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Finding Christ in Colossians
Finding Christ in Colossians (14)The Book of Colossians is one of the most compelling and profound books of the Bible. Within its 95 verses we hear the Apostle Paul's argument for the Supremacy of Christ. He is Lord of all. Colossians 1:18 underwrites what the overall theme of this book. Paul writes this book in response to a very troubling problem that is challenging the very roots of Christianity. While these threats do not do away with Jesus, they undermine his deity to the point that he is merely a profit. Colossians is written in 60-61AD, in a time when Paul is a prisoner in Rome. Nero is emperor in these days and is terrorizing believers through the Roman Empire. Colossians 4:7-18 The Story: Imagine a world without internet, iphones, email and even an official postal service. That's Paul's world. In the close relationship with the Apostles were a team that shared in the ministry, including people that delivered messages. In today's culture and "advancement" it is so much easier to do it alone; at least we can be deceived in thinking so. Paul comes to the close of his letter by giving relational instructions. A selfless faith develops close life relationships; partners in ministry. It's interesting to me to see who the people are that Paul has stuck close to and those that have stuck close to Paul.
What can we learn: I'm encouraged to see the list of names of people that stuck close to Paul and ministered to him in a variety of ways. Paul's in prison but he's not forgotten there. It may have been easy, outside the Sovereignty of God, for Paul to have drifted into oblivion while in the Roman Prison. But because of his partners in ministry, his ministry saw its most effective days while there. He was able to write letters which have ministered to many millions over the years. We can learn to be partners in ministry. A Christian leader's effectiveness depends on it. Find where you fit within a vision to reach the lost and step in. Every one of the people mentioned in this last portion of Colossians prove testimony to this. Amen.
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Colossians 4:2-6 The Story: Paul is famous for his style of writing. He first teaches doctrine, that often takes the first half of the book, and then he tells you how to apply the doctrine. In this passage it's good to be reminded why we should do what he's telling us. "If you want Christ to be Lord of your life, then you need to do the following." That's the subliminal thought here. Paul writes three instructions:
The Key Truth: We must always let Christ's supremacy live through us, wherever we go and whatever we say. My Application and Prayer: Lord, I want to allow you to be the Lord of my life and I want it to show in all I do. I don't ever want to be an unwise steward of the opportunities you give me to speak about the wonders of the Cross and the power of your resurrection. Help me Lord to be an honest man in all my doings, whether the details are small or great. Help me to act appropriately so that people see Christ in me.
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Colossians 3:18-4:1 The Story: Paul extends his Christian living principles to the home, including wives, husbands, children, slaves and masters. Submission is one of the Christian living principles that is found throughout the New Testament and is not only for wives. In fact, Christ was the model of how submission works in the believer's life. Wives are to submit to Christ first and then their husband. Husbands submit to your wife by demonstrating love. Children submit to your parents in every way. Slaves, display submission by the way you obey and Masters submit to the needs of your slaves by providing them what is fair. While we tend to look at who's under us, Paul's emphasis is who is it in our life that we ought to serve. Key Truth: The believer's life is more about who we serve and less of who serves us. Philippians 2:1-10 Application and Prayer: I need to check my life and examine all the relationships to see if I tend to expect things to go my way all the time. Do I have a spirit of submission in all aspects of my life - even in situations where I may have a role of supervision. Dear Lord, help me to have the same attitude as you. You saw every light in terms of eternity. I want to see every relationship in the same way and seek to understand what role I play to help them be spotless and blameless when they meet Christ in eternity.
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Colossians 3:12-17 The Story: Since every person that chooses to begin a new life with Christ, to be born again and become a child of God, has the freedom to live as children of God. That means we can sink into our new nature and it's clothing which is marked by compassion, kindness and a variety of Christ attributes. Each one of these kingdom virtues are threaded together with love. And how do we let these kingdom virtues become part of our lives? It's through Christ and his power. As we let the peace of Christ be our rule and the word of God dwell deep in us, the clothing starts to feel good on us. We're able to sink into our new self. Our new nature starts to feel comfortable. We can freely express our new life with songs of worship because it comes from our heart. It's only when we let Christ be the rule of our lives are we able to do everything with thanks and in the name of our God. The Key Truth: The power of Christ to live godly lives comes from letting Christ's peace rule in us. We're no longer fighting to keep some of the old nature with us. And the power comes from letting God's word dwell deep in us. We are allowing the truths and principles of God's word sink into the core of our being and governing who and what we do. That's where the power is. The Application and Prayer: If you are a Christian, you need to stop fighting to keep some of the world principles and to dig into God's Word and let the truths and principles be let them be our governing life factors. Dear Lord, I love your Word and all that it teaches me. Help me to discern how you want me to live from what I read in your Word and I want to allow you to freely rule in my life.
