God’s Plan is to Bless His Children

November 26, 2017November 26, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

God’s Plan for Blessing His Children

Book of Ephesians Chapter 1:1-12

The Apostle Paul always reminds us that he was living and acting under the control of a power from on high. The Divine will of God!
In fact, to share Paul’s beliefs is the means of a strong and effective Christian life!

We will notice also that by the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew, these letters, these epistles, were not just intended for these Churches of his day but, to all Christians everywhere and in all the ages until the return of Jesus Christ.

In fact, the Apostle Paul was part of God’s plan for blessing His children!

Paul was writing to the faithful in Christ Jesus, all the Saints of God in all ages!

This will not change in this epistle to the Ephesians.

The Book of Ephesians reveals to us a deeper knowledge into the “grace” of God!

The Book of Ephesians will also give us another look at God’s plan for this world.

Let’s begin:

*****Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are not only to be “saints”, which is clearly misunderstood in our world, but also the “faithful”. We are to be faithful saints!

To be faithful is to obey the truth of Jehovah God. This means all the Word of God and not bits and pieces that we choose to obey!

Isa 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Who then are the faithful?

First there is Jehovah God.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

God is faithful in His love and He will be just as faithful in His wrath.

Next there is the Lord.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So, then we as the saints of God are also to be faithful.

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We cannot be in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, without being faithful to the things of our Father in Heaven!

No one can live in God without being a channel for God, by Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s “Grace” poured out onto this world we live in!

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2Co 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

If you need a blessing from God, then you better know His Son in a personal way! Amen and Amen!

*****Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

What is God’s greatest blessing? It is when God can bestow His blessings upon His children!

God will allow some earthly blessings to those who know His Son, but God’s greatest blessings are spiritual and heavenly and not of this world!

Before we go any further we need to know the word “Grace”.

What is “Grace” in the Word of God?

1) The “Gospel” is the “Grace of God.

Act_20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

2) The application of the “Gospel” and it’s saving power to our lives is also the “Grace” of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

3) Everything that comes by Jesus Christ is the “Grace” of God!

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

4) Grace then is certainly the unmerited favor of God!

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

“God’s Riches at Christ Expense”.

Before Jesus Christ came into this world, God did bless His people with material things. Abraham received land, wealth, and fame.

These are still the same things all the world seeks after today!

We know that as Israel first grew it misused and hoarded up these things refusing to share even amongst themselves and certainly not with any other nations.

These things always go against the will of God and Israel was warned many times and then punished many times.

The great change when the Lord Jesus Christ came, is that God deals with mankind in spiritual things with spiritual blessings.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

It should be obvious that spiritual blessings can only come by the Holy Spirit!

It is the Holy Spirit who is the major force in our world against evil!

It is also the Holy Spirit who brings forth the act of salvation to the believer! (We call this Holy Ghost conviction)

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

So, let’s look at this word “chosen”.

*****Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

We can only come to one conclusion as we read this Scripture. God chooses only those who are in Jesus Christ!

Without Jesus Christ you cannot be the “chosen” of God! (let this sink in)

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you”.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

God wants us to be with Him. God has wanted us to be with Him since before He laid the foundations of this universe!

Why did God create mankind, the answer is right here in His words?

We can only be holy and without blame, by embracing the righteousness of Christ, because we have no righteousness of our ourselves and then we must be endowed with the Holy Spirit.

This is our only means of being blameless! Amen

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

When God first created all things, we should notice though things were good and some even very good, not one of them was perfect.

In the end, when the Lord returns to claim His church, when we meet Him in the clouds, we will have finally reached perfection!

Our perfection can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

Because we are chosen to be made perfect through Jesus Christ we are hated by this imperfect world!

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

So, let’s look at that word “predestinate”.

*****Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

According to Calvinism, God calls only those He has predestined to eternal life ( our own choice is not involved). He renews their spirit (Not the Holy Spirit moves into, not sealed with the Holy Spirit) and then draws only those to Jesus Christ, so in this way salvation is entirely by “grace”.
A free gift to only those God has selected Himself as He created them. This is a false belief and therefore a false doctrine!

They believe, God then justifies just these believers, declares them righteous (not the righteousness of the Lord Jesus) and adopts them into His family and sanctifies them. (this is a false belief)

They believe, saving faith, is a gift of Christ Jesus. Repentance is a doctrine to preached along with faith. Good works are the fruit of true faith. (this is a false belief)

What then is the truth?

The truth is, God has not determined that just certain ones will be saved and the remaining will abandoned to the Lake of Fire!

God has determined that only those who have(chosen) and (accepted), “by faith”, in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will be saved and all those who reject the work of the Lord Jesus Christ will be destroyed!

God would not be God if He specifically chose certain ones for salvation and certain ones for damnation!

God has given this choice to us to make freely only after knowing the truth!

The truth is, God calls, and we are the ones who must make the choice!

Therefore, the church is the “Elect”, those who have elected to place their faith in the work and the promises of Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures say, we are predestined but only by Jesus Christ to Himself!

The Scriptures say, we have no righteousness of our own,(our righteousness is as filthy rags) we must be seen as having the righteousness of Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Savior!

It is Jesus Christ who will present His “bride” to His Father in Heaven.

It was not God who prearranged this marriage contract with those that He chose!

Jesus Christ did not just die for the few believers, Jesus Christ died for all the sin in all the world, past, present and future!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

None of these Scriptures in this passage of John point toward Calvinism, in fact these Scriptures destroy Calvinism!

God has only chosen those who have accepted “His” Son and are filled with “His” Spirit!

It is only these who are adopted in the family of God, having been removed from the family of Satan, that are the “Bride of Christ”.

Being adopted, we then have direct access to the throne room of God.

It is only the believer who will become an adopted brother or sister to Jesus Christ with freedom to enter in the Heavenly Mansion of God!

God is so full of “Grace” that it is over flowing, but it is only by Jesus Christ that this “Grace” can be applied to the believer!

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

God’s “Grace” is in fact His glorious free love for His Son and those of His Son.
God has accepted each believer who is washed in the blood of His Dear Son, He loves so much!

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

*****Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Those that cringe when they hear the word blood, should not forget that it is through the death of Jesus Christ, who shed all His blood, just so we who believe could be saved. It is the beloved who are saved!

We were slaves in bondage to Satan who directed us according to his will.

We were unable to redeem ourselves to buy our freedom from him because it would lead to eternal separation from God, our Creator.

In the time of the Scriptures, a kinsman could redeem a member of his family if he was able to pay the debt that was owed.

We know the wages of sin is death. The Lord Jesus Christ claimed the right of the kinsman redeemer and paid the debt, which was His own death that we all can be free from the bondage of Satan.

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

We are redeemed from the guilt and the power of sin through the blood of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We have been forgiven all the sin we have ever had in our lives and forgiven from all future sin until the day God calls us home!

Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

We can see that the only thing that may exceed or at least match the “Grace” of God is the “Mercy” of God!

*****Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

We must understand that we cannot be saved unless we are called. (Holy Ghost conviction)

This the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then freely gives us enough wisdom and prudence to understand God’s process of salvation.

It is only at this time when we have enough knowledge to make a right choice!

Prudence is the ability of judging what is the best choice.
Prudence is conforming to the rules of reason, truth and morality.
Prudence says, being blessed of God can come only by faith in the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

Those who have Spiritual wisdom are in the habit of being prudent!
Those who have worldly wisdom will usually make the wrong choice.

Therefore, it is so important to openly show or teach the word of the “Gospel” to those under Holy Ghost conviction!

God will give us enough understanding to know what to do.

Rom_12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

If not for this measure of faith we would never understand the mystery of God’s will!

What is God’s will? (It is certainly not what the Calvinist teach)

1Ti_2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

God will make this little mystery known before we make our choice.

*****Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

We should understand when we see the word mystery in the Scriptures, it will not be something mysterious and difficult to understand.

A mystery in the Scriptures is just something God did not show to the Old Testament Saints.

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

We already know that God is always on time, when the time came to unlock the truth that He was ready to reveal to humanity.

We know that Israel had rejected the idea that Jehovah would also be the God of Gentiles, so God put Israel aside until the fulness of the Gentiles would come to Him in what we call the “Church Age”.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

After the rapture of the Church God will return to deal with the salvation of Israel.

Israel had missed the first opportunity to know the redemption of Christ and we should be aware, that the cause of this was the false ministry of the leaders of Judaism of that day.

It is God’s will that everyone will be saved! This has not been the case of the past and will not be the case in the future.

There will always be those who reject the truth of God!

Jehovah God has an eternal purpose and plan for this world and it is His good pleasure to bring it about.

Why do we have so many that teach the Scriptures by dispensation? Verse 10

*****Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Some say the method according to which God carries out His purpose towards man is called a dispensation.

Others say God’s method of carrying His purpose is by His covenants.

The key to dispensation is maintaining a consistency in literal interpretation and maintaining a distinction between Israel and the Church.

The truth is, God has set seasons in which He will accomplish His will and His purpose!

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

God has certainly appointed seasons of His will and purpose, just as He has appointed the Summer, the Winter, the Fall, and the Spring of each year.

God has an eternal purpose and plan for this world and He moves at His own pleasure and His own time.

God designs time as He sees fit to fulfill His purpose!

We are foolish to believe that God waits too long for certain things to take place!

We may totally understand the Word of God, but we will never know the seasons which He chooses to keep to Himself!

We must learn to be patient!

The truth is, there is coming a day when God will gather in one, all things in Christ Jesus!

Though “the rapture of the church” is a small part of this gathering, this is not speaking of the “Rapture” which will have already taken place.

Through the ”Gospel” we are first gathered individually and united with God through His Son.
God next gathers those individuals at His own pleasure, whether it be by age, or illness, or other means.
At the Rapture, God will gather all the “Body of Christ” that remain at His coming.
In the Millennial Kingdom, Christ will gather those who remain after the 7 years of Tribulation upon this earth.
At the end of this 1000 years, the fulness of time upon this earth, God will gather all things in Heaven and on this earth and place them in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

There will certainly be a climax to this world we live upon now!

Rev_21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

All these things will be gathered in Jesus Christ!

This world simply refuses to believe that world history lies in the hands of our Righteous God!

In this Scripture that word “dispensation” means stewardship, or better understood “house-management”.

We must realize that God has placed into the hands of Jesus Christ, the management of God’s Spiritual Household!

1Pe_2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Our entire Cosmos, God’s creation, is as a house under the management of God and God has placed all these things into the hands of Jesus Christ!

When death and Hell have been removed and evil will be no more, a new and perfect world will be established for the Lord Jesus Christ and all His followers!

It is the Lords “spiritual house”, the Holy Ghost filled children of God who will join with the angels who elected to stay with Christ who will move on into an entirely new creation!

Until this time we are to go about the work God has given us to do through Christ!

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

We are all missionaries, if not one of these, for the work of the ministry!

*****Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

God lives in the eternal world, which we call Heaven and even Heaven will be made new.

God took only 6 days to create the heavens and the earth that now exist but what did Jesus say?

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

How wonderful will this new place be?

1Co_2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

We know that only God knows what we need for a life in eternity, so God foreordained what He would do, for those who had the faith to believe in His Son.

God has made each believer to be His own son or His own daughter and His own most cherished possession, (His jewels).

So, we must also realize that our everlasting joy is a free gift of God.

Certainly, God will always be God, but the New Heaven and the New Earth will be created for the pleasure of each believer.

