Philemon Verses 1-7
Paul wrote to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, whom we assume is a runaway slave. We are not told the reasons why he left or what happened as a result of the letter. We only know that when Onesimus left he met Paul and Paul led him to Christ. Today, we will read the first 7 verses of the letter. Paul began the letter by telling Philemon how much he meant to him. Verses 4-5 read, “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints” We see that Philemon was not only a Christian in name but he lived out his faith and that it was obvious to the world. Paul recognized Philemon’s love for Jesus and the church. Love is the fruit of the Spirit, the nature of God, the manifestation of His will, and the command Jesus gave us. Our love should be that apparent. When people think of us they should be able to say we love well and we have strong faith. Faith is a gift from God given to all believers, it is what allows us to believe in the first place. But we have to choose to continually exercise it. Through trials we trust that God has got us, that He will carry us through, and that He will use those difficulties to make us more like Jesus. Strong faith is not an automatic. We choose to have faith, just as we choose to love. Philemon’s love and faith were well known among the church. It is also apparent that Philemon made a point of sharing his faith with others. Verse 6 reads, “and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ." Sharing the Gospel is the demonstration of our love and faith in Jesus. If we love the Lord, we want what He wants, we love what He loves, and we do as He commands. He wants the lost to know Him. He loves the lost just as much as He loves us. And He commands us to make disciples. Philemon was doing that. But apparently he was not being as effective as he could be. I know I have felt ineffective in sharing my faith at times. I don’t often get to see the fruit of the seeds I plant. But I do trust that when I share God’s Word with people that it will have impact. Isaiah 55:10-11 tell us, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” I want to make a difference. I’m sure you do as well. So what is the secret to becoming more effective in sharing our faith? It is prayer, maturation, and coming to know God more completely. As we know God more and as we grow to be more like Jesus, we become more influential because we are able to let the Spirit do the guiding, talking, and demonstrating. That is good for others and it is good for us. Our walk with the Lord makes an impression on people. It touches the lost and it touches our brothers and sisters. We can rejoice for each other in our services to God. We all have a shared mission of leading people to Christ and of being conformed to His image. It is wonderful to see it happen. What an encouragement for one another when we live and walk expressing God’s great love and awesome faith. Verse 7 says, “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” I encourage you today to live out your salvation. Make your mark on the world by revealing love and faith wherever you are. Share your faith. Love intentionally. Let your life be a testimony to the tremendous beauty and astounding love of Jesus Christ. Titus Chapter 3
Who were you before you were saved? What were you like before you were born again? What you’re your desires, your plans, and your hopes? They were likely different from your current desires. You were probably a very different person. But when you recognized Jesus as your savior, His Spirit entered you and made you new. He changed you and He continues to change you. Your will aligns more closely to God’s will. We must be diligent about standing out from the world and being the image of Christ to them. They are lost and we can be the light that leads them to the Truth, the Life, and the Way. Paul encourages us to be different and live out our salvation, and to always be ready to do good for people. Verses 1-2 read, “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” What if the other person is mean, rude, or a really bad sinner? Do we have to be kind to them? Do we have to do good for the person who is trying to con old ladies out of their pensions or the drug addict? Paul tells us to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Everyone needs Jesus, no one deserves His grace and mercy. You were once lost. What was it that brought you to Jesus? Did someone argue with you, judge you, and tell you to turn or burn? Is that what brought you to redemption? I doubt it. Or did someone lead you to Jesus with love, kindness, and truth? Verses 3-7 say, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” What He did for us, is not meant to be kept for us alone. He washed us and renewed us. He changed us. He poured Himself into us lavishly. We are saved by grace and now have the hope of eternal life for a purpose. We can’t continue living the way we used to live anymore because we are no longer the people we used to be. We are saved by grace but we are saved so that we can do good works. The good we do doesn’t justify us. It doesn’t make up for any sin. But it does give an expression to the Holy Spirit. It does testify to the greatness of The Spirit, the power of Christ, and the love of The Father. The lost are lost because they’ve been led astray by the prince of this world. Jesus gave us the authority to show them the way to salvation. We show them the Way, the Truth, and the Life through good works, which is God’s love expressed and God’s word manifested. Faith saved us. Grace justified us. But it is good works, the exercising of our spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit that builds the church and leads the lost to Jesus. Verse 8 reads, “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” Good works not only include working outside the church building but within it. Good works include using our gifts to edify one