63 AD

• Timothy sends word to Paul in Colosse that the Ephesian church is being ravaged by false teachers.
• “There is also a problem with respect to how the widows are being cared for in the church.
• Some of the widows have adopted the heresy, and others have family members who are able to care for them. Still worse, some of the younger widows who decided not to remarry are acting promiscuously.

 
1 TIMOTHY 5
1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.

• Much of what Paul advised here involved action based on sensible maturity.[1]
• Timothy was obviously much younger than many in the church at that time.
• Don’t be afraid to have a bold conversation with older men. Be honest and sensitive to them.
• Be kind in your conversations.
• Speak with respect to others.
• Speak without emotion.
• Even a child is wise in how they speak to their parents. When and how...

 
THE SUPPORT OF WIDOWS
3 Support widows who are genuinely in need.

• A woman whose husband has died and who has no male relative (e.g., a father, brother or son) to support her.[2]
• The other qualifier is one who displayed fruit of the Spirit rather than selfish pleasures.
• God’s special care for the widows is a recurring theme in Scripture (Deut., Ps., Is., & Mal.).
• It was only right that the local church show compassion to these women who were in need.[3]

4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.

1. This is a Spirit-led act
2. This is repayment for your own raising
3. This pleases God
4. This has more to do with leaving a legacy

5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

• It is not so much about specific disciplines as much as it is living out of their true identity.
• Those living by the Spirit vs those living by their flesh.
• This puts the believer/leader in judgment over people.
• Self-indulgent = spiritually dead.

7 Command this also, so that they will be above reproach.

• A good public reputation

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

• The sense of urgent importance in Paul’s words suggests that widows were causing some of the problems in Ephesus.[4]
• Is there anything worse than an unbeliever?
• Yes! Those who refuse to provide for their family.
• Even unbelievers support their family members.
• This is still within the guidelines of walking by the Spirit or walking in the flesh.
• There is both spiritual provision as well as financial provision.

9 No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for good works—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.

• These are a result of the fruit of the Spirit.
• Older women that probably would not remarry and were recognized as serving in the church.
• Marriage statement was the same one associated with elders and deacons in chapter 3.

11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry 12 and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.

• Original pledge – First love being Jesus.
• They are pursuing sensual desires more than spiritual desires. (flesh vs spirit).

13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.

• Idleness vs serving in the church.
• Entitlement – expectations of the church.

14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.

• Some who had pledged a commitment to widowhood were not living as the true widow of vv. 5, 9–10.
• They had abandoned their trust in God.[5]
• “accuse us” – The church will be judged by society.
• Judgement many times comes falsely.
• Most the time out of guilt.
• Make the other person look just as bad or worse than you.

 

• Speak with Kim Schilling, Meg Patton & Wanda Pontious.

 
HONORING THE ELDERS
17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

• Elders were a permanent feature of Jewish synagogues. It would have been natural for churches to adopt this office into their congregational government.[6]
• Paul’s practice was to use elders in organizing the churches he founded, not only in Jewish regions but also in Gentile territory (e.g., Acts 14:23).
• Jews would easily have understood this system of organization.
• Gentiles, who knew that local governments were controlled by officials who resembled elders, would not find Paul’s system strange or totally unacceptable.[7]

18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, The worker is worthy of his wages.

• Matthew 10:10 – ”Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worthy of his food.”[8]

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

• Hearsay… not good…
• Facebook… not good…
• One person’s testimony may be skewed by a bad experience.
• Know what is actually being taught

20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.

• This is still in reference to “elders” and especially if they are in a teaching role.
• Those who continue to sin… a chance for correction and repentance?

21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

• You put the Gospel in jeopardy with society if you waiver on the Truth.

22 Don’t be too quick to appoint, anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

• Medicinal purposes

24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. [9]

• Genuine character, like cream, always rises to the top.
• These words represent a warning against hasty rejection.[10]

 
Paul giving clarity to Timothy in organization, leadership, procedures and house cleaning.