Just as a father should for their own children, God has implied that He will protect, care for, improve and enjoy His inheritance as much as we will enjoy being with Him throughout eternity! Amen

The New Heaven and the New Earth will be perfect because a perfect God will have made all things perfect even the believer!

God does things as He pleases, and it has pleased God to do these things!

Who can we obtain such an inheritance?

Mar_12:30 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.

Those who can love the Lord in this manner!

It’s called “faith”!

It is only by “faith” that we can believe!

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Amen!

Walking in the Wisdom of God

November 19, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Increasing in Knowledge by Walking in Wisdom

Book of Colossians Chapter 4

Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge according to the Webster dictionary.

It can also be said that Wisdom is the opposite of “philosophy”.

The absolute truth of wisdom is that wisdom is one of the names of Jesus Christ the Messiah!

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, “Christ the power of God, and “the wisdom” of God”.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, “who of God is made unto us wisdom”, and “righteousness”, and “sanctification”, and “redemption”:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

In other words, who are those who are wise? Those who have chosen Jesus Christ!

If we are walking in the truth of the Lord, we are walking in wisdom!

If we lack any other wisdom, we need only to ask the Lord in a prayer of faith.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith,

We should always be growing in wisdom as we grow in the knowledge of the Lord!

Let’s begin:

*****Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Col 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

We must always remember, prayer can move the hand of God if it is a prayer of faith and in the will of God, but every prayer should begin with thanksgiving for what God has already done, and this only after acknowledging the Almighty God, our Heavenly Father.

We are also to keep watch and be aware of the times we are in, according to prophecy.

We are in the Church Age yes, but we must be aware of the times and the seasons!

Most important of all, we are to “continue” our walk with our Lord!

We must pray for our local church, but also for all the “Body of Christ”!

We should prayer for others, but we should also desire that others would pray for us. This is what the “Body of Christ” is all about!

We must also pray for the lost! The more we pray for the lost, we will realize they are in great danger of the wrath of God and are in need of salvation. We do not have the power to save them, but we do have the knowledge to lead them to Jesus who can save anyone at any time, and anywhere!

We should also pray for the missionaries, that God would provide their needs, provide fruit for their labor, but also that God would open new doors for the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

If the Holy Spirit is working prior to the arrival of the missionary, souls will be saved!

God will never send a missionary to a place, He has not already sent the Holy Spirit!!!!!!

We must certainly pray for our Pastors!

We should pray that they should always have liberty to preach the “Gospel”.
We should pray that our pastor has many opportunities to preach the Gospel.
We should pray that our pastor be filled with the Holy Spirit of power.
We should pray that our pastor is free to preach the whole counsel of God without rebuke.
We should pray that our pastor is on fire for God.
We should pray that God would keep them healthy!

Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: “for they watch for your souls”, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

SO, it is only those who have moved on from “babes in Christ” to true disciples who can walk in the wisdom of the Lord!

*****Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Our greatest witnessing tool, is the way we live out our lives before others, not just other brothers and sisters in Christ but, also before the lost of this world.

Christianity is a daily walk!
Christianity is a life shaped and controlled by the Lord who is our true “Wisdom”!
Christianity is a life that by itself is instructive to those who are lost!

A lot of things could be said about “redeeming the time” but in a true sense, the Holy Spirit means to make the best use of our time after we know we are the redeemed of the Lord. (I know I fail in this things myself)

We are to walk wisely because the truth is, we are certainly in the army of God but, we are always walking in the enemies’ territory.

Our greatest attempt should be for us to be ambassadors for Christ. Remember ambassadors are sent from a foreign land to improve the relations beteen countries. We are only pilgrims in this world for our home is in Heaven!

We are certainly to be standfast for the Lord, and unmovable in the ways of Jesus Christ!

Our speech must always be with “grace”!

We know that “Grace” is the unmerited favor of God and this must be instilled in us so that when we speak to the lost, we are to understand that they also must see this unmerited favor of the Lord through our actions and speech toward them.

Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

We will always get better results if we do not first offend those we are seeking to lead to the Lord!

A good thought is this: “these we are witnessing to already know how to be lost, what they do not know is how to be saved”.

Our speech must be well seasoned with the same “grace” that Lord offered to each of us!

Pro_11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

We must remember that the key to be a good witness is to “walk wisely” in your own life!

We must also understand we do not seek to understand the sinful ways of the lost, we come to show them the godly ways of the Christian.

We must also realize that evil company can be infectious!

Psa 106:35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

We do not have to needlessly expose ourselves to ridicule!

Amo 5:13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Remember as a Christian we are God’s “jewel” and we should always be radiant before the eyes of others!

If those who are lost do not see a difference in your life as compared to their own, they will never see a reason to seek the Lord!

And now Paul begins to close out this great epistle.

*****Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
Col 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

We will see as Paul closes out this epistle a great list of Christians who traveled with Paul at one time or another and who were all concerned about this church and the false teaching that had entered into this church.

This what we have to do with those who would teach a false doctrine. We must gather against them with the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul begins with Tychicus.

Some may say who is this Tychicus, but Tychicus traveled greatly with the Apostle Paul. He was a native of Asia and you can find his name in the Book of Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus and the Book of Acts.

Act 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Tychicus was so full of Jesus Christ that he could go anywhere at any time and fill in for any pastor and be welcomed.

Tychicus actually delivered the epistles of Paul to the Ephesians, the Colossians, and Philemon.

He would go on special missions for Paul. He even went to the island of Crete and gave Titus a much-needed rest.

He was not only a beloved brother in the ministry, not only a faithful minister of the Gospel, but Paul said he was a fellow-slave to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Next was Onesimus:

*****Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

We know Onesimus as the escaped slave of Philemon who after meeting the Apostle Paul, realized after he was saved that he needed to return to his owner and face the consequences for the things he had done, and he did.

He also became a beloved brother in Christ to Paul and many others.

Onesimus became a brother to all the brothers in the church in Philemon’s house. We should point out that there are never to be any social distinctions in the church.

A slave can sit on the same pew as the king!

We should also note that, it is very possible that there were others in this church that owned slaves and who also witnessed these things.

The poorest person is to be just as welcome and loved as the richest person.

And we should never forget how the Lord measures the tithe!

Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luk 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

You might say well we would have a better building program with the rich, but the truth is, we can have a better blessing program with those like this poor woman this day observed by Jesus Christ, but the church must remain open to both, so we can learn all these lessons that Christ Jesus points out to us.

I will say it again, every step Jesus took, and every word Jesus spoke are great lessons for us all to learn!

Next was Aristarchus.

*****Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Aristarchus was a Macedonian of Thessalonica.

He was one of the Christians attacked by that mob of Ephesus.

Remember these Christians were not so much attacked for preaching the Word of God as they were attacked because a union of silversmiths and metalworkers who had stirred up the city because they were losing the business of supplying idols made for the worship of the goddess Diana.

Aristarchus was a fellow prisoner of Paul while he was in Rome.

This man stood by his beliefs even if it cost him his life. He also stood side by side with all other Christians and he would never desert his brothers and sisters in Christ.

We need more such men as Aristarchus today.

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Almost everyone remembers John Mark (Marcus) in this Scripture.

Everyone remembers how Mark got off to a bad start.

Act 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Mark was a Jew and the son of one of the many Marys that had followed Jesus.

Act 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

This was the house that was praying for Peter and it was Peter who led Mark to the Lord for his salvation.

Mark joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but it seems he may have been just too young to step out into this evil world.

Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Notice it was just after this event that Mark went back to Jerusalem.

There are many things in this world that would scare a “Babe in Christ” where the mature Christian would withstand.

Act 13:13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

We should also understand if you have not been called of God to the missionary field then, it is very hard to be of much use.

The Holy Spirit had called Barnabas and Paul, but Mark needed to grow stronger in the Lord, so his faith would not fade, and he did.

Mark later joined Barnabas when He and Paul felt they could cover more ground if they split up.

Mark had rebuilt his reputation and had become very useful not only to Paul but also to the Lord in the ministry.

2Ti 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Paul wanted these Colossians to know this thing. Marcus was to be received as a child of God and a very valuable member of Paul’s team of missionaries.

Paul even had a man named Jesus, who was called Justus so there would be no confusion!

*****Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

The name Jesus was a popular name but as a missionary it would cause confusion because the Lord Jesus had certainly raised from the dead.

Justus was another Jew from Rome who had turned to Jesus Christ.

The Jews in Rome were strict religionist so not many of them were saved.

Act 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Act 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
Act 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

This was the final turning point for Paul to spend his time and effort on the Gentiles and the epistles began to flow from his hand and others, all inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I believe this is also why wrote the Book of Romans, also inspired by the Holy Spirit, but a place so full of the world and of evil and immorality!

Justice had remained with Paul in Rome until the very last.

It is time to note that the Jewish people are so full of religion that they struggle just as these Roman Jews had done.

Religion is not a manner of salvation!

Religion cannot make anyone acceptable to God, because only Jesus Christ can do this thing!

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Pharisees were the most religious of all Jews!

Paul wrote of these Jews so full of religion in the Book of Romans:

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

We see much of this still around today, not only the Jews but in many others who say they are religious.

We can also see many Christian churches so full of religion they have forgotten the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul moves on to Epaphras.

*****Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Col 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

So far, all the names mentioned have all been Jews who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul had this phrase he used that he always adhered to.

Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom_2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

Epaphras was the pastor to this church at Colossae and he had gone to Rome to get Paul’s advice on how best to handle the false teaching that was going on in his church.

Epaphras was a faithful minister, a faithful servant, and a fellow servant of all these things to Jesus Christ.

Epaphras was so committed and so dedicated to take the Gospel to the Gentiles that Paul called him his fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus!

This pastor reminds me of our own pastor, he did everything he could, even toiling in prayer for the members of his church.

Of course, the church belongs to Jesus Christ and Epaphras knew this also.

Epaphras prayed that above all, this church would come to know the complete will of God and then do it perfectly!

This should also be a prayer for our own church! We already know the revealed will of God, so this prayer is for something special!

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Epaphras worked hard, not only for his own church but for all the surrounding churches. (Laodicea, Hierapolis)

And everyone loved Luke.

*****Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Luke was also a Gentile Christian and he was not one of the apostles as many think.

Most everyone knows that the Apostle Paul has more books of the New Testament accredited to him, the next being the Apostle John.

Luke is accredited with the Book of Acts and the Book of Luke and Luke wrote more words that the apostle Paul, though it is the message that is most important and not the number of words and Luke has a great message.

The thing we must always remember is that the Lord says all Scripture is profitable for us!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

No one’s writings are of anymore importance than the next because we need the to complete Word of God to have the greatest understanding of our Father in Heaven, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Luke was a missionary and evangelist himself and very valuable to Paul but maybe his greatest act to Paul, was that as a physician, he kept the apostle Paul going all those years.

I also personally believe that it was Luke who penned the words to the Book of Hebrews as Paul dictated them to him.

Luke was not an eye witness to the gospel events, but he did investigate these events from those who were eyewitnesses. so, we can see how accurate the Gospel’s really are when we compare them.

Then we have Demas:

Demas traveled with Paul for some period of time and was dedicated to the Lord for that period of time but what is remembered of this man is that he later turns his back on the Lord.

This is a life of tragedy because our walk with the Lord is to be daily walk.

He was a fellow laborer of Paul at one time:

Phm 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Here in this Scripture, Paul has nothing to say of him. (and Demas, greet you)

Now he is just known as someone who quit on God.

