Paul writes to the Colossian church to warn them away from a trend that he saw as a great threat to their faith. In essence, this trend was to follow certain teaching that was "not according to Christ" (Col 2:8). Dangerous trends similar to this still exist today and sadly they have become firmly entrenched within much of the current church culture. As Michael Horton points out in his recent book, "Christless Christianity," the modern-day church has become largely Christless. Christ has become a nice supplement to faith and community instead of being the instrumental cornerstone of faith and community. This happens as Christians become taken in by "plausible arguments" (Col 1:4) that suggest that we should define our lives by peripheral matters (which tend to be the kind of topics that play towards our emotions, our personalities, and our comfort level) as opposed to central matters like the gospel.
How do we deal with these threats? Paul's strong advice to the Colossians was, in effect, to get in Christ and stay in Christ. In Christ we find everything we need to know about how to live life wisely (Col 2:2-3).
Nothing then is more important than receiving Christ Jesus as the Lord over your life and then basing the rest of your life on this truth (Col 2:6-7). As Proverbs 1:7 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. So it makes sense that the first step towards living life wisely will mean a continual conscious respect of Christ as Lord over every step you take in life.
How will this look like within the context of the church? First it means the church should promote straightforward, clear, communal thnking about Christ Jesus the Lord. We need to always make sure that we are thinking rightly about Jesus and in particular rightly of him as Christ and Lord. Second, the church should promote active, accountable, communal practice of Christ Jesus as Lord. It is the responsibility of each Christian within the church to help one another work out all the consequences and implications of the fact that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord into our lives. This will mean intentionality and will mean digging past the superficial to get towards the kind of relationships where we are deeply known and we deeply know others.
Take some time to meditate on Colossians 2:6-7. What are some specific areas in the modern day church and the modern day Christian life that need to be confronted with the truths of this verse? (ex. money, time, family, career, dating relationships) How would our priorities and decisions in these areas change if people began to truly get in Christ Jesus the Lord and stay in Christ Jesus the Lord?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
"Why Paul Does What He Does" Colossians 1:24-29
Ministry is tiring. It takes a lot of energy and effort. It's often overwhelming. So why keep doing it? What can motivate us to keep doing it? Paul's answer is to make sure that his ministry was about proclaiming Christ, which meant admonishing people and teaching people (Col 1:28). He did this in order to achieve a very specific goal - people becoming "mature in Christ." This is what ultimately drove Paul and his associates, to be in people's lives in such a way so that they become fully developed Christians.
A healthy church then is one that will warn and teach people so that they don't stay as little bitty baby Christians but become fully grown, mature Christians. This is what Christian ministry must always be about. If ministry is just us doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff, our efforts will eventually be overrun by our tiredness or our frustrations or our laziness,or our selfishness.
However, if our ministry is about this message - "Christ in you" - and this goal - "complete in Christ" - we will find the kind of ministry that is worth struggling for and even dying for. And we can be assured that we won't be struggling alone; God himself gives his energy and power to anyone who is involved in this kind of work (Col 1:29).
So what are your thoughts about this passage? Can you say that you became more mature in Christ over this past year? What evidence have you seen of this in your life? How are you encouraging others you know to become mature in Christ?
A healthy church then is one that will warn and teach people so that they don't stay as little bitty baby Christians but become fully grown, mature Christians. This is what Christian ministry must always be about. If ministry is just us doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff, our efforts will eventually be overrun by our tiredness or our frustrations or our laziness,or our selfishness.
However, if our ministry is about this message - "Christ in you" - and this goal - "complete in Christ" - we will find the kind of ministry that is worth struggling for and even dying for. And we can be assured that we won't be struggling alone; God himself gives his energy and power to anyone who is involved in this kind of work (Col 1:29).
So what are your thoughts about this passage? Can you say that you became more mature in Christ over this past year? What evidence have you seen of this in your life? How are you encouraging others you know to become mature in Christ?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Jets Beat Patriots!
As the game recap mentions, this is the first time my New York Jets have been alone atop the division since 2001. That is way too long for the evil empire otherwise known as the New England Patriots to be in control. The revolution has begun and it is being televised!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"The Gospel of Reconciliation" Colossians 1:21-23
In Col 1:21-23 Paul applies more specifically the themes of Col 1:15-23, in particularly the theme of reconciliation between God and man. He starts off emphasizing the great separation between humanity is from God. All of us start off as enemies of God. In our mindset, choices, and actions we show ourselves to be alienated from God and hostile towards him (Col 1:21). We were originally created to be closely connected to God, to live in his presence. But today, humanity is disconnected from God, living life outside of his presence and making a mess of things.
