Colossians a Bible Study  by Mark S. Camp

   THE APOSTLE'S THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER

   Colossians 1:1-14

   Introduction: - The author of this epistle is the Apostle

   Paul as testified to in verse one. It was written sometime between
A.D. 60-64 from Rome where Paul was imprisoned. He had not founded the
Colossian church and had probably never seen them. It was founded
apparently through the ministry of Epaphrus, who then kept the Apostle
informed about the state and growth of the church.

   From the tone and content of the letter, it appears that the church
was besieged by being bombarded by errors concerning the person of
Christ and the doctrine of sanctification or holiness. These errors
which were a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism, and the teachings of the
Essenes. The basic fault of the errors lay in the fact that they
obscured the glory of Christ and that they sought to show that
salvation and sanctification were not by grace alone, but came in
gaining secret knowledge transmitted by a select few, and by adhering
to strict legalistic practices of ritual and self-denial.

   From the general good tone of the epistle, we can surmise that the
church had not been overtaken by these errors but was perhaps beginning
to waver on its sure foundation.

   We shall see the following sections as we progress through the
epistle:

   1. The Apostle's thanksgiving and prayer

   2. The supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ

   3. The Apostle's labor on behalf of the true gospel

   4. The freedom that Christ gives from man-made traditions and
legalistic rules

   5. Some true rules for holy living, including rules for Christian
homes and businesses In this study, we shall examine the Apostle's
thanksgiving and prayer.

   The Apostle's thanksgiving (vv. 3-8) takes place in his continual
prayers on behalf of the church. Even though he has never seen the
saints in Colossae, he still shares the same concerns for them that he
does for the churches he has himself founded. He thanks the Lord for
two things namely, FAITH and LOVE.

   Their faith is in Christ Jesus. Paul says this to assure them that
the basis for true faith lies only in Christ, not in the rules and
regulations of mortal men. Their love is for all the saints. Both their
faith and love spring from a hope which they have in heaven. Their hope
is the promise of present salvation through Christ and the promise of a
sure reward now reserved for them in heaven.

   Love for the saints should naturally spring from one's faith in
Jesus Christ. Too often we are prone to base our love for someone else
upon whether or not we will receive an immediate reward. Our love for
others is to be based upon the hope of a promised future reward from
our Lord Jesus Christ.

   Only the gospel of Jesus Christ offers a true hope for the future.
John Eadie has said:

   The truth contained in the gospel throws its radiance beyond the
sepulcher, unveils the portals of eternity, and discloses the reality,
magnitude, and character of 'the hope laid up in heaven.'

   The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a philosophy to be discussed or
disputed, nor is it a ceremony whose observance will guarantee entry
into heaven. The gospel of Christ is a living, life producing organism
which changes lives and motives, and which offers hope where there is
no hope. The gospel does not produce growth in occasional spurts, but
is constantly producing a progressive growth of fruit.

   If your pastor were writing this epistle to you today, would he be
able to give thanks to the Lord for your faith in Christ and your love
for the saints? Could he truthfully include your name as one of those
who have a sure hope laid up in heaven?

   In verses 9-14 we see the contents of Paul's prayer for the
Colossian believers. In addition to the thanksgiving which he offers
because of them, he also makes a certain request of the Lord. Paul
assures them that his prayers on their behalf are continual, not
spasmodic or seasonal.

   Paul's specific request is this - that the Colossian believers be
filled with a knowledge of God's will. In order to combat error, the
Christian church must know more of God's will. When his will is
discovered his Son is also discovered. A knowledge of God's will will
serve to prod their discernment when tempted to believe the strange
doctrines which floated into their ears.

   The same is true for us today. Error abounds on every side; humanism
abounds in school, at work, and in the media; one cult group after
another beckons us to join forces with them; and, situational ethics is
the ruling consideration for moral actions. Only when the believer is
armed with a knowledge of God's will can he or she withstand these
missiles of Satan.

   How does a knowledge of God's will come about? It comes about
through spiritual wisdom and understanding. The early church of
Colossae had no New Testament so they were limited to the Old Testament
Scriptures where available, the work of the Holy Spirit in their
understandings, and the ministry of those whom God had set apart to
equip the saints for the work of ministry.

   Today, we have a completed canon of Scripture. We have the Holy
Spirit. We have pastors and teachers. Why is it then that so many have
a limited knowledge of God's will? It is because too few Christians
will avail themselves to these various means of learning. Some will not
submit to the authority of the Scriptures. Others deny or practically
deny any work of the Spirit in the church today. Others will not submit
themselves to sitting under the ministry of teachers of the word. When
truth is presented these days people receive it as though it were an
option to be used only if it suits their purposes. When many read the
Scriptures it is only that - a mere cursory exercise of the eyes
methodically scanning the printed page instead of a meditated intake of
spiritual food.

   Our Lord told his disciples that when the Holy Spirit came he would
reveal more complete truth about Christ. If that is true, why are so
many Christians living in a constant state of spiritual infancy?

   Something is desperately wrong when a professing believer has no
desire to know more about God and his ways, and about his holy Son. The
heartbeat of a genuine believer is like that of the Apostle Paul who,
when writing to the Philippian church said:

   I want to know (by constant experience) Christ and the power of his
resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings... (Phil.
3:10)

   The genuine follower of Christ will earnestly be seeking to heed the
exhortation of the Apostle Peter who wrote:

   Like newborn babes, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow
up in your salvation... (1 Peter 2:2) and who also said:

   But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ... (2
Peter 3:18)

   Paul made this request of God, that the believers have a knowledge
of his will, so that they might live lives worthy of the Lord (v. 10).
What does it mean to live a life worthy of the Lord? Eadie comments:

   To walk worthy of the Lord, is to feel the solemn bond of redeeming
blood, to enshrine the image of him who shed it, to breath his spirit
and act in harmony with his example, to exhibit his temperament in its
elements of purity, piety, and love, to be be in the world as he was in
the world, to be good and to do good, and to show by the whole demeanor
that his law is the rule that governs, and his glory the aim which
elevates and directs.

   Bearing the fruit of the spirit, growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with God's power so that we may have endurance and
patience in the midst of trials and difficulties, and offering
thanksgiving for our heavenly inheritance are all ways in which we live
lives pleasing to God and walk worthy of his Son. His Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ has made it possible to be qualified for admittance into
God's heavenly palace. Can we then do anything less, but seek to know
more of the Father and the Son, and to live lives pleasing to them?

   Paul closes this first section by reminding the Colossians that it
is in Christ that they have redemption and the forgiveness of their
sins. This is for our consideration also. Men can make rules which bind
you but they cannot remove the darkness which blinds you. Men can make
up list after list of possible sins, but they can never forgive nor can
they pay the necessary price for sin.

