Page Two: “The Sins of the Flesh” 3/3/13
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Please open your Bible with me to the Book of Colossians and chapter two. I’d like to read for you
Colossians 2:9. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:..." As you can easily see, what Christ has done for us has as one of its purposes the “putting off the body of the sins of the flesh.” So, today’s topic is sin. As you know, the Jews, especially Orthodox Judaism, puts a big emphasis upon the strict observance of festivals and Sabbaths and dietary restrictions and circumcision. These very same things were true of the Jews of the first century. And one of the reasons for Paul’s writing the epistle to the Colossians is because the Jews insisted on these observances and restrictions. Then, when they were converted to Christ, they oftentimes resorted to these Jewish traditions and teachings. So, Paul teaches them that pleasing God is not attained by abiding in regulations and restrictions like circumcision and keeping the Sabbath, but rather by what he calls “the circumcision of Christ.” This is not a physical event; as Paul says “made without hands.” Rather, the work of Christ on your behalf; His work on the Cross, has the power to do something far greater. Here’s what the Cross of Christ does for us. It “puts off the body of the sins of the flesh.” So, in what sense does the LORD deal with you and me? He deals with our sins; in particular the sins of the flesh. So, above and beyond anything you know of when it comes to being a Christian, this is the essence of what it means. |
Christ came to this world to deal with your sins. So, today I want to say something about sin. I have a lot to say about sin today. But I also want to say something about the conviction of sin because without the conviction of your sins, God, Christ, the Cross, even the Bible may mean little or nothing to you.
Oswald Chambers said this about conviction. "Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict of sin, and when the Holy Spirit rouses the conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God." When you come to Christ to be saved, His priority is to deal with your sins. No one becomes a Christian who isn’t willing to deal with his sins before a holy God. A wise man once said this about conviction. “Conviction of sin is the unbearable burden of all of your sin and filthiness before a holy and righteous God. The word in the Greek carries the idea of exposing your sin. When the Spirit of God brings this type of conviction it reveals your total bankruptcy before God. The burden of that sin can only be overcome by realizing God’s blessing of salvation. The verses tell us that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment. When does salvation take place when we stop disagreeing with the truth of our rebellion against God. At this point we no longer have the pride or arrogance to say "I'm good." [Sermon by Pastor Billy Ricks “The Ministry of the Holy Spirit” 01/22/2011 Found on www.sermoncentral.com]. |