Sunday Sermon Outline: Who Made You Boss?

Who Made You Boss?
Mark 11:27-33

Introduction: 

     Mark 11:27-33, “And they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and scribes, and elders came to Him, 28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?" 29 And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 "Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me." 31 And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' 32 "But shall we say, 'From men'?"-- they were afraid of the multitude, for all considered John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 And answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."”

I. A Question of Authority v. 28
     "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority?”

     1 Corinthians 4:5-7, “Do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. 7 For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive?”
     Romans 12:3-5, “For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” 
     Malachi 3:1, “"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.”

II. Another Question of Authority v. 30
      “Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.”

     Mark 1:1-4, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
     Luke 1:76-79, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; 77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace."”
     John 1:6-8, “There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.”

     Matthew 28:18-19, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” 
     Mark 16:16, “"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” 
     Acts 2:38-41, “"Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

III. Still Another Question of Authority vs. 31-33a
     “And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' 32 But shall we say, 'From men'?"-- they were afraid of the multitude, for all considered John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 And answering Jesus, they said, ‘We do not know.’"

     2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.”
     2 Corinthians 11:13-15, “such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.”
     2 Peter 2:21, “It would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.”

     Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”

IV. A Rejection of Authority v. 33b
     “Jesus said to them, ‘Then neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’”

     Luke 10:16, “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” 
     1 John 4:6, “We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Conclusion:

     “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).
     “Many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19).
     Romans 8:7-8, “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
     “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

     John 3:34-36, “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Our Common Salvation

Jude 1:1-4
Our Common Salvation


Introduction:
     Jude 1:1-4, “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”


     Matthew 13:55, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”


I. The Recipients of Truth v. 1
     “To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:”


     Revelation 17:14, “those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”


II. The Rewards of Truth v. 2
     “May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.”


     John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
     Jesus “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).
     “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
     Romans 5:5, “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”


II. The Resistance of Truth vs. 3-4
     “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”


     “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29).
     Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
     Revelation 2:12-17
     2 Corinthians 11:13-15,  “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
     “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious” (1 John 3:10).
     “God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” (Genesis 3:3).
     “You surely will not die” (Genesis 3:4).
     Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”
     “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
     “From now on sin no more” (John 8:11).
     “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:34).


Conclusion:
     “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
     “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Timothy 6:12).




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Sunday Sermon Outline: Colossians 3

Colossians 3
Acknowledging the New Self

I. The Christian’s Aim vs. 1-11
     “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”


II. The Christian’s Ambition vs. 12-17
     “12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”


III. The Christian’s Authority vs. 18-25
     "18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. 22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”


Next week: Colossians 4, Making the Most of your Ministry


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Romans 13

Romans 13
The Subjection of Faith

I. A Respect for the Wrath of God vs. 1-4
     “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”


II. A Respect for the Will of God vs. 5-10
     “5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”


III. A Respect for the Work of God vs. 11-14
     “11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”


NEXT WEEK: Romans 14, The Accommodation of Faith


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Ecclesiastes 3

The Need for Divine Providence
Ecclesiastes 3

Introduction: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. [14] For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” 


I.  Adjust to Divine Providence vs. 1-8
     “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— [2] A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. [3] A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. [4] A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. [5] A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. [6] A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. [7] A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. [8] A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”

Ecclesiastes 1:4; 2:26; Ephesians 2:10


II. The Author of Divine Providence vs. 9-13
     “[9] What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? [10] I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.[11] He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. [12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; [13] moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.”

Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 3:5-8


III. Alone without Divine Providence vs. 14-22
     “[14] I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. [15] That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by. [16] Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. [17] I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there. [18] I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” [19] For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. [20] All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. [21] Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? [22] I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?” 

Romans 1:20; Acts 17:22-31


Conclusion: Acts 17:30-31; 4:11-12


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Sunday Sermon Outline: Hosea 14

Hosea 14
“Restoration of the Relationship”

Introduction: Isaiah 30:18; Psalm 68:20; Hebrews 12:29; Romans 16:26; Hebrews 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:26


I.   Repentance and Return to God  vs. 1-3
     “[1] Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. [2] Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips. [3] Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy.””

