This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The End Times", 3/3/2013

THE END TIMES

 

Daniel 7:9-14

 

This vision given to Daniel concerns the coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the evil

world domination. This prophecy was given around 600 BC. Some parts of the

 

prophecy have all ready been fulfilled.

  

GOD ON THE THRONE

V:9. "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire."

 A. Daniel was given a vision from God of the things to come concerning the "End

      Times".

  1. "I beheld till the thrones were cast down".

      a. All the powers of the world will be done away with.

      b. God will subdue all nations.

      c. Everything and everyone will be made submissive to God.

  2. " And the Ancient of days did sit".

     a. The "Ancient of days" is the eternal God the Father.

     b. God is the judge .

 B. "Whose garment was white as snow".

     1. White represents purity and honor.

     2. God is clothed in purity.

     3. God commands us to honor Him.

         a. It should be our desire to honor the Father.

     4. "White as snow" represents His divine majesty.

         a. It represents His office as divine judge.

 C. "The hair of his head like pure wool".

     1. This is a representation of His divine wisdom.

     2. His wisdom is ageless and unquestionable.

 D. "His throne was like a fiery furnace".

      1. It was brilliant and splendid.

      2. It captivates the mind and heart.

      3. You would be awed by the sight of it.

 E. "His wheels as a burning fire"

      1. The throne that God sit on that which is like a wheel.

         a. The color of the wheel was like a precious stone; beryl. Ezek 1:16

         b. The wheel may represent the swiftness in God's judgment.

         c. The burning fire may represent His eternal judgment.

         d. The movement of the wheel indicates that God reigns everywhere,

              He is omnipresent.

 

THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS

V:10. "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."

 A. "A fiery stream issued and came forth from him."

     1. The fiery stream may represent His power, authority and dominion.

     2. All things stream from the Father.

     3. All judgments stream from the Father.

 

 B. "Thousands thousands ministered unto him and ten thousands times ten thousands

      stood before Him".

      1. God's angels are ministering spirits who surround the throne at all times. 

      2. The number of God's angels who serve Him can't be  counted.

      3. The angels praise and worship the Lord at all times.  

 C. " The judgment was set and the books were opened."

      1. God will judge the living and the dead.

      2. There is a set time for the judgment to begin.

      3. All the deeds of men are recorded.

      4. All unbelievers will be judged according to their works and condemned.

 

EVIL THRONES OVER TURNED

V:11. "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame".

 A. Until the judgment, Satan and his demons will continue to dishonor God and

 

      attempt to destroy His kingdom  and deceive the elect of God.

     1. The horn represents a powerful monarchy that will spring up to rule the world

 

         prior the end times.

     2. The horn and this forth beast will be judged, destroyed  and cast into the lake of

 

         fire first.

  B. God is omnipotent. No power on earth of evil spirit can withstand Him.  

     1. Eternal victory for the believer is assured.

 

V:12. "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time."

 A. While the forth beast and the horn was destroyed three other beasts will be allow

 

      exist for a while longer.

     1. The four beast represent four kingdoms. Some hold the following.

         a. The Babylonian Empire.

         b. Medo- Persian Empire.

         c. Mecedonian Empire under Alexander The Great.

         d. Roman Empire

     1. These beasts had their power taken away.

     2. These three latter beasts would be judges and also cast into the lake of fire.

 B. There is a time and a season for evil to exist, but it will come to an end.

    1. Christian have to hold on to their faith in the victory of Jesus during these evil

 

        times.

    2. While Satan has dominion over this world, he does not have dominion over the

         Kingdom of Christ which is not of this world.

    3. Satan does not have dominion over the hearts and minds of believers.

 

JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR EXALTED

V:13. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."

 A. Jesus the Son of God came down from heaven and  took on human form to redeem

      God's elect.

     1. He had to be clothed in flesh and blood to become God's perfect sacrifice for the

         sins of man.

     2. A blood sacrifice for the atonement of sin was first introduced in the Garden of

         Eden after the sin of Adam.

     3. Jesus death on the cross made effective the covenant God made with Abraham 

         that his descendant would be a blessing to all nations.

  B. When Jesus ascended back into heaven all power over heaven and earth was given

 

      to him.

