Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11

One of the big mistakes I see made in Christianity, is the alignment with social groups and issues. Now you might wonder what is wrong with this? First of all, we need to understand our identity comes from Christ and not ourselves. When you have become truly Born Again in Jesus, your old self died and your new self was risen with Christ. At this point, I’m sure there are alot of Carnal Christians I lost with this statement, and that is total the point

As the Apostle Paul says here “There is no Greek or Jew, no circumcised or uncircumcised, Barbarian or Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all” Now let me paraphrase this for modern understanding, “there is no black and white, there is no different nationalities, there is no rich and poor , in the body of Christ, we are all one in Jesus Christ. As Christians we are all part of the Body of Christ, the Church , there is no one greater than the other, there is no separation based on race or social status. If you don’t understand this, then you totally missed the root of the gospel

When I see Churches that cater to one particular race or caters to a particular group, this is a complete heresy. There is no Biblical foundation to support this practice whatsoever. Temporarily it might be easier to only associate with “Christians” who look and think only like you, but this isn’t the Kingdom of God. The body of Christ is composed of  “The Great Multitude” (Revelation 7:9) There isn’t only one race in Heaven, or one group in Paradise, it’s the elect from God brought together by one common denominator, Jesus Christ

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

Paul goes on to teach, there is only One Holy Spirit, and we are baptized in only One Church, the Body of Christ, doesn’t matter who you are , we are Born Again by the same Holy Spirit, by the One and only Lord Jesus Christ, and the only God the Father

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Paul even takes it a step further here, spiritually it doesn’t even matter if you’re male or female , we are all One in Jesus Christ! While we can argue exactly what Paul was referring to here, the point is there is only One God, One Lord, One Holy Spirit, and One Church! (Ephesians 4:5-7)We are all brothers and sisters through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Colossians 3:5-8

How do we know if someone is truly Born Again? Jesus said “You will be known by your fruit” (Matthew 7) If someone has truly become transformed by the Holy Spirit, we should see some evidence of spiritual fruit. If someone continues to live in the same sinful lifestyle as before they came to Christ, then they have never been reborn to begin with. As Peter said “It’s like a dog returning to his own vomit” (2 Peter 2:22) Meaning someone who continues to live in habitual sin

The Apostle Paul said “Mortify therefore your members, which are upon the Earth or Put to death, the components of your earthly nature” As Jesus said to the women caught in adultery ,your sins are forgiven go and sin no more” (John 8:11) Jesus didn’t say, your forgive so keep on sinning. There is an expectation of your transformation when you come to Christ, God is not going to leave you where He found you

Going back to what Paul was saying here, notice he lists all the carnal and fleshly sins that we commit, he said Put them to death or in layman’s terms “stop sinning”! This is a message that today’s Church doesn’t even want to hear, we love hearing about eternal life and God’s Kingdom, but sanctification that’s a forbidden word in today’s Carnal Christianity.

Now I know it’s easier said than done, I know there are many of us who struggle with addictions and bad influences, but the Holy Spirit is living inside of you. As Paul said “The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11) Think about that, the Holy Spirit is living inside of You as a Born Again believer in Christ. Greater is He living inside of me, than He that is living in the world (1 John 4:4) 

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colossians 3:9-10

Notice the language here by Paul, put off the old man and his deeds (sins) and put on the New Man. Your old man was crucified and buried with Christ, your New Man was risen to eternal life with Christ, put on your New Man and walk by the Holy Spirit and not by the flesh

When you understand this concept, you understand what Jesus was saying “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) Put on the New Man in Christ, Amen!

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

The worst thing someone could say to you is “I never knew you were a Christian”, because Jesus will probably say the same thing to you in the end, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23) So many Christians are trying to still fit into the world, while still abide in Christ. This is not possible, if you are a Born Again Christian, then the evidence should be clearly seen. 

Look at the words from Paul here “If you are then Risen with Christ, seek those things which are above” Notice Paul doesn’t use a watered down explanation of someone’s faith, like many Christians today would just say they identify as a Christian. No, if your truly saved, your old self died with Christ, and your new self has been risen with Christ, hence Born Again

Paul is not talking about a Sunday Christian, that checks off the box for the week and then goes back to their normal living. Paul is talking about those who truly became Born Again in Christ by the Holy Spirit, that died to their old self and are walking in the newness of life. Seek those things which are above! Don’t concern yourself with carnal and temporal things, seek the Kingdom of God which is eternal

The Apostle Paul goes on to say “Set your affection on the things above, not on things on the earth” Well Paul just destroyed every prosperity preacher and false religion out there, why? Because of all them are motivated by carnal things. If you look to the root of every false teacher and religion, they all have one common denominator, they are motivated by worldly things, money, sex, and power.