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Demas forsook the apostle Paul and Paul said the reason was that he loved this present world more than the work of the Lord.

This is the same reason, so many quit on the Lord today!

And Paul continues:

*****Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

We know that the church in the city Laodicea has been made famous for the Scriptures written in the Book of Revelation:

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

What we see that this church also had a humble beginning in the home of Nymphas.

The thing we should understand is, that even this church had the opportunity to read and study the Scriptures of the apostle Paul.

*****Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

We must understand the books of the New Testament were all written to the Church and not to the pastor of those churches.

His job was to read and teach the Word of God given to him that had been prepared by the Holy Spirit.

1Th 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

And the church is expected to obey these words as all the Word of God!

2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

We should also understand that just because an epistle is mentioned here from Laodicea does not mean that Paul wrote an epistle that is missing because all his epistles were passed from church to church.

And Archippus:

*****Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Archippus, the son of Philemon had begun his own ministry and was now teaching and preaching at this church in Colossae.

Every young preacher needs to be encouraged.

*****Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

When we see these things in Paul’s epistles we can know that though Paul did not actually write all the words in his epistles, he would normally take the pen in the end and write the last few words.

There were many reasons for this, but the main thing was that all these Christians knew that these were the words of the apostle Paul as given to him by the Holy Spirit.

Remember the church in Corinth had been given some bad writings that were claimed to be from Paul because Paul’s hands were mostly crippled.

Paul would not allow this to happen again!

Paul adds for the Church to remember his bonds as he had previously asked.

Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

As Christians, if we cannot be encouraged by the character of the apostle Paul then we should feel ashamed.

With all the things that happened to the apostle Paul and he remained true to the Gospel, our little petty tribulations do not mean very much.

Next week the Book of Ephesians.

Amen

Knowledge of the Peace of God

November 12, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Increasing in the Knowledge of the Peace of God

Book of Colossians 3:12-4:1

Last week we saw that the Christian Life is not very easy. If we live in these bodies of flesh we will find it very hard to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

This should still be our goal!

The Lord knows that this is impossible for us to do every day because in our heart we would be like Christ, but we find that our flesh is weak and cause us to give in to temptation. We need watch out for things that are not good for us and pray for the strength to overcome our weaknesses!

Mat_26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, “but the flesh is weak”.

We must base our faith on the knowledge that once we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, we have a new life and we are to hate all the things of our old life.

Rev_2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

It was these Nicolaitans the Lord hates and we are to hate this doctrine also.

We see this in our world today more than ever before.

These were professing Christians who brought a false freedom to sin into the Church.

They brought licentiousness into the church which is, an excessive indulgence of Christian liberty!

The modern-day church has become this way and licentiousness is the god of fools!

If we have removed the old man and put on the new man, then we know we do not have the freedom to sin in any case!

If we are at peace with God, then we have become the elect of God and this should be noticeable to all the world!

*****Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

We could say, what are the essentials of Christian character?

Those who are the elect, are those who have chosen to follow in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ. God knows we will not be perfect and God knows in fact, we will make many mistakes, but God will always defend His Church.

Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

It is also a fact that when the Lord returns, He will have already called the church out of this world and He will not find any of faith but those who see Him will certainly realize everything they have said of the church was wrong and some of them may then become believers but for most who have already rejected the truth, it will be too late!

It is mainly the Jews and the strangers that help them, whose eyes will be opened.

Rom_11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

We may not realize it but there are also elect angels who have stood by Christ rather than follow Satan!

1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

When we get to Heaven, we will be surrounded by just those who have chosen Jesus Christ and rejected the world and all the angels who have also rejected Satan (Lucifer)!

So, while we are still here on earth to serve the Lord, let us be blameless!

Let us be the moral standards for this immoral world!

Let us show true affection to all our brothers and sister in Christ!

Let us pity the lost enough to still love them and witness Jesus to them if the opportunity arises.

Let us express gentleness in our way of life.

Let us be modest in all our life style.

Let us be meek in our demeanor.

Let us be patient Christians, busy for the Lord, knowing He will be returning soon, or at any time!

Let us bear with and endure one another in a loving way! As the Lord commands!

Let us forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us, because there are consequences to all these things but to this one especially.

Mar_11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

The Lord says even if we are in a quarrel with someone and we are the ones who are right, we must still forgive that other person.

Christ said to forgive!

Peter asked: Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Jesus said we are to forgive every time, period! Another sin is in holding a grudge!

All these things are covered by the “garment of mercy” which resembles the mercy of God.

Even with all these things, there is still something of greater importance in the way we are to treat all others.

*****Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

How does the Bible explain Charity?

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth:

How does the dictionary explain charity?

The dictionary says charity is love that compares to the supreme love of God. A giving, affectionate love.

It is easy to see that the English dictionary just does not have enough words to explain charity as well as God does.

The only perfect One that we know of is the Lord Jesus Christ, charity is the bond of perfectness, when we love others the way that the Lord loves us and gave Himself for us!

Gal_2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Charity can resemble God’s “grace”!

When we wear the “garments of mercy” and put on the cloak of “Grace” and these things rule our heart, then we can say we are at peace with God.

A tall order for any of us but the Lord will help us be these things and more, if we will just follow His example and get up close and personal with Him!

*****Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

When we are saved we have become at peace with God.

Rom_5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Only as we grow in Christ, are no longer babes in Christ but, mature Christians will the peace of God rule in our hearts.

The truth is, those who are at peace with God and have the peace of God are the same ones who will show the love of God, not only in their own heart but toward all others!

The peace of God may be the greatest blessings we can receive from the Lord!

True peace comes only to those who know Jesus Christ personally and as their Savior!

If we notice that word “rule” in this passage, this means that this is a commandment.

Notice this is a commandment for each saint of God but also for the body of the Church!

And above all we are to be thankful for the great benefits for serving the Lord.

Psa_68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

We must make a choice as the elect of God, are we going to be obedient to all the Word of God or not?

If God has allowed us to be in harmony with Him and in true peace, then surely, we can give these pitiful temporary bodies to Him for His use!

These are things we are called to do and if each one of us including myself, would be obedient in these things we could alter the course of this world.

We can blame the world for many things, but we cannot blame the world for the laziness of the church!

God has only one body of true believers and they are scattered in all denominations and it is time for us to unite on the truth of God!

It’s time to leave those who reject the truth of the Scriptures behind, they made their choice!

There will be no strife’s and no divisions where the peace of God rules in the heart of the believer!

*****Col 3:16 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.

What is the Word of Christ?

The entire Old Testament will lead us to Jesus Christ our Savior.
The entire New Testament was written from the words of Jesus Christ as given to the apostles.
All Scripture is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

So, all these are the Words of Christ!

Jesus Christ is the Author of salvation!

Heb_12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus Christ is the “subject matter” of the entire Bible!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We are to dwell in the Word of Christ!

We are to live in it as a home, we are never to be a stranger or a visitor, or as an acquaintance.

We are to allow the Word of Christ to dwell in us!

It is not enough that it is our home, but it must be our heart, it must become our spiritual nature.

It must control our life and our conduct in this life!

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

To dwell richly means we are to have an intimate knowledge of the Words of Christ.

We must seek to understand all that God has to say to us!

We must teach and admonish one another!

God has chosen the church to be the greatest place for this but, there must also be some personal study time.

We must be joyful enough to sing the Words of Christ.

We must be engrossed with Jesus Christ!

Act_17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

What so ever we do in deed, we must do it in the name of Christ Jesus!

*****Col 3:17 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.

We see that in all these things we have a choice we can be a Christian or we can be part of the world. There is no in between!

As Christians, we are responsible for all the things we do, we cannot blame others!

As Christians, we know that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name God will accept in His presence.

We are to do all things in His name!

We cannot approach God without Jesus Christ!

The world hates us, and the world hates us for this one thing, they hate the Lord Jesus Christ!

God will only accept a life that comes to Him in the name of Jesus Christ, all others will find death!

When we speak we should speak Jesus, this is our new language!

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So far, we have seen what the Lord commands each individual Christian and now let’s see what Jesus speaks of the family.

*****Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

We must understand that the Christian home is the first place we are to practice all the commands of God.

We know that God is a God of order!

Wives are to submit themselves to the Lord because God created man first and woman second. The wife was created as a helpmeet to the man.

She is the weaker vessel physically in most instances.

The woman is to never to submit in such a way to a husband who thinks he is a king.

The husband is honor his wife as his helpmeet or their prayer life will suffer greatly!

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

This husband and wife union is to be as two Christians submitting to one another but as the wife submits to her own husband and the husband to his own wife.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

The Husband to wife relationship is to be as the relationship as the Lord Jesus Christ is to the church!

Eph_5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

As Christians this obligation of these two Christians should be until the death of one or the other.

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

And now the husband.

*****Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Husbands also are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and remember Christ gave His life for the church, we should not be afraid to give our lives for our wives.

The husband is not to have dominion over his wife. Dominion is not about love.

The husband is not to be a tyrant!

The love of the husband for the wife is to be as the “agape” love of God toward His children.

This is a love that is selfless and unselfish.
This is a giving and sacrificial love, remember the word “Charity”.
This is a love of the will as much as a love from the heart.
This a love of commitment. The husband must be committed to this relationship as well as the wife.
And get this husbands, this is a love that works for the highest good of the wife! Besides the Lord she is to be the most important person in the life of the husband.

The truth is, the husband does not seek a wife to fulfill his needs but just the opposite, the husbands desire is to meet, nourish and nurture his wife, all their days.

A husband is to love sacrificially, regardless if his wife is not perfect in her commitment.

The example here is the Lord and the church. The Lord is perfect, but the church, (the bride) is less than perfect!

The Lord does not give us commandments He is not true to, Himself!

Above all these things, both the husband and the wife are to obey Christ Jesus regardless, this is the will of Jesus Christ and the Father!

And next the children:

*****Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

We know we have been using the Christian family as our example and all these things of the families that do not know Jesus Christ struggle the most with their children.

In the Christian family that has the Christian father and the Christian mother then the children should obey their parents in all things.

God is well pleased with all these things!

In fact, Christian children who obey their parents can even extend their years of happiness.

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

That word obey means for the children to respect the authority of their parents because their parents have respected the authority of our Father who is in Heaven.

When the children disrespect the parents, they have disrespected God!

There is only one, “only one” limitation for the children in these things.

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

If both parents or either parent go against the Word of God, then the children are certainly not to follow!

The child must be very careful in this thing but anything that causes the child to renounce the Lord “should not be observed”!

The most important task of the parents is to follow the Lord and give this example to the children.

The next most important task is to raise the children in a godly manner according to the Word of God.

The child must understand that though the parent is not always right, he or she must still have an opportunity to observe discipline and order.

A good rule of thumb for all children is in a passage from the Book of Ephesians.

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Being obedient to parents is just the right thing to do and God loves righteousness!

As a Christian father the bulk of responsibility will always aimed at him but raising children is the equal responsibility of both parents.

1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

The children must never be provoked to do ungodly things.

The children must be prepared to serve the Lord first!

The children must next be prepared to be godly parents themselves.

If we as parents anger our children, then teaching will stop until that anger passes.

Children should never be pampered but it at all possible parents should meet the needs of the children.

Children on the other hand must realize that both parents have duties and they must be given the time to do these things.

Children must realize the world we live in and accept that the parent has more knowledge than they might have.

The children should submit to the parents but again not as tyrants but as loving parents trying to do the right thing.

We all still live in these bodies of flesh, so problems will arise but as it is in all our lives, Jesus Christ is still the answer, even when dealing with children!

The parents must observe that there is a proper way to discipline children and the worldly way for the most part should be ignored, and the Word of God followed!

Even when parents have made mistakes, the Scriptures still say to honor the parents!

Deu 27:16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

God is very strict because we all as the children of God have a Father in Heaven that always knows what’s best for us even when we disagree!

There is a great Scripture that meets the standards God has set for us all!

Pro_22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

In the times of the Bible many families had servants. Remember it was illegal for the Jews to have slaves.

We can also relate this next today in our jobs and other places.

*****Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

We know these Scriptures were written in Bible times. These Scriptures deal as much with today and the work place of today as they did in the day of Paul.

In the day of Paul, if a master of men embraced Christianity then what was he to do with his slaves. God provides him the answers.

A Christian master, in Paul’s time or today is place in a precious position.

As Christian workman we are to put forth our best effort no matter our circumstances.

If the work we do conflicts with the Word of God, we should find a new profession if possible, but this may not always be the case.

A Christian worker should never be just an average worker but always better than average.

This means we must be obedient workers no matter who our master or what they believe.

The Christian Master is to be no different from the Christian worker because he or she knows they also have a Master!

Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

The Christian worker to has an obligation to be a witness for the Lord as best he or she can.

The Christian master and the Christian worker are to consider themselves working for the Lord!

Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Keeping in mind that the Christian will still have to obey the unjust commands of their masters.

1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

It is the reverence for the Lord that should be the mark of the Christian worker.

As Christians we are not to be disappointed with the service we give to an unjust master because our aim is to please the Lord in everything we do!

Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

We sometimes get confused when we talk about the “Judgment Seat of Christ”.

Certainly, our salvation will not be in questioned.

Many think we will only be judged for the work we have done for the Lord and we will.

We will also be judged for how we served in our workplace. We will be judged for all our activities while being a Christian.

It is very important that we shine bright as Christians and not as any part of this world in all we do!

Masters and Management certainly will face a harsher judgment than the servant or the employee!

*****Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

As Christian Masters we are to treat all those under us, no matter if they are Christian, equally and just.

We know the Lord provides for the saved and the just!

That word “knowing” is very important because the Christian masters should know according to the Word how to perform his or her job, knowing the Lord is observing as He sees all things everywhere!

We can only serve one Master in all the things we do, and we must serve knowing that He has His eyes upon us always.

Again, not so He can just beat us down for our failures but, so He can reward us for our goodness!

One of the first steps in righteousness is to respect the relationship!

It does not hurt to know somethings about the people you work with but demanding such knowledge is also wrong.

Pro 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

All in all, a friendly relationship works out to be the best!

Pro_18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

We can see that the Lord had a lot to say about our economy of today!

Amen

The Knowledge of Christian Behavior

November 5, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Increasing in the Knowledge of Christian Behavior

Book of Colossians 3:1-11

Behavior simply is our manner of behaving. How are we to behave as Christians?

In our hearts, most of us know how we are supposed to behave but the truth is, only when we are right with God will we know how to behave!

When we see the word “if” then there is a condition that must be met. This is another word that teaches us how to study the Scriptures.

We need to watch out for the “therefores” and the “wherefores” and the “ifs” and the “buts” and other words where the Bible itself will teach us how to study it.

The word “if” also sometimes ask the question “whether or not”.

One of the questions we should always ask is, who is the speaker and who is the speaker, speaking to.

So, let’s begin:

*****Col 3:1 “If” ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

We would be rude here and we would ask; are you saved? To be risen with Christ is to be saved!

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This means we are not to walk like we use to walk before me met Jesus Christ!

If we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, then our old flesh is dead, just as Jesus Christ was raised by the Holy Spirit, we are also raised by the Holy Spirit to new life, and we should walk in newness of life!

When the Lord Jesus Christ was raised in that glorified body, after 40 days He ascended back into Heaven, where He is sitting on the right hand of God, because He is the right hand of God.

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

So, to answer the question, “IF” we are now Christians we need to seek those things from above and not seek any of the things of this world!

In a “new life” in Jesus Christ we are to be dead to this world and it should show in our behavior.

We should remember Paul is dealing with some false teaching that has entered into this church at Colossae.

The answer always for the Christian can be found in Jesus Christ, who is always just rejected or set aside as a prophet or an angel or some other lower class and not the Creator who is God, by those who know no better!

To walk in newness of life is to follow in the ways of Jesus Christ!

So, everyone who can say they are a believer should ask themselves, “am I risen with Jesus Christ”?

If so then we are to look toward Heaven with our prayers and help with our Bible study.

*****Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, “not” on things on the earth.

Paul reminds us all the commandment of the Lord.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Lord Jesus Christ said you could throw away all the 613 laws to the Jews and all the laws of mankind, if we would only obey these two laws.

We see these two laws are not hard to understand.

Our affection should be that of love and not just any love, but the love that Jesus Christ has shown to us.

We should also know that all the things that remain in Heaven are perfect!

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

In other words, we must think like Christ thinks.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We sometimes just forget the marvelous miracle of our salvation and it is a miracle!

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

How can we ever think that the things of this world can compare to Heavenly things?

*****Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

We may ask, how can this be?

First, we must realize the wages of our sin:

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is “eternal life” through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next, since the Lord Jesus Christ has already paid these wages with His own life then we are alive forever but still dead to sin according to this Scripture.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, then we are joined to Him in such a way that we are separated from our former self and dead to the world!

In one way it is dead to the world and in another way, it is a resurrection to a new life (born again) that cannot die!

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

It was the death of Christ that paid the debt of our own sin!

It was the resurrection of Christ that raises all believers up to new life!

It was by the ascension of Christ that we received the gift of the Holy Spirit!

**The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us the power to live victorious lives.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

**The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees our own resurrection.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

**The resurrection of Christ, gives us the assurance that God will judge this world by His Son, Jesus Christ.

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

**The resurrection of Christ gives us a “living hope”, the hope of glory.

*****Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Since we are dead to this world and no longer condemned to the wages of sin, then we are to look up and seek the things of Christ and of Heaven.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Since we are hid in Christ, then God can only see the life of His Son when He looks upon us!

Without these things we can never know the Living God!

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

There can be no doubt that God and the Lord and the Savior are all one and the same person!

Since the Lord is already in the presence of God, and when God looks upon us He sees that we are hid in Christ, “then God has already accepted the fact that we will one day be in His presence!

All these things are true so, when we are still left upon this earth it is to tell the world “How Great Is Our God”!

We know that God takes many of us home whenever He decides it is more important for them to be in Heaven, but when God takes the Church home as a group it will happen very quickly!

1Co_15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This change takes place if we go by the rapture or if God takes us home one at a time!

What does the Lord Jesus Christ promise to us all that believe upon Him?

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

But notice again that word “If”, which is a conditional word. “If” we keep the sayings of Jesus Christ.

We this does not just mean the red letters in our New Testament.

But this kind of blows all religions out of the water who reject Jesus Christ as the God of the Bible!

As believers, God says just wrap your mind around these things and live like you believe it to be true, because it is!

Those that go to Heaven one at a time will simply return with the Lord when He returns to get His Church!

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, “even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”.

To sleep in Jesus only means that old body of flesh that went to the grave when the soul returned to the Heaven!

All other graves are full of old men’s bones that will not rise until the “white throne judgment”.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This day will be so sad because each and every one of these had made a personal choice to reject the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible!

So, what does God tell us to do until He returns?

*****Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Notice that word mortify, this word is the thought behind the word “Mortuary”. A mortuary is a place to make plans for your own funeral and view those dead bodies of flesh.

God says to go ahead and treat that body of flesh like it is dead to this world and dead to sin.

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to fornication. Fornication is all sort of sexual intercourse outside the bonds of marriage.
This term can also be used symbolically in forsaking God and following after idols.

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to uncleanness. Uncleanness can be said to be anything that defiles us in the eyes of God.
This would include all manner of immorality!

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to inordinate affection. Inordinate affection could be an inordinate affection for the things of this world. An inordinate passion, or a zealous attachment to this world.
It can also be a desire for fame, but it can also mean vile affections for others.

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to evil concupiscence. This is to covet after, lust after, desire the things of this world, but it can also include an irregular desire for sexual pleasure.
Coveting carnal things rather than moral things. That word evil makes these things even worse.
A person who already has bad qualities has also become concupiscent.
These are those who have specifically chosen to live a life of evilness!

Our bodies of flesh are to be dead to covetousness which is “idolatry” and an extreme desire to obtain something that belongs to someone else and placing these things above the Word of God, which says do not covet!

God is very specific about these things and all we see today is a world dominated by these things!

We can see that God has high demands for the Christian.

God has already told us what this world consists of: 1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

God has now told us that these are those who are disobedient! Ignoring the Word of God and rejecting the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

The Church will not see the wrath of God, so these are those who will be left on this earth after the Rapture of the Church!

What a world to live in. Satan, the coward, will finally come out into the open as the Antichrist to rule these who are left behind!

He did not want these people to see him flee for the steadfast Christian!

Then the Lord says look back at what you once were and how you have grown to distance yourself from all these things!

To be a Christian does not make us any better than anyone else, but by the “Grace” of God!

*****Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

We certainly should be able to describe a sinner because each of us are still sinners but now saved by the “Grace” of God.

As Christians we must never see sin as pleasure but only as deadly poison because this is a better description and yes this means your own little pet sin, no matter what it is!

This includes sins of the heart!

Some of us do not see anger as a sin but it can be if you allow it to simmer.

Eph_4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

When anger becomes wrath or malice, it is certainly sin.
When we are angry, our wisdom is lost.
When we angry, we just do not think right.
When we are angry, we will quench the Holy Spirit, who lives within us.

There are also all sorts of sins of the mouth.
Evil speaking such as slander is also sin.
Blasphemy is any words we say that can cause injury to someone else.
Certainly, filthy communications and lying are sin

Perfect love will cast away all these things! The love as Jesus Christ loves, and the love like the love of God for this evil world.

The Bible says: for God “so loved” this world He sent His Son

*****Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We tend to always go back to the Ten Commandments which is great, but we also seem to forget how the Lord has simplified all the commandments in the Word of God and all man-made laws.

Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Lord has taken great pains to ensure that we have the truth and it is a slap to His face, when we tell lies to anyone, but especially our brothers and sisters.

We must never forget these words of Jesus as He describes His enemies.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Having put off the old man of sin and having put on the new man, why would we still lie and do the things we have vowed to Jesus that we would not do?

When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts, we are to accept His character, His ways and His words!

Remember, The Lord Jesus Christ is the “express image” of His Father in Heaven and as Christians, we are “Born Again”, renewed in knowledge after the image of him, that created him!

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We cannot yet be perfect, but we can be in a mode of continuous renewal.

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

That old outward man that we went to the mortuary to make plans for his burial should not now interfere with what we do daily. he should have no influence on our new life!

We must remember what God said when He made man.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

When we experience the new birth just like the Lord Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit then we are “Born Again” by the Holy Spirit.

Christians are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

The Son of God has given life to all believers!

Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

So, then the Holy Spirit regenerates God’s people!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We should understand that all the prophecies of the Messiah had a purpose in our own renewal.
We must understand that every step that the Lord Jesus took when He was upon this earth had a profound purpose in restoring us to be in harmony with God.

