Power of Prayer - James 5:13-18

Who here loves to study the bible? Who here likes to dig into the word and figure out what God is trying to communicate to us? Who here wants to know God’s Truth?

Well today we are going to be doing a bible study. We are going to dig a little deeper than what seems to be on the surface of our text today. I hope this is an exciting morning for us that we may get to learn some truths that you have never thought about before.

This is why we do what we do, first we want to learn about God’s truth and second our desire here at the Rock is for you to fall in love with God’s word and make it a priority in your life above everything else in your life. It is how we build our relationship with Christ our Lord. Sometimes it is going to take some work but the reward of our studies is so amazing. So we learn and then we apply what we learn to our lives and as James has taught us we become Doers of the word not just hearers. God blows my mind with His Word.

Here are a few questions for you.
What is the proper response when my boss at work treats me unfairly and causes suffering in my life? What is the proper response when I am struggling with spiritual weakness in my life? What is the proper response when it seems I just can’t stop that one sin I continue to struggle with in my life? It is prayer gentlemen it is getting on our knees and seeking after the Lord. We are to pray as individuals when we are suffering and going through hardships. We seek after the elders to pray for us when we are weary and worn out. We are to pray for one another when we are in sin.

You may believe your prayers are not effective but as we will learn today they are very effective and there is great power in our prayers.

Please open your Bibles to James 5 and let’s read from verse 13-18 and see what God has to say about prayer.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

[Pray]

As we are winding up the book of James it is good to remember the theme of James is about living out ones faith. And this theme continues as we are coming to a close in James. We see the word pray, prayer and prayed used 7 times in these 6 verses. Part of living out our faith is trusting in the power of prayer. By faith we believe God listens to our petitions. It is why we pray because with trust that God will answer our prayers.

We come and pray every Wednesday morning because we believe God answers our prayers. James is encouraging us to pray, to pray in faith and God will answer our prayers. Maybe the answer is not what you expect but God will answer with your very best interest.

Well todays passage has a challenge in it. There are many biblical scholars who believe James is encouraging us to pray for sick believers to be healed. That is people who are physically sick. Other biblical scholars believe it can only mean a spiritual healing. They believe James is encouraging believers to pray for spiritual restoration. It could mean one or it could mean the other or maybe it could be both? It is definitely a possibility.

We even see Jesus in His ministry here on earth physically healing individuals all across Jerusalem. Everywhere He went we see people being physically healed of their infirmities. Can Jesus heal us physically even today? Of course we believe that, and it doesn’t even have to be a miraculous healing but He has provided knowledge to Dr. to heal us or medicines to heal us. We believe Jesus can heal the physically sick 2000 years ago and all through the centuries up to this very day.

But here is my question to you. Do you think the focus of Jesus’ ministry is more concerned about the physical healing of individuals or is His primary focus on spiritual healing. Did He come down to earth to physically heal us or did He come down to spiritually heal me of my biggest problem here on earth. Can anyone tell me what is the biggest problem I have? Bob Thompson would say it is my hair, Anthony Terrones would say it is my singing abilities, My wife would say my loud mouth. But what does God say my biggest problem is? It is my sin. This is the sickness I have, this is my disease. The Psalmist even tells me I was even born with it. This is the disease that can kill my body and soul. Jesus came to save me and you from the sickness called sin.

So why did Jesus physically heal people? His primary purpose was to prove that He could also heal them spiritually. We see the perfect example of this in Matthew chapter 9 where the paralytic is healed. Do you remember the story? The paralytic is brought by his friends, and Jesus sees them and Jesus seeing their FAITH tells the paralytic your sins are forgiven and Jesus turns and walks away? No He doesn’t He is going to prove to all the people who were watching that He does have the power to forgive people of their sins or as I said earlier to heal us of our greatest sickness which is sin. Jesus is surrounded by the Jewish scribes and Jesus knows the heart of the men who are watching this whole thing and says why are you thinking evil in your hearts. Which is easier to forgive this mans sins or to say get up and walk. He turns to the paralytic and says get up, pick up your bed and go home. Jesus first healed this man spiritually by what means? Through his faith. He didn’t need to heal him physically except for a single reason. To prove that He can also heal him spiritually. And this is what I believe James is telling us today.

Here is the big idea. Why does James tell us to pray? Because we all need prayer for our spiritual healing. This is James primary focus in verse 13-20. This is what he is encouraging us to do. If we are in spiritual suffering, then pray, if you are spiritually weak, then pray, if you are in sin then pray.