      1. Jesus is the redemption of God's elect and the judge of all evil.

 

V:14."And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

A. The Father gave Jesus Christ control over the universe and all people for all time.

    1. The Kingdom of Jesus is an everlasting Kingdom.

    2. It is a kingdom not of this world.

    3. This world is temporary and will pass away.

    4. A new heaven and a new earth will be established

B. This prophecy of the kingdom of Jesus has been fulfilled.

   1. The kingdom of Jesus exist in the hearts of all believers.

   2. Jesus will come again for His saints at the end of this present Church Age.

   3. He will judge the living and the dead.

   4. Unbelievers will be judged and condemned to the eternal fire.

   5. Believers will judged and crowned for the new eternal heaven.

 

 

 

By Rev M Mitchell

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Faith In Action", 2/13/2013

FAITH IN ACTION

 

Colossians 4:1-6

 

V:1. "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."

 Since slavery is no longer condoned by society,  we will focus on being masters of the

 faith.

 A. We all have a master.

     1. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is our master.

         a. He is just and treats all believers as equals.

         b. We have different positions in the body of Christ, but we are all equal.

         c. His grace and mercy flows equally on all believers.

 B. The believer should be a master of his faith.

      The believer should become a role model to the world in promoting Christian

 

      values and attitudes.

     1. The believer should strive to be a master in promoting love.

     2. The believer should strive to be a master in promoting compassion.

     3. The believer should strive to be a master in service to Jesus.

     4. The believer should strive to be a master in promoting honesty.

     5. The believer should strive to be a master in promoting justice.

     6. The believer should be a master in worshiping the Lord.

 B. In the world, there will be people who are overseers of others.

    1. Everyone should receive just and equal treatment.

    2. Just and equal treatment still does not always happen when a non-believer is the

        overseer.

    3. Just and equal treatment does not always happen even when a Christian is the

        overseer.

 C. We should always be just and equal when dealing with others.

    1. You never know who is watching.

        a. It could be a bystander who admire something about you.

        b. It could be someone who is impressionable and thus want what you have.

     2. If we inspire someone, we should inspire them toward a Christian life.

        a. Our lives should be a molded in the image of Christ.

        b. When we find ourselves in a position of leadership, we should strive to be like

             Christ.

 

 V:2. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."

  A.  The most important engagement for a Christian is prayer time with the Lord.

      1. The believer has a duty and an obligation to be constantly in prayer with the

           Lord.

      2. We are command to pray without ceasing.

      3. Our prayers keeps us in tuned with the Lord.

 B. Believers should be watchful.

      1. Watchful=gregorountes= keep awake

      2. Believers should be spiritual alert at all times.

          a. A dull prayer life allows opportunity for Satan to enter into our thoughts.

 C. Prayer is our time to communicate with the Lord, our love and devotion to Him.

     1. Prayer is time to express our thanks to the Father for His grace and mercy.

     2. Prayer is our time to make our requests known to the Father

     3. Prayer is the time for the believer to intercede on behalf of others.

     4. Prayer is a time to ask the Father for guidance and direction.

         a. God understands what we need when we don't know what we need.

         b. Our prayers gets the attention of the Father.

 D. We should be thankful that we have the opportunity to go to God in prayer.

    1. We should be thankful that we have the mind to go to the Father.

    2. We should express our thanks to the Father for all that He does for us.

    3. We should express our thanks to the Father for current and future blessing.

    4. We should be thankful for answered prayers.

    5. We should be thankful for our salvation.

    6. We should be thankful for the faithful work of other believers.

 

V:3. "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds."

 A. We should always pray for the Church and the outreach missions.

      1. We should be continually in prayer for all missionary ministers.

          a. We should pray for their health and strength in the Lord Jesus Christ.

          b. We should pray for their provisions and protection.

      2. We should pray that God will use them where ever they are located.

         a. We should pray that doors of opportunity be opened for them to spread the

             Gospel.

 B. We should pray that the Holy Spirit  continue to increase their knowledge and

     understanding of the Word.

     1. We should pray that the Holy Spirit  guide their teaching so that the hearers

        will be blessed by the Word.  

     2. We should pray that the Holy Spirit continue to encourage the 

         missionary ministers though all situations, adverse and none adverse.

