Triumphant Freedom

Overview of Earlier Colossians Bible Studies

Through the first eleven Bible studies of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we’ve learned of the background of the letter to the Colossians and have studied Colossians 1:1-2:10. The study called Background of Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae taught us about the cultural, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of Asia minor that affected the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. We learned how Paul identified himself and Timothy with the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea and helped those Christians identify with them in the Bible study titled Identification. In the Bible study called Thanksgiving in Colossians, Paul thanked God for the Christians in these cities. He continued his prayer, as studied in Glorious Might, by asking God to give the Colossian and Laodicean churches His spiritual wisdom and understanding so they would bear fruit in good works. Paul continued to intercede for the believers to God asking Him to strengthen them with power, steadfastness, and patience, and that they joyously give thanks to Him.

In Colossians 1:13-20, Paul told about God and Jesus Christ, and how Jesus’s sacrifice is enough for salvation. He taught in the study titled Snatched and Delivered that the Father is the one who rescues believers and transfers them to Jesus for salvation. Paul explained Christology in Colossians 1:15-20. Jesus is the exact embodiment of the Godhead, Paul informed them, as written about in Superabundant Peace. The study titled Attaining Hope covers Colossians 1:21-23 and shows how Paul used if… then clauses  as a teaching tool. With this technique, he explained who the Christians were before their salvation by Jesus and then what Jesus would do if they exercised the faith God gave them. If the people would believe in Jesus, He would save them from their sins and death. Paul continued speaking about God in Colossians 1:24-29. In this passage, he told of his calling by Jesus and his stewardship to God. Paul explained that Jesus told him to proclaim the “mystery of God,” Jesus Christ is for all people, not just for the Jews. Jesus died to cleanse people from their sins and give salvation from sin and death to each person who trusts in Him. Paul taught God calls to people with gentle persuasion. Later he would contrast the way and purpose of God’s calling with the false teachers’ method of proclamation. The study titled God's Power and Gentle Persuasion teaches about Colossians 1:24-29.

In Colossians 2:1-5, Paul returned to a favorite topic of his, rejoicing while or because of suffering. In this passage, he showed his pastoral care and concern for the Colossian and Laodicean Christians as noted in the Bible study titled Rejoicing During Trials. Paul encouraged the Christians to stand strong and unified in love so they would attain “to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, Jesus Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3 [NASB]). He taught this so the false teachers would not trick the Christians with persuasive arguments and would not delude them about the surety of their salvation and their hope of glory. Paul continued to remind the Colossian and Laodicean churches of their salvation by Jesus through faith in Him. In Overflowing Gratefulness, He told these believers that because they trusted in Jesus and received salvation from Him, they could know they were rooted firmly in Him. Paul told them that though their salvation was in the past, they were to continue being rooted in Christ, being built up, and being established in their faith. These present continuous verbs showed growth as a Christian happens throughout a person’s life and comes from an active staying in a close relationship with God. Salvation happens at a point in time, but growth and sanctification should be the continuous aim of each believer.

With Colossians 2:8-10, Paul taught more about the “mystery of God” of which he wrote in Colossians 1:26. He taught in depth about the philosophical thoughts the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea faced in Colossians 2:8-10. Paul taught that the false teachers proclaimed human, empty, and deceptive philosophies that came from the elementary principles of the world. He contrasted them with Christ’s teachings that came from His full divinity and made believers complete. Paul wrote Jesus Christ is head over all rule and authority. The Bible study called Freedom from Deception teaches about this passage.

The Fullness of Christ in Believers

With Colossians 2:11-15, Paul explained about the completion Jesus gives. He taught in six statements what each believer receives through the fullness of Christ when He completes him or her. The surety of salvation through and power from Jesus, through His indwelling Spirit, gives each Christian the ability to reject teachings of philosophy from men and women that offer nothing compared to the superabundant fullness, the completion and perfection, that comes from Christ.

Spiritual Circumcision occurs by Jesus Christ

“… and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision (performed by) of Christ.” (Colossians 2:11 [NASB])

This verse written by Paul speaks of one law Moses gave to the Israelites, the circumcision of a son on the eighth day of his life. Paul brought this up to highlight two important things about the Colossian and Laodicean Christians and each Gentile believer; they were not Jews. They did not have the privilege of sonship or daughtership of God under the Mosaic law. Gentiles are not part of the people of God because of their non-Hebrew lineage. From this, the Gentile people understood they were outside the law and outside God’s old covenant. Twice in chapters one and two, Paul told them of the mystery he received from God to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. In these two Bible passages, people can understand the salvation from Jesus is for each person born in and outside the people of Israel.

When we look at the Greek words of this verse, we realize Paul meant, “In Christ, you also received the sign of circumcision from Him that shows your dedication to Him, your eradicating the fleshly desires with His power and strength, and His removal of your sins. God, not man, does this circumcision. Instead of the foreskin being removed, God removes the from the body the human nature that alienates each person from Him.” Each Gentile experienced alienation from God in two ways, by non-Jewish birth (covenant) and by fleshly sins (law). Yet, Christ, by His death and resurrection, made a relationship with God possible for each person who lives. Because Gentile Christians had not received circumcision by human hands, that did not mean they needed it when they became Christians. Paul said their God circumcised their hearts when they trusted in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God.

Jesus, with His death and resurrection, broke down the two walls between God and Gentiles, the walls of ancestry and sin. His death and resurrection provides the circumcision each believer needs to be in a covenant relationship with God. God gave the Mosaic law to lead people to Him. The Messianic covenant provides access to and relationship with God through salvation and reconciliation. The Mosaic law did not reconcile people to God. Sacrifices required in it did not remove a person’s sins and empower them to avoid sin. It reminded them of their sinfulness, but they still felt guilt for those sins.

With verse eleven, Paul taught against the false teachers who reasoned that the body and all material things were evil and all things spiritual were good. To them, circumcision and uncircumcision did not matter in the long run since it occurred to the body. To say Jesus gave a spiritual circumcision was laughable to them since Jesus lived in bodily form and, in their minds, was not God.

Spiritual Circumcision is Baptism

“… having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12 [NASB])

With verse twelve, Paul used a death-resurrection metaphor to explain how a believer’s spiritual circumcision is their baptism in Christ. The two actions of dying/being buried and then rising to new life relate to immersion baptism and circumcision. Immersion baptism, going down into water and then rising above it, is dying to self and rising to Christ.

When a person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation, that person dies to him or herself, to fleshly, human desires, and rises to newness of life given through Him. This reflects Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection to life. Baptism symbolizes this death and new life. The spiritual circumcision Christ gives is His removing the sins of each person, those who die to his or her right to him or herself, from the sin-hardened heart. That reflects the dying to self and gaining new life in Christ when He removes the hard part. The removal of sins from each believer allows a right relationship with God. Jesus reconciles that believer to God.

