[0:00] Welcome. Thank you for listening to this wholesome word by David Entry. The words you catch will change your world. May your story change from this message. Be blessed.
[0:13] Colossians chapter 2 from verse 9 through to verse 15. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principalities and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting of the body of 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 oppression of God, who has raised him from the dead.
[0:56] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all your trespasses, 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 the cross.
[1:18] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shoe of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[1:29] Here ends the reading of God's holy word. Father, we thank you for bringing us together for the purpose of fellowshipping and fellowshipping with you and with one another.
[1:40] And as we fellowship and hear your word, let your word bring yourself into us. Let your word bring us into new dimensions of grace. Let your word bring us into new frontiers of our destinies, in fulfilling our purpose in you.
[1:57] Let your word bring your glory to bear in our lives. For we all with unveiled faces, beholding us in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory.
[2:09] Oveal our faces, and let the word be made clear to us. Give us enlightenment and insight into your word. As your word is taught, heal the sick, deliver the captive, save the lost.
[2:22] In the name of Jesus, let the power of sin and the power of hell be broken by the hammer of your word. In Jesus' name, all this to your glory.
[2:33] In Jesus' name. Amen. In Jesus' name. Amen. In Jesus' name. Amen. Glory to Jesus. Hallelujah. In our last session in Colossians, we spoke about how we are completing him.
[2:50] Amen. That speaks volumes. Yeah. That's the summation of Christianity. In Colossians chapter 3 verse 4, it says, when Christ, who is our life?
[3:03] All right. Christ. The essence of Christianity is Christ becomes your life. Christ is my life. So, Paul in Philippians chapter 1 verse 21, it says, for me to live is Christ.
[3:16] To die is gain. My living is an expression of Christ. I'm not trying to tick boxes. I'm not trying to obey laws. I'm just trying to live him.
[3:28] So, Christianity is Christ. And Christ is Christianity. So, it says that you are complete in him, which also means, I'm about to say something very profound and very important.
[3:45] Religion has dictates and demands. So, for you to be a very good religionist or a very good religious person, there are sets of laws or ordinances.
[4:07] It's ordained. Sets of ordinances that you are supposed to adhere to. You are supposed to follow. There's a way you have to pray. There's a way you have to laugh.
[4:18] There's a way you have to behave and all that. As long as you can follow those sets of ordinances, religion teaches that it guarantees you access to the supernatural.
[4:31] So, religion is very much about sets of principles that one has to engage in to have a right standing with deity.
[4:43] So, every religion in the world has things people have to do in order to be right before God. every religion. So, it's normally said your sanctification, that's your right behavior before your justification, before your right standing.
[5:04] Christianity is not your right behavior that guarantees your right standing. Else, that criminal on the cross could not make it to heaven.
[5:16] Because he hasn't behaved right. He didn't get a chance to behave. He just was stuck on the cross. And we all understood that he was a criminal.
[5:27] It wasn't like miscarriage of justice. He was actually a criminal. He admitted it. He said to his fellow dying thief that we are suffering for our wrongs and we rightfully deserve to suffer what we are suffering.
[5:45] He knew it. In Luke chapter 23 verse 42 and 43 he told the other guy we deserve it. But Christ is not dying for anything he has done.
[5:56] So religion shows you what to do in order to be accepted by God. But Christianity says that if you can be in Christ you are complete. You don't have to do anything.
[6:07] Being in Christ makes you complete. The songwriter says that dressed in his righteousness alone faultless stand before the throne. You being faultless before the throne it can only be the name of Christ.
[6:22] In Romans chapter 10 verse 3 it says that the Jews they were practicing their own form of righteousness. So it says that for they being ignorant of did you see that God's righteousness not that God's behaving right.
[6:41] No. This means that God's righteousness is an acceptable what makes anybody acceptable before God.
[6:52] So God has his own system that will make you acceptable before him. It's called God's righteousness. The law was from God but if you think you are going to obey sets of rules in order to look clean before God you can't make it because it falls below the standard of God.
[7:15] Not the law but your attempt because how many of us have attempted to be very right for a long time and it doesn't last.
[7:27] We all try. Even you're Christians. Some of us are Christians and you still people don't have to know you. if they find out sometimes their thoughts that go through your mind and you entertain.
[7:41] Not that you're even doing anything wrong but sometimes their thoughts of even slapping this guy. They'll think you are not good enough. So Romans says that Romans chapter 1 verse 17 says that for in it, talking about the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed.
[8:04] The righteousness of God is like packaged and hidden in the gospel. And as you preach the gospel, it brings to bear the righteousness of God. So he said for in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed when you receive it by faith.
[8:22] As soon as you receive the gospel by faith, then you realize you have, you actually, you actually right before God. You are standing, you haven't done anything, but you are just right before God. Why? Because you heard the gospel and put your faith in Christ.
[8:36] You put your faith in Christ and that faith in Christ that you exercise makes you right before God. It's called the righteousness of God. So Romans chapter 10 verse 3, it says that for they being, talking about the Jews, but how do you know it's the Jews?