First and foremost God wants us spiritually well that is why James is exhorting us to pray. Maybe God in his graciousness will physically heal us to demonstrate who He is but then again maybe that is not His will to physically heal us but to only spiritually heal us.

Lets take a really quick refresh in what we have learned from Bill Morris in the last two weeks. In James 5:1-6 we see James warning the rich how they are condemned because they have misused their riches and have taken advantage of the laborers. Then in verse 7-11 God is asking for the bretheren who have been taken advantage of to be patient. Be patient, God is going to set everything right when He comes back and He is returning soon to set all things right. James goes on to exhort them to not to complain against one another so you are not judged like the rich with the wrong heart. But instead be willing to suffer be willing to endure like the prophets of old. He tells them you know what happened to Job. He endured and we saw the outcome of the Lord’s dealings with him, the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. The Lord will work all things out in the end.

And now we finally come to our passage today in verse 13. James asks a question. Are any of you suffering. Are any of you suffering because there is hardship in your life? Are you enduring afflictions against you? James tells us the solution to the suffering caused by evil treatment is seeking God’s comfort through prayer. It is prayer that comforts us in our time of need. It is when we need God the most. Does James tells us we Should pray? NO he tells us we MUST pray!

But what if everything is going great? If you have a cheerful heart you are not suffering with anything then do what as well. Sing praise to God. Which is just another form of prayer to God. Whether you are suffering or everything is going great we need to be praying or praising God. We are to communicate with our creator in the times of struggle and in the times of great joy. We MUST pray.

Now we come to verse 14 and we need to dig a little deeper to understand this scripture in its proper context of what James is trying to communicate to us. Remember where we are in this passage, he has just told us about the rich who are persecuting us, he warns us not to complain against our brothers, he exhorts us to be truthful, he is warning us not to be in sin, not to be in judgement, he tells us we may have to endure like Job did.

He then asks us a question - Is anyone among you sick?

This is kind of strange question why does seem he is shifting gears here. Lets dig.
If we look up sick here in the Greek it is the word astheneo which means to be weak in this context. James is asking are you weak in what you are dealing with, are you struggling with the persecutions that are coming against you? Are you spiritual defeated? Then what MUST we do? Another commandment.

Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him,

Have the spiritual leaders pray for your weakness in what you are dealing with whether it is persecution against you or your own struggling spiritual condition. It says to have them come and pray and anoint you with oil. This is not some sort of ceremonial anointing but it is actually meaning to rub with oil. Why did people rub oil on someone, it was how they would heal wounds in James day. Do your remember the parable of the good samaritan? He rubbed oil on the mans wounds and it is the same language being used here. James is telling us, if we are struggling then call upon the Elders of the church to come and support you, to encourage you, comfort you. Metaphorically the elders are anointing the weak and defeated with oil to encourage them, and to strengthen them.

The blessed result of the comfort and ministry of intercessory prayer of the elders is revealed in Verse 15.

and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick

Again we need to look at two words in their original language to understand what James is saying. First, the word sick here is the Greek word kamno which is only used in one other location in the New Testament and that is in Hebrews 12:3 and refers to those those who are weary spiritually. No where in the New Testament does this mean someone who is physically sick. But a person who is enduring the hardships and hostility of those who come against a believer. The second word we need to look at is restore which is sozo and communicates the idea restoration and commonly is translated as save. Here is the idea of this passage, the elders’ prayers will deliver weak, defeated believers from their spiritual weakness and restore them to spiritual wholeness. We know this power does not come from the elders but it is the power of God who restores an individual.

James continues to tell us if the spiritually weak believer has committed sins, they will be forgiven him, this tells us as well that James is probably not speaking about physical healing here because we know all sickness is not due to someones sin. Now God could allow someone to become sick due to their sins however do you remember the blind man who was healed by Jesus. Before Jesus healed him his disciples asked Jesus was it his sin or his parents sin that caused him to be blind? Jesus responded and said neither but this man was born blind to glorify God. We know that our sins can only be forgiven when we as individuals pray to God for forgiveness. An elder cannot pray for me, and my sins are forgiven. So the idea here is that the elders can encourage us to confess, to help us discern our sins and join their prayers for forgiveness of our sins. I think about the individuals even in this room who have been prayed over by us and the elders of this church. (Daniel asked permission) 1 John 1:9 Tells us that If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we pray He is faithful to forgiveness of our sins and restores us to our creator. (He restored Daniel)

Now we come to verse 16 and we see a transition take place with word therefore.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.

