Colossians: Christ Our Motivation

Colossians 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to theelemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ andyou have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities^[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.^[c]

Let No One Disqualify You

¹⁶ Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,^[d] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

²⁰ If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ²¹ “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ²² (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? ²³ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Paul is giving the Colossians a warning here. I cannot tell if it is because he has seen the same problem in other churches or if he has been told that their church is currently struggling with this issue; however, I believe this is a message ever Christian needs to hear.  Having been brought up within the church, I know sin is bad and I need to repent from it. I also need to repent of my good works... I try to save myself without even realizing it half the time. It is not natural for me to rely on the work of Jesus Christ to save me, yet in the previous chapter Paul laid out how Jesus completely, fully saved us. I still find myself unintentionally believing," If I give this up, God will bless me in this way. If I live like this, He has to treat me like this..." That is not relying on the gift of the cross.  It is a, as Paul puts it, "self-made religion." It is my good works in exchange for God blessing. What wrenches my heart if Paul says,"they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." Why do I put myself through all these hoops and spiritual gymnastics if they will not save me or get me any blessing from the Father? I am trying to be God and failing miserably. 

Holy Father, thank you for the gift of Your son. Thank you for such a full salvation. Help me to see the areas of my life that I attempt my own salvation. I ask that You would step in and wipe clean those areas of my life. Fill my life with Your glory and take mine away. Amen.

Colossians: Christ Our Motivation

Colossians 1

English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints and faithful brothers^[a] in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, ⁷ just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.^[b] He is a faithful minister of Christ on your^[c] behalf ⁸ and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks^[d] to the Father, who has qualified you^[e] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless andabove reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation^[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyonemature in Christ. ²⁹ For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Colossians is a book of the bible that I have never taken much notice. It has now been my companion for 5 months. Paul is writing to a people who he seems to not know personally, but has been told about it great detail. In the letter Paul talks about how since he heard about the church, he has been praying for them in a very specific way. He prays that their understanding of Christ would be complete and be their motivation for living. The language is of a legal transfer or a contract that was fulfilled, but it talks about how Christ fulfilled the law and tore down the sins that separated us from God. It is Paul's wish that everyone be, "mature in Christ." To be "mature in Christ," Paul has drawn out the picture of Christ being there in the beginning of creation and being a part of creation. Here in Colossians, Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the power of the Trinity. "All the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," in Christ. Paul has us contemplate the greatness of God and his works. He then contemplates how that greatness draws us to God. Through what Jesus did in his life and on the cross we have "forgiveness of sins." We now too have an opportunity for Christ to work in us.

In Sunday School I have been learning about the Holy Spirit. In my bible study I am learning about the Kingdom of God. There is some much rich theology that I have gleaned from these past few weeks. I want to share it with you.

Jesus being man could not raise himself from the dead, thus the Spirit did. Christ fully submitted himself to the consequences of our sin- death. Just as a dead man cannot raise himself, neither could Christ. He can fully relate to us pertaining to the consequences of death that we feel so acutely. We have a God who knows death. We have a God who knows temptation. Just as we struggle with temptation and death, so did Christ. The Holy Spirit aided Christ and the Holy Spirit aids us in both these things. 

You are a completed action in Christ. If God has already predestined you, He has already glorified you and you are a completed action in heaven. 

The three parts of the Trinity are constantly working together and pointing to each other. The Holy Spirit will not lead outside of where Christ has already lead. Christ used the scriptures that the Father gave to the prophets. Thus they testify of the truth that they bring. 

You, who knows and spends time with Christ, still struggle to understand and fellowship with Him. Akin to the disciples. They spent personal/physical time with Christ and still had to have parables broken down for them. How much more we should pray for the Holy Spirit to intercede in the hearts of those who don't believe in Christ. Have grace.

If you have the Holy Spirit, you cannot blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Just as Satan cannot cast out Satan, the Holy Spirit will not work against himself. God cannot cast out God. This is one of the awesome ways we have surety of our salvation. (Mark 3&4)

It is not my responsibility to grow the seed, but it is mine to sow it. God has called me to sow.

