Episodes
Monday Mar 27, 2017
Putting Christ First: New in Christ, Colossians 3:1-4
Monday Mar 27, 2017
Monday Mar 27, 2017
Putting Christ First: New in Christ
Colossians 3:1-4
New Identity (v. 1)
- Paul encourages us to see ourselves for who we are in Christ
- Those who were dead who have been made alive
- And thus our desires need to change to align with our new identity
- Both of which come from above
New Thinking (v. 2)
- If our identity is found in Christ
- Then our thinking needs to be centered in Jesus as our basis for truth
- Which is part of the renewing of our minds that God promises us (Rom. 12:2)
- Thus, not only does our identity undergo a resurrection to a new life
- But so does our thinking
New Destiny (v. 3-4)
- If we have our identity in Christ
- Then we get a new destiny as well
- Defined by Jesus’ resurrection
- And resulting in us sharing in His future glory
- When we share physically in resurrection life
So What?
- Do we find our identity in Jesus?
- Do we center our thinking in His truth?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 3:2
Monday Mar 20, 2017
Putting Christ First: The Root of Righteousness, Colossians 2:16-23
Monday Mar 20, 2017
Monday Mar 20, 2017
Putting Christ First: The Root of Righteousness
Colossians 2:16-23
Wrong Judgments (v. 16-17)
- Because of the spiritual fullness that we have in Christ alone
- Paul urges us not let anyone impose a means of spiritual growth that does not have Christ at its heart
- This false judgment is based in:
- What we eat/drink
- Or refrain from
- “A real Christian doesn’t…”
- This could be a reference to the dietary law
- But that does not prohibit the drinking of anything
- What we celebrate
- Or refrain from
- “Christians shouldn’t celebrate…”
- This included the OT holidays
- Sabbath & new moons
- “Shadows of things to come”: They were meant to point to Jesus
- But also pagan-based celebrations
- Or refrain from
- Or refrain from
- What we eat/drink
Wrong Priorities (v. 18-19)
- Paul warns against ‘false humility’
- Which can mean self-deprecation for the purpose of actually drawing attention to oneself
- Or, extreme asceticism
- Prolonged fasting, abject poverty, etc.
- To gain some sense of self-righteousness
- Paul warns against ‘the worship of angels’
- Which can mean worshipping angels
- Rather than God Himself
- Or worshipping with angels
- Claiming some sort of ‘greater’ worship experience
- Paul warns against those who claim special spiritual experiences
- Including visions
- All of these things lead to a false sense of spiritual importance
- This line of thinking is the result of not being rooted in Jesus
- We cannot add to the work of Jesus with anything expect more of Jesus’ work in us
- Which can mean worshipping angels
Wrong Logic (v. 20-23)
- Paul points out that this way of thinking is illogical
- Since we are no longer to find understanding from the ‘basic elements of this world’ (see v. 8)
- Then we should also not use those elements to gain righteousness
- These ascetic rules which some would put upon Christians:
- Are man-made
- Appear wise
- But have no spiritual value
- Because they cannot help us overcome our sinful desires
- Only Jesus can do that!
So What?
- What guides us?
- Human rules and regulations
- Or the Spirit of Jesus
- Are we known for what we avoid?
- Or the good we do
Meditation Verse: Colossians 2:16
Monday Mar 13, 2017
Putting Christ First: Fullness in Christ: Colossians 2:9-15
Monday Mar 13, 2017
Monday Mar 13, 2017
Putting Christ First: Fullness in Christ
Colossians 2:9-15
Fullness in Christ (v. 9-10)
- Paul asserts that in Christ alone dwells the fullness of God (v. 9; see 1:19)
- Not in some temple
- Nor dispersed amongst various semi-divine beings (v. 10b)
- Thus, when we find our lives in Christ, we are filled too
- Paul is countering a claim of false teachers that we need more than just Jesus
- All that we can know or experience of God is therefore found in our relationship with Jesus
- We need no other experience from any other source
- For Jesus, as God, is over them all (v. 10b)
Inclusion in Christ (v. 11-12)
- Paul goes on to describe how we have been made full in Christ
- By circumcision: A symbol of inclusion into God’s people
- Not the physical rite
- But a spiritual circumcision of our hearts ( 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Rom 2:29)
- By baptism: A symbol of inclusion into Christ’s death
- Sharing in His burial
- In order to share in His resurrection
Alive in Christ (v. 13-14)
- Paul describes our need for death & rebirth
- Before Jesus, our sinfulness left us:
- Both its natural result: dead
- And its underlying root: rebellious (“uncircumcised flesh”)
- But through Christ, God has made us alive
- By forgiving our sins
- By legally fulfilling the punishment that our sins deserved on the Cross
- By forgiving our sins
Victory in Christ (v. 15)
- Through His death and resurrection, Jesus not only paid for our sins
- But claimed victory over all rebellious powers
- Both human and spiritual
- Thus, we have nothing to fear from them
So What?
- Do we find our lives in Christ?
- As Redeemer from sin
- As Conqueror over our rebellious hearts
- Are we living out of that truth?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 2:13
Monday Mar 06, 2017
Putting Christ First: In Christ Alone, Colossians 2:8
Monday Mar 06, 2017
Monday Mar 06, 2017
Putting Christ First: In Christ Alone
Colossians 2:8
A Warning (v. 8a)
- As Paul mentioned in v. 4, Paul warns the church against false teachers
- Whose words sound good
- But would capture and make plunder* of the hearers
- Συλαγωγέω (sulagogew): to gain control of by carrying off as booty
Philosophies (v. 8b)
- These false teachers do this through hollow and deceptive philosophy
- Paul is not speaking of all philosophies here
- The belief systems of Judaism were called philosophies by Josephus
- But rather, he is warning the church against the empty and deceitful beliefs of the false teachers
Human Traditions (v. 8c)
- These teachings were based on human traditions
- Teachings based in human-centered speculation
- The same language Jesus uses to describe the Pharisees and teachers of the Law (Mark 7:1–23)
Elements of the World (v. 8d)
- These teachings were based on basic ‘elements’ of the ‘world’
- Could have 3 different meanings:
- The fundamental components of the world (2 Pet. 3:10, 12)
- Earth, air, fire, water*
- Based on a natural view of the world alone
- Limiting spiritual truth to physical behaviors like circumcision, diet, and holy days (see v. 16, 20-23)
- Or basing our understanding of the world only on ‘science’
- The fundamental components of the world (2 Pet. 3:10, 12)
- The elementary principles of this world (see Heb. 5:12)
- Tied to their understanding of the Law in life of Christians
- Thus, to them righteousness would be tied to keeping the Law rather than faith in Christ (see v. 16. 20-23)
- Spiritual forces
- Giving too much attention to angels, demons, and other spiritual beings (see v. 10, 15, 18; 1:16, 20)
- And thus taking away the central place of Christ
In Christ Alone (v. 8e)
- Paul returns to what our lives and faith must be centered in
- CHRIST: Jesus as Lord!
- Nothing else and no one else helps us understand the world and our place in it
So What?
- What are we building our lives upon?
- Is Jesus the lens through which we see the world and ourselves?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 2:8