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Epistle of Paul to the Colossians VII
Fred R. Coulter—January 22, 1994
Let’s continue with our study of the epistle to the Colossians. Let’s go
ahead and just review the verses down through v 11, because that is where we
finished last time. So just to refresh our memory, I am going to go ahead and
review those verses and then we will start our detailed study, beginning in v
11, 12 on to the end of the chapter.
Colossians 3:1: “Reflecting on everything that has been written, now
then if you were raised (out of that watery grave) with Christ, be diligently
and zealously seeking the things which are above, the things of God, where
Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be minding the things, which are above,
setting your heart and your affections on them—not on the things on the
earth (and all that it stands for). Because you have died (to yourself and this
world), and your life (your spiritual life and eternal destiny) has been hid
and laid up in store with Christ, reserved for you in God. When Christ, Who is
our life, shall appear, and shall be revealed for all to see, then you shall
appear and be openly manifested with Him in magnificent splendor and glory.
Therefore, (through the power of the Spirit of Christ in you—rather than
subjecting yourselves to the regimen of the philosophies of men and the worship
of fallen angels)…. [Which all refers back then to Col. 2.] …You are to put to
death, mortify, what is earthy in you, those degrading pulls of human nature;
sexual depravity and promiscuity; uncleanness and lewdness; lustful and
disgraceful passions of sexual desires—(the unbridled mental sexual
obsessions of your imagination)—those evil and wicked lusts and
yearnings; also, the inordinate desires for riches—those avaricious, covetous
cravings which are, in fact, idolatry. On account of these very things the
fierce wrath and anger of God is coming on the children of
disobedience—those who obstinately refuse to believe and obey God; among
whom you also at one time conducted your lives and walked in those evil ways.
When you were living that way, your whole way of life—yes, your entire
life style—was actually built around those things. But even now, you
should also put off (strip away, cast aside and renounce) every one of these
things: indignation, anger and wrath; emotional outbursts of temper, and
hateful rages—malignant, bitter thoughts of spitefulness; blasphemy and
cursing; obscene, vile or foul language from out of your mouth. (Eliminate
these degrading character traits and habits)” (vs 1-8).
And so all of this shows that the
inner battle of growing and overcoming Christians are not perfect. And as a
matter of fact the real truth is with God’s Spirit in you, the longer God’s
Spirit is in you, you understand how evil that human nature really is. And you
come to the same point that the Apostle Paul did there in Rom. 7:19-25 [partly
paraphrased], when he said when he wanted to do good, he didn’t do it,
because evil was with him and he saw the law of sin and death, which was in him
and he said, “O what a wretched man I am! Who shall save me from the body of
this death? I thank God for His salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” that he
will be saved out of this. So all of these things show the character traits and
things, as a result of human nature and the pull of the flesh and what we need
to overcome.
Colossians 3:9: “Do not lie or
speak deceitfully to one another, considering that you yourselves have put off
and fully renounced the person, (your old self which was buried in the watery
grave of baptism) together with his deeds, behavior and way of living; and that
you put on and exemplify the new person (Christ in you—your new self),
which is being continuously renewed and regenerated in godly, spiritual
knowledge according to the likeness and exact image of Him (Jesus Christ) Who
created and is creating (in you that new person from within)” (vs
9-10). And that is very important for us to understand.
Let’s go to 2-Corinthians, the
fourth chapter, and we will see what the Apostle Paul was saying about being
renewed within. And it is continuously being renewed, continuous in growing and
changing and overcoming. 2-Corinthians 4:14: “Knowing that He Who raised
the Lord Jesus from the dead shall also raise us through Jesus, and
shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so
that the abounding grace may cause the thanksgiving of many to overflow unto
the glory of God. For this reason, we do not lose heart… [Now, Paul is talking about the ministers; Paul is talking about the
brethren; and Paul then talks about his own difficulties and we’ll see how he
puts that in proper perspective.] …but if our outward man is being
brought to decay, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (vs 14-16). And you can tie that back in with Matt. 6: ‘Give us this
day our daily bread.’ And that means ‘help us today, God, with everything that
we do, keep us from the evil one today, Oh, Lord.’
“…yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day. For the momentary lightness of our tribulation… [Paul is talking about the trials that he went through, the trials you
are going through, the trials I am going through, whatever they may be,
whatever your circumstances are. Paul says that compared to eternal life, it
is.] …For the momentary lightness of our tribulation is working out for us an
immeasurably greater and everlasting fullness of glory; While we
consider not the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporary; but
the things that are not seen are eternal” (vs 16-18). And so that is what we must keep our hearts and minds
focused on continually. And you know if you do that, and that’s why Paul
emphasizes here in Col. 3, it is going to make overcoming easier, because you
are focusing on the eternal, spiritual things of God while you are overcoming
and putting out the physical things and the character problems that you have.
You can overcome them with a far more effective way and means if you’re
focusing in on what God can do for you.