When Christ died on the cross for your sins, your old self died with him also. If your old self hasn’t been crucified to that cross, then you are still dead in your sins. Most people don’t want to accept this truth, that’s why the real gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive to the world. That’s why the real Jesus Christ is so offensive to the world, because Christ is the Light exposing the darkness.

Think about this statement Paul makes, “when Christ , who is our life” , Is Jesus Christ your whole life? Does everything you do in life revolve around Christ? If not, then you need to do some self examination, because for those who are Born Again in Christ, have been Risen with Christ, Jesus Christ is our whole life, Amen!

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:14-15

Why is the cross of Christ central to our salvation? Why is the cross so offensive to so many people? It’s very simple, because of Christ’s death on the cross, as the Apostle Paul says “blotted out” or other translations say “having canceled the debt” of our sins. Jesus our Passover Lamb is the atonement for the penalty of our sins, without the cross of Christ, there is no forgiveness of sin

The reason the cross is so offensive to the world, is because the world loved their sin. To accept or acknowledge the cross, is to admit or understand our sinful nature. The symbol of the cross is banned in multiple countries throughout the world, why? Because it’s typically countries that reject Jesus Christ as Lord. Those who reject the cross, typically won’t repent of their sins, because they believe they are already righteous by their own account.

To understand the great sacrifice Christ made for us, we need to understand our sinful nature. As the Apostle Paul said “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) When you understand your sinful nature and understand you are deserving of eternal Hell, then you understand how precious the salvation of Jesus Christ truly is. Without sin, there is no need for the cross. Without the cross, there is no repentance. When we look at the cross, we should reflect upon how much God loves you, to take upon the penalty of your sin, and give you the gift of grace

When you truly become Born Again, when you truly repent and turn away from your sin, what happened to your past? As Paul says here it was “blotted out”. Your sin was remembered no more, as the Psalm says “As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12) How far is the east from the west? It’s eternal, there is no end from the east to the west, if you tried traveling from one end to the other, you would just keep going in an infinite cycle.

When Jesus Christ said on the cross “It Is Finished” (John 19:30) The debt for your sin has been paid, as Paul says “Christ took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross” Your sins have been nailed to the cross with Christ, this is why being saved is a transformation, your old self dies on that cross, and your new self is risen with Christ

Worthy is the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, Worthy is the Lamb who blotted out your sins and nailed them to the cross at Calvary, Amen!

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12

One of the great questions that arose from our Family Bible studies is “What is the purpose of circumcision”? And while it’s found that there are many health benefits to circumcision, this is why it’s still a standard practice today, ultimately it was a another foreshadow pointing to Christ

The sign of the Abrahamic covenant was circumcision, it was a requirement for males to become circumcised to be in the Covenant, and this command was inherited into the Mosaic Covenant. So is this a requirement for the New Covenant? The Apostle Paul teaches here “You are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands” The circumcision Paul is teaching here is a spiritual circumcision and not a physical one

So , why did God command Abraham the sign of Circumcision? To point us to Christ, you might ask how? As Paul said “Putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ”. So think about the physical act of circumcision , the removal of the foreskin, now apply that in a spiritual sense. When you become Born Again in Christ, you are no longer dead in your sins, the removal of your carnal self now being transformed and led by the Holy Spirit

Notice here Paul then teaches about Baptism, as Paul says “Buried with him in baptism, where also you are raised with him in faith” The symbolism of Baptism is your lowered into the water, a symbol of the death of your old self. And when you are raised out of the water, you are raised with Christ, to walk in the newness of life

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Colossians 2:13

Before you become Born Again in Christ, you are dead in your sins. Notice the analogy Paul uses here, the uncircumcision of your flesh, meaning without Christ you are still physically and spiritually dead. However in Christ, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you become circumcised in Christ spiritually. Your old self dies and your new self is risen to Christ

You will not be saved by physical circumcision, you can only be saved by becoming Born Again through Jesus Christ , Amen!