Therefore, the truest statement to the unbeliever is still these words:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It is all these things that being “Born Again” is all about. Christians returning to the original plan of God!

Before the tower of Babel there was only one people. When they rejected the Lord, God caused them to be many separate people in order for them to learn from the mistakes they had made.

As Christians we again all become one people!

*****Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

As Christians it matters not what we used to be!
It matters not what we are external!
Circumcision matters not, uncircumcision matters not, because the Laws of Moses have been fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

The circumcised were the Jews.
The uncircumcised were the Gentiles.
The Greeks were the Greeks. (philosophers) 1Co_1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom
The Barbarians were those Gentiles, who were not Greeks.
The Scythian were the most barbarous of all Gentile barbarians.
Those in bondage were slaves to anyone.

You see the ground is level at the cross because Jesus Christ is all we need and because when Jesus Christ comes into our hearts we are all one people in God!

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

When we have come to this point in our new lives, it is then that we can be of the most use to God!

Amen

Knowing the Limits of Man-made Laws (Jesus Christ vs False Religion)

October 28, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Increasing in Knowledge of the Limitations of the Law

Christ versus False Religion

Book of Colossians Chapter 2

When we see the word “law” in the Scriptures it usually means only one thing which is the “law of Moses”.

Let’s consider some of the laws:

1) Let’s consider that the law of nature is the will of God as to human conduct.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

2) The ceremonial law prescribes the rites and ceremonies of Judaism, Jewish worship.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

3) There was the Judicial Law, the law that directed the civil policies of the Jewish nation.

4) The “moral” law is also the revealed will of God as to human conduct, which are binding all of us till the end of time.

4) There are positive laws which precepts are founded only on the will of God. These are manmade laws that coincide with the truth of God’s Word!

We must always remember when we must choose between human philosophies and divine revelation, there is truly not any choice at all. We must always choose the Word of God!

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

This Scripture will always hold true till the end of time!

Let’s begin:

*****Col 2:1 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;
Col 2:2 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;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

The one thing we should understand about the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned, he was like a soldier bound by chains craving to get into the battle of furthering and protecting the truth of the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”!

It is all the books of the Apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) that teach the saint of God how to grow in the Lord.

For any church to grow then there must be some mature Christians!

Many count church growth only by numbers and that is great but church growth must first be about God’s people growing in the knowledge of the Lord!

We simply cannot remain “babes in Christ” all our Christian days!

Our failure to help one another in our burdens and fervent prayer for one another, is the major reason believers and churches remain “babes in Christ”.

It is a prayer of faith that says to God that He has the ability and the willingness to intercede on our behalf.
It is a prayer of faith that says to God that it is He that has complete control of all things, of all His creatures, and all their actions.

Prayer is our primary channel to communicate with God! This channel was provided by the Lord Jesus Christ!

You know, it is also ok to just talk to God without asking Him for a thing. God loves to just hear us talk to Him.

Regardless what others say, God has His way of talking back or showing us that He hears us!

The strength of any church lies in the prayers of its membership but we must also have Bible study!

A true Church will remain consistent in the Word of God and grow into maturity being unchangeable in the things of God.

Paul struggled in prayer and concern for this church he had never visited, and our Pastors today must do the same.

False doctrine had been introduced into this young church and this church had become confused because most of them were only “babes in Christ”.

The stronger the pastor is in the Word of God, the stronger the church.

It is also important for every pastor to pray for all the church to remain in the Word of God.

If they instill this into their congregations, then all Christians would be praying for the universal church that belongs to Jesus Christ!

The prayer of faith is still our most important weapon in this world today!

The prayer of faith can move the hand of God or He would not say so!

We should all be fervent prayer warriors for the church!

The immature church cannot stand against the Devil and it is obvious in our world that the church is becoming more and more immature.

People just refuse to study the Word of God and the perversions of the Word of God are gaining ground and souls are being lost!

Once someone realizes what they have been taught is a lie, then they believe there is no truth in any church!

The Lord will reveal Himself even to the babe in Christ if they pray in faith!

Faith in the truth of Jesus Christ is the strength of every Church and the universal Church.

As maturing in the Word of God grows in the church, then hearts will become strong, confident, and assured!

A strong church can beat back error with the knowledge of God, but a church full of “babes” is ignorant of the ways of Satan and the church will many times split, or struggle will arise within the parties involved.

The only answer to error is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Apostles Doctrine!

The Apostle Paul was in bondage, so he could not help this church physically to defend against false doctrine but by sending them this epistle which could lead them to defend the “Gospel”!

A strong church is filled with a blend of mature Christians and babes who are growing and whose hearts are strong for the Lord.

Mature Christians proved stability, and babes in Christ provide the energy and the fire.

A cold church is truly miserable!

Strong hearts come from the love of God and a fervent love for each other!

When false doctrine enters a church, it is like a cloud that hangs over the church, that requires strength in the truth of God to resist!

When a church is divided, it will lower its standards and become more liberal.

This is what we see in our world today!

Our standard must always be Jesus Christ and it is His standard we must reach for and not some man-made standard!

Strong hearts are made from the love of God and each other, not from religion, ceremony, rituals, or laws and regulations!

We must be sure we know that God exist!
We must know that God looks after our welfare!
We must know God in a personal way!
We must know there is life after death!

There is no mystery of God, God explains Himself very well in His Scriptures!
There are no secrets that God is hiding from us, God has revealed everything that we need to know!

To the Jews, the mystery of God is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father in relation to His Son!

It is only Jesus Christ that reveals God to mankind.
It is only Jesus Christ who can mediate between God and mankind.
It is only Jesus Christ who can intercede between God and mankind.

If there was a mystery to the Jews, then this is it!

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

It is in Jesus Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!

There will be no growth in the church until we can understand the truth of the “Gospel” and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the God of the Bible!

1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Scriptures are very blunt about these things so, how can we question the truth of God and His Son Jesus, the Messiah, who has already come and who will return to save His church from the Wrath of God!

Wisdom in fact is the ability to use the truth, there can be no wisdom in a lie!

1Jn_2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Paul explains that we need to know all these things so that when false doctrine arises, and it will, we will not be deceived by its lies!

Paul was absent because of his bondage, but this great epistle has stood the test of the truth down through the centuries.

*****Col 2:5 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.

Paul was never far from this church in his mind and in his prayers. Paul could say these things because the Lord is as near to us as a prayer and because He goes where we go!

When we can do nothing else to help our church, we can pray!

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

We must realize that when our minds are wavering, we are not being steadfast and unmovable in the Doctrine of Christ!

Religion and Christianity are two different things. True Christians are steadfast in the Doctrine of Christ!

Religionist are always wavering and movable in the things they believe or what they do not believe.

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

When we know the Lord Jesus Christ, we must walk unwavering in the Lord!

*****Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Walking in the Lord, means this:

1) We received the Lord by “faith”, so we must walk in the Lord by “Faith”!

We trust that our sins have been blotted out and our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and we need to act like this is true because it is!

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2) When we received Christ Jesus, we received Him as Lord of this Universe and the Messiah.

Then we need to walk as if we serve the Almighty God, and our Creator!

We need to reverence our God as Almighty and our commitment be a lifetime commitment!

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

God expects us to be rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ!
God expects us to be rooted and grounded in a Gospel believing Church!
God expects us to be as a branch drawing its nourishment from the vine, that vine being the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we do not have that strong attachment to Christ, then we need to get someone to lead us through the Scriptures, so we will know the truth!

We need to walk as we have been taught by the Lord, by His example!

We must be established in the Word of God!

2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

We must be aware of the many deceivers in this world.

*****Col 2:8 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.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philosophy in fact is, the love of wisdom and wisdom is supposed to be the proper use of that knowledge of truth.

Today like so many other things, philosophy is used “as an attempt to explain the reason of things”, or “to investigate the many causes of things”.

These things go against the true definition of Philosophy!

Philosophy has become worldly! There are some true philosophers just as there are some true scientist who acknowledge the truth but no one can hear them!

The noisy today are all those who when faced with the truth, search for any means to dispel the truth which is impossible!

The truth will always be the truth!

What we see is another of Satan’s nick-names, which is the “spoiler”.

What we see in this passage is Christ Jesus versus false teaching!

False teachers had made this newly founded church in Colossae a target for destruction!

We must always realize that as Christians, we are targets for destruction to these spoilers of Satan.

A spoiler is much like the robber, these men came to this church to steal the truth!

The saints here had been rescued from bondage, their eyes had been opened to the Light of Jesus Christ, they understood they were just pilgrims passing through this land called earth, but because of these spoilers they were now in danger.

As believers we must always beware and guard against worldly philosophy!

We will never have a perfect relationship with Jesus Christ when we search for answers in this world!

The answers to life cannot be found in the things of this world.
The answers to the truth cannot be found in the things of this world.

These things are meaningless and will be destroyed when the Lord returns to this world!

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Human knowledge cannot solve the problems of this world!

The very best worldly science and worldly philosophy can do is, maybe make life more comfortable, maybe safer, and maybe add a few years of good health.

If we understand these things, then this should be the goal of these people and they need to stay away from trying to change the truth of God!

In fact, it makes no sense, that if we can make the world a better place then, why is so much effort and so much money used to destroy the church. (this certainly makes no sense)

The answer lies in being the children of Satan who is also the father of the spoiler!

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

If these spoilers would realize they are only fools, they might wake up and do some good!

We should also realize that the rudiments mentioned here include the heavens, the stars and planets.

So, those of Astrology who have the gall to proclaim that the answers to mankind are determined by the stars is utter foolishness!

These things are just inanimate objects that have no life themselves so how can they give answers to life. Shame on the people who fall into this trap of Satan.

Those that depend on a material world and the rudiments of this world, will never be a part of the “Spiritual World”, and they will never know Jesus Christ!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who possesses complete power over this world and all the Cosmos!

*****Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

In Him, inside Jesus Christ, in the 100%-human side of Jesus, dwelt all the power of God, which is rejected by most all Jews and most of this world!

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We are complete in Him, because He is the Head of all principality and power!

The Jews had developed a plan to substitute philosophy for Christianity not by denying it, but trying to explain it with worldly objects.

Christianity has never been an offshoot of Judaism!

Christianity stands alone as those who seek a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Christianity is based on “Faith” and not “knowledge”!

The object of our “faith” is based upon the historical and doctrinal statements of the Bible!

The object of “knowledge” was to take philosophy and prove those statements.

Philosophy is void of the truth.
Philosophy is void of reality.
Philosophy is void of power.
Philosophy is worthless.
Philosophy is deceit!

We live in a world created by God where foolish people cannot believe that an all-powerful God could pour Himself into a body of flesh and live among us for a while.

How can we be so foolish to think we can place limits on the power of God to do anything He wishes to do!

1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

We cannot be Christians unless we receive the fulness of Christ’s nature! (Born Again)

There was also a big discussion about circumcision so again Paul explains.

*****Col 2:11 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”:
Col 2:12 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.

It is easy to get caught up with religion. Religion is simply an oath or a vow to your god. Anything can be a god, just ask those who are Hindu.
We have even made sports stars and (forgive them Lord) but even celebrities to be gods.

Some have made riches and even automobiles their gods.

Christianity is making a personal oath to Jesus Christ!

Manual circumcision is the cutting off a small piece of flesh, while “Spiritual circumcision” is cutting off the whole body of flesh, which is our corrupt sin nature.

Only Jesus Christ can do this thing through “faith”!

The circumcision of the Christian is “Divine”, without hands but by the inward power of the Holy Spirit!