[1] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 145). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Ti 5:3). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 229). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 148). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, pp. 152–153). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, pp. 154–155). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 155). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Mt 10:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publisers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 5). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 159). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Ephesians 1:18-19
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.[1]

• Power – dunamus – dynamite

GOD’S POWER IN CHRIST
EPHESIANS 1
20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead

• “exercised” – energized
• Computer gets bogged down… run updates… refresh.
• The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11)
• God’s power enables us to use God’s strength & wealth.
• You will never experience the power of His resurrection in the daily affairs of life until you know him intimately.
• Authority and power for victorious living come only through knowing Him and living by His very life.

and seating him at his right hand in the heavens--

• He is sitting… It is done!
• Chapter 2 gets even better!

21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

• His power will supersede anything ever created.

22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church,

• Jesus supplies the very life of the church.
• We live by His life!

23 which is his body,

• Christ being the head and the believers being His body.

the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

• The fullness of the deity of resides in us.
• When we learn to walk in the Spirit, we walk in this fullness.
• The Gospels display the power of the Father working through the Son.
• Acts displays the power of the Father working through the Spirit in the form of believers.

 
FROM DEATH TO LIFE
EPHESIANS 2
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

• Spiritually dead…
• Can’t communicate with God
• Unable to understand and appreciate spiritual things.
• God is Spirit and we have no spiritual life
• Spirit is dead in relation to God
• Sin (acts) is a result of your natural behavior
• trespasses = deviate from righteousness
• sin = miss the mark

2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,

• “world” – this evil age
• the world’s system of values and perspective of things
• Satan has power in this system

according to the ruler of the power of the air,

• Ruler = prince, chief of the atmosphere
• We are in a battle and natural tendency is to protect our child.
• There is only one way to protect your child…
• 1) Know Jesus 2) Trust Him.
• 1 Peter 5:8 – Roaring lion (Simba-pounce)
• 2 Cor 11:14 – Angel of light

the spirit now working in the disobedient.

• spirit – way of thinking.

3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires,

• * Beware of sinful nature in NIV84 & NLT.
• The flesh refers to that fallen nature that we were born with, that wants to control the body and the mind and make us disobey God.[2]
• This is the state in which bad habit patterns get lodged in the brain (flesh)

carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts (mind),

• Unregenerate man – soul & spirit are not redeemed at this point.
• Soul being mind, will & emotions.

and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

• It is our nature that condemns us.
• Since we have not been saved by our good works, we cannot be lost by our bad works.[3]
• Answer the baby question (2 Sam 12:23)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,

• This is God’s true nature
• Love is one of God’s intrinsic attributes, but when this love is related to sinners, it becomes grace and mercy.[4]

5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

• “Us” being the believers (church)
• We received eternal life… no beginning or end… no timeline… freedom.
• Grace - 1) God’s unmerited favor
•            2) God’s ability in you on a daily basis

6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,

• God has no timeline… He sees us there now
• If you see yourself in the flesh and here on earth rather than in the Spirit hanging out with the Father… you  never win the battle that is going on here on earth.
• You presently have access to all that is God’s
• A.W. Tozer - Earth may have been good enough for that creature who was created from the dust and clay, but it is not good enough for the living soul who is redeemed by royal blood!

Earth was fit and proper to be the eternal dwelling place for that creature who was made by God’s hand, but it is not appropriate nor sufficient to be the eternal dwelling place of that redeemed being who is begotten of the Holy Spirit. Every born-again Christian has been lifted up—lifted up from the level of the fallen Adamic race to the heavenly plane of the unfallen and victorious Christ. He belongs up there!
7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

• What are His immeasurable riches?

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift--

• Salvation comes through faith alone
• The division is what is the word “this” in reference to… salvation or faith. (Just another distraction).

