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"And in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority." Colossians 2:10 |
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1:1 "by the will of God"
The only way we can represent Christ is to follow His will. The power only flows in His will. Finding His will and doing it is one of the main reasons for seeking God. (John 15:7)
1:2 Grace and peace from Jesus and the Father.
Our life flows from God. When we are connected with God;
1. We are able to do things for God. (grace)
2. Unity with God brings peace.
1:3 "blessed with every Spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
We are in Christ. We are the body of Christ. Jesus is our brother because we are born again to a new breed of person. He was the first born. Our spirit is seated with Christ in the heavens. (Ephesians 2:6) As we live and are directed by His Spirit, instead of by the flesh, every spiritual blessing is ours to use. To live in the Spirit is to live by faith, following the promptings of the Spirit.
1:4 "Chosen to live holy and blameless before Him"
before 4253 in front of (Strongs)
We can only live holy and blameless when we are in God's presence. Elijah the prophet, spent a lot of time before God. When he first came on the scene in 1 Kings 17:1, he said, "As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." It was living in God's presence that gave Elijah the authority and power. He had clear direction from God to speak with power. We don't work to be holy. We live holy because of the work of the blood. (1 Jn. 1:7)
1:5 "In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ."
by Jesus Christ NKV Jesus adopted us. In fact He purchased us with His blood. (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18,19) We are now new creatures in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood."
We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. There are two aspects to this; 1. We are saved by His blood. 2. Walk in the light and fellowship, then His blood cleanses us as we need it. (1 John 1:7) We are cleansed by the blood as we walk with God. We are cleansed by the blood as we express love in fellowship to the brethren.
1:12 "hope in Christ"
An expectation that what He had promised He was able also to perform. (Romans 4:21) Those who hope in Christ are alive in the Spirit, awaiting the move of God. (Zephaniah 1:12) Happy anticipating Christ's return. (Vines) Colossians 1:27 NKJV trusted 4276 to hope in advance of other confirmation. (Strongs)
1:13 "having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise."
We receive the Holy Spirit in Christ as a seal at salvation. The Holy Spirit is to our spiritual life as earnest money is to buying a house. (George Westlake) A seal indicates possession and security. (Ryrie) "For I am confident of the very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6) "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father!" (Gal.4:6)
1:15 "having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you"
We love Him, because He first loved us. We trust Him because He gave His life for us. He gave Himself for us so we can trust, believe and rely upon Him.
1:17 "may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."
Does our knowledge of Jesus rest in our knowledge of the Bible? Does our knowledge of Jesus rest in what we have learned from other teachers? We can receive a Spirit of wisdom and revelation. This is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will teach us about Christ and reveal Him to us. Be awake spiritually, then Christ will shine on us. (Ephesians 5:14-19) We will know God and His will as we seek and worship Him. We can feed ourselves spiritually if we stay humble and listen to others also. (James 4:6)
1:19,20 "surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe . . .
brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead."
We are raised from the dead at salvation, which water baptism testifies. As we die to our wants and allow the Holy Spirit to move us, we are able to let Christ live through us. (Gal.2:20)
1:22,23 "head over all things to the church which is His body."
The church accomplishes nothing unless Christ is leading us. Christ is leading us. Christ works though His body. Horizontal and vertical unity following Christ's directions and humbling ourselves to work with others gives great purpose in accomplishing things. "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weakness of those without strength and not just please ourselves." (Romans 15:1) "The one who does not love does not know God for God is love." (1 John 4:8) Unity is loving others and caring for their needs.
2:5 "made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved."
As Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we to might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4) The awesome power of the Father that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us also, if we will let Him. Let God arise and His enemies be scattered (Psalm 68:1) Let God flow through you. Let Him empower you. Let His love flow out to others. As we die to ourselves and live from the power that flows from the Father, abundant life flows. Believe and receive.
2:6 "and raised us with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,"
Unity with Christ allows us to rule with Him. We are seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ. God has given us authority to rule through prayer.