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Colossians 3:1-11 The Story: "Therefore" is what Paul starts this section with. Your faith identifies you with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. And if that is so, you should also live like this 24/7. Is that a tall order? Just think of the tall order that Christ fulfilled for you. Paul just may be saying that it is easy to say a sinner's prayer and live like you used to but the believer's life is much more than that. Paul illustrates on what has actually happened when you first believed. He describes what patterns an unbeliever's mind. The earthly nature is filled with patterns that are subject to God's wrath when he comes. However, when we believe, we have the freedom to change all that. We can get rid of anger, malice, slander along with other old-life patterns. How can we do this? Christ is renewing us on a regular basis to conform us according to his image. What's more, this renewing privilege is available to every human alive. Key Truth: The Christian's life pattern is in accordance to heavenly principles and not earthly principles. The earthly nature is going to be subject to Christ's judgment. A new self, a new birth is available in Christ wherein we are able to rid ourselves of all earthly patterns. That life is rewarded by Christ. My Application and Prayer: Lord, I need for you to renew me daily. I want to know you, Lord and align my life with yours in every way that is possible for man. My passion is to live for you and receive your blessing in eternity. What I need to do is to study to know Christ, look for principles for the believer's life and then align my life in accordance. Thank you Lord that I don't do this alone. In fact I can't do it alone!
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Finding Christ in Colossians
Colossians 2:16-23 The Story: Paul goes into some detail on what the Gnostics believed and how they were trapping those that believed in Jesus Christ. The term he uses is pious humility, a false humility with which they speak. I can see the teary eyes as they describe their experience with angels and all they the things they have seen via their visions. "Don't get trapped by their crocodile tears" is what Paul is saying. Paul's main point is that Christ is all we need. As believers, we have died with Christ and now can commune with God without all the regulations and rules. They used to remind us of a relationship that would come; which is the relationship that we now have. To continue with rules that have an appearance only is nothing more than a false humility and has no power over sensual desires. Hold on to Christ, get to know him and the power of his resurrection because that is where you will find reality. Faith reality is what we're after. Legalism is merely a shadow of what is real. Don't let those that have the false stuff judge you. Their reality will only leave you spiritually empty. Key Truth: Christ is the head of the body, the Church. Spiritual growth happens when Christ causes it to grow. If it is spiritual growth you want, get to know Christ and Christ alone. Don't be impressed with others' pious humility. Study to know Christ and discover your own reality. My Application and Prayer: I need to examine all the things related to my spiritual life and discern what may just be empty rules. I need to examine myself to see if there is anyone I'm judging another person as nonspiritual because they're not following my rules. Dear Lord, help me discern what the things are in my life that are only a shadow of things that are real. I want a real faith and not just mere shadows of the real thing. As I study the Bible, let me learn from the Holy Spirit as he teaches me. Colossians 2:4-15 The Story: Paul exhorts them to "be strengthened, rooted and built up in the faith;" just as they had heard from the beginning. Living a spiritual life is done in the same way you in which you became a Christian, by faith in Jesus Christ. Study Christ and his teachings because that is where the fullness of faith is, that's where the power is. Listen to what people are saying and weigh it against what you have already received. Any "new gospel" will be hollow in all that it offers. They will tell you that you need to follow some regulations in order to get back to God. You're already there, why give away the power and victory that Christ won on the cross. On the cross is where Christ triumphed over every power and disarmed all their authority. Remember that! Don't give your freedom away for bondage. Key Truth: Salvation through faith alone. When we believed in Jesus Christ and the triumphed he secured over every power and authority by his death on the cross, we too triumphed through faith. We have the fullness of Christ in us. God has made us alive. My Application and Prayer: Thank you Lord for putting to death my sinful nature and canceling the written code that was required to demonstrate my faith. I can have a relationship and talk with you where ever I am and you will hear me. I want to be rooted in my faith so that I will always have a defense against anyone that would try to steer me in a different direction. As I read your word, help me to hear what you want me to learn and what I need to know in order to grow. Thank you Lord for the death you you displayed on the cross. It was there for all to see. It was for me to see and remember what is all mine because of the cross.
