Lord, it even seems by their allies.

So Lord, I just ask, God, I know that you're going to protect your children. God, you're not done with them yet. And Lord God, we know that you're going to come through for them. And Lord, we know you're coming again soon. So help us to live expectantly, watching for you, Lord. We love you, Father. We praise you and we thank you for this time. In Jesus' name.

Amen.

God, we wait patiently for your return to take us home with you, Lord God. Expectantly, Lord, coming again.

You guys can go and have a seat if you like.

Father, we just want to praise you this morning and glorify. You see my fear.

You see a mountain move.

The shadow. You're the surrounding to fear.

You shine in the shadow.

Yes, Lord God, we praise you. God, for just who you are. And God, we know that with you there is victory. The battle belongs to you. Amen. Amen.

Foundation. The rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaken. Never put their faith in you, Lord God.

Be their firm foundation, Lord God. Everything else around them fails.

You are faithful in every season and in every generation, Lord.

Would you guys go ahead and stand with me for this last one?

Father God, we praise you because you are worthy of all. God, you've done so much for us, Lord. God, all the ways you take care of us, provide for us. God, the new life that we have in you. God, you are worthy. You've always been worthy. You're worthy of all our praise and worship, Lord. And God, we worship you this morning. Father, forgive us if we've made it about anything but you.

Forgive me, Lord, if I've made it anything other.

Lord, this morning I just pray that as Pastor Ryan comes, I pray that you would overflow him with your Holy Spirit. With your gift of teaching and give us hearts to receive. Lord, give me a heart to receive. The word that you prepared for us this morning, Father. Lord, don't let me, don't let any of us leave here the same person we were when we walked in. Let us leave changed, different.

On fire for you, Lord. God, we love you and we praise you. And all God's people said, let's go ahead and take some time and greet one another. Locate your seats already. Grab a bulletin. We'll get ready to go over some announcements. I'm glad that you have joined us this morning. I always like to say first. If it's your first Sunday here, this is not what the sanctuary usually looks like.

I just want you to know that. It was VBS last week. And so we had a great time and a lot of work was put into it. So we were like, hey, other people should see this too. So I had a great time at VBS this week. Okay. A handful of things to take note of in your bulletin. Over on the left-hand side are the things that are going on throughout the week. Everything should be happening.

So find a spot to get plugged into. Middle section of your bulletin. Parents, just a reminder. Sunday is promotion Sunday. So after next Sunday, pay closer attention when you drop your kids off because they may be going to a different location. You should know that. They'll probably let you know that. And then they're doing a little missions kickoff next Sunday.

And then am I good to go?

Stances Beyond Our Control took place. So they're not going to be able to give their update today. I'm actually going to give them an entire service in July to be able to do that. And so looking forward to hearing what God has done through the missions team. And also, if you... I'm just going to look at you, Danielle. Make sure I say this right. If you signed up for camp and have not received a text from Danielle with room assignments and stuff like that,

make sure you go talk to Danielle afterwards. Raise your hand. Make sure you go talk to her afterwards because she's got all your info. So make sure that you go see her. Is that everything I needed to say about that? Sweet. Love when it comes together. All right. If you could make sure that your mobile device is silenced and for our responsive reading this morning,

we are going to be in Psalm. Psalm 23. I don't think I turned that on. Looking at the New American Standard. So we sound the same. If you need a copy, should be one in a row around you. And as you are turning to Psalm 23, if you are able, please stand in the honor of the reading of God's word.

I will read the odd verses if you will follow along with Jared and the even verses. Psalm 23, a Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. And he leads me. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me. All the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And Father, we come to you now, praising you that you are our good shepherd.

And so, Lord, I pray that you would lead and guide us now into all truth as your word promises. And Father, I ask that your Holy Spirit would begin the process of ministering to our hearts. Whatever needs ministered to today in Jesus name. Amen. You may be seated. And if you would open up in your Bibles. To the book of Colossians chapter 2.