However in Jesus a different possibility emerges. God sent Jesus so that people could be restored to a relationship with him. Jesus brings reconciliation between man and God. When we put Jesus at the center of our lives we find ourselves able to be back in God's presence because in Jesus we are made "holy and blameless and above reproach" (Col 1:22).
All of this was made possible through the death of Jesus. It took a bloody death on a cross to bridge the chasm that existed between us and God. You could say that Jesus' death on the cross was like someone jumping into a burning building in order to save someone else, and in the process of saving this person the rescuer willingly gives up his or her life. This is pretty much what Jesus did for us, and it's all the more amazing when we consider the fact that the "fire" he rescues us from was started by us and was continuing to devour everything around us because we kept providing fuel for the fire.
Thus, our reconciliation to God is something 100% initiated by God and 100% carried out by Jesus. It is not something we helped out in or earned in any way. We can only humbly receive it by faith. However, our reconciled status is not something we should take for granted. Being reconciled to God is a status that the Christian must now actively maintain.
God by his grace protects and preserves every true believing Christian. But at the same time every true believing Christian should heed Paul's warning and see themselves as responsible to "continue in the faith" by being grounded in the gospel (Col 1:23). The gospel is the solid foundation that we now build our lives upon. For anyone who builds their life upon the "rock" of the gospel will always stand firm, no matter what (cf Matt 7:24-27). The gospel is the only message that leads us to be reconciled to God and gives us the hope and confidence that in the end of time we will be accepted by God.
Can you say that you have staked your life on the gospel? Have you put the full weight of your life upon it? Can you give examples of some choices or decisions that were made because you are established on "the hope of the gospel" (Col 1:23)?
If your life is staked on the gospel you will be able to continue in the faith, to even take "risks" of faith for the sake of Christ - although can we even consider anything to be a "risk" for us if we are established on the solid rock of the gospel? What kind of "risks" of faith do you think we should be taking in light of our being established on the gospel?
However in Jesus a different possibility emerges. God sent Jesus so that people could be restored to a relationship with him. Jesus brings reconciliation between man and God. When we put Jesus at the center of our lives we find ourselves able to be back in God's presence because in Jesus we are made "holy and blameless and above reproach" (Col 1:22).
All of this was made possible through the death of Jesus. It took a bloody death on a cross to bridge the chasm that existed between us and God. You could say that Jesus' death on the cross was like someone jumping into a burning building in order to save someone else, and in the process of saving this person the rescuer willingly gives up his or her life. This is pretty much what Jesus did for us, and it's all the more amazing when we consider the fact that the "fire" he rescues us from was started by us and was continuing to devour everything around us because we kept providing fuel for the fire.
Thus, our reconciliation to God is something 100% initiated by God and 100% carried out by Jesus. It is not something we helped out in or earned in any way. We can only humbly receive it by faith. However, our reconciled status is not something we should take for granted. Being reconciled to God is a status that the Christian must now actively maintain.
God by his grace protects and preserves every true believing Christian. But at the same time every true believing Christian should heed Paul's warning and see themselves as responsible to "continue in the faith" by being grounded in the gospel (Col 1:23). The gospel is the solid foundation that we now build our lives upon. For anyone who builds their life upon the "rock" of the gospel will always stand firm, no matter what (cf Matt 7:24-27). The gospel is the only message that leads us to be reconciled to God and gives us the hope and confidence that in the end of time we will be accepted by God.
Can you say that you have staked your life on the gospel? Have you put the full weight of your life upon it? Can you give examples of some choices or decisions that were made because you are established on "the hope of the gospel" (Col 1:23)?
If your life is staked on the gospel you will be able to continue in the faith, to even take "risks" of faith for the sake of Christ - although can we even consider anything to be a "risk" for us if we are established on the solid rock of the gospel? What kind of "risks" of faith do you think we should be taking in light of our being established on the gospel?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
"Jesus Christ Superstar" Colossians 1:15-20
In this possibly early Christian hymn we are told unequivocally that Jesus is supreme over all things. First of all, Jesus is the superstar of creation (Col 1:15-17). He is the 100% visible expression of the invisible God and the one by and through whom all things were created. Creation only continues to be viable because Jesus sustains it. All things began with Jesus and all things are ultimately meant to glorify Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus is the superstar of the new creation (Col 1:18-20). Creation has become horribly flawed because of man's sin. But through Christ God has effected a new creation. Christ died on the cross and then rose from the dead, which opened the door to a new era whereby creation could be freed from sin and its consequences. The church is the first expression of this new creation. She is a community of people who once were apart from God but now have been reconciled back to him. And eventually, all things will be reconciled back to God. All things will be at peace with God. And all of this will happen because of "the blood of the cross" (Col 1:20).