Each person knows he or she sins. He or she carries the guilt of it. When the person faces his or her sinfulness, the guilt weighs on him or her. A person’s recognition of his or her sin and feeling the weight of that burden separating him or her from God is the way a person shares in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Jesus carried the weight of each person’s sins. The believer bore the weight of his or her sins. Jesus’ death took the weight of sin away and the person’s repentance, getting right with God, took the weight off him or herself. (Galatians 2:20 speaks of Paul’s understanding of being crucified with Christ and living his life with Christ living in him.) This reflects the initial part of baptism and circumcision, carrying of the weight of sins, realizing one’s separation from God.

Paul taught repentance and dying to self is a person’s burial together with Christ. The next part of immersion baptism, going down into the water, reflects repentance and giving up one’s right to his or her life to God for His purposes. Spiritual circumcision of the heart conveys the same thing. Only Jesus can do both actions-spiritual baptism and spiritual circumcision. He will not demand them, but only does this upon a person giving his or her life to Him.

Jesus’ resurrection expresses another part of baptism and circumcision, the arising. With baptism, a person must rise from the water after being immersed in it. This rising up is rising to new life in Christ. Just as Jesus came back to life after bodily death, a believer comes to life after being dead because of sins. The spiritual circumcision Christ gives to each believer is the removing of the hardened skin from his or her heart that occurred because of sin and gave a hardened heart. With spiritual circumcision, the heart can beat with God’s heart and will.

Both spiritual baptism and spiritual circumcision express the new life Christ gives by His victory over sin and death. Jesus victoriously reigns and gives each believer this victory upon repentance and death to his or her old way of living. The Christian lives a new life in God’s will with His wisdom, knowledge, power, and strength through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Spiritual circumcision and spiritual baptism are synonymous. They express death to the old way of living and resurrection to new life in Christ. This Christian life continues throughout the person’s lifetime. It begins at the moment in time when a person trusts in Jesus as Savior and repents of his or her sins. It carries on throughout the person’s life as he or she lives growing to know God more and become made more in the image of Christ each day. Christ will perfect the person upon entrance into His kingdom upon the Christian’s death. Until then, each Christian has the fullness of Jesus available to live each day walking with Him and growing to be more like Him. Paul made sure Gentiles knew Christ died for them, too, by his declaring the mystery of God, salvation for all people through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Paul taught that the false teachers of that time did not understand bodies could return to life. They considered bodies evil. These false teachers thought each person’s goal was to rise to a state of spirituality. Bodies were unable to be spiritual. Since this was impossible, in their reasoning, Jesus could not save people from death or sins. Paul taught otherwise when He said God raised Jesus from the dead and His death and resurrection allows His followers to have resurrection life.

Covenant Relationship comes by Jesus

“When you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him (Christ)…” (Colossians 2:13a [NASB])

Once again, Paul returned to what had been the Colossian and Laodicean Christians’ obstacles to having a relationship with God. They were not Hebrews, and they were sinners. Paul said, because they had these two barriers between themselves and God, they were dead. This “dead” Paul used means spiritually dead and not devoted to God, but to sinning. From verses eleven and twelve, we understand the Colossians and Laodiceans were not Jews before becoming followers of Jesus. They were uncircumcised Gentiles. Because of that, they were not in a covenant relationship with God. These Christians were dead because of their sins and uncircumcision before they believed in Jesus Christ. They had been hostile to God because they and separated themselves from His divine influence. Yet, God had a plan. He made them and each person who believed in Jesus alive through Christ.

Nothing the Gentiles were able to do would earn them a reprieve from their just punishment. Nothing could make them Jews. They had a double strike against them. It seemed to obstruct any possible relationship with God. Those human issues did not stop God. He loves each person. God had a plan to reestablish a relationship with each person since before He created the world.

With this verse, Paul aimed at the false teachers in Colossae and Laodicea. As stated earlier, they did not believe in bodily resurrection. These teachers also did not believe God intervened in the lives of people. He was too distant from humanity. For them, God was always transcendent, never imminent. Yet, Paul taught God wants a relationship with each person, about which the Gnostics scoffed. The Christians in these two cities received this reminder from Paul so they would stand strong in their faith.

Assured Forgiveness comes through Christ

“… having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13b-14 [NASB])

In this verse, Paul wrote of two things Christ gives superabundantly to His believers. Christ gives assurance of forgiveness and He gives freedom from the law. Jesus forgives a believer of his or her sins. He cancels the debt certificate of sin. Jesus Christ erases the judgment against the Christian the law requires.

The separation from God for the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea had occurred because of sins and ancestry, Paul said. God’s plan made a way for that to change because He loves each person. Did this plan involve people doing certain things to receive forgiveness? Did sacrifices make a person clean from sin forever and remove the guilt from those sins? Can a person do enough good things to erase the rebellious actions he or she has done? Nothing any person can do will ever be enough to erase his or her sins and remove the guilt to provide a sinlessness that will allow him or her to be in the presence of holy God.

Paul explained how God made Christians alive with Christ. For each person who trusts in Him, He raises them to new life without sin. God forgives the transgressions of each person who believes in Jesus Christ. This forgiveness Paul spoke of comes from the Greek word charizomai and means to favor, pardon, and show grace. Because God wanted renewed relationship with each person and holy God will not be where sin is, just as light cannot be where darkness is, He freely showed His favor to people by granting forgiveness upon their belief and repentance of sins. God knew nothing a person can do can erase the judgment for sins, so He showed His favor towards people. Paul explained this to the churches in Colossae and Laodicea. God favored them and showed them grace.

Jesus’ love enacted through His sinless life, excruciating death on the cross, and resurrection provides total forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Paul said, though ancestry and sins alienated the Colossian and Laodicean Christians from Him, God’s love made a way for them to have a saving and righteous relationship with Him. Their deadness due to sins and ancestry kept these people from life. Yet, their death to sin by faith in Christ made them alive.

This forgiveness of sins by Jesus’ death and resurrection “canceled out the certificate of debt comprising decrees against” them, Paul said. Just as when a person promises to pay a financial debt and signs it, so a moral debt causes a decree of judgment against a person unless repaid. Yet, a person cannot repay moral debt because no sinless person exists to pay the sinner’s debt.  Nothing any person can do, say, or think is good enough for repayment because it would come from a sinful person. Paul explained this in Romans 3:23 when he said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [NASB]. Anything a person offers to repay the sin debt is tainted by sin. For these debts, decrees (laws) declare the guilt of people, just as the Mosaic law did. These decrees are against every person. They declare his or her sinfulness. No person can be sinless in his or her own strength. But God, in His love, forgives each person and cancels (erases, obliterates) the certificate of debt against each person who trusts in Jesus Christ. Though God meant for the Mosaic laws to lead people to Him, they reminded each person of his or her sins. People carry the guilt since they are unable to be sinless in their own strength.