Colossians chapter 2. We started a new series last week in the second chapter of Colossians called Don't Be Deceived.

Paul had written to the Colossians because there was false teaching going around in the city. It was starting to infiltrate the church. And he needed to address his false teaching. And so the first thing he did for us in chapter 1 was he refocused us on Jesus. He kind of turned our eyes back on Jesus. By showing us the truth. Showing us the incomparable Christ.

Well, as we get into chapter 2, he starts dealing with the actual issues itself that are going on there in the church. And so he teaches them about how it's important to not be deceived. And last week we looked at the first portion of this where he told them about the great conflict that he has for them. Sort of introduced the subject to them. That he had a great struggle for them.

That he was, if you will, spiritually wrestling for them on behalf of them because of what was going on. And he encouraged them, don't be deceived by the things that are going on. Going on around you. Well, he'll get a little bit more into the heart of that today as we look at the second part. Which is, as we look at don't be deceived part 2 as we discuss the philosophy.

The philosophy. And so starting off in verse 8 of chapter 2 it says this. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception. According to the tradition of men. According to the elementary principles of the world. Rather than according to. According to Christ. For in him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form. And in him you have been made complete.

And he is the head over all rule and authority. And in him you are also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands. In the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Having been buried with him in baptism. In which you are also raised with him through faith in the working of God. Who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh.

He made you alive together with him. Having forgiven us all our transgressions. Having canceled out the certificate of debt. Consisting of decrees against us. Which was hostile to us. And he has taken it out of the way. Having nailed it to the cross. When he had disarmed the rulers and authorities. He made a public display of them. Having triumphed over them through him.

And so as he begins to talk to us about this philosophy. There's three things he's going to give us. He's going to give us a warning. He's going to tell us about the fullness of Christ. And then he's going to jump once again into the gospel. But let's first look at the warning. Notice what it says in verse 8. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception.

According to the tradition of man. According to the elementary principles of the world. Rather. Than according to Christ. He starts off with a strong word. Now the phrase that's translated in the New American Standard Bible. See to it. I don't feel like carries the weight that Paul actually gives in this phrase. I think the Weiss translation gives a better idea of the weight that carries with it.

And he tells him to be on your guard. Be on your guard. Picture if you will. A soldier who is stationed in a place where his job is to protect the rest of the camp. And so what he does is. He stays awake. He keeps himself alert. He keeps himself aware. He always remains on guard. And the reason why he has to remain on guard. Is because the enemy is always at the door.

Ready to come in. And he is the one thing that stands between the enemy. And the people inside the gate. That's the idea that's given to us by this phrase. Be on your guard. We have to be aware. Because the enemy is looking to infiltrate any way that he can. He's looking to infiltrate any way that he can. Any way that he can. Into our way of thinking. Into our way of understanding.

And into what we believe scripture says about Jesus. And about the gospel. He is always looking for ways to infiltrate. And listen. We have to pay attention. I think one of the biggest issues in the church today. Especially in the western culture. Is that the church has fallen asleep. And we have stopped being on our guard. Therefore we have started allowing everything in.

Because we've stopped guarding against anything. And so Paul in this. Military sort of way tells them. Be on your guard. And why do they need to be on their guard? Lest you be taken captive. So that you won't be taken captive. The phrase is translated in the new King James. And the old King James. As lest anyone cheat you. But the idea is once again a military term.

That you would not be led astray as prey. That you would not be captured. And led astray to your ultimate destruction. And this is what we have to realize in the world today. Is that we have to take some of this stuff seriously. Because when false doctrine infiltrates. When issues infiltrate. It's not just so that someone can spread their ideas. It's because it will eventually destroy you.

Because what you believe affects everything about how you live. And what you believe affects everything about who you are. So he tells them. Be on your guard. Lest you be led astray. Be on your guard. Lest you be led astray. And what do they need to be on their guard against? Lest you be led astray by philosophy. Now the word philosophy itself is somewhat benign in nature.