Jesus is coming back one day, riding on a warhorse with an iron rod in his hand and a tattoo on his leg that says "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," and he will once and for all bring all things under submission to its rightful Lord and God.
What are some things that strike you as you read this passage? If Christ is truly supreme over all things, how will this impact what our church does, how we carry out our jobs, how our city should look like, how our time and money should be spent?
Secondly, Jesus is the superstar of the new creation (Col 1:18-20). Creation has become horribly flawed because of man's sin. But through Christ God has effected a new creation. Christ died on the cross and then rose from the dead, which opened the door to a new era whereby creation could be freed from sin and its consequences. The church is the first expression of this new creation. She is a community of people who once were apart from God but now have been reconciled back to him. And eventually, all things will be reconciled back to God. All things will be at peace with God. And all of this will happen because of "the blood of the cross" (Col 1:20).
Jesus is coming back one day, riding on a warhorse with an iron rod in his hand and a tattoo on his leg that says "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," and he will once and for all bring all things under submission to its rightful Lord and God.
What are some things that strike you as you read this passage? If Christ is truly supreme over all things, how will this impact what our church does, how we carry out our jobs, how our city should look like, how our time and money should be spent?
Monday, October 27, 2008
"A Full-Bodied Prayer" Colossians 1:9-14
Paul regularly prays what I've called a "full-bodied" prayer for the Colossian Christians. The basic outline of the prayer is: two requests, followed by four characteristics that will develop if those requests are met, ending with a final statement about God and the redemption he accomplished in Jesus that should encourage to see that God can and will answer prayers like this.
The prayer begins first with a request that these Christians would know God's will. How will this happen? Through God growing them in wisdom and understanding. Of course, the way in which God does this is through his Word. Thus, regular reading and meditation upon the word of God is the means by which we can expect God to impart the knowledge of his will to us.
Following from this is a request that their knowledge of God's will will lead to them living out God's will. Or, as Paul puts it, that they would live a life worthy of Jesus, fully pleasing to him (Colossians 1:10). Such a life will have the following characteristics (Colossians 1:10-12):
1. Do lots of good and 2. Know God more and more
Note that these are tied together. As we do good, we will know God more. And knowing God more must lead to doing more good.
3. Be empowered by God
God empowers the life that is worthy of Jesus with ALL his power, so that the Christian can have endurance and patience in facing every type of situation.
4. Be joyfully thankful
A life worthy of Jesus is always joyfully thankful to God the Father. And what sparks this joy and thankfulness is the fact that God has accomplished everything that's needed so that people from all over can share together in an eternal inheritance.
The prayer ends in v.13-14 with the final reminder and encouragement that God has rescued believers out of their dominion of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of Jesus, in whom we are forgiven and thus set free from the power of sin and evil.
I love meditating on prayers like this because I find them to be a great guide to me in how I should pray and what I should pray for. What parts of this "full-bodied" prayer especially stick out to you? How are you trying to develop the things mentioned in this prayer in your own life (even as you pray that God would help you develop them)?
The prayer begins first with a request that these Christians would know God's will. How will this happen? Through God growing them in wisdom and understanding. Of course, the way in which God does this is through his Word. Thus, regular reading and meditation upon the word of God is the means by which we can expect God to impart the knowledge of his will to us.
Following from this is a request that their knowledge of God's will will lead to them living out God's will. Or, as Paul puts it, that they would live a life worthy of Jesus, fully pleasing to him (Colossians 1:10). Such a life will have the following characteristics (Colossians 1:10-12):
1. Do lots of good and 2. Know God more and more
Note that these are tied together. As we do good, we will know God more. And knowing God more must lead to doing more good.
3. Be empowered by God
God empowers the life that is worthy of Jesus with ALL his power, so that the Christian can have endurance and patience in facing every type of situation.
4. Be joyfully thankful
A life worthy of Jesus is always joyfully thankful to God the Father. And what sparks this joy and thankfulness is the fact that God has accomplished everything that's needed so that people from all over can share together in an eternal inheritance.
The prayer ends in v.13-14 with the final reminder and encouragement that God has rescued believers out of their dominion of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of Jesus, in whom we are forgiven and thus set free from the power of sin and evil.
I love meditating on prayers like this because I find them to be a great guide to me in how I should pray and what I should pray for. What parts of this "full-bodied" prayer especially stick out to you? How are you trying to develop the things mentioned in this prayer in your own life (even as you pray that God would help you develop them)?