Jesus Christ did not just erase the debt of sin; He nailed it to the cross. Christ caused their sins and guilt to die. He carried the sins of all people to the cross. Jesus bore the burden of those sins in Himself. He canceled the sin debt for each person who would believe in Him by dying to him or herself. A believer’s dying to him or herself is dying with Christ in His sufferings. That person puts off the old fleshly ways of living and rises with newness in Christ. He or she rises with His power to defeat temptations and His cleansing to be in relationship with God.

For the Christians Paul wrote to in this letter, he taught them they can know they have forgiveness of sins and a relationship with God because Jesus the Christ walked on earth, died, and rose from the dead.  His death canceled their sin debt. The decrees that held them in debt, bondage to this life, no longer had a hold on them. Jesus victoriously rose from the grave and broke those bonds. He paid the judgment penalty for each person’s sins, so sin and death no longer would have hold on them.

Paul wanted the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea to know the empty and deceitful philosophizing by men held no weight. This philosophizing was wrong because Jesus was a man and is fully God. His body did not stay in the grave, but defeated death, sin, and earthly decrees so that each person who trusts in Him would have a relationship with God. The Gnostics thought of God only as transcendent. They taught people are unable to ascend to the level of God and have a relationship with Him. Paul taught God always wanted a relationship with people. Ancestry and sin do not thwart His plans and desires. Jesus Christ gave the Colossian and Laodicean Christians, and all who believe in Him, access to God, as Romans 5:2 and Ephesians 2:18 say. The Gnostics taught sins occur because all material things are evil, including the body. Instead, a person can try to rise to the spiritual plane, they reasoned. These Gnostics taught that God did not interact with people. Paul taught that God loves people very much and wants to have a relationship with them. God made this possible through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Freedom from Demonic Powers comes from Christ

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” (Colossians 2:15 [NASB])

In this verse, Paul wrote of another thing Christ gives superabundantly from His fullness to His followers. Jesus Christ gives His victory over demonic powers to Christians. In the first part of verse fifteen, Paul said Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities.” With His death and resurrection, Jesus proclaimed His victory over demonic powers. This means He defeated demonic rulers and authorities and completely stripped them from people He claims for Himself. Jesus emphatically denounced these rulers and authorities before God and other beings. Christ claims the lives of each person who trusts in Him. He makes His power available to them so they can have victory over these rulers and authorities. His victory came in other ways, too. As part of the Godhead, Jesus created all things. As Creator and Redeemer, He is the most powerful of all beings. These demonic powers (rulers and authorities) have no ultimate power over each person who believes in Jesus Christ. Jesus gives the ability to defeat demonic powers from His fullness to His people so they can stand against rulers and authorities. God’s fullness for us is more than visible, tangible things like food and wealth. It includes spiritual power, surety, and victory.

Paul continued in this verse by saying Jesus made a “public display” of these rulers and authorities. He paraded them, as an example, in front of witnesses. Consider the young man who had many demons living in him. Jesus cast the legion out of him into a herd of swine (Mark 5:1-17). Jesus has and makes available to believers the ability to resist demonic powers. Through Him, Christians can have victory over them. Jesus took it a step further and said his public display of these demonic powers included a triumphal procession, a parade, celebrating God’s victory over them through His death. He conquered them as their supreme head and Creator and as the Redeemer of humanity.

The Colossians and Laodiceans had Christ’s victorious power available to them to defeat the demonically influenced teachers. Jesus gave it to them from His superabundance, from His fullness. Jesus will make Christians perfect when they get to heaven. They will have fullness on earth now because Jesus already has the victory over all beings, including evil powers. The Gnostics taught a spiritual lesson contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These false teachers allowed Satan to confuse and convince them of the rightness of this philosophy. They did not exercise the faith God gives each person to believe in Jesus. Instead, they took the rational way because of Satan’s deception. These false teachers philosophized and taught this deception, hoping to lead people away from Jesus and gain followers for themselves. The Christians in Colossae and Laodicea could have Christ’s strength and victory over these false teachers. They could proclaim triumphantly with Christ of their freedom from sin, the law, and demonic powers.

Thoughts to Consider

            Paul warned the Colossae and Laodicean Christians in verse eight about the trickery of the false teachers’ lessons concerning spirituality. Do not fall prey to secular wisdom, he told them. With verses nine and ten, Paul reminded these Christians, with a more focused lens, about Jesus having all the fullness of the deity. Because of that, Jesus makes perfect each person who believes in Him. He gives from His fullness, just like He gives His wisdom, knowledge, strength, etc. Jesus Christ gives from His fullness to make each person full (perfect/complete) and keep them growing toward perfection. The perfection the Gnostics taught was not true perfection. Only Jesus can make a person complete because He reigns over all rule and authority and is the Creator of everything that is. Because of who Jesus is, Christians can know with absolute certainty that all the fullness of Christ is available through the Holy Spirit to them. This means circumcision by human hands does not give salvation. God makes spiritual circumcision available for all people for those who believe in Jesus Christ, repent, and die to themselves. All other teachings and proclamations come from human reasoning and do not provide salvation or a relationship with God. Believers in Jesus Christ can know they are part of the new covenant with God. Because of this covenant with God, Christians realize they have forgiveness of sins and freedom from the law. Jesus canceled the sin debt certificate and judgment against each person who believes. He is supreme head, Creator, and Redeemer, He disarmed the rulers and authorities, the demonic powers. Each person who trusts in Jesus has this same power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit dwelling in him or her to combat these beings who teach and go against God’s truths. Christ’s fullness is available to each believer through the Holy Spirit to teach what each needs to know and to remind of all Jesus said.

Questions:

• Is there a teaching you have heard that keeps you from believing in Jesus?
• If not a teaching, what keeps you from trusting Jesus Christ as the Savior who died for your sins and offers you eternal life in a right relationship with God?
• As a believer, do you feel you are fighting a losing battle? Remember, you have the fullness of Jesus Christ, the Conqueror of rulers and authorities, available for you to stand strong against those demonic beings.
• If you are a Christian, what keeps you from telling other people about Jesus, the One who died so all humankind can receive cleansing from sin, cancellation of sin’s debt, and relationship with God?

For next week, re-read all of Colossians 2 and pay close attention to verses 16-19.

“Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize…” (Colossians 2:18a [NASB])

Freedom from Deception

Overview of Earlier Colossians Bible Studies

Without going into too much detail, before this Bible study, which covers Colossians 2:8-10, we studied the background of the Letter to the Colossians and from Colossians 1:1 to Colossians 2:7 through ten different Bible studies. The study titled Background of Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae taught us about the cultural, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of Asia minor that affected the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. Identification helped us understand who Paul and Timothy were and how they identified with the Colossians and Laodiceans. This helped the Christians there understand and identify with them. The Bible study titled Thanksgiving in Colossians explained Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for these Christians. Paul continued his prayer for these Christians in Colossians 1:9-12, as we studied in Glorious Might. In these verses, Paul asked God to give the believers the knowledge of His will with His spiritual wisdom and understanding so they would please Him by bearing fruit in good works. He asked, too, that God would strengthen them with power, steadfastness, and patience and that they joyously give thanks to Him.

