Who Are We In Christ? Book Of Colossians part 5
Good morning to you, our friends and family. I am blessed this morning to start part 5 of this series, "Who Are We In Christ? Book Of Colossians". Someone might be thinking, "Why are you only in the first chapter of Colossians and starting the fifth week"? Well, why should we rush it? I think the main goal here is to get as much knowledge on God's Word as we can. Amen? I know there have been a few verses that things have stuck out to me like never before. Praise God. Prayer. Please turn to Colossians chapter 1. Last week we ended with verses 23 and 24. As we keep going in this study, we will get into the meat of what Apostle Paul was trying to get across to the church in Colosse and for you and I in our lives today. Praise God. Are we ready to dive in? Let's get excited church. Are we ready to see what God has for us to learn today? Glory to God!!! Colossians 1:25-29 KJV Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Paul was a servant of the gospel, the appointment of Christ calling him into an apostleship on the road to Damascus. Paul knew the power and depth of the gospel in fullness and was qualified and ordained by the Lord to present the truth to the Colossians, and now to us. Now, for verses 26 and 27. Praise God. These verses show in a more accurate way what Paul proclaims and teaches. It's called a "mystery" in verse 26, not because it can't be understood, but because it has been hidden for ages and has now been revealed to the saints. You have heard me say that the Bible is alive. That isn't just my line, but biblical. Keep your place here, and let's turn to Hebrews 4:12 and I will show you. Hebrews 4:12 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. So many times I read a scripture or even a chapter in the Bible, and something new pops out at me. I know some of you who join on Skype have said the same thing at times. Praise the Lord. Then verse 27 describes the riches of the glory of this mystery. It is "Christ in you [Gentiles], the hope of glory." What was not revealed fully in past ages was that the Jewish Messiah—the Christ—would actually reach out to non-Jewish nations and indwell non-Jewish people—that He would actually live in them and give them the promise of Abraham, the hope of glory in the kingdom of God with all the saints. Do we get this, church? The mystery is reconciliation by Christ of both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body. We are now joint heirs. The mystery is that both Jew and Gentile would be redeemed by the same Messiah. The old testament spoke nothing of the church. The church is the body of Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The church is the blood-bought possession of God. It was this mystery that was hidden in the Old Testament and is now perfectly revealed in the new testament to the person of Jesus Christ. But, we must not make the mistake of assuming that the salvation of the Gentiles was unheard of in the Old Testament. Please turn to Genesis 12:3, but keep your place in Colossians. What we will see here is where God says that in Abraham, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. Actually, we will start in verse1. Genesis 12:1-3 KJV Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. We see a promise right here that gentiles would be included in God's plan. Amen? Let's turn to Galatians 3:7. I love how we can see Christ weaved all the way through the Bible. From Genesis through to Revelation. Before He was born and thousands of years after He died and was resurrected. Praise Jesus. Galatians 3:7-9 KJV Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. The purpose of the law was to give to sin the character of transgression and prove man helpless to save himself—not to save man. Man is therefore shut up to faith in the works of Christ our Mediator, as the only avenue of escape from the penalty of a broken law, for Christ has borne the curse of the law for us and we become the children of God through Him, not by any works of our own. The book of Galatians may be another study that we will do at some point, God willing. The riches of this mystery is redemption and the teaching that our justification before God is not through works, but by faith. We look to the future in the hope based in Christ's work and promise that he would return. Our resurrection is guaranteed because of the resurrection of Christ. Our glorification is guaranteed because of the glory of Christ. So many think they are going to Heaven when they die because they are a good person. They have done good works. Please turn to James. There are those who think just because they go to church, sing in the choir and even tithe, have made God happy and that lets them through the gates. Again, wrong. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 21- 23 these words. And notice how He repeats Himself in these verses. Matthew 7:21-23 KJV Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. This shows that there will be among those rejected by Christ in the last days, many preachers, so-called soul winners and good moral men, simply because they rejected true faith in Christ who alone is the foundation of salvation. Beware of mere lip-devotion which signifies nothing, either here or hereafter. The demons believe there is a God and the name of Jesus causes them to tremble. James 2:14-26 KJV What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (23) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Colossians 1:28-29 KJV Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Paul was warning the Colossians, teaching them about Christ. It is important to know who Christ is doctrinally so that we can properly know for certain how to worship God, how to love Him, how to follow Him and so that we might not be deceived by false teachings. With proper understanding, we have proper behavior, and the combination of the two helps to present us perfect in Christ. Paul worked very hard to promote Christ and to equip Christians. He struggled with many things that he had in accordance with Christ Who was working in him. Paul had been beat, ship wrecked, stoned and left for dead. The same Jesus that said, Paul, Paul, why do you persecute me, is the same Jesus that touched him and Whom Paul loved and would do all He could to teach about and die for. We also should work with the same fervor and determination because we have the same Holy Spirit in us. Glory to God!! Well my friends, we finished chapter 1, and I hope that everyone might have gotten a better understanding of the introduction of this epistle. Next week we will get into the meat of what Apostle Paul was trying to get across to the church of Colosse and to us right here and now. We have seen that Christ is the wisdom of God, and is of God made wise to the humble. The treasures of wisdom are not hidden from us in Christ, but for us. Supposed supplies of spiritual wisdom from any other source are a delusion. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ, not figuratively, but literally, for He is both God and man, the manifestation of the Father to us. Believers who understand the perfections of Christ and have a well settled judgment of the great truths of the Gospel will be preserved from all the ensnaring insinuations of those who would corrupt the Gospel principles. All true Christians have a salvation complete in Him and need not pin their faith on the opinions of philosophers nor bear the yoke of ceremonial law. Christ alone is the hope of glory and in Him we are complete. Prayer. Communion.
2 Comments
11/23/2014 05:32:48
this is very good. I enjoyed it. I could feel the fervent spirit, that this was written in. I thank god that he turned to the gentiles. we are the gentiles. thanks for sharing this word with us. love nell
Reply
11/24/2014 01:25:37
HI JIM THIS IS SOME GOOD TEACHING. IF WE HAVE FAITH, AND IT'S DORMENT, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT. GOD HAS PLACED US IN HIS KINGDOM TO HELP ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE A BODY . IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, WE ALL SUFFER. IF SOMETHING IS HURTING ON MY BODY I FEEL IT. GOD HAS GIVEN ME A GIVING SPIRIT, AND A HELPING SPIRIT. THIS SPIRIT IS NOT A FLESHLY SPIRIT. IF IT WAS FLESHLY-I WOULDN'T CARE, BUT JESUS IS LOVE, AND DOES CARE. THANKS FOR SHARING WITH US. LOVE NELL
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Author
|