Let’s come back to Colossians 3:11: “Where (there are no physical
barriers or qualifications)”—which is very important. Remember what Jesus
told the Jews when they said ‘Why, we are in bondage to no one, we are
Abraham’s seed’; and Jesus said, ‘Well, if you were Abraham’s children, then
you would do the works of Abraham, you seek to kill Me and that Abraham did not
do.’ And remember what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees when they came
out wanting to be baptized, he said, ‘Don’t come and tell me that you are
Abraham’s seed because God, from these stones, can raise up children to
Abraham.’ So there is no physical barrier even though we are still physical in
the flesh. The way God is dealing with us and qualifying us for the Kingdom of
God, it’s not going to be Jews first, Greeks second, it’s not going to be
circumcision first and uncircumcision second.
So that is what he writes here in Colossians 3:11: “Where there is
neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian,
slave nor freeman; rather Christ is all things (of Christian character and
enlightenment) in everyone…. [In other words, if Christ is in you,
that is the important thing. And I know, with all of us, we look around at us
and we are a weak and motley crew. But that is okay, God can use us, we will
keep our hearts and minds on Christ.] …Consequently, be putting on and clothing
yourselves with godly, Christian character, (the fullness of God’s way, even
His love and attitude, in your mind), as the elect and selected ones of God,
holy and consecrated, even the beloved and cherished ones in Christ…. [And I
might just add there, so when all else fails and everyone else fails, remember
God loves you.] …(develop these attributes of God); compassion and
tender mercy flowing from the depths of your innermost being; kindness and
sympathy; humility and lowliness of mind and heart; meekness and controlled
calmness; longsuffering and fortitude” (vs 11-12).
Let’s go back and let’s look at some Scriptures on how we can do all of
these things. Let’s come to 2-Corinthians 10 and let’s see how then, we are to
put out these things and put on Christ. Christ is in us and it is the earnest
of God’s Holy Spirit, which is the promise of eternal life. And remember that,
God Who promises will fully deliver, because God cannot lie. And that is what
Paul wrote of Abraham; he said that Abraham was fully persuaded that what God
had said He would do, He would do. So now, with Christ in us we can overcome.
2-Corinthians 10:3: “For although we walk in the flesh, we do
not war according to the flesh… [And
that is the key thing brethren, you cannot overcome carnal mindedness with
carnal mindedness, it won’t work. It’s just like you can’t bail the ship out if
you’re pouring water in it. You can’t put the fire out if you’re throwing
gasoline on it.] …For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal… [We know they are spiritual, you
see.] …but mighty through God to the overthrowing of strongholds… [Now, the strongest hold that there is in the world for you is your
mind. So, that is why he says in v 5]: …Casting down vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ” (vs 3-5). And if Christ is in you, you can do it. That is the tremendous
thing.
Let’s just remember the parable (Luke 18) of the Pharisee and the
Publican. The Pharisee came and he was doing all these things by carnal means,
wasn’t he? He said, “God, I thank you, I am not like others.” So he was looking
out and judging around and comparing himself with others. For those who compare
themselves, it says here in this same chapter, “those who compare themselves
among themselves are not wise.”
Verse 12: “But we dare not join ranks with or compare
ourselves with those who are commending themselves; for those who measure
themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, have no
understanding.” Why? Because, in comparing
yourself among yourselves, then you are not comparing yourself to God. And that
is what happened with Job. Job was comparing himself with himself and what he
was doing and others were doing, and yes, in the flesh he was perfect, but
compared to God, what was he? Well you read his repentance in Job 42.
2-Corinthians 10:5: “…bringing into captivity every thought into the
obedience of Christ.” The Apostle Paul gives a
little more detailed information on how to do that here in Col. 3, how that we
are to put out these things but put on Christ, put Christ in.
Remember the whole theme of the book is: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Let’s come to Philippians 2 and see how this
parallels right along with what Paul was writing there, and notice, one of the
things that is so important, so vitally important, if you are concentrating on
these things, as Paul wrote here in the book of Philippians, then you are not
going to be just overloaded and burdened down with all the carnality.
- God will give you His Spirit.
- God will give you His love.
- God will give you His contentment.
Philippians 2:1: “Now then, if there be any encouragement in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit...” Showing that it all has to come with the Holy Spirit in us, and by
this Holy Spirit, the power of God, we fellowship with God.
