There is nothing more basic in Christianity than the understanding that Christ and Christ alone is the propitiation (substitute payment) for our sins. In this series of six (6) short studies Grace to You Ministries studies that Great Exchange.
The book of Colossians describes Christ as superior to all other teachers, faiths, and philosophies. In this letter, written from prison, Paul once again tackles false teachings. Among these errors claim that Christians need to give up all physical enjoyments, that they should worship angels, and that they need to rely on the wisdom of an elite few. These problems are consistent with an ancient heresy known as Gnosticism. In response, Paul explains that Christ is supreme and sufficient for our salvation.¹
There are two major themes in Chapter 3, Holy Living v.1-17 and Family Relations v.18 -4:1. Our text comes from the first part. Paul used some strong words (depending on your translation) put off v.1-4, put to death v.5-7, remove all v.8-9, put on v.9-10, to remind the church at Colossae and us that we are no longer bound to the world and live the life v.11-17 in Christ.
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON
ON LORD’S-DAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1881
The Incomparable Christ: Exposition of Colossians: Sing As Though Your Life Depended On It – Sermon by on June 10, 2007
¹ Source
The first chapter of Peter’s second epistle can be broken down as follows:
v.1-2 – Peter Introduces himself as an Apostle and bondservant of Christ
v.3-4 – The theme or Thesis of the Book, God has called and equipped His saints
v.5-11 – The means for Growth in Christ
v. 12-21 – The need for consistent spiritual truth
Our text comes from the section containing the Theme of the Book, verses 3 and 4. They are linked in such a way the reading them separately leaves one wondering for more. An example look at the picture above, most folks emphasize “Divine Nature” in the sermons I reviewed but look at Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might… The only way to know what the “these” are is to read v.3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
“These” or those things are the knowledge of things (in or through Christ alone) that we need to live a godly life. That is the theme the message Peter is relaying to the early church and to us. Sola Christus not only can we be saved by no other means but we can not grow on faith or holiness by any other.
I can not speak for everyone today, but I would think most folks would want to partake of this great promise so as v.4 (AMP) says: by them, you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.
Heavenly Father, How I praise and thank You that I have been called out of darkness into Your glorious light. Thank You that in Christ I have been given all that I need to live a godly life that is pleasing to the Father. Thank You that by Your divine power I have been called, chosen, redeemed, accepted, and equipped by You, to live the godly life. that You desire of me. Thank You that I have been imputed with Christ’s righteousness, in-dwelt by Christ’s Holy Spirit, identified with all His goodness and grace and accepted by the Father, in the Beloved – by grace through faith in Him. Thank You that I have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and that through a knowledge of Him I have been granted everything that pertains to life and godliness. I pray that I may come to a fuller knowledge of Him, Who called me to be His child, by His own glory and excellence. You alone are worthy of all my honor and praise – a world without end, AMEN.
Modified from Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/2-Peter/1
One of my posts on 28 April, was entitled COVID-19 Is a Slow-Motion 9/11 in it Pastor Sam Rohrer of the American Pastors Network set forth 10 definitive needs every “Christian” must understand and live by after choosing to serve the Lord. I thought I would look at each one individually over the next two weeks.
If you having been reading this series especially Part 4 or Part 5 you will have a good understanding of why so many “Christians” are unprepared for any trouble in their lives never mind persecution. The soft peddling of the Gospel has left the church woefully unprepared for the attacks that are coming it’s way.
In arguably the greatest sermon ever preached, Jesus makes it clear persecution is both a blessing and a fact of life for “TRUE BELIEVERS”, Mathew 5:10-11 (AMP):
Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for [a]doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. 11 “Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me.
The entire 3rd chapter of 2nd Timothy is a reminder of coming troubles and persecutions. Paul writing to his young apprentice says that everyone who willfully and joyfully peruses godliness will be hunted and persecuted. Yup that is the “Good News” I wanted to hear :). Of course that is why so many pulpits are silent on the matter they are afraid of offending someone or scaring off someone. It is time they Preached the Whole Council of God and let God deal with all the rest.
Jesus is telling His trusted disciples be forewarned folks are going to hate you and come after you for my names sake. This time of persecution will provide a great opportunity to share the Gospel message but you must be prepared, for the coming evil and the coming opportunities.
If the hated and persecuted Him, and we are to follow His example what would make us think they (the world) would not come after us? Do we really believe the world has morally advanced since the days of Jesus? Tell me it is not so!!! Yet somehow we seem to ignore this?