[8:53] Where you go read the two verses before? For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness. Their own.
[9:05] This is, if I do this, this is what I'm doing, this is what I'm doing, this is based on what I've been told I should do, I should do. That's why the Pharisees were so big and they have actually imported or concocted and developed complicated ways, that's based on human tradition, tradition, of adding to the laws of God.
[9:28] They've developed complicated, that's why it says that verse 8 talks about tradition. Colossians chapter 2 verse 8, it said, beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain disease, after the rudiments of this world, not after Christ.
[9:41] Then it says that in Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you have completed him. Alright, so not all the things they are saying never makes you sufficiently acceptable before God.
[9:54] But if you can come in Christ, you are complete when it comes to righteousness. So Romans chapter 10 verse 3, it said they are ignorant about God's righteousness.
[10:08] All people who practice religion are ignorant about God's righteousness. Because if you knew God's righteousness, you won't settle for this less. You will never attempt getting close to God, based on how good you are behaving.
[10:24] So it says that having not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Now look at verse 4. Let's all read it together. For Christ is the end of the Lord, Christ is the end of the earth, and the new earth.
[10:40] Christ is the end. In other words, the Greek word translated end means the termination or the fullness, sorry, the fulfillment of the law.
[10:53] It's not necessarily talking about the way Matthew 5, I think verse 17 and 18, Jesus says that I had not come to destroy the law, but I came to fulfill. The Son of Man came to fulfill, not to destroy, but to fulfill it.
[11:07] So when the Greek word translated the end of the law is the fulfillment of the law, it's not in that sense how everything that has been written Christ has come to fulfill it.
[11:18] Now, Christ being the end of the law is not necessarily that, even though this is correct, that Christ fulfills it, that end of the law is not meaning that he has fulfilled all the law, so that's it.
[11:30] Now, neither is it like in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 21, when on the cross, the Bible says that God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
[11:42] Now, it doesn't mean like Christ has done, obeyed all the law, he did, okay, but Romans chapter 10, verse 4, that's not what he's referring to. When he says Christ is the end of the law, it's not like he has done it now, the law is finished, but what it means is that you don't need the law anymore to be righteous before God.
[12:04] You know, so as long as your righteousness, your appearance before God is concerned to look right, you don't need any set of nothing. All you need is Christ, because you are complete.
[12:21] If I were you, I would really shout hallelujah. Say I'm complete in him. We are complete in him, and so our righteous, all the righteous demands of the law have already been met.
[12:36] I don't need to look for what do I do or what don't I have to do. It doesn't mean that if I'm in Christ that I can behave in any way, not necessarily. Not necessarily, but the point I'm making is that it is not your behavior that makes you just before God.
[12:52] But then when you have a relationship with God, it begins to bear fruits of righteous behavior. But it's not those works that makes you acceptable before God, but it's your acceptance to God that empowers you to be able to live like him.
[13:09] That's why we are complete in Christ. Now, today I want to talk mainly and title the message on there is so much more to the cross.
[13:21] So much more to the cross. Tell someone there is so much more to the cross. So now Paul tells us, the scripture tells us that we are complete in Christ.
[13:33] then the next statement in the verse 11, Colossians chapter 2 verse 11, says that in whom, talking about in Christ, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands.
[13:53] I mean, that is interesting. How can you talk about circumcision without hands? It's like making a phone call without a phone. you need hands to circumcise.
[14:09] But it says that our kind of circumcision, oh so if you are Christ, are you circumcised? Oh yes. So it's that in whom, in Christ, ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands.
[14:23] Now, in Philippians chapter 3 verse 3, it talks about how we put no confidence in the flesh, for we are the circumcision.
[14:36] When you're talking about those who are actually circumcised, he said we are the circumcision. Now, just to make matters very clear for us, in the New Testament, okay, let me give you a scripture for that.
[14:50] In Acts chapter 10, verse 45, the Bible uses that word circumcision. Right? Now, it said, this is where Peter was speaking, and the Holy Spirit decides to bypass Peter's authority and Peter's actions.
[15:10] Uses Peter's preaching. He said, all I need is just preach the gospel. And when the gospel was preached, God said, now Peter, stand aside, not stop preaching.
[15:22] As he was preaching, verse 44, whilst Peter yet speak, the Holy Spirit started moving in a way that he didn't require his permission. Because if the Holy Spirit asked Peter, can I fall on this people, Peter, he said, no, they are not circumcised.
[15:39] They are Gentiles. Even when he had to go to the Gentiles' house, a whole revelation had to come from heaven. To him, how you have to go to, it's okay to go to Gentiles' house, a home of a Gentile, because the regime has changed.
[15:56] It's okay to go. And guess what? In chapter 11, when he had gone back, people made sure, chapter 11, Acts chapter 11, verse 1, 2, 3, there was a major complaint.
[16:06] Serious. The brethren in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word. Look at the next verse. We are going to verse 3. And when Peter had come to Jerusalem, they, you see that word again, they that were of the circumcision contended with Peter.
[16:21] In other words, they challenged him. Give me a living translation so that we can see the new living translation. But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him.