   My prayer for each of you this day, and I pray your prayer for me as
well, is that together we might grow in a knowledge of God's will for
our lives and for his holy church. Do you truly know his Son today? If
you do, are you seeking to know more?

   May the Lord grant us grace from his Word and by his Spirit.

   THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST

   Colossians 1:13-23

   The passage under consideration in this study must be understood in
light of a heresy which was just sprouting up when the letter to
Colossae was written. The heresy was an early form of what later came
to be known as Gnosticism. This heresy was a system of belief based
solely upon the intellectual knowledge of "mysteries" or "secret
truths." One key aspect of this system was the teaching than man in his
physical body was utterly corrupt and unworthy of approaching God. Now,
this may seem at first like standard New Testament teaching, but I
assure you it was not.

   Those who held to this heresy believed that anything physical was
evil. Therefore, if Jesus Christ was a man and possessed a human body,
he could not be on the same equality as God who was a total spirit.
Therefore, while they would consider Jesus to have a small measure of
deity, these people considered Jesus to be the lowest being in a
ranking of other beings. The higher a being was up the ladder, the
closer to God he was and thus was less physical than those below him.

   This early Gnosticism said this: Since God was a total spirit, he
was therefore holy; a holy God could not have created a sinful,
physical universe. Therefore, he must have used angelic beings as his
instruments of creation.

   Well then, how was a person to be saved? Simple. By learning the
secrets of these mysterious beings and the structure of their levels.

   In the passage before us, the objective of the Apostle Paul is to
set forth the glory of Christ and to show that Christ stands supreme
and unique in his relationship to God. Christ is not merely partial
deity, but as Paul points out, "it was the Father's good pleasure for
all the fulness to dwell in him (Christ)." In Christ dwells the fulness
of the Godhead. Jesus is God's only beloved Son; the very image of the
invisible God. Thus, by virtue of his divine nature, Jesus Christ is
not the lowest of angelic beings, but is truly above and beyond every
angelic power. Indeed, Paul sets forth for us the glory of the
incomparable Christ.

   Christ's relationship with the world is that of Creator to creature.
He has completed the work of redemption. There is nothing left which
neither men nor angels must accomplish in order to obtain salvation.
Christ has satisfied the total demands of a broken law and by his
crucifixion and resurrection has won a complete victory over all the
powers of evil. Thus, Christ's people do not need to try and keep the
law as a means of justification, for Christ has met the law's demands
and has "cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees
against us and which was hostile to us; and he has taken it out of the
way, having nailed it to the cross" (2:14). And, furthermore, his
people do not need to try and fight against cosmic powers in order to
obtain salvation.

   But Christ has not done these mighty acts on behalf of his people,
while still remaining distant and apart from them. We are his body and
are in organic union with him. We were involved in his glorious
redemptive acts. We died and rose with him and our baptism is a public
profession and identification with him. We are no longer slaves to
darkness, gloom, and despair. We are no longer slaves to the hostile
world around us. We have been made free by virtue of our union with
Christ and we must realize our status in our everyday experience.

   We, as believers, do not need some higher, mystical teaching in
order to achieve perfection, for in Christ we are complete. Our goal as
Christians is not to achieve some dead orthodoxy, but rather, to
achieve a knowledge of the grace of God through Christ our Savior. Our
goal is to be able to comprehend in both mind and heart "the love of
Christ which surpasses knowledge" so that we may be filled up to the
fulness of God and so that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith.

   Let us consider then The Incomparable Christ by looking first at his
person and then by looking at his work.

   I. The incomparable person of Christ.

   In verse 15 we read that Christ is the image of the invisible God.
Men have often tried to make images of God but in doing so they corrupt
his glory. "Professing to be wise they became fools, and exchanged the
glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible
man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures"
(Romans 1:22-23). In Christ, the glory of God is not defaced but is
perfectly seen, for as Hebrews 1:3 tells us, Christ "is the radiance of
his glory and the exact representation of his nature." Christ is the
brightness of God's brightness. Stephen Charnock the Puritan has said,
"In nature, we see God, as it were, like the sun in a picture; in the
law, as the sun in a cloud; in Christ we see him in his beams."

   Jesus Christ is the visible of the invisible God. The Lord told his
disciples that if they had seen him then they had also seen God. God
dwells in light inaccessible, hidden from our sight, but in Christ we
see God's exact nature and character.

   Christ is beyond comparison. Nothing or no one else can adequately
represent God Almighty.

   Notice also if you will, that Christ is the first-born of creation
(v. 15). We must understand this phrase in terms of position instead of
in terms of time. The first-born son has certain rights and privileges
in a family. The first-born was the father's representative and acted
in his father's name. So it is with Christ. He is the Lord of creation.
He has the pre-eminence over all creation. All of God's transactions
take place through Christ, the first-born of creation.

   Christ's incomparable glory as the first-born of creation means that
he is manifest deity; appearing, speaking, working, ruling, and saving
on behalf of, and in the name of, God the Father.

   Therefore, Christ is not merely the lowest of the angelic beings,
but is indeed the first-born, God's deputy, the acting President of the
Universe, the Alpha and Omega. O, believer, see Christ in his exalted
glory and bow before his majestic greatness this day.

   In verse 16 we see that Christ is both the agent and object of
creation. He is the creator not only of the visible world, but of the
invisible world as well. All things exist for his glory and are
subservient to his eternal purpose.

   What had no being was brought into being by and through the person
of Christ. Every form of matter, life and energy owes its origin to the
Son of God. Every form and kind of substance, simple or complex, the
atom or the star, the worm or the angel - every order of intellect and
being around and above us, the splendor of heaven and the beauty of
earth are the products of the first-born Son of God. Everything is
under the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ.

   Having seen the incomparable person of Christ, let us now consider:

   II. The incomparable work of Christ.

   Verse 17 says that Christ is the sustainer of all things. He is not
only the agent of creation, but is also the agent of preservation.
Ancient philosophy sought to find the principle of unity or
cohesiveness to the universe. In the Son of God, the believer finds the
true coherence of all things. It is the power of Christ alone which
holds all things together. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that he "upholds all
things by the word of his power." John Eadie has said that Christ's arm
"upholds the universe, and if it were withdrawn, all things would fade
into their original non-existence."

   I like the words of Lightfoot: "He is the principal of cohesion in
the universe. He impresses upon creation that unity and solidarity
which makes it a cosmos instead of a chaos."

   Not only is Jesus Christ the sustainer of the universe, he is also
the sustainer of the believer's salvation and hope. Not only does he
create, he also re-creates. He preserves his elect, for "he who began a
good work ... will perfect it" (Philippians 1:6). He sustains his
creation by the power of his Word and he sustains his re-creation by
the power of his blood!

