“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all
creation. For by 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. And he is
before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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. For in him all the
fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on earth on in heaven, making peace by the
blood of his cross” – Colossians 1: 15-20
Christ is Lord over all
The theme of Colossians
is the supremacy of Christ, how he came to save sinners from our
absolute ruin and to restore us to life, how he has redeemed us,
allowing us to participate with him in his death, life, resurrection,
and about Christ being all and in all things with nothing out of his
reign of control.
Christ as King
We tend to think
our life is all about us. If you are a Christian, at times you’ve
probably thought you are God’s gift to humanity. But this text is saying
all things are about Jesus! Jesus, the image of the invisible God who
is slow in anger and abounding in steadfast love, who is kind, loving,
gracious, patient, just, consistent, and faithful, crushed for us, in
death on the cross. Because of sin all were doomed to die physically,
but Christ took on our sin so that we can live, making a new humanity,
with Jesus being the firstborn.
The scriptures go on to say that
everything was created through Jesus and for Jesus. Now, I know you are
thinking, “Was evil created for Jesus as well”? The answer is no. Evil
was created by man (as we see in Romans 1). God is a creator and he made
man in his image therefore making us mini creators. But we see in
scriptures that God takes what we meant for evil and turns it to good.
So everything in this universe is in submission to Christ; Governments,
kingdoms, angels, demons, and Satan all are in submission to God.
Is Christ King in your life?
We
see that Christ is in all and controls all things. (“Therefore there is
nothing out of his control”). How is this true for you? Is Christ the
reigning king in your life or is he an accessory? How often do think
about Jesus in all you do? Are you reminded of his faithfulness to you?
Do you think about how we are saved from internal ruin? Do you obey all
that he commanded? Now I want you to think about these and to be honest
with yourself. After evaluating, take these things to the Lord.
According to Colossians 1:11
we are “strengthen[ed] with all power.” That power comes from the
spirit. Don’t let this turn into condemnation but conviction. Because of
the spirit of God we are able to obey. Jesus conquers the sin that
leads to death and gives us life. Be encouraged to walk in the spirit.
Trust in Jesus’ work on the cross and let his love compel you to action.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Summer Challenge Week 9: Advancing the Gospel amid the adversity
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that
you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side
for the faith of the Gospel, and not frightened in anything by your
opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of
your salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:27-28
To glorify Christ with your life in order to advance the gospel.
Paul’s Opposition
The apostle Paul is in prison while writing this letter. He is on his second missionary journey. Jesus told Paul that he was going to preach the Gospel to the gentiles, anyone that is not born of a Jewish father and mother. In his pursuit of advancing the Gospel, Paul had a lot of opposition. He was an ex-Pharisee (a teacher of the law) that persecuted Christians because they claimed Jesus to be the reigning kings of the Jews. This caused problems because he was claiming that Christ is the only way to the Father and all the Jewish customs were not necessary to be loved by God. (Jesus was the fulfillment of the Jewish law and sacrifices.) Now, Paul is not only affirming the claims of Christ, but he is preaching to non-Jews as well that the Jewish God can love them. Because of this, everywhere he went people wanted to kill him. Read below in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 about Paul’s opposition.
“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
Advancing the Gospel amid adversity
I think adversity is a calling and a gift from God. Paul is talking to the church at Philippi to encourage them to live their lives as inhabitants of heaven, knowing that the Christian life is hard. He says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ”. What he means by this is not that we are to try to earn to be worthy of Christ love and affection but because of Christ’s love and affection we are worthy and called to live a life that is holy. Because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are able to live a life that is pleasing to God. Paul goes on to say whether he is present with them or absent he wants to make sure they are living in unity and striving to challenge each other to obey Jesus so that Jesus might be known to the world.
Unified in the Spirit
Paul is calling the Christians to be unified, to not to be fearful in suffering. He is calling them to contend for the faith and to fight for unity for the supreme worth of making Christ known.
This week, ask the Lord that this would be true for Redeemer and for your Gospel Community that we would learn to suffer well and make Christ known amid adversity.
To glorify Christ with your life in order to advance the gospel.
Paul’s Opposition
The apostle Paul is in prison while writing this letter. He is on his second missionary journey. Jesus told Paul that he was going to preach the Gospel to the gentiles, anyone that is not born of a Jewish father and mother. In his pursuit of advancing the Gospel, Paul had a lot of opposition. He was an ex-Pharisee (a teacher of the law) that persecuted Christians because they claimed Jesus to be the reigning kings of the Jews. This caused problems because he was claiming that Christ is the only way to the Father and all the Jewish customs were not necessary to be loved by God. (Jesus was the fulfillment of the Jewish law and sacrifices.) Now, Paul is not only affirming the claims of Christ, but he is preaching to non-Jews as well that the Jewish God can love them. Because of this, everywhere he went people wanted to kill him. Read below in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 about Paul’s opposition.
“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
Advancing the Gospel amid adversity
I think adversity is a calling and a gift from God. Paul is talking to the church at Philippi to encourage them to live their lives as inhabitants of heaven, knowing that the Christian life is hard. He says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ”. What he means by this is not that we are to try to earn to be worthy of Christ love and affection but because of Christ’s love and affection we are worthy and called to live a life that is holy. Because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are able to live a life that is pleasing to God. Paul goes on to say whether he is present with them or absent he wants to make sure they are living in unity and striving to challenge each other to obey Jesus so that Jesus might be known to the world.
Unified in the Spirit
Paul is calling the Christians to be unified, to not to be fearful in suffering. He is calling them to contend for the faith and to fight for unity for the supreme worth of making Christ known.
This week, ask the Lord that this would be true for Redeemer and for your Gospel Community that we would learn to suffer well and make Christ known amid adversity.
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