The one thing that is great about preaching through a Book of the Bible is that you must preach the next thing. The one thing that is uncomfortable about preaching through a Book of the Bible is that you must preach the next thing. You can’t skip the hard stuff. The tough sayings are to be examined. But the one thing the Lord has put on my heart over the years of pastoring and preaching is that we are always to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) even if the truth hurts, even if the truth is not politically correct. So brace yourself. This is going to be a bumpy ride. Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times!

Colossians 3:11-25 …. there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. [12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; [13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. [14] And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. [18] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. [19] Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. [20] Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. [21] Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. [22] Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Introduction When a person is saved, that person is saved by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. Christ Is All, and In All. God will save everyone freely if a person would be saved. Jesus Christ is the

“Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who

“is the satisfactory payment (propitiation) for our sins;
and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2).

He is the Son of God sacrificed for us who would be sons of God. In that famous verse that every grade school child used to know we read together:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son,
that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Emphatic! Christ died for all. Christ died for all. He did not just die for one or two, or some imagined group. He died for all. He died for all.

He died for the RICH.
He died for the POOR.
He died for the BROKEN.
He died for those BLINDED BY SIN.
He died for the SEXUALLY ENSLAVED.
He died for the HETEROSEXUAL AND THE HOMOSEXUAL.
He died for the LOWEST PERSON who ever lived.
Believe it or not, He died for
POLITICIANS, for PREACHERS, for PEW WARMERS,
for PRESIDENTS and PEASANTS
Jesus died for PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS.
If there are RACISTS among us, Jesus died for you.
There will be people of ALL COLOR in Heaven.
None will be at the back of the bus.
There are no segregated water fountains in Glory.
All can drink from that River,
And the fruit of that Tree of Life is for the healing of NATIONS.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him He died for all us broken down people.

Colossians 3:11 …. there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

Jesus died for the Jew. He came unto His own and His own would not receive Him. He was made a Jew so He could fulfill God’s promise to Father Abraham. But Jesus did not just come to the Jews. He came to the Greeks, the inventors of sodomy and sexual sin. The Jews practiced circumcision, for God commanded Abraham and his seed to be circumcised, but the Gentiles were not circumcised.

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well He shocked the world around Him. The Samaritan woman said “Why do you speak to me, a Samaritan? Don’t the Jews despise the Samaritans?” Jesus came for the Samaritans. When the lepers ran to Jesus saying “Lord Jesus, have mercy on us” Jesus shocked the world around Him. How dare He touch those lepers! But Jesus came for the lepers. “You are healed. Go and show the priest.” When this Gentile woman – a Greek, hated of the Jews, came to Jesus saying “Please cast the demon out of my daughter” Jesus replied:

Mark 7:27 (ESV) ….. Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Those who were Jews hearing this, I know, stood there thinking

Uh huh! “That’s right. Messiah came for US, not for THEM PEOPLE”.

Then the woman in broken humility and with broken heart said …

Mark 7:28 (ESV) Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.

and Jesus healed her daughter. Oh dear ones, Jesus came for everyone. He came for “Barbarian, Scythian, bond and free”. He came for all. He came equally for male and female:

Galatians 3:28 (KJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Giving Himself equally for all. He gave Himself to free us from our sins. He gave Himself to restore us to the image of God. The Bible says:

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should NOT HENCEFORTH LIVE UNTO THEMSELVES, BUT UNTO HIM WHICH DIED FOR THEM, AND ROSE AGAIN.

Jesus Christ gave Himself to us so that we could be His and so that we could be part of His Kingdom. We are citizens of His Kingdom if to us “Christ is all, and in all”. If “Christ is all and in all” then we acknowledge His rule. His salvation permeates every facet of our lives.

You are saved by believing “Christ Is All”. Once you believe in Him “Christ is in All”

1 If Christ Is All And In All Then “How We Be” Will Be Under His Rule. We are not saved by our works, but we are saved when we in our hearts declare “Christ is all”. We realize our brokenness, and cling to His wholeness.