In Colossians 1:13-20, Paul began telling about God, Jesus Christ, and how Jesus is enough for salvation. In Snatched and Delivered, he taught that the Father is the one who rescues believers and transfers them to Jesus for salvation. Superabundant Peace explained Paul’s Christology, who Jesus is. Paul proclaimed Jesus is the exact embodiment of the Godhead. In Attaining Hope, which covers Colossians 1:21-23, Paul used an if… then clause to explain who the Christians were and, if they would exercise the faith God gave them, Jesus would save them from their sins and death.

The Bible study titled God's Power and Gentle Persuasion, which covers Colossians 1:24-29, told us of Paul’s calling by Jesus and the stewardship he has to God. God’s call on his life was to proclaim the Gospel. This proclamation included telling people about the “mystery of God,” that Jesus Christ is for all people, not just the Israelites. Jesus died to cleanse the sins from each person who believes in Him and to give them salvation from death. God speaks to each person through the Gospel with gentle persuasion telling of His love for each person and the salvation Jesus offers.

Rejoicing During Trials is the Bible study teaching about Colossians 2:1-5. In this passage, Paul showed his pastoral care for the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea. He struggled for the church because of his love for them, which Jesus put in him. Paul encouraged these Christians to stand strong and unified in love so they would attain “to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, Jesus Christ Himself, in who are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3 [NASB]) He taught this so the false teachers could not trick the Christians with persuasive arguments. Paul explained this to them this so they would not succumb to the false teachers and their persuasive arguments. He told these believers he cared for them and did not want the Gnostics to delude them about their surety of salvation and hope of glory.

In Overflowing Gratefulness, which teaches from Colossians 2:6-7, Paul reminded the believers of their salvation by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through faith in Him. Because they trusted in Jesus and received salvation, they could know they were rooted firmly in Him. As these Christians learned and grew, Paul encouraged and reminded them that Jesus saved them at a point in time and firmly rooted them in Himself. Though their salvation happened in the past, the Christians were to continue being rooted in Christ, built up, and established in their faith. These present continuous verbs show growth as a Christian comes from our actively staying in a close relationship with God. Salvation happens at a point in time, but growth and sanctification should be the continuous aim of each person. It should compel him or her to learn, follow, and be in a closer relationship with Jesus.

Empty Philosophy and Christ

Paul returned to what he had alluded to in Colossians 1:23 and the “mystery” of God in Colossians 1:26. God had called him to preach about these. In Chapter 2:8-10, Paul taught in depth about the philosophical thoughts the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea faced. He explained again who Christ is and how His sacrifice for salvation is sufficient. For Paul, repeating himself several times was not a difficulty. He wanted to make sure these false teachers did not take the Christians captive with their deceit.

Empty Philosophy

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 [NASB])

Paul described the false teaching in four ways. He said this teaching was philosophical, deceiving, manmade, and according to elementary principles. When we do a word study of this verse, we learn Paul meant, “Discern what is empty philosophy and deception and do not let them captivate and capture you. Do not let these empty philosophies lead you away from the truth so you become a slave to them.” He wanted the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea to understand that what they heard from these false teachers was empty. It had no truth in it so they should not let these false teachers deceive them.

This philosophy taught ideas contrary to the Gospel Epaphras taught the churches in Colossae and Laodicea. The word “philosophy” Paul used in this verse comes from the Greek word philosophia. Philosophia is a secular philosophy or thought as compared to the wisdom of God. It serves to elevate human wisdom over God’s wisdom. This teaching, Paul said, was philosophical, from man’s ideations.

Paul continued about this false teaching by saying, it was “empty deception.” In the Greek, these two words mean foolish pretension without truth, and made with the motivation to deceive. These false teachers sought to trick people and gain followers by teaching them they must do more to be spiritual.

Paul added, this false teaching is “according to the tradition of men.” The traditions of men mean generations of people pass the teaching down to the following generations. Divine teaching derives its starting point from God. In an oral society, as in New Testament times, a father or grandfather taught the sons and so the false teaching carried from one generation to the next. The form of Gnosticism during the time of this letter was in its earliest stages. Gnostics continued to teach it from then, and it still deceives people today. Paul taught this false teaching of the Gnostics came from the minds and logic of humanity, not from God. This teaching came from the tradition of men.

Lastly, Paul said these false teachings are “according to the elementary principles of the world.” The word phrase “elementary principles” comes from the Greek word stoicheion. It comes from the philosophy structure of first principles upon which other points build. For the Gnostics, these elementary principles, these thoughts, dealt with heavenly bodies. It served to aid people in attaining the highest principle of life, the highest spiritual stature. Remember, for them anything material was bad and anything heavenly or spiritual was good. Because of that, since Jesus lived in bodily form, He could not be God to them. This meant they aimed to rise in philosophical thought, so they would become a heavenly being, like an angel. This goal was in their minds. To them, no human could be God. They imagined they could get as close as possible to that level by being angels or other heavenly beings. Their minds could conceive of nothing higher than this level to get near in stature to the Godhead.

Each of these four things showed the false teachings in that region directly opposed the Gospel. They taught philosophical, deceiving, manmade, and elementary principles of the world. The instigator of these philosophical thoughts was Satan. As he has always done, he twists the truth of the Gospel to trick people into considering salvation needs more than Jesus provides. Satan wants people to imagine Jesus is not able to save people. This would cause unbelief in Jesus and fewer people in heaven. Yet, repeatedly, the Bible teaches Jesus paid the sacrifice for all people to receive salvation from their sins and from eternal death, eternal separation from God. Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself for the sins of humankind occurred because of God’s love. Satan’s trickery comes from his desire to keep people from receiving eternal love from God. The difference between these two motives is Satan wants to gain and keep people from heaven. God wants people to be saved. Satan is self-focused. God’s love makes Him people-focused.

Who Jesus Christ is, Reiterated

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10 [NASB])

Paul wrote in Colossians 1:15-20 about Jesus being fully divine, though living as a man on earth. He said Jesus Christ created all things, was preeminent before all things, holds all things together, is the head of the Church, is the firstborn from the dead, has all the fullness of deity dwelling in Him, and reconciles all things to Himself through the blood of His cross. In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul reiterated, “In Him (Christ) all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form.” Jesus is completely God. He has divine fullness in Him. In and through Jesus Christ, the superabundance of the Godhead dwells and emanates because He is fully divine, fully God, though He lived in bodily form while on earth.

