Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:8-14
Spiritual Surgery
Intro.
1. Surgery is not pleasant, but often necessary.
2. Spiritually speaking, there is a surgery God performs, and there are surgeries we must perform.
3. The surgical instrument we will use: The word of God, Heb. 4:12 [Faith, 1 Jno. 5:4, Repentance, Acts 26:20, Self-control, 1 Cor. 9:25-27, Holiness, 1 Pet. 1:15-16]
I. GOD’S OPERATION: THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST, Col. 2:11-12.
A. God’s Operation: A Spiritual Circumcision (“made without hands”).
1. We do not save ourselves; God does (by grace), Eph. 2:8-9.
2. We have a part to play in this spiritual surgery (through faith).
B. ”Putting Off of the Body of the (sins of the) Flesh,” Col. 2:11. (forgiveness; putting away past sins)
1. Circumcision of the heart, Rom. 2:28-29.
a. Our part is a contrite heart – Repentant faith. We must renounce the flesh (sin). cf. Israel, Deut. 10:16
b. Fleshly circumcision: Sign of the covenant with Abraham’s seed, Gen. 17:11-14.
2. God works this operation at baptism, Col. 2:12.
a. God’s power, that raised Jesus, raises us from spiritual death.
b. Quickened, made alive (flesh newly exposed in circumcision).
c. Baptism is action of faith in God’s power (operation) that makes us fresh, alive, quickened from the dead.
3. Christians are the circumcision, Phil. 3:2-3. (true doctrine of cir.)
a. With our sin removed, we are able to give true service (latreuo) to God, Rom. 12:1.
b. Confidence is in Christ (not in the flesh). cf. Judaizers
c. New creation, Gal. 6:15.
II. AMPUTATION OF OFFENSES (surgical instruments of repentance: Self-denial, Lk. 14:33; Holiness, 1 Pet. 1:13-17).
A. Amputation is Extreme, but its Purpose is to Save the Patient.
1. Sin (the offending part) must be removed for the safety of the whole body (person), Matt. 5:29-30.
a. Repentance is radical, severe, and costly, cf. 2 Cor. 12:21.
b. Surrender for salvation, momentary suffering to escape the eternal suffering of hell.
2. Conduct that influences others to sin, Matt. 18:6-11.
a. Sin, Gal. 2:13.
b. Liberties of conscience that persuade one to violate theirs, 1 Cor. 8:13.
3. Cut off the old man of sin, Rom. 6:6, 11; Col. 3:5, 9-10.
-Put on new man, Col. 3:10 (cf. amputee putting on prosthetic).
4. Cut off false teachers, 2 Tim. 2:16-18 (Rom. 16:17; 2 Jno. 10-11).
III. IMPLANT THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR HEART, Jas. 1:21-22.
A. Must Sterilize the Affected Area (the heart), 1:21. (Heb. 4:12)
B. Must Accept God’s Word with Meekness (yielding control), 1 Thess. 2:13 (Acts 17:11-12); Col. 3:16-17.
-cf. Imagine accepting a liver transplant, but then not yielding to the treatment that is necessary to keep it (you) healthy.
C. Must be Doers of God’s Word, 1:22 (Matt. 7:21).
-God’s word must be allowed to work in our lives through humble, full obedience to the Lord (Heb. 2:3).
Conclusion
1. If you are lost, it is time to go to the Great Physician to be healed, Matt. 9:12-13.
2. He will heal every sin, bind up our broken heart and heal your soul, Isa. 61:1.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted June 26, 2019