2:7 "He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
God's grace is very rich. As we abide in Christ we receive His grace. B^F In the ages to come there will be treasures that we don't even know about. Grace is the undeserved favor of God and is the basis of our salvation, justification, election, faith and spiritual gifts (Eph. 1:7; 2:8,9 Rom. 3:24; 11:5,6; 12:16) Ryrye
2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,"
God has created us for a specific purpose. Don't fear His will, He knows what is best for us. -Seek God for what He would have us to do. "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:14)
2:13 But now in Christ Jesus . . . have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
The blood paid for our sins and has allowed us to be united with Christ. When we get out of the Spirit, if we pray the blood, this will bring us back into a spiritual frame of mind, "and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; . . ." (Col. 1:20)
2:15 "by abolishing in His flesh the enmity,"
It has been reported that some carismatics teach that the effectiveness of His death was in the spiritual not in the physical. But in so teaching, they deny or ignore the Scriptures and the blood of Jesus. God cares for us and is reaching out to us. He literally died for us.
2:15 "in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace."
There is now no divisions. We are all equal in Christ. That does not mean that aren't different jobs for different people. When I don't have peace, I pray the blood and God gives me peace.
2:18 "for through Him both have our access in one Spirit to the Father."
It is because of Jesus that we can pray. Jesus intercedes for us.
2:19 "fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."
Formerly we were separated from God. Now because we have accepted Christ's death on the cross for us, we are in God's family. Jesus is our brother, He is the first born among many brethren. Jesus is the forerunner of what we can do. In fact we can do greater works because Jesus goes to the Father and He will give us the Holy Spirit.
2:21 "in whan the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord."
- Our ability to grow together comes from our being united in Christ. Our ability to grow individually comes from being united with Christ. Is there division , is there lack of harmony? Than look for intellectualism pride self-fulfillment and a lack of walking in the Spirit. If Christ is the center than unity harmony and spiritual growth are happening.
2:22 "in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
- Together with who? We are being built together with Jesus as the foundation and other Christians as the structure. As this is being accomplished, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. When we move away form (or others move away) unity and Jesus as the foundation, the Spirit is quenched. Love and prayer are two glues that hold things together or bring things back together.
3:1 ". . .Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus"
- Paul accepts the fact that it was God's will for him to be in prison. Paul was content to live for Christ wherever he found himself. (Phil. 4:11) He knew the secret of giving thanks for whatever happens. (Eph. 5:20) Have the attitude of Jesus. He did not regard equality with God a thing to grasp. He emptied Himself and became a man and was obedient even unto death. (Phil. 2:5f)
3:6 "... fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus"
the promises of God are not physical laws but spiritual laws. For a physical law to work like gravity, you must use it in this world. For a spiritual law to work you must use it in the spiritual. God's promises are effective as we are in Christ. "For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes . . "(2Cor. 1:20)
3:9 The mystery was hidden in God. Now we have access to God. Now we can know the mystery. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
3:11 "... eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ"
- God works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11) It was God's purpose to save the world through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus and for the redeemed to overcome the forces of evil through Christ.
3:12 "in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him"
Faith in Christ initiates salvation. Our boldness comes from the fact that, the blood of Jesus has washed away our sin. When we enter the throne of grace we are spotless, because of Jesus finished work on the cross. We are confident also because we have accepted Christ work, not our work.
3:16 ". . . strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man."
We can't do anything of ourselves. "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to to consider anything as caning from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. (2 Cor. 3:5) It is God's Spirit that empowers us. Not by might not by power by by my Spirit say the Lord. (Zech. 4:6)
3:17 "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
- Faith is a gift from God. Without the Holy Spirit in us we would not have faith to allow Jesus to dwell in us. Godly faith brings works. (James 2:26) And the works of faith are love towards others. They are righteous acts. (Rev. 19:8) As we love others in obedience to God's word Jesus and the Father make their abode with us. (John 14:23)
3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."