9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

• Not as a result of man’s efforts
• The Law confirmed this
• Who has to perform at Christmas to receive their gifts?
• This is what Santa teaches! Naughty or nice?

10 For we are his workmanship,
 -    creation = workmanship, masterpiece

•  It is God’s work that saved us (through the cross)

created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.[5]

• good works being the natural byproduct of our salvation.
• this is Christ working through us… not us trying to imitate Christ through working hard.
• Paul viewed this as his life “in Christ”

 

• GO back to Verse 2:7
• 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
• In the midst of yesterday’s grief for Officer Noah Shahnavaz… we heard how he lived his life for Jesus.
• He was serving the city of Elwood only through his desire to serve the Lord.
• The Lord was working through Noah.
• It’s as if the Lord was saying to Noah and even to you sitting here in this very room…
• “You’re so good… I made you good… I love you… I know you’re restricted in your flesh… It’s gonna be OK… This is not what I intended for you… you’re already in heaven with me. Look…
• Look… stay focused on me… I truly love you!”

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 1:18–19). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 18). Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 19). Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 19). Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 1:20–2:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• Moving from Biblical/Historical Truth to Application
• Declaring and defending the Word vs demonstrating the Word in your life.
• We must keep in mind that the pagan religions of Paul’s day said little or nothing about personal morality.
• A worshiper could bow before an idol, put his offering on the altar, and go back to live the same old life of sin.
• What a person believed had no direct relationship with how he behaved, and no one would condemn a person for his behavior.[1]
• What Paul wanted believers to connect with is understanding your connection with Jesus greatly impacts what you “do” in life.
• Paul turned his thoughts to a more positive aspect of Christian living in this section of Scripture.
• The foolish attempts at sanctification found in 2:20–23 often entrap Christian people.
• This is chasing agendas.
• The real issue is the outlook found in 3:1–4.
• Here Paul explained the nature of the Christian’s higher calling (3:1–2) and the reasons to seek this higher calling (3:3–4).
• Although this section focuses on the Christian’s new values, clearly these values are rooted in conversion.
• Conversion includes a radical change of mind which produces the desire for separation from the world.[2]

THE LIFE OF THE NEW MAN
COLOSSIANS 3
1 So if you have been raised with Christ,

• Our exalted position in Christ is not a hypothetical thing, or a goal for which we strive.
• It is an accomplished fact.[3]

seek the things above,

• 1) Set your heart on things above (moral)

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

• The right hand represents power and position of privilege.
• Hebrews 10:12-14 - But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God., 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.[4]

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

• 2) Set your mind on things above (mental)
• Jesus not only died for our sinful nature, but he died so that the power of sin could be conquered.

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

• This is Romans 6-8
• Jesus is not peripheral to life; He is life.
• He imparts God’s life, and He is the center around which life should be oriented.[5]

4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

• Eternal life wasn’t some separate gift I received.
• I received a life in Christ… which is eternal.
• What is your life? (baseball, Colts, sports, cars, work/business, kids, your spouse, your knowledge, clothing/shopping, food, travel)
• We can talk all day about these things… but just let me talk about Jesus… that is real life.
• I can go to a ballgame wearing the opponent’s jersey… in Chicago… the southside… and not one person ridicules me or condemn me for being the enemy.
• In fact, they actually talk to me and are friendly.
• The glory of Christ will captivate the minds of unbelievers as well as believers.

5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature body: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.

• It is not your nature… but actions of your flesh.
• In the first list of vices, Paul identified five sins which relate to personal actions.
• Four of them consistently refer elsewhere to sexual sins, to which he added a fifth, covetousness.
• The individual who commits them thinks more of himself than he does of others.
• For Paul, sexual sin harmed the individual himself—it was a sin against one’s own body (1 Cor 6:18);
• it ruins relationships;
• it contributes to autonomy—the anti-God spirit;
• and it represents a lack of self-control.
• These all characterize the old self.[6]
• Paul states the obvious.
• Paul has already declared that we have been given the power.
• No matter how deep we are into our bad choices, we have the power to make excellent choices.