[16:32] So who are the circumcision? The Jews. They are Jews, but they have believed. They are in Christ. Okay. The Jewish believers, so they of the circumcision, they challenged Peter.
[16:44] What was the problem? How dare you go to a Gentiles home? How dare you? Not that we are even closer to God. You are going to a Gentile somewhere basic Jews don't do it.
[16:56] So they were importing Jewish systems, Jewish norms into Christianity and demanding that all Gentile believers, if you want to be a drunk Christian, you have to be circumcised.
[17:09] And so that's why Paul wrote the book of Galatians. Galatians was written to address all these things because circumcision in Acts chapter 10 is the day of the circumcision.
[17:20] Now, that phrase circumcision was meant for Jewish believers or the Jews. But now in Philippians chapter 3 it said we are the circumcision. Remember, it didn't say Judeans, those who live in Judah, Jerusalem territory, but it's a Philippian.
[17:37] Philippi is a Gentile territory. Philippi. So this was written to the Gentile believers. And it was telling the Gentile believers that listen, don't worry about those people.
[17:48] We are the circumcision. we are the which worship God in the oh oh ah now defining what it means to be the actual circumcision in the New Testament terms.
[18:03] If we worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. So it's either the flesh or the spirit.
[18:14] That is why it says that we have been circumcised with circumcision that didn't need hands because the circumcision that needed hands was physical. But there's another type of circumcision.
[18:25] Now, Romans chapter 4 verse 11 and verse 12. That's a nice one. I think I could tell you last time. This is talking about Abraham. Abraham received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith which he had yet been circumcised.
[18:43] So before he was circumcised he had a certain type of righteousness before he got circumcised. So these Jews who are thinking that righteousness is based on circumcision he's saying that Abraham had a type of righteousness and he had it before he was circumcised.
[18:58] He says that he might be the father of all them that believe not only Jews. So Abraham would he have qualified to be our father if his faith was not based or his standing before God was not based on faith and it was based on physical action.
[19:13] Then he can be the father of the Jews but not all believers. But all believers Abraham is her father because before the Jews even came into existence Abraham was having our type of faith.
[19:26] He had our type of faith. That is why in Galatians chapter 3 it talks about how verse 9 Galatians 3 9 Abraham he says that so then oh can we read it out from the screen please?
[19:39] Let's go loud. So then Abraham gave it to your faith our blessed faith to Abraham So whatever blessing God gave to Abraham when Abraham met God he says that if you are of faith then when he was blessing him you were on his mind.
[19:54] You are part of that blessing. Hallelujah. So those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham. So now in Romans chapter 4 verse 11 he is talking about how for Abraham to be the father of all those who believe he was able to exercise his faith and had a certain type of righteousness before he was even circumcised physically.
[20:16] But look at verse 12 Romans chapter 4 verse 12 and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had been yet uncircumcised.
[20:33] So he had a certain faith when he was and at the same time Abraham is a very powerful man at the same time he is the father of all those who are circumcised. So the physical Jews are their father but the physical Jews are you you are not part of it.
[20:49] And now the Holy Spirit is saying that the physical Jews are the sons of Abraham and we are in Romans chapter 2 verse 29 that's even more powerful. Romans chapter 2 verse 29 let's start from verse 28 Romans chapter 2 verse 28 this is getting quite interesting.
[21:10] You see that's why you have to read your Bible. If you don't read your Bible somebody will be telling you what the Bible is saying and it might not be entirely so. So you have to read your Bible.
[21:22] For he is not a Jew which is one outward neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh.
[21:34] verse 29 but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that oh oh oh oh oh do you know that no one can use their hands to circumcise your heart?
[21:50] No. Not even a heart specialist they can't circumcise your heart. This is talking about not the physical heart it's talking about the core of you.
[22:02] when you are born again something has happened to the core of you. In putting away the flesh when you are born again you don't live comfortably after the flesh.
[22:15] So then back to Colossians chapter 2 verse 11 it talks about how in whom ye who are the ye you and I you and I the believers those who are in Christ in whom ye are circumcised with the circumcision made with our sin in putting up the body of sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
[22:40] So circumcision really means putting out the sins of the flesh or the body of flesh putting it up you are dying physically but it means that you are not living based on your natural and carnal instincts.
[22:54] That's what it means to be circumcised what it means to be in Christ. But pastor it looks like what you are saying is very far from me even though I'm born again you are born again but you are not living according after the spirit.
[23:07] You can be born again and still live after the flesh. Even though you have been circumcised on the inside you are still practicing and living after the flesh. So there are many people who are born again and yet they walk in the flesh.
[23:21] That's why in Galatians chapter 5 verse 16 walk in the spirit so you don't fulfill the desires of them. Unfortunately your flesh never gets born again it will never be born again and it can't.
[23:32] That's why you still have your desires. You still have some feelings that you used to have before it became born again. It looks like you haven't changed but the core of you has encountered the word of God.
[23:47] And that is why Paul in Philippians he said work out because something has been worked into you. that's why we are accepted before God.