James turns his thoughts from those who are spiritually defeated and need of assistance from the elders to the rest of us. He exhorts us to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another for healing. Obviously we are to first confess them to God first then to our friends. Again we want to look at the greek word for healed. We pray for each other for what kind of healing? The word healed in the Greek is iaomai. This is more than just a physical healing but is related to a supernatural event, a spiritual healing. Peter uses this term in 1 Peter 2:24 describing the healing from sin Christ purchased for believers on the cross. It is all about restoration to God, to turn from our sins and turn to God. Again this is not a suggestion but a command for us to do.

James is encouraging us to confess our sins so our secret sins don’t remain private because they can drag us down spiritually. We know the consequences of unrepented sin. They can be devastating in our lives. God knows your sin, He wants us to turn from them and one of the best way is to confess them with your brothers and have them pray for you. If one of my brothers is struggling with a sin I can help hold him accountable to it. I am able to pray for him and encourage him with his walk with Christ. It is about spiritual restoration.

And then in the last part of verse 15 through 18 James drives the point home with his example of Elijah.

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

It is so important for us to understand why James choose Elijah. here as an example of righteous man who prayed and it did not rain for 3.5 years. What is James wanting us to know about this prayer by Elijah. These are the things in scripture that amaze me. God is so, so consistent. If James was focused on physical healing through prayer in all these previous passages it would be a very strange illustration that James used as proof for physical healing. So why does he use Elijah.

Well the back drop is that Ahab was the king of Israel and he was one of the most evil kings that Israel ever had. God warned the people of Israel if they turned from God to serve other gods he would cause a drought. We see from our passage in James that Elijah had prayed for this drought and God answered it. What god had the israelites and Ahab turn to back then? It was the god of baal, he was the god of the rains and fertility. Guess what? He was an impotent god. And our God proved that by not sending rain to the israelites for 3.5 years.

Elijah prayed this prayer for what reason? So they israelites would turn from Baal to the True and Living God. That they would turn from their sins and turn back to God. God wanted spiritual healing for the nation of Israel. He wanted restoration for His people to turn back to Him from the god of baal.

Elijah was a righteous man and his prayers were very effective. But guess what he just a normal one of us. James tells us that he had a nature like ours. If Elijah can pray and have the rains stopped for 3 years do you think our prayers of turning from sin can be accomplished. Do you think our prayers of spiritual restoration will be heard by God? Well he does listen because after 3.5 years Elijah prayed for rain to return and the dry parched land was restored.

If you are struggling and suffering spiritually, pray, if you are so weak that you need the help of the elders then call them, to pray, if you are in sin pray that God would help you overcome it. He wants to restore you and you have the key that will unlock the door for you. PRAYER.

Complete in Christ - Colossians 2:8-15

Can anyone make sense of these philosophies? Why should I believe any of them? Do they have the authority to validate their claims. Should I be persuaded by these men and women to believe what they say? Should I be taken captive by their world views?

Today we have so many different religions and people telling us who is Jesus...

The Mormons tell us Christ is satan’s brother, Muhammad says Christ is a great prophet, Jehova Witness’ tell us Jesus is really the Arch Angel Michael, Dan Brown the Author of the Divinci Code says Jesus was just a man who was married and had children, Oprah Winfrey tells us Christ is not the only way to God but there are many ways to God, Ekhart Tolle the spiritual guru tells us Christ came to show us the way to Christ consciences.

It goes on and on and on. Who is right? Who do I believe? Why should I believe one over the other? Should I believe any of them at all? Are you persuaded by these claims that men and women of the world make? I am here to proclaim the Truth to you tonight. I am telling you by the authority of Gods Word that each of these peoples claim come directly from the liar of liars. These are demonic beliefs and ideas and their power comes from satan. We are not to be persuaded by these empty deceptions by these traditions of men. They are false and untrue.

Do you know 2000 years ago there were people teaching the same type of falsehoods about Christ? Do you know that there were teachers who used the name of Jesus but mixed in their own ideas about Him. People were perverting the true nature of Jesus and were trying to take believers captive with these deceptions. But there was a man, a man, who was taught by God himself, who God has used to reveal who Jesus truly is. This man has written a letter from God to us. This man is Paul and just like 2000 years ago there were people in his day and age who were twisting the truth. It is the same as today. The power of darkness continually tries to cause people to stumble in their faith. The power of darkness is trying to pervert the true identity of Christ. The power of darkness is trying to twist the completed work of Christ on the cross. The power of darkness is telling us Jesus is not God.

