Colossians 1:1 … Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,

To the Church in To the Church in ColossiansColossians

Colossians 1:15 – 20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church;19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

1. His Work for you (1:15-20. 2:11-15)

Colossians 2:11 – 15 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1. His Work for you (1:15-20. 2:11-15)

What He did for you: Made peace through his blood, shed on the Cross

a) Reconciledb) Circumcisedc) Baptismd) You were dead… made you alivee) Canceled the written codef) Disarmed the powers and authorities

Colossians 1:11 – 14 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

2. His Work in you (1:11-14. 21-22. 25-28)

Colossians 1:21 – 22 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

2. His Work in you (1:11-14. 21-22. 25-28)

What He did in you: a)strengthenedb)qualifiedc)rescuedd)reconcilede)present you holy in his sight

2. His Work in you (1:11-14. 21-22. 25-28)

Colossians 1:25 – 27 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness– 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

3. His Work through you (1:28. 2:6-7. 9. 3:1-14 )

Colossians 1:28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

3. His Work through you (1:28. 2:6-7. 9. 3:1-14 )

Colossians 2:6 – 7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

3. His Work through you (1:28. 2:6-7. 9. 3:1-14 )

Colossians 2:9 – 10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

3. His Work through you (1:28. 2:6-7. 9. 3:1-14 )

What He does through you: a)Christ in you, the hope of gloryb)perfect in Christc)just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in himd)you have been given fullness in Christ

3. His Work through you (1:28. 2:6-7. 9. 3:1-14 )

Colossians 3:1 …So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ-- that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-- even though invisible to spectators-- is with Christ in God. He is your life. 4 When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too-- the real you, the glorious you. 5 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. 6 It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.

Colossians 3:1 …7 It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. 8 But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. 9 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill- fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. 10 Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom- made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.  12 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13 Be even- tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all- purpose garment. Never be without it.