6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them.

• Paul is referring to life without Christ but now, they are in Christ.
• A behavior was established (in the body/flesh) and patterns occurred.
• Now you have a new nature but former behavior patterns still exist.
• As you are learning about how you have already been sanctified, your behaviors are being sanctified.
• Your behaviors are changing and lining up more with who you are as a new creation.

8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another,

• A lie is any misrepresentation of the truth, even if the words are accurate.[7]
• Several scholars point out that moralists commonly used lists of fives to identify their moral concerns.[8]

since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self.

• “old self” – sinful nature
• “new self” – new nature/creation

You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

• Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27).
• This involves man’s personality (intellect, emotion, will) and man’s spirituality (he is more than a body).
• When man sinned, this image of God was marred and ruined.
• Adam’s children were born in the image of their father (Gen. 5:1, 3).[9]
• Maturing in what you know, from the image of Adam to the image of God.
• You have already been made in the image of God from the image of Adam.

11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, (a people group from Central Asia, north of the Black Sea.[10] Considered to be the lowest barbarians of all.) slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
 
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

• Admonishing has the element of strong encouragement. It is generally practical and moral, rather than abstract or theological.[11]

17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.[12]

• Sometimes you have to remind others about who they truly are
• In context of this letter to the beloved at Colosse, Paul is reminding the believers they have two choices: 1) walk by your flesh or 2) walk by your Spirit.
• Sometimes you have to verbally remind people of who they are in Christ and what it looks like to walk as a new creation.
• I believe it is the Spirit's responsibility to teach us and cause us to walk by the Spirit.
• But many times the Spirit will use the spiritually mature to vocalize the difference of flesh and Spirit.

Panera, lunch, togetherness… We don’t intentionally study the Word, but the Word naturally is discussed in our conversations.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 133). Victor Books.
[2] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 279). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 10:12–14). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 3:4). Lexham Press.
[6] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, pp. 291–292). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 136). Victor Books.
[8] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 288). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 136). Victor Books.
[10] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[11] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 304). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible (Col 3:1–17). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

COLOSSIANS 2
12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

• It is illustrative of resurrection, indicating the end of the old life and the start of a new life in Christ.
• Baptism is the outward sign of inward grace.
• When someone dies, the next step is burial, and similarly, baptism is the next and essential step for converts.
• The figurative meaning is “to be identified with.” For example, the Jewish nation was “baptized unto Moses” when it went through the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:1–2).
• This identification means that whatever happened to Christ also happened to us.
• When He died, we died with Him.
• When He was buried, we were buried.
• When He arose again, we arose with Him—and we left the grave clothes of the old life behind (Col. 3:1–14).
• It was the power of God that changed us, not the power of water.[1]

13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses.

• Paul refers to life prior to faith and baptism, when we lived without the control and empowerment of God.[2]

14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

• Satan and his forces thought victory was theirs, but Jesus turned the tables on them and stripped them of their power to accuse and to control.[3]
• This new life came when God forgave us all our sins for He canceled the written code.
• Before God’s written Law, His “written code,” people stood condemned (cf. Rom. 3:19), so it worked against them and opposed them.
• Since people cannot keep the Law, it is like a bill of indebtedness.
• An invoice or a document telling us we owe something to God.[4]
• So people, unable to pay the debt, are criminals.[5]
• But in Christ the Law is fulfilled (Rom. 8:2) and done away with (Gal. 3:25; Heb. 7:12).
• Legalism assumes a contractual relationship whereby in one’s thoughts God can be bought by human effort.[6]
• Legalism is wrong because believers are dead to the Law, in Christ.
• Jesus not only took our sins to the cross (1 Peter 2:24), but He also took the Law to the cross and nailed it there, forever out of the way.[7]
• He fulfilled its demands in His life and by His death, and Christians are in Him.[8]
• The law is silenced because Christ has died as a substitute for sinners.
• We “are not under the Law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).[9]
• God, through Christ, has forgiven our sins and ends the legal case against us.[10]
• CASE CLOSED!