   The God of Genesis 1:1 is the babe of Matthew 1:21. He who measured
the waters in the hollow of his hand and charted out the span of the
heavens is the Christ crucified of apostolic preaching. He who is the
true God, the living God, and the everlasting King is also the Word
made flesh, the weeping Jesus, the teacher girded about with a towel
washing the disciples' feet. He who crumbled the walls of Jericho and
set Israel's enemies to flight is the suffering servant crowned with
thorns and nailed to the cross. He who was victor over mighty armies is
he who is victor over death and hell!

   Surely, my friends, we can say with the Apostle, "I know whom I have
believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have
entrusted to him until that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).

   In verse 18 we see that Christ is head of the church. Christ is the
chief cornerstone of God's tabernacle. "The stone which the builders
rejected, this became the very cornerstone" (1 Peter 2:7). Whether in
creation or in the church, Christ is the Supreme Head, the only
guardian, and the great benefactor. Both creation and the church are
under the same King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

   Then, in verses 20-22, we see that Christ is the reconciler between
God and man. Because Christ is creator, because he is the dwelling
place of the fulness of God, he and only he is able to perform the work
of atonement for sin. By his blood being shed on Calvary's cross, peace
has been effected with God for the elect. The core of the apostolic
message is that Christ, by the offering of himself unto death, accepted
the curse which was due unto us.

   Notice that Christ reconciled "all things." Because of the fall,
creation itself was also cursed. The world around us is not a natural
world. It is an unnatural world because it is in bondage to decay.
(READ Romans 8:20-22.) One day, however, because of Christ's work on
the cross, creation itself will be set at liberty and shall become the
new heaven and the new earth.

   Conclusion:

   We have seen the incomparable person and work of Christ in the
passage before us. I would pose a couple of questions to you now that
we conclude this study.

   1. Are you a modern day Gnostic? In other words, are you seeking
salvation by your own efforts? I tell you that failure is sure. You
must rely totally and absolutely upon the merits of Christ.

   2. Is the essence of your Christianity taken up with gaining a mere
intellectual knowledge of theology and the Bible? Do you truly know
Christ by experience? Pray that the knowledge of your mind would be
translated into a knowledge of your heart.

   Jesus, the very thought of Thee

   With sweetness fills my breast;

   But sweeter far Thy face to see,

   And in Thy presence rest.

   Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame

   Nor can the memory find

   A sweeter sound than Thy blest name

   O Savior of mankind.

   May God grant us grace from his Word.

   THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST - THE HOPE OF GLORY

   Colossians 1:24-29

   The Apostle has thus far spoken of his prayers on behalf of the
Colossian church and of his thanksgivings for them. He has gone on to
show the supremacy of Christ over all other beings, earthly and divine,
by setting forth Christ Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation, the agent and object of creation, the
sustainer of all things, and the reconciler of all things.

   Jesus Christ, he now says today, is the mystery of the ages which
has been revealed by the divine choice of God. It is not necessary, nor
is it possible, to come to a knowledge of God by worshipping levels of
angelic beings and by progressing through the secret knowledge of the
mysteries of the universe. God has made it possible for people to know
him by revealing himself through Christ. By knowing God in Christ one
has more than mere intellectual knowledge, he also possesses a hope of
glory, for the mystery of Jesus Christ is the true hope of glory.

   Let us then examine the passage before us, simply making notes in
passing through the text.

   V. 24 - "what was suffered for you." - The Apostle is in prison
because of his preaching the gospel to the Gentile world. It is
important to remember this because an implied argument is this - If the
errors which are being taught to you by the false teachers are really
the truth, why are not these men suffering on your behalf?

   "I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ's
afflictions." - The are various interpretations of this phrase, two of
which are:

   1) Catholic view - Any defects or shortcomings in Christ's atonement
can be made up for by the sufferings of believers. However, the tone of
the entire Scripture is that Christ's atonement was full and complete.
Jesus was perfect in his obedience and in his suffering. Nothing more
can be added which would make the atonement any more effective. The
death and passion of Christ does not need to be supplemented or
repeated. Believers do not need to perform acts of pennance in order to
gain the forgiveness of sins. Repetitious prayers have no effect in
regards to salvation and forgiveness.

   2) Others have held that as part of their salvation, Christ deals
out suffering and affliction to his people. The endurance of affliction
completes salvation. This view is just as false as the previous one.
Afflictions may indeed be a part of the Christian life, and may well be
used by the Lord as a means of growth. But such things are foreign in
the Scripture in light of its teaching of salvation by free grace alone
through faith.

   3) However, I prefer to believe that the correct understanding of
this verse is as follows - The world, as cruel as it was to Jesus, did
not vent all of its sinful anger and hatred upon him when he was on the
earth. The world still persecutes the church today, and whenever the
church is persecuted, Christ is also persecuted. You may remember how
Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus to persecute the church.
While on the road at noonday, the Lord appeared to him and said, "Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?"

   What the world did not do to the head, it does now to the body. As
the body suffers, so also the head suffers. The personal sufferings of
Christ are over, but the afflictions of the church still continue and
will continue until eternity is ushered in by the return of the Lord of
Glory.

   V. 25 - Paul was the greatest servant of the church next to Christ
himself. His devotion can be illustrated by the fervancy of his
sermons, by the number of miles he travelled, by the imprisonments he
endured, by the variety of letters he wrote, and by the numerous
personal sufferings he encountered.

   He took no vacations per se. Wherever he went he was on a mission
for Christ. He was a travelling ambassador for the King of heaven. When
he beheld the artistic beauty of Greek culture it only served as
illustrative material for a fiery sermon. When chained to a Roman guard
he took opportunity to speak of the armor which a Christian has
available and the weapons with which to fight a spiritual warfare. The
whole purpose of his life was to bring the gospel to the heathen.

   Did the false teachers go to such lengths to get their "good news"
told abroad? No! They were sectarian and reserved their teachings for a
select few. If God can be approached and communed with, should not
everyone know of it? The Apostle preached without regard to race,
creed, or ancestry. He preached the whole counsel of God; wrath as well
as mercy; justice as well as grace; doom as well as hope.

   We need a return today to preaching the whole counsel of God. Far
too many have their hobby-horses and pet doctrines which are taught
without regard to many other doctrines of Scripture.

   V. 26-27 - Why was Paul in prison? Why did he endure such hardships?
Because God had commissioned him to preach and make known the "mystery
that has been kept hidden for ages and generations."

   The false teachers come proclaiming their "mysteries" but the
Apostle says that the mystery which he proclaims is the mystery of all
mysteries. Salvation is possible through one man, the man Jesus Christ.
For centuries this good news had been wrapped up in obscurity, hidden
in the clouds of ceremonies, prophecies, laws, and commandments. It had
never been fully hidden, but had been seen in shadows.