As a believer and follower of Christ we must accept that some form of trouble (not necessarily persecution) is coming into our lives. If you are living the ‘good life’ and are free from all such issues, it is NOT because you have enough faith, or are really blessed (that is not in the book) it is because your are not doing anything significant for the kingdom to warrant attention from those who would trouble you.
Ask yourself is it time I got off the bench and started doing more for the kingdom and God’s Glory (never my own)
What Is Christian Persecution?
We continue our series on The Roles or Work Of the Holy Spirit. As I noted I found this list, there are many others, called 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit and while I have some reservations that some of the items on the list (could easily be taken out of proper biblical context) it can be a helpful tool. We however will only look at a few of the many roles the Holy has concentrating on those in a believers life including those as;
He ministers truth. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
He teaches. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27)
He restrains. (Acts 16:6)
The Holy Spirit brings direction and guidance. (Mark 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Timothy 4:1)
The Holy Spirit invites us to walk with Him. (Romans 8:4-5)
The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
He washes, sanctifies, purifies and justifies. (Romans 15;16, 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2,22)
The Holy Spirit builds us together for a house for God. (Ephesians 2:22)
The Holy Spirit gives comfort, health, and strength. (John 15:26; Acts 9:31)
Yesterday my wife and I had to take a road trip to help a stranded Pastor so I didn’t get time to write. In Tuesday’s part VI of our series on the Roles or Work of the Holy Spirit we discussed how The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9). Today we will be looking at the Role the Holy Spirit plays in washing, sanctifying, purifying and justifying our lives, so let us break them down:
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses… . I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” – Ezekiel 36:25–27
Most folks falsely believe that the “washing of the Holy Spirit” is a New Testament thing. A through reading of the Whole Counsel of God ILO the cursory view to many take reveals God has been operating this way from the beginning. God’s chosen have always been washed clean and the Holy Spirit has always been a key component of the process. God the Holy Spirit brings true cleansing and renewal, cleaning completely that we consider the stench of sin as out of place in our lives driving us to a life for Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
I use this term a lot it means to be set it apart for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him holy. True Christians are set apart from their former sinful lives by the blood of Jesus and sanctified (made holy) in an ongoing process by the Holy Spirit. I have said it before this is no snap your fingers make it happen thing, it is a life long process we are in it for the long haul. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (AMP) But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the [a]sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity]. Footnotes: There are two kinds of sanctification: first, positional sanctification means set apart for God and in some instances set apart for God’s purpose; second, practical sanctification is a progressive process and means growing in righteous living. This is dependent on a person’s reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Also see Romans 15:16, 1 Peter 1:2
ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.‘ — 1 Peter 1:22 (KJV) at first glance it looks to read like we have a part in the purification of our souls? Yet God declared us clean with Christ’s blood so that can’t be, and we know our still present sin nature would prevent us from doing this on our own so what does this really mean. It means, when we are obeying, in this case by outwardly demonstrating our love of the brethren, we are not sinning and therefore living a purified life via the influence (Truth) of the Holy Spirit.
Also see Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John
Unlike Sanctification that is a process Justification is an act Romans 5:1. It is an act of free grace toward sinners who deserve eternal punishment Romans 3:23-25. Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight. Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology (pg. 723)
Paul states bluntly that God “justifieth the ungodly” Romans 5:5 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. It is by Faith alone in Christ Alone to the Glory of God alone.
See 1 Corinthians 6:17, Galatians 2:16, Romans 1:17; Romans 3:28, Eph 2:8-9
Also see these:
Justification of the Ungodly Web Page by C. H. Spurgeon
A Defense of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ PDF by John Bunyan
CONCLUSION: The Holy Spirit plays a key role in changing and transforming a believers life. This again is not some magical or mystical power given to “certain” believers, the Holy Spirit indwells ALL true believers. He transforms and reforms ALL true believers staring at he beginning with Justification and working through out their lives in Sanctification.
Watson carefully illustrates 24 traits of a godly Spiritual man.
We are charged in all parts of our life to exemplify Christ
Estamos encargados en todas las partes de nuestra vida de ejemplificar a Cristo
11 así como sabéis de qué manera os exhortábamos, alentábamos e implorábamos[a] a cada uno de vosotros, como un padre lo haría con sus propios hijos, 12 para que anduvierais como es digno del Dios que os ha llamado[b] a su reino y a su gloria. (LBLA)
Because God who has called us from sin and redeemed us is Holy; we too are called to live a Holy life.
Porque Dios que nos llamó del pecado y nos redimió es Santo; nosotros también estamos llamados a vivir una vida santa.
sino que así como aquel que os llamó es santo[a], así también sed vosotros santos en toda vuestra manera de vivir; 16 porque escrito está: Sed santos, porque Yo soy santo.