Hold your place right here and let’s go to 1-John 1, because this is
really the most important thing, you can have social clubs, you can have people
gathering together; yes, you can have churches gather together. When I was up
in the Northwest, here, just recently, I learned, to my dismay that many of the
brethren of God are just coming together to fellowship because it is a social
club. Well, people can get together and have do goodism and feel good, and pat
each other on the back and all this sort of thing, but that is not the fellowship
with the Spirit of God, with Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Notice, 1 John 1:3: “That which we have seen and have heard we are
reporting to you in order that you also may have fellowship with us; for the
fellowship—indeed, our fellowship—is with the Father and
with His own Son, Jesus Christ…. [That’s
where it has to be. So, in prayer, in study, in yielding to God, in letting
God’s Spirit work with you, then you have that fellowship of the Spirit.] …These things we are also writing to
you, so that your joy may be completely full” (vs
3-4). That is what God wants us to have. And I’ll tell you one thing, with all
the disasters going on, with all the troubles going on, all the hand wringing
in the world is not going to help, because we are in such a situation that now
God’s hand is going to be against those who are evil and we are not to
participate in the world nor the things that they do. We just need to ask God
to help us and guide us and protect us and spare us.
Let’s come back to Philippians 2:1: “…if any comfort of love, if
any fellowship of the Spirit, if any deep inner affections and
compassions… [bowels (KJV) means that
your feelings are true and come from within, from the very depths of your
innermost being]. …Fulfill my joy, that you be of the same mind… [We are again going to see how that Paul is very inspiring in these
Epistles of Eph., Phil. and Col. and focuses in on Christ in you.] …be of the
same mind, having the same love, being joined together in soul, minding the one
thing. Let nothing be done through contention or vainglory… [How does strife and vainglory come? It comes by comparing yourself
among yourselves and those that do so are not wise.] …but in
humility, each esteeming the others above himself. Let each one look not only after his own things, but let each one also consider the things
of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (vs 1-5). And I tell you that is so profound. I was studying, the
other day, the first chapter of the Gospel of John again and there is so much
there, that even after having done the study through the whole gospel of John,
I feel like now, we are just ready to start studying it again what is there,
every word is loaded.
Verse 6—and here is the mind that Christ had, He didn’t have
vainglory, He didn’t have self-righteousness, He was righteous because of love,
He was righteous because He was God. “Who, although He existed in the form of God… [and that means actually existing
in the form of God] …did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
But emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness of men, and took
the form of a servant; And being found in the manner of man, He humbled
Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (vs 6-8) When Paul says, ‘let this
mind be in you,’ that is what he is talking about.
Now, let’s come back to Colossians 3:13: “Forbearing one another, having
an attitude of tolerance and understanding; forgiving each other, if anyone has
a dispute with anyone else, or a complaint or criticism against any; exactly as
Christ forgave you (blotting out, forgiving and forgetting all your sins,
transgressions and offences against Him), in the same way, you also should be
doing (the same thing).” Now, if you’re looking around and judging, comparing,
then you are not going to be forgiving, then you are not going to be
understanding. We are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, that is
correct. We don’t have to be dupes and stupid, but we are to be forbearing one
another.
Let’s go to Matt. 7 and let’s see what happens when judgment reigns
supreme. And unfortunately, brethren, that is how too many Churches of God are
run. They are run on judgment. It is amazing! I heard a sermon by a so-called
leading Evangelist and all he did was just “up himself”: how many rich people
he knew, all the physical things and comparing himself among himself and
others, it was unreal, I couldn’t believe it. And coming through and judging
and everything, all that does is just create an atmosphere of self-righteousness
and pickyunishness that destroys true love and real Christian attitude, led by
God’s Spirit. Now this is why, Jesus said…let’s go back to Matthew 6:33 because
it leads right into chapter 7, and again, it shows that the message of Christ
was the same as the message of Paul, was the same as the message of John, and
was the same as the message of Peter and so forth.
Matthew 6:33: “But as
for you, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… [So Jesus’ message was exactly the same. That is the first thing we are
to do.] …and all these things shall be added to you…. [That is the physical things that you have need of.] …Therefore,
do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall take care of the things of itself…. [That doesn’t mean don’t plan, but
it means, don’t go ahead and rely on your plans that they are absolutely going
to be done the way you thought.] …[For] Sufficient for the day is the evil of that day” (vs 33-34).
There are going to be enough
difficulties and problems come along, on a daily basis that you just cannot
rely on all of the physical plans and things that you are going to do. I call
your attention to the earthquake in southern California. Now, everybody’s plans
were suddenly changed. And the evil of the thing at hand was overwhelming. But
you know out of all that suffering, what did it do? Crime went down 80%, people
helped one another, people went out and did the things that they needed to do
and everybody, in amazement, said, ‘well, I wonder why we can’t do this all the
time.’ So, you see, when the disasters come, when the evil come, then people
realize their inadequacies. And so out of all of this evil, we can look around
and boo-hoo and complain and all this sort of thing, but out of it, how many
people are going to begin to wonder, ‘I wonder if God exists, I don’t feel
adequate to myself any longer.’ So you see out of that, then if there is
repentance, God can make good happen.
Now Matthew 7:1: “Do not condemn others, so that you yourself
will not be condemned.” Boy and I tell you one
thing, isn’t it true, when you hear someone judging someone else and running
them into the ground, do you think that that person would stand for anyone
talking about them in that way? Now, here in judge, it means, judge not to
condemnation.