Right? Like you don't hear that and go. Not philosophy. I can't believe. No it's not really a scary word. The word philosophy simply means the love of wisdom. But philosophy and what Paul is talking about. Is a little bit different than what we might get. As a base understanding of philosophy. The idea of philosophy here. Is not just a love of wisdom. It is a vain speculation.

It is a man-centered way of thinking. And it is something that is only knowledge focused. I'm reading a really interesting book right now. I'm listening to it. But that's how I read most of my books. I'm listening to a really interesting book right now. Called I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. I think I've shared this before. It's a fantastic book.

It's by Frank Turek. And along with Norman Geisler. And those guys are really, really smart. They're really smart fellows. Right? And so they're going through all of these. These worldly philosophies. And even some of the scientific philosophies. And I use that word philosophies with science. Purposefully. Because when you really see some of the. What I would call false science.

I.e. evolution. You do realize that it is a philosophy. More than it is evidentiary based. Because it's very philosophical in nature. Right? And so as they start talking about all these philosophies. And I'm listening. And a lot of times when I'm like. Either doing some vacuuming. Or moving some chairs. I put on my sweet noise canceling headphones. And I just listen.

And I'm listening. And I'm going. What? That doesn't make any sense. I don't think I'm smart enough for this. I don't think I'm deep enough for this. Because when you start listening to all these philosophies. You're going. It just feels like vain speculation. It kind of feels like man-centered thinking. It feels like they just want to think that they're smart.

And full of a lot of knowledge. Meanwhile they don't know anything at all. Right? That's kind of how it feels. And so Paul says. You need to be aware of this. Because the false teaching. That was going around in Colossae at that point in time. Was based upon a philosophy. And he's going to explain. This philosophy to us. In four points right here. And then further throughout the rest of the chapter.

But he tells us four things about this philosophy. That we need to be aware of. This philosophy that we need to be on guard against. Number one. This philosophy is full of empty deception. This philosophy is full of empty deception. The phrase empty deception. Can also be translated. Devoid of truth. And futile. Now. I have found that as I listen to some of these different.

Philosophies. As they explain some of these different philosophies. And what the philosophers have to say. All I can think is. That's the greatest phrase I could use to explain it. It is devoid of truth. And futile. Because you hear it. And it's like man it's just so empty. It's like they said a whole lot of words. But they didn't say anything at all. They used a whole bunch of language.

But it didn't mean anything. Because it is empty deception. The Amplified Bible translated it like this. And I thought this was pretty good. Pseudo intellectualism. Pseudo intellectual babbling. Pseudo intellectual babbling. I thought that was pretty good. Pretty good translation. And then the J.B. Phillips translation. Translated it like this. Intellectualism and high sounding nonsense.

And can I just say. That at the heart of most false teaching. Especially a false teaching. That is fully based on knowledge. Like oh you can achieve this deeper knowledge. This greater wisdom. This deeper understanding. Is a lot of things that sound very intellectual. And a lot of things that are very high sounding. But at their very core. They're void of truth.

And it's really very empty in nature. Empty deception. The second way that he describes this philosophy. Is that it is based upon the traditions of men. The traditions of men. This was a Judeo Gnostic teaching. That they depended on. Therefore it had traditions. That it used. There were first of all Jewish traditions. Because it was Judeo in nature. So there's Jewish traditions.

That were involved. And we know that the Jewish people. Are full of all kinds of traditions. Right? That's why if you ever watch Fiddler on the Roof. You immediately started thinking of the song. Tradition. Tradition. I won't dance across the stage. Mainly because my wife would yell at me. But you know what I'm talking about. Right? It's full of. The Jewish culture is full of a lot of tradition.

