A Study of Colossians

The Righteousness of Christ in us, not a religion

Lesson #8

Colossians 3:12 God calls His saints the “elect” it simply means that we are chosen by Him, or (favored). We could event say that as we respond to the message of the grace of God; (the gospel of grace) Acts 20:24 that God selects us out of the world (the counterfeit kingdom) and places us in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Which is a theme of this epistle Colossians 1:13.

Now it is true, what God has done for you and me, cannot be undone. Yet, here we are in all of our natural ways, our characteristics have not changed and neither has our sinful mindset. Our souls are cleansed in the blood of Christ and here we stand as a new recruit in kingdom of Christ and we begin “boot camp” or as God puts it: Salvation Sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, also see 1 Peter 1:2. Sanctification is a, New Lifelong experience in Christ and here in Colossians 3:12-17 we well get our orders of instruction.

As the elect of God: He will (since He sees us as HOLY and BELOVED) train us to put on holy and beloved attributes: Tender mercies: Emotions that show real compassion for those that God brings to you. Kindness: gentle and useful to the people who God. Humbleness of mind: modesty of mind, meaning that when you are face to face with people, that we are not to entertain, selfish thoughts about them. This is the same characteristics of humility. In other words we are to think purely as God would. Meekness: A gentle calm spirit, someone nice to be around. Long suffering: A solid person, one who is standing strong, one who does not give up easily, willing to lead.

Colossians 3:13 This is not a Spiritual wardrobe that is put on, like that armor of righteousness found in Ephesians 6:10-20. This is our new Spiritual Character, it is the Characteristics of Christ in us. These attributes cannot be reproduced in the flesh, these must be the result of God the Holy Spirit outworking in our daily born again life. Notice 1 Thessalonians 4:8 and again 1 Peter 1:2 We have no skill to utilize these apart from the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 3:14 Love no doubt is the hardest attribute for us to understand. Anyone who will allow the Spirit of God express a character of tender mercy; compassion; kindness; gentleness usefulness and modesty of mind will with a calm heart at all cost, be a strong influence. One who can express to others the love of God and the bonding that results to those in need. Notice how the apostle puts it in 2 Peter 1:5-11 or as the apostle Paul puts it in Galatians 6:22-26 and the key verse here is 26.

Colossians 3:15 Peace is that training session that some have said to avoid praying for. Now just the thought of not praying for something that God has given us by way of promise, command or gift of grace, sort of gives a bad rub. Notice; we are challenged to let peace (rule) in our hearts. The thought of ruling peace comes to us with one purpose that will result in two objectives.

One: Peace with God, since we have placed our faith in the message of the gospel. This is very important for us to understand. Because we have experienced salvation by faith in Christ, we have peace with God. God does not get upset or all emotional over the circumstances that come our way. Salvation Justification is Peace with God. This is a personal sustainable peace for you and I to use daily.

Two: Peace of God, this is the same peace as the peace we have with God, but it is it is the operational part of our character. The peace of God covers every and all circumstances that comes our way. All of the trials and temptations that happen are to be met with the sustainable peace we have of God and the operational peace we demonstrate with God. Philippians 4:6-7. This peace is part of our spiritual warfare clothing. Ephesians 6:15, we cannot be a witness of salvation justification or sanctification to anyone if we do not have on the shoes of peace.

Colossians 3:16 Before going any further: The attributes of being sanctified in Christ is the Character of the New Man or woman that God is training us in. It is called in other places of scripture, training or instruction in Righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 for example. Training does not come to us as a gift, but all of the attributes of the New Man are given, notice what the apostle Peter says again in 2 Peter 1:5-11. So we are to allow the word of God have it's proper abiding place in our soul. Our life is no longer a life of unrest, unloving and having no peace.

Now we should present our bodies as a living holy sacrifice to God and to the world around us. What does that look like? TEACHING, ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN HEARTS TO THE LORD. Also see Philippians 4:8-9

Colossians 3:17 I can't do that some of us may say, I'll look weird and no one will want to hang with me. Well, this is not always the case, some friends may go away but not all of them. Also, you will gain other friends. It is God who brings us people to relate with and all of them need to see that what you do you do in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. He is LORD and you being dressed out in His Character is what those around us should see. A heart of THANSGIVING is a heart that the Father is using to glorify His Son.

The Devotional

Papa “J” and his thoughts?