   But now, people everywhere, Jew and Greek, male and female, freeman
and slave, can know the glorious tidings of salvation. The prophet
Jeremiah had written centuries before, "No longer will a man teach his
neighbor, or a man his brother saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they
will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest..." (Jer.
31:34).

   V. 27 - "To them God has chosen..." - God was not under any
obligation to reveal the mystery of his Son to anyone. Jesus even said
that no one could come unto him unless God has first granted permission
to do so. It is an act or pure mercy which decrees that to undeserving
sinners, to rebellious wicked traitors, the sovereign God chooses to
make known the glorious hope of the gospel in Christ.

   Think of it friends! Do you know Christ? If so, do not brag as
though you had something to do with it. God chose to reveal the Son to
you. Had he not chosen to do so, you would still be lost in darkness no
matter how hard you were trying to find God.

   The gospel of Christ creates hope, the only true hope. Other
teachings offer nothing. In Christ alone is the hope of glory. The full
glory of Christians is yet to come. But we have a sure hope in Christ
that one blessed day our faces will radiate with the light from the
throne of heaven itself; that our hearts will beat with undying and
uninterrupted love for God and Christ; that we shall have perfect
communion, face to face, with the glorious Savior; that we shall be
perfect in mind, soul, and body; that there will be no more pain, no
more tears, no more sickness, no more trials, and no more grief. Death
will have been swallowed up by life!

   Christ within us is the hope of glory. Once we are "in Christ" and
he is in us, no man can reverse our justification; no one can pronounce
condemnation and hell's fire upon us. In Christ we have the hope of
glory.

   Here is a basis then, not only for our personal living, but also for
our evangelism. We can offer lost sinners true hope. When we witness
and speak of Christ we do not tell people about the observance of
special days saving them; we do not tell them that by abstaining from
created creature comforts that we will become holy; we do not tell them
of some elaborate ritualistic process which must be memorized before
God can be worshipped; we tell them of a Savior who suffered the
penalty of sin in order that guilty sinners might receive pardon and
mercy. We offer them peace with God simply by repenting of sins and by
clinging to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

   V. 28-29 - How do we present the gospel? By admonishing and teaching
all men about Christ, without consideration of race, sex, social
position, or whatever other barrier we might choose to set-up. We tell
them about man's alienation from his Creator. We define sin as the
transgression against the moral precepts of God. We instruct about the
need for repentance. We set forth the ready availability of forgiveness
in Christ.

   We do this "with all wisdom." That is, we speak to those we meet
with a consideration and regard of their intellectual capacity, their
present life circumstances, their age and so forth, so that the gospel
becomes something understandable and obtainable. We meet people where
they are.

   All of the Apostle's energy went into proclaiming the gospel. Can we
say the same thing about ourselves? Oh yes, I realize that we all have
jobs, duties at home and with family, business obligations, school
studies, etc. But is it not only fair to consider just how much of
ourselves we are really devoting to the building of the kingdom of God?

   Doing the Lord's work of making known the mystery of the gospel is
not a hobby, pastime, or leisure activity. It demands time and effort
on our part. One man has said that it is indeed a privilege to exhaust
our strength in the proclamation of the gospel.

   But let us bear in mind that we can only labor effectively if the
power of God is mightily at work within us. A jet engine engine is a
mighty source of power, but without fuel it is useless. So also we are
useless if we do not labor under the power of God working by his Spirit
within us.

   May the Lord grant us grace from his word this day.

   CHRISTIAN FREEDOM

   Colossians 2:1-23

   We have set before us in this passage some teaching by the Apostle
concerning Christian freedom, or Christian liberty. There is a great
lack of understanding in the church today concerning this subject. What
we need to realize more than anything today is that Christianity and
our trust in Christ delivers us from bondage and frees us to be what
God truly wants us to be.

   As we study these verses we shall see:

   I. The basis for our freedom, and

   II. What this freedom consists of

   I. The basis for our freedom

   In verse 10, Paul says that "you have been given fullness in Christ"
(NIV). In other words, in Christ we find everything we need in regards
to spirituality. This includes, but is not limited to, our
justification, our sanctification, and the grace and ability to be
doers of the Word. In Christ we find grace and strength to persevere
amidst the difficulties of this life. Through Christ we have direct
access to God. No longer is the priest of the Old Testament system a
necessity. Christ has broken down the barrier wall that separated us
from God. All of the necessary gifts and abilities that are needed to
serve God are available to us because of our being "in Christ."

   Notice verse 11 - "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting
off of the sinful nature." In the Old Testament it was necessary for
the males of the covenant household to be subjected to physical
circumcision. One thing that physical circumcision symbolized was the
removal of something which made us like all the other people on the
face of the earth.

   However, when a person is saved through belief and faith in Christ,
the heart is circumcised. The Holy Spirit cuts through our hard heart
of flesh and gives us a new nature. Thus, because of this circumcision
we are now different than others and have been set apart with the rest
of God's covenant people.

   Concerning what Paul was writing to the Colossian believers, the
commentator, John Eadie, has penned these words:

   Through their living union with Christ, they had enjoyed the
privilege, and were enjoying the results of a spiritual circumcision.
Why then should they suffer the incision of a sharp flint or a
glittering knife - in itself, at best, but a sign - when they had
already experienced the blessing of a circumcision that drew no blood,
and gave no pain - a circumcision 'not made with hands.'

   In the Old Testament act of circumcision, the cutting off of the
flesh signified that one was a Jew. In the circumcision of the New
Testament, the cutting of the heart is the sign of being a Christian.
Has your heart been circumcised by the Spirit of God, my friend?

   In verse 13 the Apostle says that we were made alive with Christ.
What does this mean? At one time we were spiritually dead, totally
depraved in the realm of spiritual good, and lacking any goodness that
would allow us to fellowship with God. Yet, the gift of salvation,
graciously bestowed upon us by God, has secured for us eternal life.

   Now what Paul is implying is this: any works that we do, any
ceremonies or rituals that we perform, have no value whatsoever in
securing eternal life for us. Eternal life is already possessed and
guaranteed if we have exercised God-given faith in Christ and have put
our trust in him as Lord and Savior.

   The Apostle also says in this verse that our sins stand forgiven if
we are united with Christ. We do not have to harm our bodies in order
to pay for our sins. We do not have to practice some strict self-denial
of any of the pleasures of life in order to secure forgiveness for our
sins. Friends, if you only get one thing out of this study, get this -
CHRIST HAS PAID THE SIN DEBT IN FULL FOR HIS PEOPLE!!