"The Gospel at Work" Colossians 1:3-8
The new teaching that had come into the Colossian church was causing some of the Colossian Christians to stray away from the gospel. And so, right from the start of his letter Paul takes time to remind the Colossians about the gospel message they've received and in which they've believed.
This gospel message is essentially "the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:6). It is the good news of how God in his grace commits himself to sinful human beings by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. When the gospel is heard and understood, it produces a community full of faith, hope and love (Colossians 1:4-5). In fact, wherever the gospel is truly planted, it will naturally produce growth (Colossians 1:5-6). Thus, it is vitally crucial for Christians today to rightly and fully teach the gospel to others so that they might rightly hear and fully understand the gospel, which will result in these people now going out and teaching the gospel to still more people!
I think many people today really don't believe in the gospel. Many have very wrong ideas about what the gospel actually is. Others have a very superficial understanding of the gospel (in contrast to the Colossian Christians, who we are told "understood" the gospel, which means that they became thoroughly competent in it). Others don't think the gospel is quite enough to change lives and so they look to other sources or engage in other initiatives to do "ministry", with the proclamation of the gospel message being an optional add-on.
What do you think are the major obstacles to people really hearing and understanding the gospel? What are you doing to promote the true planting and authentic transformational growth of the gospel within our community?
This gospel message is essentially "the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:6). It is the good news of how God in his grace commits himself to sinful human beings by sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. When the gospel is heard and understood, it produces a community full of faith, hope and love (Colossians 1:4-5). In fact, wherever the gospel is truly planted, it will naturally produce growth (Colossians 1:5-6). Thus, it is vitally crucial for Christians today to rightly and fully teach the gospel to others so that they might rightly hear and fully understand the gospel, which will result in these people now going out and teaching the gospel to still more people!
I think many people today really don't believe in the gospel. Many have very wrong ideas about what the gospel actually is. Others have a very superficial understanding of the gospel (in contrast to the Colossian Christians, who we are told "understood" the gospel, which means that they became thoroughly competent in it). Others don't think the gospel is quite enough to change lives and so they look to other sources or engage in other initiatives to do "ministry", with the proclamation of the gospel message being an optional add-on.
What do you think are the major obstacles to people really hearing and understanding the gospel? What are you doing to promote the true planting and authentic transformational growth of the gospel within our community?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
ESV Study Bible's Finally Out!
Check out these beautiful pictures:
http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/esv-study-bible-2/
I have to admit, I've bought into some of the hype. I can't wait to have this as a resource. I think it will be a great help, especially to people overseas who can't afford to buy a lot of commentaries or reference books.
http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/esv-study-bible-2/
I have to admit, I've bought into some of the hype. I can't wait to have this as a resource. I think it will be a great help, especially to people overseas who can't afford to buy a lot of commentaries or reference books.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
"Christ Rules: An Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Church at Colossae" Col 1:1-2
Paul writes this letter to the church at Colossae, a church which started off of the ministry of Epaphras and a church that he had never personally visited. Nevertheless, Paul had a great love for Colossian church. He was also very concerned about this church because some people within the church were being drawn away into a "new" teaching. This teaching seems to have been a blend of local folk beliefs and Jewish practices. We could describe this teaching as "Jesus plus." Sure, the Colossian Christians had Jesus, but what this new teaching suggested was that they needed to do a little bit extra, in the form of following special religious rules or appeasing certain supernatural spirits, if they really wanted to have a "full" life.
It's not entirely surprising that this kind of teaching was attractive. All of us battle fear, anxiety, and insecurity. We search for meaning in the face of great, merciless forces - things like unexpected illness, loss of a job, or outright evil powers. We cope and try to find control over all these things in lot of different ways. Some do it through filling their life with lots of religion. Others do it by trying to strip their life of any religion. Many do it through the pursuit of money, or through sex, or through drugs or alcohol.
So what's the answer to all this? It comes through affirming one indisuputable face - that Jesus Christ rules. This fact is at the heart of this letter to the Colossian church. At various point in this letter Paul describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the creator of all things, the head of the church, the firstborn from the dead, the reconciler of all the things, the Savior through his death on the cross, the source of all wisdom and knowledge, the conqueror of sin and Satan. In short, Christ rules! And because he rules, everything is under his power and control.
This has significant implications for us. It means that the person who is under the rule of Christ doesn't need to fear anything. Every evil and demonic spirit has fallen falt on their faces before King Jesus. The Christian believer then has real power over every demonic enemy they face.