We should never have to boast of our Christianity, others should see it in us and God should be the proud Father bragging on us.
Nunca deberíamos jactarnos de nuestro cristianismo, otros deberían verlo en nosotros y Dios debería ser el orgulloso Padre que se jacta de nosotros.
Pero el que se gloria, que se glorie en el Señor. 18 Porque no es aprobado el que se alaba a sí mismo, sino aquel a quien el Señor alaba.
We should live each day as Paul did with this conflict in mind; that to live and serve Christ is a great blessing, yet to die and be with Him in glory someday all the more.
Deberíamos vivir cada día como lo hizo Pablo con este conflicto en mente; que vivir y servir a Cristo es una gran bendición, pero morir y estar con Él en gloria algún día más.
A few weeks ago I published an article I entitled God’s Tool Box based upon one of my favorite verses 2 Peter 1:3. I made the statement In my opinion this should be a verse every new believer learns early on because it is packed with reassurance that we can live the “Christian” life no matter how hard it gets.
I followed it up last Saturday with a Series I have called “Adding to God’s Tool Box” Today I want to look at verse 6 or Part II of what goes into the tool box.
So far in the tool box of Righteousness we have Faith, the precious hope of eternal life with God in eternal bliss. We have Virtue, the ability to be good, act morally at all times showing kindness and reflecting the example Christ left for us. Finally we have Knowledge, this is the Godly knowledge, the knowledge found in God’s Holy Word that helps us to be more than conquerors.
Today we begin by adding self-control: self-kon-trol’ (egkrateia/ Greek): Rendered in the King James Version “temperance” (compare Latin temperario and continentia), but more accurately “self-control,” as in the Revised Version (British and American) (Acts 24:25; Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6); adjective of same, egkrates, “self-controlled” (Titus 1:8 the Revised Version (British and American)); compare verb forms in 1 Corinthians 7:9, “have …. continency”; 9:25, the athlete “exerciseth self-control.” Self-control is therefore repeatedly set forth in the New Testament as among the important Christian virtues. Temperance is moderation in thought, word, or action. Those who practice temperance are self-controlled and show restraint in their passions and behaviors.¹
This can be a challenge in the world we live in, surrounded by so many stupid people. Yes you read that correctly, I said STUPID, I define them as those who refuse to use knowledge gained or refuse to attempt to gain knowledge available. Those who insist on texting and driving cut you off and then curse and flip you off, those who have no common decency in a restaurant and play their cell phone music load, Those who mimic the talking heads in the media, classrooms and PULPITS across America and do not take the time to be Bereans and check out the truth for themselves.
It is very easy to just want to go off on these folks, and as my sending Pastor remarked before sending us off to the mission field “You are a hard man Mike, a hard man.” He is 100% correct and I am hardest upon myself for I realize the world is not SAVE BY GRACE, and in their sinful nature they can be expected to act Stupid. I do not think it is being a “bad Christian” to point out these errors, rather how you do it. Is it with moderation in thought, word, or action?
The next tool is endurance, we are in this for the long haul. No matter how long our life shall last (and we have no way of knowing when the master will call us home) we must endure (be persistent, never give up, persevere, have stamina,) till the end. every time I think of this two bible references come to mind, Job who endured the highest highs and lowest lows of any man ever and never turned from God. Then there is the Apostle Paul when he speaks on the reason for his enduring all in 2 Timothy 2:8-13. Paul makes it simple he says if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us; v.12 Paul endures because his eye is on the prize eternal bliss in Heaven with his Lord and Savior.
The final tool today is godliness, do not be confused as some would have you believe, (Copland, Myers and others) that you too can be a god. what is being spoken of here is adding more than mere moral or human goodness to your arsenal of tools. This is the moral or Spiritual goodness that reflects the nature of our Triune God Himself.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
We seem to be raising a generation that does not feel it needs to work, that everything should be handed to them, that they are entitled to every thing. The problem is that is contrary to what the bible teaches.
A few weeks ago I published an article I entitled God’s Tool Box based upon one of my favorite verses 2 Peter 1:3. I made the statement In my opinion this should be a verse every new believer learns early on because it is packed with reassurance that we can live the “Christian” life no matter how hard it gets. Today I want to begin looking at verses 5, 6 and 7 or what goes into the tool box.
First however I would be remiss if I just skipped over verse 4, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. It is clear that it is ONLY through his precious and very great promises, you (we) may become partakers of the divine nature. We can have all the tools we want but without Christ they are useless in the end.
Before God saved us by His Grace alone we had no real Faith or if we did it was at best misguided. We lived for self not Christ. Now our faith needs to be bolstered or strengthened so we can live for Him. Here the first tool is Virtue.