Paul continued in verse ten by saying, “And in Him you have been made complete.” Completion is not being born with ten fingers and toes. This “completion” is a present perfect verb that began working in the past and continues into the present and future. This verb is in the indicative form; it is factual. Paul meant, “You can know truly, because Jesus Christ is fully divine and is your Savior, you will be brought to completion.” This completion Paul wrote comes by Christ making the believer fully perfect upon that his or her entrance into heaven. The word “complete” comes from pleroo and has the same root word as the word “fullness” (pleroma) that tells of Jesus Christ’s being fully divine. Christ is complete, perfect, fully divine. He gives of His fullness to make each Christian complete, perfect. Jesus makes each believer totally complete, perfect, upon the believer’s entrance to heaven. The life of the Christian from the point of belief and salvation through entrance into heaven shows the continuousness of the verb “have been made complete.” What Jesus begins in each person from when he or she trusted in Him for salvation, that person continues with His grace, strength, etc. given through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit while on earth so that that he or she grows to be more like Jesus Christ each day. Jesus then completes that being made perfect upon entrance to heaven. In Jesus Christ alone, Paul said, the Colossian and Laodicean Christians could know perfection, completion because of their salvation by Jesus Christ. They did not need to add any other philosophy or teaching to get the salvation and perfection Jesus Christ gives. Jesus Christ is fully divine and gives of His fullness to everyone who trusts in Him for salvation from sin and death. Believers in Him “have been made complete.”

Paul said in Colossians 1:16, “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him.” [NASB] He reiterated in Colossians 2:10, because of Jesus’ authority and power, He is head over all rule and authority. Nothing and no one has authority or rule over Jesus Christ since He created them, as Paul said in Colossians 1:16. The word “rule” comes from the Greek word arche, which means principality. Paul used this word to include angels and demons. Jesus, the fullness of God, is the head over them like He is the head of the Church. He exercised His headship over all authorities, too. The word “authorities” comes from the Greek word exousia, which means power and authority. These powers ad authorities include the physical, spiritual, and moral power and authority. As fully divine and as Creator preeminent before all things, Jesus Christ is the head of all things, including spiritual and natural beings who rule and have authority over parts of His creation. Jesus Christ rules and reigns over all things.

Because of this, Jesus is greater than Satan, sin, and death. He gives a sufficient salvation to each person who believes in Him as the Messiah sent from heaven. Paul, with this reiteration, said Jesus provides complete, full, perfect salvation and brings believers to perfection, completion, and fullness because He is fully God. No other sacrifice is necessary for salvation. Nothing more is required for salvation to occur for any person who wants to be saved. No one can add to belief in Jesus to make it more perfect. The idea the Gnostics had of becoming more perfect is a deception. A person cannot become more perfect than what Jesus gives from His fullness, His superabundance. You cannot perfect perfection. Each Christian is being made complete. It started when they first believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus will complete it when they enter heaven. Paul taught the churches in Colossae and Laodicea that all Christians can have freedom because of Christ. John said it this way in John 8:36, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” [NASB]

Thoughts to Consider

People often want to feel better or greater than others. To do this, they devise ideas to teach and trick people into feeling smaller so they themselves feel more powerful and knowledgeable. Sometimes these ideas and deceptions cause people to question their faith and consider adding something more to make it salvation more effective. Paul told the Christians of Colossae and Laodicea the false teachings they heard were philosophies based on human reasoning. They were empty and deceptive. These teachings were “nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 [NASB]) They came from the traditions or men. In addition, these false teachings were according to the elementary principles of the world, like astrology or Gnosticism. They were fanciful human beliefs to make those teachers feel secure. Instead, their sole purpose was deception.

The Lord knows people try to plan their every step, but they cannot gain salvation without Christ. Psalm 94:11 speaks of this. It says, “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath.” Instead of thoughts that are only a mere breath, which passes after its exhalation, Paul wrote to the Colossian and Laodicean Christians to remind them Jesus Christ is the fullness of Deity. Jesus never passes away like people, their thoughts, and their philosophies. He will perfect His followers, when he or she enters heaven. Jesus gives from His fullness, from His superabundance, so people may receive perfection.

Paul said Jesus Christ is above all things and the Creator of all things. He is the ruler over all rule and authority. Psalms 33:10 speaks of this, “The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.” God has supremacy. His plans and power are greater than anything people can imagine. Nothing can thwart Him.

Paul said the church can stay free from false teachings by remembering who Jesus is. The Church, Christians, can stay free from these and all false teachings by accepting the fullness Jesus Christ gives from Himself. The salvation He gives is enough to save each person and bring them to fullness, perfection. No one ever needs to add anything to make salvation perfect. Nothing mankind plans lasts forever or has the fullness of power from Deity. The LORD is almighty and all-knowing. He directs the steps of people. (Proverbs 16:9) Jesus gives from His superabundant perfection to make each believer perfect. Perfection cannot be perfected. Neither people, principalities, rulers, or authorities can make more perfect what God through Jesus Christ provides and perfects.

Questions:

• Are there steps or processes you required of yourself and/or others to make sure you get to heaven when you die? If so, is that working for you? Is it keeping other people from knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior?
• Do you have the peace of assurance in God because of knowing the perfection through salvation He gives is enough to save and keep you? Isaiah spoke about this peace when he said, “You (LORD) will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” (Isaiah 26:3 [NASB])
• What keeps you from accepting and acting on the faith God gives you to believe in Jesus as His Son?
• What keeps you from teaching the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice for sins is enough to make each person complete and perfect in Him?

For the next Bible study, re-read Colossians 2. Specifically, look at Colossians 2:11-15.

“Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 [NASB])

True Success Defined

Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you… LUKE 10:20

What do we hold up to prove we are successful in the spiritual realm? Do we say we must visit a certain number of people? Do we hold ourselves up as casters-out of demons or healers? Do we put ourselves forth as ones who speak in tongues? Do we count how many people we've saved? Do we keep track of the meals we've taken to people or the number of people we've taken to the doctor? Do we keep record of these things to show ourselves as better than others or to prove we are doing a lot of good things?

There are so many things we do, for which we feel pride about, yet, these are not the main task. These are "markers" for worldly estimation of success. True success, if we dare use that word when considering our work for God, is being in a growing relationship with Him, leading people to Him, and discipling people.

We don't count the numbers of people. We don't parade ourselves as the greatest healer or the most fluent spiritual-tongues speaker, or the most prolific caster-out of demons, or that we have driven the most miles to help people, or, or, or. Those are all manmade standards placed upon a spiritual realm. The two do not mesh. One does not fit the other.

A life hidden with Christ in God is not a statistically visible life. It's a meek life of obedience and relationship to God made possible through Christ, not through man. The world's standards don't determine the heavenly servant's worth or work. How can it, when the world is sinful and so much less grand than heaven? Man's standards are tainted with sin; heaven's is not. Would we dare to tell God He had not saved enough people, get back to work? Ridiculous! Applying the earthly idea of success to heavenly work is ridiculous. The measure would never fit the grand scale, the grandeur and almighty-ness of who God is, and what He has, is, and will do.