What, are we troubled over unrest in our families and country? Are we having trouble with our bordering neighbors? Do we play the harlot with the righteousness of God? Maybe as a nation we are wicked. Proverbs 11:8-9

Many years ago while serving in the military our ship visited Barcelona Spain. At the time Spain was under the control of the dictator, Francisco Franco. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia: (After the end of World War II, Franco maintained his control in Spain through the implementation of severe measures: the systematic suppression of dissident views through censorship and coercion,[4][5] the imprisonment of ideological enemies in concentration camps throughout the country (such as Los Merinales in Seville, San Marcos in León, Castuera in Extremadura, and Miranda de Ebro),[6] the implementation of forced labor in prisons,[7] and the use of the death penalty and heavy prison sentences as deterrents for his ideological enemies). This heavy burden of suppression was very visible. In the pictures on buildings, or in the public town squares. Actually, there was a disturbing or clinical peace. Everything including trash cans, placed out for morning pickup were uniformly arranged. One large can for trash and a smaller one for recycles. The visible signs of dictator or dissident control was were plainly seen on the faces of all the citizens. A failure over the simplest public law could invoke death or heavy fine, such as; if the trash can was out of sync with the others on the block. Could it be possible that we as a people of the United States of America are heading for a good dose of dictatorship after the probable failure of a socialistic government? Proverbs 24:30-34

HEBREWS

Hebrews 7:1 Melchizedek, now there is a hard name to pronounce! But like the words; Jehovah or Elohim, Messiah or Jesus – if you are just seeing these words for the first time, pronunciation can be a chore. The Old Testament uniqueness of the name of this High Priest is; king of wealth, royalty, righteousness and king of the high one.

In the New Testament this king and priest carries the same credentials. As a real individual in the Old Testament who all the leaders of all nations bow down too, we must ask ourselves a very important question. Why is there such little information to describe him other than a king of righteousness and peace? The answer: The world does not comprehend righteousness or peace.

As we look into the life of such a Person we will see that there is only one Holy nation of people who see this Man that holds the office of Priest and King. He is also “that Prophet” whom the world around us refuses to know. Jesus Christ is that Person. Jesus Christ not only showed up in the world as a baby, two thousand years ago, He has been around forever. He is God!

John 7:40; Hebrews 6:20 and Revelation 17:14 or 19:16 His Saints Know Him, they are His Kingdom of priests who spread His Righteousness and Peace. Matthew 28:19-20.

The Devotional

Papa “J” and his thoughts?

Have you ever thought about it? Are we not, with each moment of time, looking to be delivered? Delivered from what? It is the soul that cries out to the Living God to be delivered from the bondage of time, seeking it's place in Eternity. Where will you spend yours? Proverbs 11:6-7

People from all over respond to this daily blog, they often say pleasant things and for that I praise the LORD and thank Him for His Word which I love. Once in a while someone will ask a question, like. “How do I apply this to my life?” The passage of scripture that I will focus on to answer this question is one about fasting; Matthew 9:14-17. I believe that the answer Jesus gives to this question solves the concern of many who try on the clothing of God to see if it fits. John's disciples got the message clear and I hope you do too. If you are friend of the Bridegroom it would be odd for you to be dressed in His clothing and some would call you an impostor or pretender. (This fasting statement of Jesus identifies religion. Religion is nothing more that mankind apply themselves to the Holiness of God). Now, go ahead, look at the following passages in Matthew 9:18-26. If You lay your hand on my daughter she will be healed, If I but touch His garment I will be healed, so it is not what I might do to please God. It is what the Power of God can do for us through our expression of faith toward Him. Our lives are dead to the grace of God. Ephesians 2:1-10.

Hebrews

Hebrews 6:13-20 Did you ever consider that it is impossible for Jesus Christ to fail any promise or challenge of scripture. A general search of scripture will reveal that God's word is “ amen”. So just what does amen mean? And of course, I am so glad you asked? Amen means “Trustworthy” and this means that you can believe in Jesus who will not fail.

