Who here is great at determining what you really need? We say we really need something all the time or that we really need some sort of situation to improve. When I was in high school, I became really interested in music production and by really interested, I mean obsessed.

I can remember begging my parents to let me use their credit card to buy some music production software. I told them I really needed it to make my dreams become a reality. I was convinced that if I had that software, music production would be easy, and I’d be off to the studio with Kanye West. Finally, my parents caved. I can remember inputting my dad’s credit card number on the computer and giving them some of my precious cash. I downloaded the software, giddy with excitement and big dreams. I opened it up and behold: it was extremely clunky and the music didn’t come as easily as I thought it would. A few weeks later, I still couldn’t figure out how to use the software and as you can tell, I’m not a music producer – I’m a pastor. So, that dream of mine didn’t pan out.

I share that because I thought I knew what I really needed and when I finally got it, I found out that what I actually needed was something better. In fact, the giddy excitement I first had slowly wore off and I found myself longing for something else. I don’t think I’m alone in this. We convince ourselves that we really need something, only to get it and become discontent after awhile. So, you think you need to say these affirmations, get a raise at work, have a perfect/healthy marriage, or clean up a habit but when you finally get those things, you’re less content.

You can’t seem to fix things on your own or will yourself into perfect bliss. That’s because you need more than better circumstances or a new thing: you need life-saving surgery from Christ and baptism celebrates your new life! (Repeat)

Today, we’ll be heading to Colossians 2:11-15 to drive that point home as we prepare to baptize four people later this morning. If you’re able, will you please stand as we read God’s word together?

The Hunt That Never Satisfies(Verse 13)

In verse 13, Paul uses some strong language: “dead in your sins” and “Your sinful nature was not yet cut away.” What does he mean by that? Practically, being dead in your sin shows up as misplaced worship or giving your heart totally to someone or something. You serve a god of self-improvement, achievement, being accepted by others, or being in total control of your life. In our sinful nature, we become enslaved by those things. Those things tell us we really need something but they only end up disappointing us.

If you serve a god of self-improvement, you convince yourself that what you really need is to hit a certain weight goal, say a few positive affirmations each day, or meditate every morning. But, how do you feel when you miss a workout, miss a goal, or skip meditation? Horrible. You may double down and work harder but you’re always going to make a mistake. Self-improvement can be a good thing but it can’t be your ultimate thing.

Or if you serve a god of achievement, you may convince yourself that what you really need is to get that promotion, get all A’s in school, or hit that salary number. When you finally get that promotion or salary number, do you feel content or do you want more? You want more. How do you feel if you lose your job or get a C in school? You’re crushed. Working hard and achieving good goals can be a good thing but it can’t be your ultimate thing.

Maybe your god isn't self-improvement or achievement — maybe it's being liked, or being in total control of your life. Same pattern: it feels like security until someone criticizes you, or until life spins outside your control, and then you fall apart. 

In the Old Testament, there’s a king of Israel who illustrates this so well: Solomon. He has power over an entire empire, he’s achieved so much by building the temple + expanding Israel’s Kingdom, and he has more money and pleasure than he knows what to do with. And was he content? No, Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s personal handbook on wisdom he’s acquired and he says this from the NLT: “ But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”

Solomon thought he needed one thing but he needed something better. His longing and your longing is good but it’s misplaced. And if you’re thinking to yourself: “I don’t agree with what this guy is saying.” I have a question I’d love to ask you: when’s the last time your achievements, your self-improvement, your wealth, your popularity, or whatever actually satisfied you longer than a week? (Repeat)

If you’re like me, none of those things have satisfied. Our hearts long for something or someone better and Colossians 2 shows us who that is, let’s keep moving to what we really need.

What We Really Need (Verses 12-15)

Colossians 2 tells us what we really need and it’s not optimization, self-help, achievement, or anything like that. What we need is life-saving surgery from Christ.

Since we’re dead in our sins, we can’t do this on our own. It requires Jesus. Why?

He’s the one who performs life-saving surgery at the cost of his own life. Colossians 2:14 tells us that there is a record of charges that God has against us – if we’re all honest with ourselves, we know this at a deep level. When we serve those other false gods, we’re indirectly hating the true God – telling him: “thanks for my life but I’ll live it my own way.” We skirt around the truth, we have all gotten unrighteously angry at someone, we’ve put our needs above other people’s needs, we’ve judged people before we’ve even said a word to them, we’ve lusted over others, and we’ve desired other people’s stuff or their lives. These are the records of charges or sins that God has against us. We’re the ones who have the problem, we’re the ones who cause the misery in our world.

