The Son of His Father’s Love

April 20, 2016 9:48 pm / Leave a comment

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Christ Jesus: Son of His Father’s Love

April 20, 2016 11:02 am / Leave a comment

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (NKJ)

Many children are born from the physical expression of love between their parents, often planned, and perhaps as often, not planned. The Bible teaches in Colossians 1:13 that Jesus Christ is the Son of his Father’s love. God in his love planned his Son from all eternity past, since they both co-exist eternally, along with the Holy Spirit:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Colossians 1:15-17 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

God’s love for Christ his Son and for the humanity he created in the world surrounds and lives within the incarnation of Christ. Both the Father’s love for his Son, his beloved Son, and his love for people are the fountainhead, the source, the driving motivation of the incarnation, the divine humanity of Christ on earth. Christ is the full expression of his Father’s love. The love of the Father birthed the Son, and Christ is “the Son of his [the Father’s] love,” both in eternity past and in the incarnation.

Scripture

First, Christ is the outspoken word which reveals the Father’s nature and character of love.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave…

his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 1:3a He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love

Second, Christ is the beloved Son, the one whom his Father loves.

Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Where Does This Leave Us?

Believers are in Christ, in the Beloved.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

John 17:23 I in them and you in me– that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

Everything concerning us is motivated and dominated by God’s love.

Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 8:38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved– 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

What difference does this make?

The difference is that we once lived under the authority of the darkness, and God transferred us into a different kingdom, a different realm of reality, a kingdom of light in which Christ rules, that very Christ who is the Son of the Father’s love. Chains are broken, bondages are collapsed, the prisoners are free. We no longer owe allegiance to what causes our own destruction, and we have one fighting for us who is greater than death and darkness itself. God is love! And he is our God.

Love rules for us, within us, and through us. Love has become the new expression and protection of our being. We are safe at last. We no longer need to worry, nor to plan out our own futures. Jesus Christ reigns in our hearts and lives. Love rules our day. The one who is stronger than everything else in the universe claims us as his own. We are his. We can live our lives without fear. We can turn and face our enemies and in the name of Jesus Christ the King command them to leave. And at the end of the day, a great big no matter what, we are loved in Christ.

Wildwood Early April Part Two

April 9, 2016 9:24 pm / Leave a comment

Beauty Before the Barrenness Begins

Wildwood Early April Part One

April 8, 2016 12:47 pm / Leave a comment

Week 8 Life Group: Colossians Bible Study

April 7, 2016 5:25 pm / Leave a comment

God the Father and God the Son: Colossians 1:12b-20–High Christology

Chapter 1 Overview

A. In this letter Paul addresses the Colossians as Believers in Christ

B. He recounts how they came to be saved (Col 1:6-7)

C. Paul recounts how he prays for these precious believers

1. He thanks God for their faith and love in Christ through the Holy Spirit (Col 1:3-8, especially 3-4)

2. He petitions God to give them clear understanding of his will and the power to do it with joy and thanksgiving (Col 1:9-12a)

D. Paul spells out the Father’s role in the Colossian believers’ salvation (Col 12b-14)

E. The Father’s role spills over into the Son’s role (Col 1:14)

F. Paul expands upon the unsurpassable excellences of Christ (Col 1:15-20)

Question: In this letter only, which of the three persons of the trinity does Paul present with least detail? second least? the most detail? (For Scripture concerning the Spirit’s role in believers’ salvation, see Galatians 3-6.)

G. The Colossian believers’ position in Christ (Col 1: 13-14, 21-23a)

H. Paul’s role among the Colossians and the kingdom of Christ (Col 1:23b-2:5)

Part 1: God the Father’s Role in Salvation (Col 1:12b-14)

Colossians 12b …[the Father] who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I. The Inheritance

A. How has God “qualified” the Colossian believers and us to share in the inheritance? (see :13)

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

B. Describe some of the differences between the dominion of darkness and the Kingdom of light (the kingdom of the Son he loves)

C. What is the inheritance?

II. The Inheritors

A. Who are “his holy people in the kingdom of light?”

B. How are “redemption” and “forgiveness of sins” related? (vs 14)

Redemption = to loosen, to set free, to release

Forgiveness = to loosen, to set free, to release in exchange for an equivalent payment of some kind

III. Christ is the Mediator Between God and Man

A. OT Israel was God’s son

Exodus 4:22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son,

Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

B. NT Israel is Christ, who is God’s Son

Matthew 2:15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

C. The OT Exodus from Egypt

D. The NT Exodus from the dominion of darkness, enslavement to sin, curse of death, release from bondage to the ruler of this world (Satan)

Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Other Great Verses:

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Ephesians 1:14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Week 7 Life Group: Colossians Bible Study

March 31, 2016 12:47 pm / Leave a comment

Prayer: Part 2 Colossians 1:9-12a The Community of Believers

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father…

I. Christians are a Spiritually Organic Community

A. Christ is the head from whom all else flows, the church is the body of Christ (Colossians 1:24; 2:19; Ephesians 4:16).

