Sermon Notes

Abide
Anchored in the Gospel
January 25, 2026

We treat the gospel like a doorway instead of a dwelling place.

Colossians 1:15–20
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Three Theological Anchors

1. Jesus reveals God –
   • There is never a moment God is not like Jesus.
2. Jesus holds all things together
3. Jesus reconciles through His blood

Colossians 1:21–22
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

Reconcile = restoration of relationship

The gospel is not about managing sin; it’s about restoring relationship.

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Colossians 1:23
if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

We don’t live faithfully to belong. We live faithfully because we belong.

You can’t rush roots.

1 John 1:5–2:2
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Our fellowship with one another flows out of walking in the light.

REFLECTION

• Where have you been trying to grow without grace?
• Where are you managing your faith instead of abiding?
• “I belong because _______________?

Declaration
We are a people who abide because of mercy.