Discipleship under Christ (to those who have been given a new self by Christ's Holy Spirit), grows the mind, heart, and spirit of each person to the standard of heaven by gradual growth in relationship with God, which leads to obedient discipleship. It is the growing into the new life Christ has given us, becoming less of self and more of Christ. ("He must increase, and I must decrease," as John the Baptist said.). It is as Paul said to the Colossians in Colossians 3:3, "For you (your natural life) have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. "Your old, natural life would never have done enough good or been good enough to earn eternal life. Your new life, given by Christ through His death and resurrection, is fully made for heaven. It is to this new life in Christ that we learn and grow more like Him. When Christ appears, then you who are made new through belief in Jesus will appear with Him in Glory. (Colossians 3:4)

The two do not mix. One is sinful and thus, it's standards are sinful, since made by men. The other is righteous and justified since Jesus Christ gives new life to all who believe in Him for salvation. "Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you." (Colossians 3:5). Seek God's standards and turn away from the earth's standards and ways of measuring success.

May God continue to grow you into His image so that your standard is always Christ and not that made by His creation, humanity.

Gateway to Strength in Suffering

⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.   ⁵The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. ⁶ Even when we are weighted down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you.

⁹ But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us. (2 Corinthians 1:4-6, 9b-10 [NLT])

Two gates are available through which you can walk freely.  One gate is partially open, and you can see green grass and flowers, but the sign says no one who has gone through this gate has survived. The second gate is closed. It has a sign on it that says all who go through this gate will live. Your choices cause you to stop and question which gate and road you should use to leave the past. Think on these gates as we study 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 and Romans 10:9-10.

Each of us knows what it feels like to live in troubling times. Some people have experienced religious persecution. Others have lived with insufficient food or a place to live. Still others experienced family and friends mocking them because of believing in a God from the past who seems irrelevant to the current day. Each of these situations are trials. God allowed trials to occur and sometimes ordains them. How we perceive them determines if we grow from them and become stronger believers in God, if we blame God, stop growing in our relationship with Him, or give up on our faith in God altogether. To get through these times, we should recall our time of coming to faith in Jesus Christ as well as recall the life of Paul and other faithful Christians throughout history who remained faithful to God despite trials. Suffering for Christ is what Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. His second letter to the Corinthians will help us grow in our faith like it did for the Corinthian church during the first century.

Paul wrote this sometimes-puzzling statement to the Corinthians in his second letter to them. The Corinthian believers had struggled through divisions and quarrels among themselves and were more unified by the time Paul wrote this letter. This second letter to the Corinthians tells us more of Paul’s life and of God’s plan for His people to help others. Paul explained his calling by Jesus to apostleship because some people considered his meekness as weakness. He wrote to help them understand he was just as important a disciple of Christ as the other disciples. Paul emphasized this point in the second letter so they would not disregard what he taught them about Jesus and living as Christians. In Paul’s clarifying his calling to the Corinthians, he told of his suffering for the cause of Christ so all people would know about the salvation Jesus gives to those who believe in and profess Him as Lord and Savior. As Paul wrote in this letter, he suffered often to share the gospel. Paul stated all who believe in Jesus and seek to live out their faith in word and deed would share in Christ’s sufferings. He taught we experience suffering for our faith for several reasons: 1. To grow our faith in and trust of God, 2. To show others our faith in God so they would believe, and 3. To teach us more about God through suffering so we can offer strength and consolation to others who also suffer for Christ. Let’s understand what Paul meant and how it relates to our salvation.

In Romans 10:9-13, Paul said

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. It is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never disgraced. Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (NLT)

To receive salvation, we must believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and declare our faith with our lips. The action of being saved, spoken of here, comes from the Greek word sozo, which also means to be healed, preserved, and rescued. Paul specifically meant in Romans 10 to be saved from eternal death and separation from God because of our sins. In earlier parts of this passage, Paul stated Moses wrote about a righteousness that comes from the law if the Israelites had lived according to God’s laws. Yet, the laws only served to prove humanity’s unrighteousness because they are sinful. People cannot make themselves righteous. Only God’s power and mercy can make people righteous. (Romans 9). So, God made a way for people to be made just or right with Him. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for the penalty of each person’s sins, so they would be made right with Him. People only must believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths Jesus is Lord to be saved.

To take this to 2 Corinthians 1 then, how does this correlate? Consider what Paul said in verse 9-10. He said, “We expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger and will rescue us again.” (NLT) Paul used the word “rescue” in 2 Corinthians 1 like he used the word “save” in Romans 10. God is the only One who can rescue us from sin, trials, temptations, and persecutions. As we are to testify of God’s rescuing us from sin and death by belief in Jesus with our words and actions, so we are to testify of God’s rescuing us from trials, temptations, and persecutions. Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 1 stated he stopped relying on himself because he had no power to end his suffering. When he realized he was powerless, he said he relied on God who raises the dead. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, Paul stated God could rescue him from danger. Paul gave a verbal testimony to God’s saving him while on earth.

Consider Romans 10 and 2 Corinthians 1 further. Paul told the Romans to do more than trust in a God. He told them to believe in God’s Son for their salvation. This heart action of belief leads to physical action. Believers in Jesus are to profess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord-your Master and the One who rules your life. A Lord tells you where to go, what to do, and what to say. Christians are people who believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and the One whom God resurrected from the dead. They are to confess with their mouths out loud, so all people hear He is the Lord. With 2 Corinthians 1, Paul taught followers of Jesus are to live their lives obeying Him. Being a child of God requires heart and head belief that leads to professing that belief and living out one’s faith. His reliance on God to rescue him from trials and persecution gave him a physical, lived-out testimony of his faith in God to save him.

What are some reasons we are to act out our belief in Jesus Christ? Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1? He said in verses six through seven,

 When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. (NLT)

We act out our belief in Jesus so others will praise God with us. (vs. 11) We act our belief, too, so other people will grow because they saw how God intervened in our lives and how we grew through it.  By acting out our belief in Jesus, people will receive comfort at God’s intervention when they face trials; they will remember God’s faithfulness and stand firm in their own faith. Besides these reasons, living out our faith will give a testimony to unbelievers about Jesus so they might give their lives to Him, too. In essence, God allows trials to grow and comfort us, and, as a domino effect, comfort and strengthen others when they go through them. Additionally, trials could lead people to Christ. Proclaiming God’s provision, saving, comforting, guiding, etc. must occur. One cannot experience these things, recognize God did them, and not proclaim about God. It’s like the Jewish understanding of “to hear”. Once you hear something, it requires an action-to act or not to act. Once God works in our lives, we are impelled to tell what He did.

One other point we must remember; God gives promises to us by which we can stand firm in our faith. We can gain strength as we remember God’s promises to His children and remember how He has helped His children in the past. The hope given because of these verses helps us to stand strong when we face trials. The verses below are a brief list of some of God’s promises.

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 & Hebrews 13:5 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I hold you by your right hand-I, the LORD your God. And, I say to you, don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”

Isaiah 43:2 “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppressions, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

Isaiah 54:17 “But in that coming day, no weapon turned again you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

John 16:33 “I (Jesus) have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:17 “And since we are His children, we are heirs. In fact, together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.

