Free in Christ

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, 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. 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, 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. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

***Every person lives by faith in what they believe to be true

***Do you believe that Jesus' life, death and resurrection is sufficient for salvation?

***The symbol of His shame has become our symbol of victory in Him

***Jesus has given us life...(v 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,...")

***Jesus has cancelled our debt of sin...(v 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."

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

***Our sin was nailed to the cross....how does that make you feel?

***Jesus disarmed evil powers...(v 15-And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.)

***When Christ forgives your sin, He frees you from the unrelenting power of sin

John 3:15-18 - "...that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

***It is not enough to 'believe'...it must be lived out in daily life

***Does Jesus Christ have absolute power in your life? If so, you can overcome anything

***Does your life reflect what you say you believe about Christ?

***Do you pray as if God answers prayer?

***Does your life demonstrate that you believe in Jesus Christ?