TEXT:
Col 2:13-15 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Col 2:13-15 (NIV)
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

INTRODUCTION:
In the ancient world the Greek term here translated as "written code" (Col. 2:14), referred to a handwritten certificate of indebtedness that obligated the signer. This note stood between him and the person he owed until it was paid. This debt would often become a heavy burden which the debtor was unable to pay. Paul says here that Christ "took it away" and nailed it to the cross.

(This sermon was illustrated by taking pieces of poster board with the various burdens or sins written on them, and either stapling or nailing them to a large wooden cross as they were mentioned in the sermon)

I. SIN’S GUILT AS A BURDEN

  A. ALL HAVE SINNED - Romans 3:23
    1. You have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
    2. If you are a Christian, then the Holy Spirit has brought you to a realization of your lost
        condition at some point in your life.
    3. At some point you have recognized your need for a savior.
    4. You’ve placed your faith in Christ to save you and reckon your sins as being nailed to
        the cross.

  B. BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY
    1. Jesus has said, "Come unto Me. I will take your burden away.
    2. He says, "I  will remove your sins as far as the east from the west."
    3. Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near!

  C. THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
    In the ancient city of Venice there was a bridge called "The Bridge of Sighs." At one end of
    the bridge there was a courtroom; at the other end there was a dungeon. Above the door to
    the dungeon were the words, "Abandon hope all ye that enter herein." Try to picture a man
    who has been sentenced to spend his life in that dungeon. As he walks across the bridge he
    takes a last long look at the sun and bids a last farewell to his loved ones. He is going to spend
    the rest of his life without hope and without light.  But while he is crossing the bridge, a court
    official stops him and presses a paper into his hand. When he looks at the paper he finds that
    it is a pardon. His eyes are soon dimmed by tears. He is free now; his sorrow has been turned
    to joy. He goes home to live a new life.

    1. That is the picture of Jesus Christ.
    2. Men are on the way to hell without God and without hope.
    3. But Jesus pardons us, nails our burdens to the cross, and gives us new life when we come
        to Him.

II. OBSESSIONS AS BURDENS

  A. SLAVES TO SIN
    1. The lost man is a slave to sin.
    2. Sin has a death hold on the lost.
    3. Men are not able to overcome sin in themselves.
    4. They need the help that only Jesus can give.

  B. THE DRUNKARD
    1. A few years ago I knew a young man who was an habitual drunkard.
    2. I visited him and tried to help him.
    3. He told me that the doctors had said his drinking was going to kill him.
    4. They said he was going to die an early death if he didn’t stop.
    5. He assured me that he was going to quit.
    6. But, his good resolution didn’t last.
    7. You see, a man needs more than human strength to overcome sin.
    8. He failed because he didn’t allow a Higher Power to control his life.
    9. Jesus was willing to take his burdens, but he would rather try to drink them away.
    10. We have men all over this church who have been delivered from alcohol and can testify
        to the power of God.
    11. But, this young man wouldn’t go to the cross with it.

  C. THE DRUG ADDICT
    1. We had a young mother who came to this church when I first started pastoring here.
    2. She had two beautiful daughters and a husband who loved her.
    3. She began to sell her body to buy drugs.
    4. She tried to hide her sin from her husband.
    5. When he found out, she lied and told him that she wasn’t doing drugs anymore.
    6. She was destroying her family and endangering her children.
    7. Her husband and children still faithfully attend this church.
    8. She wouldn’t leave her drugs, but she did leave her family.
    9. I know the power of the cross works.
    10. I’ve seen Charlie Sanchez, whose mind was roasted by drugs, get saved, delivered, and
        eventually healed by the power of God!
    11. I could give you countless other examples.
    12. Our BURDENS are nailed to the cross at Calvary!

  D. TOBACCO HABITS
    1. Some are bound by tobacco!
    2. I’ve known so many who have taken this habit to the cross and left it there, but far
        too many others who haven't.
    3. As long as they continue to try to stop on their own, they will lose.
    4. Do you have a tobacco habit?
    5. Bring that habit to the cross and leave it there.

  E. SEXUAL ADDICTIONS
    1. I was speaking with a close friend this week who is a Christian counselor.
    2. He told me that many of the Christian men who come to him for counseling have
        problems with pornography.
    3. The temptation is everywhere.
    4. It’s on the TV, its in the magazine racks, it’s at the movies.
    5. It’s an addiction which steals your joy and robs your peace of mind.
    6. It causes you to lust and sin!
    7. It comes between you and God!
    8. Part of the purpose of HonorBound is to help men overcome such habits.
    9. A survey showed that 42% of the men in Christian churches are bound by pornography.
    10. I’m not here to condemn you!
    11. I’m here to point you to a cure! (Can I have a good Amen)
    12. We don't want you to be bound by pornography and other habits.
    13. We want to help you to be HonorBound to God! (Can I have a better Amen)
    12. Our burdens are nailed to the cross at Calvary!