   Verse 14 says that the written code which was against us has been
cancelled. I believe that he is referring here to the Mosaic Law, that
Law which constantly reminded us of our sins and continually made us
offer sacrifices in order to appease the wrath of God. The law showed
men and women their ungodliness. It showed us to be nothing but
continual transgressors against a holy God. It constantly pointed the
death as the ultimate penalty that would be exacted from us. The
purpose of the law was not to save us; its purpose was to condemn us.

   Keep in mind that the moral law of God is eternal. It has never been
cancelled and in fact was in existence before the giving of the ten
commandments and their accompanying laws. But, in Christ, the cursing
effects of the law have been done away with. By his death on the cross,
Christ absorbed in himself both the curse and penalty of the law.

   Since Christ was the fulfillment of the types and shadows
represented by the law, it is no longer necessary for us to keep the
ceremonies which the law prescribed. You cannot be saved by keeping the
law no matter how hard you try!

   The basis then for our freedom is what Christ has done for us on the
cross.

   II. What does this freedom consist of?

   As stated previously, our freedom in Christ releases us from
following ceremonies or rituals. We are released from following the
ways of the world in regards to holiness. The observance of special
days and feasts are not binding upon us. The abstinence from certain
kinds of food and drink is not mandatory. Certain prohibitions were set
forth under the law for special reasons; reasons which pointed in some
way to Christ. Now that he has come, these reasons are no longer valid.

   Now here is another point that I want to make. Listen carefully - If
we are free from the ceremonies and traditions of the Mosaic law which
was given by God himself, does it not also follow that we are not
obligated to follow the commandments and traditions of mere mortal men?
Everytime I turn on the radio and or watch some preacher on television
I hear all these things that "thou shalt not." 99% of these things are
nowhere prohibited by the Scriptures.

   We are told that dancing is wrong; that playing cards is wrong; that
watching television is wrong; that mixed swimming is wrong; that it is
wrong for women to wear pants; that it is wrong to go to the movies;
that it is wrong to eat this or wrong to drink that; and a thousand
other wrongs that are nowhere specifically mentioned in sacred
Scripture.

   Friends, listen to me, please. I am by no means advocating a lawless
lifestyle. I am not advocating a "just do whatever you like" kind of
religion. But what I am advocating is this - let believers function as
priests before God! He has given us his Word and his Spirit to lead and
guide us. Where the Bible speaks, we are obligated to listen. But where
it is silent we must allow one another to stand before God with our own
consciences. We are our brother's keeper. But! We are not to be our
brother's conscience!

   When Christians try to bind other Christians with these
non-Scriptural prohibitions, it shows two things. First, that the one
doing so has a wrong view of holiness. Second, it shows that the person
doing so has a wrong view of sin. SIN LIES IN THE HUMAN HEART, not in a
deck of cards. SIN LIES IN THE HUMAN HEART, not in a swimming pool. SIN
LIES IN THE HUMAN HEART, not in a bottle of wine. Oh, you say, but
doesn't sin accompany these things? I would answer, in many instances
it does. But, take away a person's cards, and he or she will find some
other way to gratify the desires of the flesh.

   For some strange reason, I have never heard Romans 14:17 preached
on. There, Paul writes, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of
eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit." The Apostle says elsewhere that you can tell a man what he can
eat and what he can't eat, but he will still find some way to gratify
the desires of the flesh.

   What we need preached today is not more "do not," but instead, more
"do." Believers need to be taught the whole counsel of God and how to
apply it in their lives, so that when they are confronted with
something that is questionable in nature, they can apply the Scriptures
and make a right decision. A decision based upon Bible principle
instead of the opinion of some man.

   Conclusion:

   Having seen the basis for our freedom and what it consists of, let
me give some practical guidelines for using our freedom.

   1. Be grounded in the Word. Don't just get familiar with it, KNOW IT.

   2. If something is not specifically prohibited in the Scriptures, as
yourself these simple questions:

   a. Can I do this with a clear conscience before God? (There is a
Scriptural basis for doing this. Read what Paul says in Romans 14:23.)

   b. Is it okay for me to do something privately that in itself is not
sinful, but perhaps doing it in public would not help the cause of
Christ? (Once again there is a Scriptural basis for this. Paul tells us
that all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient.)

   c. Will I be harming anyone else by doing this, either physically or
spiritually?

   d. Will I be harming myself by doing this, either physically or
spiritually?

   e. Will I be causing a brother or sister in Christ to sin against
their own conscience by abusing my liberty?

   f. Will I be breaking any civil laws by doing this?

   g. If I do this, can I truly thank God and praise him for it?

   h. Will this thing control me or can I control it? (Think about this
one, friend. You are probably familiar with things like tobacco, drugs,
and alcohol. These are obvious. But what about things just as bad, such
as overeating or indulging in one's hobby too much at the expense of
one's family life?)

   i. Can I do this in moderation?

   If you can answer positively to these questions, you don't need some
mortal man telling you what you can and cannot do!

   I would encourage you to spend a great deal of time reading this
second chapter of Colossians and also the 14th chapter of Romans. You
will find much food for thought and application contained therein.

   Consider your freedom in Christ. May God grant us grace from his
Word.

   RULES FOR HOLY LIVING

   Colossians 3:1-17

   In our last message, I spoke about the subject of Christian freedom
or, Christian liberty. We saw that the believer is free from being
burdened in spiritual matters by the commandments and traditions of
men. Now, whenever one speaks on the subject of Christian freedom, some
are bound to mistake or confuse liberty with licentiousness. They feel
that we are giving people a license to sin now that we are under grace.
The Apostle Paul may well have anticipated this confusion on the part
of the Colossian church, and so he immediately follows his teaching on
liberty with a listing of rules for holy living. The Christian is free
in many respects, but is not necessarily free to live as he chooses.
His conduct for living must fall within the bounds of all that is holy
and God-pleasing.

   Believers are to act in accordance with their heavenly privileges
and position and realize that sanctification is found because of union
with Christ, not by substituting legalistic requirements and other
human inventions.

   Paul sets forth principles for living in the section from 3:1 to
4:6. We shall consider today the passage 3:1-17. In this passage the
Apostle sets forth:

   I. The motivational principle for our conduct (vv. 1-4)

   II. The negative things we are to put off (vv. 5-11)

   III. The positive things we are to put on (vv. 12-14)

   IV. The means we are to use in order to promote holy living (vv.
15-17)

   I. The motivational principle for our conduct (vv. 1-4)

   By virtue of our union with Jesus Christ, we have been elevated
above worldly standards of moral virtue and thus we are to view the
conduct of our lives from a heavenly point of view. The Apostle says to
"set your hearts on things above." He probably takes a phrase which the
false teachers would use, and "disinfects" it so to speak. He applies
to it a true spiritual meaning.