16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

• Some members of the congregation were critical and dominating. Paul addressed this first because of the persuasive power of these attitudes.[11]
• This warning exposes the danger of the legalism of the gnostic teachers in Colossae.[12]
• At Colossae the Jewish nature of the philosophy predominated. It seems, therefore, that the question dealt with matters of Jewish law, that is, the eating of clean and unclean meats as forbidden or condoned in the Old Testament.[13]
• Their religion was tied to the calendar.
• “judge” - “to determine value.”
• Don’t let anyone determine your values for you by what they are saying about you or to you.
• Christ alone has already determined your personal value which allows you to live in freedom.
• The flesh is weak when it comes to doing spiritual things (Matt. 26:41), but it is very strong when it comes to practicing religious rules and regulations.[14]

17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.

• A shadow is less significant than the object which causes it.
• A shadow is temporary, lasting until the substance arrives in view.
• A shadow is inferior in that it imperfectly resembles the object.
• No one prefers the shadow to the substance.[15]
• The believing Gentiles in Colossae never were under the Law of Moses since that Law was given only to Israel (Rom. 9:4). It seems strange that, now that they were Christians, they would want to submit themselves to Jewish legalism![16]
• The false teachers in Colossae were claiming a “deeper spiritual life” for all who would practice the Law.[17]

18 Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.

• “Let no one disqualify you.” – Johnny Football sat out a half… but still won the game.
• Warren Wiersbe says, “The contestant does not cease to be a citizen of the land, but he forfeits the honor of winning a prize.”
• “ascetic practices” – Legalism of the Law.
• Ascetic - practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline (an ascetic monk or an ascetic diet).
• An ascetic practices rigorous self-denial and even self-mortification in order to become more spiritual.
• The ascetic hopes to sanctify the soul by his discipline of the body, and it is this heresy that Paul attacked.[18]
• “worship of angels” – we only need Christ.

19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

• “head” - the use of this metaphor shows Christ’s superiority over the law or human traditions.[19]
• The Christian is to be energized and empowered by Christ the head so that genuine spiritual growth can take place.[20]


• In Colossae, don’t allow people to place a yoke/restriction upon you.
• In Corinth, they were saying that “we are free in Christ, we can do whatever we want.”
• In our church culture today, the legalism is not about food restrictions or days of worship.
• It plays out in what the “service time” looks like.
• Our church culture judges us based upon where we attend, what we wear, what traditions we practice, what translation we use, what we sing, what style we sing, who we align with and how we interpret the Scripture.

 

• Leavener – everything we can do to break down each of these non-essential thoughts about doing church in this culture.
• There are two extreme sides, the Colossae side and the Corinth side.
• You are free to do that, but there is a great reward that you are missing out on.
• And in all honesty, you cause consequences upon those who are in your community… because we are identifying with each other.
• At Leavener, we choose to identify with each other by hanging out together… no bumper stickers.
• Because of our hanging out together, we get tagged in our culture with what everyone is sewing in our community.
• “Oh, you are one of those Leavenerites!”
• If you hang out here with me at the pub… you get tagged with, “Oh, you go to church at a bar!”
• I take on very few battles anymore about this type of judgment because I understand the only judge I have is Christ alone.
• As a shepherd of this flock, I am used to protect, but I trust that Christ is our center.
• The more I trust Christ, the less I have to protect.