Being saved is committing ourselves to Jesus Christ our Savior, allowing Him to cut away the body of sins out of our flesh!

This true circumcision is realized only when we are in union with Christ. When we begin to develop our personal relationship with our Savior!

We follow this up with Believers Baptism to show other believers we are in union with our Savior.

Is this some sort of ritual? No, this is following the commandment of the Lord!

We are baptized by the Holy Spirit for our salvation, not with water!

Gal_3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

We are then baptized in water, only to symbolize, the death, burial, and the resurrection of our Savior!

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Next is training to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Mat 28:20 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.

This is where the church is failing most today!

The new believer must realize through discipleship, that they are dead to their sins and to do their best to sin no more.

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Since we remain in this body of flesh, we are not perfect, and we are just sinners saved by the Grace of God and will remain that way until we meet the Lord. We must do our best not to sin but when we do we will be forgiven if we ask.

1Jn_2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

We must realize when we are baptized in water this only represents our spiritual death to sin.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ paid that death for us and has given to the believer the precious gift of God, “eternal life through the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!

*****Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 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;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Once we realize our spiritual death, we are made a living soul and are dead to trespasses and sin!

We must also realize, we only differ from others by the “Grace” of God!

We must realize, that sin is anything that goes against the Word of God and being dead to sin we must do our best to avoid sin!

We must keep in mind that even when we are biblically sound we still must approach God just as He says and not as the world says.

We cannot take away from God’s Word and we cannot add anything to God’s Word.

We see so many so-called new Bibles today that do this very thing, to keep their own sin and say it is approved of God which is foolishness when God has already said not to do such things.

There is only one plan of salvation and it is the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ would never have come into this world, if sin according to the Word of God was not real and the death of sins wages were not real.

The world may say we live and then we die, but that is just part of the story. The truth of death it is eternal, and the place of this eternal death is truly devastation.

The truth of salvation is eternal life!

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We need to take this thing called “death” very seriously!

Many today seek another way to live eternally in the body of flesh they now have and that is foolishness for these bodies of flesh were never designed to live forever.

Why are remedies for the skin so popular? People just have such a great fear of even the appearance of growing old or death.

Men can search this earth until time runs out and a way to live forever will never be found! God has the only plan for eternal life!

Mankind will never conquer death!

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

How foolish is this world we live in?

Jesus Christ took all sin from the past and all sin from the future and took it out of our way by nailing that sin to His cross!

Many people will tell you that sin does not bother them, but the truth is, most people live defeated lives because of their sin!
They are depressed, they feel unworthy and they feel unacceptable to this world and this is what sin will do to anyone it takes full control of.

These are those who are in bondage to Satan and know it!

2Ti_2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

There are still the many who are in that same bondage and just deny it or do not realize it, because they have been brainwashed by the teaching of this world.

1Ti_4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

They just do not realize that God loves them, their sin was nailed to the cross that Jesus bore for us all, and they need only believe, (to have faith in the work of Jesus Christ) to have those sins blotted out and their names written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

The reality of life is, mankind has always recognized that there are forces, and powers and even principalities at work with this universe.

The Bible declares that these other forces exist and that there is a spiritual world that surrounds this physical world of God’s creation.

What we see is that even these things are under the power of our Almighty God!

Though these things have never held any power over God, they have had power over mankind and by Jesus Christ, Satan has been defeated from any hold over mankind.

He only has the control you allow him to have, if you are a Christian!

Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Sins evil work is seen everywhere in this world and we must avoid it.

In fact, we must hate sin without hating the sinner, just as the Lord had done just before His physical death.

Luk_23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

When the Lord raised up from the dead after those three days as He said He would, the powers of evil were defeated!

God is a God of life, and death has never had a purpose in God’s creation!!!!!!!!

God has judged each believer and has justified each believer, we are not open to judgment by this world!

*****Col 2:16 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:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

We have been given Christian liberty but that does not mean we can freely sin!

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The truth is, God will honor anyone who honors His Son!

We tend to approach God trying to follow rules and regulations and even rituals in worship and this is wrong.

Many of the church have forgotten that the only way to approach God is through His Son Jesus Christ. There is simply no other way!!!!!

Rules and regulation are forms of religion, but they cannot give eternal life!
Rituals are forms of religion, but no ritual can offer eternal life!

These things were only shadows of things to come, but the Church body is of Jesus Christ!

The Church is the “Body of Christ” because Jesus Christ lives in each believer!

Jesus Christ rose from that grave to life and life eternal, so the Church is alive and cannot die!!!!!

The truth is when we follow Christ we should also live as Christ!

We should eat as Christ ate. Eating what is needed each day and eat things that are good for the body.

We must worship faithfully as Jesus Christ worshiped, which required much prayer!

We must live, soberly, righteously, and godly just as Christ lived!

Jesus Christ is to be our example in all things!

We must not be led astray by this world nor the works of Satan!

*****Col 2:18 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,
Col 2:19 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.

That word beguile means to rob, or to cheat, or to defraud. To goal of false teachers is to cheat you out of your heavenly rewards.

They intend to make you irrelevant in the army of God!

The biggest lie told today is, that there are other ways to get to Heaven, or that every religion has its on way to please God and get to Heaven.

This is an absolute lie and purely false teaching just to appease the followers of these sects!

There are those who say they had a new revelation of the Lord. Do not believe such nonsense. God says we have His complete Word and it is a fact there will never be a new revelation that goes against what God has already revealed!

Any false approach to God is called “spiritism”.

Here is the definition of spiritism that I got off an official site for spiritism:

Spiritism is, at once, a science, a philosophy, and a religion.

**The science of Spiritism studies the existence and nature of spirits, which are nothing more than the immortal souls of men, created by God.

**The philosophy, which was derived from a serious study of information received in communications with discarnate spirits, deals with the details of spirit life and the journey of evolution through the process reincarnation. A natural consequence of that that philosophy is the understanding of the role we play in our own spiritual evolution, which is ultimately achieved through the efforts we make to grow, both morally and intellectually.
**Spiritism helps us to understand the natural laws that govern that process of evolution. From a moral perspective, we follow the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ, as our model and guide.
**The religious aspect stems from the moral ties between ourselves, and others, and the direction that Spiritism leads us, toward God, our creator, by helping us to understand life and by teaching us, ultimately, how to develop the ability to love, in the greatest sense of the word.

Nonsense!

Notice the phrase “the role we play in our own spiritual evolution through the process of reincarnation”

Notice the phrase “the philosophy which is derived from a SERIOUS study of information received by discarnate spirits.

Notice the phrase “Spiritism helps us understand the natural laws that govern that process of evolution”.

We cannot worship God through Angels, or spirits, and/or visions.

This was the same teaching that had influenced this church in Colossae.

What was the attraction? “To develop the ability to love, in the greatest sense of the word”.

The Apostle Paul wrote (by the Holy Spirit) against these things in most all his epistles.

Remember heresy is any doctrine of salvation that cannot be found in the Word of God!

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

One of the biggest problems of the church is, that we feel ashamed to approach God, so we feel the need of some intermediary to stand between us and God and this opens the door to “false teaching”!

We already have our intermediator and it is the Lord Jesus Christ and He cannot be replaced by some man!!!!!!!!

We cannot pray for the angels to help, they already fulfill their purpose given to them by God and in fact the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of the host of angels just as He is our Lord and Savior!

As Christians we have no contact with the spirit world, other than the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

Anyone who can actually talk to the spirit world is a disciple of Satan who has that power.

We will never contact a departed Saint of God until we reach the same place they are and that is the glory world of Heaven.

What is the one fact that we should realize?

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, removed the veil of the Temple, symbolizing that we now can go directly into the throne room of God!

Those who seek an intermediator other than Jesus Christ, are saying that they are to unworthy to approach God themselves, so their prayer life is non-existing and irrelevant.

Spiritism only takes your eyes off God and focuses on angels and spirits who can do nothing to help you make peace with God!

We have no business in intruding into the unseen world other than our “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can never approach God without the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church and that will never change. Any teaching that tries to change this fact is false and is heresy!

The church can only be nourished by Jesus Christ and then will increase as God sees fit!

The only Spirit we need to worry about is the Holy Spirit and it is He who we need to feed!

If we have taken up our yoke and followed the Lord, we then are dead to the rudiments of this world!

*****Col 2:20 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,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 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.

It seems we can only equate death when one of our loved ones or some close friend’s life comes to an end but if the Lord Jesus Christ lives in your heart, you need to also equate death with your own flesh, because we have been “Born Again” and that old sinful flesh is just dead flesh waiting to be rid of.

If we then are dead in Christ Jesus, we are not subject to any man-made ordinance that are commandments or doctrines of men that try to add to the salvation plan of God!

The Jews had many rules of food to eat.

The Church is not subject to those things or any other ordinance involved with Judaism.

Many denominations have doctrines and rituals that try to add to or take away from the Word of God, the Church is not subject to them!

There are many sects in Spiritism and that teaching but the Church is far above such teaching already, because we are already in the Hand of God and no one man, or Satan can remove us from the hand of God!

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We must clearly understand, there is no man-made approach to God that will ever succeed!

Man will always come up with a system of works that will always fail!

God is not interested in our works until after we have obtained the salvation that the Lord has provided!

There is no amount works before salvation that can save us and there is no amount of works after salvation that can keep us saved!

Jesus Christ did all the works necessary to save us and all the works necessary to keep us saved!

No one can work hard enough, No one can be made good enough, No one is righteous enough to impress God!

Only His only begotten Son could do this thing!

Religion can only fail you and send you to Hell.

Christianity, following the example of Jesus Christ, is the only way to make peace with God!

2Co 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

If we are risen with Christ Jesus, then we are fools if we do not seek things from above, according to the Word of God, that He has given to us!

It is Jesus Christ who sits on the right hand of God, not some angel, not some spirit, and certainly not Lucifer!

Amen

Knowing More About God’s Plan

October 22, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Increasing in Knowledge of God’s Plan

Book of Colossians 1:17-29

At the end of last week’s lesson, the Scriptures described Jesus Christ as the image of the invisible God.

That word invisible means that it was not the body of Jesus that was important, it was His characteristics!

Those that worship angels, and those that believe that those who die being Christians become angels should take note, no one can represent God, but His only begotten Son.

In the Lord’s divine nature, the invisible image, in His human nature, the visible image, of our Father in Heaven, who existed before all the worlds, before all time, from all eternity!

It is this world and all things that are seen that were created by Him.
It is Heaven and all the unseen world that were also created by Him.

All the things seen and unseen were created by Him and for Him.

All things created, seen and unseen, have a purpose in the salvation plan of God!

Let’s continue:

*****Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the “glue” that binds this entire creation together.

If you believe in evolution then you believe our world evolved from chaos. The truth is Creation as described in the Book of Genesis makes our world a cosmos rather than chaos.

The Lord Jesus Christ was and is the essential element of our Creation!

All those who are confused about creation need to pay close attention!

Since it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the complete image of our Heavenly Father and He is before all things, then we are fools to think we are not subject to Him!

We may live in the “here and now” but there is coming an end to all things.

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Many talk about the great battles near the end such as Armageddon but just the voice of the Lord can end any battle, just the appearance of the Lord will annihilate all sin and all sinful men.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of all things!

*****Col 1:18 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.

That “body”, is the “body of Christ”.