1 John 1:9;  Chronicles 7:14


II.  Renewal of Divine Support  vs. 4-7
     “[4] I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them. [5] I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily, and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. [6] His shoots will sprout, and his beauty will be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. [7] Those who live in his shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.”

John 14:21, 23; Mark 3:5-6; Romans 12:21


III. Recognition of Divine Authority  vs. 8-9
     “[8] O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; from Me comes your fruit. [9] Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.”

Isaiah 42:8; Exodus 20:3-6; Psalm 63:1 119:98-100


Conclusion: 2 Corinthians 2:15-16; Ephesians 5:25-27; John 12:48; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; 1 John 4:1; Hebrews 2:1


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Making Contact with the Cross

Text: Colossians 2:8-14

Introduction: John 3:16 is a simple verse, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” 1 John 3:16 is also a simple verse … and says pretty much the exact same thing, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us …”

Those two verses aren't about the fact that God loves His creations, but the manner in which He has demonstrated love. God SHOWED us love by sacrificing His Son. Jesus SHOWED us love by dying on a cross. But isn’t it interesting that modern churches spend so little time discussing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Oh, there are songs sung about the cross, but usually they are devoid of any real doctrinal content … and those who sing them probably give more thought to the beat of the music than the blood of the cross.

But coming into contact with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection is the supreme will of God for mankind. This should be of the utmost concern to the people of God. Making contact with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is how God demonstrated His love and wooed us, how we enter into Christ, and how we stay in fellowship with Jesus. Our text is found in Colossians 2:8-14, and begins with …

I. The Recognition of Divine Authority vs. 8-10

“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 Christ. [9] For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, [10] and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;”

First, we recognize that this isn't about man. It's not about our troubles. It's not about our achievements. It's not about living a good life. It's about living a very specific life in submission to the One who “is the head over all rule and authority.” As Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

For many people, Christianity is just living the same life that they always lived … only this time with Jesus' blessing. This is why church's are failing. They have not – and will not – submit to Christ.

But according to our text, that's the first step. We must be Captured by Christ, v. 8. “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 Christ.”

This is why so many fail. Oh, they do church, but it is about finding one that fits their personal philosophy. Churches are being administered by “pastors” who are sharing their personal philosophies. Congregations are directed by elders leading according to their personal philosophies. According to our text, it's nothing but “empty deception.” It's like a bowl of fake fruit. It may look tasty, but in reality it's hollow. Today's churches have produced a spiritual GMO, if you will. They say it's better, but really it's just going to slowly kill you. According to 1 Timothy 4:6, To “be a good servant of Christ Jesus,” is to be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of sound doctrine.”

Many are captivated by the charisma of great speakers, whether their words are true or not. Many are captivated by the things of the world and traditions that are comfortable and reassuring. But the real Christian is captivated wholly by Christ … the things of Christ … the words of Christ.

If we have been captured by Christ, we will first and foremost recognize His authority. And if we recognize Him as having all authority, then we will work to subject ourselves totally to His will. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the apostle Paul says, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” This is the foundation of our allegiance to Christ. It’s the only way we can ever be made Complete in Christ, vs. 9-10. “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, [10] and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;”

You have been given fullness in Christ. You have been made complete in Christ. What Christ has done is not in question. What is in question is our response to Him. How have we responded to His mercy and grace? How have we responded to His generosity? Is gaining Christ worth more than the things of the world? Are we willing to live the kind of life that He lived in order to be resurrected to eternal life? The fact is, we will not be complete until we fully submit to His authority.

Two things then are necessary to become complete in Christ: The recognition of His authority, and the removal of the sin that has corrupted us and caused us to question His judgment.

It all starts with coming into contact with the cross of Christ. It was at that point that the benefit of the work of Christ was bestowed upon man. The cross was the ultimate revelation of Christ’s authority. In John 10:17-18, Jesus says, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. [18] No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” And the cross was also the ultimate rejection of sin – Romans 8:3 says, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” Jesus condemned sin in the flesh. Therefore, we have to condemn sin in the flesh. So let’s go back to our text. Paul talks specifically about …

II. The Removal of Sin vs. 11-14

“[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 of Christ; [12] 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. [13] 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, [14] 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.”