So lets open our Bibles tonight and see how Paul warns the Colossians against the empty and deceitful teachings of men. Paul is going to give an answer why the Colossian believers should not be persuaded through philosophies, empty deceptions and traditions of men rather than according to Christ. Please open your Bibles to Colossians 2:8-15.

Believer, I want you to take one thing home tonight, it is this: in Him, Jesus Christ you have been made fully complete. You don’t need anything else but Him. In Him You Are Complete!

Colossians 2:8-15 (NASB95)
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.
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;
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.
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Here we have Paul in verse 8 telling the Colossians do not let the elementary principles of the world take you captive. Do not let these philosophies and empty deceptions persuade you. What are these philosophies Paul is speaking about? Well the word philosophy comes from two greek words phileo and sophia which means the love of wisdom. Men throughout all time have been using their own wisdom to come up with answers to the big questions in life. Why am I here, what is my purpose in life, where am i going when I die, where did all this stuff come from, who is God and so on.

Paul is telling us, their is wisdom from the world to answer these questions or there is wisdom from God. There is philosophies of the world or there is Christ. There are men who want to deceive us into believing all kinds of crazy worldly ideas. These ideas originate from satan himself. He twists and contorts the truth in ways to deceive men. He deceives them for a single reason to destroy their souls. He is the great deceiver who roams on the earth looking for those who he can destroy.

You want to know how satan uses these world philosophies to capture people? His strategy has been the same since the day he was thrown out of heaven. It is the same lie he has been telling over the centuries. It is how Eve was deceived in the Garden by him. He mixes truth with deception.

You want to know one of the big deception he has used over the centuries? What is the one thing that all world religions and cults have in common? They deny who Jesus Christ is. They deny His deity. They deny Jesus is God. He doesn’t tell them Jesus does not exist but he denies the true nature of Christ. Here is where all religions divert from the truth.

This is exactly what Paul is addressing to the Colossians, there are men who are teaching a different Jesus. They are not denying Jesus they are just twisting the truth of who Jesus is.

But who does Paul say Jesus is? What claim does Paul make about Jesus? Please lets read verse 9 again from Colossians. Paul writes. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in the bodily form, For in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in his human body.

This is one of the strongest statements in the Bible that is used for the Deity of Christ. Paul is making a very clear claim that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. The word Deity is theotetos and it means Christ essence as God. The full deity of Christ is contained in bodily form. He dwells, God dwells in the body of Christ forever. He does not go and come but He continues. We are going to see Him again in his fully glorified body.

You think Jesus is just a good person, you think Jesus is prophet, you think Jesus, is a good teacher, you think anything other than He is God then you are wrong. He is the God man. He is 100% God and He is 100% man. How this works is one of those mysteries about God and what an awesome fact it is. It is comforting to know that God is greater than what I can understand about Him.

We don’t have some new age zealot telling us we can find god by creating thoughts in our mind, we don’t have some spiritual guru who tells us we can find god in ourselves, but we have God Himself who came down to earth in bodily form to teach men about who He is and what He has done for us.

Don’t be persuaded by these false claims about Jesus. Jesus is God and In Him You Are Complete!

This is the first argument that Paul makes against the false teachings of his day. He is telling the Colossians and us as well that Christ is, was, and will ever be God. You don’t need the philosophies of men you just need Christ. He is God. It is the plain and simple fact that Jesus Christ is God.

You may be thinking in your mind. I get it. I get that Paul and the Bible clearly state that Jesus Christ is God. But why should I even believe Paul? Why should I take his opinion over lets say a Mormon who claims Jesus is just a man who earned His way to godhood?

I believe that is a great question to ask. I want to know the truth I don’t want just someone’s opinion about who Jesus is, I want to know that I am not mistaken about this fact. Everything is riding on this question, our eternity rests on the claim that Jesus is God.

So why should I believe Paul about His claim?

Of course we have the Bible which states it, we have all the miracles that Christ did, we have the greatest miracle His resurrection but why should I believe Paul. What does he bring to the table that helps us understand his claim is truth. Why should I be convinced what he says is true rather than lets say Oprah Winfrey?