Hold your place here and let’s go to John 7, because there is a kind of
judgment that we are to do. And it is far different, far, far different than
people generally suppose. John 7:24; “Judge not according to the appearance,
but judge righteous judgment.” So if there is any kind of judgment we need it
is righteous judgment. Now in the world and with business affairs, from day to
day we need judgment, we need wisdom, we need understanding, otherwise you are
going to get clobbered.
But coming back to
Matthew 7—what He is talking about is the interpersonal relationship
between people and brethren, so that you are not going around judging each
other and you end up like the Pharisee, who, through all the physical
means—fasting and tithing and not committing adultery and not exhorting,
which all things are required—he wasn’t repentant. He said, “and that
Publican over there.” And so the Publican repented and said, ‘Oh, God, be
merciful to me, a sinner.’ And Jesus said, ‘I tell you that man went down to
his house justified rather than the other.’ So there is a perfect example of
the kind of judgment that Jesus is telling us to not do. That is judge unto
criticism and condemnation.
Matthew 7:2: “For with
what judgment you judge, you shall be judged…
[Living law] …and with what measure you mete out, it shall be measured again to you. Now why do you look at the sliver that is in
your brother’s eye, but you do not perceive the beam in your own eye? Or
how will you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the sliver from
your eye’; and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you shall
see clearly to remove the sliver from your brother’s eye” (vs 2-5
Now, let’s go to Galatians 6, it shows us how we are to do this. It
doesn’t mean that we don’t make judgments; it means that when we do, we
consider ourselves. We will see what the Apostle Paul wrote and said to
amplify what Jesus gave there in Matt. 7. Galatians 6:1: “Brethren,
even if a man be overtaken in some offense, you who are spiritual… [Now what does it mean, ‘you which are spiritual’? That is the
opposite of self-righteous. That means those who have the mind that we have
just been talking about here.] …restore such a one in a spirit of
meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.” Not only tempted because of sin but tempted because of judgment and
condemnation.
Now let’s look at the opposite teaching of this, let’s go to Matthew 18,
and here is something that is really profound and very important and what we
need with each other—toward each other—and part of our Christian
living that needs to be emphasized, in many cases it has not been emphasized in
the way that it needs to. Matthew 18:21: “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until
seven times?’…. [Now that seems like quite a
lot, in going through this, I want to ask you the question: Have you ever had
anyone sin directly against you seven times in a day? Well, probably not. So Peter thought, ‘Well hey, I am going above and beyond by saying seven
times.’] …Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you until seven times, but until
seventy times seven’” (vs 21-22)—which is
490; 70x7.
Now this is showing the difference between the perspective of
forgiveness from a human point of view and the perspective of forgiveness from
a Godly point of view. And you go back and look at all of the different ones in
the Old Testament, and as I mentioned before, Ahab is one of my favorite characters
in the Bible, not for the evil he did, but to show the quickness of the
forgiveness of God when he did sin; because He sent Elijah there to
judge him, condemn him and throw his flesh outside the wall and the dogs were
going to eat it and lick the blood of Jezebel—and Ahab repented and
walked tenderly. And then, Elijah was on his way back home and God said, “Now
behold my servant Ahab, see how he walks tenderly.” So that is an amplification
here of the seven times seventy. And so this is the kind of forgiveness we need
among each other. But I’ll tell you one thing that is so important, if you are
concentrating on Christ in you, loving God and growing and overcoming, each one
of us, individually, I tell you what, there are going to be so few offences that
you are not going to need the four hundred and ninety times a day to handle the
difficulties with your brothers or your sisters.
So then He gave this parable, v 23:
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man, a certain king, who would take account with his servants. And after he began to reckon,
there was brought to him one debtor who owed him ten thousand talents….
[Now that is an awful lot, we’ll just liken that
say to $50 million, just to round it out. It is somewhere close to that in today’s
money.] …But since he did not have anything to pay, his lord commanded him
to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be
made” (vs 23-25).
Now let’s understand something, you
couldn’t in over a hundred thousand lifetimes repay that if you were sold into
indentured servitude to repay the loan. Now this is likened unto our debt
against God. You see, you can’t pay that back as a debt. In other words, you
cannot, by your works, repay God for the sins of your life. God can
forgive you that, through Jesus Christ. Then that puts a different obligation
upon us, as we will see here in just a minute. Now it also shows the price God
paid for sin. It also shows the value of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Of what
value are you going to put on the sacrifice of Christ, Who was God, Who became
flesh, so that He could die to pay for our sins? There is not very much you can
do to compare that in a matter of money or monetary remuneration or wealth or
whatever.
Verse 26: “Because of
this, the servant fell down… [I guess, you think if you
owed that amount of money and someone said, ‘You are going to pay every last
dime.’] …and worshiped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you
all.’ And being moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him,
and forgave him the debt.”
Now it is still, in forgiving the debt, that is really something, only
God can forgive that kind of debt. All right, showing the magnitude of it here.