another, grow in knowledge and love, and become more like Jesus. Building up of the church and loving one another makes us more unified. Unity is a sign of maturity and shows the Holy Spirit in us. Union allows Him to work within us as a group and be manifested even more powerfully than He is as individuals. When Jesus was teaching about church unity and how to handle sin among the brethren He said, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” How He wants to do great and good things with us and through us! Jesus’ promise is not a little thing. He promised that our unity would make anything we ask happen. He promised that even if only two of us come together to agree that He would grant us our request. He promised that even if only two or three of us come together in His name (that is as His representatives doing His will) that He is there with us. So it is very important to maintain unity. It is extremely important to ensure no one among us is teaching lies, starting arguments, and causing dissention. The dissident causes us to look like the world. He makes us take our eyes off God’s work and puts our minds on foolishness. We are not able to do good works if we are busy arguing over the size of the church bell or whether eating pork is a sin. Verses 9-11 read, “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” We are not saved by good works. We are not saved by our behavior. We are saved by faith. It is His grace that redeems us. But following Christ means we will do as He wants. We want to obey Him. We want to love as He loves. We want to communicate our gratitude. We want to express the Holy Spirit within us. We are not saved by our good works. We are saved by Jesus’ good work. We were led to Christ because a brother or sister did good works and we saw Jesus in them. Verse 14 says, “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” Titus Chapter 2
In the second chapter of Paul’s letter to Titus he exhorts us to behave in a manner worthy of the name we’ve been given. We are Christians and our actions should reflect our state of grace, the great name of Jesus, and His Spirit who indwells us. Verse 1 reads, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” This is a continuance from the previous chapter when Paul warned Titus to not allow false teachings to get mixed up in the truth. When we teach, it is our responsibility to ensure the doctrine, instructions, and principals are sound. Sound means healthy, whole, comprehensive, good, and intact. Whether receiving or giving instruction make sure it is supported by the Bible, does not contradict the Gospel, and that the voice of God is recognized in it. If you are not yet able to discern The Lord’s voice because you are a young Christian, then continue to seek Him and He will make Himself known to you. The mature Christian walks in a manner that reflects Jesus to the world and to other believers. In faith we endeavor to live a life that is pleasing to God and brings Him an aroma of worship, praise, and knowledge. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 reads, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” We teach one another with lives lived well for God. We demonstrate to the world the goodness of God by our lives. We are not responsible for their response, we are responsible for our actions and words which will either present Jesus as Awesome Loving Savior or present us as no different than the world. Verse 2-6 read, “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.” Verses 9-10 say, “Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” We are being transformed day by day to the image of Christ. As we learn more about God, as we exercise our gifts, and express the character of Jesus, we become examples for one another. Glorifying God is reflecting His image, it is the exhibition of the Spirit in us. Why should we strive to be the way Paul describes? So that we are training the less mature and so the word of God will not be reviled. Our actions will make people say, “Where does love like that come from” or it will make them say, “Their god doesn’t exist and if he does he is powerless.” Much of the world hates Christians and that is okay, but much of that hate is because we acted in the flesh and gave them reason to hate us, and that is not okay. We are supposed to be a light in the darkness leading people to Jesus, not giving them reason to hate Him. Verses 7-8 say it this way, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Regardless of where we are, who we are dealing with, or playing or working, we are to walk in a manner worthy of the name of Jesus Christ. We are His ambassadors. People get to know who Jesus is by their interactions with us. So in every aspect of our lives we have to remember people are watching us to see who this Jesus is. Verses 11-14 read, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. More so than our words it is our lives that lead people to Jesus. He wants everyone to come to Him. He wants salvation for the world. He saved us and He transforms us so that the world will know Him. He is our hope. We know He is coming back, and we will be resurrected and rise with Him to eternity. That same hope for us, is a terrible day for the lost. On that day they will know Jesus is The LORD. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could let them know before it is too late? When He comes and they see Him with their eyes and hear the trumpet sound, it will be too late for faith. The way we live matters. We do not follow the law, but we do follow Jesus. Jesus acted in love and in submission to God. Jesus asked us to love one another as He loves us. His grace is revealed best when we who used to be of the world, walk like the new creations we are. Philippians Chapter 3