[23:59] Be careful when you are judging a Christian. You might be judging them based on the external but God said that's my boy, that's my baby, that's my daughter, that's my girl.
[24:10] God why is she your girl? He still stinks. She stinks, he stinks. You remember Lazarus came from the dead in John chapter 11 verse 39 Jesus said roll away the stone.
[24:27] Martha said no no no you can't roll away the guy stinks, he stinks, he's dead for four days, he stinks. Some people who live with you, they look at you and they condemn you. They say you are born again and look at you, you say you are born again and even some church people, Judaizers, all they are interested in how you are behaving, they just keep monitoring your behavior, keep monitoring your behavior, keep monitoring and God is not monitoring your behavior, listen, listen, when you live by faith and you work with Jesus Christ, the resultant effect is fruits of Christ show in your life.
[25:04] Don't try to do, don't try to be doing, don't try to be behaving right as a Christian, live Christ, be in union with Christ and the fruits of your union of Christ will begin to show. That's the Christianity.
[25:18] Live with Christ, your union with Christ produces works that glorify God, but religion makes you look out for works to do.
[25:29] So there are people who are busy ticking boxes but their hearts are far from the box they are ticking. The point I'm making is that there are times that you can be ticking the boxes exteriorly but this thing is not from the hearts and it says circumcision is of the hearts so you are not circumcised.
[25:54] It's if you are circumcised this circumcision we're talking about the Christ circumcision is from the hearts. So pastor how did that happen and when did that happen? Hold on hold on hold on not so fast not so fast.
[26:05] Let's go to the next verse Colossians chapter 2 verse 11 Colossians chapter 2 verse 11 I read it again and then we'll get to the 12 in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made with our hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ buried with him in baptism he has also brought baptism so circumcision and baptism can of carry similar approach or similar implication now baptism is not necessarily what saves you when it comes to the Jews when they come and baptize it's a sign that they have actually changed I've changed my approach and the way I behave has changed but Christian baptism is not what should begin the change it's the circumcision being in Christ is where the change begins and then the baptism is just a highlight baptism doesn't save you baptism doesn't give you something you already don't have through being in
[27:14] Christ it's like wearing the ring sometimes some of you are married but there's been one or two times you forgot your ring because you were in hurry for an interview did that mean you are not married no and there are people who have been wearing rings who are not married so it's like some of us I go baptized when I wasn't born again it was a religious thick box and it was good it's not evil in itself but it doesn't mean quite until I found Christ or Christ found me I think that's better way of putting it I was lost it wasn't him who was lost I was lost Christ found me until I found myself in Christ and I got the Christian baptism which is an identification with the burial of Christ so here in Colossians it says that being buried with him in baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the oppression of God who has raised him from the dead this is all
[28:22] God who is at work so you go into the water as a demonstration illustration that look guys I'm buried with Christ so it's a statement to your ex oh yeah it's a statement to your family that I'm a different man I'm a different woman you changed before you went into the water but you are going to the water to now make it public that's why baptism is never private and if you are genuinely born again and you are ashamed to do baptism publicly there's a question mark on your faith so he says that one he said we are circumcised and in him we are baptized what brings the circumcision and what brings the baptism this is all pointing to one thing something because he says that we are buried with him in baptism so that means we died with him where did he die there is something about the cross that if you are not careful you can miss because the cross is loaded the cross of Christ is the thing it is it that is it the cross of Christ pastor can you elaborate hold on hold on we are getting into it the cross of Christ so he says that we have been buried with him in baptism wherein also we are risen with him through the faith of the oppression of God who has raised him from the dead now look at the next verse it's getting a bit more intense
[29:57] I like the way he personalizes it he says you you he brings it directly leave the others sometimes when you are preaching people are thinking this guy was here should have been good no he said you stop listening preaching for people listening to preaching for others for your husband for your wife for your friend I can understand where you are coming from it all happens so as body said you you and you and you being dead in your sins and the circumcision of your flesh has he oh dead man sometimes people give the illustration of salvation as someone who is in the boat and the boat has capsized and you are sinking and then someone comes with a life jacket so Jesus comes with a life jacket and says take it come come he's trying to save you so sometimes people use that as an analogy for salvation no it's not like you are sinking you are dead under the water yeah so watch this
[31:11] I'm going to say something a bit stronger so there's nothing you can contribute to your salvation he said it is the gift of God lest any man should boast you can't be in church and think that it's because you are smart no it's not because you are not in Christ because you are smart because there are people who are smarter than you and yet they are not in Christ there are people who are smarter you would think that the smarter people are the better the easier they will be in Christ rather sometimes the smarter they are the farther away they are in Christ why because it please God that in the wisdom of God through human wisdom man through human wisdom who don't know God so if you are naturally intelligent it doesn't guarantee that you naturally find 1 Corinthians chapter 1 that's God's operating system it says that for after that God also has his own way of doing it the wisdom of God that the world by wisdom knew not