But you see how quickly, in this example that the lord of the servant was moved
with compassion and loosed him and forgave him the debt. Now being loosed, we
are loosed from the bondage of sin, right? It has the same exact meaning and
connotation there. You can tie that in with Rom. 6.
Now v 28 shows what then we do in
our pompous arrogance and self-righteousness if we don’t have the mind of
Christ in us. “Then that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants,
who owed him a hundred silver coins…. [Now
that’s like saying one hundred dollars.] …and after seizing him, he choked him,
saying, ‘Pay me what you owe.’ As a result, his fellow servant fell down at his
feet and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you
everything’…. [And isn’t that how people do?
They focus in sometimes, on the most minute, picayune little thing and just
become incensed and inflamed and bitter and run for the throat, right? Yes.]
…As a result, his fellow servant fell down at his feet and pleaded with
him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ But he
would not listen; instead, he went and cast him into prison, until he
should pay the amount that he owed” (vs
28-30).
Now how do we cast people in
prison? Well, we literally don’t run down and throw them in the jail, do we?
No, we cast them in the prison of estranged fellowship. We won’t talk with
them. We won’t look at them. We won’t recognize them. We won’t be kind to them.
We’ll turn our head and be snippy and gossip behind their back and all that
sort of thing. So in a sense, when you have this unforgiving attitude toward
brethren, then you end up in a situation that you are literally putting them in
prison. And you know, many times, they don’t even know what is going on. Now
all of us have experienced that haven’t we?
Verse 31: “Now when
his fellow servants saw the things that had taken place, they were
greatly distressed; and they went to their lord and related all that had
taken place. Then his lord called him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you implored me. Were you
not also obligated to have compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had
compassion on you?’ And in anger, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors,
until he should pay all that he owed to him. Likewise… [that means in the same manner] …shall My heavenly Father also do to
you, if each of you does not forgive his brother’s offenses from the
heart” (vs 31-35).
Now just remember the words of Jesus when He was on the cross dying, and
He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And remember
the words of Stephen when he was being stoned to death, he said, “Oh, Lord, lay
not this to their charge.” So it shows the tremendous obligation we have in
love and forgiveness and so forth and in being able to follow through as the
Apostle Paul said in forgiving one another.
Now let’s come back and we will read Colossians 3:13 again and then get
into v 14 “Forbearing one another, having an attitude of tolerance and
understanding; forgiving each other, if anyone has a dispute with anyone else,
or a complaint or criticism against any; exactly as Christ forgave you
(blotting out, forgiving and forgetting all you sins, transgressions and
offences against Him)…. [And you put in your margin there, about the New
Covenant in Heb. 10: 17: ‘our sins and iniquities, He will blot out and
remember no more.’] …in the same way, you also should be doing (the same
thing). In addition to all these things (above and beyond the basic qualities
of Christian character) be putting on and clothing yourselves with THE LOVE…. [I put it in capital letters
because, in the Greek, it has that impact.] …(that godly, divine love), which
is the bond of cohesiveness that unites us all together in spiritual maturity
and Christian perfection” (vs 13-14).
Now let’s go to 1-John 4 and let’s
learn a real, tremendous, absolute lesson. And I’ll tell you what, brethren,
the more that we study on love, the more that we think on it, the more that we
try and practice it, the more that God gives us, but it also has the same
thing, the more that we realize how much we lack it. I tell you what, if you
prayed and asked God: ‘Oh, help me to have more love.’ Don’t be too surprised
at some of the circumstances you find yourself in so that you may show that love.
Now let’s pick it up here in 1-John
4:10: “In this act is the love—not that we loved God… [So we are not going to come and claim any great spiritual initiation
on our part or any goodness from ourselves.] …rather, that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins…. [Now notice how John writes very similar to how Paul wrote.] …Beloved, if God so loved us, we also are duty-bound to love one another” (vs 10-11).
Now let’s come down here to v 16: “And we have
known and have believed the love that God has toward us. God is love, and the
one who dwells in love is dwelling in God, and God in him…. [And that is what we want brethren, that is how God wants it to be with
every one of us.] …By this spiritual indwelling, the love of
God is perfected within us, so that we may have confidence in the day of
judgment… [Now you see how that is
juxtaposition there with judgment. Love and forgiveness and mercy compared to
judgment.] …because even as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in
the love of God; rather, perfect love casts out fear because fear has
torment. And the one who fears has not been made perfect in the love of God…. [And so if that is the struggle that you are going through, just go to
God and say; ‘Oh, God, I don’t know, just help me and guide me and grant me
your Spirit and just grant me your love and the understanding.’ And it’s going
to be a lifelong pursuit, it is not going to come like some sort of funnel
being put in the top of your head and God is miraculously going to pour it in.
It won’t happen that way.] (v 19): …We love Him because He loved us
first” (vs 16-19). Again,
- God is the One Who calls us.
- God is the One Who gives us
of His Spirit.