C. We should pray for families and unity of the families in Christ Jesus.

    1. We should pray for the health and welfare of the families in the body of Christ.

    2. We should pray for the spiritual growth and maturity of families in the Lord.

 

V:4. "That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."

 A.  It is the duty of the congregation to pray for the Pastor as he prepares the Word to

       be preached and taught.

     1. We should pray that God give pastors wisdom to understand the Word.

     2. We should pray that God give pastors method to preach and teach the Word

          so that it can be understood by the hearers.

  B. We should pray that minds hearts of the hearers be open to the Word.

 

V:5. "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

  A. The believer should display Christian values in word and deed at all times.

      1. The world judges the believer on his/her actions and not on what is professed.

      2. Our faith in Jesus ought to transform us into walking roles models of Him.

      3. The only Church the World knows maybe the Church they see in us.

  B. Since faith comes by hearing, we have to profess the Word that world will hear it.

    1. Time is not on our side. We never know when life will end.

    2. Therefore we must make the best of our time by professing Christ in all

         we do and say.

    3. God gives us opportunities in our daily activities to proclaim Christ to

        those we come in contact with.

       a. We can be here today and gone today.

       b. The hearer can be here today and gone today.

 

V:6. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

 A. Our conversations should always be guided by the Holy Spirit.

     1. We should speak with love and compassion.

     2. We should never be harsh in our conversation.

 B. Every question asked of a believer can be answered with love with the guidance of

 

      the Spirit.

     1. We should never say what we think, but what the Word of God says.

     2. We should always be truthful.

          a. The truth sometimes hurts, but it can be said with love and encouragement.

     3. The truth is always helpful but not always wanted.

 C. We are surrounded by the world.

     1. We must be wise enough to respond with the Word of God and not be affected by

          world views.

     2. Every conversation is an opportunity to express our faith in Jesus and to promote

         Christian values.

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "How To LIve Right", 2/17/2013

HOW TO LIVE RIGHT

 

Colossians 3:5-17

 

V:5. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

 A. "Mortify your members"

     1. Mortify= nekroo= to make dead

SIX SINS OF THE FLESH TO PUT OFF

     2. While we are on earth, we are to make ourselves dead to sin.

         a. We are to refrain from involvement in certain sins.

     3. The sin of fornication.

         a. Fornication= porneia = harlotry, adultery, incest, unlawful lust

     4. The sin of uncleanness.

          a. Uncleanness = akatharsia= impurity, filth, unnatural pollution  

     5. The sin of inordinate affection

         a. Inordinate affection= pathos = joyful or sad calamity or mishap

     6. The sin of evil concupisence

         a. Evil concupisence= epitithumian= longing for what is forbidden

     7. The sin of covetousness

         a. Covetousness= pleonexia= fraudulency, extortion

 B. Our affections and compassions belong to God and not worldly or sinful desires.

    1. God wants our mind, heart and soul fixed on His righteousness.

 

V:6. "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience."

 A. These are the practices of the world. They should not be practiced by God's elect.

      1. God's elect have been saved from sin and should put on the new man of

          righteousness.

 B. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

     2. The wages of sin is death.

     3. Those who do not have Christ as their Savor will face eternal death, the wrath of

         God.

 

V:7. "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."

 A. We were born in sin wrapped up in the flesh.

     1. It is natural that we followed the ways of the world.

     2. We lived a life of darkness before we were introduced to the light.

 B. Remembrance of our past sinful ways keeps us humble in our future with Christ.

    1. Remembrance of our past should keep us thankful for what God has done for us.

    2. Remembrance of our past should keep us hopeful for what God has in store for

 

        us.

 

SIX ATTITUDES TO PUT OFF

V:8. "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

 A. Anger is a normal human emotion.

     1. We get angry when an injustice is done to us or others.

     2. We get  angry when we are wronged or hurt.

     3. We must learn to control our anger so we do not  sin.

     4. If we don't control our anger, it will control us.

      5. We must make an effort to put off any long lasting and simmering anger.

          a. This kind of anger results from an unforgiving spirit.

  B. Wrath is from the Greek word "thumos", violent motion or passion.   

      1. In our anger we want punishment or punitive judgment.

      2. Wrath is our desire to get even.

      3.  We must be careful to put our troubles with others in God's hand and let Him

            work them out.