[32:11] God so you can do your research as much as you want and research into Christianity it doesn't mean you find it you find God because God is not researched God is revealed because I'm researching God I'm researching God I'm researching God I'm researching God it's just like standing here and touching your tummy and say I'm trying to calculate the length of my intestines there the small intestine and large by touching your belly I think it's beyond that you can't say they say there are gems let me see there's no gems I shook the man's hand I know he has coronavirus but there's no virus in my hands you know please you can't use that to find even virus you can't use your natural senses to find virus how dare anyone think they can use their natural senses to discover God God small virus tiny tiny tiny tiny microcosm you can't find him so you just wear a mask just in case you don't know who is carrying it just wear a face mask so that who inhaled some virus yet we think
[33:26] I'm smart enough I can research God no no one can research God so that when you are born again you were actually dead and God by his own mercies that's why salvation is a statement of mercy from God in Ephesians chapter 2 from verse 1 it said you are still quickened who were dead in your transgressions and sin look at by the world or whatever and then it goes on to verse 4 it says that but God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherein he loved us even when we were dead even when we were dead in sins he quickened us oh yes yes yes a Christian will be saying hallelujah for this even when we were dead in sin he resuscitated us he gave us new life he quickened us now that is the work of God that's the work of God he quickened us he made us alive no dead person can wake himself up no dead person dead people don't wake up anyway and some of us even when when we are asleep we need loud alarms to wake us in the same way
[34:47] God also is able to make us alive God quickened us say quickened that's the word the biblical word he quickened us so Colossians again he says that verse 13 Colossians 2 13 and you being dead in your sins you have plenty of them many many many many damn sins you got and you sitting in church like you don't got damn sins come on many many many damn sins you got so it's okay if people who used to know you see this guy is in church I don't believe it that's okay because you should understand because they know you or they knew you but the one they knew is buried with Christ hallelujah they knew you in your dead state but they have to taste you in your living state hallelujah hallelujah in first Peter chapter 1 verse 3 and 4 talks about how
[35:51] God has made us alive again he says that blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercies have begotten us again wow unto a living hope he has gotten to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ he gotten us again we are born again you are born again when you are born the first time you are born dead born again to be alive in Christ born again he has made us alive he has begotten us again born again that's what we ask are you born again are you born again I was born from my mother's womb no that's not the one we are talking about born again again again again is after you grow you can't be born again when you are a child because the second one is a decision your first birth is the decision of your parents you didn't have to contribute to it sorry
[36:53] I made a mistake is there anyone who contributed to your birth you didn't have any contribution then it's also true about your spiritual birth nobody contributes to their birth so being born again glory must always go to God that is why you cannot be a praiseless Christian you must always be thankful to God you must always be grateful to God you must always be grateful to God and consider that you never deserve it and you couldn't have done it by yourself God did it even when you see struggles in your physical your behavior still be thankful that at least someone said I know I'm nowhere I want to be but thank God I'm no more where I be somebody shout hallelujah he quickened us again Colossians chapter 2 verse 13 and you being dead in your sins and the own circumcision of your flesh has he quickened or another word for quicken has he made alive let's see amplified how amplified okay new can say made alive let's see amplified please is that when you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh well in manner of life
[38:17] God made you alive it's like you didn't have to stop it you were still there and he came there and made you alive that's the same thing that happened to Abraham Abraham was an idol later living with idol worshippers and he was an idol worshipper but the God of glory according to Acts chapter 7 verse 2 the God of glory appeared to him wow the God of glory he's the God of when he appeared to Abraham couldn't say no that's why when it got time for you to be born again in spite of all the things me I don't do church I'm not religious how come you're here now you're here Sunday after Sunday week after week you've been in church for the past five years and you are enjoying it wow where did you get that from no God God intervened Bible says that the light broke through the darkness it says that in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 5 and 6 interesting it said for we preach
[39:17] Christ 6 let's go 6 for God to give us the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ he did it without your permission why are you born again because God chose to save you somebody say thank you Lord that's why Christians are always thankful to God in spite of what might be happening in your natural life which might not be favorable there's always something you can be thankful to God for your salvation your salvation I might not have money but I thank God I have Christ I might not have a husband or a wife I might not have a child I might not have a job I might not have what everybody has I might not have friends but thank God I have Christ I have Christ thank God and that is a good platform for life hallelujah so it talks about how he has made us alive again the last phrase there is so good
[40:23] I like it it it takes the wind from the sale of my enemies when they come to accusing me before God because the devil knows something he can use against you you know others may not know about you but he knows the devil knows your enemy the devil he knows something about you he can use to accuse you before God he can use to accuse you but Bible says that in Christ put you on the screen he says that having forgiven you how many how many how many that's what's called good news that's what's called good news we owe a debt we can't pay it's an unpayable debt not what they've done against you but what you've done against