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Thursday, 06 May 2010 08:02
Colossians 1:28-2:5 Want Wisdom? Study Christ AloneWritten by Gerry PetersColossians 1:28-2:5 The Story: In the cities of where Paul was writing to were looking elsewhere for the mysteries of God and that wisdom was going to find their way back to God. Paul argues that everything they're looking for is found in Christ. He is the mystery of God and he is the one filled with all the treasures of wisdom. You don't have to look any further (Colossians 2:3). The deceivers (Gnostics) boasted a very orderly system of religion. They claimed that they knew the steps that God spoke down to man and the steps we walked back up to God. Paul commends the believers because they are "orderly and solid" they are in their faith (Colossians 2:5). Paul says that he wants to proclaim Christ and struggle in the process so that everyone of them may be presented perfect through Christ's sacrifice. It's not my energy but Christ's power that keeps me going. Key Truth: All the treasures of wisdom and understanding are found in Christ alone. You don't need to look any further. If you want to gain wisdom about how to live a fulfilled life on earth, study and get to know Christ fully. My Application: I want to know you Lord. Unless I do I will always be lacking in wisdom and understanding. I want to know you and follow you. This will be the only way that I will be able to discern right from wrong, the truth Christ taught and words that sound similar but are false.
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Colossians 1:24-27 The Story: This is actually a continuation of the previous section and not a new thought. Because of all that that Christ's suffering has done for Paul, he says that suffering a bit here on earth is nothing more than a privilege and he's still got room in his body for the sake of the Church. "I'm your servant" is Paul's summary of God's call on his life. "Paul is not saying that he suffered as Jesus did or that his suffering was a part of Christ’s suffering on the cross. Rather, he is saying that as Christ suffered for others, so he suffers for others, and his suffering is on behalf of the body, the church. The word for “suffering” here is never the one used for the sufferings of Christ on the cross. It speaks rather of His sufferings during His earthly ministry, sufferings that God’s people experience as they seek to live for Christ in a hostile world." (Warren Wiersbe) "I get to explain to you the mystery that God has held since the beginning of time; he's held it for this time and for those that believe in Him" says Paul. The mystery is that the fullness of Christ is resident in every one that proclaims Christ. Christ indwells in you. The whole theme of Colossians is “Christ is all you need.” We are made full in Him, and that is all that is needed! How tragic when Christians substitute man-made rules, disciplines, and rituals for the fullness we have in Christ! Key Truth: Christ is all you need. The fullness of Christ indwells the believer at the very core of our being. My Prayer and Application: I thank you Lord for the sacrifice you paid for my salvation. Your suffering paid great dividends for my eternal destiny and a relationship with you. I praise you. The small challenges that I have to face in a country of freedom is absolutely nothing when compared to the sufferings that bought me freedom, spiritual and physical. I want to live a life of boldness for you.
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Colossians 1:21-23 The Story: This is the story of salvation, written to an audience that needed a defense against the Gnostic teachers. Our redemption was purchased through the death of Christ's physical body that has now presented us holy and without blemish. This is a direct hit against the Gnostics that believed that all physical matter was sinful. That's why they could not accept Jesus as Deity. Paul encourages them to stand firm in the gospel that they first heard from Paul and the Apostles. Key Truth: Christ's substitutionary death on the Cross. Meaning that his death on the cross was God's substitution for our sin. His death removed every obstacle that kept us from God. My Application and Prayer: I praise you, Lord, for providing me salvation and access to you. Thank you that I can come directly to you and have an unhindered relationship. Forgive me for ignoring you by not stopping and having a conversation with you. I want to be ever thankful for your gift and worship you as my God and my Saviour. Bible Study Note: (Robertson's Word Pictures - Colossians 1:23)
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