In adddition, the person who is under the rule of Jesus has everything they need in order to live a true, authentic, full life. For in Christ, the believer possess the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9-10). This means then that we don't have to be ruled by so many useless, frustrating, dehumanizing "earthly" things. We don't have to be ruled by sex, by evil desires, by anger, by that addiction, by that chronic illness, by that relationship, by that bank account, by those legalistic religion rules. Instead, we can be ruled by things like compassion, kindness, humility, love, and peace(Colossians 3:12-15).
All of this is possible because through the death and resurrection of Jesus God put the sleeper hold on every sin and every evil and dark power in our world. He pinned them down and has forced them to submit to him in total defeat, so that now, in Christ, we also can claim victory over all sin and evil (Colossians 2:13-15).
Christ rules, and this has direct practical relevance for every Christian life. The rule of Christ is the answer to every basic spiritual need or want. It's the ultimate answer to every social ill and problem. It's the rallying cry that conquers every demon that torments the human soul.
So, what does the rule of Christ mean to you? What are things that you've seen rule people's lives, or may even rule your life, and how might the rule of Christ help free you from these things?
It's not entirely surprising that this kind of teaching was attractive. All of us battle fear, anxiety, and insecurity. We search for meaning in the face of great, merciless forces - things like unexpected illness, loss of a job, or outright evil powers. We cope and try to find control over all these things in lot of different ways. Some do it through filling their life with lots of religion. Others do it by trying to strip their life of any religion. Many do it through the pursuit of money, or through sex, or through drugs or alcohol.
So what's the answer to all this? It comes through affirming one indisuputable face - that Jesus Christ rules. This fact is at the heart of this letter to the Colossian church. At various point in this letter Paul describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the creator of all things, the head of the church, the firstborn from the dead, the reconciler of all the things, the Savior through his death on the cross, the source of all wisdom and knowledge, the conqueror of sin and Satan. In short, Christ rules! And because he rules, everything is under his power and control.
This has significant implications for us. It means that the person who is under the rule of Christ doesn't need to fear anything. Every evil and demonic spirit has fallen falt on their faces before King Jesus. The Christian believer then has real power over every demonic enemy they face.
In adddition, the person who is under the rule of Jesus has everything they need in order to live a true, authentic, full life. For in Christ, the believer possess the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9-10). This means then that we don't have to be ruled by so many useless, frustrating, dehumanizing "earthly" things. We don't have to be ruled by sex, by evil desires, by anger, by that addiction, by that chronic illness, by that relationship, by that bank account, by those legalistic religion rules. Instead, we can be ruled by things like compassion, kindness, humility, love, and peace(Colossians 3:12-15).
All of this is possible because through the death and resurrection of Jesus God put the sleeper hold on every sin and every evil and dark power in our world. He pinned them down and has forced them to submit to him in total defeat, so that now, in Christ, we also can claim victory over all sin and evil (Colossians 2:13-15).
Christ rules, and this has direct practical relevance for every Christian life. The rule of Christ is the answer to every basic spiritual need or want. It's the ultimate answer to every social ill and problem. It's the rallying cry that conquers every demon that torments the human soul.
So, what does the rule of Christ mean to you? What are things that you've seen rule people's lives, or may even rule your life, and how might the rule of Christ help free you from these things?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
"Repentance and Restoration" Hosea 14:1-9
In this last chapter of Hosea the people of God are once again encouraged to repent. They must admit the full reality of their sin so that God might fully cleanse and restore them into a right relationship with him. How can Israel be sure that God will do this? It's because God is a God of mercy (Hosea 14:3). Israel does not deserve any mercy from God. But God freely chooses to show mercy and love towards them (Hosea 14:4). He will be like a tree constantly giving them refreshing, life sustaining fruit.
We find similar themes and wording in the New Testament. Peter describes how through the death of Jesus our sins are taken away, we are healed, and we are restored to God (1 Peter 2:24-25). So we see that God is in the business of not just restoring sinful Israel but a sinful world. He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that this might be possible. Anyone who repents from their sin and turns to God by believing in Jesus will be fully restored and renewed.
Repentance and restoration. What do those words mean to you? How has Jesus and his death on the cross brought about both repentance and restoration in your own life? And what are your final thoughts on the book of Hosea?
We find similar themes and wording in the New Testament. Peter describes how through the death of Jesus our sins are taken away, we are healed, and we are restored to God (1 Peter 2:24-25). So we see that God is in the business of not just restoring sinful Israel but a sinful world. He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that this might be possible. Anyone who repents from their sin and turns to God by believing in Jesus will be fully restored and renewed.
Repentance and restoration. What do those words mean to you? How has Jesus and his death on the cross brought about both repentance and restoration in your own life? And what are your final thoughts on the book of Hosea?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)