  C. Malice is badness or trouble, vicious thoughts.

       a. It is a desire to hurt others.

       b. We must practice being kind to others, including our enemies.

  D. Blasphemy is slander and abusive language.

      1. Foul language should not be heard out of the mouth of believers.

      2. Our language reflects what is in our heart.

          a. We should not be tearing down, but building up others.

      3. The object of our speech should be helpful, comforting and encouraging others.

  E. We must be careful not to engage in filthy communication.

      1. Our speech should represent the image of Christ.

      2. The tongue is a powerful tool and should be used to bring glory to God.

      3. We should bless others with our conversation.

      4. When others are negative, we should be the positive influence.

 

V:9. "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds."

  A. We should always be truthful.

       1. A lie is never acceptable in the body of Christ.

       2. Our yes ought to be yes and our no ought to be no.

       3. We should not commit to do a thing, knowing we are not going to do it.

  B. Believers ought to be reliable and true to their word.

      1. We must love enough to tell the truth.

     

V:10. "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."

 A. Any man in Christ is a new creation.

     1. Because we are in Christ Jesus we ought to be influenced by His Word and

         controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit.

     2. The new man must study God's Word to show himself approve.

         a. We should be guided by the Word of God in our actions and decisions.

 B. The focus of the new man is the will of the Father.

       a. The new man maturing in Christ will put God first before himself.

       b. The new man is confident in putting God first, that all things needed will be

           added to him.

       c. The new man is confident that all problems have a solution in Christ Jesus.

 

V:11. "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

 A. Christ is no respecter of person.

    1. In Christ Jesus, we are all equal

    2. Grace and mercy is given to each believer equally.

    3. All the blessing's of God are available to each believer.

 B. The Jews were circumcised according to the Law.

     1. The Jews believed that no man was clean and acceptable to God unless he was

         circumcised according to the Law.

     2. All believers are circumcised in Christ Jesus by His death on the cross.

 C. Language, education and nationality is no barrier to faith in Christ Jesus.

 D. No social condition is a barrier to Jesus.

     1. Weather free or in slavery, in jail or out of jail; all  have access to Christ Jesus,

         by grace through faith.

     2. The Word of God is powerful.

         a. Where ever it is preached, it affected those who hear it.

         b. All who receive the Word, is transformed by it.

 

SIX VIRTUES TO PUT ON

V:12. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."

 A.  The elect of God. Matt 24:31

      1. All believers have been chosen by God to give Him glory.

      2. We have been made holy through the death of Jesus on the Cross.

      3. It is because of His great love for us that we were chosen to be in the body

          of Christ.

 B. Because we are the beloved, we are to live through Christ. In so doing, Christ lives

      through us.

     1. We live in Christ by embracing God's will.

 C. Because we are God's beloved, we have a duty and an obligation to put on these

      virtues:

      "Put on" is in the Aorist Middle Imperative form which denotes an urgency to be

        continued.

      1. Bowels of mercies

          a. This is a heart of compassion.

          b. It is a deep seated affection we have for one another to be there when one

              is in need to comfort, console and help, out of unselfish love.

      2. Kindness.

          a. Practicing what is good.

          b. Meeting the real needs of another individual.

          c. Practicing neither harshness or cruelty.

          d. Being patience and tolerant in action toward another.

      3. Humbleness of mind.

         a. Lowliness of human pride. Not puffed up.

         b. Living with complete dependence on the Lord with no reliance on self.

         c. Not self exalting.

         d. Having a deep sense of one's littleness.

      4.   Meekness

         a. Gentle strength

         b. Jesus is gentle with His power under control.

         c. A spirit of gentleness with patience.

     5. Longsuffering.

        a. Waiting sufficient time before expressing anger.

        b. Perseverance in bearing troubles and ills.

       c. Self restraint which does not rush to retaliate a wrong.

     6. These virtues are the fruit of the Spirit.

 

OUR ATTITUDE

V:13. "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

 A. Forbearing one another.

     1. We are to practice patience and tolerance with one another.

     2. We should not be to quick to judge or criticize.

     3. We should be quick to listen, learn and evaluate.

     4. Everyone's experience and background affects their point of view.

     5. We can learn from the experiences of others.

 B. Forgiving one another.

     1. Christ set the example for forgiveness.

         a. Even though He knew no sin, He became sin on the cross for the atonement of

             our sins.