   We are now risen with Christ and are under a special obligation to
view the conduct of our lives from a heavenly point of view. We are to
be motivated to holiness not by comparing ourselves to worldly and
fleshly views of morality, but by looking at ourselves in relationship
to the standards and principles of Jesus Christ. When we came unto
Christ and were regenerated by his spirit, we died to worldly standards
and were made alive to live by higher standards.

   B. B. Warfield has said that Paul's words here are an "exhortation
to us to be in life real citizens of the heavenly kingdom to which we
have been transferred; to do the duties and enter into the
responsibilities of our new citizenship."

   Therefore, our motivational principle for seeking holiness is that
Christ has set higher standards for us than what the world sets. We
must aim to meet and conform to his standards, not the standards of the
world. In other words, we are not only to seek heaven, but we are to
think heaven. Earthly thoughts will never sustain a heavenly walk. One
man has said, "The pilgrim is not to despise the comforts which he may
meet with by the way, but he is not to tarry among them, or leave them
with regret."

   II. The negative things we are to put off (vv. 5-11)

   The Apostle now states some principles of the flesh that we are to
put off: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.

   Paul seems to make an assumption here that it is not necessary to
list specific things within these categories for, having lived
according to the flesh at one time, we shall surely know what specific
things are impure and immoral, and what things excite our lust and
greed.

   Sexual immorality was rampant in the Graeco-Roman world just as it
is today. And, in reality, this type of immorality is actually a form
of idolatry. It is a worshipping of the flesh. It is an exaltation of a
created thing in such a way that our minds are captivated by it and
brought into bondage of another sort. God has created our bodies to be
temples of his Spirit not as things to be lusted after. The gross
sexual immorality which we say today is nothing more than a true
picture of man's sinful, rebellious nature against God, taking the good
thing which God has made, and perverting it to evil proportions.

   He then goes on to list anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy
language and lying as things that are to be put off from us. The
Christian is to react differently to circumstances than what the world
does. When wronged, the flesh desires to enrage itself with
uncontrollable fury. The flesh, when wronged, desires to speak lies and
evil words about other people. The world's language is not a heavenly
language, but is a language formed by the dictionary found in the
gutter.

   These are evil practices and must be put to death by the person who
has been made alive in Jesus Christ. The believer is being renewed in
the image of his Creator and therefore must put off anything which is
not keeping in character with the Creator's nature.

   Someone once said that believers are not perfect, but they are
forgiven. When we are reborn by the Spirit of God and given spiritual
life, we still retain an adamic nature within us that desires to
indulge itself in fleshly things. In our stages of early immaturity we
may not be consciously aware of things we do that displease God. Or,
while we are doing battle with some particular sins, we may be
overlooking others. But, as we progress in the course of holiness, we
should be gaining more and more knowledge about what God hates and what
he loves.

   Paul says that the new self is being renewed in knowledge in the
image of its Creator.

   One purpose of our glorification in heaven is that we be restored
back to the purity which characterized man when he was first created.
Thus, we are to be striving towards that goal now, even though
perfection will not be attained until the day of our glorification.

   III. The positive things we are to put on (vv. 12-14)

   We are to put off the old man just as we put off our dirty clothes.
We are to remove the filth which clings to us. In place of the old man
we are to put on a different clothing, the clothing of the new
spiritual man.

   Christians are God's elect or chosen people. In eternity past he
chose us in Christ to be saved and to bring honor and glory unto his
name. We have been set apart or consecrated for holiness. Therefore, we
are to put on the garments of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience. We are to bear with one another and to be
forgiving towards one another.

   These virtues which the Apostle names all have to do with personal
relationships. The church, made up of a variety of people, must live in
harmony.

   The world is callous for the most part, and has an attitude which
says, "I will look out for number one." Believers on the other hand,
are to exhibit compassion for others. We are to exhibit kindness
towards one another. Kindness is a grace which is to pervade our entire
being and which is to mellow out the part of us that would rather be
harsh and callous.

   Believers are not to be quick to jump on someone else and argue
about rights. The Christian is to be characterized by an attitude which
will give up an undoubted right if harmony and peace can be preserved
by doing so. One of God's greatest qualities is that he is slow to
anger. We too must be slow to anger, especially when dealing with the
less spiritually mature. We must allow people to have room to grow and
room to make mistakes in the process.

   But above all these virtues is one supreme virtue, love. If one does
not have love first of all for someone else, it will be extremely
difficult to exhibit the other virtues.

   -- At this point in the study, take a few minutes and read through 1
Corinthians 13

   IV. The means we are to use in order to promote holy living (vv.
15-17)

   Certain things must be practiced and kept in use if these holy
virtues are to be found in us. First, we are to let the peace of Christ
rule in our hearts. This peace I believe, refers to a state of heart
and mind. It is a state of tranquility in the midst of a storm. It is a
peace founded upon a concept of

   God's absolute sovereignty in all matters. This peace which Christ
produces in us is to rule our lives as an umpire. When tempted to be
ruffled by the winds of adversity, we are to remember the words of
Jesus who said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be
dismayed." If the peace of God rules our lives as individuals, it will
manifest itself in a corporate peace within the body, the church.

   Second, the word of Christ is to dwell in us richly. The word comes
to us by teaching and admonishment, by the work of the Spirit giving us
spiritual understanding. When the word of Christ is dwelling in us on a
continual basis, we will be constantly reminded of our heavenly
citizenship and of our obligations to exhibit God-like qualities.

   A natural result of the word dwelling in us richly will be an
outpouring of praise. We have found the truth we are searching for. The
answers to the mysteries of spiritual things are found in the Word of
God. The knowledge for which we are to seek is found in the Word of
God. There is no need to listen to the false teachers who tell us that
true spiritual knowledge exists somewhere else. God's truth is in his
word and if this word dwells in us, then we should have an attitude of
praise, thanksgiving and worship.

   Thirdly, whatever we do is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ. We have spoken previously on the subject of Christian liberty.
There are many things not prohibited in

   Scripture that the believer is at liberty to participate in. When,
therefore, we find ourselves in a situation not knowing whether
something is right or proper, we can ask ourselves, "What is the
Christ-like thing to do here? Can I do this without compromising my
Christian confession and testimony? Can I do this in the name of the
Lord Jesus?"

   Conclusion

   I believe you can see from this passage two very clear things.
First, the Christian is not at license to sin, even though he is in
many respects free. There are godly virtues to be sought after and
definite sins to be put away. Second, if a person is controlled by the
Spirit, walking after the Spirit, and indwelt by the Word of God, it is
not necessary to provide a comprehensive list of do's and don't's to
live by. The

   Christian who is seeking to live a holy life only has to ask, "What
is the Christ-like thing to do here?"