[41:23] God it's an unpayable death Matthew chapter 18 verse 23 to 27 he said therefore is the kingdom of heaven like unto a certain king who would take account of his servants this is how the kingdom of heaven is like a king who would take account of his servants and what happened and when he had begun to reckon one was brought that one I believe is me or you one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents look at the next verse but for as much as he had not to pay he didn't have what it takes to pay not sometimes you can owe and you can't pay this is an unpayable debt give me new key so he can make it easier for but as he was not able to pay you can't take your own boxes for God to smile you can't because whilst you are trying to even please him you have done another one and as he was not his master commanded that he be sold with his wife and children and all that he had and that payments be made that the law in those days he can't pay so get rid of him his wife his family everything and let's get a little bit of money to settle the debt even though he can't pay the debt and look at what happened then the servant therefore fell down before him saying master have patience with me and
[43:01] I will pay you all and what happened verse 27 the master of that servant was moved with compassion and release him and forgive him the debt what oh hallelujah in the kingdom of God there is forgiveness of sins there is cancellation of debt I'm not talking about financial debts the debt which you can never pay is the sins against God we broken his law every day we keep breaking it so he says that in him you have forgiveness he said he has forgiven you all please don't take that lightly that is actually at the core of the Christian good news don't go around arguing with people of other religion who is right this one is what we preach you want it you don't want it go to the next available head that may want it this is the
[44:09] Christian message it's not about who is right and who is wrong this thing of forgiveness of sins on what grounds will God forgive our sins hold on it's still not done so he said we have forgiveness now look at verse 14 and verse 15 and I'm ending on verse 15 verse 14 let's all read that from the screen let's go hallelujah watch this watch this I realize you didn't realize it this won't make much sense until you go back into the previous verse and read through so it's like let's pick it from the last statement having forgiven you all your trespasses watch this blotting out oh oh so he just didn't forgive you there are documents there are written documents that show that you are a debtor it's written and it's enshrined in his law ordinances ordinances there mean the
[45:22] Jewish traditions and the religious system that tells you that a Gentile cannot even mix with a Jew these are ordinances and that tells you the consequences of what happens to you if you sin listen every one of us have broken the God's law James chapter 2 verse 10 we are law breakers oh yes you are a law breaker or you were a law breaker and outside of Christ you even break more it says that for whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend at one point is guilty of all so stops you for going through red he says officer since I left the house 30 minutes ago I've gone through only green this is the only red I've gone through so you have to let me go no no no no no it's like a necklace a lady's pearl or chain if it's broken at one point all is broken you can't wear a chain broken at one point the law if you break it at one point you are guilty so
[46:33] Romans chapter 3 verse 23 said for all have sinned all so every human being who is alive there is a document spiritual document endorsed by heaven which is against you handwriting of ordinances now those days there were translated handwriting of ordinances it means that those days when you owe there is a certificate of debt that is hand written certificate of debt so it's hand written and you have a copy and your creditor also has a copy and sometimes if you default they put it it's notice board it's pinned to everybody can see this guy hasn't paid and then also in those days when they execute anyone for information Jesus was not the only one who died on the cross please please when they executed anyone in those days that they used to execute people on the cross Roman times they put the charge as a notice on their head not on their head like on the cross so everybody would read this guy went to kill seven people that's why you will see why they been crucified so anyone who is crucified on the cross their charges are nailed to the cross on their head so you remember when
[47:57] Jesus died wrote something king of the Jews and then the first he said remove it don't write that it's not the king of the Jews he said what I've written is written that's why he said I should crucify him so his charges were king of the Jews but Jesus Christ in Colossians what we are reading now in Colossians chapter 2 verse 14 Bible says that blotting out so that handwriting certificate of death that was against you when he went on the cross I'm going to get into the cracks when he went on the cross the cross was an interesting place a lot was happening at the cross that meets the eye the wicked and criminals who crucified Jesus were at the cross right his mother and some disciples were also at the cross people were all walking Jesus Christ himself was on the cross you would think these are the only people on the cross but behind the scenes God was there also working God started working on the cross and you might think that's all principalities and powers were also there the cross was crowded with witnesses and stakeholders on the cross but what happened is that the
[49:15] Bible says that the handwriting of ordinances that were against us he erased it he had a big eraser he said he blotted it out he blotted it now the ordinance there doesn't only mean the things that you have done wrong but the law there were things written in God's law the good things watch this watch this the cross it wasn't only when Jesus was dying on the cross once he was destroying sin he was destroying the devil he was destroying the world he was crucifying the flesh he was crucifying sin the devil the world the flesh anything that was contrary he was crucifying it but not only that on the cross he was also nailing the law the good things the good things that were not in your favor the thing is good God has said you should do this you should do this he took it out of the way nailing it to the cross hallelujah so not only your sins were put on the cross also the ordinances the ordinances but the commandment is good yes is good but it was not working for you it was not working for you so
[50:21] Romans chapter 10 verse 4 it says that Christ is the end of the law why because he also took that ordinance that was not working for you he took it and what did he do he nailed it to the cross three major things that God was doing on the cross from this text verse 13 verse 14 and verse 15 verse 13 he quickened us he made us alive say I'm alive verse 14 he nailed laws systems ordinances to the cross not only bad things because on the cross he was I told you the cross was crowded right around the cross the wicked soldiers the disciples Jesus Christ himself was there and then what principalities and I said who else