The Church is a living organism, which carries on lively activities, by individual living believers. The head of this “body” is our Living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This world considers any group who gather to be a church. The truth is, the Church is made up of a group whom God has called out of this world as a special group of His own.

There is the universal Church: Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

There is the local Church: Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

As our own head gives direction to our bodies, so does Jesus Christ give direction to the Church, both local and universal!

It is Jesus Christ who gives us the gifts for the building up of the Church.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Those so-called places of worship that reject the ways of Jesus Christ are not a church and certainly not part of the universal church!

The Church is alive but it seems today that the church is on the death bed with little or no life, because the church has rejected the teachings of Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church!

The true Church is totally dependent on its Head, and that Head is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Study on this end time prophecy of the final Church Age and you will see that even this prophecy has come true

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This is another reason we should realize that the Lord is soon returning to take us home!

It is Jesus Christ who began the Church and there can be no church without Jesus Christ.

The person who does not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ cannot be part of the Church!

Today the Church is full of lies:

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

God intended for the Lord Jesus Christ to have preeminence over all things on this world but also in Heaven.

*****Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

There is no way to avoid this Scripture! It cannot be misunderstood! The fulness of God is within the Living Lord Jesus Christ

It is the Divine will of the Father that the Lord Jesus Christ possess the Divine Nature of God enforced by the Holy Spirit.

How do we describe our God?

God is Spirit.
God is self-existing.
God is perfect, God is absolute perfection.
God is one God, but God is in three persons, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
God is the truth.
God is love.
God is Holy.
God is eternal.
God is immense.
God is omnipresent.
God is omniscient.
God is omnipotent.
God is merciful.
God is “Grace”.
God is Just and He is the Justifier of those who seek to be just.
God is Almighty and there are many other characteristics of God!

But it pleased the Father that all these things and more dwell in the Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we deny our Savior?

*****Col 1:20 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.

This great All Powerful, Almighty God, poured Himself into a body of flesh to die for all our sins. Our Savior made our peace with His Father by the shedding of His blood.

It is earth where sin began. thus, we are all sinners.
The things in Heaven, being the saints in Paradise, or Abraham’s bosom, who had died for Christ had come.

It was not the cross that was needed to catch the eye of the Father.
It was not so much that Jesus Christ was willing to die for us.

The truth is, it was “love” that took Jesus Christ to the cross, that His blood be shed for each and every sinner who has ever lived!

But we see that “faith” in these things is the key to salvation!

It is “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ who possesses the fulness of God the Father that we can be reconciled to God!

*****Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Notice that God has reconciled all humans to Himself but He has also reconciled all His creation to Himself (all things).

First: Did the Lord shed His blood for every human being from the time of Adam until sometime in the future? Absolutely!

Then is this a universal salvation as some believe? It could have been!

It is important for us to consider certain things.

We must know the Lord God on a personal level! This is impossible without making peace with God!

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

To live in this world after salvation we must have the peace of God:

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

To be a Christian is to have the God of peace live in our hearts:

Php 4:8 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.
Php 4:9 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.

We know that that enemies of God are always hostile, hateful, and rebellious.

We should also notice that the death of Jesus Christ met the requirements of Divine Law and opened the door to Divine Love!

We who were once the enemies of God have been reconciled to Him by the blood of His Dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His resurrection has now opened the door for our own resurrection!

The mind that was once full of deceit and lies can now be filled with the love of God!

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We must clearly understand, it is by the death of Jesus Christ that we are reconciled to God!

*****Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

The entire material body of flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ was the instrument of our reconciliation. The body of Christ here represents His manhood and not any part of the Church. It is through the death of the physical body of Christ that we are reconciled to God. We cannot stress this enough.

The sacrifice of Christ was the voice of God proclaiming love!

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

God sacrificed the body of Christ so I did not have to sacrifice my own body!

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Jesus Christ in His flesh, exhibited the character of God, therefore He could be the substitute for our sins!

It is only by the “Cross” that we learn that we can have a brotherhood of Christians who can make a great nation.

Politicians cannot do this, and political process can never achieve this thing!

As Christians we are reconciled to God but we are also reconciled to ourselves. We find it hard to forgive ourselves but God has made a way to even solve this problem by the death of His Dear Son.

It was by the death of Christ Jesus that each believer can be holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in the sight of God. What a blessing!

It is by the “Cross” that we begin learning of our Father and our Elder Brother, the Lord Jesus Christ!

It takes “faith” to understand these things and we must continue in “faith” to be grounded and settled in the truth of God!

*****Col 1:23 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;

The truth is we will all face the Lord in Judgment.

The Christian will face the Lord when we meet Him at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”. This is not a judgment for salvation because that is already taken care of or we would not be Christians.

Paul is saying it just makes sense for us to continue to be grounded in our “faith” and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the “Gospel”.

We need to keep in mind that we can never move the hand of God without “Faith”!
The foundation of that “Faith” must be the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel can reach any class of people!

Those teachings contrary to the Gospel can only reach certain classes of people.

For what is the hope of the “Gospel”?

That we all might be reconciled to God and presented perfect before Him.
That we might be given the privilege of living forever with Him.
That we may worship Him and serve Him throughout eternity.
That we may go wherever He goes forever.

We must not only profess Christ, we must live for Christ to get a full reward.

2Jn_1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

If we profess Jesus Christ and do not live for Jesus Christ, we are living a lie!

As Paul explains, these are the rules for reconciliation!

What did Jesus say? Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Paul repeats what our Saviour said: He rejoices in his sufferings for the Church.

*****Col 1:24 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:
Col 1:25 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;

The Lord Jesus Christ had great joy in providing the pathway for our reconciliation to His Father.

Paul being as much like Christ as he possible could, also rejoiced in his own sufferings.

The foundation of the Church is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church “which is His body”

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Lord’s body being now substituted by Christian believers.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The Church is now in need of a minister who will willingly suffer for others and that is where the individual Christian comes in.

The Lord Jesus Christ suffered greatly to form His Church.

The Apostle Paul and all the apostles suffered greatly to further the Gospel and grow the Church.

We are now the ministers of the “Gospel”, this is not just the job of the Pastor!

1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We may be that generation of the Church Age which will end when the Lord returns!

Laboring for Jesus Christ on this earth will never be easy.
Serving the Church in this world will never be easy.

We will always have to suffer for Jesus Christ!

For the most part, the church means nothing to the average man or woman.
The church is only tolerated if it stays in its place.
It is alright for the church to do social service in the community but not by Jesus Christ.
The Church is never to interfere with the workings of mankind or the workings of government.

We can see that the world does not understand the church nor the Head of the church, our Savior!

This is not the Church that is the body of Christ!
To trust in the Lord is to ignore foolish people

The job of the church is to fulfill the will of God!

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

All these things were a mystery to the Old Testament Saints.

*****Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

The great mystery to the Jews was namely, Christ justifying and sanctifying Gentiles, as well as Jews.

There are many mysteries in the Scriptures that are hidden from the natural man but God does not hide anything to those who are saved and spend time studying the Scriptures.

A man once wrote that when the Lord first reaches into the mind, He will cause it to think and then later He will touch the heart to reveal His purpose for our life.

Another great mystery to those who are lost is God’s plan of salvation!

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

The average person cannot understand how this is true and again this is our job to show them the way!

The truth is in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

*****Col 1:27 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:

Every Church must have a Pastor who will share the “great mystery of God”.

This mystery is “Christ in you the hope of glory”!

Religion after religion speak of the many ways to get to Heaven but the truth is there is only one way to reach the “glory world” and this is by Jesus Christ!

Unless Jesus Christ comes to dwell within you, you have no chance of seeing Heaven much less live throughout eternity with our Heavenly Father.

Php_1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

It is only by the work of Christ that we can be reconciled to God and then only if we believe these things to be true.

If Christ abides in us then we must abide in Him. Christ must be accepted by “Faith”!

We might question the things around us whether they are truly ours, but what is inside of us we certainly possess!

The sure ground we stand upon is our “hope in glory” and this hope is sealed by the blood of Jesus and His guarantee is that He lives within us and will never leave us.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Some may say, well I thought this was the Holy Spirit. God in the flesh, is Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit in His presence is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ lives in each believer in the person of the Holy Spirit!

We see that is God the Father who took the time to make these things known to all the world, but this has been rejected by most of this world!

Jesus Christ rose from that grave because He conquered death and now we can live eternally with Him.

Jesus Christ is the first fruit!

Rom_11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

We should remember when Jesus Christ rose from the dead those that followed Him saw that His claim of being God in the flesh was true.

God can never be bound by death because He is the true essence of life!

Another thing we must certainly realize is that Christ Jesus is not picky, He will live in any believer, no matter their background.

2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

God has warned this entire world that no one can enter into His glory unless Jesus Christ lives within them!

This is the very reason Jesus is hated so much, the world knows this is true!

*****Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

You see God must warn all mankind of this truth or He would not be God!

You see as an individual, we must submit to the truth of God in Jesus Christ.

Eze 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

As believers this is our job today and really it is our only job with living holy to increase our chance to witness to those who do not know the Lord.

*****Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

To labor is to work hard. Some think it is only the Pastor who is to do this thing but the Lord Jesus said we all are to do this thing called evangelism!

When we have used all our own strength then the Lord will supply the needed strength to continue.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

When we can understand the plan of God and know that the Lord Jesus Christ lives within us by the Holy Spirit, we will find the yoke of the Lord is easy but this world will show us how much they are our enemy.

If we focus on this wonderful place called Heaven and not on the things of this world, our job will not be so hard.

If we need extra strength it will come from the Lord.

If we have loved ones, let’s begin with them and then friends and then whosoever crosses our path.

God’s plan is the only plan that will work in this evil world!

Amen

Coming to Know Our Heavenly Father

October 15, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Increasing in the Knowledge of the Father

Book of Colossians 1:1-16

Heresy is a departure from the truth of the Word of God!
Heresy is a departure from practices suitable to the purity of the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”!

What is another sign of the last days?

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

The Church at Colossae was not planted by the Apostle Paul and Paul probably never visited this church. It is probable that this church was planted by Epaphras.

In the Book of Philemon, Paul says Epaphras was his fellow prisoner.
In the Book of Colossians, Paul says Epaphras was his fellow servant.
In the Book of Philippians, Paul says Epaphras was his fellow soldier.

Though some may dispute it, the Apostle Paul wrote this Holy Ghost inspired epistle to the church in Colossae!

*****Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to remind ourselves sometimes that an Apostle was a man who was handpicked by the Lord Jesus Christ to carry on the work of establishing the New Testament Church. There were 12 and there can never be any more than these 12 men.

How did Paul put this truth forward?

1Co 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
1Co 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

No one else can claim to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ because it is impossible to see Jesus Christ again until you get to Heaven or He comes in the “Rapture” to take His church out of this world to miss out on the wrath of God, a promise that He made to the church.

These 12 men were chosen according to the perfect will of God.

These 12 men were vessels of choice by our perfect God!

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: “for he is a chosen vessel unto me”, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

This same thing could be said of the other 11 Apostles. We may not read much about them except for Peter and John but we can be sure they were all busy about the work the Lord had given them to do!

The thing is, we know there will never be any more apostles.

If we cannot listen, understand, and believe, what these men who were chosen by the Lord God that we worship then how can we ever say we are Christians.

Of course, we must follow the words of Jesus Christ but we will find that these Apostles will never go against what the Lord has said and they will never go against any part of the entire Word of God, all 66 books of the Bible.

There is no modern-day book of the Bible. God will never change and God chose these men to give us the truth, including the Apostle Paul!