  F. MANY MORE COULD BE MENTIONED
    1. Addiction to daytime television that prevents you from doing more important things.
    2. Gossip
    3. Lying
    4. Stealing
    5. Are you fighting a losing battle with sinful habits?
    6. You need the help of One greater than yourself.
    7. Come to the cross!

III. OPPRESSIONS AS BURDENS

  A. THE BURDEN OF SORROWS
    1. Every person has some sorrow.
    2. Some burdens tend to break our hearts.
    3. The only way to have it mended is to go to the cross.

  B. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
    Horatio G. Spafford, a successful Chicago lawyer, lost most of his wealth in the financial crisis of
    1873. He sent his wife and four daughters on a trip to France, but on their way, their ship was
    struck by another, and sank. Of 225 passengers, only 87 of them survived. Mrs. Spafford was
    among the survivors, but the four daughters perished. As soon as she reached land, she
    telegraphed to her husband: "Saved alone. Children lost. What shall I do?" Mr. Spafford left for
    France to join his wife and bring her back to Chicago.  As they passed over the place where the
    ship had gone down, he wrote this hymn:

            When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
            When sorrow like sea billows roll;
            Whatever my lot,
            Thou hast taught me to say,
            "It is well, it is well with my soul."

    He found peace at the cross!  Notice the third verse.  At a time when he must have been
    wondering if there was some hidden sin in his life which had brought all of these recent
    problems as punishment, he found assurance in God's word that all of his sins were nailed
    to the cross.

            My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
            My sin, not in part but the whole,
            Is nailed to the cross,
            And I bear it no more,
            Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!

  C. SOME ARE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL TODAY
    1. Are you bound by WORRY?
    2. Does ANGER have a grip on you?
    3. How about SELF PITY or JEALOUSY?
    4. Do you continually feel depressed and sorry for yourself?
    5. Our BURDENS are NAILED to the cross at CALVARY!

IV. NAILED TO THE CROSS

  A. JESUS CARRIED OUR SINS TO THE CROSS
    2 Cor 5:21 (KJV)
    21 For he hath MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, who knew no sin; that we might be
    made the righteousness of God in him.

  B. JESUS CARRIED OUR LACK OF PEACE TO THE CROSS
    Isa 53:5 (KJV)
    5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: THE
    CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM; and with his stripes we are healed.

  C. HE CARRIED OUR INIQUITIES (OR HABITS) TO THE CROSS
    Isa 53:6 (KJV)
    6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD
    hath LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.

    1. An iniquity is more than just a sin, it is a bent towards sin.
    2. An iniquity is a leaning towards sin.
    3. An iniquity is a HABIT!
    4. So, HE CARRIED OUR HABITS TO THE CROSS!

  D. HE CARRIED OUR SICKNESS TO THE CROSS
    1 Pet 2:24 (KJV)
    24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
    should live unto righteousness: by WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.

  E. WHAT THE FATHER SAW
    1. When the Father looked at the cross, He saw our sin; because Jesus carried our sin
        (2Cor 5:21)!
    2. When the Father looked at the cross, He saw our lack of peace; because the chastisment
        of our peace was upon Jesus (Isa53:5)!
    3. When the Father looked at the cross, He saw our habits; because our iniquities were laid
        upon Jesus at the cross (Isa 53:6)!
    4. When the Father looked at the cross, He saw our sicknesses; because by Jesus' stripes
        we were healed (1Pet 2:24)!

(Have a supply of paper, pencils, and tacks available for the conclusion.)

CONCLUSION:
Today, will you place your burdens on the cross?
1. Take a piece of paper and write down your burden.
2. Find a place to pray and prayerfully give it to the Lord.
    a. Realize that Christ has carried the guilt of your sin, so that you don't have to carry it yourself.
    b. Realize that Christ has carried your iniquities, so that you don't have to be bound by them.
    c. Realize that Christ has carried your sickness and diseases, so that you don't have to.
    d. Realize that Christ has carried all of your burdens to the cross and left them there.
    e. You have a loving Heavenly Father who pleads with you to cast your cares on Him because
        He cares for you!
3. After you have prayed and given your burden to the Lord, fold the paper containing your
    burden and tack it to this cross as a point of contact of faith.