But there was also Greek tradition. That was involved. That was used as well. And they both came together. To form this Judeo Gnostic. Learning or tradition. That they followed. Now this brings up a really interesting point. Because we have to beware. Of putting all of our faith. In the tradition of men. Instead of placing it fully upon scripture. Because tradition is okay.

There's nothing wrong with tradition. Church is full of traditions. Right? Like we at Calvary Chapel have traditions. One of our traditions is that. That we take communion. The first Sunday of every month. It's a tradition that we have here. We always have a Christmas Eve service. It's a tradition that we have here. Right? We always leave VBS. Stuff up. It's a tradition that we have here.

It's kind of what we do. The question that you have to ask. With tradition. Is does it line up with God's word? If it lines up with God's word. Keep it. If it doesn't line up with God's word. Get rid of it. Because we never want to put tradition. In the place where God's word stands. Why? Because he just told us. To be on our guard. Against a philosophy. Listen.

That is simply based on the traditions. Of men. He just told us. We need to be on our guard against that. Therefore. If your basis on anything is. Yeah. But tradition. You need to ask yourself. Why? Why is there no scripture to back it up? Only tradition. To back it up. And so he tells them. Beware of these traditions of men. I was listening to Joe Foch teach about this.

And he gave a great test for us. And I've heard it before. But it was good to hear it again. He said. We should always test ourselves. As New Testament believers. Against three things. Was it taught by God. Is it taught by Jesus. Is it exampled in the book of Acts. And is it instructed in the epistles. Because those are the tests. That we should hold things up to.

And some things that are taught by Jesus. Let me say this. Some things that were done by Jesus. Were not exampled in Acts. And then carried on in. Instructed in the epistles. And he gave a really interesting point. He said. Jesus washed his disciples feet. One time. He was teaching them about servanthood. But he washed their feet one time. It's not exampled in Acts.

It's not instructed on in the epistles of the New Testament. Therefore you have to ask yourself a question. Is foot washing a tradition we should continue. Or was Jesus just teaching us about being servants. Kind of make sense to you. We have to use that as a test on things. And so we need to make sure. That the word of God is what we base everything against.

Not the traditions of men. And then he gives them a third thing. He says. Not only is it empty deception. Not only is it only based on the traditions of men. But number three. They are elementary principles. Elementary principles. The word elementary means. Rudimentary basic teaching. Rudimentary basic teaching. And let me give you the idea. Of what he means by that.

Teaching that dealt with external practices only. Paul will use two words. That describe this as we move on. Into chapter two. One of them is legalism. Which we've talked about. Quite a bit here. And the other one is called asceticism. Which is an extreme view of. Of self-denial. And he will deal with both of those things. And those are elementary in nature.

Because they only view things from an outward perspective. They are only dealing with the external truths. And never get down to the heart. He's going to say that they're great. For keeping yourself from certain things. But they do nothing to change your heart. He says these are very elementary in nature. And as a matter of fact. The law is very elementary in nature.

Because the law had one purpose. The law was never intended to make us holy. The law was intended to point us to the one person. Who could make us holy. Which is Jesus Christ. And so he says it's very elementary in nature. And then the fourth thing that he tells us. Is that they are not according to Christ. It's not according to Christ. And this is something that we have to pay attention to.

Because Jesus Christ is our final revelation. We're told in Hebrews chapter 1. That in past times and in various places. God has spoken to us through his prophets. But in these last days. As a matter of fact. The Greek actually reads. In the last of these days. He has spoken to us through his son. Because Jesus is the final revelation of God to man. As a matter of fact.

Do you know what the final revelation of God to man is? Do you know what the final revelation of Jesus Christ was? The final revelation of Jesus Christ was actually the book of Revelation. It is the unveiling. The revealing of Christ. It was the very last book that was written. It was the very last book to be canonized. Because it was the final revelation of Jesus Christ.