     2. We should forgive one another because we have been forgiven.

         a. The first to benefit from forgiveness is the one who forgives.

         b. When we are unforgiving, it affects our mind and prevents from loving as we

              should.

          c. If we can't forgive God will not forgive us. Romans 8:32

 C. "If any man have a quarrel against any"

      1. A quarrel is a complaint, fault or blame.

      2. Forgiveness resolves any complaint we have against another.

      3. If we truly forgive, we want think about the issue.

      4. If we forgive we want see the issue.

  D. Forbearance prevents the disruption of harmony.

       1. Forgiveness restores harmony.

 

V:14. "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

  A. Put on Charity.

      1. The most important virtue is charity, which is love.

      2. Love covers a multitude of, sins, wrongs, hurt feeling and disagreements.

      3. When there is love, forgiveness is automatic.

      4. When there is love, you don't sweat the small things and you work out the big

          things.

          a. You should do all you can do and trust God with the rest.

      5. When there is love, disagreements don't cause you to fall out with one another.

      6. When there is love, harsh feelings subside easily.

      7. When there is love, harmony is easily maintained.

      8. When there is love, selfishness gives way to unselfish behavior.

      9. When there is love, no one gets too proud of him/herself.

 B. The bond of perfectness.

     1. Christ is love and Christ is perfect.

     2. Love promotes unity in the body of Christ.

     3. Love has one goal; to glorify the Father.

 

V:15. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

 A. Peace in the world is impossible, because the world's standards keep changing.

     1. Peace with God is possible because God has one standard which is His

         righteousness which never changes.

     2. Peace is Jesus to give and He gives it freely to believers. John 20:19

 B. Rule means to let Christ reside in your heart.

     1. Let Christ be the judge, the guide and the mediator.

 C. The only way there can be peace in the body of Christ is to let Christ has to be the

      rule.

    1. Peace promotes unity in the body.

    2. We can only find peace in Christ Jesus.

 D. We are to be thankful that we are given the privilege to be in the body of Christ.

    1. Salvation is a gift from God the Father through Jesus Christ.

    2. We are  heirs to all the promises in Word.

    3. God's promises covers our life on earth and our eternal life with Him.

 BELIEVERS PRIORITY

V:16. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

 A. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom."

   1. Believers must study and meditate on the Word of God for it to be written in their

       hearts.

      a. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

   2. Believers must be constantly mindful of the present of Jesus.

      a. Believers must be constantly mindful of the indwelling of the Spirit.

 B. Believers should attend teaching sessions to increase and enhance their

 

      understanding  of God's word.

 C. We should promote the unity of the body in praise and worship.

      1. When we come together as a body, Jesus is in the mist and deserves our highest

           praise.

 THE BELIVERS OBJECTIVE

V:17. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

 A. In Him we move, we live and have our being.

     1. Everything we do should be to the glory of God.

     2. We are surly bless each moment to have what we have.

         a. All that we have comes from the Lord.

     3. Every aspect of our lives belong to the Lord.

 B. Our conversation ought to be centered on the Lord.

     1. We can speak of nothing that God does not have control over.

     2. We are blessed to have a relationship with the Lord.

 C. Everything we do God allows.

     1. We should ensure that all our efforts gives God the Glory.

  2. What every we do in the name of Jesus will have success because Jesus is in control.

       a. All of our plans ought to made with Jesus as the focus.

       b. All of our activities ought to be done with Jesus as the focus.

D. We should always be thankful to God the Father for His love in giving Jesus to us

      for our salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

       

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior", 2/10/2013

JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

 

Colossians 2:6-15

 

V:6. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him."

       Defn: Receive = associate , assume the office

  A. We have been blessed with Jesus as the Messiah.

      1. We have been blessed with Jesus as our Lord.

      2. We have been blessed with Jesus as our Savior.

      3. We have been blessed with Jesus as our guide, provider and protector.

  B. Because we have been blessed, we ought to make Jesus our lifestyle.

      1. We are commanded to "Walk In Jesus".

      2. If we abide in Jesus and if we abide in His Word, He promises to abide in us.

      3. If you drink alcohol, you will be under the influence of alcohol.

      4. If you drink the Living Water of Jesus, you will be under influence of the Living

          water.

           a. Jesus said that he who drinks the Living Water will never thirst.

           b. The Word is a powerful tool because we gain inspiration, knowledge and

               understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

V:7. "Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

 A. "Rooted and built up in Him."

      Defn: Rooted= become stable

     1. The Word is a seed that God plants in every believer.

         a. The initial planting come by the proclamation of the Gospel and the testimony

             about Jesus from a believer.

         b. The ground, which is us, is made fertile by Jesus.

         c. We are built up by the continued teaching of the Word of Jesus.

