October 7, 2017
Christ Jesus is “all” God and “all” man. This is a paradox, yet precisely what the Bible reveals. As the second person of the “Godhead,” which is the Trinity, He was, and is, absolute and perfect God. All the “fullness” of the essence of God is in Him “bodily.” As the apostle John wrote, “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). Jesus is God in the flesh. When we receive Christ as Savior and Lord, He is the “Head” and we are members of His body. Having received Christ, we are “complete in Him.” There is nothing missing, nothing to be added. So, the apostle Paul argued against the Judaizers, who would require Gentile believers to be circumcised and follow Jewish laws, on this basis. In Christ, believers are “complete.” They are already “circumcised with the circumcision made without hands” (Col. 2:11) because they have been made “complete in Him.”
Dearly beloved, you are complete in Christ!
October 8, 2016
Live with godly wisdom toward those who are outside the faith. Let them see Christ in you. Remember that you were once an “outsider” too, but Christ has brought you near. Be alert for the opportune time to share your faith in Christ with them. There are two Greek words in the Bible for time. One is “chronos,” which refers to chronological or sequential time. The other, which is the word found in our verse today, is “kairos,” which refers to a right moment when things come to a head, an opportune or suitable time. So, live wisely with unbelievers, looking for the “kairos” moment to join God in His redemptive work.
October 4, 2016
This was Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, that they might “walk worthy of the Lord” who had saved them. The Christian life is not a leap nor a sprint, but a “walk.” It is a daily spiritual discipline of denying oneself and following Jesus. With each step we learn to walk in the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of good works and we grow in our study of God’s Word, knowing Him better and better. Putting away the former things and putting on Christ, we walk with a desire to “fully please” the Lord in all things.
November 29, 2015
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Colossians 3:15-17
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discipleship, thankfulness
This past week we celebrated a national holiday called “Thanksgiving.” It is intended for us to celebrate all that we’ve been given and be thankful for our families and for God’s provision. Yet, we often have a hard time with this mark of being Christian. We struggle with ingratitude. We complain. Instead of being thankful, we’re often filled with a heart of ingratitude.In the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he told them that the result of having Jesus as their Lord and Savior was a heart of thanksgiving.
October 7, 2015
Paul said that we are to let the peace of God “rule.” The Greek word for rule is βραβευέτω, brabeuetō. It literally means to “umpire, arbitrate, to let make the call.” When our circumstances appear to overwhelm us, we are to let the peace, the shalom, of Christ act as our umpire, determining what’s in or out of bounds. Letting the peace of Christ umpire our hearts, we don’t let circumstances, nor fleshly emotion rule, we let Christ rule.
October 4, 2015
Paul wrote to the church at Colossae describing their change of spiritual citizenship. Because they had confessed their faith in Christ, the Father transferred them from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. God is still accepting new kingdom citizens today. His Son has already paid the price for our redemption. Yet, just as a new American citizen must take an oath of allegiance to the US constitution, so the one desiring kingdom citizenship must confess faith in Christ.
May 31, 2015
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Colossians 3:12-15
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character, discipleship, fruit of the spirit
Pastor Gary Combs continued our sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23 by helping us understand how to let the peace of Christ rule our lives. This peace comes when we submit to God’s will and allow him to determine our identity, thoughts, will, and relationships with others.
December 28, 2014
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Colossians 2:6-15
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discipleship
Has anyone ever made you feel intellectually inferior for being a Christian? In this sermon, Justin Norden helps us understand how to build our life’s foundation on Christ alone, and how that allows us to be intellectually stimulated and have a consistent world-view.
October 7, 2014
Paul said that we are to let the peace of Christ “rule.” The Greek word for rule is βραβευέτω, brabeuetō. It literally means to “umpire, arbitrate, to let make the call.” When our circumstances appear to overwhelm us, we are to let the peace, the shalom, of Christ act as our umpire, determining what’s in or out of bounds.