Romans 8:35 & 37 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?” ^{37 “}No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptations to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Philippians 4:19 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:10 “In His kindness, God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.”

So, what’s the point here? Obviously, the point is we will go through trials to grow us. More still, we will go through trials so other people can hear about and understand how we went through them with God’s leading, comforting, and providing a way and, thereby, grow and receive comfort themselves. Added to this, our trials serve to lead other people to Christ. As we go through these trials, we can know we are not alone, but God is with us. He promises He is with us and will give us the strength needed to get through that time.

At the start of this article, we read about two gates. Now you’ve had time to consider, which gate will you choose to open and enter? Will you open the gate that appears to promise green fields and beautiful flowers, but without assurance of life? Or, will you choose the second gate not knowing exactly where it will lead, but knowing you will live? You now realize God leads the person who enters the second gate and He will protect, provide, and guide that person. Which gate will you choose-assurance of life or seeming beauty in life?

Some people wonder why Christians would choose to follow Jesus because He seems to take the fun away from life by not allowing you to drink, do drugs, gamble, or live your life any way you want. Other people see Christians who professed faith in Jesus, but the activities of their lives haven’t changed. They wonder why they would want to become a Christian if they see no difference between that “Christians” life and their own life. Besides these, people look at obedient Jesus-following Christians who willingly change careers, move to other countries, and/or refuse to keep living their old way. They question why these Christians willingly give up good jobs, family, and fun lives just to follow a person they cannot see. These people, all people, need to see and hear our professions of faith put into action. They need to hear not just our conversion testimony, but our testimonies of how God led us through hard times, comforted us, and grew us. These watchers need to see and understand why you chose Jesus, continue to follow Him, and the results of that. Some people will never trust in Jesus. Yet, other people will after having seen the comfort, guidance, and protection God gives His children. At this point, these people will give their lives to Jesus. They will join others over generations who “give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety,” provision, guidance, encouragement, and growth. (2 Corinthians 1:11 [NLT]) Then these people will come to know God and grow in Him because of our faith in, professing about and obedience to God.

With God, we are assured of life.

Without God, what we see won’t be what we get.

Everybody gets to decide whether they will believe in Jesus, profess He is the Son of God, and obey Him. God loves us and gives us free will. Today, if you are not a professing Christian, you get to choose which gate you will open, the one with green fields and beautiful flowers, but no guidance or assurance, or the one with assurances Almighty God will lead, protect, provide, and comfort. If you have professed faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, but that was the last thing you did in your Christian walk, today God asks you to walk with Him, obey Him, and grow with Him. You will be rewarded in yourself and other people will receive comfort, praise God, and/or come to know Jesus as their Savior, too.

Jesus has overcome the world, so you don’t need to be afraid to live out your testimony. (John 16:33 [NLT])

No matter what we go through on earth, God will glorify His children by faith with Jesus in heaven because we are co-heirs with Him. (Romans 8:17)

In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9 [NLT])

As for me, I choose to rely God who raises the dead.

Who will you choose to walk with through life’s easy and hard times?

Lord, you know me. I get caught up in whatever I am doing, fighting the fight and struggling, then I forget You are there for me. I struggle hard and only when I come to the last of my strength do I remember You are waiting for me to let you fight the battle with me. You are my strength. You are might rock. You said to share the yoke with You, and I forgot. Please forgive me for trying to live in my own strength. Forgive me for forgetting I don’t have to fight my battles alone. Forgive me for forgetting You. You are almighty, gracious, faithful, and loving. Nothing can defeat You. Please help me remember when I get caught up in my life You are always there for me. Thank you for loving me when I forget You or sin against You. Thank you for having a plan for me. In whom will I fear? No one, God. You are greatest of all. Amen.

Fear or Compulsion

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 [ESV])

What controls you? Fear? Greed? Envy? Stature? Christ? We live in a time of fear for illness and death because of a worldwide pandemic from a coronavirus. This fear causes people to be greedy and buy more supplies than needed from grocery and drug stores. It causes people to say and do hurtful things to other people. This fear is causing some people not to have the staples of life in their homes and they are hungry, do not have medicine, and don’t even have simple things like toilet tissue. Fear is causing people to be inhuman to others. They care about no one except themselves. Fear is controlling their thoughts, words, and actions.

Paul spoke about being controlled by something/Someone. He wrote about this in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Why be controlled by something that causes you and other people grief and pain? The word “controlled” Paul used in these verses comes from the Greek word meaning to be compelled. Being compelled means being controlled by something or someone. What compels you? Striving after your own goals no matter the cost? Striving to beat death, fear, or poverty? Paul said he was controlled/compelled by Christ. Christ died for each person so none would live only with thoughts for him/herself (earthly, flawed emotions and intentions), but for Him, the eternal, sinless One who loves all people and desires they be saved from their sins.

In the first part of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul wrote about his desire to be with God in His kingdom. He compared this to being clothed by His Holy Spirit. God gives His children, Christians, His Spirit to live within and change them into being more like Christ. Since His children have His Spirit living in them, they long more and more to be with God and to do what He desires. God’s great desire is that all people come to a saving relationship with Him. Because of God’s love for him, Paul felt compelled by love for God to tell and show other people about His love. Paul said his aim was to please the Lord. His love for God compelled him to please Him by his obedience to Him to tell everyone in the world about Jesus. Since Paul’s chief aim was to please God, no other purpose took precedence. Things that could have taken precedence would have been fear for his life, security of home and food, stature among other Jews and Jewish leaders, and bodily health. Paul stated definitively what controlled him was the love of Christ (vs 14).

Understanding this from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, what controls/compels you? Do you want to be controlled by earthly, flawed emotions and intentions? Or would you rather be controlled and compelled by the sinless, eternal One, Jesus Christ? Jesus’ love for each person compelled Him to die the death each of us should receive as judgment for our sins. Jesus allowed His love for us to compel Him to die for us.

In this time of a worldwide health pandemic, what compels and controls you? Your fear of death and not having necessities? Instead, allow the love of Christ who died for you to compel and control you. Allow God’s love to control you so you help other people, are not panicked, and buy only what you need. Seek to serve others, especially those who cannot take care of themselves well during this time such as older adults, homeless people, people with immune deficiencies, people who are chronically ill, and neighbors on your street. Think of these people first, then you will be like Jesus who humbled Himself by taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7).

Are you afraid? Are you worried? Now is the time to pray and to talk to other Christians. Seek the peace of God that surpasses all understanding so your hearts and minds will be guarded by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Have the peace that Christ left with His disciples, not the peace the world tries to give, but His perfect peace so that your heart is not troubled or afraid (John 14:27). Put into practice what Christ has put into you and what He practiced, and God’s peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).