Just hearing does not necessarily bring understanding. The Holy Spirit makes the soil good. Good soil will continue to produce growth. It does take time, but it will bear fruit. (Mark 4)

Ephesians 3:14-19

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Acts 17:28

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁸ for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

Last thoughts in a death bed letter

Philippians 4

English Standard Version (ESV)

4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

² I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

God's Provision

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶ Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

These are the final words from Paul to the Philippians. To the Galatians Paul was strict because he was trying to correct their theology and understanding of the gospel. With the Ephesisans he talking to a people he didn't know thus his language was very encouraging of their walk with Christ. Paul is writing to the Philippians with very intimate language. He knows them personally. Here he is personally thanking them for providing for his needs in prison. He is personally grieved by the fact that two women of the church are fighting. Paul calls the church his joy and his crown. He is proud of the church there and it seems with love and tenderness he is writing this letter to them. There is almost a deathbed quality to his message where he is telling them to get along. Think on good things. Rejoice. Be reasonable. Understand that God is with you. Don't be anxious... Give those worries to God. Here is how to have peace in your hearts. 

Paul was in prison in a foreign country. This would be a death sentence for most people because prisons were not required to feed you or provide for any of your needs except to keep you in the prison. The Philippians had provided for Paul when even the Jews would not. Paul rejoices in the fact the Philippians were so generous to them and also reassures them he is well provided for. There is intimacy with sorrow. He doesn't make plans to see them soon. He just blesses them in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

² Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Whether in sickness, health, sadness, despair, trials, or gladness it is always good to rejoice in the Lord. I know that all to often I forget to rejoice in God, who He is and what He has done for me. 

Paul does not hold back on what he thinks about people who say that circumcision is necessary to be a christian. What do I add to my faith? What steps and lifestyle do I say are needed to be Christian? I prayed to accept Jesus into my heart at 3 years of age. I have been raised in the church with do this and don't do that and all will be well, yet I find that I am unable to obey.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

I instead try to sacrifice. I can give up all the things that God would have me give up, but that does not result in salvation... or joy. That results in a bitter heart when God does not bless me that way I want Him to in return. If I instead look at what God has done for me... The more I contemplate what God has done through His Son, the more grateful my heart is. The more I rejoice. May I count that whatever good I gain as loss. 
One interpretation of verse 14 is keeping death in mind makes one mature. We have the YOLO ( You only live once) saying, yet merely living in light of death is not what makes us mature. Living with Christ amazing gift of salvation in mind and remembering that God calls to others things makes us mature. Now comes the active waiting. I press on toward what God has called me, yet I am waiting as he transforms my heart and body to be like his. 

¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

I don't have the ability to follow God. I have a dead heart that is made of stone. I cannot even obey, yet He is giving me a heart of flesh. He is shaping my heart, patterns of thought, and actions into His. 

Philippians: A Death Bed Letter

Philippians 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷ Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. ²⁰ For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. ²³ I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, ²⁴ and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

²⁵ I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, ²⁶ for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. ²⁹ So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,³⁰ for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

In read Philippians I am seem to be hearing a man on his death bed, writing his final words to his loved ones. The Philippian church must have been very dear to Paul as they did such a good job supporting him. I have at times worked as a hospice nurse on my floor. I have heard grandmothers tell their family,"Now you be nice to each other." It makes me smile as I remember similar words from my grandparents, mom, and dad. How often do I get wrapped up in my own interests? How often do I only see what I want to see in a situation? How often do I plan and scheme to get my way? My answer is all the time and every day... if it were not for the grace of God. The Father gave me the incredible example of His son. God incarnate did not pursue how to be seen as the most important or how to manipulate others to his way; therefore, if there is anything the Spirit asks me to do for others, I need to do it! 

Paul then gives us examples of attitudes and behaviors that get in the way of having this mindset that Christ had. We have all seen movies or perhaps in real life, people  tearing others down so they can feel better about themselves. The bully want to feel strong and like a man so he pushes someone around. The pretty girl feels like another is prettier and can't abide with the idea that someone competes with her beauty. Let the gossip begin. The examples that we can list are exhaustive. Paul remind the the Philippians that he want to be proud of them. He wants them to have joy. It is hard to have joy when the focus is on comparing myself to the world. It's hard to have joy when I am grumbling, gossiping, complaining, fighting, or arguing. 

Paul ask the Philippians to treat each other nicely. Paul started by giving is an example of Christ's behavior. Christ did not seek to be like God. Why should I? He then gave tips on behaviors to avoid if this attitude is to be effective. Don't grumble and complain. Don't fight with everyone. He finishes by sending them living examples of the behavior he was to see in the church: Timothy and Epaphroditus. 

As a kinetic learner, I like examples. I need things spelled out for me in very clear ways. I can take a concept and not know what to do with it; however, Paul here is giving them three living examples of how to behave. How awesome a God we have that he would come to earth and show us how to live.