As Ye Have Received Christ Jesus

I. THE ASSOCIATIONAL PATTERN IDENTIFIED (Colossians 2:6)

A. The Words Identifying Relation

1. The key words
a. As
b. So
2. Examples set forth
a. “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Joshua 1:5)
b. “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40)
c. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” (John 3:14)
d. “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” (John 15:9)
e. “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13)
f. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;” (1 Peter 1:15)

B. The Pattern and Parallel Established

1. The pattern – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,”
2. The parallel – “so walk ye in him:”

II. THE DETAILS OF THE NEW BIRTH

A. The Lost Condition

1. Bound for a time of judgment
2. Blind because of the work of Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4)

B. The Enlightenment of Truth

1. The entrance of God’s words gives light (Psalm 119:130).
2. Christ brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10).

C. The Crossroads of Faith

1. The new light came with a requirement of faith.
2. The hearing of God’s word allows for and calls for faith (Romans 10:17).

III. THE DETAILS OF THE NEW LIFE

A. The Struggles of Infancy

1. The danger of being beguiled “with enticing words” (Colossians 2:4)
2. The danger of being spoiled “through philosophy and vain deceit” (Colossians 2:8)
3. The danger of being beguiled of “your reward” (Colossians 2:18)

B. The Enlightenment of Truth (Colossians 2:7)

1. As ye have been taught
2. Abounding therein

C. The Crossroads of Faith (Colossians 2:6)

1. As ye have received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him (Colossians 2:6)
2. Abounding in what we have been taught, but doing so by faith (Colossians 2:7)
3. Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6)

D. The Importance of Faith

1. We resist the Devil by faith (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Peter 5:9)
2. We endure trials by faith (2 Thessalonians 1:4)
3. We walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
4. We serve by faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; see Hebrews 11)