If you are not a Christian and want to have this eternal peace that comes from God, talk to a minister or a Christian. Pray to God asking Him to give you His peace and to help you understand His saving love. Believe Jesus is the Son of God, confess your sins, and accept Him as your Savior from sin and death, then God’s perfect peace will be in you. Have the peace Isaiah spoke about in Isaiah 26:3, “You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (NLT)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV])

Lord, please forgive me for getting panicked about my life during this pandemic. Please give me Your peace. Use me for Your purposes during this time so other people receive help and know You love them. Keep me safe in Your faithful hands as I give myself to You and show my love to You by obeying Your compulsion to serve others. Help me keep my mind centered on You and not the trials surrounding me in the world today. Thank you, Lord, for Your love and faithfulness. Amen.

Give it up to Get it All

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28 [NASB]

Christ calls us to give up everything-family, friends, and possessions-and be built upon Him, our Foundation. We are to make Him our foundation and the spring from which we get everything we need to live and work as we answer His call, "Come follow Me."

Following Christ means giving up our right to ourselves. He gives us new life through the salvation He gives. When we have new life through Christ, we have all things we need because He is our fount of life. Jesus said I am the Living Water in John 4:10. His water never dries up. We can know we will always have enough of whatever we need.

Jesus is all we need. We can trust Him and build our lives upon Him as our foundation. We can give up everything including our right to ourselves because He is our All-in-All. We lack nothing when we answer Jesus' call to follow Him. Jesus gives us enough to finish every task to which He calls us when we give Him our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We have nothing, yet possess all things because Jesus is our River of Living Water.

Jesus commanded Simeon and Andrew “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 [NASB]

Paul told the Corinthians, “Commending ourselves as servants of God…as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians 6:4 & 10 [NASB]

Will you give up your life to get everything you will ever need?

Will you accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and let Him be your All-in-All?

Lord, I give my life to You, then when I run into a problem, I want to take it back. Lord, I often forget You are my foundation and my Living Water. You are enough and will provide for my needs. Forgive me my small faith and wanting to take control. Make me faithful. Remind me You are the Source of everything I need for life and ministry. You are my All-in-All. Thank You for Your patience and forgiveness.

Coup de Grace: His Blow of Grace

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 [NASB]

Verses four through seven spoke to me. We all know these verses, but I don’t think I had seen them this way before. Verses four through six are commands. Verse seven is a blessing of shalom, heart peace that only God can give. After you have done those three things in verses four through six, then you have blessing-from Paul and from God. As I walked through those commands, I was like, “Yeah, yeah,” but then connections were made that hadn’t been there before for me. And I was like “Yes, I am going to have shalom!”  I am claiming. And I prayed that way for my family this morning.

Verse four: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Rejoice at what God is going to do, at what He has done, at what He is doing, and at Who He is-I AM, Immanuel, Creator, Savior, Provider, etc.

Verse five: “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” Don’t let what happens to you deter you from being who God has made you to be. Show the world God’s goodness, kindness, compassion, love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness even when things are not what you want them to be.

Verse six: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know to God.” This one has been on my radar for years. Thanksgiving is not something I regularly do. Maybe you are like me. Today, I began thinking of all the things I could be thankful for and recognizing they all come from God’s hands.

Then the coup de grace (There is a reason grace is part of this French idiom.) is in verse seven. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” When you do these things, you will have peace because you recognize from where peace comes. God is your peace. Nothing that comes against you will prevail when you thank God for who He is, rejoice no matter what your circumstances, continue to be gentle in spirit, being anxious for no thing at all, but seek to keep in relationship with the Lord. This is how you have peace. And you don’t have it because you manufacture it. You have heart peace because of God’s grace, His blow of grace-the soft breeze that glides by your skin or the tumultuous wind that gets your attention and you know, despite it, you have peace because you are in a relationship with God.

What is coup de grace normally? In French, it’s an idiom that means a mercy killing, or the blow of grace. We could say that is what God does with His mercy toward us. His Son’s crucifixion was a mercy killing to save us from a dying misery. It’s God’s blow of grace on us that gives us eternal heart peace. Paul meant this when he wrote, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s blow of grace may be a soft breeze across your mind or heart or may be a stiff knock to get you to that place, but His peace, no matter what your circumstances, will guard you and keep you. It’s a heart peace-shalom-that comes from knowing God, from being in a saving relationship with Him.

Verse seven is the coup de grace when you look at those four verses together. His blow of grace-His heart peace-will keep your hearts and minds when you rejoice always, remain gentle in spirit, stay calm and un-anxious, while giving thanks in expectation. Grow and keep on growing in your relationship with God and this peace, this shalom-heart peace-will be yours. That is coup de grace. This coup de grace is a different way to look at the French idiom, a Christian way.

Then finally we get to the familiar “whatevers” list in verse eight. Dwelling on the “whatevers”-whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, worthy of praise-can only happen because of having a close relationship with God and because they come from Him. Paul didn’t stop with the command to dwell on them. He told the people to practice them. Why? Because the “God of heart peace will be with you.” Just as Jesus taught people what comes out of a person in words and actions comes from his or her heart, Paul told the people to put into action those excellent things that God puts in them by practicing them. Following these last two commands, Paul gave a promise. The same promise he gave the people in verse seven. When you do these things, God’s heart peace will be with you.

It's not a magic trick. You don’t do things just to get peace. You have peace, God’s peace, the blow of God’s grace, when you are in a saving relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. The grace that brings each of us into relationship with God upon our profession of faith in Jesus as our Savior is how we get this peace. When you are in a relationship with God through Jesus, you dwell on those excellent things that come from God, and you have heart peace because God is with you.

A big sigh is expressed as relief and release enters and we understand much better than before. Rejoice. Show your gentle spirit from God. Be anxious for nothing but pray and supplicate with thanksgiving. These things come from the mind and “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.” More than this, dwell on excellent and praise-worthy things, which only come from God, then practice them. And again/still, the God of peace shall be with you. Three verses of commands, then a promise of God’s peace. Next, two commands, and again a promise of God’s peace, heart peace.

Are you ready to breathe that sigh of relief? Are you seeking heart peace, the peace that passes all understanding? God gives it through His Son, Jesus Christ. Come walk in relationship with God. Rejoice. Be anxious for nothing. Have access to the Father through the Son. Be thankful before God answers prayer. Think on excellent and praise-worthy things and practice them. Receive unending heart and soul peace, the blow of God’s grace across your heart, soul, mind, and body. His merciful love calls to you.

Lord, God, many times I did not rejoice always. I was anxious and did not seek You first. I acted and reacted based on my best judgments or on my fears. Help me to walk with You so I can keep my eyes focused on You. Help me to recognize Your grace and merc,y and sway towards Your ways instead of my own ways. Forgive me my stubbornness and conceit thinking that I always know what is right. Without You, I flounder and fail. With You, I have learned I can have Your peace-heart peace-even in the middle of difficult times because You are God and nothing surprises You. Amen.