- God is the power that works within us. Our prayers are mighty, because God is moving to answer our prayers. God is willing and able to help us more than we can imagine. We really don't realize how strong God is. God wants to show Himself strong to those whose heart is completely His. .(2 Chron. 16:9)
4:2 ". . . showing forbearance to one another in love." -
NKJV bearing with one another.
A.p. bearing with one another and making allowances.
KJV forbearing
Strongs 430 Anechoma: to hold oneself up against; ie. (fig) put up with.
:- bear with, endure, forgive suffer Rom. 15:1 "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weakness of those without
strength and not just please ourselves." Gal.6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ."
There is a steadfastness in love that doesn't quit when someone doesn't act the way we we expect. Love believes all things hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails. (1 Cor. 13) Our love outside of Christ is limited. Only when we are united with Christ are we able to love others when they are less than lovable. God is patient with us. Give others the same grace that God gives us. Give others the same grace that we give ourselves. "For judgment will be merciless to him who shows no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13)
4:3 "being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."
Jn. 13:34 How has Jesus loved us? Love others the same way.
Jn. 17:21-23 Our ability to have unity comes from the glory of the Father As we are in His presence.
Rom. 14:17-19 Serving God in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit brings peace and builds unity.
1 Cor. l:10f Jn. 13:35 Unity is effective, arguments and differences of
opinion are ineffective. 12:12,13 Each of us has a job to do.
2 Cor. 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete be comforted,
be like minded, live in peace and the God of love and peace
will be with you. Col. 3:14 Put on love
1 Thes. 5:13 live in peace with each other.
Heb. 12:14 Pursue peace with all and sanctification or you won't see God. James 3:17,18 Be pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits unwavering and without hypocrisy.
4:6 "One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."
We can't accomplish anything by ourselves. We are only effective if we allow God to live through us. "for in Him we live and move and exist, ..." (Acts 17:28)
4:13 "until we all attain to the unity of the faith"
- When I want things for myself and not for the benefit of Christians, I am not mature. Being mature causes us to want to know Jesus more and this knowledge will cause us to work for the building up of the body of Christ.
4:15 ". . . speaking the truth in love"
- Truth is truth without love,
but it is ineffective in teaching. (1 Cor. 8:1) Kind words add to
persuasiveness. (Prov. 16:21) Faith works through love and the knowledge
of faith can only be communicated through love. Truthful lips will be
established forever. (Prov. 12:19) So speaking the truth will establish
us in Christ.
4:17 "This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord ..."
Our teaching should come from God and not just form ourselves. Jesus did not do anything unless it was something that Hew saw the father doing. (Jn. 5:19)
4:21 "... and have been taught in Him just as truth is in Jesus"
-Spiritual knowledge can be learned from books. But time alone with God can bring spiritual revelation knowledge. Learning effective spiritual truth comes from a relationship with Jesus.
5:8 "Now you are the light in the Lord."
- Jesus is the light of the world. we are reflections of His glory as we follow Him. We are a light of what we experience.
5:20 "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God even the Father."
To walk in the Spirit is to be thankful. To have a mind set on the things of the Spirit and not on the things of the world. To represent Christ (in His name) is to be thankful. You never get past the problem when you complain. Thankfulness allows you to move on in the Spirit. The Israelites complained and didn't get to the promised land.
5:31,32 the two shall become one flesh, . . . with reference to Christ and the church. - "
... the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him." (1 Cor. 6:17) Our relationship in marriage and with Jesus are spoken of to have the same aspects. The unity, singleness of purpose and commitment for life are for both.
6:10 "... be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."
-Strength comes from waiting (Isa. 40:31) Our strength comes from the joy of the Lord flowing through us. (Neh.8:10) Unity in Christ allows Christ to live through us so that it is His strength an ability. Strength comes from knowing God.
Water From The Rock Bible Studies
- - -Scott McCrae
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