Who is Paul writing to?

1) To the saints. A saint is a person, male or female, who has separated themselves from the world and consecrated to God by and through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way to reach sainthood.

2) To the “faithful” “brethren”.

The “faithful”, are those who have taken up their own cross and are following the Lord and are known as Christians.

The “brethren”, are those Christians who have accepted the Apostles Doctrine and after salvation had followed the Lord in Believers Baptism and also partaken in the Lord’s Supper and are complete members of the church of Jesus Christ. In many places they are called the elect of God.

Paul is writing to the Church, which is the “Body of Christ”.

It is only the “Body of Christ” who have come to know the peace of God but through the Lord Jesus Christ.

And all these things come only by the “Grace” of God, that we have been called to be the holy children of God.

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

If we have not thanked God for His marvelous “Grace” then we need to stop what we are doing and thank Him now!

Notice also that Timothy, is still traveling with Paul to learn all he could about the church.

*****Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

Notice Paul gives thanks to God.

The true God, is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Two parts of the triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

These are the pillars of the church not three Gods but one God in three persons!

It is important that we offer thanks to the true God but it is more important that we pray to the true God but that prayer will not be accepted unless it is in the name of Jesus Christ.

Joh_15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father “in my name”, he may give it you.

If God has given you a ministry, God will make you get the things you need to complete that ministry!

Sure, He was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob but He is also the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Reject this if you so choose but it does not change the truth!

Notice also that it is not so important that God supply good health, fame and riches to His saints as it is for Him to supply “faith” and “love”.

It is faith and love that will bring growth to the church in the proper manner and cause Christians to remain steadfast in the Word of God!

The Kingdom of God is based upon “faith” and “love”!

This church in Colossae was built upon “faith” and love”!

Faith and love must the pillars of the Christian Life!

1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

What was the commandment?

These two things remain the foundation of the Church or there is no church!

That “faith” must be in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ or it is meaningless! (all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy mind!)

It is “only” by Jesus Christ that we can be in harmony with God and it is just that simple, no matter what the world says!

It is our “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that opens the way into the throne room of God!

We must govern our lives by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Christian must live and die by this belief!

The “love” spoken of here is not the natural love of man that we should already have for one another!

We forget that race divisions are not Biblical!

We are all part of the human race and citizens of the same world and we should already love one another, with our natural love, for our own survival.

The “love” spoken of in this passage is the “love” that each believer must have for one another! This is the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We are to have “faith” in Christ Jesus and love the way that He “loved”!

It is impossible to live upon this earth and have a successful life without Jesus Christ!

Without these basic things then we will have no hope to reach God’s Heaven!

*****Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6 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:

Those that have “faith” in the Lord Jesus Christ and share His “love” with one another will then have the believer’s “Hope”!

It is only by the “Grace” of God that we can have “hope” for eternal life in God’s Heaven!

It is the “hope” that God offers that we will surrender our lives to Jesus Christ!

How can we best describe that “hope”?

1) It is the hope of being raised from the dead and being given a new but perfect glorious body that we will live throughout eternity!

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

2) It is the “hope” that the Lord will return to take us home.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

3) It is the “hope” of dwelling in the throne room of God.

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

4) It is the glorious inheritance that will belong to all God’s children!

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Our “hope’ lies in the reality of all these things and much, much more!

Even in our darkest days we must never lose our “hope” in the promises of God!

We should notice that our “hope” has one great source and that is the “gospel”, the “good news” of Jesus Christ!

The Gospel is the Word of Truth. There is not one false word in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no false teaching in all the Word of God!

We do not have to wish!
We do not have to desire!
We do not have to guess!

We can know, that we know, that we know, the truth of our salvation.

1Jn_5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

We must certainly remember that the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be a God amongst gods. There is only one God and it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Even in Rome with a pantheon of gods, Jesus would have been welcomed to be a part of those others false gods.

Today the world has not changed, the Lord Jesus Christ would be welcomed amongst all the gods of this world but Jesus Christ will never be a part of such a religious system.

Here is where the problem comes!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

The world cannot stand this truth!

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The “Gospel” is intended for every individual upon this earth but there will always be those who reject the truth to their own demise!

Most of our world continue to reject the “Grace” of God and they will receive the “Wrath” of God in its place!

This is also the truth!

Even in all these things the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ will continue to produce fruit.

Everywhere the “Gospel” is preached and taught, there will be those will believe and become new members of God’s family!

1) There is first the fruit of the Holy Spirit

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

2) There is the fruit of new converts.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

3) There is the fruit of sanctification.

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

The Church at Colossae understood and practiced all these things.

All these come by hearing the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

These Colossians had heard the Word of truth from Epaphras.

*****Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Epaphras was the fellowservant of Paul and Timothy at this time but is probable that is Epaphras alone who had planted the church in Colossae.

We know now that this young church in Colossae that had begun with the truth of Jesus Christ, was now being bombarded buy false doctrine from false teachers but as Paul says Epaphras was not one of those!

He was a faithful minister for Jesus Christ!

He had also brought this knowledge back to the Apostle Paul who had responded with this epistle to these Colossians.

Epaphras had come to Paul seeking advice on how to handle the false teaching that was infiltrating his church.

It is obvious that Paul could not go to this church himself as he remained in bondage to Rome.

Paul had never been to this church so they had never met Paul face to face but they knew enough about Paul that they knew they could trust whatever he said.

Paul’s answer to them was this epistle and his promise of prayers.

*****Col 1:9 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;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What did Paul pray for? A great desire that this church would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

We should clearly understand that nothing happens upon this earth that goes against the will of God!

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

And it is the Church that will be the praise of His Glory. Therefore the “Church Age” is truly important!

This plan of the Church Age was developed by God before the foundation of this earth.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Now this is not as the Calvinist say but only those who are made the children of God by accepting the work of Jesus Christ for salvation!

This is God’s Plan and it is not to be questioned by any man!

Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

To those of the world that believe that God adapts to a changing world should study the Scriptures and learn the truth.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Psa 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who died because of the predetermined plan of God and it is our part to have faith in the work of the Lord

Another thing we should understand is that God may allow men to manifest evil but God is never the author of evil.

It is our job to walk worthy of the Lord which pleases God.

*****Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Questions we should ask ourselves:

1) Are we walking worthy of the Lord?
2) Are we pleasing the Lord in the things we do?
3) Is our work producing fruit?
4) Are we increasing in the knowledge of God.

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We must understand that knowing something and having the ability to do something is very different!

We are to live our lives just as worthy as the life of Christ and we cannot do this thing unless we can make application of the Word of God in everything we do!

Everything that God says must be understood as applying to us.

We cannot please God by just applying the Word of God in bits and pieces!

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Christian conduct must meet a high standard for we must seek the knowledge of God’s will and apply it to our lives every day!

We will be in this thing of being a Christian, alone.

*****Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Without a doubt we must admit to ourselves, that we are weak physically and morally but by Jesus Christ we are endowed with a Power from on High.

Our power is the glorious power of God and is made known by God’s act of “creation” as we are “Born Again” into a new life.

We live in the patience of God that does not give up in dire circumstances.
We live by the longsuffering of God when we do not retaliate for being treated wrongly.
We do both these things in the “joy” of God knowing that we are pleasing our Lord and Savior.
We offer our prayers of thanks to the Lord for being seen as Christians and for providing the power for us to keep going in the name of the Lord.

We cannot survive without the power of God in our lives!

Think about some of the things we must endure:

We will face disease, if not in ourselves but surely in others.
We will face accidents, if not ourselves but others.
We may face poverty, if not in ourselves surely, we will see it in others.
We may face loss, if not ourselves but maybe in others.
We may face death, ourselves but surely in others.

This is just a short list but there will be even much greater things we will face as Christians but God has the power to give us understanding and piece as we go through these things.

God has the power to strengthen us and settle us during these things.
God has the power to give us hope and security during these times.

We can secure God’s Power through prayer and notice a fervent prayer should begin with giving thanks to God for what He has already done but also for what God is about to do in response to our request!

We should also know that there is no limit to our increase to the knowledge of God except for our own capacity to absorb it, our diligence to study it, and our faith. Much faith, much knowledge, Little faith, little knowledge.

When we feed the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit will not just set back and let us go through the trials of life alone but through Him we will have the power to overcome them and to conquer them.

God expects us to learn from the trials of life and be stronger through them!

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What did Jesus say:

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

It is only by the Holy Spirit, God within us, that we can endure the troubles and trials of this world and this only by a close and very personal relationship with the Lord!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the light of all Spiritual Knowledge.

We live in the present “Grace” of God but we will soon live in the coming “Glory” of God!

1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The Word of God is never confusing, we just make it confusing because it is so simple!

It is by the Holy Spirit that dwells within us that we have been delivered from the power of darkness!

*****Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

We may still live in this world of darkness and in this body of sinful flesh, the truth is, once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior we have already been delivered or we could say rescued from the power of darkness!

Darkness is the symbol of misery and adversity:

Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

The child of God should have no fear of this dark world nor should we fear physical death because we have already been delivered from these things!

We are redeemed if we know Christ as our Savior!

*****Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Redemption speaks of being rescued by paying a ransom.

Redemption is buying back those things had had been lost. This is why we use the phrase saved or lost!

Being saved is made to have peace with God!

Col 1:20 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.

Notice these things take place only by the “precious Blood of Jesus Christ”.

The sin of all people requires the blood of our Savior before it could be eliminated from all people. The only thing lacking was that this thing must be believed on by those who are seeking salvation!

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

And who is this Savior?

*****Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 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:

This Savior is also our Creator!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the express image of His Father.

Note this is not in appearance but in actions! It is only the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who has the divine nature of God, because they are one and the same person!

He is the first begotten of all creatures because He existed before the Cosmos was created.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

It was totally necessary for our Redeemer to be 100% God and 100% man that He could mediate between God and mankind!
It was necessary for God to fulfill all His prophecies.
It was necessary to redeem us from all sin.
It was necessary to conquer Satan’s pride.
It was necessary to reconcile all humans to God and God to all humans.

It would simply require “faith” in all these things to become a reality!

Why did Paul choose his words so carefully here? The truth of Jesus Christ will destroy all false teaching about Christ and God.

As believers we get to see what God is like and God gets to know all actions of the human through personal experience!

In false religion there can be multiple mediators between God and man but , there is only one and that One is Jesus Christ.

God is not some unconcerned and distant God who has moved on into outer space after His creation.
God is not out of touch with this world!
God is a God who is always close at hand.

God has not made it difficult to reach Him and God has even shown us all how to reach Him!

It is by Jesus Christ that we know we have a loving God who cares for us in a personal way!

We also need not be confused when Paul says Jesus was the firstborn of all creatures.

The Son of God is not a created being it means that He existed before all creation.

All creation is the heritage of Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the Father!

AND, God did not create Himself!

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Creation owes its praise and honor, worship and service to the Lord Jesus Christ because this earth and all creation exists for its Creator!

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Thank God for this wonderful book we call the Bible, which contains all the Word of God we need to completely know our God who never changes!

Amen

LESSONS IN GOD'S WORD

Taking time to read the Bible

Book of Colossians

God’s Plan is to Bless His Children

Walking in the Wisdom of God

Knowledge of the Peace of God

The Knowledge of Christian Behavior

Knowing the Limits of Man-made Laws (Jesus Christ vs False Religion)

Knowing More About God’s Plan

Coming to Know Our Heavenly Father

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