 B. "Established in the faith, as ye have been taught."

      Defn: Established= stabilized, confirmed

     1. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word.

     2. The teaching of the Word is important to Christian growth and maturity.

     3. Confidence in the Word comes through life's experiences, trials and tribulations.

         a. The more our faith is tested, the more rooted we become in our Lord and

 

             Savior  Jesus Christ.

 C. We have been blessed by the grace of God who called us out of the world and

 

       placed us in the body of Christ.

    1. We should be thankful for God's favor towards us.

    2. We can show our gratitude to the Father by faithful service.

    3. We can show our gratitude by our obedience to the Word.

    4. We can show our gratitude to the Father in praise and worship.

 

V:8. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

 A. We ought to always be on guard against the wise of the Devil.

     1. Satan will use the fleshly interpretation of God's word to deceive those in the

 

         body of Christ.

     2.  Those who willfully pervert the Word of God rob themselves of the blessings of

          God.

     3. When we know the truth, a lie is self evident.

          a. Believers have to study the Word of God for themselves to know the truth.

 B. Tradition does not always reflect the Word of God.

     1. People can mix a little bit of the Word with their tradition to make it sound good.

     2. If tradition disagrees with the Word of God, then tradition has to be discarded.

         a. The Word is always right.

         b. There are those who teach their tradition as if it is the Word of God.

             Acts 10:27-28

     3. If we are ignorant of the Word, we can easily be persuaded in the ways of the

 

        world.

 C. Everything we do must reflect the way of Christ.

      1. In the early church, it was common for the Jews to teach the traditions of the law

 

          as   the way to salvation rather than faith in Christ.

      2. Christ is the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6

         a. The word rudiment is a translation from the Greek word "stoicheia" which

 

             means first principles.

         b.  The first principle of Christian doctrine is this; "salvation is by grace through

              faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of man". Eph 2:8

 

V:9. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

 A. In Christ dwells the fullness of the Father.

     1. In Christ dwells the fullness divine nature.

         a. Christ was God in every sense.

         b. Godhead is a translation from the Greek word "theotetos" which means divine

             power, state of being God.

     2. In Christ dwells the fullness of the Word of God.

        a. In Christ dwells the fullness of righteousness.

        b. In Christ dwells the fullness of grace and mercy.

        c. In Christ is all forgiveness.

        d. In Christ dwells the fullness of love.

 B. In Christ dwells the fullness of  the perfection of the Godhead.

     1. In Christ dwells the fullness of wisdom and knowledge.

     2. Christ in bodily form displayed all that God is.

 

V:10. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power."

 A. Believers are complete in Jesus Christ.

    1. The word complete is a translation from the Greek word "pleroo" which means

         level up, furnish or satisfy.

    2. Believers in Christ have been furnished with all they need to satisfy God's

 

        demand for justice and their election into heaven.

       a. We have all sufficiency in Christ for life on earth and eternal life. 2 Cor 12:9

       b. Believers have no need for instructions from the world on righteousness or

           salvation.

       c. The Word of God is all the instructions we need for life on earth.

       d. In Christ is all wisdom and knowledge.

 B. Christ is the head of all things on earth and in heaven.

    1. Christ is the head of the Church and the head of all entities.

    2. Christ is the ultimate authority and determines the destiny of everything and

        everyone.

 

V:11. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ."

 A. Believers are circumcised in the spirit upon their confession of faith.

     1. The word circumcise mean to cut around.

     2. Under the Jewish law, a male baby was circumcised on the 8th day after birth.

         a. The Jewish circumcision was by divine ordinance. Gen 17:11

         b. This circumcision was a covenant sign for all men.