As a matter of fact. It's so important that we understand. That that's the final revelation of Jesus Christ. Do you know what Jesus said at the very end of the book of Revelation? He said. Anybody who adds to. Or takes away from this book. May the curses in this book be added to them. Why? Because it's the final revelation of Jesus. It was written by John the Apostle.

The oldest living apostle. At the very end of the first century. And at that point in time. Scripture was sealed. Because that was the final revelation of Christ. Therefore. Any philosophy that is not according to Christ. We should start to question. God's not giving out new revelations. Any more. God's not been giving out new revelations. Since he gave us the book of Revelation.

And when somebody comes to you and says. I've gotten a new revelation. You should say. No you didn't. Because it's all sealed in Scripture. It's given to us by God. In his Scripture. And it needs to be according to Christ. And so he warns us about this philosophy. He says. Be on guard against it. And then he starts to tell us why. It's important to be on guard.

Against any kind of philosophy. That is empty in nature. That is. Based on the traditions of men. That is elementary in nature. And that is not according to Christ. And that is because. The fullness rests in Christ. Notice what he says. In verse 9. For in him. All the fullness of deity. Dwells in bodily form. And in him. You have been made complete. And he is the head.

Over all rule and authority. And in him. You were also circumcised. With a circumcision made. Without hands. As he talks about the fullness of Christ. He's going to tell us three things. About this fullness of Christ. Number one. In him. All the fullness dwells. In him all the fullness dwells. Did you take note of what it said in verse 9. That in him all the fullness of deity dwells.

So what does that mean? What is the fullness of deity? Well of course deity is God. That means that in Jesus. Was all of deity. That means that Jesus. Is 100% God. This verse is actually one of the strongest statements. Of the deity of Christ. In all of the New Testament. Two of the strongest verses. Containing the deity of Christ. Come in the book of Colossians.

And I think the third strongest one. Comes in John chapter 1 verse 1. When John says in the beginning. Was the word Jesus. And the word was with God. Eternal. And the word was God. Deity. And so we see that in him. Dwells all the fullness. Of the deity. He is 100% God. But not only does it say. That all the fullness is in him. But the word dwells is a really important word.

Because the word dwells means. Continuously and permanently. Finding its home. Now that's important. Because the Gnostics taught. That the God consciousness. Came upon Jesus at his baptism. And it left him at his crucifixion. So it's important that Paul included. That the fullness of deity. Permanently. And continuously. Found its home in Christ. Because it means.

That he is 100% God. And not only that. He gives us a third one. And it says in its in bodily form. Why is that important? Isn't it redundant that he said. All of the fullness of deity. Dwells in him. Why do you have to say. In bodily form. Because the Gnostics taught. That everything material was evil. Therefore Jesus could have never. Actually been incarnated.

He could have never actually been. A man living among us. Because all material things are evil. Therefore he must have just been. A spirit that dwelt among us. But this answers that question. Because he says he dwelt. In bodily form. Because Jesus. Is the expression of God. All the fullness of deity. Dwells in. Him in bodily form. That's the first aspect. Of the fullness of Christ.

The second thing that he tells us. Is that in him. You have been made complete. Verse 10. In him. You have been made complete. Now I want to camp out. For just one quick second on two words. Before I get to the heart of this verse. Those two words that I want to camp out. On the words in him. Because they're really important. They're actually two of Paul's favorite words.

When it comes to Christ. He uses them all throughout Ephesus. All throughout the book of Ephesians. Because all of this completion that you and I have. Is only true if we are. If we're in him. If our lives are hidden with God in Christ. And let me give you the best illustration. I know it from scripture. And I know I've shared it before. But it's the best one I can come up with.

There's a story in the Old Testament. It's in the book of Joshua. Joshua and the children of Israel. Are getting ready to go in. To take the land. The first city that they're going to come to. Is a city called Jericho. A walled city. And Joshua sends in. Two spies. And as he sends these two spies into the land. They spy out Jericho. And they have to find a place to hide.