What are the facts that we know about Paul. First before Paul became a Christian he was a Pharisee. He was a zealot for the law. His whole life was wrapped around Judaism and the keeping of the law. He was such a zealot that when he heard about Christians who said they no longer needed the Law or Judiasm he was infuriated. So what did he do? He became one of the chief persecutors of the Christians. We see him in Acts at the stoning of Steven. He gave approval of the very first martyr for Christ when they stoned Steven. He was a killer of Christians. He hated the Christians and wanted to destroy christianity.

But something happened to Paul. What happened on the Damascus road is an incredible event. We know after this experience he was a changed man. No longer a zealot for Judaism, but he became a zealot for Christ. What caused this instantaneous change of heart? It had to be something incredible.

Have you heard the story of Carrie Lightner? It was just another beautiful day in Fair Oaks CA. It was early afternoon and Cari dressed in her orange and white softball uniform started a short walk to the neighborhood church. Cari and her friend were in fits of laughter as they made their way down the sidewalk anticipating an afternoon of fun. But Cari never made it the church carnival and it forever changed a family and a nation. On that quiet suburb street Cari and her friend were crossing the street to the carnival when a 47 year old man who had been on a 3 day drinking binge climbed into his car drunk. Barreling down the residential street the drunk driver swerved and hit Cari throwing her 125 ft and killing her. For the Lightner family life changed that day.

The day after Cari’s funeral the circumstances of her death became know. She was killed by a drunk driver who had already been arrested multiple times for drunk driving. It was the day a mother got MADD. Cari’s mom Candace found out that the man who had killed her daughter was probably going to be put on probation and that was it. Propelled by the grit and determination to stop drunk driving, MADD got to work. On October 1 1980 Candice on the footsteps of Capitol Hill announced her plans to change the laws and penalties for drunk driving and became a force to be reckoned with. For 29 years Mothers Against Drunk Driving have been fighting to change the laws and increase the penalties for drunk drivers. A dramatic event changed Candace’s life forever.

Paul on the way to Damascas to imprison more Christians had a dramatic life altering change. He met the true and living God on that road. That day he was killed. Not physically but he died to himself that day. He became a follower of Christ no longer a persecutor of Christ.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

What do we see Paul doing shortly after meeting Jesus? Acts 9:20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Can someone explain this radical change? Not only was Paul willing to proclaim the Gospel, but he was willing to suffer for it. We know he was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, and ultimately killed for his faith in Jesus Christ. He was an eye witness of Jesus Christ who met him on that Damascus road. Everyone he knew as well had seen the risen Lord.

If Paul had not met Jesus on that road that day then what other reasonable response would there be for his life altering change? One day you are killing Christians and the next day you become one? People could make up some lame reasons why this is not true but the plain answer would be He met God that day and it changed his life. He was willing to die for the truth. This is just one of the many reasons why I believe Paul is telling the truth about Jesus’ deity.

Paul tells us not to be taken captive by these empty philosophies because Christ is God and He has done what for you?

Verse 10 tells us: 10 and in Him you have been made complete,

I can just hear him saying You don’t need any of these false teaching you don’t need anything else because Christ is God and in Him you have been made complete. You have everything you need in Christ. He is all you need. In Him is everything why would you possibly look to anyone else to take you captive? By their silly philosophies, some man made ideas? You are followers of Christ you have everything you need!!! You are complete in Christ!

He has made you whole. This is his point he is making you are whole. You don’t need human philosophy, you don’t need empty deceptions, you don’t need any spiritual guru, you don’t need anything when your receive Christ and His Salvation. You are whole. There is absolutely nothing missing you are full! What a declaration!

So what is this definition of being complete. Paul is going to tell us in the next couple of verses. It is so powerful it is so amazing what Christ has done to complete us.

We have complete salvation in Him.
We have complete forgiveness in Him.
We have complete victory in Him.

Do you see a pattern how we have been completed. It is not through any other mechanism then through Him, Christ our Lord.

Look in verse 9 in Him, verse 10, in Him, Verse 11 in Him, Verse 12 with Him two times, verse 13 with Him, verse 14 both have the phrase He Has. Who has made us complete? Why should I never look to anything but Christ. Because in Him I have been made complete.

Verse 11 and 12 we see our salvation complete in Who? In Him.

In Him You Are Complete!

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.

In the Old Testament the act of circumcision was pictured as the removal of sin. Cutting away the sinful flesh.

Paul was telling the Colossians you don’t have to be physically circumcised in the flesh but you have already been circumcised by a spiritual operation and. The idea Paul is communicating to us is we have been circumcised of our sins by what Christ did on the cross.