20 If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”?

• “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch” - slogans from the false teachers
• The problem at Colossae was the people willingly embraced a system of thought contrary to Christianity.
• The system was enslaving.[21]

22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.[22]

• The people who practice asceticism have a “reputation” for spirituality, but the product does not live up to the promotion.[23]
• 1 Cor 10:23 where Paul cited a slogan from the libertine party in Corinth: “All things are lawful” (NASB). They realized their Christian freedoms and flaunted them before other Christians.
• Again, Paul agreed with the truthfulness of their position, but modified it.
• He agreed as a general reference point that “all things are lawful.” He modified their position, however, by saying that “not everything is constructive.”[24]
• Paul is saying you are free to practice these legalisms because they seem practical and full of wisdom but they are definitely not going to help you understand the freedom that Christ intended for you to live in on a moment by moment basis.
• The power of Christ in the life of the believer does more than merely restrain the desires of the flesh: it puts new desires within him.
• He does not need law on the outside to control his appetites because he has life on the inside![25]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 2:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 49). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[4] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 48). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[5] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 678). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 263). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 678). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 49). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[11] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 266). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[13] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 268). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[14] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[15] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians,
colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 268). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[16] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[17] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[18] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[19] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 2:19). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[20] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 273). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[21] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 275). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[22] Christian Standard Bible (Col 2:12–2:23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[23] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[24] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 276). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[25] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

• Paul has spent the last couple of chapters explaining what authentic ministry is.

OUR FUTURE AFTER DEATH
2 CORINTHIANS 5
1 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

• Can we talk about this life here on earth?
• I am physically limited by my flesh suit.
• Gravity… as the Holidays go on… so do the pounds.
• Think about life 3-4 years ago vs today.
• Pandemic came – quarantine came.
• Seclusion came – isolation came.
• Things changed
• We were at home in our comfy pants, Traegers, Netflix and devices.
• We got out for a season…
• But now we are crawling back into our holes again because it is easy.
• GMA Report
• Our bodies are groaning for something greater than all this!

5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

• Difference between Judgment Seat and Great White Throne Judgment.
• Judgment Seat is for believers… based upon works. Those things we have done in the flesh vs the things we have done in the Spirit.

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.

• I’m telling you… you can’t be lulled into the ways of this world… devices… isolation… expectations.
• It is killing your kids… it is killing you.
• You aren’t even aware of what is happening but the alarms are going off all around you.

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us (boast), so that you may have a reply for those who take pride (boast) in outward appearance rather than in the heart.

• The world is more focused on appearance and doing than they are spiritual side of themselves.
• You have to stop what the majority is doing and focus on the Spirit that lives inside of you.

13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

• Yes! The world is going to think you are stupid.
• Yes! You will be criticized.
• I’m going to choose to do things differently… even from those who are doing church!
• Spoke to a church staff about sabbath rest.
• Paul is appealing with believers to not listen to the false teachers.
• He wants them to live a life of authentic ministry.
• You fix dinner for your family and you are pleading with them to come to the table.
• “I only have 10 more minutes of this movie.”
• I’m begging you… quit playing games… quit chasing things that are irrelevant to what is happening around you.
• There are people who are spiritually and physically dying.

14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all (John 3:16), and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

• It is not about us.
• We focus on us… which is what the world points us to… then it brings anxiety, depression and disappointment.
• If we focus on Jesus… He is going to point you to others because that is authentic ministry.
• Doing things for others allows joy to rise to the top.

 
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way.

• Worldly perspective… acts done in the flesh.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

• What passed away? Something died! It is gone!
• Your sinful nature… what was once natural to you.
• Now you have been made new.
• A transformation has occurred and most believers never realize it.
• Yes, they know they have salvation… but do they know this tent has a living God inside of them?

18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

• Crisis intervention… the ministry of sitting down across from someone and saying, “Jesus has already dealt with that.
• It has been reconciled.
• Let’s move forward.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

• We sit down with people and remind them of their identity.
• Police Chief walks in dressed in total uniform and everyone sees him for the police chief.
• The Police Chief is not his badge.
• I see you in a whole different perspective.
• Received and welcomed.