So they hide in the home of a lady named Rahab. And Rahab lived in the wall of the city. And Rahab. Who by the way was a prostitute. Looked at him and said. Hey your God. I think is the one true God. And I'm pretty sure. He is going to give you guys all of this land. I just have one request. Will you remember me? Will you take care of me? I've taken care of you.

Now will you take care. Of me? She asks if you will. What must I do to be saved? And they say okay. Here's what you need to do. You're about to let us down with a scarlet rope. Interesting that it's a scarlet rope right? Scarlet that would have represented who she was as a prostitute. And yet also is the exact same color of the blood of Jesus Christ. Who became sin for us.

Anyway there's a whole whole lot of other things you can go into there. They said you're about to let us down. It was a scarlet rope. Hang that thing out of your window always. And when we come to attack. Everybody who wants to be saved needs to be in your house. Whoever is in your house will be saved from the destruction to come. Everyone who's not in your house will not be saved.

Brothers and sisters. Judgment is coming. And the only way that we can be saved is if we are in Christ. That's how we're saved. Covered in the blood. Of Christ. With your life hidden with God. In Christ. And so he says in him. You have been made complete. That word complete. I want to read you what it says. It means filled full with the present result that you are in a state of fullness.

Let me read that one more time. Because that's a lot of words I just threw out there right? Filled full with the present result that you are in a state of fullness. Now I want you to think about something. I want you to think about what it was like before you came to know Jesus as your Savior. Do you remember how empty you were? I think that's the biggest thing that sticks out to me.

Is that my life was just empty. I just felt hollow on the inside. Right? I felt hollow and every new thing that I tried to do didn't do anything for me. You know the partying didn't do anything for me. Friends didn't do anything for me. Nothing did anything for me. And I just felt hollow on the inside. And I felt so empty. And then I finally broke down and said Lord I just need you.

I'm pretty sure that's my big problem in life. Is that I need you. And then he came in and he filled me up to overflowing. And it was like I don't need any of that anymore. Because I'm full. Because I've been made complete. And brothers and sisters you if you're a believer in Jesus Christ here this morning have been made complete in Christ. If you're not a believer in Jesus Christ here this morning you know what I'm talking about when I say your life is empty.

Because you're still going I need to fill it with things. And the unfortunate thing is that sometimes as believers we act like the world and think we need Jesus. And. We need. We need Jesus and a boyfriend. We need Jesus and a girlfriend. We need Jesus and a husband or wife. We need Jesus and a good job. We need Jesus and a great house. We need Jesus and a brand new car.

We need Jesus and a lake house. We need Jesus and all these things to be made complete. And then we get those things and we still go why do I still not feel complete. Because you're trying to find it somewhere besides Jesus. And you brothers and sisters are complete in Christ. In Christ you have. You have everything that you will ever need. You are filled up to overflowing.

And if you're a Christian who's been trying to add Jesus or trying to add a whole bunch of things to Jesus and you're still going but gosh I still feel like that's something missing. Come back to Jesus. Because that's who you need. Because he is the cure for everything that causes you problems. And if you're in here this morning and you're not a believer in Jesus Christ and you're going bro my life is empty.

And I can't seem to fill it with. Anything that it's time to come to Jesus because he wants to fill you to overflowing. I can't explain to you how how full my life is right now. Not just because I'm a really busy human being but because my life is just full. I get God's word poured into me every single day. I get the Holy Spirit poured into me every single day and my life is overflowing to a level that I can't even explain.

Because I am complete in Christ. There's a. Beautiful quote by David Guzik. Because you'll take note of the fact that it says have been meaning it's in the past tense. He says you. I put it up there. Okay. You are complete in him. It is a fact to be enjoyed. Listen not a status to be achieved. Let me read that one more time. You are complete in him. It is a fact to be enjoyed not a status to be achieved.