He's the God of the universe — he has every right to hold us accountable, and yet we hate the very commands meant for our flourishing.

So, what does God do? Does he tell us: “you’re too far gone. You’ve blown it.”You better get you’re act together before I talk to you.  No – in Romans 5:8, we read: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Colossians 2:14 tells us Jesus nailed those offenses to the cross. On the cross was my own record of debt — every rebellion, every sin. Jesus didn't erase it quietly. He nailed it up for everyone to see, stamped paid in full, because he paid it with his own body. For everyone in here, there is a record of debt – have you let Jesus pay for it?

In verse 15, things get even better. And the powers that held you — sin, death, fear, anxiety, false gods, everything that's ever had a claim on you — got marched through the streets in defeat, stripped of their armor, in front of the whole watching universe. What looked like Rome killing a criminal was actually God settling your debt and winning a war, at the same time, in the same act. Jesus can set you free from all those powers – have you let Jesus set you free? As the great surgeon, Jesus didn’t just settle your debt – he conquered the things that actually kept you a slave and dealt with the things that were killing you. That’s why he’s a better God than anything else – those other gods will always disappoint you and use you but Jesus will not,.

Why can we trust Jesus to pay for our sin, set us free from those things that enslave us, and give us new life? Because, Jesus didn’t stay dead. Sure, Jesus did amazing things when he walked around Galilee 2,000 years ago – he made blind people see, he healed the sick, he cast out demons, and he brought the dead back to life. But those amazing things were only signs to show his power and authority as God in the flesh. His greatest sign was not staying dead: three days later after being murdered, Jesus came back to life – demonstrating his power and victory. He’s reigning as King now and one day, he’s going to return to make all things right and to fully usher in his kingdom where every tear will be wiped by the savior, where every evil and injustice will be punished, where every physical, mental, or emotional disability will be totally restored, and where every believer of Jesus will praise God for his amazing love, power, and kindness that made all of that possible. Jesus’ kingdom is open to every single person in the world, regardless of race, social status, wealth, or age – will you join it or be his enemy? He died for you as his enemy, come to the winning side.

This present and future reality is what we celebrate when we gather as the church. And it’s what we’re doing today too…

What Today is All About (Verse 12)

Remember verse 12 from when we read at the start? “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized.”  That’s what we’re celebrating today – people who were dead but because they’ve trusted in the mighty power of God who raised Christ from the dead, they’ve been raised to new life.

Baptism is about showing the world and the church what’s been true in these people’s lives: new life is possible through faith in Christ. New life and freedom is possible because of the great love of God that has the power to heal, save, and restore broken people everywhere.

For folks who are being baptized, this is a serious and life-changing day. It’s the day where you commit in front of all these people that your total allegiance is given to King Jesus who brought you from death to life. It’s a day that should be celebrated and remembered for as long as God gives you breath. It’s a day where they acknowledge that Jesus isn’t just their savior, he’s also their Lord – with the Spirit’s help, they’ll pursue obedience as well. And it’s such an honor and joy to be here with you today.

For those of us who are followers of Jesus today, this is a day where we can do two things:

1.      Roar with thunderous applause after each baptism as we celebrate with our brother and sister taking this step of faith. Clap, shout for joy, and celebrate that hell has lost another one and that Jesus Christ has freed someone from bondage and sin. This should be one of the high points of our year as a church family, let’s treat it like one! Tell the folks getting baptized that you’re proud of them, that you’ll be praying for them, and you’re always here for them.

2.    Join with me in prayer that we would see more baptisms through our church. Let us not be content with seeing 4 baptisms (although this is an amazing testimony) – let us pray that more folks would come to faith in Christ and know they’re dearly loved.

If you are not a follower of Jesus today, why not change that today? You don’t have to have everything figured out, you don’t have to clean yourself up, and you don’t have be perfect. If you’re tired of those false gods disappointing you, let Christ perform his life-saving surgery. You don’t need better circumstances, better jobs, or better relationships – you need Jesus. Towards the end of our time together, I’ll pray for you specifically and invite you to talk to a few friends and myself who would be honored to pray for your specific needs as well.

So with all that said, let’s start baptizing some folks!