21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.[1]

• This is past tense.
• It is already a done deal.
• You have been made righteous.
• You are reconciled.
• This is what we have to constantly remind ourselves and our families.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Co 5:1–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Romans 7:14-25 - 
​14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this law:, When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. 22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body,, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin. 

Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 7:14–25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

How do you deal with people that hurt you?
-       I rarely give direct suggestions on what to do…

THE SPIRIT VERSUS THE FLESH
Galatians 5:16-26
16 I say then, walk (live) by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
- Flesh vs Sinful Nature (* NIV 84 & New Living)
- NIV changed sinful nature to flesh in 2011 version
 - The Message - My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness.[1]
- “the flesh” does not mean “the body”

• It is a far more encompassing term involving the mind, will, and emotions as well as the physical body.
• According to R. Jewett, the flesh was Paul’s term for everything aside from God in which one placed his final trust.
• Everything outside of faith
• Only the Spirit of God who has made us free from sin and given us new life (regeneration) can keep us truly free as we walk in him through the power of sanctification.
• Sanctification – Knowing that you are vs trying to attain it.
• Here in Gal 5 Paul used four distinct verbs to designate the Spirit-controlled life of the believer, all of which are roughly equivalent in meaning:

1. to walk in the Spirit (v. 16)
2. to be led by the Spirit (v. 18)
3. to live by the Spirit (v. 25a)
4. to keep in step with the Spirit (v. 25b).

Each of these verbs suggests a relationship of dynamic interaction, direction, and purpose.

• In Paul’s vocabulary, to walk in the Spirit or be led by the Spirit means to go where the Spirit is going, to listen to his voice, to discern his will, to follow his guidance.[2]
• It is not only the Spirit’s direction… but His empowerment!
• So if that is the case it becomes:
• The Spirit’s direction vs our Selfish direction
• The Spirit’s empowerment or our own selfish power. (self-help)
• This is where you have to be careful.
• Society does a wonder in making things of the flesh seem like the “right thing”.
• Think about the acceptance of things today as compared to 10 years ago… 50 years ago.
• You can have a new heart and still live out of your flesh.
• Learn to live out of your new heart. Know God.

17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
- The Spirit and the flesh are not in a stalemate.
 - The flesh does not frustrate the desires of the Spirit; rather, the Spirit frustrates the desires of the flesh.[3]
 - Here is the bad news/good news:
 - Bad news: So long as we remain in this present life, we never outgrow or transcend the spiritual conflict Paul was describing in this passage.
 - There is no spiritual technique or second blessing that can propel the believer onto a higher plane of Christian living where this battle must no longer be fought.[4]
- Good news: Knowing this is the case… allows you to walk on in victory.
- I will not become a judge of qualifying grace.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

• If you don’t completely grasp this battle, it is difficult to walk in victory… in fact, it could destroy you.
• Paul now states the obvious. Let me show you what it looks like as you walk on a daily basis.
• As we read through these lists, we not only filter our own sin issues, but we begin to attach names to the others.
• It is easy to become judgmental to others while at the same time justifying our own issues.
• I am sure Paul did not make a list (that is not exhaustive) for the purpose of analyzing each of your faults.
• This list indicates whether you are a believer or not.

 
19 Now the works (plural) of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before

• More than half of this list causes conflict with other people.
• Those putting selfish needs before others.

—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• The Greek participle here, prassontes, is used in the present tense, referring to people who continually orient their lives toward deeds of the flesh[5]

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

• It is not about having each item in this list...
• It is about grasping that we have the Spirit who produces these items in us.
• I am not responsible for producing the fruit.
• I am responsible for choosing to walk with the Spirit.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- There is no stalemate in this battle between flesh and spirit.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.[6]
- We must encourage one another!

[1] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Ga 5:16). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
[2] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 386). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 5:17). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 387–388). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 5:21). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 5:16–26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.