- God is the One Who gives us
of His love and understanding.
- God is the One Who works the
character in us.
(go to the
next track)
Verse 20, and here is a real, lifelong lesson. God is always going
to give you someone somewhere that is going to be most difficult to love. “If anyone says, ‘I love God’… [it’s
like the Pharisee there in Luke 18] (now remember): …and hates
his brother, he is a liar.”
Now we come back here to 1-John
2:9: “Anyone who claims that he is in the light, but hates his brother,
is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother is dwelling in the
light, and there is no cause of offense in him. But the one who hates his
brother is in darkness, and is walking in darkness, and does not know where he
is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (vs 9-11). And brethren that is what is happening to too many of the
people of God, with all of these false doctrines coming in and the things that
are happening. I just cannot believe the things the different ones are telling
me that is happening in the Churches of God. It comes down to pitting one
against the other. Judging one against the other. And they are all beginning to
walk in darkness and go back into this world.
Now let’s come back to 1 John 4:20
again: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar. For
if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how is he able to love God
Whom he has not seen?…. [And this is the test,
this is perhaps the whole fulcrum, the crux of our Christian existence, not
only are we to love God with all of our heart and mind and soul and being,
which we are, and love our neighbors as ourselves, which we are, but we are to
love each other as Christ loves us.] (So he says): …For if he
does not love his brother whom he has seen, how is he able to love God Whom he
has not seen? And this is the commandment that we
have from Him: that the one who loves God should also love his brother” (vs
20-21). And I would just have to say,
brethren, that at the Feast of Tabernacles, this year, I think we had that kind
of spirit and attitude that God gave to us. We are not going to stand up and
take any credit and say, “hurray for us.” Because God is the One Who has to
give it to us, and that is something we need to continually keep in mind.
Come back now to Colossians 3:14, that is why I put it this way in
bringing to bear and focusing in on this verse here. “In addition to all these
things (above and beyond the basic qualities of Christian character) be putting
on and clothing yourself with the love, (that godly, divine love), which
is the bond of cohesiveness that unites us all together in spiritual maturity
and Christian perfection. And let the peace, harmony and tranquility of God
rule and predominate (be the governing force in) your hearts and minds, by
which [peace and rulership] you all were called into one body, the Church; and
always be thankful and filled with gratitude (reflecting the preciousness of
your calling)” (vs 14-15). Now that’s a whole mouthful in itself there.
Let’s go back and just review a couple of things concerning this. Let’s
go back to John 14, because Christ has given us the kind of peace, which the
world cannot give. The very words of Jesus Christ and He is the One Who made
the way for the peace. He is the One Who paved the way because of His life.
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives
do I give it to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it fear.” So that’s the kind of peace we need. Christ is there, advocating for
us. Christ is there, interceding for us. And so, we don’t have the hostility
toward God because we have peace through Jesus Christ. Now you go back and read
the introduction to every one of the epistles of the Apostle Paul and you will
see that he has, ‘grace and peace be to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus
Christ.’ And that is the reason that he is putting it there.
Let’s understand something. Let’s
go back to John 6, since we are here in the Gospel of John 6:44, this is what
is so important. This time, instead of reading just v 44, I am also going to read
v 45, because that is just as important as v 44: “No one can
come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him… [And that means reach down and select him. That’s why brethren, we are
to have the love of God and the love of each other because God is the One Who
has done it.] …and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets,
‘And they shall all be taught by God’…. [Which is
Christ in you, God the Father in you.] …everyone who has heard from the
Father, and has learned, comes to Me” (vs 44-45). In other words, in this calling that God gives, we have not emphasized
the fact that, you must hear and answer that call and learn of the Father
and that is because we are coming to Christ. So that is really something when
we understand it. That’s why we have peace. That’s why in all the troubles and
difficulties that we see in the world, we can have peace through Christ. It
doesn’t mean we don’t have compassion. It doesn’t mean we don’t understand
their suffering. It doesn’t mean any of those things. It means that we have
peace with God the Father. We are in Christ and in God the Father. And that is
what is so profound and what is so important. Okay, just put in your notes
there, Romans 8:1-13 showing how then we overcome the whole carnality of our
humanness through Christ, Who came in the likeness of sinful flesh and has sent
His Spirit to be with us.
Now let’s come back here to Colossians 3:16: “Let the word and message
of Christ be dwelling, living and residing in you…
- That’s why study is
important.
- That’s why prayer is
important.
- That’s why meditation is
important.
- That’s why communicating
with each other is important, and so forth.
…residing in you, richly and abundantly, in all wisdom
and understanding; teaching and instructing, admonishing and reminding each
other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts and minds to the Lord…. [Now that’s really, really quite a thing and it
expands into v 17]: …And in everything, whatever you may be doing, in word
(whether in speech or written communication) or in work [which means] (any deed
or endeavor), do all things in and through the name of the Lord Jesus, our
Master and Ruler, giving thanks and praises of gratitude to God, even the
Father, by and through Him” (vs 16-17).