Why is Paul bringing up circumcision? He is telling the Colossians this, there are people who are telling you if you want to be a follower of God you must be circumcised. It is something you must do earn the approval of God. Paul is telling them don’t listen to this empty tradition. It is only through Christ that your sin is removed. Paul in Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything...

We can’t physically cut away our sinful nature it was only in Him that are sinful nature was cut away.

Verse 12 In who? In Him we were buried with Him in baptism. We are also raised with Him through faith by the working of God who raised Him from the Dead. We are in his burial we are in His resurrection and it is all done by God. Our old life has been buried and we are now alive in Christ.

We can summarize salvation in Christ in these two verses. You believers you have no need of external circumcision. You have already received the true circumcision of the heart and you live. Your sinful nature has been cut away. You have been made complete by Faith in Christ. When he was buried your wicked selves were buried with him. When he was resurrected as new creature you were resurrected with him. All by the power of God when you believed. it is done. It is complete. You have complete salvation and you need nothing else.

Someone may say yes you need belief but what about keeping the law. No, well don’t you have to do this or that? No it was finished on the cross. Complete Salvation, is it not awesome!

Verses 13 and 14 explain how we have complete forgiveness in Who? In Him.

In Him You Are Complete!

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.

Those two verses are absolutely incredible. The depth and majesty of them are so awe inspiring. Here Paul tells us we have complete forgiveness. Any one in this room needs forgiveness? Let me raise both my hands because this is why I need a savior. I need forgiveness for my sins. I know I was in bad shape and we actually all were in bad shape. We were dead in our transgressions.

What does it look like when I am dead in my sins? It would be like me laying at the bottom of a pool, drowned and dead. Is there any possible way I can save myself? Is there anyway if I am dead laying at the bottom of the pool that I can make myself alive? Can I reach up to grab the life preserver? No I am dead! Oh wretched man who can save me? I have no ability to respond to anything.

Next thing you know I was pulled up from the bottom of the pool and made alive. How? He, Jesus Christ, made us alive. He breathed life into this sinful dead body and made me alive by forgiving us of our sins!

In our former lives we were controlled and dominated by sin, completely powerless to break the chains of sin, powerless to discover the truth of God without hope, without God and we were dead. But He made us alive in Him.

How did He make us alive? When we received Him by faith. It is when Christ becomes the Lord of our lives when we turn from our ways and put our faith in trust in Him. When that is accomplished in our lives what does He promise us in verse 13? He forgives All of our sins? How many? a couple hundred? No he forgives us of all of our sins!

In verse 14 what did He do with our sins? He cancelled the debt I owed God and and He nailed it on the cross taking it away from me. Can you see what He has done for you and me. We owed Him an I.O.U. that we cannot pay but he nailed it on the cross and paid that I.O.U.

We each have sinned against God, all I have to do is look at the 10 commandments which Paul calls the school master. When I go through each of them and as you go through each of them we see how we have fallen short of God’s perfect standard. How many lies have you told? Have you always put God above everything? Have you always honored your parents? Have you ever stole anything in your life? We know we have broken His commandments. We have broken His laws and there is a debt we owe. But He, Jesus Christ has nailed it to the cross and paid our debt through his sacrifice. Incredible.

In Him You Are Complete! Why on earth would we ever look at mans philosophies verses Christ. It is foolishness if we are ever taken captive by their empty deceptions.

Last verse 15 proclaims the Victory over satan and the principalities of this world. Where was it that Jesus bruised the head of satan, at the cross. Where was it that he broke his power, at the cross? Where was it that he took away the power of death, at the cross?

Death and Sin were conquered at the cross. He has triumphed over them, through Him, Jesus Christ. In Him You Are Complete!

Luke Warm And Loving It

Great simple truth. You can not walk away from this sermon without it impacting your life.

Two Awesome Testimonies

In the last few days I have been blessed with watching two different transformations of people who put their faith and trust into Christ. There is hope for all to believe in Him. These are impactufl testimonies that I hope will encourage you to continue to preach the Word of God, or if you have not put your faith in Christ then there is no better day than today to trust in the Lord.

This first testimony is from Pastor Greg Laurie. This is based off of his latest book Lost Boy.

This next one is former guitarist from KORN, shares his very RADICAL, TRANSPARENT, LIFE CHANGING, story of sex, drugs, rock and roll and JESUS?