People who hang out in this truth often look to the world as failures or vagabonds, like Abraham or Lot, since Abraham received blessing while Lot received cursing. The result from this human viewpoint! God's chosen people look like a “Lot of Ham” Even among the people of God the Israelites look like failures, but scripture teaches us that it is not by power or by might, but by My Spirit, says the LORD. Zechariah 4:6 and John 16:13

So the Oath (The spoken Word) and the Truth (The Holy Spirit) are all the evidence that one ever needs to rely on the promises and challenges of God. Jesus Christ is the One who has gone ahead of us. The LAMB at the Right hand of Throne of God, is our Great High Priest. We can safely say that the sacrifice of God, was, is and will always be the Chief Comptroller over the personal accounts of man. Revelation 22:12-17. We will see more of this in Melchizedek.

The Devotional

Papa “J” and his thoughts?

From a casual glance it would appear that good and evil have walked, hand in hand throughout time. But the Word of God says plainly that this is not true since one is real and the other is counterfeit. Which kingdom do you live in? You do know the answer! Proverbs 11:5

Hebrews

Hebrews 6:9-12 What peace it is to move into this portion of the devotional. Here we have opportunity to talk with Jesus Christ. We speak sternly at times. I like to think of myself being deep inside the Word of God and coming up to periscope depth once in a while to see what is going on in the world around me. I recommend this to you since the writer here say that he is confident of better things for us who are saved.

What are some of the things that travel along side the saint of God as he or she walks toward the city whose builder and maker is God? Our labors of love in His Name are not forgotten. We minister to our brothers and sister in Christ and they in turn minister to us. Being diligent to serve the LORD increases our assurance and hope endures to the end. These things may not seem important, but are; most important!

Notice; If we are not seeking these better things that Christ deems important, then our walk with the LORD will become like the lazy person found in many passage of the Book of Proverbs; for example; Proverbs 26:13-16. God has provided many witnesses of the past to follow who through faith and patience. As they matured spiritually they learned to rely on the inherited promises of God, this is the same challenge for you and me. That these promises are far greater in value of any riches to be gained or offered by this world. Matthew 4:1-11.

The Devotional

Papa “J” and his thoughts?

The campaign manager says; “send money” and our candidate will be a leader for freedom and lower taxes. But God will over rule, it is the righteous prayer of the faithful that delivers us from a dying nation. Proverbs 11:4 Our money perishes and so do we!

The battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, Tecumseh the Indian warrior and William Henry Harrison, the final battle of a sixty year war. The Indian seeking to defend his land from being overrun by the “paleface”. There are few if any children playing “Cowboys and Indians” these days, it is politically incorrect as a parent to let your child play this game. It is more humane to let them become obese and expert in video games of a different war. Also, the movies of these two cultures, the Indian and Paleface fighting one another has faded away and we say, that's progress. The question: Does history repeat itself? The Indian gave up. Now, we the people of the United States have a similar battle of sixty, plus or minus years. Around 1950 someone said, “It is a violation of the separation of Church and State to have the Ten Commandments displayed in our public schools” and the Word of God is ripped out of the minds of our young people. Thus the steady regression of what once made the citizens of the United States of America – full of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness began eroding. Soon, with God's Law removed from the minds of our young adults, came the erosion of our civil laws which govern the nation. Killing babes through abortion. Young people allowing drugs to warp their mindsets, rebellion on the college campus and on the streets, civil laws stripped out of our local states for more federal control, children killing children and committing suicide, the erosion of our U.S. Constitution. Like Tecumseh, we will see the end result. History 101 is about to become – History 101.1 (James 4:13-17)

Hebrews

Hebrews 6:1-8 There is a similar battle that rages in our churches these days. God would have us to advance in His kingdom which can only be real to Him and us through the wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Spirit in saints working through our churches. Spiritual warfare has caused many godly churches to fall into three categories. Liberalists, legalists and logos-ist (logos is Greek for WORD).

As a result, many churches today need a bit of refreshment, John 4:10. We need churches that are alive in the Spirit. Maturing God's saints spiritually is the work God has placed on the church. (Acts 6:1-7). My sense of things is that we have fallen back to the basics of the gospel (repentance, faith, baptism, spiritualism, resurrections and judgment).

The church is not a ministry to the unsaved or the seekers. The truth is no one seeks after God, how easy it is for us to forget scripture when trying to push our own agenda. Romans 3:9-20 and the various Psalms that say the same thing like Psalm 14:1-3. We simply cannot expect God to move a church that has fallen from grace. Grace moves saints, seekers are not saints thus they sit in religious circles talking about politics and such, they do not mature spiritually and they do not step outside of their safe religious environment. John 13:12-20. See verse 17.