[51:24] God what would God be doing there this is Colossians chapter 2 verse 14 how about Ephesians chapter 2 verse 14 look at this this is sweet this is good for he himself just talking on Christ for Christ himself is our peace who has made both one talking on Jews and Gentiles for the first time Jews you can understand why Paul had to rebuke Peter publicly they were good brothers but for once Paul had to put Peter right because Peter was playing the hypocrisy when the Jews came around he behaved like he doesn't mingle with Gentiles in Galatians chapter 2 so he was virtually misleading the people because he didn't want Judaizers when we say Judaizers they are Judaizing you they are making Christians fixing them into Jewish tradition so in Acts he says that why do we put on the
[52:26] Gentiles betting that we and our fathers could we couldn't carry it our fathers couldn't carry it and God has found a different way of saving us and when he is saving them to them we couldn't carry we put it on their head that you have to meet this that's unfair so Peter said why are you putting on the Gentiles what we nor our fathers could not bear we couldn't bear it we couldn't bear it now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers some of the Jews still didn't understand that God is operating with a new system of grace so when you become a Christian they were imposing judaistic rituals on you that's what was happening in Colossae you have to behave like a Jew you have to start keeping sabbat day you have to say you don't keep sabbat day all that all that they were forcing it on them and so
[53:33] Paul had to say no no no listen you don't need that and all your sins have been forgiven and so he had to contest with them to the extent that he had to for once rebuke he said I withstood him to the face I told him to the face Paul apostle telling another apostle and when Peter had come to Antioch I withstood him to his face what why because he was to be blamed what has done wrong for before 13 men came from James he would eat with the Gentiles but when they came because James was based in Jerusalem when they came he withdrew himself fearing those who were of the circumcision why are you eating Gentiles and even Barnabas was carried look at the next verse Peter's behavior and the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrites with him so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy
[54:35] Paul said I put it to Peter you are misbehaving wow later Peter was writing his epistle of Peter he said our brother Paul is a beloved brother he wrote he said he wrote things that are hard to understand especially if you are not learned Peter was commending the writings of Paul because Paul was in the right listen when someone says that I don't flow with Pastor David I would love it for you to say because of doctrine then Christians are talking you hear what I say I don't want to be in this church because of doctrine I agree with you if your grounds is doctrine that's a good point because you must be so concerned about doctrine your doctrine should determine where you fellowship so if you have if you have concerns of doctrine it is a legitimate biblical grounds to withdraw fellowship but any other reason for withdrawing fellowship is not healthy enough and let's allow people to disagree with our doctrines as long as both of us can go into the scripture and find out what the scripture says because the
[55:55] Bible says the Bible says then we can all read and see if the Bible really said it so any Christian fellowship that is not built on biblical doctrine is not even healthy you can even if it's your mother or father you can disagree not disrespect please you can disagree and decide to withdraw fellowship if you are someone I look to spiritually and you begin to bring doctrines that are contrary to you are telling me that you can be saved by only believing in Jesus but you also have to pray to angels I will not disrespect you I will still love you but I can't have fellowship with you we can discuss but our fellowship should be on the grounds of doctrine so he said I withstood Peter to the faith because his behavior was not doctrinal I with Peter and so then going back to the
[56:56] Colossians he says that he on the cross when Jesus was on the cross God was also working what was he doing he said Ephesians chapter two verse 14 for he is our peace he himself is our peace we have made both one and broken down the middle wall of separation whatever discriminates between people black white green blue male female employed unemployed married not married that this whatever whatever this brings discrimination in our in our fellowship Christ paid a heavy price on the cross he was also removing that thing so that we can have Christian fellowship so on the cross he also took away the discrimination that naturally exists amongst human beings God discrimination is natural there are people you will never get on with by virtue of your background your race your color something it depends on your way of thinking or your political stance or your political party there are some people you know when it comes to politics you don't fellowship with them even football thank you even football
[58:07] Arsenal and Chelsea and all those I might be Perkham United and you are Kersentin divided and we are rivals when it comes to football but when we come to church we are brothers we don't care about football we don't care about gender we don't care about race we don't care about status because Christ paid a big price taking it out of the way which is nailed it to the cross look at that he says that for himself is a piece who Ephesians 2 14 for himself as he has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation between us now look at the next verse he didn't only remove this thing but he abolished the enmity in his flesh that's on the cross he used his flesh he was that enmity that exists amongst human beings by virtue of different backgrounds or different persuasions even the law of commandment contained in the ordinance has appeared again for watch this give me new can just please so as to create in himself one new man from the two thus making peace so watch this he wasn't only nailing the ordinance that gave us to the cross he wasn't only removing the middle wall of partition he was also creating on the cross creation was going on he was creating in himself one new man that's another term for the church in the bible one new man making creating one new man verse 10 of