Sin is a divider. Sin is never a good thing. For the modern church to spend so much of its time rehashing their sinfulness - “Oh, we're all just sinners.” - shows that they have no idea how devastating sin is nor the lengths that God went to in order to remove us from the bondage of sin.

The prophet Ezekiel understood sin and its effect … and submission to the Lord and its effect. Ezekiel 18:20-21 says, “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. [21] But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”

Personally, I’m looking to avoid the death penalty. To do that, we must be Associated with Christ, v. 11. “... in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”

In the OT, the Jews believed that they were directly associated with God based on the physical act of circumcision. Paul corrects such thinking in Romans 4, telling us that Abraham was justified by faith before circumcision was ever practiced.

And we are still saved by faith. The circumcision that Paul speaks of in our text is a spiritual circumcision, “a circumcision made without hands.” The prophet Jeremiah referred to such spiritual circumcision in Jeremiah 4:3-4, “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. [4] Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskins of your heart, ... or else My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.”

You see, to be associated with Christ the hardness of our heart must be broken up and the sin removed which would condemn us eternally. Church leaders don't need to be standing up talking about what sinners they are, but showing real righteousness. I pulled this quote right off the front page of Southeast Christian Church, which is the largest Christian Church in the United States: “We are just a group of imperfect people striving to live a life for God.”

The Bible never uses such language about the saints of God. Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! [16] Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” [17] But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.[18] Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. [19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? [20] For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

See? This is about doing away with sin, not reveling in it or using it as an excuse for a lack of holiness. So the question is: How do we submit ourselves to the Lord? How do we make contact with the cross? Our text tells us exactly what happened. First, we were Buried with Christ, v. 12a. “… having been buried with Him in baptism …”

In fact, I think a great verse which connects baptism and the removal of sin with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is in 1 Peter 3:21, “Corresponding to that (to the boat which saved Noah and his family), baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” This is what our text is stressing. “Having been buried with Him in baptism,” we were Raised with Christ, v. 12b. “… in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Paul makes the argument in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “... if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” There is no removal of sin without coming into contact with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:4-7 says, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, [6] knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; [7] for he who has died is freed from sin.”

There's the process by which we became Christians. If we died with Him, if we were buried with Him, then we were raised with Him and freed from our sins. By making contact with the cross, our text tells us that our sins are Forgiven by Christ, v. 13. “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.”

In submission to Christ, we obeyed His commands – after all, “He is the Head over all rule and authority.” We have done what He asked us to do. His sacrifice has not been in vain. Our conscience is clean as long as we obey the commands of our King. Because of Him, we are Free in Christ, v. 14. “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.”

By coming into contact with the cross, we are healed of that which would have destroyed us. Our old life was one of straying in the paths of sin … pleasing ourselves. But now, because we have recognized Christ’s authority and have had our sins removed, we have placed our souls in the hands of the Great Shepherd. Death to sin means now we can live the real life that God intended … a spiritual life in fellowship with Him and His Son. This is a life that will transcend the physical world. It will overcome all physical difficulties and produce eternal life.

Conclusion: But it all goes back to a recognition of Christ’s authority. Let's hit the high points one more time. Rather than letting the world capture our attention, we must allow ourselves to be captured by Christ. He is the only One who can fill us and make us complete.

Then, there must be a removal of sin. It is not an association with Abraham, or with any man that will save us. It is not our association with a particular congregation or denomination that will save us. We must be associated with Christ. “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Remember, this is all about making contact with the cross.

We must be buried with Christ … that’s the association which will bring about the removal of sin. If we are buried with Christ – our text says – we will also be raised with Christ. God makes us alive … with Christ. We are forgiven … by Christ. We are free … in Christ.

In fact, this is all about Christ. There is nothing in this world … in this life … more important than making contact with the cross of Christ. As Paul said in Philippians 3:7-11, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, [9] and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, [10] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; [11] in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”