Daily Reflections from our Re:Verse Scripture
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 3:1-9 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Colossians 3:1-9 in our Fall Sermon Series: “Fullness of Christ” a study of Colossians.
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day seven)
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day six)
…going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head… Colossians 2:18b-19a
God always intended to put His revelation down on paper. Something we could hold in our hands, read with our eyes, and come back to time and time again. The written Word is a thousand times more valuable than visions. I’m certainly not saying God doesn’t use visions, at least historically. What I am saying is God knew what He was doing when He put His Word in a book.
You can’t cross reference visions. You can’t know which one is from God, and which isn’t,… unless you check it with God’s written Word. This is why Paul warns against so called visions that originate from the minds of men, and he points us to Jesus, the Head (notice the play on words, mind and Head).
Be grateful for God’s gift of revelation in His written Word. It will never mislead or misdirect, and even when we get it wrong, it will always correct us.
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day five) 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.
The first danger Paul addresses in this section of his letter, is legalism. Deep within the human heart is the temptation to quantify spirituality. Why is there such a lure for keeping rules and regulations? The feeling and desire to be successful is strong the human heart. When that feeling for personal success overshadows most everything else, that is pride. And the results of legalism are mentioned in verse 19. A disconnection from Jesus. No relationship, no friendship, no communication. Also, no growth. No progress. No discipleship. Legalism comes with a strong warning and a great cost
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day four)
Legalism, mysticism, asceticism…all dangers to be alert for. In our passage this week, Paul begins to address some of the problems that precipitated his letter to the church in Colossae. He is issuing warnings of danger ahead…pitfalls that can sidetrack their/our relationship with Christ and take them/us down a path that can render them/us ineffective and valueless. Paul speaks of being defrauded…deceived from what is rightfully ours in Christ.
What would Paul warn the church today of? Where have we been deceived and sidetracked? Would he caution us about the prosperity gospel? Would he write to tell us not to place our hope in political parties or candidates? Would he warn us to focus upon the Word of God and sharing the gospel message? In today’s cultural and political climate, we can easily get deceived to champion causes that are valueless. Guard against the perils of Satan’s deception and keep your eyes upon Christ!
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day three)
“No one is to act as your judge.”
Paul knows what he’s taking about. He left Pharisaism and entered a religious tradition—Christianity—already beleaguered by the most powerful rules humanity has ever known: unwritten rules. And this was a man who was shaping Christianity in its earliest expression. Even he found himself on the receiving end of condemnation by fellow believers. Paul encountered judgmental voices, and so will you. One of the most inviting ways to respond is to adopt the motto “Judge first lest ye be judged.” Is anybody listening to Paul’s words?
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day two) Things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. v. 17
Stop me if you heard this response before: Oh, you’re a Baptist. You mean you don’t drink or dance?
Paul, like Peter and his vision in Acts, was dealing with both ceremonial laws that no longer held the same meaning since Jesus atonement, and to the customs of other cultures. We have clear lines of right and wrong, but they only carry a substance of what is to come. We need to be focused on what defines us as believers.
Wouldn’t you rather people say: Oh, you’re a Baptist! You have the greatest mission organization in the world. You guys have the highest regard for scripture than anyone. It is amazing how you have responded to Jesus’ call to love your neighbor.
Let our zeal for Jesus and love for his people be so great it will be what we are known for.
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:16-23 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Colossians 2:16-23 in our Fall Sermon Series: “Fullness of Christ” a study of Colossians.
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:8-15 (day seven)
And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses. (Colossians 2:13)
Don’t miss this verse this week. It holds one of the great Truths we proclaim. When we are obedient to Christ’s call to repentance we are completely forgiven and set free from the dominion of sin. It is for this perfect gift that we celebrate today in worship and in the Supper. We gather and we partake because God has made us alive together with Him.
As we prepare for the Supper today remember this word from 1 Corinthians: Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27-28)
May we examine ourselves this morning, and find our hearts pure by the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Re:Verse passage – Colossians 2:8-15 (day six)
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Colossians 2:15
Paul now turns to empower the Colossians, quite literally. No longer are they push-over plebeians beholden to rulers and authorities of known or unknown realms. By faith, the power of Jesus has given them new freedom, new life, and a new identity. For the first time they are liberated to live full and restored lives, without shame or fear before God or humanity.
This matters. Sometimes we can live as if we are still enslaved to sin, cultural demands, even someone else’s condemnation or expectations. Paul would remind us those things have no hold on us, they have no authority over us; we are truly free in Jesus, fully belonging to a God who has redeemed us. Not only, but He also disarms and puts them to shame.
If God is for us, who can stand against us? Romans 8:31