Now let’s go back and let’s amplify these vs 16 & 17. What is the
basic message of God? Let’s come to John 3:16. This is basic and this is
profound. This is something that we continuously grow in the knowledge and
understanding of. That we continually experience the profound spiritual truth
of this verse, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son… [And Christ was willing to go,
because Christ divested Himself of His Divinity and took upon Him human nature,
took upon Him, as we saw in Phil. 2, the form of a human being as, not only the
form but was a human being in every aspect as we are. So He gave His only
begotten] …so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have
everlasting life…. [That is the profound message
that we need to focus in on, but not just that verse, this is the overview, all
of the rest of the love of God and the New Testament and the Bible, Old
Testament, New Testament combined, come together to create this.] (v 17): …For God
sent not His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the
world might be saved through Him” (vs
16-17).
Let’s go to Romans 8:1 for just a minute, if you are in Christ, this is
very important, which we will cover more during the Feast of Unleavened Bread
as we are getting closer and closer to this time. “Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are
not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit… [See how that ties in with Col. 3 so marvelously?] …Because the
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin
and death…. [Just like loosing that man from
his debt, he has been loosed, you have been freed from the law of sin and
death.] …For what was impossible for the law… [that is just the principle of the law itself] …to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (vs 1-3). That’s why there is no condemnation to us, brethren. We need
not go around with a guilty conscience and being smitten down because of things
like that. Go to Christ. Unburden yourself through Christ:
- through prayer,
- through forgiveness,
- through yielding to God. So
when we put that together
that He did not come into the world to condemn the world,
but that it might be saved.
Now let’s come back to John 3:18; “The one who
believes in Him… [And as I have mentioned before,
the word on comes from
the Greek ‘eis’—which
means into. A profound and deep belief, out from yourself and
into Christ and from Christ back into you.] …is not judged, but the one
who does not believe has already been judged…
[God doesn’t condemn them, they condemn themselves] …because he
has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the
judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather
than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who practices evil
hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be
exposed; But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his
works may be manifested, that they have been accomplished by the power of God” (vs 16-21). And from v 16 down through v 21,
that is the whole message of the Gospel. The rest of it is expanded out from
there. So if you have this mind and this heart and you are doing these things
and in yielding to God, that is the message to focus in on.
Now let’s come to the book of Malachi for just a
minute, because there is something else that we do in fellowshipping with each
other, in coming together and understanding God’s way and God’s Truth. Now
let’s pick it up here in Malachi 3:16; very interesting, I ran a little survey
one time doing chapter 3:16 in as many books of the Bible as possible, I just
did it for a study and it’s amazing how frequently they come up and hit right
on and coordinate with John 3:16. If someone might want to do that I would
appreciate it if you would do it and write it down.
Malachi 3:16: “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to
another: and the Lord listened, and heard it… [God listens to us, God
answers our prayers, God with His Spirit in us has given us this eternal life
so that we can grow and change and overcome] …and a book of remembrance was
written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His
name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘in that day when I make up
My jewels’…. [And God is going to give us a crown of life. And God is going to
give us eternal life and a place in New Jerusalem. Didn’t Jesus say: ‘I go to
prepare a place for you’? Yes, indeed; and when New Jerusalem comes down
out of heaven, there is going to be your name written where you are going to
be, your abode, your dwelling place in New Jerusalem.] (God says): …‘in that
day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own
son that serves him…. [And so that’s a tremendous thing brethren when it says:
‘let the message of God dwell richly in you, deeply in you.’ That is what it is
talking about.] (Then God says, v 18): …[When I do that] then shall you return,
and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God
and him that serves Him not’” (vs 16-18). So that’s tremendous, those are
really fantastic and marvelous and wonderful things.
Now let’s concentrate on where it says; and singing psalms in your
heart. Let’s come to Psalm 95, we are going to spend a little time in the book
of Psalms. There is quite a bit here that we can learn and know and understand.
Psalm 95:1 starts right out with, Sing; “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let
us make a joyful noise… [that’s for all of us who can’t sing] …to the Rock of
our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a
joyful noise unto Him with psalms…. [So you see how the Apostle Paul expanded
that when he comes to Col. 3 and how we are to grow and how we are to change
and how we are to overcome.] …For the Lord is a great God, and a great King
above all gods…. [So part of the reason we get down and discouraged is because
we don’t look to the greatness of God and the power of His might. Notice what
David wrote here]: …In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength
of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed
the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the
sheep of His hand…. [Now we have a hymn in the hymnal, which is taken right out
of Psalm 95. Now let’s notice the rest of it here.] …Today if you will
hear His voice…. [That’s what we need to do, hear the voice of God]
…harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation
in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work.
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people
that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways: unto whom I swore
in My wrath, that they should not enter into My rest” (vs 1-11). Put in your
notes, right there, Heb. 4 showing that that also applies to us.
