Summary: Its impossible to grow unless you have a beginning and it is impossible not to grow if you do.

1. Letter to warn against threats to true faith

a. Legalism of Judaism

b. Spiritualism of Gnosticism

c. Ascendancy of the Flesh

2. Whole letter deals - vs. 2:6-7- concise answ.

a. same substitutions call us today

b. do’s & don’ts – spiritual snobbery of super Sts.

c. Flesh –taking credit for growth - sweat & tears

3. Last Weeks Memory Verse Philippians 4:13

a. Becoming a Can Do Christian –

on line nbcstarke.org

b. This weeks memory verse Colossians 2:6-7

As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

1. QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED

As you have therefore received

A. Have You Received

1. paralambano >come near / take hold; hold close

2. No way you can mistake – action on your part

3. therefore > certainly or accordingly; assumes

4. Do Not assume that you are saved

a. 2 Cor 3:15 Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith

b. Some that did not - Matthew 7:21-24

Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

B. How Did You Receive

1. Drawn By the Holy Spirit

2. Convicted of Your Sin – specifically not gen.

3. Repented – turn from sin to Him

4. Saved Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

5. 3 xs in James 3 “faith w/o works is dead”

6. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2. PERSON THAT MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED

A. Do You Know Who Jesus Is?

1. Christ Jesus-

a. God’s anointed one

b. God saves

2. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

B. Have you Allowed Him to Rule?

1. Christian is either submissive or in rebellion

2. Carnal Christian is a rebellious Christian

3. Daily coronation service – beginning HOURLY

a. Jesus you are the Lord of my Life – I bow to you and agree that you are in control & not me. Give me ears to hear and a will to do all that you command me to do. Thank You Jesus

3. WALK THAT MUST BE DELIBERATE

A. Walk in Love Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

B. Walk in Light Eph. 5:8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

C. Walk Worthy Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called,

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

E. Walk in Wisdom Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

F. Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

G. Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

H. Walk by Faith 2 Cor. 5:7 For we walk by faith,

not by sight:

4. GROWTH THAT MUST BE EVIDENT

A. Rooted

1. give nourishment – strength – stability

a. root bound – pot to small restricts growth

b. to shallow – strong wind uproot

2. Perfect tense – abiding results of past event

B. Built Up present tense

1. Continuous

2. Controlled

3. Creative

5. FAITH THAT MUST BE PRO-ACTIVE

A. Determination

1. stablished – firm; steadfast; secure

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

2. Know What the Word Teaches

a. And BELIEVE IT!!!

B. Education

1. Systematic Teaching of the Gospel

2. 2 Timothy 2:14-16 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

C. Celebration

1. Abounding – refers back to what you learned!

a. so full that it runs over

b. continuous supply spilling over

2. Thanksgiving

a. That which comes naturally

b. vocal celebration

c. based on what God has done- is doing & will do

QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED

PERSON THAT MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED

WALK THAT MUST BE DELIBERATE

GROWTH THAT MUST BE EVIDENT

FAITH THAT MUST BE PRO-ACTIVE