IAn Air Force Drill Instructor stood in front of a new group of recruits. He hollered out “Who thinks he can whip me! Step out right now!” Out of the group stepped a huge young man. He was about 6′ 5” and looked like he was as wide as he was tall. The Instructor said “What’s your name, boy?” The monster said “My name’s Jimmy, and I think I can whoop anyone here”. The Instructor said “All right Jimmy, you come up here and stand next to me.” Once Jimmy got there he looked at the new recruits again and said, “All right now. Who thinks he can whip me and Jimmy?”

That instructor knew his limitations, and we should know ours.
A broken person cannot make themselves right with a perfect God.
Salvation does not come to us because of our abilities and strengths.

The Scripture says ..

Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Salvation is all of grace. Christ is all. He is all of Who saves us. It is His work on Calvary and on the basis of the empty tomb we are saved. Christ is all. But once saved Christ is in all. The proof of salvation is what is in the glass!

(Holding up an empty glass) I have some really good tea in this glass. It is some of the best I’ve ever tasted. And in a Masob Jar, which is how every Southerner should drink Southern Ice Tea. You’ve got to taste it to believe it! And the glass is full of it (well, one of us is full of it). Jerry would you taste this tea and tell me what you think? No, it is the best tea! What do you mean there’s nothing there? I tell you, it’s there. And it’s good. No? You don’t believe it? Well, neither do I. I forgot something. There’s no tea in the glass – and it shows!

If Christ is all, then Christ is in all. If you were saved by believing Christ is all, then He is in all. He is in all of you. He is not just in your Sunday, but He’s in your Monday too. He permeates you. He changes you.

I like my coffee, but I don’t usually drink it black. I can, but it’s a bit bitter to me. So I put a little cream and sugar in my coffee. When I put cream and sugar in my coffee it blends with ALL the coffee, it effects ALL the coffee. You don’t look in the cup and see half black and half with cream. It is ALL in ALL.

If Christ is all to you, then you have been saved. But JESUS has come inside. He is all in all. He’s not just with you sometimes, but He’s with you all times. He changes you. You become different. We read:

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the ELECT of God, holy and beloved

God changes you. When Christ is all and in all then you become elect. That word “elect” means “chosen, people of purpose”. You are “chosen” of God. God chose to shine though you. Jesus said:

John 15:16,19 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. … [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Jesus is the Chosen of God, and He is all and in all of you. You are Chosen for He is chosen. You are not of the world but you are in the world. We are told in

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen (or elect) generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Christ is all and in all. He is chosen, His people are chosen. He has Kingdom purpose, His people have Kingdom purpose.

As His Chosen we are to exemplify …. meditate on these words with me …

Colossians 3:12-15 … mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering [13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. [14] And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Just as Father, Son, and Spirit worked together for our redemption Christ is all and in all, producing in our hearts

Mercifulness
Kindness
Humility
Meekness
Patience
Forbearance
Forgiveness
Love
Peace – oh thank God for peace in His kingdom,
that peace of God that passeth all understanding
Unity
and Thankfulness

Where Christ is all and in all these qualities will always be. And where these qualities are, God’s Kingdom is.

2 If Christ Is All And In All, Then He Will Permeate Our Worship. His Children Love His Word. We read:

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

When Christ is all and in all the Word of Christ dwells in us richly. The poorest congregations are the weakest in the Word of God. The power of the Christian life is only attained by the Word of Christ in us. The Bible says:

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

God’s Children love God’s Word. The Bible tells us that while Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests in the Temple of Jerusalem, the Word of God did not come to them. They had ceremony. They had the building. They even had the Holy of Holies, the sacrifices, and the feasts. But Annas and Caiaphas turned their hearts from God, while a simple man named John the Baptist preached in the wilderness.

Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Multitudes came to hear John preach the Word of God, but few came to Annas and Caiaphas, these wolves in sheep’s clothing. Where Christ is all and in all the Word of Christ dwells richly. Behold, there is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world! Where the Word of God indwells there the Word of God works. The Church is a people filled with His Word. And because we are filled with His Word His Spirit manifests Himself. There is “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”.

Teaching His Word – not our opinions.
Admonishing or encouraging one another to shine for Him
Singing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

I was talking with a young man the other day about whether we should be using hymnals or praise songs, whether we should be singing our of books or looking at the powerpoint on the wall. I do not think God cares which way we worship. He just bids us to worship.