And sometimes we need to say Lord show me that I'm full. Lord let me see. Just how much you've overflowed me because he has and you are complete in him. And you're not going to find that completion in anything else in this world. You are complete in him and he is the head over all things. But not only that you have been made clean in him. Notice what it says in verse 11.

And in him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision. Now for the Jewish community this was a huge thing right? Circumcision was what every good Jewish male was supposed to have happen to them when they were eight days old. And if you became a follower of Judaism in order to truly become a proselyte you no matter how old you were had to be circumcised.

Because that was the picture of the law in your life. That meant you were following the law in your life. And so now what they were doing is they were telling believers in Jesus Christ. Hey. It's great to be a Jew. great that you came to faith in jesus christ but now you need to keep the right of circumcision as well and paul says no no you've already been made clean in him you see you have been circumcised in

him with a different kind of a right a different kind of a ritual it wasn't anything physical in nature because it was made without hands it was everything very spiritual in nature because it was done by christ you see now the circumcision that we have is not some physical thing that takes place it's when christ comes into our hearts and makes us brand new he cuts away the flesh of our heart and he gives us a brand new heart and paul realizing that for some they may not fully understand the aspect of circumcision goes on to talk about baptism notice what he says having been buried with him in baptism in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of god who raised him from the dead now while i do think water baptism

isHerbiangalliards.com being pictured here, I also think there's a deeper revelation that's being a little bit pictured here because the truth of baptism is not just what you do outwardly. The truth of baptism is the difference that takes place in your heart. You see, the day that you became born again, a beautiful thing took place. The day that you came to Jesus and said, I know that I'm a sinner and I know that I need a savior, you were united with him in death. That's what that word baptism means. It means

introduced into. It means, it means identified with. You were united with him. You were identified with him. You were introduced into his death because you have now died with him. But after you have died with him, you have now been raised with him. And that's what God did in you. The day that you came to faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you were united with him in his

death. And then you were united with him in his resurrection and you were made alive. You were made brand new. You didn't know all that happened when you got saved. Did you? I bet when you got saved, you were just like, dear Jesus, please help. And he was like, done. And all this stuff took place. And now you spend the rest of your walk going, so that's what

happened. He made me brand new. And he's like, exactly. That's why it's going to take all of eternity for God to show us his grace. Because sometimes our little brains just can't take it all in, right? And now when you get baptized, you do physically what at the day of salvation, God did in you spiritually. You see, spiritually speaking, you were united with him in his death and you were united with

him in his resurrection. And that, my brothers and sisters, is why baptism is the most beautiful right that we take part in as a church. Because we get to watch on the outside what God did to you on the inside. Because when you get put underneath that water, it's being united with him in his death. And when you are raised back up again, you are being united with him in his resurrection.

It already happened. And now you're telling the whole rest of the world, this is what happened. It is your public proclamation of faith. See, altar calls weren't a thing for a long time. I don't think they were a thing till like the 16, 1700, something along those lines. Altar calls didn't take place. You know how they went forward to say that they were getting saved? They went and got

baptized. It was their public proclamation of faith, as opposed to them walking an aisle down to the front. Nothing wrong with us doing an altar call. Either way, the key is whether or not your faith is in your heart. It's in your heart. It's in your heart. It's in your heart. It's in your heart. It's in Jesus Christ. But now we take part in baptism as well, because we want to declare to

the whole world, I was united with him in his death. And now I'm united with him in his resurrection. By the way, side note, we have a baptism plan for August the 11th. If you've never been baptized, you should come talk to me at some point in time, because I can't wait for that to happen. It's my favorite thing to do as a pastor, because when I get to see that it's the most

emotion causing thing, and you all know me, doesn't take much. It's the most emotional thing for me, because the reality of you being born again is put on display. And what I love more than anything, and I love more than anything, is that, you know, when you got saved, all of the angels in heaven, they all rejoiced, right? Like they were just going nuts, clapping, jumping up and down.

