Clean and Free

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we understand that as long as we remain in these physical bodies we still host the old sin nature. To deny that would be self-deceit. Anyone who understands Bible Doctrine and observes humanity knows better. The "ifs" in this passage are 3rd class condition in the koine Greek language, meaning the believer may or may not make this claim, or confess to the sin he has committed. ("Confess" : to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent to, concede, not to refuse, to promise not to deny, to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of ). But IF he does acknowledge his sin, privately to the Father, the righteous Father is going to always do the same thing (He is faithful), because it is the fulfillment of His promise. That is, He forgives the sin we acknowledge and cleanses the sins we are too immature to know are sins in our life ("all unrighteousness"), because Jesus paid the full penalty for all these sins on the cross. This makes us clean and free! The Holy Spirit can now fill us and we are qualified to serve our Lord. We sheep are totally dependent on the Shepherd, both for our eternal salvation and for our daily cleansing. It is His Work! Refusing to submit to this grooming by the Shepherd leaves us in a state of filth and uselessness (sheep cannot clean themselves), unfit for service in His Kingdom and under constant discipline from our Father. I'd rather be clean and free.

Fellowship

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:6-9

Fellowship with God is close companionship; like-mindedness with Him. "we" are believers; Church. "We," therefore, are saved individuals; members of the Royal Family of God. Just as you can be your parents' child and not get along with them very well, we can belong to God and be disobedient in our attitudes and behavior. That is not fellowship. What breaks our fellowship with God? Sin. Walking in darkness. Loving the things of the world. The tricky thing about believers' sin is we can THINK we're getting away with our self-indulgence and misbehavior, but all the while we are lying to ourselves and to the world and to God. We can have fellowship with God and each other only by walking in the Light. Practicing our faith. Trusting in God's perfect provision. Learning, obeying and sharing His Word. Honoring His Name. Jesus died once to pay the whole penalty for our sin. His blood (atoning death) CONTINUES TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL SIN! That is the meaning of verse 7. If we are not continually cleansed, we are not fit to serve. The cleansing is an ongoing process for us, who continue to confess our known sins to the Father and claim Jesus' unlimited atonement. Our salvation was complete from the moment of faith in Christ. Our fellowship with the Father is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment practice of maintaining a close relationship with Him, thereby allowing the Holy Spirit control in our life. This is not a ritual. It is a simple prayer: "Father, I've sinned. (Name it.) Shape me up for your service and bring me close to You again." Verse 9 promises us He always will forgive and cleanse, when we confess (admit, rather than try to deny) our sins. Our light and our fellowship is then restored. We are free to love and serve and grow in grace.

No Darkness

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

Light. Symbol of purity and holiness. This is God. He is perfect in His Essence of : Sovereignty, Righteousness, Justice, Love, Eternal Life, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Veracity and Immutability. Meaning: ruler of the universe, perfect goodness, absolutely fair, total unconditional love, no beginning-no end, all knowledge, all power, all places at all times, absolute truth, and never changing. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He planned and executed our salvation, and He indwells each believer in our earthly sojourn, as we learn, apply and practice Bible Doctrine in our daily lives. Knowing the essence of God enables us to focus on Who and What He is at all times and in all circumstances. This reinforces our faith in His Person and gives us stability in our mental attitude. There can be no darkness in God's essence. Light penetrates darkness and exposes all that is contrary to His perfect plan of grace. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we appropriate this Light into our own lives, and thereby illuminate the world. The world loves darkness, but we are here to shed the light of God's Word, awakening them to their need for truth and love, which is available only through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Of course we meet resistance, but the light will overcome. It reached you and me, didn't it?

The Apostacy

Let no one..deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who..exalts himself above every.. god or object of worship..takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God..you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work..he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4,6-7

I must apologize for the slight abbreviations, to accommodate the status limit. Please read the passage in your Bible and get Paul's full admonition. The "it" that he refers to here is the Day of the Lord. That is a Biblical term meaning the time Jesus returns to set things in order.These Thessalonian believers had been under pressure and were being told that the Day had come and gone. Someone had even forged a letter, as if from Paul, telling them that. Some were stressed and confused, thinking they were in the Great Tribulation, and not attending to the priorities of the church. Suffice it to say each generation has its tribulations: world, flesh, devil, thorns in the flesh, etc. But the Big One is yet to come, brethren, and indeed cannot come 'til the Holy Spirit is removed. Holy Spirit. He's the One who indwells all believers of the Church age. He's the restrainer of ultimate evil in the world. You think we have trouble now? What if there were no Holy Spirit, restraining the evil? Can you imagine? Let's not EVEN! Let's rest, rejoice, pray and do our jobs as unto the Lord day by day. We'll know when the time changes. We've been given the order of events. This is not it.

Worthy

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

When Jesus comes He will be glorified in His saints. That's us believers. It won't be by our own human energy, brethren. God makes us worthy to glorify Him. He is omnipotent. All the power of the universe is in Him, and He uses that power to produce in us the kind of goodness that accurately represents Himself. We who love God do desire goodness. We have a standard of Perfect Righteousness we see in God Himself. Since We cannot accomplish that standard, He gives us His Own; we appropriate His Righteousness by our faith in His perfect provision. Jesus' atonement for all our sins made this possible. That's why His name is eternally glorified in us and by us and through us. And He honors us because we belong to Him. It's a family thing. Faith is what we know. We know He is Perfect Righteousness, and that He has imputed that Righteousness to us, who believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross. We also know that when He returns, it will be to redeem His own and to discard all that is contrary to His will. We know this because He has told us so, and what He has said, that He will do.

God's Justice

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8


One of the characteristics of God's Essence is Perfect Justice. Always fair. Cannot be unfair. He is Perfect Justice because he is also Omniscience, therefore knows the mind and soul of every one who ever has lived or ever will live. He is Perfect Justice because He gave His Son and provided the way for every human to come to know about the propitiation of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty in full for everyone's sins. He is Perfect Justice because He allows our free will to believe or deny, accept or reject the finished Work of Jesus on our behalf. And here's the Justice: your sins are paid for. No one will ever go to hell for his sins. They are no longer an issue. The judgment is, for those who have rejected the Only Savior, there is no more sacrifice for sins. Everyone has opportunity in this life to learn about the grace plan of God, the Work of the Savior, and decide to obey or reject the gospel. There is simply no recourse for those who reject Him. No plan B.

Reject Evil

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. I Thessalonians 5:19-22


If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells you. Your body still harbors the old sin nature, however, with certain strengths, weaknesses and character traits that actually resist the Holy Spirit's influence. If you allow the OSN to have its way (your choice), the HS will be quenched. You know what that means. It is like pouring water on a fire. He doesn't really cease to indwell, but He does withdraw, because He cannot share your soul's priorities with the OSN. That defeats your purpose as an ambassador of Christ. Willful sinning, occultic practices, selfishness, anger, lust, all circumvent our witness for Jesus Christ. No production there. Only damage. The written Word of God is our standard of truth and faith. Even if a scripture (Biblical prophecy) seems strange to you, do not scorn it. Learn and store it for future application where needed. It will be needed. There are many kinds of evil. We cannot really anticipate all of them, because they are demon initiated. So, how do we know? If it is contrary to the written Word of God, it is false! That is the rule. We do not debate evil or rationalize evil or flirt with evil or ignore evil. We REJECT EVERY KIND OF EVIL! We don't need it, and we don't need to apologize for rejecting it. There is no room in the soul of the born-again believer for any kind of evil. Denounce it and move on.

Rejoice

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are IN CHRIST forever. Our eternal destiny is settled, but we're still here, in these bodies with the old sin nature in constant conflict with the indwelling Holy Spirit's influence. We have work to do, and choices to make. Moment by moment. While we wait for our Lord's return and our promotion, here's some advice: 1. Rejoice. Happiness is a choice. Whiners are losers and losers are whiners who "don't get no respect and no satisfaction." The believer is a member of the Royal Family of God! We have everything to be happy about, as opposed to those whose only pleasures in life are of the worldly variety and who let politics and competition dominate them. 2. Pray in the same way you eat. Continually. Habitually. No necessary ritual, no required posture. Privately converse with God as you go about your daily routine. He's listening. He's also advising. It's nobody else's business. 3. Give thanks for everything in your life. God gave you that job, those parents, that spouse, those kids. Acknowledge the source and understand you are not navigating these situations alone. Angels are observing, as are other believers and unbelievers, as you demonstrate God's grace provision to you in every situation. There are no accidents. Remember Whose you are.

That Which is Good

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. I Thessalonians 5:14-15

Well, some believers are unruly, can you believe it? Some are feebleminded (wimpy; easily frightened or discouraged). Do you know any Christians like that? I do. Some are weak in faith and lack confidence. We must practice patience! Everyone has his personal circumstances to live with. God called each of us into the Christian Life, having known from eternity past what our individual issues would be. Learning and applying Bible Doctrine is the answer for all these human frailties, but some believers have to be convinced of that. They'd rather whine. All are not at the same level of development. Just as in any other discipline, the elder, experienced members of the Body need to coach and encourage those who are struggling with the training exercises, all the while respecting their privacy, of course. If they're not asking for help, back off! Christianity is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There are doctrines to learn and promises to claim, while we learn to maintain the standard of our Lord's love for each other and for all mankind. Every person we meet is a believer in whom Christ lives, or an unbeliever for whom Christ died. You and I, brethren, are ambassadors for Christ in the devil's world. That is our job description, as long as we remain on this planet. We are here to represent the Lord Christ.

Trumpet Call

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

He's coming back, brethren! He said he would, and He will. We don't have to know when, we just need to be ready. Even if I'm not ready, that will not change the fact. He has set a time when this will happen. The whole point of this teaching is comfort and assurance. There were rumors abounding in Thessalonica, and false doctrines about the return of the Christ for His own. There were questions about those who had died; would the living precede them in resurrection? There will be a shout, and then a trumpet call. If you're anywhere near a cemetery, you will see the bodies of deceased believers join their spirits in the heavens with Jesus. This will happen worldwide, no matter where the remains may be. Next, those who are still in living bodies will be caught up into the gathering. The souls in heaven who have departed their earthly bodies are awaiting this event, when they will be reunited with their resurrected bodies, which will be perfect as Jesus' resurrected body is perfect. The word "rapture" is not found in the Bible, but this intantaneous resurrection of believers (snatching away) defines that word. It is terminology which describes Jesus' return to claim His own. Imminent. Without warning. Like the thief in the night. Are you ready?

Blind and Deaf

Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear........ But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. Jeremiah 5:21,23

There are those among us who are willfully, deliberately blind and deaf to the Word of God. They were the majority in Jeremiah's day, when Judah was about to go into captivity because of their disobedience. They despised and ridiculed Jeremiah for proclaiming what God had commissioned him to say to the nation. It was a thankless, lonely job, but Jeremiah continued for one very simple reason: he could not help himself. He was compelled by the Holy Spirit to speak out for Truth, warning his people of the coming calamity for their nation. (Jeremiah 20:9," But if I say I will not mention his word , or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.") Some today have known that burden, in a sense; enough so that Jeremiah's lament is hauntingly similar to their own experience as believers who are sometimes challenged and rejected in the open forum, and sometimes even at home and among friends. Nevertheless, God's Word goes forth, and it will not return void. (Isaiah 55:11)

Lions Can Wait

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 2 Timothy 4:16-17

By this time, Paul has been through hearings, trials and imprisonments, accused of heresies and treason against the state. This is his final imprisonment and he knows execution is soon coming for him. We see in verses 6-8 that he's ready to go. He knows he has done what Jesus commissioned him to do, and that his reward awaits in heaven. It hasn't been easy, but to the dedicated servant of Christ it has been more than worth it. Just a little while longer....it is cold here, Timothy, please bring my cloak when you come, and my books. Not everyone had been faithful or helpful, and some left him hanging out to dry, but the Lord had a purpose in everything Paul endured, and Paul was forgiving. The lions had to wait while the gospel was proclaimed to the Gentiles! And it was proclaimed. The former pharisee was certain of his mission, and certain that God would protect his life until the mission was completed. Faith is knowing God, and knowing that God's promises will come to pass, with me or without me; but for today, I have this work to do.....

Tickled Ears

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5

This has actually been going on, probably since Paul penned this epistle. Humans are shallow, selfish, and really prefer to be entertained. Many seek ecstatic experience and alternative reality. Learning Bible Doctrine is work. Let's just have some really uplifting music, a nice "feel good" devotional, some fellowship meals, and provide "something for the youth," and we'll call it church. That's well and good, until someone asks us exactly what we believe and why we believe it; what's so special about Christianity; aren't there several ways to God; and until we become concerned about the salvation of a dear friend or family member. Will we know how to reach out? What will we tell them about the finished work of Jesus Christ? What if our friend thinks he has committed the unpardonable sin? How will we answer? What if we are not entirely sure of our own salvation? What is our assurance? Hold the line, Timothy! You know the myths and the universalist cults are Satan's own lie. Teach your flock the truth, because our salvation and our fellowship with the Father depend on our knowledge of His Truth, and our practice of the Christian Way of Life, day by day. You are our shepherd. Lay it on the line. Protect us. Lead us aright.

God-breathed

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Those of us who are Bible believers know this scripture, and we know that it means the written Word of God is our only authority for doctrine, for discipline, for understanding what constitutes God's righteousness . That's because we know that God Himself breathed these words through the souls and the pens of the men who actually wrote them down. See, when you have a written standard, that eliminates the confusion of "Brother so-and-so has received a word from God" about something. If he has received something, it had better agree with the written Word, else it is not acceptable as doctrine. In fact, since the canon of scripture was completed with the book of Revelation, there is no need for any extra-biblical doctrine. Before the Church was born, God gave doctrinal instruction through certain spiritually gifted men, by necessity, so that those who were seeking and willing to believe in Him could receive instruction. The Koine Greek language, however, was the tool used to distribute the Gospel message to the entire known world at the onset of the Church. With those gospels and epistles, the Body of Christ has been prepared to represent Him in the world until He returns. Through His Word we are equipped to do His will.

Quarrels

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26

There were gnostics in Timothy's church, who thought they possessed "deeper knowledge" than he'd learned from Paul. There were legalistic Jews, who insisted that believers should be circumcised and keep the Law. There were frustrated women, who argued among themselves about details, and criticized each others' service. Just teach the Truth, Timothy, of Jesus' grace provision; the good news of His finished work. Refuse to be involved in the arguments of the stupid, arrogant and self-righteous. Don't let it get to you, but gently teach them that God's plan, policy and provision are always GRACE; fulfilled by the Son and enabled by the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who are IN CHRIST. Please notice it is a tactic of Satan to cause this kind of contention and discord among the brethren. Pastor's duty: shape these people up by clear and consistent teaching of Bible Doctrine. Not by stroking. By faithful and authoritative TEACHING.

Hold the Line

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Here it is again, Timothy. HOLD THE LINE with the solid doctrine you've learned from Paul. Absolute Truth is your standard, as represented by Jesus Christ and appropriated by our faith in Him. His love is perfect and eternal. He has entrusted the treasure of His Gospel to you, an earthen vessel, to be safeguarded with the help of God the Holy Spirit, because evil abounds and will distort that message in ways that we cannot anticipate. Repeat: we cannot anticipate all the distortions. Therefore, we must learn the Truth (Bible Doctrine), commit that Truth to our memory banks, absorb it, practice it, teach it, KNOW it. Then, any distortion will be immediately recognized as false doctrine and eliminated from our lives. Don't be suckered by sweet sounding platitudes, or distracted by "esoteric" knowledge. If what you read, see or hear contradicts the written Word of God, it is false! When you know the real, you will not be taken in by the fake. Jesus' finished work is the real. All other "ways to God" are fake. That's the standard.

Sound Mind

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7


Fear: submission to legalism rather than confidence in God's grace. We who have believed in Jesus Christ are IN CHRIST for all eternity. There is nothing to fear. That is our assurance. If we allow fear to control our thoughts and actions, we are neutralized in the sphere of spiritual warfare; useless as ambassadors for Christ. We have as our helper God the Holy Spirit. He gives us HIS absolute power. HIS perfect love, and the balanced mind made possible through HIS doctrinal discipline. With catagorical Bible doctrine stored in the soul, we can meet any challenge the world, the flesh and the devil can concoct. We can say with David, "the battle is the Lord's."

Sincere Faith

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5


Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, knew he was going to die soon. His last epistle was to Timothy, his "son" in the Christian faith. Apparently, as Paul evangelized throughout the region, Timothy's Jewish grandmother and mother had been early converts to faith in Jesus Christ. His Greek father was no longer on the scene. Early in Timothy's life, his mother and grandmother had made the Gospel clear to him, and he believed, also. What a blessed child he was to have that kind of home, where Jesus Christ was part of his every day reality. Being Jews, they had Paul's perspective on Jesus' perfect fulfillment of the Law, and passed that teaching on to Timothy as he grew. This is the way it works. One generation commends God's works to another (Psalm 145:3). How sad to see children of parents who despise Christianity and have taught their offspring to have contempt for Bible teaching. They still have opportunity to hear and believe, but are predisposed to tune out the truth, because of their parents' prejudice. Yet, their sins have all been paid for. Their only condemnation is that they reject the One Who paid the price. As long as they are alive, there is still hope for their salvation. It can happen.

Guard Truth

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. I Timothy 6:20-21


What has been entrusted to Timothy's care is the mystery doctrine of the Church Age. The Church was a mystery to Old Testament believers, but was revealed by Jesus after His resurrection. As pastor of a local church, this young preacher had an enormous responsibility, first to the Lord, then to his flock, whom he must teach the truth of the Gospel and the Christian Way of Life. Paul was deeply concerned that Timothy be steadfast in truth and keep God's system of authority within the local church. He is cautioned here and elsewhere in this same epistle (ch. 1:5-7, 6:3-5) to avoid endless debating and arguing, instigated by those who consider themselves too intellectual for simple instruction and obedience to God's Word. Christians who get involved in such debates become confused in their priorities and distract Godly believers from the main objective: Learn, absorb and apply the Word of God! There is no debate. If you reject the Word of God, there is nothing to discuss, and what you have is not faith.

One Mediator

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

One God, soveriegn over the universe. Absolutely Righteous, Absolutely Just. Cannot tolerate sin. Sin = death. All humans are condemned at birth because of our Old Sin Nature, inherited from Adam. No naturally concieved human can mediate our forgiveness, because all are tainted with sin and unacceptable to God. There is nothing we can do about it. We are helpless and hopeless without a perfect Lamb, born without sin, who can receive in His own perfect person the penalty for our sin. That Lamb was virgin born (no inherited sin), lived a sinless life (no personal sin) and willingly took the judgment for your sins and mine on the cross. One mediator. At exactly the right time in history. Jesus Christ, God/Man. No other sacrifice could ever be acceptable. No other work can count. That's why there can be only one Savior. Acts 4:12: There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.

Pray!

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4

Paul's instruction for those he was teaching: pray! Petitions are formal requests to one in authority. Prayers are earnest, fervent asking from the one who can help. Intercession is entreaty in favor of another. Thanksgiving is understood by everyone. Give thanks for all people. Specifically kings, presidents, rulers, etc., who have authority in our government or jobs or homes or schools. It is to our own advantage to do this. Wise rulers who are submissive to the authority of God will make wise decisions, which benefit all our lives. Selfish rulers make politically motivated decisions which bring about chaos in our nation. More than that, though, wise leaders will preserve and protect our nation's freedom, without which people cannot hear and respond to the Gospel and be saved. Our Lord wants everyone to be saved, and each one's opportunity for Gospel understanding is enabled within the framework of national freedom from tyranny. Freedom isn't just about lifestyle choices. Freedom is about eternal choices, as each one learns about the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayerfulness

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:2-6

Prayer doesn't always mean asking for something. Prayerfulness is a state of mind, a conciousness of abiding IN CHRIST, 24/7. Paul did ask these believers to pray for him and the other missionaries, as we should pray for fellow believers everywhere, for opportunity and for open minds of those who are willing to hear the Truth. Where we are is of no consequence. We are where God has placed us at any given moment. What matters is that we are prepared to proclaim the Gospel message, clearly, to those we encounter. That is our assignment, fellow ambassador. Let us speak the Truth wisely, graciously, and with language which communicates Jesus' love to those who will question our authority and our motive.

Whatever

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17


The Lord Jesus is our authority and our standard for what we say or do day by day. We who have died with Him are hidden IN HIM. We are aliens and pilgrims in the earth, where we serve as ambassadors from the Sovereign of the Universe. I must be careful to represent Him faithfully and accurately as I go about my life. God has given me this life, this family, these friends, this job, these aquaintences who may not know my Lord, at this time and in this place. If there is someone in your life today, believer, who is hostile to you and/or your faith, please realize that person is here by God's design, and you have a responsibility to uphold the family Name. The Royal Family of God, that is. Cultivate your spiritual gifts. Sharpen your Bible skills. Every person you meet either has truth you need to learn, or needs truth you are prepared to share. The unbeliever has nothing to offer, but he needs what you can give: the Word of God.

Scorekeeping

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23

You, saved person, have identified with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. That is your eternal position. You are divorced from the world. The world, therefore, no longer has any claims on your conduct. Handling, tasting, touching, all are details of life. They are distractions from your objective of representing Christ in your daily walk. We who are IN CHRIST do not need to keep score. The score has been settled. We are declared righteous by the finished Work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The rules of religion do not apply to the one who reckons himself dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ. That's forever.

Disqualification

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Colossians 2:18-19

Man-made (and Satan-made) religion creates a system of seft-effacement which in reality is false humility. ("I'm more humble, therefore better, than you are, you arrogant Bible waver! And after all, who are we to say?") As in all cases of rebellion, those who reject the Truth will eagerly believe ANYTHING else, such as angelic beings (demons) have higher power and knowledge, therefore deserve our worship. This is gnosticism. Occultism in any form is evil. We will not learn what God wants us to know by studying or practicing any form of occultism. How you feel about it is irrelevant. Occultists will try to convince you that they have "special" knowledge, greater than God has revealed to us in Holy Scripture. Buying into such lies disqualifies you from fellowship with the Father. You cannot grow in your spiritual understanding by disobeying the direct will of God. If what they say, print or practice contradicts the written Word of God, it is Wrong! "Let no man beguile you.." (KJV)

Legalists

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17


Rules about eating and drinking, festivals, New Moon, Sabbath, all had meaning and purpose before Jesus came. They were designed to teach God's people about norms and standards, about the Savior Who was to come, about why we needed a savior. Each religious festival was a commemoration of an event in the history of Israel, or illustrated a major coming event in the fulfullment of God's plan. The Sabbath day memorializes God's rest after He had completed the creation, and our perfect rest in all He has provided. Well, Jesus CAME! The reality is with us. Remember that IOU He cancelled? Relax in the knowledge of those wonderful old traditions, but do not allow anyone to make them your standards for the Christian Way of Life. Our Sabbath is every moment of every day, because we rest completely in the finished work of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cancelled Debt

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15


Actually, you were born dead in your sins. You never had to do anything to become a sinner. You inherited sin from our father, Adam. We humans are absolutely helpless to do anything about our sin. Only God could make us alive, IN CHRIST. This was a legal transaction. He cancelled the IOU that was against us (legal indebtedness; the King James Version calls it the handwriting of ordinances), because Jesus paid the debt in full, receiving our judgment on the cross. The demonic "powers and authorities" intended for Jesus' crucifixion to be the end of Him and of humanity's hope, but not so. He triumphed! Waved the cancelled debt in their faces! This is the doctrine of expiation: He completely paid it off. We are free.




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Reconciled

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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. Colossians 1:19-20



God the Father made the plan...for God the Son to execute...re-establishing the family relationship that had been broken in the garden. When Adam disobeyed, it built a wall of separation between humanity and God. "All things" were affected by this separation. Jesus came to reconcile humanity to the Father, by His own shed human blood. (Hebrews 9:22 without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.) The Blood of Christ is a technical term, meaning Jesus' agonizing separation from the Father as He was judged for our sins on the cross. "My God (Father), My God (Spirit), why have You forsaken Me?" The Father and Spirit had to forsake Him, because God can have nothing to do with sin, and He became our sin! Therein, brethren, is our peace. Jesus is fully God, Who cannot die, and fully man, who had to die, in order to bring us back where we belong. But now He lives! It is finished!

SRJLEOOOVI

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

1.My God is Soveriegn over all creation. 2.He is Perfect Righteousness; whatever He does is good. 3.He is Justice; always fair to every person. 4.He Loves you more than anyone else could possibly love you. 5.From everlasting to everlasting, He is God. 6.His Omnicience knows everything about you and everything you could ever need. 7.His Omnipresence is with you wherever you are at any time. 8.His Omnipotence is mightier than any enemy. 9.What He has said is always True, what He has promised He will do. 10.My God is all these things, and He never changes.

All that He is is yours, believer, because you are IN CHRIST JESUS.

Ask. Relax. Wait.

All Things

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17


Jesus Christ is God. He did all the work in creation. Nothing exists that He did not create, by and for Himself. He not only created, but He also sustains all that exists. What we see, what we don't see. God the Father planned it. God the Spirit reveals it. God the Son produced---everything! Of course we cannot comprehend the magnitude of His power, but We are His, brethren, and He is ours! Hallelujah!

Think Nobly

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8


There is only one person I can control. ME. I am expected to control me. I do not have to dwell on the negatives in life. Negativity brings about doubt, anger, fear and anxiety. Nonproductive. Self-defeating. Yes, I CAN help it. Worry changes nothing. Learn the mind of Christ. His Word is True. His Work is noble. His Person is pure. He is altogether lovely. Apply His love and grace to whatever "whatifs" arise in your daily experience. "When trouble comes knocking, send Jesus to answer the door." There are always good and honorable things to think about and enjoy, and you cannot change most of the uglies anyway. There are blessings and beauty all around us. Embrace them, cherish them. Relax. This is not Pollyannaism, it is Divine Viewpoint. God placed me here. God gave me this. God shares His happiness with me. Thank You, Lord.