Month: May 2021

(Colossians 2:6-7)

 False teachers had entered the church, and Paul didn’t want the church to be deceived with doctrine that sounded good but were clearly words of deception (v.4). His desire was that believers have all the blessings of Christ – the all-sufficient One. “⁶Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him. It is imperative that believers walk in Him as when we first received Him. According to Scripture, “We live by faith, not by sight.” Because you have accepted the crucified and resurrected Christ by faith as your Savior and Lord, you are redeemed. You are brought into a personal relationship with Christ and are now a new creature in Him. Therefore, we are to live in union with Him and dedicate ourselves to the same mind, purpose, and life as Christ. Paul continues in verse seven to set forth four more ways we must continue in Christ. We must be (1) rooted in Him, (2) built up in Him, (3) established in the faith, and (4) abounding in the faith.

We are trees of righteousness and must be firmly planted and rooted in Christ (v.7), daily trusting Him – that sure foundation who anchors and sustains us unto eternal salvation. Also, believers must be built up in Him (v.7). There are a variety of careers in which people train others to build up their physical bodies. Okay, so most of us have vanity about our outer appearance, but believers must focus on the spiritual man. We are buildings that must be built up but not by man’s hands because “no flesh may be able to boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:29, AMP).  In Christ, Who increasingly strengthens and builds us up spiritually, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge regarding the word and purposes of God (v.3). Then Paul affirmed that believers must be established in the faith (v.7) and abounding in it with thanksgiving as we’ve been taught (v.7). A personal relationship in Christ stabilizes us and confirms who we are as we abound and overflow with gratitude in the faith (v.7). Therefore, continue steadfastly walking in the all-sufficient Christ. He is the truth and nothing but the gospel truth.

 (Colossians 2:1-7)

Paul has been commissioned by God to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to the church to fulfill the word of God. Here he addressed the church of Colosse, wanting them to know how great was his suffering for them and for those believers at Laodicea, and for all the saints of Rome who had never seen him face to face. False teachers had entered the church, and Paul did not want the church to be deceived with enticing but thoroughly deceptive words (v.4). His desire was that their hearts be encouraged as they are knit together in love, and that they have all the riches that come from the complete assurance of understanding the joy of God’s plan of salvation, to acknowledging the mystery of God, that is, Christ (v.2; Romans 11:33), in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge regarding the word and purposes of God (v.3).

Even though Paul wasn’t with them in the flesh, he declared that he was with them in the spirit, rejoicing to see their good order and steadfastness of their faith in Christ (v.5).  It’s a blessing when those who have taught you the gospel truth can be confident that you may be separated but still receive reports of your faithfulness, your fruitfulness you received from the word of God, and your love for all the saints. Paul exhorted the saints at Colosse to continue in the all-sufficient Christ: “⁶Therefore as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: ⁷ Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

As children of God, we are commanded to let our daily living reflect who we are in the Lord. We can be assured that somebody is watching and listening. “ Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind – permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16, AMP).

Matthew 20:24-28 (NKJV)

Believers have the right to come boldly to the throne of God, and make their requests known. Yet, our hearts must not be lifted up and prideful, seeking worldly position as the mother of James and John did. Our praise should be to the Lord for Scripture declares that no flesh should glory in his presence. The mother of James and John came with them to Jesus, requesting that he grant both of her sons positions of royalty in his kingdom – one on his right hand and the other on his left (v.21). Their request was bold, but selfish. It was carnal, not spiritual. They were seeking worldly position because they thought his kingdom of this world; they had not grasped the concept that his kingdom is eternal. Let’s not look at these two disciples sideways because all twelve of them wanted prestige and power. There were several occasions when Jesus’s disciples argued about which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of God.

 So when the other ten disciples heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers (v.24), and this resulted in Jesus teaching his disciples about how one achieves greatness in the kingdom of God.  He reminded them that the rulers of the Gentiles lord greatness over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them (v.25); that’s the world’s way, not God’s. That’s not how it was to be among them because the ways of man are not the ways of God. By man’s standards power and prestige make us great. In God’s kingdom “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (v.26). Jesus taught them that the path to greatness is humility. If we humble ourselves before God, becoming a servant to our fellow man, He will lift us up to greatness. “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave” (v.27). Jesus told them that the Son of Man did not come to be served; He came to serve and to give His life a ransom for many (v.28).

It’s been three and a half years that Jesus’ disciples have been under his tutelage, learning how to “make disciples” for the propagation of the gospel with all nations.  He is now approaching the end of his earthly ministry, and on his way to Jerusalem   predicts his death and resurrection the third time to his disciples. As followers of Christ, such a life-altering announcement should have stirred their hearts to put aside any selfish desires of theirs and focus wholeheartedly on him and his coming suffering. After all, the redemption of sinful mankind would soon be fulfilled through his death and resurrection. However, just as Jesus’s first disciples misunderstood much of what he taught them because of their carnal thinking, many of us misunderstand today because of our carnality. Even though they were his disciples, they hadn’t grasped the concept that his kingdom is eternal.

This is evident because the mother (Salome, Matt. 27:56) of Zebedee’s sons (James and John, Matt. 4:21) came to Jesus with her sons, kneeling as a posture of worship (v.20) but with a selfish motive. She requested that he would grant both of her sons positions of royalty in his kingdom – one on his right hand and the other on his left (v.21). All mothers desire the best for their sons, and we should, praying that God will keep them covered because the devil’s desire is to destroy them. Yet, we must not go before God’s throne with a prideful heart, seeking things that glorify us for “no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Cor.1:29); “he that glories, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor.1:31).

Notice the master’s response and to whom he responded; it was to her sons. They didn’t know what they were asking. Their interest was worldly because they had not yet comprehended that his kingdom was eternal. He symbolized his coming suffering as “the cup” and “the baptism.” His disciples had no idea of the magnitude of pain and suffering he would shortly experience for sinners. So their response to their ability to drink his cup, and be baptized with the baptism that he was baptized with was quick and thoughtless: “We are able” (v.22).

Jesus declared that they would suffer; all believers will. As far as granting the request to sit on his right hand and on his left, Jesus said it was not his to give, “but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father” (v.23). Jesus always work in union with the Father.