Lesson 540

(Lesson 540)(02-07-13) Colossians 3:5-25, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."

Todays lesson is a set of instructions, in the very clearest of terms, as to how Christian people are to conduct their day to day lives.

There is nothing I can say that will make this lesson any clearer than it is written by the hand of brother Paul.

I do recommend that every Christian read it over and over until it is clearly embedded in our minds.~

Lesson 539

(Lesson 539)(02-06-13) Colossians 3:1-4, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Today's lesson is a furtherance of yesterday's theme concerning the security of the believer. Everyone should pay close attention to what Paul said herein, this statement is absolute affirmation of the eternal security of the souls of those who place your faith in Christ, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

It can't get any plainer than that! Once a person puts his/her faith in Jesus Christ the physical body is DEAD before God the father, and is molded into the wholly righteous body of Jesus Christ to be revealed to the Father as perfect. The things we do after we have been saved by the grace of God have absolutely nothing to do with the security of our eternal souls. However, having our souls secured for eternity, does not free us to do those things that are offensive to others. We are judged daily by the Holy Spirit, and will pay for our evils while we live. Those evils can also be passed on the the generations to come.

After we are saved we are to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting a child of the living God.~

Lesson 538

(Lesson 538)(02-05-13) Collossians 2:10-23, "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

Todays Lesson takes to task those who believe that the salvation of ones eternal soul, and whether or not one maintains that salvation, relies upon ones daily physical actions whether or not one commits a "sin", or is obedient to "the law".

To better understand the intent of this lesson we need to fully understand what is meant by the phrase, "the law".

The law, as referenced in this text, is a list of "dos" and "do not's" that was given, by God through Moses, to the Hebrew people after they had been brought out of Egyptian captivity.

The law determined what was and was not "sin". It was a code by which the Hebrew people were to conduct their everyday lives in order to maintain a relationship with God.

In order to attain forgiveness for disobedience, the violator was required to publicly confess the sin, be baptized (washed with water), then offer a blood sacrifice befitting the "sin" according to the law.

When Jesus came From God, was crucified on the cross, buried, and resurrected from the dead, that law was fulfilled (completed), "Romans 13:8, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Paul explained in an earlier lesson how the deeds of the law have NO bearing on salvation, Romans 3:20, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Am I teaching that there is no standard by which Christian people are to live, NO!! Christian people, the saved, will out of their own conviction, live a life that is reflective of the two commandments that Jesus gave directly to His people, Matthew 12:29-31, "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

In short we, the saved are required to do nothing to maintain our salvation, our names are sealed in the "Lamb's book of life", by the Holy Spirit of God.~

Lesson 537

(Lesson 537)(02-04-13) Collossians 2:1-9, "For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

Today's lesson lesson again warns of false teachers and doctrines. There is a statement made in the latter portion that I think needs to be closely addressed. Paul said, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
This lesson doubly applies the the circumstances surrounding the "church" today. There are literally thousands of "philosophies" concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, there is only ONE true doctrine, one great commission, Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing" (immersing) "them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.".

Just like the true Christians of today, Paul battled daily with those who would subvert the gospel for their own personal gains, or to inject into it their own traditions. In my opinion, the true gospel of Christ has been so distorted by the many philosophical isms so as to have rendered the truth almost unrecognizable by the lost.
We should all study intently to maintain the pure gospel, and to work diligently to distribute that truth.

Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." ~

Lesson 536

(Lesson 536)(02-03-13) Collossians 1:16-29, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

This lesson again establishes that God is the Master and Creator of all things, both physical and spiritual and that Jesus is the appointed administrator of all things until such a time as the Father recollects His kingdom.

Paul clearly establishes, as Jesus did, that the Church is the physical body of Christ, and that it is made up of those who have, by faith, taken the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon themselves.

The Church is what Paul was referring in Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ". The children of God are the Church.

This reference to baptism does not imply that to be a part of Christ's Church, one must be immersed in water into Christ. Water is not contextually implied in this statement. It means that those who make up the body of Christ, the Church, have immersed themselves into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and in like fashion, with Jesus, been redeemed from the condemnation of sin, into eternal life.~

Lesson 535

(Lesson 535)(01-02-13) Collossians 1:1-15, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:"

In todays lesson, Paul and Temotheus send their salutations to the Church at Collosse and commend them for their fervent work toward the furtherance of the word of God. They admonished the Collossians to continue in their work maintaining within themselves praise for Jesus Christ, recalling that though Him we all have eternal redemption. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" ~

Lesson 534

(Lesson 534)(02-01-13) Philippians Chapter 4, "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

In this lesson, Paul bids farewell to the Philippians and expresses his extreme gratitude for their continued support, both spiritual and financial.

Paul praises the Philippians as being some of the most diligent of all the early Christians. He asks that they as well as we, do all we do, and all we can do, for the honor and glory of God through Jesus Christ.

This is also a powerful lesson to us concerning the support for those who do the footwork for the Lord, the missionaries. Although there is, in almost every "church", a mission support project, it behooves all of us to find, recognize, and finance those who travel to the ends of the earth to correctly spread the good news of eternal life through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.~