01/11/18 MID WEEK SERVICE
Photos of Wednesday Bible Study. Mark took the wide angle shot so i could be in it. We missed Hillary and Caleb, who could not be here because of sickness. We meet in my living room. I taught the Colossians 1:9-23 passage. My comments below quotes the passage and addresses the points I made.
STUDY
In the following passage I pointed out that sinning religion does not agree with the sections that have a star "*".
Colossians 1:9-23
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire *that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 *That ye might walk worthy of the Lord *unto all pleasing, *being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 *Strengthened with all might, *according to his glorious power, unto *all patience and longsuffering *with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which *hath made us meet (dlg note, "meet" means FIT, QUALIFIED) *to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath *delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, *to present you holy *and unblameable *and unreproveable in his sight:
23 *If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, *and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
DO NOT follow the crowd who denies the saving power of God. Instead, believe God and His word. He not only is able to save us to the uttermost, He wants to save us to the uttermost. Grace that does not save from sin is not grace. Grace that does not make us holy is not grace.
Here are the "starred" * points. I addressed the points themselves and the faulty views of sinning religion. BTW, it is easy for sinning religion to deny what I say concerning their view of salvation. However, when they are pressed far enough and hard enough their house of cards comes tumbling down.
vs. 10
We can walk worthy of the Lord. Of course this requires our surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Sinning religion denies that we can be worthy or walk worthy of our calling.
We can live in a way that pleases God, a way in which God is pleased with us. Sinning religion says that we will always sin, which of course is not pleasing to God.
We can be fruitful in every good work. Sinning religion denies that we can do anything good, even by the power of God in us. God says that we can do good works and we can be fruitful in doing those good works.
vs.11
We can be strengthened, empowered by ALL MIGHT, which is the power of the ALMIGHTY. Sinning religion denies that we can experience the permeating, all power of God.
We can be patient in ALL THINGS, all of our trials. Sinning religion denies that we can be patient in all things, since we are sinners and since we will always be sinners in this life.
We can be joyful in the midst of our trials. Sinning religion has no grasp of the fullness of joy, because sinning religion has no grasp of the fullness of God.
vs.12
We can be made FIT, QUALIFIED, ADEQUATE in order to be a partaker, recipient of the inheritance of holy people living in the light, truth, holiness of God. Sinning religion says that we are never really made fit or qualified, but that we are only "counted" as qualified or justified. Sinning religion denies that we are made fit to be saints, holy people in this life.
vs.13
We can be DELIVERED FROM the POWER OF DARKNESS. We do not have to live in bondage to sin, self or Satan. Sinning religion says we are delivered from punishment, even if we still have sin in our lives, even if we still have sin in our lives when we die. Sinning religion does not believe in deliverance from the power or pollution of darkness, in this world.
vs. 22
We can live as children of light and life NOW, because reconciliation makes us holy, unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight. Sinning religion denies that we are actually made holy, made unblameable, made unreproveable OR THAT WE CAN LIVE our lives as holy, unblameable and unreproveable. Sinning religion teaches that God "sees us through Christ," but does not actually see us. This is important to sinning religion because sinning religion does not believe that God sets us free from the power and pollution of sin in this life.
vs 23
We can, we must CHOOSE to continue to live in faith. We can, we must continued to CHOOSE TO remain grounded and settled in the faith. Sinning religion says we cannot choose to remain, continue in the faith. Sinning religion says we do not have to choose to continue, to remain in the faith.
We can, we must not be moved away from the hope of the gospel. Sinning religion says we cannot choose to remain faithful to hoe of the gospel. Sinning religion says that we cannot be moved away from the hope of the gospel.
