THE DEBT
COLOSSIANS 2:13-15
When it was time for me to go to college back in 1981, I wanted to pay my own way. Mom and Dad helped with some living expenses, but I wanted to pay tuition/books. I joined the National Guard and worked a job also. The Guard’s Tuition assistance was small back then, but enough for Junior College. When I transferred to Ole Miss, though, it didn’t cover much at all. I took out student loans to cover the rest. When I graduated, I found that I had quite a debt to pay. That debt troubled me every single day. Every month I received a statement that greatly depressed me as I was reminded how much I owed. I worked overtime all the time until I paid it off. Writing that last check was one of the greatest feelings of freedom that I ever felt.
Similarly, we each are sinners that have incurred a huge debt. But, it's a debt that we cannot pay and the cost of it for the sinner is death and hell. This morning, God wants you to know what all He has done for you so that you could be set free.
1. THE DEBT WE HAVE INCURRED.
Every person, all of humanity has a debt problem. No one is exempt.
Rom 3:10,23 There is none righteous, not even one.... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Sin comes with a huge price tag... slavery in this life.
Jn 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
And death and hell when this life is over.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death... (Physical and spiritual)
Many hope to remedy this problem with their own debt of sin. Try to live better, do good deeds, give money to the church to no avail.
Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song says it all..... “You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. ‘
Paul said it this way.....
Gal 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
If you did 1000 good deeds every day it would not be enough to cancel out your debt of sin. And, if you could live 1000 lifetimes of good deeds, you’d not cancel out your sin debt, but instead would be even deeper in debt because each day you will have sinned.
Is there any hope for man?
2. THE PRICE THAT WAS PAID.
Col 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
(1) You were dead. Spiritually speaking, you were lost and had a death sentence on you. Death Row awaiting carrying out. Nothing you could do would save you or make you alive, on your own.
(2) He made you alive. He did it “while you were dead”. He is Who brought life to you. Apart from Him, you had no hope.
(3) He forgave you. It’s not enough to say that He forgave your sins. Your sins are your actions. Who you are is a sinner. A sinner is someone who sins by nature. Your sins are just a reflection of who you are. So, He didn’t just forgive your actions, He forgave you!
Col 3:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
(1) Canceled the certificate of debt. When someone borrows money, a certificate was made out. It had to be paid. Once paid, it was canceled. Often, the home was the collateral. Once the debt was paid, the certificate would be nailed to the doorpost of the home. On it would be stamped “Tetelestai”, which means “paid in full.” Just before Jesus died on the cross, He cried out “Tetelestai”. Translated “It is finished”, more directly it means “the debt is paid in full”.
** decrees against us- our sins. “The wages (price) for sin is death.” We have earned it.
** hostile to us- our sinful life runs counter to God’s will and blessings. our Flesh wars against our spirit.
Our sins demand retribution. And it is Our sin that opens the door to judgement and spiritual oppression.
(2) Taken it {our sins} out of the way.
John 1:29 “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
He is the One who takes away our sins.
What did He do with our sins? He paid the price and destroyed the record of them.
Record Book- In Heaven, each person has a record book of all the sins he committed while on earth. Rev 20 describes how at the Great White Throne each person will be judged for each sin recorded in the book of his life and then he will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Believer’s, though, have no record of sin in their book because Jesus has forgiven our sins and has blotted them from the book.
Heb 9:28 So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
The believer will appear before the Bema Seat of Christ where his works will be examined in order to receive his reward in Heaven.
(3) Nailed it {our sins} to the cross.
During a Roman execution by crucifixion, the person would be stripped down and nailed to the cross. Then a parchment would be nailed to the cross above the head of the condemned criminal. On this parchment, was a list of the crimes this person was guilty of committing. The guilt of our sins is what Jesus died for. So, our sins comprised the list on the parchment.
Also, since Jesus became sin on our behalf, when He was nailed to the cross, then, in effect, our sins were literally nailed to the cross.
I Peter 3:18 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the Just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”
3. THE FREEDOM HE GAVE US.
Col 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Rulers and authorities- Satan and his kingdom of darkness.
Jn 14:30 Jesus called him “the ruler of this world”.
2 Cor 4:4 Satan is called “the god of this world.”
* Satan gains his authority over people thru sin.
Jn 8:34 Everyone who commits sins is a slave to sin.
* Truth is, you either belong to God or you belong to Satan.
(1) He disarmed them- Satan’s power over us comes thru sin, He disarmed them by paying the price for our sins and removing the curse that was on us. Satan can no longer accuse believers because the power of sin has been destroyed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
* Satan might be a roaring lion, but his teeth have been pulled!!
(2) Made a public display of them- The cross event looked like a great victory for Satan as he conspired to kill Jesus, but it turned out to be a humiliating defeat. Not only did death and the grave have no hold on Jesus, His blood lifted the curse of sin from all who would believe.
(3) Having Triumphed over them thru Him- The salvation and freedom that we have, we owe it all to Jesus Christ. And, because of Jesus Christ we can live in victory over Satan, sin, and death.
Conclusion:
This morning you have 3 ways you might respond to what Jesus Christ has done for you to set you free from the debt of sin.
(1) If you are lost, you can come and give yourself to Him, repent of your sins and receive His forgiveness and salvation.
(2) Or, you can reject His offer and remain lost and condemned and pay the price for your own sins through death and hell.
(3) Or, if you are saved this morning, you can once again give Him the praise and glory and thank Him for all He has done to pay your debt and set you free.
