As You Have Received

Colossians 2:6^[KJV] AS ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO walk ye in Him.

A man who had seldom been at Church and who had often been know in the community as a troublemaker passed away. At the funeral the minister started with a eulogy. As he spoke of the recently departed, he began to tell the crowd how the man had so loved Jesus, how he had been a blessing to the Church and a pillar of the community. As he went on and on the wife of the deceased leaned over and whispered to her son, “Would you slip up there and look in the casket? I think they’ve got the wrong man!”

It’s not uncommon for ministers to want to console the family at the death of a loved one. I have actually heard preachers preach people into Heaven, people who had no time for the Church nor for it’s Christ in this life. I saw bumper sticker one time that read “Live Like You’re Saved So The Preacher Won’t Have To Lie At Your Funeral”. I like that. Every Christian (if you are a Christian) is supposed to be like a little Christ.

We are to Imitate Christ – But we are not to Irritate God.

We who are saved are to be a people whose

Colossians 2:2 …. their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Though I am a judge of no person, I suspect that people who PROFESS Christ but do not live as if they are POSSESSED of Christ are at least mistaken, and at most deceptive. If you belong to God then God is in you. If you are saved of God then His fingerprints will be all over your life.

Our text today

As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

… emphasizes the LIFE of faith, and the WALK of faith. AS and SO. AS you have received Christ Jesus the Lord – this is the way to life. SO walk in Him – this is the proof of genuine faith.

1 AS you have RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS the LORD. Salvation only comes by receiving Christ Jesus as Lord. God chooses His words carefully.

a Salvation Is A Thing RECEIVED.

The Scripture says “as you have RECEIVED”. The word translated “Received” is the Greek παραλαμβάνω paralambanō (Second Aorist Active Indicative) which means to take to oneself. Frequently I see Church signs with the statement:

ACCEPT Jesus as your Savior

You may think I’m splitting hairs, but there is NO place in Scripture where we are told to ACCEPT Jesus, but several where we are told to RECEIVE Him.

What’s the difference? The word ACCEPT implies AGREEMENT WITH whereas RECEIVE means SIMPLY TO TAKE TO ONESELF. If you were drowning and someone tossed you a life preserver you would not debate on whether you agreed with life preservers or not, if they were fashionable, or even if they were politically correct to the world at large. If you were sucking in water instead of air you wouldn’t be concerned about the color of the life preserver, nor would you care if they killed a tree to make it. Drowning you would reach out and RECEIVE the preserver, even if you didn’t understand it’s workings.

There are a lot of people who don’t understand God nor His ways. God has said:

Isaiah 55:7-9 (NASB) Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9“ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God does not ask for your concession or agreement. You are not to ACCEPT Christ – you are to RECEIVE His Christ. God looks at each and every one of us and declares:

Romans 3:9-12 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

All are condemned as sinners. All have been born with wandering hearts. God is holy, just, and pure, but we are born enslaved to sin. This is why God came to this earth. This is why Christ – the Messiah – came to us. The Bible tells us that:

Romans 3:23 …. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We add nothing to salvation, but see Him as the only means of salvation. We RECEIVE Him. We grab on to Him and in desperation hold only to Him. This is the way of salvation – to RECEIVE Him and Him alone. C.H. Spurgeon said thus:

“Whatever Jesus says, I believe Him, and receive Him as true. I make His word so true to myself that I act upon it as being true, and regard it not as a word that may possibly be true, but which must be true, even if heaven and earth should pass away.”

b We Receive Salvation Through CHRIST. He is God’s gift to us. There are no other Christs, no other Messiah’s, no other ways to God. It is so sad that today Churches have turned away from the Christ of Scripture to be beguiled by enticing words (verse 4) contrary to the historic faith. The Apostle warned:

Colossians 2:8-10 Beware lest any man spoil you through PHILOSOPHY and VAIN DECEIT AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, and NOT AFTER CHRIST. 9 For IN HIM dwelleth ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY (in human form). And 10 YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM which is the Head of all principality and power.

The Devil and the dark world would have you believe there are many Christs, many Messiahs, many ways unto God. This is absolutely not true. Jesus warned us that …

Matthew 24:4-5 (NLT) … Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

There is no other Christ, no other Anointed of God. When John the Baptist was wrongfully imprisoned he sent a messenger to Jesus asking:

Luke 7:20-23 (NLT) ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’ …. Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the {Gospel} is being preached to the poor. And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me’”

There is but One Christ, One Anointed of God, One Redeemer, and He is Jesus. Author Lee Strobel said:

“The uniqueness of Christianity is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus himself. Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you how to find the truth.” But Jesus says, “I am the truth.” Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you the way to salvation.” But Jesus says, “I am the way to eternal life.” Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you how you can become enlightened.” But Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” See the difference?”

Jesus is uniquely the Christ. When He was born of the virgin Mary he was taken on the eighth day to the Temple to be circumcised. The Bible tells us that:

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

This old man had been told by God that the Messiah was coming.

Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

When Mary brought Jesus into the Temple Simeon went to Mary. Gathering the Baby Jesus into his arms he rejoiced:

Luke 2:29-32 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; [32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

There is but one Christ, and that is Jesus. He is God’s Christ and there is no other. He is – as He Himself has said:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The foundation that the Church is built on is that there is but One Christ, Jesus our Lord. Jesus asks us like He once asked His disciples “Who do YOU say that I am?” Was Jesus a Great Teacher? Yes, He was the Greatest. Was Jesus a Wonderful Role Model? There is no better. But what Jesus is above all else is …

Matthew 16:16 …. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

c We Receive Salvation Through Christ JESUS. We call Him CHRIST because He is the Lord’s Anointed. We call Him JESUS because He saves His people from their sins. God became man. As Christ …

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

but as JESUS ….

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus entered this life and became human, just as human as you and I. Jesus wept:

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

when His friend Lazarus died. Jesus slept ..

Mark 4:38 {Jesus} was in the stern of the ship asleep on a pillow …

Jesus was hungry and thirsty ..

John 4:6-7 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. [7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

Jesus suffered in Gethsemane, and experienced the loneliness of abandonment. Jesus knows the pain of being human. He was like us, but without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 (NASB) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus suffered temptation just as we do, but never bowed to it’s pressure. He committed no sin, nor was and deceit found in His mount (1 Peter 2:22). He suffered on Calvary as a man paying the penalty of mankind’s sin. The Bible declares that:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For {God} hath made {Jesus} to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

As Jesus, He took my PENALTY. As Jesus He took my PUNISHMENT. As Jesus, He took my PLACE. He died for me and for you so that we do not have to suffer the penalty of our sin.

d We Receive Salvation Through Christ Jesus THE LORD. There is no salvation to those who do not receive Him as Lord. When Jesus was born the Angel Gabriel told the Shepherds:

Luke 2:11 …. for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The central teaching of salvation is that The LORD will save His people. Heaven is a place ruled by the Lord. God has decreed that:

Philippians 2:9-11 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ defeated death and sin on the Cross. He rose again as Victor. If you are saved by believing on Him:

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened (made alive) together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

If you are born again, a child of God by faith in Christ, you are no longer under the pseudo lordship of Satan and evil. You belong to Jesus – and HE IS LORD. I am no longer Lord of my life. Jesus is Lord of my life. His Word is what I must behold.

1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

1 Corinthians 8:6 …. yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

Jesus is Lord of His Church.

Colossians 1:18-19 ^(KJV) {Jesus} is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell;

It is Jesus Who paid for my sins, and for the sins of every believer. He owns us, Beloved. He owns His Church! He directs His Church. His Word is our Law. What He has said, we must do. If Christ is not Lord of your life then you are headed down a bad path. Jesus is Lord. He is God in the flesh.

I kiss My Master’s Nail Scarred feet, embracing Him as my Savior,
Yet these feet were Lord over water, for He walked on the sea.
I look by faith to those nail scarred hands pierced for me,
Yet these Divine Hands multiplied
a few fish and five loaves feeding five thousand.
He is Lord!
I see Him, broken and bleeding, with His last breath saying “It Is Finished”
and “Father into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit”
Yet three days later I see Him walking and teaching, resurrected God Almighty!
Suffering on the Cross He is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
Dying for me and for you.
But now on God’s right hand the Father cries,
“Let All The Angels worship Him”
“Thy Throne, O God, Is forever and ever”
He. Is. Lord.

We now come to the second part of our text …

2 SO Walk ye in Him.

Colossians 2:6^[KJV] AS ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO walk ye in Him.

Walking implies action. You cannot walk and stand still at the same time. You can walk in place – we used to march in place when I was in the military – but you are still moving.

When you walk, you put one foot ahead of the other, taking one step at a time. As Christians we are to heed Christ’s Word, doing what He tells us to do. We can only walk today.

We walk in the LIGHT, not in the DARKNESS. Our actions should reflect Christ in us. If you are saved you:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were {previously} darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

We walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE, not like we are DEAD.

Romans 6:4 …. like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We walk in GOOD WORKS not in WORLDLINESS

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We walk in the WISDOM OF GOD and the TRUTH of His Word

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

We walk in LOVE

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

In short, if we are saved and members of the Family of God – if His Blood was shed for us – we walk under His direction for His glory.

A farmer and his farmhand went duck hunting. The farmer said to his friend, “You’re always talking about fighting with the devil. I’m not a Christian, and I never have to fight with the devil.” The farmhand answered, “Boss, if you and I shot two ducks, one was wounded and one was dead, which one would you go after first?” The farmer said, “Well, I guess the wounded duck.” The farm hand replied, “That’s right. The devil knows you’re a dead duck, so he never comes after you!”

If the devil doesn’t bother you, it’s because he doesn’t have to bother you since you and he are traveling in the same direction. If you’re not walking with Jesus you’re in collusion with the Devil!

If you have received Christ you are His – walk in Him. The minister can lie at your funeral but that will not take you into His Kingdom. Jesus declared:

Matthew 7:13-14, 17-23 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

If you have known Christ Jesus the Lord by faith then He plants His Spirit in your life. You turn from a corrupt tree into a fruitful tree. You are not what you were, but you are His and His alone. He is the Narrow Way unto God, and those who belong to Him live fruitful lives with Him.

AS you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO walk ye in Him.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.