The Easter Message

• Jesus on the cross• Jesus died for our sins• What Jesus did for us

• Jesus risen from the dead• Jesus alive forever• Hope of our resurrection

7 Weeks Later….Good News Preached at Pentecost

“What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

Peter replies on the day of Pentecost…..• Repent• Be baptized in Jesus’ name for forgiveness

of your sins• You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

(Acts 2:38)

27 Years Later…Paul Writes of Good News to the Colossians

• Deep knowledge of OT & Jewish faith• Years of study to understand this new revelation

of God in the person of Jesus• Colossians are struggling with false views of how

to live the Christian life– Heavy emphasis on various disciplines – Special revelations & visions– Slipping into religion

Colossians 1:9“Prayer to See What Jesus Really Did”

• 9 therefore, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the real knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 1:9–14

“Prayer to See What Jesus Did”

• 10 so that you may walk in manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

• 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;

• 12 joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

• 13 for He delivered us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

• 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:15-18

“Why Jesus Could Do It”

• 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.

• 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,…all things ….. created by Him and for Him

• 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together

• 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He himself might come to have first place in everything.

REVEALER – CREATOR – SUSTAINER – HEAD – PRE-EMINENT

Colossians 1:19,20

“How Jesus Did It”

• 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness of deity to dwell in Him,

• 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:21- 23

“Result of What Jesus Did”• 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile

in mind, engaged in evil deeds, • 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body

through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach –

• 23 if indeed you continue in faith, firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel

Colossians 1:24-29The Nub of What Jesus Did

• 25 Of this church I was made a minister, ….preaching the word of God, the mystery that has now been manifested to the saints,

• 27 to whom God willed to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

• 28 and we proclaim Him, admonishing every man….that we may present every man complete in Christ

• 29 and for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.