   While we have freedom in Christ, we must also conform ourselves to
the image of Christ and put off those things which are not Christ
honoring and God glorifying. May the Lord give us grace from his word.

   RULES FOR HOME AND BUSINESS

   Colossians 3:38-4:1

   In order to prevent any misunderstandings about his teachings on
Christian liberty in chapter 2, the Apostle Paul turned in chapter 3 to
laying down some binding rules for holy living. In the text before us
in today's study he continues this theme. Since we do not practice
slavery today, I believe that the teaching here concerning the
master/slave relationship can best be applied to our conduct in
business and work.

   It is important to emphasize once again that the Apostle does not
lay down a long, comprehensive listing of do's and don't's for us who
are believers. He merely sets forth some basic principles and assumes
that if we are led by the Spirit and are living in the Word, we will be
able to take the basic principles and make applications to the various
situations and circumstances which may confront us.

   Paul's injunctions to us rest heavily upon his phrase in verse 18,
"in the Lord." Believers must always consider human relationships from
the standpoint of our basic relationship with Christ.

   We come first of all to teachings concerning wives and husbands.
There is great confusion in our society concerning the role of women.
The push by organizations such as NOW and others supporting the
feminine cause have greatly distorted the Bible's positive teachings
concerning the male/female relationships. In verse 18 Paul says that
wives are to submit to their husbands "as is fitting in the Lord."

   The submission of wives to husbands is not based upon a cultural
norm of Paul's day and thus not relevant to us.

   Rather, it is based upon God's order of creation. In creation, woman
was made to be man's "help-mate" or "completer."

   Now we must remember two important points here. First, in the realm
of grace (spiritual matters) both female and male are equal in the
sight of God (Galatians 3:28). Saved men and women are both joint-heirs
with Christ and share alike in the blessings of the kingdom. However,
and this is the second thing to remember, this equality in the realm of
spiritual matters does not set aside or nullify God's order for the
structure of the family.

   The wife, then, is to be submissive to her husband. Many men really
stress this point but fail to realize that there is also a limit to
that submission. The limitation is "as is fitting in the Lord." In
verse 19 Paul tells the husbands, "Love your wives and do not be harsh
with them." When the husband is exercising legitimate authority and is
not going against God's prescribed standards, the wife is to be
submissive. The loving, Christ-like submission of the wife to the
husband is based upon the husband's Christ-like love for his wife. (See
Ephesians 5:22-23.)

   This means that the husband's love is to be a self-sacrificing love
that cares for the needs of his wife. The old commentator, John Trapp,
has written:

   He saith not, Rule over them, subdue them if they will not submit,
but love them, and so win them to your will; make their yoke as easy as
may be, for they stand on even ground with you, as yoke-fellows, though
they draw on the left side.

   The husband is not to be harsh with the wife. Paul's words here
suggest the idea of petty tyranny. It is very easy for one in authority
to abuse that authority and cause the love in a relationship to be
replaced by bitterness.

   In verse 20 we see that children are to submit to their parents as
they are told to obey their parents "in everything."

   Children are to obey their parents because that is what pleases the
Lord. The obedience on the part of the children is a recognition of
their position within the family. This same principle applies to us who
are the children of the heavenly Father. Our total obedience to God is
a recognition of our position. Our obedience shows that we recognize
and submit to the Lordship of Christ.

   Paul turns to the fathers in verse 21. It is quite possible to be a
husband and not a father. It is also quite possible for the husband who
is loving towards his wife to be harsh with his children. If children
are to render unquestioned obedience, then the father must be on guard
lest he discourage the child by unreasonable demands, by a rough
demeanor, or by humiliating the child before others. Being overly
severe with a child can easily crush his or her spirit.

   It is our duty as parents to train and discipline our children. But,
we must do so in a Christ-like manner. Much of a child's attitude about
Christ and godly things will be the result of the way in which the
child is treated by the parents. Our children must see a Christ-like
character radiating from us.

   Now, I propose a question - Why are these rules for the home so
important? I believe the answer is very simply this - If our
Christianity is not working in the home, how can it truly be working
anywhere else? For example, in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 we read that an elder
must manage or rule his own household well. If a man cannot take care
of his own home, how can he properly care for and nurture the flock of
God?

   Writing about the parent's example before their children, John
Flavel has stated:

   You are instrumental causes of all their spiritual misery; and that
(1) by generation, (2) imitation.

   He goes on to say:

   If you neglect to instruct them in the way of godliness, will the
Devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No; if you
will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear, and lie; if
ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring.

   Finally, in 3:22-4:1, we see some principles about the master/slave
relationship. In Paul's day it was quite common to have slaves in the
home, thus the reason for his including these exhortations here.
However, even though in our country slavery is not an accepted practice
any longer, these same principles can be applied to our business and
work relationships.

   I am simply going to list what Paul says:

   SLAVES (Employees)

   1. Obey in everything.

   2. Work diligently at all times.

   3. Do your work as unto the Lord since the Lord is really your
immediate master.

   MASTERS (Employers)

   1. Provide what is right and fair.

   2. If you ask someone to do a job, make sure that they have the
tools and resources to do it.

   3. Pay a fair wage.

   4. You are to take care of your employees just as God takes care of
you.

   Conclusion:

   Once again we have seen some basic principles. The Apostle has not
given a comprehensive list covering such items as the different ways
that a wife is to submit to the husband, the different ways that a
husband is to express love for his wife, etc. He assumes that after he
lays down the principles, our being led by the Spirit and our study of
the Word will enable us to apply the guiding principles.

   Seek to apply what Paul has taught us. May God grant us grace from
his Word.

   FINAL EXHORTATIONS

   Colossians 4:2-18

   We come today to the close of our examination of Paul's letter to
the Colossians. In this epistle we have seen the sincerity of Paul's
prayers on behalf of this church which he has never seen; we have seen
the supremacy of Christ set forth; we have seen the Apostle's labors on
behalf of the church; we have seen the explanation of the true mystery
- the revelation of God in Christ; we have seen the nature of Christian
liberty; we have seen the true bounds of Christian freedom; and, we
have seen some basic principles for holy living by believers in
relationship to others, particularly within the home and in business.

   Today, the Apostle urges his readers to continue in prayer with
thanksgiving, and requests them to remember his work in their prayers.
He tells them that a concern to present a credible witness must lead
them to behave wisely and speak graciously to others. In closing, he
commends the bearers of the letters, Tychicus and Onesimus, conveys the
greetings of his companions, gives directions for an exchange of
letters between Laodicea and Colossae, instructs Archippus to fulfill
his ministry, adds his final greeting, and asks them to remember him as
he is in prison.