If Christ is all and in all we WILL be filled to overflowing with praise for Him

This world is not my home
I’m just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore.
Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven’s not my home
Then Lord what will I do.
The angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore.

Colossians 3:16 …. singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

If Christ is all and in all the singing is to the Lord, from Whom we get our Grace. Grace, grace, glorious Grace! We sing with GRACE in our hearts to the Lord. If Chrisy is all and in all we live for Him, we love for Him, we praise Him! He is in our hearts.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

We are not here because we HAVE to be here. Because Christ is all our Savior and Lord, and because Christ is IN all, He is in our hands, our feet, our hearts, and our heads. And whatsoever the whosoever will does we do it for Jesus.

3 Finally, If Christ Is All And In All Then This Not Only Effects Your Church Life, It Effects Your Home And Your Work Life.

Two elderly, excited Southern women were sitting together in the front pew of church listening to a fiery preacher. When this preacher condemned the sin of stealing, these two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, “AMEN, BROTHER”. When the preacher condemned the the sexual sins of homosexuality and casual living together, they yelled again, “PREACH IT, REVEREND”. And when the preacher said how the Scripture condemned the sins of lying and hatred, they jumped to their feet and screamed, “RIGHT ON, BROTHER TELL IT LIKE IT IS… AMEN”. But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two got very quiet. One turned to the other and whispered, “He’s quit preaching and now he’s meddlin’.”

If Christ is all and in all, then it effects your home life. These are not my words, but God’s Words. We read:

Colossians 3:18-21 …. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. [19] Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. [20] Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. [21] Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The reason America is in disarray is because the devil has convinced our families to be dysfunctional. Shows like Modern Family celebrate this dysfunctionality. I don’t have time to beat this to death, so I’ll just say it.

God created Adam, and then Eve.
Adam was created to lead, Eve to assist Adam.
Children were to honor their parents, not run the household.
Fathers are to instruct their children, not discourage them or anger them.

What got humanity into trouble in the first place was when Eve did what Adam was suppose to be doing, and Adam meekly followed. Yet God blamed Adam and not Eve for the Fall. The Bible says “By one Man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12). Woman is not blamed because man was to be the leader in the marriage. Eve took the forbidden, gave it bto her husband who was with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6).

• Ladies, you are to SUBMIT to the Godly leadership of your husbands. SUBMIT is not a bad word, regardless as to what feminism may say. Submission is the basis of order. Even in the Godhead there is submission.

The Father sent the Son to die for us.

God so loved the world that HE GAVE His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

The Father said “Son, go redeem My people. Go die for My Beloved. Go suffer on that Cross for the sins of the world.” And Jesus went. Jesus submitted. Jesus follows the Head.

Our Lord Jesus said:

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

When Jesus died on that Cross and rose again, He went to sit on the right hand of God the Father. He said “Father, send the Holy Spirit for My sake to My people”. The Father said, “Spirit, Go”, and the Holy Spirit submitted. Submit is not a bad word, it is a God Word. Wives, submit to the Godly leadership of your own husbands.

• Husbands, you are to love your wives and not be bitter for them. You are to love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). If Adam had loved his Eve he would not have allowed the devil to talk to her in the first place. He would have led and not been led. He would have loved her and cherished her,

1 Peter 3:7 (KJV) …. giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

You will not be the man that God wants you to be unless you are cherishing and not crushing your wife!

• Children, you are to “obey your parents in ALL things”. You may not understand this right now, but you are children. CHILDREN. You are CHILDREN not ADULTS. And parents, quit letting your CHILDREN make all the decisions. A little discipline goes a long way. You are the PARENTS, they are the CHILDREN.
• Fathers, you are NOT to provoke your children. You are to love them, and train them. The Bible says:

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. [6] And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Finally we read:

Colossians 3:22-24 …. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

In the workplace, in the marketplace, where ever you are, if Christ is all and in all “you serve the Lord Christ”. One day we who are His shall see Him face to face. We shall know Him as we are known. We who love Him now will love Him then. We who are saved by Him now shall be saved of Him then.

We shall inherit all things, because Christ is all and in all.
What a glorious promise awaits the Children of God!

May Christ touch your hearts with His Word.