Everybody was stoked about it, because you became born again. And now, as the body of witness that we have here, when we all watch you get baptized, and we see you come out of the water, I love that everybody hoots and hollers and claps, and they're so excited, because you have been born again. You see, this is why Paul says, be on your guard against a philosophy that only cares about the traditions of men, that only leads you into empty deception, that only pulls you into things that are not according to Christ. Because in Christ is all of the fullness of God. In Christ, you have been made complete.

In Christ, you have been made clean. You've been made brand new. And as Paul declares these things, he gets a little geeked up about the gospel, kind of like me, right? Only he's way smarter than me. He gets kind of geeked up about the gospel. Again, I want you to picture something in your mind real quick. Remember, Paul's probably dictating this letter, because his eyesight was really bad, and he couldn't write very well. I would have to

do the same thing if I wrote a letter, right? Because my handwriting looks like a three-year-old. And so, he's dictating this letter, and he's dictating this letter, and he's dictating this letter, to somebody who's writing it down. And you can just imagine him saying, and you've been made complete in him, and he is the head over all things, and you've been circumcised in him, and you've been united with him through baptism in his death, and now you've been united with him in his resurrection. And all of these things took place through God. And now

he gets excited about the gospel and brings some direct application. Notice what he says in verse 13, and when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. And Paul just gets geeked up and just starts talking about the gospel. And you know the gospel message, right? You, you were dead.

And what made you dead? Well, first of all, you were dead because of your transgressions. Second of all, you were dead because of your uncleanness. And I don't know about y'all, but I can definitely look back to before I was walking with Jesus, and I can encapsulate it with those three words, dead, transgressions, uncleanness, right? Like, like those are the things that

encapsulated who I was before Christ. And those are the things that encapsulate who you were before Christ. And if you're here this morning and you're not a believer, those things encapsulate who you are now. Christ. He says, when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your heart, second thing, he made you alive. He made you alive together with him.

And I don't know if y'all really appreciate the alive sometimes. I don't know if all of us appreciate the alive sometimes, because we get a little focused on this world. We get a little focused on the things here. Well, I don't have this that I want, and I don't have that that I want. And they've got better this than me, and they've got better that than me. And we get kind

of sad about all the things of this world, and we forget one central point. You have been made alive. You were dead, and now you're alive. And this is what I tell kids, too, when they want to give, when I talk to them about giving their testimonies. They say, I don't know if I have a testimony. I said, well, are you? Are you saved? And they say, yeah. I'm like, well, then you have a cool testimony, because you

were dead, and now you're alive. Sure, some people's decay may have been a little worse than yours, but you're alive after you were at one point in time dead, and now you have spiritual life coursing through your veins. You know who the one true God is, and you're in communion with the one true God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. You have been made alive, and you've been made alive together with him. And how did he make us alive together with him? Well, keep

following the flow of thought here. Having forgiven us all of our transgressions. Having forgiven us all of our transgressions. Do you guys remember we talked about this word forgiveness a few weeks ago? Remember what the word forgiven means? It means to lift off of. It means to remove from, and that's the idea of who we are now is forgiven, is that those things have been

lifted off of us. Imagine, if you will, that you're carrying some heavy burden, right? If you've never read Pilgrim's Progress, it's a great book to picture this exact thing. Because Pilgrim leaves with this burden on his back, right? And the burden that he's carrying on his back is sin, and he's so weighted down by it, he's so held down by it, until he finally realizes

that he's been forgiven, and the burden is lifted. And now he can stand up straight because he's not carrying. It's really important that you did that. They didn't just, Biden wasn't canceling them at that point in time, right? And so you actually had to pay that thing, and so it would all be written out on a certificate. Nothing on that? I thought I'd get something out of that. I mean, come on,

people, don't be so serious. Gee, I mean, Christmas. Anyway, all your debt was written out on a certificate, and then it was nailed to the door of your home.