How much do you strive to be like Jesus? Do you expect that your transformation will happen eventually and so you wait on the Lord and keep walking in the flesh? He’s ready, He’s begun, and He’s waiting for you. Are you determined to be righteous and so you keep as many laws as you can recall and hope the Lord won’t count it against you when you come upon laws impossible to keep? Neither of these paths bring you to the hope of Jesus. The first step to Jesus is Salvation and salvation comes by faith. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” But you can’t just stop believing after that, your faith doesn’t just evaporate and you either live in the flesh or live by the law. Faith continues, believing in Jesus’ grace carries on. Salvation isn’t fire insurance, it is an active lifestyle in which you choose to exercise faith. But some people forget the great miracle of redemption, the mystery of the Gospel, and the beauty of God’s grace. In Philippians chapter 3 Paul reminded the church that righteousness is something to pursue, but not by the law but by faith in Christ. If anyone had reason to believe the law could save him, it was Paul. Verses 1-6 read, “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.” But not one iota of Paul’s impressive résumé mattered when it came to salvation. It was garbage to him. His greatness in the world, his piety, and his passion for the law nearly kept him from knowing Jesus. All he strove for before Jesus saved him was waste. He put it like this in verses 7-11, “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.” Our righteousness doesn’t and cannot come from ourselves. Righteousness comes from faith in Jesus. It comes from depending on God, it comes from letting the Holy Spirit do His great work in us. Paul was one of the greatest Christians of all time. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was mature. Acts 19:11-12 describe how powerful Paul was, not in himself, but in the Lord. “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.” But Paul didn’t stop and sit in his haunches. He continued to strive toward Jesus righteousness. If Paul had to keep endeavoring toward the actualization of Jesus, how much more so do we? God is immense. We can’t even begin to fathom the depth and breadth of His Love, much less anything else of His nature. He wants us to know Him and to know Him deeply. There is always more of Him to know. Verses 12-16 say, “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.” One day, we will be changed in an instant. We will have reached the goal. But while we still live, while we wear suits of flesh and walk this earth, we have not yet reached that objective. And it’s not alright to just sit back and say, “I’ll change eventually” or “I can sin as much as I want because of grace.” We are not part of this world, we are part of the Kingdom of God. Our path should be one that leads to Jesus and we should be walking that path, ever-growing ever-maturing. We are meant to glorify Christ. That means we are meant to reflect His image. We can’t do that if we don’t know Him intimately. He gave us His Spirit, He gave us His name, and He gave us His nature. We must, like Paul earnestly pursue a profound knowledge of God so that His Love and Righteousness, Jesus shines out of us. Our lives should lead people to faith in Christ not worthless hope in the law. Verses 17-21 read, “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.” Are you maturing? Are you different today than the day you were saved? Are you different today than you were last year? Or are you fooling yourself and trying to follow the law or floundering in your flesh? Believer, the Spirit of the Living God is in you! You are united with Jesus. He has made possible your transformation. He is there waiting for an intensely beautiful and profound relationship. You are His bride. He adores you. The Epistle of Jude
Believers we should be defending the truth, opposing the liars, the false prophets and false teachers, and asserting the Gospel. But so many of us get caught up in the fancy words, sprinkled with just enough scripture or christianese that we don’t challenge the liars, doubt the truth, and even fall victim to their twisted beliefs. Jude, the brother of James and Jesus wrote to the church to warn them about the heretics and the lies that were infiltrating the church. Verses 3-4 read, “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” If we don’t insist on the pure truth, who will? How many people will fall for the false teachers, who today often have television shows and attract hundreds of thousands to their sugary messages? Or are you one of the people who maybe falling for the promises of the positive preachers? Do you know the Bible for yourself? Do you know Jesus for yourself? That is the best way to discern the truth from the lies. That is the way to fight back. The false teachers can’t win against the truth. It may be a long struggle, but you can’t give up, you can’t let more people follow them to destruction. All those who don’t confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with their heart that God raised Him from the dead will burn eternally in Hell. We have to know what the scriptures say, we have to know the Gospel we claim to believe. We can’t very well contend for the faith if we don’t know what our faith is. Verses 5-7 read, “Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” What are some of the characteristics of the false teachers? Verse 8 describes them. “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.” We’ve seen those people, they seem so spiritual, but they depend too much on themselves. And they blaspheme, that is curse the glorious ones. The glorious ones are not only the angels, but the demons and Satan as well. Only God has a right to do that. We do not have a right to curse or rebuke them, that is God’s role. These people take God’s role into themselves, declaring visions and truths that come from their own mind and desire for pleasure, power and prosperity. They follow their fleshly and base desires, they live by whims and instincts. These are