What is Virtue; Websters 1828 Dictionary defines it as:
3. Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be, distinguished from religion. The practice of moral duties merely from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation, is virtue, as distinct from religion. The practice of moral duties from sincere love to God and his laws, is virtue and religion. In this sense it is true,that virtue only makes our bliss below. Virtue is nothing but voluntary obedience to truth.
Virtue therefore is being good, acting morally at all times showing kindness and reflecting the example Christ left for us.
The second tool added today is Knowledge. I am not sure why this one word (defined here) is such a sticking point for so many today. I here it over and over again, I do not need any formal education, or I don’t need to go to cemetery because I have the Holy Spirit as my teacher. Folks even use that as an excuse for not assembling together in church. All of these excuses are UN-BIBLICAL. Jesus spent years learning before His ministry began, the Apostles learned for 3 years under Jesus before being sent out. The Apostle Paul, one of the most educated Jews of the time spent an additional 3 years learning before he began His ministry are we better than him? I am not tooting my own horn, I have spent the last 21 years studying God’s word first and foremost in an effort to insure I am doing His Will and daily He reveals something new to me. Many times it is on a verse just like this, that I have read a hundred times or more.
Sir Francis Bacon was the first person attributed to the phrase “Knowledge is Power’. It dates back to 1597 when he published the maxim in his book, “Meditationes Sacrae and Human Philosophy. He was referring to worldly knowledge how much more so Godly knowledge, the knowledge that helps us to be more than conquerors.
And besides this, giving all diligence,…. “Or upon this”, as the Syriac and Arabic versions read, bestow all your labour, diligence, and care; namely, on what follows, and that from the consideration of what goes before; for nothing can more strongly animate, and engage to the diligent exercise of grace and discharge of duty, than a consideration of the high favours, and free grace gifts of God, and the exceeding great and precious promises of his Gospel:
add to your faith virtue; or “with your faith”, so the Arabic version renders it, and the like, in the following clauses. They had faith, even like precious faith with the apostles, not of themselves, but by the gift of God, and which is the first and principal grace; it leads the van, or rather the “chorus”, as the word rendered “add” signifies; and though it is in itself imperfect, has many things lacking in it, yet it cannot be added to, or increased by men; ministers may be a means of perfecting what is lacking in it, and of the furtherance and joy of it, but it is the Lord only that can increase it, or add unto it in that sense, and which is not the meaning here: but the sense is, that as it is the basis and foundation of all good works, it should not stand alone, there ought to be virtue, or good works along with it, by which it may be perfected, not essentially, but evidentially, or might appear to be true and genuine; for by virtue may be either meant some particular virtue, as justice towards men, to which both the grace and doctrine of faith direct; and indeed pretensions to faith in Christ, where there is not common justice done to men, are of little account; or, as others think, beneficence to men; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, “proceed to bounty by your faith”; and faith does work by love and kindness to fellow creatures and Christians; but this seems rather designed by brotherly kindness and charity, in 2 Peter 1:7 or boldness, courage, constancy, and fortitude, which ought to go along with faith. Where there is true faith in Christ, there should be a holy boldness to profess it, and constancy in it, and courage to fight the good fight of faith, and firmness of mind to stand fast in it, notwithstanding all difficulties and discouragements; or virtue in general here meant, not mere moral, but Christian virtues, which are the fruits of the Spirit of God, and of his grace; and differ from the other, in that they spring from the grace of God, are done in faith, by the assistance of the Spirit of Christ, and by strength received from him, and in love to him, and with a view to the glory of God; whereas moral virtues, as exercised by a mere moral man, spring from nature, and are performed by the mere strength of it, and are destitute of faith, and so but “splendida peccata”, splendid sins, and proceed from self-love, from sinister ends, and with selfish views:
and to virtue, knowledge; not of Christ, mentioned 2 Peter 1:8 and which is included in faith, for there can be no true faith in Christ, were there not knowledge of him; but of the will of God, which it is necessary men should be acquainted with, in order to perform it; or else though they may seem zealous of good works, their zeal will not be according to knowledge; they ought to know what are virtues or good works in God’s account, and what are the nature and use of them, lest they should mistake and misapply them; or of the Scriptures of truth, and of the mysteries of the Gospel, which should be diligently searched, for the increase and improvement of knowledge in divine things, and which has a considerable influence on a just, sober, and godly living; or by knowledge may be meant prudence and wisdom, in ordering the external conversation aright towards those that are without, and in showing good works out of it, to others, by way of example, and for the evidence of the truth of things, with meekness of wisdom.
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