Now let’s come to Psalm 96:1: “O sing unto the Lord
a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless His
name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the
heathen, His wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be
praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are
idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before Him:
strength and beauty are in His sanctuary…. [And that’s where God wants us to be
brethren right there with Him. In the sanctuary, seeing Him, serving Him,
loving Him, understanding Him.] (v 7): …Give unto the Lord, O you kindreds of
the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory
due unto His name: bring an offering, and come into His courts. O worship the
Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth” (vs 1-9). And,
brethren, worshiping God in the beauty of holiness is having the Spirit of God
in you, in an earnest desire and loving attitude, when you are praying to God,
when you are studying His word, when you are yielding to Him, when you, in the
very deep most inner part of your heart and your mind and your emotions, when
you are coming to God to pray and you are all alone before God and with His
Spirit and you worship and praise Him that is the beauty of Holiness, with
Christ in you that you can offer back to God the Father for all of His
greatness and all of His love and all of His goodness.
Let’s go to Psalm 145:1-3: “I will extol You, my
God, O King; and I will bless Your name for ever and ever. Every day will I
bless You; and I will praise Your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord,
and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” Boy, that’s an
absolutely fantastic, fantastic way to come before God. And brethren, may we
learn that. That’s why, at the Feast, I said, Brethren, if you are having
difficulty in prayer and in study, go through some of these Psalms and then go
pray to God. Let’s come down here to vs 7-12: “They shall abundantly utter the
memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. The Lord
is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and of great mercy. The Lord
is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works
shall praise You, O Lord; and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of
the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of
men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.”
Hold your place here, brethren, and
let’s turn to another aspect of God’s works. Let’s go to Ephesians 2 because
the greatest work that God is doing is not the creation of the physical things.
The greatest work that Christ is doing in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit
through God the Father, is Christ in you. Let’s pick it up here in Ephesians
2:8—and this ties right in exactly, and I don’t know if the Apostle Paul
was back there at Psa. 145 when he was thinking and writing here in Ephesians
2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the
gift of God, Not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are
His workmanship… [Brethren, we are the greatest
work of God. We, in growing and overcoming—which is Christ in
us—that is His workmanship.] …created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them” (vs 8-10).
So when he brings out here in Psalm 145, when it talks about all of His
glorious works, brethren, that is talking about all of those in whom is the
Spirit of God that God is working with to create His Family. Can there be any
greater creation than His Family? God can create stars and suns and universes
and all the physical things that there is. But oh,
- is there someone who loves
God?
- Is there someone who seeks
God?
- Is there someone who is
really striving after God?
That is the greatest creation.
So, let’s come back to Psalm 145:13: “Your kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom… [It is talking about when Christ is on the earth and
on in the fulfillment of Rev. 21 and 22.] …And Your dominion endures throughout
all generations. The Lord upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that
be bowed down. The eye of all wait upon You; and You give them their meat in
due season. You open Your hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The Lord is
nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He
will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and
will save them. The Lord preserves all them that love Him: but all the wicked
will He destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh
bless His holy name for ever and ever” (vs 13-21). So brethren, that’s a
tremendous thing.
We will finish off Colossians 3 the next time and we’ll go ahead and we
will do it next week. But that’s why the Apostle Paul wants us to really focus
in on growing and overcoming with Christ in us; to put in the character of
Christ, the Spirit of God, which He can give if we love God and yield to Him
and love each other the way that He wants us to.
All
Scriptures in New Testament from The N.T. in its Original Order, A Faithful
Version
- Exception: Colossians: Expanded Amplified Version
Old Testament Scriptures: King James Version
Scriptural
References:
1)
Colossians 3:1-8
2)
Romans 7:19-25
3)
Colossians 3:9-10
4)
2 Corinthians 4:14-18
5)
Colossians 3:11-12
6)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 12, 5
7)
Philippians 2:1
8)
1 John 1:3-4
9)
Philippians 2:1-8
10)
Colossians 3:13
11)
Matthew 6:33-34
12)
Matthew 7:1
13)
John 7:24
14)
Matthew 7:2-5
15)
Galatians 6:1
16)
Matthew 18:21-35
17)
Colossians 3:13-14
18)
1 John 4:10-11, 16-20
19)
1 John 2:9-11
20)
1 John 4:20-21
21)
Colossians 3:14-15
22)
John 14:27
23)
John 6:44-45
24)
Colossians 3:16-17
25)
John 3:16-17
26)
Romans 8:1-3
27)
John 3:16-21
28)
Malachi 3:16-18
29)
Psalm 95:1-11
30)
Psalm 96:1-9
31)
Psalm 145:1-3, 7-12
32)
Ephesians 2:8-10
33)
Psalm 145:13-21
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Matthew 6
- Job 42
- Romans 6
- Hebrews 10:17
- Romans 8:1-13
- Hebrews 4
- Revelation 21 & 22
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