Read Colossians 2...
Paul had goals in life for God's people for which he struggled and strived. Colossians 2 tells us those goals? (1) that the Colossians might be comforted; (2) that they might be knit together in love; (3) that they might be knit together unto all riches of understanding, that is, knit together so they could come to the full riches of understanding God's Word.
First, the verb comfort (Gr. parakaleo ) has the double meaning of "to comfort" as well as "to exhort, or urge". Our comfort in Christ today, as we consider what He has done for us, should be an exhortation or an urging to us to serve Him better. Scripture tells us that Tychicus was sent to the Ephesians and the Colossians to comfort their hearts and minds in Christ. Eph. 6:22; Col. 4:8.
Second, the Colossians were to be knit together in love. The word knit means "to cause to coalesce, to join together, to put together, to unite". We think of broken bones being knit back together until the pieces become one again. In this same way Christians should be knit together in love, to one another and to the Head, Jesus christ. (Col. 2:19). Without proper, biblical love being shown, a church is not a true church as Christ had in mind.
Third, the goal for which Christians are knit together is that "they may come unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding."
Our blessed associating and congregating together as Christians is a wonderful teacher in and of itself. Better than any words it reveals to us the riches of our faith and gives us assurance as we see the faithfulness of
others around us.
Keep The Faith by giving it away...
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The New is better...
Read Romans 8...
As Paul states here in our text, "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death." In other words, it is only by the gospel of Christ (that is the preaching of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ) that man is freed from the condemnation of the old law. This Mosiac law was a law of sin, as it gave the definition and understanding of sin, and also because it became a means of bringing sin into a man's life, as it was used by Satan. When man sinned under the old law, the penalty of death was his only reward. However, it is a wonderful thing to know that all of that is lifted from man's heart because the Son, Jesus Christ, through His gospel has made man free by faith and obedience in the teachings of Christ and he is truly free indeed.
The law was the only other provision made by God for man's justification. lf man had kept the law he would surely have stood justified before God, but the law was weak; its weakness was not within itself but in the flesh of man. Man's spirit was often willing to obey the old law, but his flesh was too weak to carry out the demands of that law. Our Heavenly Father, however, did not leave us to the power of Satan through the law, because what the law could not do, the Law-giver could, and what He could do, He did by sending his Son. We know how it took place; the eternal word was made flesh, that is, He inhabited a body in which there was as much tendency to sin as in any other mortal creation. Christ not only came "in the likeness of sinful flesh," but He came to be offered "for sin." He came knowing no sin that He might be made to be sin for US that we through Him might stand justified before God. (2 Cor.5:21)
Also, in coming in this body of flesh and being tempted in all points like we are tempted, and yet not giving in to Satan's suggestions, He condemned the idea that because you and I are "in the flesh" we must of a necessity give in to sinful ways and thinking.
May God bless...
As Paul states here in our text, "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death." In other words, it is only by the gospel of Christ (that is the preaching of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ) that man is freed from the condemnation of the old law. This Mosiac law was a law of sin, as it gave the definition and understanding of sin, and also because it became a means of bringing sin into a man's life, as it was used by Satan. When man sinned under the old law, the penalty of death was his only reward. However, it is a wonderful thing to know that all of that is lifted from man's heart because the Son, Jesus Christ, through His gospel has made man free by faith and obedience in the teachings of Christ and he is truly free indeed.
The law was the only other provision made by God for man's justification. lf man had kept the law he would surely have stood justified before God, but the law was weak; its weakness was not within itself but in the flesh of man. Man's spirit was often willing to obey the old law, but his flesh was too weak to carry out the demands of that law. Our Heavenly Father, however, did not leave us to the power of Satan through the law, because what the law could not do, the Law-giver could, and what He could do, He did by sending his Son. We know how it took place; the eternal word was made flesh, that is, He inhabited a body in which there was as much tendency to sin as in any other mortal creation. Christ not only came "in the likeness of sinful flesh," but He came to be offered "for sin." He came knowing no sin that He might be made to be sin for US that we through Him might stand justified before God. (2 Cor.5:21)
Also, in coming in this body of flesh and being tempted in all points like we are tempted, and yet not giving in to Satan's suggestions, He condemned the idea that because you and I are "in the flesh" we must of a necessity give in to sinful ways and thinking.
May God bless...
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