   The first exhortation of the Apostle is that the believers should
devote themselves to prayer. The idea of being devoted to prayer
conveys the picture of diligence and persistence. Prayer is not to
merely be a habit or religious ritual performed with rigid punctuality.
Prayer is the primary means of communication with God and Christ. One
may be habitual in prayer but not sincere in his prayers. Thus, the
idea of devotion to prayer is that persistence and diligence proves
one's sincerity.

   Since prayer is so vitally necessary, Satan will make every effort
to see that a Christian is deflected or hindered from prayer. Thus, the
Apostle not only exhorts his readers to be devoted to prayer, but while
they are praying to be watchful and thankful. We are to be watchful in
our prayers because the devil attacks using two main strategies. On one
hand, he will cause us to be careless and forgetful and not pray, or on
the other hand, he can make our minds dull and cause our thoughts to
wander while we are praying. How often have we been praying only to
find ourselves suddenly aware that we have drifted from praying to
figuring out our weekly shopping list, or trying to figure out a
problem at work?

   Thus, watchfulness means a disciplined attention to the ministry of
prayer, and it involves a concentration of the whole being as we pray.

   In addition to being watchful, we are to be thankful in our prayers.
When we are coming to God to petition him with our requests, we must
also be willing to give him credit for what he has already done for us.
In addition, thanksgiving creates a spirit of praise within us. Being
caught up in praise in our prayers is an excellent way of guarding
against dullness or drifting in our prayers. We tend to be excited when
we praise someone; our emotions are quickened and our mind is focusing
upon how to praise the person we are addressing. Watchfulness and
thanksgiving must go hand in hand in our prayers. We have so many
things that are potential distractors to us, that we must ever be on
our guard and realize that yesterday's intense season of prayer is no
guarantee that the time of prayer today will be the same.

   The Apostle asks that in their prayers, the Christians pray for
Paul's ministry. He requests them to ask that a door be opened for
ministry, and that he be given the ability to clearly proclaim the
gospel as it should be. The prayers of the saints are vital instruments
in God's providential actions. John Eadie has written concerning the
prayers of the saints:

   Human entreaty has shut up heaven, and has again opened it. At the
voice of a man the sun stood still. Prayer has sweetened the bitter
fountain, divided the sea, and stilled its waves. It has disbanded
armies, and prevented conflict; it has shortened battle, and given
victory to the right. It has conferred temporal abundance, as in the
case of Jabez; and given effect to medical appliances, as in the case
of Hezekiah. It has quenched the mouths of lions, and opened the gates
of the prison-house. As Jesus prayed in the river, the dove alighted on
Him; and as he prayed on the hill, he was transfigured. The glory of
God was manifested to Moses when he asked it, and the grace of Christ
to Paul when he besought it. Not a moment elapsed between the petition
of the crucified thief and its glorious answer. Before Daniel concluded
his devotion, the celestial messenger stood at his side. The praying
church brought down upon itself Pentecostal effusion.

   As we pray, we should be constantly asking God to grant a hearing of
the gospel by the lost; to give power and ability to his servants who
proclaim the gospel, that they might be given wisdom, understanding,
clarity of speech, boldness, and courage. There are men who are timid
and afraid to speak the whole counsel of God to their congregations. We
must pray that the Spirit would overcome this, and open their mouths to
speak forth the redemptive wonders of God in Christ.

   Let us strive to devote ourselves to the matter of prayer.

   The second exhortation of the Apostle is that believers are to be
wise in the way they act towards outsiders. By this, Paul is simply
stating that we must always be careful to maintain a credible witness
to the unsaved. Believers who are open about their faith in Christ are
constantly under the scrutinizing eyes of the lost. People delight in
finding a fault or hole in ones character or profession. Since by
nature the unsaved man is a rebel against God, he will seek to
discredit anyone who professes to be on the side of the Lord. In
particular, there are two ways given here by which a credible testimony
is maintained.

   First, we are to make the most of every opportunity. We are to
redeem our time. Paul's words here suggest the idea of "intensive
buying," a buying which exhausts all the possibilities available. We
see here an exhortation to consistency of life. The believer must seize
and pounce upon every opportunity to let his faith in Christ be set
before unbelievers.

   The devil takes every opportunity to turn people away from the
gospel. The believer must take every opportunity to turn them towards
the gospel. The devil takes every opportunity to show unbelievers the
disharmony which exists among Christians. The believer must take every
opportunity to show the unity and love which exists among believers.
The devil takes every opportunity to show the pleasures that can be
found in seeking fleshly and worldly things. The believer must take
every opportunity to show the joy and peace that comes only through
godliness. The devil takes every opportunity to make people put their
trust in themselves and their good works. The believer must take every
opportunity to show people how to place their trust in the sacrificial
merits of Jesus Christ. The devil takes every opportunity to show
people how self-sufficient they are. The believer must take every
opportunity to show people their real need.

   When the world is reveling in sin, the believer must be reveling in
the Word. When the world is being ministered to by a steady dose of
humanism, the believer must be ministered to by the Spirit. When the
world is promoting greed, the believer must promote giving. When the
world is promoting hatred, the believer must promote love towards his
fellow man. When the world turns a cold heart away from those in need,
the believer must turn a softened heart of warmth and charity towards
them.

   But, not only must there be consistency of life, the believer must
also be a credible witness by the way in which he speaks to others.
Christians are not only to commend the gospel by their lives but also
by their lips. So much damage is done to the cause of Christ by the
rudeness of believers when speaking about the gospel. Our speech is to
be seasoned with salt. In other words, our speech must make the gospel
tasteful, just as salt makes food more tasteful and desirable.

   Lightfoot has said, "Not only must your conversation be opportune as
regards the time; it must also be appropriate as regards the person."
Wisdom must be exercised when speaking with someone about the gospel.
Wisdom is the salt in our speech. Grace in our speech shows a spirit of
humility, which will lead to a gracious approach when telling the
goodness of Christ to others.

   Geoffrey Wilson has well stated, "No effective witness is given to
Christ by rattling off a stereotyped testimony, because this completely
ignores the fact that each person has his own special needs. It is
worth noting that Paul constantly adapted his speech to his audience."

   Conclusion:

   Here then we have the closing exhortations of the Apostle. We are to
devote ourselves to prayer with watchfulness and thanksgiving, and we
are to be careful in the way we live before and speak with the unsaved.

   The duty of the believer is to enhance the growth of the kingdom of
Christ, not to hinder it. Two of the most effective means of enlarging
the kingdom is our prayers and the testimonies of our lives.

   I trust that we have learned some practical truths from our study of
this letter. It is indeed a short epistle, but it is deep in its
richness and in its application.

   May God grant us a rich measure of grace from his Word.