The Colossians were established and growing in their faith (v. 1:4 NASB) “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints”. Paul wanted their faith increase and to please God in all aspects of their life (v. 1:10 NASB) “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please {Him} in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”. One key element of the knowledge of God is that Christ is the center. He created all things, the one whom we have redemption through, image of God, first to resurrect from the dead (with heavenly body), the body of the church, etc. Christ should be center to our redemptive lives, just as he ranks first in all created things. The whole message of the Gospel (“Good News”) is that it was all done so that we can share in the inheritance of Christ and be united with our Creator.
Now that we have the knowledge of salvation and who Christ is, what is our purpose? What is the focus and meaning of our lives? Paul’s purpose was to be a minister of the church and carry out the preaching of the gospel whenever and wherever possible. If we understand the reality that we exist only because God willed it so, and understand that we are saved only because of Christ, then our life should reflect dedication to those that created and saved us.
Even though God’s provided salvation complete without needing to add to it, we tend to add our human effort part to it. Christ’s sacrifice has provided atonement for “all our transgressions”. Because of Christ “you have been made complete”. We must move forward with the understanding that we can’t add to our salvation. Now we can live our life proclaiming our salvation.
But don’t we contribute our human effort in serving Christ after being saved? Yes, but we must check our motives. Are we doing this to better ourselves and trying to further enhance our salvation or are we doing it from a heart of love for God? What pleases God? We see its (Ps. 51:16-17 NASB) “For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
So even though we are completed saved from sin and we perform service to God from the heart, we still sin, why do we do that? We need to set our mind on the things above, and understand that our old self has died with Christ. The old self died with all of its earthly passions, (Rom 6:18 NASB) “having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness”
We are to live in unity with our immediate and extended (body of believers) family of God. We are to do this with love because love “is the perfect bond of unity” In fact, all that we do “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” We are to have the word’s of Christ richly dwell within us. This aids us in serving one another. Paul focuses from the extended church family to the family unit. He identifies God’s design of Christ being the head of the husband, then husband to wife and then child to father and mother. He also outlines slaves to owners. Just as Christ was submission to God’s will, so we are to follow God’s design within the family. Husbands are to lead and give up of our lives for our family. Wives are to support the husbands lead. Children are to obey the parents lead and direction. Slaves to be serve their masters as Christ served the church.
Paul focuses on prayer. Prayer reveals the heart of an individual. We see Paul’s heart was to further preach the gospel. What is our heart-felt prayer? Do we want God’s will to be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven? Do we ask God what part can we do to further His will while we are on earth? We know that (Matt 6:12) “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
We are to live wisely towards non-believers. Our speech should be gracious and our life as though we are preaching the gospel. Our lives should reflect a life lived that is following Christ.
Are we partnering with others for that growth of the church? Do we feel a part of the body of Christ for reaching the world? Are we making disciples within the church or are we making programs? We are missing the one-on-one accountability with our church today. Can we say that we or of our fellow local church believers “they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God”? Are we accountable to others for our growth of a Christian? Are we close enough to support the statement “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”? Discipleship is deteriorating.
Now that we have the knowledge of salvation and who Christ is, what is our purpose? What is the focus and meaning of our lives? Paul’s purpose was to be a minister of the church and carry out the preaching of the gospel whenever and wherever possible. If we understand the reality that we exist only because God willed it so, and understand that we are saved only because of Christ, then our life should reflect dedication to those that created and saved us.
Even though God’s provided salvation complete without needing to add to it, we tend to add our human effort part to it. Christ’s sacrifice has provided atonement for “all our transgressions”. Because of Christ “you have been made complete”. We must move forward with the understanding that we can’t add to our salvation. Now we can live our life proclaiming our salvation.
But don’t we contribute our human effort in serving Christ after being saved? Yes, but we must check our motives. Are we doing this to better ourselves and trying to further enhance our salvation or are we doing it from a heart of love for God? What pleases God? We see its (Ps. 51:16-17 NASB) “For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
So even though we are completed saved from sin and we perform service to God from the heart, we still sin, why do we do that? We need to set our mind on the things above, and understand that our old self has died with Christ. The old self died with all of its earthly passions, (Rom 6:18 NASB) “having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness”
We are to live in unity with our immediate and extended (body of believers) family of God. We are to do this with love because love “is the perfect bond of unity” In fact, all that we do “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” We are to have the word’s of Christ richly dwell within us. This aids us in serving one another. Paul focuses from the extended church family to the family unit. He identifies God’s design of Christ being the head of the husband, then husband to wife and then child to father and mother. He also outlines slaves to owners. Just as Christ was submission to God’s will, so we are to follow God’s design within the family. Husbands are to lead and give up of our lives for our family. Wives are to support the husbands lead. Children are to obey the parents lead and direction. Slaves to be serve their masters as Christ served the church.
Paul focuses on prayer. Prayer reveals the heart of an individual. We see Paul’s heart was to further preach the gospel. What is our heart-felt prayer? Do we want God’s will to be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven? Do we ask God what part can we do to further His will while we are on earth? We know that (Matt 6:12) “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
We are to live wisely towards non-believers. Our speech should be gracious and our life as though we are preaching the gospel. Our lives should reflect a life lived that is following Christ.
Are we partnering with others for that growth of the church? Do we feel a part of the body of Christ for reaching the world? Are we making disciples within the church or are we making programs? We are missing the one-on-one accountability with our church today. Can we say that we or of our fellow local church believers “they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God”? Are we accountable to others for our growth of a Christian? Are we close enough to support the statement “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”? Discipleship is deteriorating.
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