the ones declaring God’s new will to others all the time rather than proclaiming Jesus Christ. Verses 10-12 describe them like this, “But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;” The focus of their ministry is the ego, and the result of their ministry is their own gain. We have to oppose the lies and dark. We belong to Christ and we have to stand for truth, live nobly, and glorify Him always. Verses 17-23 encourage us, “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” We can’t just stand by and watch as they lead people down some path that leads to Hell. We have to strive for maturity, always more of Jesus and less of us, more of the Spirit and less of our flesh. We have to read the word and live the word and through our suffering be transformed into the image of Christ. We have to be able to discern the false from the true and stop them. Tell them the truth and give them the choice to accept or reject Christ. Do you feel you aren’t strong enough to fall into the trap of sinning and flesh? Do you think you don’t have what it takes to oppose the wicked? You don’t have to be strong enough, you can’t oppose the wicked. But Jesus can. He gave you the Holy Spirit. Verses 24-25 read, “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” 1 Peter Chapter 4
Christ suffered on the cross and we as His followers also suffer. Christ’s suffering gave us salvation. Our suffering reveals Salvation in us. Verses 1-2 read, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” We are not better than Jesus. We must expect to suffer. And when we do suffer for Christ’s sake, we can rejoice. We are emulating our Lord. We are being transformed to His image. We are glorifying God so that others will know His redemption. Verses 12-17 read, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” Suffering has more than one purpose. While we suffer, people see us. They watch and take note of how and why we go through our situation. How is that we can rejoice and even praise God through trials? They expect us to react in a worldly way and when we don’t, they see a glimpse of God. They see the grace of Jesus lived out. Suffering conforms us to the image of Jesus Christ. Trials and tribulations teach us to exercise the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts He gave us, and purify us. . God sees us as righteous when He looks at us, but that doesn’t mean, He doesn’t care about our behavior. We are saved by grace but that doesn’t mean we should use our liberty as a reason to look and act like the rest of the world. We are supposed to emanate the Spirit of God, not the spirits of the world. We follow the King of kings, not the prince of this world. If the saved, God’s own children can’t behave in a manner worthy of God, how can we expect the lost to ever find Jesus? Verses 17-19 read, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” We entrust our souls to the Lord. We give Him custody and authority over it. While we suffer, through good times, through joy, through sadness, and everything else we know God has charge over our souls and He will keep it for us until the Day we come into it at our completion. It will be worth more than it could have been if He hadn’t held it for us. It will be perfect. Until that day, we are charged with doing good, with being Children of God in a world that doesn’t know Him. We are charged with doing good in a world that celebrates selfishness and debauchery. Even the fact that we don’t want to join them in decadence shocks them and gives them a reason to hate us or know us because of Jesus. Verses 3-4 say it like this, “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;” We have to remember that they are lost. The reason they badmouth us is because they follow Satan and don’t even know it. They will be judged one day. They need the chance to hear the Gospel. They need a chance to call Jesus their Lord. Our behavior in good times and bad gives them a chance to hear the Truth. Verses 5-6 say it this way, “but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” Their self-indulgence may give them temporary pleasure, but Jesus gives eternal life. Keep in mind. Choose your conduct with love. Do you love them enough to abstain from sin, suffer with grace, and rejoice in the Lord? Do you love them enough to give them a chance to know Jesus? Verses 7-11 encourage us, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Believer, you are special. You are not like the world. You are a child of the Living God, saved by Jesus and consecrated by the Holy Spirit. You are separate from the world, in it but not of it. Your life should be a witness to the truth, a living sacrifice to the Lord, and a light to salvation. Colossians Chapter 2
Believer, you are saved. You are saved by Jesus Christ once and for all. Your salvation is a miracle. It is huge. You don’t have to fall prey to a list of rules, rituals, or regulations to maintain your religion. You don’t have to question your salvation because someone says that if you’re saved then you will do this or do that. You have a relationship with God. Your salvation shows itself and you can be confident in it, because you can be confident in Christ. Are you part of a local body? Believer, you are part of the body and in order to experience the wholeness of that, you need to be part of a community of believers. Paul put it like this in verses 2-3, “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.” When you are with other believers you are with people who reflect Christ, who are filled with the Spirit, who are seeking the same thing as you are, the Kingdom of God. You are knit together with them. You are interwoven with them inextricable from them. Being with others who share the same Spirit, the same goal, and the same Lord creates an environment where you are free to grow and mature in Christ and where you get to know God more intimately than you could ever get to know Him walking the path