B. Christians are in Christ, and he is in them (Colossians 1:4, 1:28, John 17:23; Romans 8:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

C. It is therefore impossible for a Christian to be disconnected from the fellowship of believers (out of touch, out of fellowship–perhaps; spiritually disconnected–never!)

II. The Community of Believers as Exemplified in Colossians

A. How does faith come?

Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Colossians 1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel

Colossians 1:7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

B. Epaphras most likely learned from Paul; Paul from Christ and then from Ananias and the other believers in Damascus.

1. Epaphras reported to Paul and Paul to his “team.”

2. This entire group prays regularly and frequently for the Colossian believers.

3. Christ himself and the Holy Spirit pray for all believers (Romans 8:26-27, 34).

C. This is the New Testament pattern and it remains so today:

1. As believers, we are never cut off nor alone, no matter how we may perceive our situation.

2. We are always connected both to Christ and to his body.

Paraphrase #1 verses 9-10:

Paul and Timothy continue to pray for the Colossians, asking God…

to fill them with________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

through all (or, in all) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
in order that _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paraphrase # 2 verses 9-12a:

“Basically, his [Paul’s] petition is that his readers might know God’s will and have the power to do it.” (O’Brien, 86)

III. The Petition portion of Paul’s prayer flows naturally out of the Thanksgiving portion (Thanksgiving–Colossians Week 6).

A. Why does thanksgiving make a good foundation for petition?

1. thanksgiving is a form of worship

2. thanksgiving for God’s deeds of blessing and wonder past restores confidence in his willingness and ability to do so again

a. If the original Israelites in their wilderness wanderings had remembered to continually thank God for his many mighty miracles of their past history with him, would they have sinned so grievously by disobedience? Would they have complained so bitterly and ultimately died before reaching the promised land?

b. Can you think of personal examples when thanksgiving has led to further blessing?

c. Application: Are we remembering to incorporate thanksgiving into each intercessory prayer we make?

IV. Paul’s prayer of Petition summarizes the saint’s (believer’s) LIFE IN CHRIST

A. CHRIST IS THE MODEL of how we are to live in him.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters…” –Matthew 10:24-25a

B. A life in Christ produces FRUIT, just as the gospel does:

the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world–just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. –Colossians 1:5-6

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, –Colossians 1:10

1. fruit carries two meanings

a. reproduction–sharing the gospel with others so that they may come to faith

a) the gospel bears fruit and grows throughout the whole world (v. 6)

b. Christ-like character within the life of every believer (v. 10)

i. walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord in every way

ii. engage in good works

iii. increasing in the knowledge of God

C. A life in Christ leads the believer to the CROSS, just as Christ’s path led him to the cross.

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, –Colossians 1:11

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. —Luke 9:23

1. endurance (ὑπομονὴ, hu-po-mon-ee) is bearing up for a long while under a weight of difficult circumstances without giving up or losing faith in Christ

2. patience (μακροθυμία, ma-cro-thee-me-a) is having mercy, patience, tolerance, and love towards people in our lives who are difficult to deal with, just as God has great patience with us

D. Paul prays for TWO ITEMS that are essential to the Colossians’ successful walk of faith in Christ

a. clear knowledge, understanding, and wisdom concerning the ways and will of God in Christ

i. Christ based his walk on exact knowledge and agreement with the will of God. Can you think of biblical examples that demonstrate this?

b. God’s mighty power acting in grace on behalf of and within each believer

V. All of the above is to be accomplished with JOY and THANKSGIVING to the Father, who qualifies believers to partake in his kingdom of light.

A. Grammatically the joy and thanksgiving can apply to everything involved in the situations that call forth endurance and patience. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 1:2)

B. Grammatically the joy and thanksgiving can apply to the overall walk of faith–to the entire package of blessing and responsibility that is the inheritance of every believer in Christ.