WEBVTT 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:21.039 A warm welcome to you. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:22.079 My name's Duncan. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:24.640 I'm one of the leaders here at City Church. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.559 It's great to be with you this afternoon. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:32.560 But before we come to this passage, let me pray for us. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:35.679 Loving Father, I thank you for your truth. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:43.359 I thank you for who you are, and I thank you that you love and you desire to speak to your children. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:49.039 I pray as we come to your word, by your spirit, would you help us? 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:53.600 Would you help us to see you with fresh eyes? 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.799 Would you encourage our hearts? 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:04.239 I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ here today who are clinging to you and yet struggling. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:14.640 I pray for them as they want and desire to know you, to love you, and yet feel distant from you. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:16.480 Would you draw close? 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.599 Would you encourage them through your word today? 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:25.840 Would they know your assurance in Christ Jesus? 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.920 And would we all grow in love for one another and love for you, for your name and your glory? 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:32.879 Amen. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.079 Is Christ enough for you? 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:43.040 Seems like a basic, simple question. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.439 Is Christ enough for you? 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:53.120 I know if you're here today, if you are a Christian, if you believe in Jesus Christ, you know how you should respond. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.319 You know what the right answer is. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.719 You know you should say, yes, of course, Jesus Christ is enough. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:08.080 Yet the reality of our lives is the reality that we go through seasons of questioning. 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:13.120 Seasons wondering, is Christ actually enough? 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:22.159 For some of us right now in this room, we may be struggling to see that Christ is enough. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:28.719 You're here today, and you know that's how you should think, how you should feel, but it's not. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.120 That's not your reality. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:35.919 You want it to be, but it's not your experience. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:44.719 You want to say yes, but your life at this moment, it's hard to see that that is actually true. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:57.120 My longing is as we come to this passage, this letter, is for us to see, to know, to feel that Christ is enough. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:00.319 It's for all of us here. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:08.400 Because even though if you're not in that place, you might not be struggling, you might know with assurance Christ is enough. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:13.759 There are going to be times, there are going to be seasons, moments where you will struggle. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.319 Moments where you will question. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:29.199 And as we come, my prayer is that God would just work in this moment, in this time, that we would not be people leaving here this afternoon just saying Christ is enough. 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:34.960 But actually, we would leave with a fresh assurance that Christ is enough. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:41.439 Because this is Paul's longing for the believers in Colossae. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:48.080 He longs for this church to know that Christ is enough, that they do not need anything else. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:50.639 Christ will not disappoint them. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.680 He will not fail them. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:04.400 As the culture around them screams different truths, different gospels, Paul is reminding them not to believe the lies. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:08.240 Don't look to them, don't believe the lies around you. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:13.759 Though people are wanting you to pull away from the faith, don't. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:21.759 Though the devil himself would love to see you run from Jesus, hear these words from God. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.319 Know his love, his care for you. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:31.759 From the start of this letter, we see the desire Paul has for these believers. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:36.079 As we've been walking through this letter. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.680 And here in our passage in verse 1, we see that. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:40.959 Look at verse 1. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:45.120 I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:50.480 It is very clear that Paul has an affection for these believers. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:56.879 Yet the reality of Paul's situation is that it would have been easy for him to just look inward. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:02.959 It would have been easy for him to just be concerned with what he is going through. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:07.839 Because Paul isn't just writing this, relaxing on some beach. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.680 He's not just chilling, being like, be encouraged, Colossians. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.639 No, Paul is writing from prison. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:19.600 He is in prison, suffering for the gospel he is proclaiming. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:28.560 It would have been easy for him to think about himself, to be consumed by his own concerns, his own thoughts, his own struggle. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:31.360 And yet he doesn't do that. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.399 He can't but write to these believers. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:43.120 He longs to write to them because of his love for them, to be encouraged, because they are rooted in Christ. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:49.839 Paul crying out through these words of this letter, Colossians, know my heart for you. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.399 Know how I long for your good. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.160 Be encouraged. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:13.519 As we gaze into this letter, it's not hard for us in our time here in Dublin to consider how this speaks to us. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:24.879 As Christians, we face loads of pressures around us to conform to the culture around us, to believe what the culture says is true to be true. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:29.519 And this is not decreasing but increasing. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.519 More and more. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.399 Pressure to conform to what the world believes to be true. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:43.040 Pressure to think and believe that the Bible and our relationship to God is actually worthless. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:46.959 No Christian is alone in this. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:48.800 We all will face this. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:58.000 We all will have these pressures as people seek to tear us down, as we seek to be the people God has called us to be. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.360 So how are you feeling? 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:05.120 How are you feeling about your faith today? 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:09.839 How are you feeling about your Savior Jesus Christ? 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.319 I know in this room there's going to be a mixture of feelings. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:17.759 Some of us might be rejoicing in Jesus Christ. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:20.800 Woo, Jesus! He's great. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.680 Other of us will be struggling. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:30.560 Struggling to believe that he is who he says he is. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:32.399 Struggling to know that. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.399 To cling to that. 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:45.120 For all of us, we need to see with fresh eyes the reality of his goodness and glory toward us, knowing he is enough. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.920 Hear the words of God toward you today. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:58.079 Let the Spirit illuminate you to what is real, what is true, what you so desperately need, what I so desperately need. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:04.720 As we walk through this passage, there are three questions I want us to consider. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:08.399 How can we know Christ is enough? 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:10.560 Why is this important? 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:12.560 And finally, what now? 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.720 And they should be on the screen just to keep you orientated. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.519 So how can we know Christ is enough? 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.519 Look at verse one with me. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:49.279 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love to reach all the riches of the full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:55.120 The Colossian Church are struggling under the weight of these cultural beliefs around them. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:00.080 False teachers wanting to take them away from the very foundation of their faith. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:05.440 But Paul is doing here is building a case for Christ. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.279 Christ being enough. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:11.440 That is what he's doing in these opening verses of this letter. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.480 That's what he's been doing up to this point. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:19.360 When I was a teenager, I went with my family to the Alps on holiday. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:19.919 It was great. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.919 It was a great privilege to go there. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:27.600 And it is one of those places in the world that I just think is just so breathtaking. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:28.960 It is so beautiful. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:33.840 As you just look out, it is one breathtaking view. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:39.039 And we were on this chalet, in this chalet, not on it, we didn't get on the roof. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:48.639 We were in this chalet, and we would wake up, I would wake up in the morning, I would go to the window, open the curtains, and just see this beautiful view. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:50.399 This glorious view. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:59.039 And yet the view I saw, even though it was beautiful, even though it was glorious, was only a fraction of this mountain range. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:03.759 It was only a glimpse into how beautiful and glorious this mountain range is. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:12.799 And here, as we see this letter unfold, what Paul has been doing is he wants us to be captured. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:14.559 He wants us to see. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:21.120 He is drawing back the curtain on who Christ is and what Christ has done. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.360 That is what he's been doing. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:32.080 Exposing the beauty and the grandeur of Christ, calling the Colossians, lying for them, brothers and sisters, come and look. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:35.120 Come and see who he is. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:37.919 Come and see the object of your faith. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:41.039 How glorious, how beautiful he is. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:46.879 And yet, it is just like me, stood at that window. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.799 As I see it to be beautiful, as I see it to be glorious. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:11:00.559 And yet, what is so amazing, what is so wonderful is there is no end to the beauty and glory of Christ. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:04.320 You will never get there, you will never arrive there. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:07.360 I've seen it all, I've captured it all. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.600 That is the glory of this. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:14.879 And Paul is wanting to build their confidence in the object of their worship. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:17.200 Paul is crying out to them. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.679 Do you see that he is enough? 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:31.279 As we come to this passage, his desire is to realize that they can rely on Christ. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.440 And Paul is also exposing the means. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:42.399 One means in which Christians are able to grow in our assurance of who Christ is. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:46.639 He is saying there is no depth to Christ. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:53.360 But here's a way in which you can plumb the depths of his beauty, of his glory. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:55.519 So how does he do this? 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:59.440 How are the Colossians able to plumb those depths? 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.399 How are we able to plumb those depths? 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.639 Look at the passage. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:17.200 It is through being knit together in love to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:28.559 In this letter, Paul reveals the reality of our union to Christ, that if you are a Christian, if you are trusting in Christ, you are united to Him in what He has done for you. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.799 But it doesn't stop there. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:37.200 You're not just united to Christ, you are united to those who are His people. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:42.879 The union that has brought us into unity with other believers, other Christians. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:49.840 And I hear you thinking, come on, but other Christians are kind of annoying. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:52.240 They're not the best at times. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.960 Do I really want to be united to them? 00:12:55.279 --> 00:13:02.399 Duncan, I get the whole loving Jesus thing, but really, other believers, do I really have to love them? 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:03.679 Or is that just me? 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.919 You guys are, oh, I love everyone. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.519 Great, good for you. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.320 That is not what God has done, though. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:21.039 What God has done in the work of salvation, He calls us into a new people, a new humanity in Christ Jesus. 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.039 He has called us to one another. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:28.320 Because it is in that unity. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:35.440 It is in that the church will grow toward full assurance. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:39.519 Paul longs them to grasp this, be knit together in love. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:43.679 Because this is not just something of a nice idea. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.919 This isn't some sort of hippie community that's just about love. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.039 No. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:56.240 This is the very means by which God has designed his people to grow in confidence in their faith. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.919 Confidence in who he is and what he has done. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.000 United it to Christ. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:11.600 If we neglect this, if you neglect this, you will struggle to grow and develop in your faith. 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:17.679 And I know here in 2020, this idea, this sort of life is hard to imagine. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.279 It's hard to understand. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:23.120 We live in a culture that is so individualistic. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:29.840 A culture that calls us constantly to consider self rather than the other. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:38.240 A culture where self-awareness and self-indulgence are lifted up as this is the way to live. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.960 This is how you gain life. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:43.679 Don't be deceived. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.000 Don't believe the lies. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:56.000 As you look through this book, God's Word, what we find is God isn't just saving individuals. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:03.120 He is saving a people, a people of faith, as we are joined in Christ. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:09.519 Throughout Old Testament, New Testament, the object of their faith is Christ. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:18.960 As the Old Testament believers looked forward, they look towards Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, the promised one. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:26.000 And this side of the cross, we look back and we are joined together in Him. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:31.039 He is the object of our faith, whether old or new. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:37.840 It has never been about individual salvation. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:43.039 Let me be clear, that's not saying that your salvation doesn't matter. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.159 It's great, it's wonderful, it's glorious. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:56.159 But what I'm saying, it is through your salvation, you are being brought into something more beautiful, more glorious than yourself. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.799 That is what is happening. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:07.200 Paul says, I want all of your hearts to be encouraged through being knit together in love. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:13.039 Because reaching assurance is not an individual pursuit. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.639 There are ways we can grow in our lives as believers. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:20.399 We can read the word, we can pray individually. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.000 And that is wonderful, and you need to and you should do that. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:32.000 But he's saying the church is here to serve you, to grow you, to help you see more of Christ. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:41.120 The way in which God has chosen to use his church is for the building up of one another and the glorification of Christ Jesus. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:47.679 The true church are people saved by grace through faith in Jesus. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:50.720 People who are growing together. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.080 People who love like this. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.679 The language of Paul is purposeful. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:03.679 If you are not knit together with other believers, you will struggle. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.519 You'll miss out. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:17.200 If you think you can make it on your own, you will end up lost. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:23.200 Because the purpose of being united to Christ brings us into the unity with one another. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:26.240 And he uses that unity. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.759 I wonder how we are doing. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.559 How are we as city church doing? 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:39.359 How knitted together in love do you feel? 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:43.440 Because this is of utter importance for us. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:50.640 This is the means by which we grow, a means by which we grow in our assurance of Christ. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:58.319 This is the means by which we grow in our understanding of the knowledge and the wisdom that Christ has, the riches of Christ. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:04.000 That is what we long for, that is what you long for, that is what I long for. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:07.279 Your soul cries out for it. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:14.160 And it goes against fully and completely the lies of the culture that throw at us. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:17.839 Be you, love yourself, find your own truth within. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.480 Those are utter lies. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:23.200 They are empty words. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:30.240 Because we have not been created for isolation, we've been created for community. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:33.680 The very fabric of who we are proclaims that. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:40.079 So, brother, sister in Christ, the call to love is an outward call. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:48.960 It is a fight for us in our time not to just give in to the world and what the world lays before us as truth. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:53.279 Not to just give in to the lies that we face within. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:59.200 Because my heart and your heart is ultimately selfish. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:03.039 It's easy for me to love myself. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:07.359 It's easy for me to seek what I want. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.079 That's my natural sinful desire. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.240 Making my life about me. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.319 It's very simple. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:17.039 And you might go, Duncan, you're terrible. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.599 But I can say that pretty confidently because I know that's true of you as well. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.440 That is us all. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:27.599 We naturally love self. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:49.279 And what's so ironic about that is that actually what we're hoping for, the life that we hope that will give us, when we pursue what we think will make us happy, when we go after what we think we need, thinking, I need me time, I need what I need, that won't give you life. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.680 It brings death. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:06.559 We are called out of ourselves to love him, to love others. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:14.960 When Jesus asked by the teacher, when he was on the earth, what is the greatest commandment? 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:21.440 He says this, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:26.000 This is the greatest and first commandment, and the second is like it. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:29.359 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:34.880 He goes on to say the whole law is summed up in these two. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:46.319 And as Paul encourages the believer, he calls them to be to knit together in love, because this is where the great gain is to be had for the believer. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:51.839 When we grasp this, when we give in to this sort of life. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.759 But let's be real. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.400 It can suck. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.079 It can. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:05.039 It can be difficult, it can be painful, it can be tedious to live like this. 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:13.920 Relationships take time, they take investment, honesty, openness, exposing yourself toward others. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.640 It's not just simple. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:38.000 But if you're willing, if you're longing to gain more of an assurance of all that Christ has done and is doing, if you long to be reminded of the joy of your salvation, cling closely to your brothers and sisters in Christ, who are united to Him. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:40.720 Because the reward is so great. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:45.680 In my life, I long for more relationships like this. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:52.319 I long for these sort of relationships united in Christ Jesus. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:56.960 Not shallow on the surface relationships, but deep and meaningful. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:03.119 There are a number of men in my life who I have walked with for a number of years. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:07.359 And those relationships have affected me. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:11.279 I have an affection for those brothers in Christ. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.599 And that is precious. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:17.920 They have encouraged me, they have challenged me, they have loved me. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:22.480 And I know my faith is built up because of those relationships. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:26.079 They are good for my soul. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:33.119 It has been a kindness of God toward me to have such godly men around me. 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:42.000 I value them so deeply because how God uses them in my life to grow my affections for Christ. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:51.359 But it requires willingness to continue to press in, to continue to have a common desire for the other person. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.720 All of us long for this. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:59.680 Brothers and sisters around us, this is what will bring you joy. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.480 Joy to your soul, joy to your being. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.480 Because of our union in Christ. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:08.799 People who love you, who know you. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:12.319 And I'm not talking on the surface level, no. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.240 Because I know what it's like. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.880 We come to church and it's like, how's your weeping? 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.759 Great. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.640 When inside you're thinking, terrible. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.640 It sucked. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:26.160 I've had so many issues this week. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:29.920 And you feel like you have to put that mask on. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:33.119 That is not what we want to create here. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.920 We are all broken. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:39.759 We are all in need of God's grace. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:46.400 People who love you, who see you and know the real you. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:49.920 These are life-giving relationships. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.000 Today, how are we doing? 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:57.759 Because I long for us to be more like this. 00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:02.240 I long for us to grow more in this way. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.920 Because it's not even about me. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.839 This is God's call for us to be knit together in love. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:18.480 Community groups, Sunday lunches, meet up during the week, opening up our homes to one another, cooking meals for someone who has a baby. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:23.039 These are all things that we do at City that are not just stuff. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:27.759 We do them to try and help cultivate this sort of community. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:33.200 Using these things of ways in which we become knitted together in love. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:36.079 Being with one another. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:41.279 You've not been called to attend a church. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.480 You've been called to be a part of the church. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:49.039 Those are two different things. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:56.240 This isn't for me to just lay before you as a leader of this church, because actually, this is for your good. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.480 This is for my good. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:06.640 God has designed us and given us each other to help us grow toward Him. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:15.519 We will all miss out when we just see church as something we attend rather than be a part of. 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:26.079 Let's long to reach all the riches of full assurance, of understanding, and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:34.559 Brother or sister, if you're struggling, if you're so struggling, you're in the pit where you're like, is Christ enough? 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:41.039 Reach out, seek help and encouragement from those around you. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:46.559 Seek to have brothers and sisters in Christ speak words of comfort and truth to you. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:53.119 My longing is our relationships will be captured by our unity in Christ. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:26:00.880 We will be a community where the person who is suffering, the person who is grieving is not alone. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:11.119 That there is a brother or sister in Christ beside them weeping with them because they feel their grief, because they know them, they love them, they are for them. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:21.359 The person rejoicing is not just rejoicing alone, but they have brothers and sisters around them rejoicing in their joy because they feel their joy. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:30.559 That is not just say we are a family, but rather display it in the way in which we live as a family united in Christ. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:41.759 My prayer is that God would do this work among us, struck by the love we have in Him. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:45.680 Wouldn't it be wonderful if people came here? 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:52.720 If people came into this community of faith and they went away and they were just utterly struck. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:57.759 Those people, that church just loved each other in a unique way. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:02.480 I was struck how they cared, how they loved one another. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:04.720 That is what we want to be. 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:08.240 You want to know Christ is enough. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.960 Cling to him, but cling to his people. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:14.480 Because the danger is clear. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:17.519 Paul says why this is important. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:24.319 Verse 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:32.960 This culture that we've been thinking about of the false teaching growing around them, and here as we sit here, we will experience this reality. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:36.240 People saying our faith isn't true. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:45.359 And as challenges come, as people bring other beliefs, Paul doesn't want them to give in. 00:27:52.319 --> 00:28:01.759 Paul longs for the Colossians, when arguments come, that they will be utterly confident. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:21.839 As Christ is the object of their faith, as we know and grow in our assurance together, it is in that place, in that community of faith, that no matter what plausible argument, and that's important, this isn't a crazy argument. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:23.920 This isn't wack-a-doodle arguments. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:26.240 These are plausible arguments. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:34.160 But when they come, there is such a complete assurance in Christ that they do not even make us question. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:40.559 Because we are so secure in Christ, nothing can touch that. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:44.799 Because the danger of isolation is clear. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:06.960 I have seen people, good friends of mine, walk away from their faith. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:14.079 And one of the first signs was them beginning to distance themselves away from the body. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:21.519 Slowly but surely, giving over to isolation, finding community elsewhere. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:31.759 If you increase in your isolation from brothers and sisters in Christ, you increase being persuaded by the lies around you. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:42.400 You increase the likelihood of forgetting the truth in which at one time you may be passionately defended and rejoiced in. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:46.559 This is not a game, it's so dangerous. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:48.960 It's about our eternal destiny. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:30:03.519 When people in subtle ways begin not to allow other believers in, when you don't go to those around you to find help, because the voices around you will just grow louder and louder. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:07.839 Because the voices do not stop. 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:15.359 It's naive to believe that there is not a war going on, a spiritual war for your soul. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:22.880 And though there is confidence in the victory Christ has won, we need to cling to what he has given us. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:29.279 The people of God continue to know his goodness toward us. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:34.960 Walking away from the church, his people is incredibly dangerous. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:45.839 If you don't hear this, if you don't heed the warning, you're opening yourself up to delusion, to believing the lies of the world. 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:58.000 The confidence of the Christian is found in community of faith that orientates itself around the person of Christ Jesus. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:01.519 Every healthy church orientates like this. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:06.880 Knowing that is the design God has for his people. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:11.839 Building assurance in who he is and what he's done. 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.279 So what now? 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:16.079 You can imagine the Colossians hearing this. 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:19.440 They've seen this picture of who Christ is. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:25.680 Paul's been painting it for them, and he said, Look, this is how you do it, through being united together. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:28.400 So what do we need to do, Paul? 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.359 Verse 6. 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:44.640 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:52.000 It's hard for us to feel the weight of Paul here and what he's revealing. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:56.400 Because as I said, he has been building this picture of Christ. 00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:01.680 Christ as God's image, God's wisdom, God's mystery. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:07.680 And as he has been exposing the glimpse into the glory of who Christ is, he now roots it. 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:11.279 He roots it in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:17.440 Because since chapter 1, verse 5, he has not actually mentioned Jesus' name. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:25.440 He's been building this picture of Christ, who Christ is, what he's done, how he has completed what we need. 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:29.759 Now he brings them back. 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:35.440 This Christ, the one who is all this, this is Jesus. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:41.599 This man, God come in the flesh. 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:46.000 Do you grasp that he is not lacking? 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:48.559 He is all you need. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:53.839 There is no good thing that he with will withhold from you. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:59.039 When you first received his gospel, do you remember that time? 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:04.319 Do you remember when you went from darkness to light, from death to life? 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.759 Remember that. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:10.880 The passion you had, the security you knew. 00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:12.559 Do you remember that? 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:14.559 Continue in that. 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.319 He is enough. 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:18.559 He will continue to be enough. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:20.160 Walk in him. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:24.720 It is not a life lived out of your own strength. 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:31.359 It is a life only possible if your dependence is upon Christ Jesus. 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:35.039 Because he is your very life now. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:38.240 There is no life without him. 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:44.240 The moment we neglect Christ Jesus in our lives is the moment we forget who he is. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:56.160 To believe the lie that are going to make it through, that we think we will do it on our own, to strive to work at our own salvation. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:58.400 That is not how this works. 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:04.960 The life of the believer is a life of complete and utter dependence. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:10.400 Moment by moment, living out of our true identity in Christ Jesus. 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:15.599 Do you grasp how secure that position is, though? 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:35.199 The one who is the image of God, the one who all creation came into being through, the one who is the head of the church, the one who has conquered all spiritual forces of evil, who rules over every single thing in his creation. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:42.960 And as you and I come here today, if you're a Christian, he reigns in you. 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:47.039 That is how secure you are. 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:52.079 It is that we will never get there on our own. 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:55.840 Your confidence is in who he is and what he has done. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.840 And it continues to be. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:04.400 There is not a day that will go by as a Christian that you will not need to depend upon him. 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:11.920 From the moment you put your faith into him, faith in him, to the moment you die or Christ returns. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:18.000 As the Spirit testifies with your spirit that he is enough. 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:25.519 It is in that place you will know what it is to be rooted and built up. 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:36.880 In your identity in him, that he helps you, he grows you by the Spirit's work, knowing and feeling the reality of your faith. 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:43.519 In this, we are immovable, completely secure because of our Savior. 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:50.639 Clinging to Him, clinging to His people, growing more and more into who He longs us to be. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:55.760 How else would we respond other than thanksgiving? 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:02.159 If you truly get all that He's done for you, that it's not about you, it's about Him. 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:04.960 Your dependence on Him. 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:08.480 You don't need to try and strive and work for it. 00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:10.239 He has done it for you. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:13.679 All we can do is give thanks. 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:20.480 Jesus Christ is completely and fully for you in your faith in Him. 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:25.679 Even when you struggle to feel that, because your emotions will deceive you. 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:29.760 You will have moments where you do not believe that to be true. 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:39.679