alone. And you are less likely to fall for wacky doctrine. The Gospel is the gospel. It doesn’t change after you’re saved. Nothing gets added to it. Jesus Christ doesn’t change. You were saved by grace. You won’t lose your salvation due to hidden rules or rituals. Hebrews 13:8-9 say, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.” Stay rooted in the truth. Keep walking in truth. Get to know God more and more. Let your relationship with Him grow deeper, not broader. Pulling beliefs from religions, adding philosophies that sound good or make us more acceptable to the world make for a wide shallow relationship. Traditions, festivals, and ceremonies have nothing to do with grace, truth, or faith. Verses 6-8 read, “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 the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” There are people out there who feel the need to force wacky doctrines on others. They’ll tell us that you must pay attention to this spirit or that spirit, that we must give up all material possessions, seek prosperity, punish ourselves, follow a set of strict rules, or live liberally without caring about how our actions affect others. We’ve seen people who drift from belief to belief, trying this one on, checking that one out, and trying to get to know God by following a worldly religion. To know God, we only have to follow Christ. He is God. To know God we only have to realize we are have His Spirit inside us. He is God. He saved us by a miracle. He changed us wondrously. He didn’t just say, “You’re saved. Good luck with that, see ya in 60 years, hope you do well.” He made us a new creation. He transformed us and transforms us. He is with us. We were sinners, now we are blameless, forgiven, and righteous in His sight. We were dead, now we are alive. We are saved! Verses 9-15 read, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you 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 and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” It doesn’t say, we were dead, raised to life and now have to stay on life support, following rules in order to stay born again. It says we were raised to life by faith in the powerful working of God! It says all our sins are erased. It says our debt is paid and we have no legal demands on us. God saved us supernaturally, He circumcised our hearts. No physical ritual can trump that or do what God has already done. Why beat ourselves up for sins that God has expunged? Why give license or power to the devil, demonic powers and worldly spirits when we have already triumphed over them through Jesus Christ? Jesus is our Lord. We follow Him. There is one command. 1 John 3:23-24 puts it this way, “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” Don’t give in to someone telling you that you must follow a set of rules or customs to be saved. Follow Christ. You have His Spirit. Your Brothers and Sisters have His Spirit. Follow Jesus. Verses 16-19 read, “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, 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. People come to us and say, “You’re doing it wrong! Christians can’t drink that, eat that, or go there.” They follow customs and philosophies. They follow ideas that sound good but are not from Christ. The Pharisees added rules and traditions in an attempt to ensure they were keeping the law and they ended up worshipping the laws and traditions instead of the Lord. Verses 20-23 say, 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.” Following all those rules, might make us look more “Christian” but they won’t makes us more Christ-like. Severe self-discipline and forgoing all pleasure like asceticism seems right, but Jesus didn’t tell us to never enjoy life or to live in perpetual punishment. Where is the joy in that? There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. We are set free from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-2). Colossians Chapter 1 Verses 1-14
Today we begin reading the letter to the church at Colossae from Paul and Timothy. Many in the church were making their faith very private and esoteric, which in turn made it easy to adopt mysticism and asceticism into their spiritual practice and belief. A private faith, and a faith that relies on the self is a faith that can be easily warped by humanitarianism, various philosophies, and other worldly beliefs. Paul begins his letter to the church with a prayer of thanksgiving and encouragement for them. Verses 4-5 read, “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,” Sincere faith in Christ always manifests in love. Love is the fruit of the Spirit. God is Love. Love is not an empty feeling but is seen, heard, and experienced by those who receive it. The love and community we form with the brethren now is a shadow of the fullness we will experience one day in New Jerusalem. God is keeping it safe for us now as we practice it here on this earth. That faith based on the truth of the Gospel is not a private or stagnant thing. It changes us. It changes others. It affects the world. Verse 6 says it this way. “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,” The truth comes to us. The Holy Spirit allows us to hear it, understand it, and believe it. But we do not hold it covertly to ourselves. We live it overtly. Our lives testify to it. We display it by changing to the image of Christ. We reveal God by bearing the fruit, the traits of Christ, who is Love. And that is ever increasing. It increases day by day within us as we become more of Christ and less of us. He increases as our lives bare out the truth by our change and affect others to hear, understand, and believe the Gospel of Christ. In order to mature, to become more like Christ through the transformation of the Holy Spirit, He continues to teach us. We get to know God more and more. Verses 9-10 read, “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.” The knowledge, wisdom, and understanding we gain doesn’t stay hidden and private. It bears itself out in our walk. The more we know God and the more we know about Him, the more we want to know God and the more we want to please Him by loving others with good works. We change when receive Christ. We are transformed when the Spirit enters us. We are revolutionized when the Father restores us to a relationship with Him. That change is not a private inner change but a public obvious total conversion. It reshapes us. It affects everyone around us. The transformation is not always easy but we are not alone. Often the revolution of our heart involves hardship and pain. But we are not alone through that suffering. And even the way we handle the tribulations we face have influence on the world. Even our travails are not meant to be kept secret. Verses 11-12 encourage us. “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” We can no longer live in the dark of the lies, idolatry, and worldly philosophies. We know there is no “your truth” or “my truth” but THE Truth. The Gospel is one gospel not many. Verses 13-14 read, “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.” Be careful that your relationship with God is not a private one. Intimacy with the Lord is important, but it is not meant to be experienced solely in the closet. Your relationship with God is meant to be lived out loud, all the time, be it in your closet, on the street, in the sanctuary, or in the workplace. Jesus Christ permeates your entire life. The Holy Spirit saturates every part of your being. The Father should be glorified by every aspect of who you are. God is enigmatic to many of the world but He is not a secret to be kept. He is a mystery to be unlocked. You are the key. Your witness reveals God to the world. James Chapter 2 Verses 14-26
Some might try to use these verses in James to say the Bible contradicts itself. That these verses contradict that salvation is a gift of God by grace through Jesus Christ. Scripture makes it clear that salvation is through grace. Grace cannot be earned, otherwise it would not be grace. James is not saying that salvation is by works, he had just finished saying that trying to keep the law at all makes one accountable to the whole law and that we are to speak and act as those judged by the law of liberty. We are supposed to take seriously Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves. (James 2:8-13). Verse 14 reads, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” Does James really mean faith doesn’t save us? Absolutely not. Ephesians 2:8-9 is very clear. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Our works do not save us. What James is saying is that our works demonstrate our faith. Real faith, just like real love is tangible. It is demonstrated by actions. He uses the example of meeting someone in need. Faith as lip service doesn’t do anything for the person. But faith proven by meeting their needs glorifies God to them. Verses 15-17 say, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Our actions do not save us, our actions reveal our spirits. Our behavior says, we belong to God, we believe He will meet every one of our needs, and that we want what God wants. It is through love and faith in action that people will see God and know we belong to Him. How can we show someone our faith without showing them how we have stepped out in faith? I can say to you all day, “I believe in God. I follow Jesus. I am filled with the Spirit.” But without action, there is no proof. I may as well tell you, “I believe in Santa Claus. Buddy the Elf is my mentor, and putting maple syrup in coffee will bring you a happy life.” Just speaking my faith sounds just as ludicrous to the world. Verses 18-19 put it this way, “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” How do we know Abraham had faith? Because he declared it or because he proved it by nearly sacrificing Isaac? He knew God would save Isaac and he obeyed the Lord in that faith. If Rahab had said to the spies in Jericho, “I hope you get out safely! I’m on your side”, but hadn’t hidden them and allowed them to escape her faith would have been worthless. (Verses 20-25). Faith does no one any good if it is not expressed through action. It is by the way we live our lives that people see the power of God. Faith enables someone to give the only money she has to buy a meal for a hungry family. They see the love of God expressed, He is glorified. She knows that God will provide her with her needs even though she no longer has money. That is faith exhibited. To say, “I have faith that God provides all my needs” but then not give her coat to the cold and homeless woman on the corner shows she doesn’t really believe God will take care of her. God will not leave you high and dry. He wants you to do good works for people. He will provide everything you need to be charitable. 2 Corinthians 9:8-12 says it this way, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” Do you believe in God? Good on ya! So do demons. But demons at least exhibit their faith through their fear of the LORD. Is your belief manifested in action? Do people see your faith? Do people receive the fruits of your love? I challenge you today to make your faith plain to people. Ask the Lord for opportunities to express His love through your faith today. Take those opportunities regardless of the cost. God will give you everything you need to be a doer of the word. It may not be financial or material, it may be in using your gifts, or abstaining from something. Whatever it is, be faithful and do what it is God has granted you to do. |
Donna CampbellAs I read the Bible every day, I take what God teaches me, what He says, and write it out. I then share that with you. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Word and I hope that it will encourage you as it does me, to put your love and faith into action. Archives
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