     3. Believers are separated from their sins by the blood of Jesus Christ.

     4. The believers circumcision is of Christ and not by the hands of man.

 B. The believers circumcision is the putting off the sinful nature and also

      the putting off the flesh . We put on the righteousness of Christ.

    1. Positional, believers are in Christ and Christ is in them.

    2. Experientially, we are still in sinful flesh, but separated from our sins through

 

        Christ.

    3. Believers are under a new covenant made effective with the blood of Jesus.

        Luke 22:20, Heb 9:15.

 

V:12. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

 A. Before our relationship with Christ, we were dead in our sins with no eternal hope.

    1. At confession of faith in Christ we were spiritually baptized into the death of

 

       Jesus.         Rom 6:4.

    2. We were raise with Christ into new life. Eph 2:5-6.

 B. It is by the power of God that believers have faith to believe in Jesus. John 6:44

     1. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

     2. It is the operation of God that those He elected out of the world will hear His

 

         word.  Rom 8:30, 11:7

 C. Christ was raised from the dead by the Father.

     1. Believers are raised from the dead through faith in Jesus Christ.

     2. Salvation is God's design for man through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

V:13. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."

 A. Man was born in sin because of the sin of Adam.

     1. Sin without Christ is separation from God.

     2. Dead is the Greek word "nekros" which means a corpse.

     3. Those without Christ are the walking dead.

 B. The walking dead are uncircumcised, meaning they are not separated from their sins.

    1. Without Christ, the walking dead are waiting the final judgment into the eternal

         hell.

    2. Without Christ, the walking dead have no eternal hope.

C. By the grace of God, all believers are quickened together with Christ.

    1. Quicken  means to be made alive with Christ.

    2. Believers are raised from death to life through faith in Christ.

D. The sins of the believers are atoned for by death of Jesus on the Cross.

   1. All of the sins of believers are forgiven; past, present and future.

   2. Christ died for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

       a. Only the sins of the believers are forgiven.  

       b. Faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ imparts spiritual life to all

           believers.

 

V:14. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."

 A. The "handwriting of the ordinances" is the Mosaic Law.

    1. The Law of God was given to the Jews through Moses.

    2. The Law was given to show the righteousness of God.

    3. The Law of God could not be kept by any man.

    4. The Law was a hindrance to salvation.

    5. The Law was a tutor until Christ came. Gal 3:19, 23,24

 B. Man in the flesh does not have the power to keep the law. John 7:19

     1. Jesus came to fulfill all the requirements of the law.

     2. Man is now under grace.

         a. Christ death on the cross fulfilled all of God's requirements for

             the Law.

 

V:15. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

 A. Jesus death on the cross and resurrection gave us victory over death.

    1. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy.

    2. Satan no longer has any power over believers.

B. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life".

    1. Jesus is the Way.

       a. Jesus is the Way to heaven. No one comes to the Father but through Jesus.

       b. Jesus resolve the hostility between man and God with his atoning blood on the

           Cross.

       c. Jesus is the mediator between man and God making intercessions for us.

       d. Jesus gave us peace with the Father and thus peace within ourselves.

       c. The Father drew us to Jesus with faith to believe in Him.

       d. Jesus is the way of righteousness for us to follow.

   2. Jesus is the truth.

      a. The author of the Word is Jesus.

      b. Jesus took his Word which had been perverted by evil men and showed us the

          truth in it.

      c. The tradition of man left Jesus out of His scriptures. But Jesus showed us

 

          Himself  in  all Scripture.

      d. When Jesus ascended back into heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit to teach and

           guide us through the Word of truth.

           i. Men can no longer deceive believers because the Holy Spirit guides the

              understanding of God's Word.

   3. Jesus is the Life.

      a. All life originated in Jesus.

      b. Jesus is the creator and the sustainer of His creation.

      c. It is Jesus that makes life on earth possible.

      d. Jesus gave us objectivity for our labors on earth; store up treasures in heaven.

      e. Jesus gave us perspective for our labors on earth; heaven

      f. Jesus gave us purpose for our labors on earth; glorify God the father.

 4. This is Hallelujah time, which means Praise The Lord.

     a. We can praise Him for who He is.

     b. We can praise Him for what He has done.

     c. We can praise Him for keeping all His promises to us.

     d. We can praise Him for His Son.

     e. We can praise Him because He has been good to us.