November 5, 2023
COLOSSIANS: BUILDING YOUR LIFE UPON HIM
November 05, 2023
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
There has never been a more important time in history for Christians to stand for their faith, to know what they believe, to live following God’s word, and to share the gospel of Christ with unbelievers. However, to have the right to share the gospel means building relationships with those who need hope and salvation. We must not be part of their sinful lifestyles but must show we care about them. We have a hope for a future that we can share with them and must love them even when they are unlovely. None of that is easy, especially as we see evidence that believers are coming under attack on every side, but we must keep our eyes fixed on the goal. This was how Paul had to live nearly every day of his life—and how we may need to, as well.
Focal Passage: Colossians 2
The definition of everything:
· Read Col. 2:1-5. Who was Paul particularly concerned for? What was the main reason for his concern? What did he pray for, for the believers of Colossae, Laodicea, and “those who have not seen my face”?
· Why was he concerned that their hearts would be encouraged? In today’s churches, if Spirit-filled pastors lead the church, do you think their hearts are encouraged when they see their flock living godly lives?
· How can a body of believers be knit together in love? How can joy have an impact here? What can members of local bodies of Bible believers do to see their individual churches be knit together with others, extending to counties, states, and countries? What are the non-negotiables that one must believe to make this happen?
· What did Paul mean that he wanted believers to attain to all the riches available in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ? If they are living in Christ, will they grow?
The Christian’s response:
· Read vv. 6-7. If you are a Christian, what will be evident in your life? What did Paul mean, “walk in Him”? If you have no real desire to study your Bible or pray, what will happen to your “root” system, which should be going deeper each year with knowledge of God? Why do large trees with shallow root systems blow over during ice storms or when their height becomes heavier than the depth of their roots?
· How can we be built up in Him? Why is it necessary? How do you become established in your faith?
Don’t get sidetracked:
· Read vv. 8-15. Why are people so easily deceived about their faith in and the doctrine of Jesus Christ? Last week, in chapter 1:15-18, what were some of the attributes Paul laid out for us about Jesus? What are some other facts which you know of Jesus’ deity? Now, Paul is again warning the church to be so rooted in Christ that no man can deceive them. In vv. 10 & 11, what does Paul say about their salvation? Does that apply to us?
· What did we receive at the moment of salvation? What is meant by “circumcision made without hands”? Read Deut. 30:6. Does it seem by this passage that Moses understood that man’s heart could be created new by God? What does baptism exemplify?
· In vv. 13-15, what happened on the cross that affects our relationship to God? If you study this passage, does it seem as though we have the resurrection power to choose not to sin, but the war between the flesh and the spirit often trips us up? When will we be totally glorified?
For we have been set free:
· Read Col. 2:16-23. Just as Paul warns us not to be deceived by false doctrines, what is the difference in his warning in this passage? How many religions do you know of that add a second book to the Bible, or a separate list of rules that one must follow?
· If we have been saved from our sins, by grace alone, why do we still choose to sin? Read John 5:14, 8:10-11, and 1 John 2:1,3-4. What do these verses have in common? Salvation and a new life should give us a desire to live a life full of joy, and a desire to choose God’s way at all times. Is it possible to love God so much that we do not sin?
Applications: 1) Don’t miss the promise of tomorrow by being distracted by today (vs 3); 2) Don’t let the joy of following Christ be clouded by the task of following rules (vs 17); 3) Don’t miss the hope of tomorrow for the temptations of today (vs 18-19)
Close:
For many of us, the amazing truth that God loves us, gave His only Son to be the payment for our sin debt so that we can be with Him for eternity, is a big deal that has no equal! Yet many of us feel unworthy and think He must not realize how badly we have sinned, and we lose the joy we should have. Wrong. He not only knows every sin we have ever committed but also every thought we have ever had—and He knew it all before He saved us! In other words, you can’t do anything that He doesn’t already know you have done, are doing, or will do. He wrote the book of our faith, and in Hebrews, promises to finish our salvation. He will bring us to heaven.
Martin Luther was a monk in the 1500’s who felt himself so unworthy that he put his body through horrible tortures, trying to earn the salvation that Jesus freely offered him. He climbed up hundreds of steps on his knees, as well as many other painful actions, nearly driving himself crazy. Finally, while he was reading Hab. 2:4, he saw the truth: “the just shall live by faith.” God opened his heart to receive that truth: Martin Luther was unworthy to receive the gift of salvation, but God gave it to him freely, not to be paid for by torturous actions. He was a new man, and lived his life completely sold out to Christ, telling others what God had done for him. This is the responsibility of all of us today: to tell our story to the world. It might not be as dramatic as Martin Luther’s, but it is still the miracle of a life which was blood-bought upon a cross.
Sandy Day
November 05, 2023