[59:46] Ephesians chapter 2 look at verse 10 just quickly for we are his work man that's God's work man created in Christ Jesus so Genesis chapter 1 first day he created second day he created third day he created fourth day he created man and seventh day what happened he rested and then the next time he created was when Christ went to the cross and the cross work was a creation so God was also there on the cross but he wasn't the only one there and Christ was not only also removing separation he wasn't only blotting out the handwriting and nailing it to the cross he wasn't only crucifying the flesh he wasn't only dealing the blow to the devil he wasn't only removing sin paying for sin something was also happening there on the cross that's verse 15 and then we'll finish on that look at verse 15 I love verse 15 Colossians chapter 2 verse 15 let's read the hour from the screen let's go hallelujah verse 8 says be careful let anyone spoil you hear Jesus on the cross his poor principal where were they they also came there principalities and powers there mean the hierarchical order the hierarchical order of the demonic world they were all interested do you know
[61:15] Satan didn't want Jesus on the cross really yes that's why Jesus said get behind me Satan because in Matthew chapter 16 when he said Bible said from then I think verse 20 from that time he began to tell his disciples how the son of man said from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chifres and the scribes and be killed and be raised the third day as soon as he said that look at what happened by tossing Peter who was working tossing Peter tossing Peter Satan will always use the body the closest body around you he can be a bishop the one who makes himself available Satan will use you we are a church of revival but if you make yourself available Satan will use you for connival Satan likes using family members because they have our interest and hearts generally but if they don't have our revelation they might have our interest but not our revelation and their lack of revelation they will advise us and they will inspire us or they will deal with us they will relate with us from their lack of revelation they are advising you principalities and powers
[62:44] Bible said he made an open show what watch this watch this the cross is not a symbol of defeat no the cross is never a symbol of defeat that's why christians many churches you can see cross there that's what paul said in galatians chapter 16 forbid that i should boast in anything save the cross of christ save the cross of christ because he triumphant he said triumphant over them in the cross galatians said having his four principalities and powers he made them nothing that's why satan was afraid he said peter he inspired peter peter said jesus you can't die on the cross jesus turned to peter he said keep behind satan because it wasn't peter satan was working satan feared the cross satan feared the contest for the cross the actual contest was in the garden of gethsemane when jesus was sweating blood god this is hard to go but it wasn't because he was afraid of death but the sin that was going to be put on him he is so holy he doesn't know how he's going to he has never experienced sin and your sin and my sin were going to put on him he said if it's possible father let this not come this come because that's the only point that the father turn his face from
[64:02] Jesus because the sin was put on him and the father punished put all our punishment on him he paid the death in full the death we couldn't pay the payable debt he paid that's why God can forgive all your sins not because he's doing arbitrarily no he's doing it based on justice because someone has paid for it and if you come into Christ then Christ God can say that all your sins with me in paradise why because I paid for the sins I paid for the sins triumphing over them in it in the cross principalities came around they thought that we are finished with this guy but he triumphed over the devil he triumphed over the principal the cross is a symbol of triumph the cross wait if you get a chance to don't be ashamed of it wait if you have to wait why is it that some people are so animated about the cross and let me say this in closing the other time I heard somebody saying people are naturally ignorant we are all ignorant at some point you know that so it depends on who your teacher is so if someone uses a gun to kill your father someone who is very precious to you kill him will you go around wearing the gun in your neck that is what killed my father no you won't do that because they don't understand to the
[65:52] Christian the cross is not defeat the cross is a symbol of victory it is not a symbol of defeat it is a symbol of victory that's why we speak about the cross that's why in fact everything happened at the cross the cross is where you see the justice of God and the mercy of God converging God's justice God is so just that he had to punish sin at the same time he's so merciful so he was punishing your sins at the same time releasing you through his mercies it's the meeting point of the love of God and the anger of God God has anger and God has love they all convert on the cross on Christ so when he was venting his anger against sin he was demonstrating his love towards the sinner so then God when you are in Christ he can look at you and say your sins are forgiven I give you my righteousness your sins are forgiven and yet you haven't done anything good but your sins are forgiven why because somebody has done it and what the person did
[67:00] Christ on the cross God accepts that righteousness God accepts that sacrifice God accepts it so let me add the scripture in John chapter 16 verse 9 and verse 10 in John chapter 16 he said when the Holy Spirit comes he will convict the world of sin why because they do not believe the world of sin because they do not believe sin before God is not so much based on what you do is whether you believe in Christ or not that's what makes you a sinner your own belief in Christ is what makes you a sinner said of sin because they do not believe but look of righteousness because I go to the father hallelujah Christ says that my ascension to God is the grounds of the righteousness that God can credit you because Christ's righteousness is the only righteousness God can accept every other righteousness is below standard Christ went and showed his hands and presented his righteousness God said I accepted this and he presented it on our behalf so that when we go to
[68:02] God in his name when we go to God in Christ we are accepted just as Christ was accepted hallelujah there is so much more to the cross the cross is not a symbol of defeat it's not a symbol of sorrow it's not a symbol of shame the cross to the Christian is the symbol of joy of victory of pride of celebration did you receive something thank you for listening to this message by David Entry you're welcome to connect with David Entry on Facebook Instagram Twitter and LinkedIn you can also find more spirit-filled messages from Karis Church on YouTube and all relevant streaming platforms don't forget to subscribe like and share the message be blessed