Jesus Sets Us Totally Free

Series: All to Jesus  |  Passage: Colossians 2:13-23  |  Preacher: Dr. Shaun Miles

What did the cross actually accomplish for you? In this message from Colossians 2:13-23, Dr. Shaun Miles makes a bold claim straight from the text: Jesus did not set us partly free, or almost free — He set us totally free. The sermon walks through two movements: the freedom Christ won for us, and the freedom we are called to live out with Him.

An echo of the Reformation

Dr. Miles opened with the story of Martin Luther standing before church and empire and refusing to recant: “Here I stand. I can do no other.” Luther’s conscience was “captive to the word of God” rather than to the man-made religion pressing in around him. That same pressure, Dr. Miles argued, is what Paul confronts in the young church at Colossae — a mix of legalism, mysticism, and human tradition trying to squeeze new believers into a mold the gospel never made.

Freedom in Christ (vv. 13-15)

The first half of the passage is a string of action verbs — and every one of them belongs to God, not to us. While we were still “dead in our transgressions,” God made us alive, forgave all our sin, canceled the certificate of debt that stood against us, and nailed it to the cross. Dr. Miles highlighted three specific freedoms:

• Freedom from sin. We were spiritually helpless — unable to give ourselves a new heart. Christ made us alive.
• Freedom from the law’s condemnation. The word “canceled” pictures a scribe scrubbing a sheet of papyrus clean so it can be reused. God didn’t just discard the record of our debt — He wiped it clean so He could write His own purpose on our lives.
• Freedom from spiritual enemies. At the cross Christ “disarmed the rulers and authorities” and made a public spectacle of them. The one who appeared shamed and defeated rose again — and it was the enemy, not Jesus, who was put to open shame.

Freedom with Christ (vv. 16-23)

Because Christ has set us free, Paul says, do not let anyone put you back in chains. Dr. Miles framed this as three things believers must refuse:

• Refuse religious judgment — don’t let people take the seat of judge and assess your worth by external things like food, drink, or special days.
• Refuse religious manipulation — the word “defraud” carries the picture of an umpire bending the rules for a desired outcome. Leadership that uses rules to get something from you (transactional) is not the same as leadership that points you to Christ and helps make you a disciple (transformational).
• Refuse religious bondage — rules like “do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” look wise and feel spiritual, but Paul says they have no real power over the flesh.

The takeaway

Rules can restrain behavior, but they cannot transform the heart — Jesus changes us from the inside out. Our allegiance is not to a church, a system, or other people’s opinions, but to Christ alone. As Dr. Miles put it: “A church will never set you free. Christ is the one who set you free.” And the goal of that freedom isn’t a longer list of religious activities — it’s the prize of knowing, enjoying, and becoming like Jesus Himself.

Small-Group Discussion Questions

1. Dr. Miles emphasized that every saving action in verses 13-15 is God’s, not ours. Where are you still tempted to take partial credit for your standing with God?
2. The image of “canceling” is a sheet scrubbed clean and reused. How does it change things to know God not only erased your debt but wants to write His purpose on your life?
3. Are you more often shaped by the judgment of others or by the conviction of the Holy Spirit? How can you tell the difference?
4. The sermon distinguished “transactional” leadership (getting something from you) from “transformational” leadership (pointing you to Christ). Where have you experienced each?
5. If the prize of your faith is Jesus Himself — not a checklist of religious activity — what would change about your week?

This post summarizes a sermon preached at The Bridge Church of Jacksonville. Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible.