081306

What on Earth Are You Doing for Heaven’s Sake?
Maintaining a Heavenly Focus


Colossians 2:20-23 (Monday)
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on 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.” (NIV) (See Romans 6, 7, 8:3-17)
1) Whoa! I was just reading Isaiah 28:5-21. Isaiah is prophesying to God’s people. Judah was practicing the exact same type of spiritual mentality that was threatening the church at Colosse! A system of do’s and dont’s, rules, traditions—a righteousness that comes from the law!
a) In Isaiah 28, God refers to Judah’s boasting of their “covenant” with death. What was God referring to? (1 Corinthians 15:56)
2) Though Isaiah, God tells His people that He is going to do a strange work and an alien task. What was it?
i) What would be the new measurement or plumb line for God’s people?
(1) How does the apostle Paul refer to Jesus Christ in Acts 28:4?
(2) What is the Lord called in Jeremiah 33:14-16?
(3) Oh, Who is that Cornerstone? Glory!
3) What exactly does the “basic principles of this world” mean?
4) 3) Last week in class we touched on the moral philosphy of the “world”. Read Romans 2:12-15. Many people consider themselves “good” and “moral” because they conform to the mores (the traditions, customs, the acceptable way of life) of this present world system. Period! Given another set of mores, they will conform to those. A few examples: In my youth (50-60’s) abortion was never spoken of—what a horror! Still, women who didn’t want their children went into to back alleys where unscrupulous physicians did their wicked deed. Or, worse, they stuck clothes hangers and other such objects up their bodies. Also, you hardly ever saw someone who was “gay”. That lifestyle was rightfully called what it is, homosexuality or sodomy. Living together was unheard of, or at least, very, very rare (I’m talking late 60’s-70’s here). Becoming pregnant before marriage immediately ostracized one from their families and from society. I could go on and on! People who did such things were shunned and openly shamed by society. Was society any better than those who chose to openly oppose the system! No! These things brought shame only because a person chose to step outside of the “norm”. Today’s mores have been greatly and tragically altered—for the worse! Babies are having babies and abortion is readily made available to them—at a believer’s tax-paying expense, no less! Almost everyone lives together before marriage because it is the accepted thought that that is the only way to “truly” know if you are compatible—anyway, it’s just a piece of paper! (I hope I don’t offend anyone here, but if I hear that word “compatibility” once more, I think I’ll scream! I’m so sick of E-Harmony!) “Gays” have adopted a “rainbow” as their symbol—desecrating the precious sign of God’s promise to all creation! According to today’s society, all these things are acceptable. Okay, that’s the one extreme that Paul is talking about.
5) Now, the other extreme is denying one’s self, self-deprivation or “punishing” or “harming” your body (circumcision, etc.)—all acts or “works” of the flesh—man’s self-effort in pursuit of righteousness! Read Romans 4:4-8.
6) I recently viewed a news program where men were walking in the streets hitting different parts of their bodies with some sort of whip. Some of the whips had pieces of glass, sharp metal or other objects attached to them. Oh, some of these men were so bloody it was difficult to watch. I understand this is a common practice in many parts of the world. We all have heard stories where people, blindly trying to follow Christ’s suffering and passion by actually nailing themselves to a cross! These misguided souls hold the belief that in punishing their bodies, they somehow make themselves more holy. What does scripture tell us is the special honor and proper treatment of our bodies? (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
7) Can you think of other ways that people use self-denial, physical pain and/or suffering in an attempt to make themselves “good” or to draw closer to God?
8) Do such rituals bring glory to God, or do they tend to draw attention to the individual?
9) Why would someone want to draw attention to him or herself? (Matthew 6:1-6)
10) What Jesus has to say about these He refers to as “whitewashed tombs”! (Matthew 23:23-28)
11) So, why are rules, traditions, depriving oneself, even God’s righteous law of no effect in drawing closer to God?
a) Romans 3:19-27, Romans 4:13-15 and Romans 9:30-33 – No one is declared righteous by the law—the law brings God’s wrath and judgment! We are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ--alone!
b) Romans 7:7-13 – the law is good, in that it showed us sin. However, in revealing sin, opportunity to sin presented itself—bringing spiritual death!
c) Romans 8:3-9 – the righteous requirements of the law can only be fulfilled by walking in the Spirit, which is Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
d) Philippians 3:1-9 – we are to consider everyone of our accomplishments, honor, “works” as loss, so we may know Christ!
12) Instead of trying to exalt ourselves and glorify our fleshly works, what does 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 and Galatians 6:13-14 say we should do?
13) Actually, the situation Paul is addressing to the Colossians is “other” teachings that were being presented to that small church body in Colosse—a strange mix of asceticism (in this case, harsh treatment of the body in a self-effort to keep it under control, or sinless—Colossians 2:20-23), pagan philosophy (traditions, culturally accepted practices, etc.—Colossians 2:8) and Judaistic beliefs (circumcision, special observances, special days, rules, spiritual favortism, etc.—Colossians 2:11; 16-17; 3:11) . “Gnostics” were claiming that the way to God was to have “secret knowledge of the deeper things of God”. Gnostics comes from the Greek meaning, “has knowledge. By the way, an “agnostic” is one “without knowledge”. Anyway, this group was attempting to turn many away from the Truth by preaching a gospel other than Christ—adding other requirements for salvation. They were misleading followers of the “Way” in areas of circumcision (works of the flesh), “mysticism”, etc. Paul was deeply concerned that the Colossian believers would be seduced by trying to add or take away from the simple gospel of Christ. What is that gospel? (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
14) Knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1-2)! What kind of life is a Christian called to?
15) What type of knowledge should a believer seek after? (Romans 12:1)
16) What is the only “work” we can do to draw closer to God? (John :28-29)
17) Earthly wisdom, knowledge and/or vain philosophy is quite seducing! What does 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 say we should rest our faith upon?
18) What does Galatians 1:8 say is one’s fate for preaching a gospel other than Christ? Oh, be very watchful, little ones! There are many anti-christs in this world today!
19) Dead yet? It is a spiritual truth that as believers we have died with Christ! Yes, I guess you could say we are the walking dead! Christ died to sin, once on the cross for all our sins. In what way do we count ourselves dead in Christ? (Romans 6:1-11)
a) We are dead to this world and to sin—our home is in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-9)! I can’t fully comprehend that one either!
b) You will never be more “holy” than you are right now (Hebrews 2:9-18)! Oh, what a God!
c) Are you, or will you ever be sinless? In this life—no way! A transformation process began the moment you accepted Christ into your heart. You see, when Jesus Christ became your sin on that cross, He clothed you with His righteousness. Does that mean you get to stay like you are, constantly enslaved to sin? Not, unless you are drawing your last breath, or we are suddenly raptured away! No, from the moment you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, God began a work, a process in you—that of being changed into the image of His precious Son, Christ Jesus! It is impossible to accomplish this great task by yourself! No, Christ is now in you! It is God Himself causing you to will and do of His good purpose (Colossians 1:24-28; Philippians 2:13)!
Colossians 3:1-4 (Tuesday
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (NIV)
1) Glory! Having died, we have been raised to new life in Christ Jesus! (John 3:1-8 and Romans :4-6)
2) 2) How do we set our minds, or keep our focus on things that bring glory to God? I like what our Life Truths Leader Guide for this months says:
3) “What our minds constantly attend to determines the way we think; the way we think orders our acts; our acts form the habits of our lives; our habits shape our character; our character constitutes who we really are.” Pretty mind blowing thoughts!
4) You see, the battlefield between our two natures (the old self, or our flesh and our new life in Christ) begins in the mind! So, what are we to do to change our thought process? (Romans 12:2)
5) Again, so, how are our minds renewed? (Hebrews 4:12)
6) How does “hidden with Christ in God” speak to your heart? (John 17:20-26)
7) How is Christ our life? (Acts 17:28)
8) Romans 8:12-15 tells us that as believers we have an obligation. What is it and how do we fulfill this obligation?
9) Glory—the world hungers and forever seeks after it! It has since Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). We cannot obtain glory by our own effort(s). Glory belongs to God alone, but, beloved, we do have a part in Christ’s glory! This is part of what it means to be “hidden” in Christ . The world doesn’t understand what has taken place in our hearts and lives because the full glory God has given us has not yet been revealed! Oh, but, when Christ appears—the glory that He has given us will also be revealed (Romans 8:17-25)! Glory, glory, glory!
Colossians 3:5-11 (Wednesday)
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (NIV)
1) “Put to death” and “clothe” in Colossians 3 are Greek verbs that indicate a “once and for all” action! The word “renewed” is a present participle indicating a state of constantly being renewed! Like I said—you will never be more holy than now, but you will be changed!
2) What does scripture mean by “old self” and “new self”?
3) Well, we’ve studied how “good” the world is at putting to death its earthly, sinful, nature. No one in their natural selves can overcome their fleshly desires (Romans 7:15-25(. Yes, thank God, through Jesus Christ, there is a better way! Rather than conforming to the world, we are transformed into the image of God’s own Son! (Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:7-18) Praise be to our Rock!
4) Okay, I can sense some condemnation out there! (Here, too, sometimes!) Let’s read Romans 8:1-4 over again just to remind ourselves of God’s mercy and grace—offered to us in Jesus Christ, His Son! Remember, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. He never condemns us, if we are in Christ. Isn’t it good to be “hidden” in Christ!
Colossians 3: (Thursday)
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (NIV)
1) Do you honestly think you had anything to do with making a decision for Christ? Get real! God’s plan brings glory to Him! He chose you! Set you apart (made you completely holy) and it is God that keeps you until Christ comes to claim you as His own (2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Thssalonians 4:13-18)
2) So, how do we “put to death” sin and “clothe” ourselves, or “put on” compassion? By simply loving and forgiving—just as God loved and forgives us! Only one way—love! Read Romans 13:9-14 and 1 Corinthians 13)
3) We have put to death sin. We have and still are putting away old, sinful habits. Now, we are admonished to “put on” love! I love the word used here, clothe. I always think of the images we share in church of recent baptisms. The background is usually a song called, “I’ve Been Through the Water”. If you have never heard this before, I’ll give you a stanza that speaks volumes to my soul:
i) “I’ve been through the water and I’ve come out clean
ii) Got new clothes to cover me!
iii) And, you can’t put your old shoes on your brand new feet,
iv) Cause I’ve been through the water!”
4) In case you are stumbling over the forgiveness part, forgiveness isn’t a suggestion, it’s a command! The Lord gave us a model for prayer to our Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9-13. After worship, praise and personal supplication—Jesus went right to the heart of our hearts! We need forgiveness and we need to forgive. What did Jesus promise God would do if we forgave others in verses 14-15? What if we don’t? Does this mean we lose our salvation? No, dear one, God is Faithful, even when we are not (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)! Remember, 1 Corinthians 13—love never fails!
Colossians 3:15-17 (Friday)
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 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.” (NIV)
1) Peace! The world is crying out for it today—especially today in the Middle East. Can we have this peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:4-9)? Oh, I know we’ve been through a lot of scripture, but please, do take time to read Romans 5:1-21. Peace and righteousness only come through the God-Man, Jesus Christ! May He receive all the honor, glory and praise—now and forever more! Amen and Amen!


WhatonEarthAreYouDoingforHeavensSake_MaintainingAHeavenlyFocus_Colossians 2,3_081306