Christ Our Treasure: A Text for the New Year
Colossians 2:2-3
Wisdom is the skill of navigating the path of
the uncertain with the compass of certainty.
The Uncertainty of the Year Ahead of Us
The Certainty of Eternity Around Us
Underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27
His banner over me is love.
Song of Solomon 2:4
The Lord our God will go before us .
Deuteronomy 31:3
And the glory of the Lord will guard us from behind.
Isaiah 58:8
January 1st, 2012 finds us in a place we have always been. A place between the past and the future. The place between a past covered by God’s mercy and a future guarded by God’s grace.
I. Christ is Our Treasure
“What ‘things’ did she treasure? A lock of hair, one of the cloths she had used to wrap him at birth? The gifts of the Wise Men? No, she had no place to keep anything. She treasured words spoken, the sayings given to her of a deeply personal nature. The promises of God, the testimony of the shepherds, the visit of the Wise Men, the prophecies of Simeon and Anna. Precious words, words of wonder, words of joy and sorrow, words to consider over and over again.”
Ed and Coralee Murray
II. Christ is Our Treasure because of His Uniqueness
A. He is Unique as Creator
1. All Things were Made by Him
Colossians 1:16
2. All Things were Made for Him
B. He is Unique as Redeemer
For it was the Father’s good pleasure…
through Him to reconcile all things…
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:19-20
III. Christ is Our Treasure in Terms of His Usefulness to Us
A. Because Christ Gives us Life
Colossians 2:13
B. Because Christ Gives us a Sinless Status.
Colossians 1:22; Colossians 2:13
C. Because Christ Gives us Life that is Dynamic
Colossians 1:10
IV. Christ is Our Treasure Because of His Beauty
A. The Beauty of Humility
1. The Humility of a Birthed Creator
Colossians 1:15
2. The Humility of a Slain Life-Giver
Colossians 1:20
3. The Humility of the Royal Dwelling He Chose
Colossians 1:19, 27
B. The Beauty of Holiness
- The Beauty of the Sighted God
Colossians 1:15
C. The Beauty of Glory
Colossians 1:27
V. False Treasure
A. Philosophy Colossians 2:8
B. Legalism Colossians 2:14, 16
C. Mysticism Colossians 2:18
D. Asceticism Colossians 2:20-23