Week 1 - In Him All the Fullness of the Godhead Dwells

Transcription

1 Monday Scripture Reading: Col. 1:13-23 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Col.1:1-2) INTRODUCTION The subject of this series of the Daily Food is the book of Colossians. According to Bible scholars, the heart of Paul s writings is made up of four epistles that stand out in the revelation of God s economy: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. In fact, their revelation level puts these books at the very heart of the entire Bible. These books appear in the following order in the Bible: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. In the previous series of the Daily Food, we delved into the book of Galatians. If we were to study these books in the order they appear in the Bible, Ephesians would have been the next book. However, as God the Father comes before Christ in the divine revelation, before exploring Ephesians, which deals with the mystery of Christ, we will delve into the book of Colossians, which reveals the mystery of God. We must all come to know the mystery of God Christ. Unlike any other book in the Bible, Paul presents Christ in Colossians in a remarkable way. He is portrayed as the image of the invisible God, as the Firstborn of creation, as the One through whom and for whom all things were created, as He who is before all things, as the Head of the Body, the church, as the Firstborn from the dead, and as the One in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. These are just a few attributes and characteristics of the Lord Jesus. Our prayer is that, through this new series of the Daily Food, God may reveal more of His wonderful mystery to us Christ! The mystery of God: Christ. Your How is Christ presented in the book of Colossians? COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 1

2 Tuesday Scripture Reading: Gal. 2:19-20; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:3-10; 6:10-18; Col. 2:9 That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ (Col. 2:2) THE ILLUSTRATION OF AN AIRPLANE For understanding purposes, let us say that the books of Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians represent the main parts of an airplane. The book of Galatians corresponds to the airplane s body, its fuselage. As for Colossians and Ephesians, the two can be likened to the two wings of the airplane due to their similarity. In Philippians, Paul speaks of pressing on towards the goal, alluding to the aircraft s flight plan and destination. As an airplane needs two wings to take flight and keep balance, we also need the books of Colossians and Ephesians to have a balanced Christian living. Without the revelation of the mystery of God and the mystery of Christ, it is impossible for us to live a life according to God s will. The book of Colossians reveals Christ as the mystery of God (2:2). Shortly after that, Paul also declares that in Him, Christ, all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily (v. 9). Only through Christ, can a sinner come before God to know and worship Him. Ephesians 3:3-10 tells us that the mystery of Christ is the church the expression of God s multifarious wisdom. Though we were Gentiles in the flesh, strangers to God s life and promises, Christ made us members of His Body and partakers of the promise. Now we can enjoy all His riches! Among Paul s fourteen epistles, four are intricately connected, completing one another. The book of Galatians presents a description of what God s economy is. This book tells us that we are crucified with Christ and that He lives in us (Gal. 2:19-20). The book of Colossians portrays Christ as the center of everything pertaining to God s eternal plan; He is our life (Col. 3:3). Ephesians reveals the church as the fullness of Christ as His Body, His bride, and as a warrior fighting for His interests (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:32; 6:10-18). Philippians reveals the goal and destination of our Christian lives the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This book also shows us that we can forget the things behind and gain more of Christ by enjoying the excellence of knowing Him. Hallelujah! Jesus is our Lord! Key point: Looking only to Christ, our goal! Looking only to Christ, our goal! Your Why should we not look back? COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 2

3 Wednesday Scripture Reading: Rom. 6:5; Gal. 1:6-7; 2:19-20; 3:1-5; 4:1-2, 19; 5:2-12 Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Gal. 1:3b-4) GALATIANS Paul wrote his first epistle, Galatians, around the year 54 AD. He wrote this epistle during his second missionary journey, from the city of Corinth (Acts 18:1, 11). Located in Asia Minor, Galatia was a province of the Roman Empire, where some churches had been established in Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium (14:20-21). Unfortunately, soon after Paul and Barnabas left Galatia, some Judaizers visited those churches and introduced a different gospel. This different gospel upheld not Christ as the center, but the law (Gal. 1:6), emphasizing the observance of the law and fleshly striving over following the Spirit (3:1-3). What is more, it annulled justification by grace, coercing the Gentile believers to adhere to the law and be circumcised (5:2-3). This different gospel removed the Gentile believers from Christ, invalidated grace, prevented them from obeying the truth of the gospel, and incited rebellion (vv. 4, 7, 11-12). In order to deal with the hurdle of sin, God sent Jesus Christ to shed His blood on our behalf and save us. As sinners, we could not have done it on our own. Today, we need to believe in the redeeming work of Christ, knowing that He bore our sins, lusts, and transgressions on the cross. Christ was taking our place when He was crucified and shed His blood on the cross. His death was our death (Rom. 6:6). After He dealt with our sins, we were reconciled to God. In order to uproot the Galatians from the evil religious world introduced by the Judaizers, Paul wrote an epistle to remind them of God s New Testament economy and bring them back to the gospel they had first received. His epistle was meant to show that Christ lived in them (Gal. 2:20), that He was the center of the gospel he preached, and that they needed Christ to be formed in them (4:19). The book of Galatians also shows us that, while God s children, we are still not inclined to take possession of the great inheritance God has prepared for us. For this reason, after being saved, He places us under the care of stewards and guardians in the church life (4:1-2). These people instruct, look after, and lead us to maturity, that we might be perfected and made ready to effectively lay hold of the divine inheritance and kingdom. If we stand fast in the Lord, living and walking in the Spirit, we will avoid being distracted by other gospels. This is the way to become God s mature heirs! Praise the Lord! Living Christ and allowing Him to be formed in us. Your As God s children, where and how can we grow in life to eventually lay hold of our inheritance? COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 3

4 Thursday Scripture Reading: Eph. 2:1-3, 8-10; 4:1, 17, 21; 5:2, 15, 18, 22-23; 6:1-20 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:14-17) EPHESIANS Paul s epistle to the Ephesians is among his most prominent pieces of writing. The very first three chapters reveal God s economy (His eternal plan) and the mystery of Christ the church (3:4-6, 10). The last three chapters present the application, a way to live the church life according to God s will. While Ephesians chapter 1 speaks of God s purpose from a heavenly standpoint (vv. 1-13), chapter 2 exposes our former condition before we were saved. Due to the fall of man, we were all dead in our sins and trespasses, walking according to the course of this world as sons of disobedience, children of wrath, and enemies of God (vv. 1-3). We were nothing but firewood and kindling wood heading to the lake of fire. Like twigs on a conveyor belt, we were on the way to certain fiery annihilation. However, God s great love and mercy moved Him to reach out and rescue us through the redeeming work of Christ on the cross. After rescuing us from a fiery fate, the Lord initiated a transformation work in us to make us His masterpiece, His poiema Greek root of the word poem (Eph. 2:8-10). He wants to rid us of the Adamic inheritance, and infuse us with His divine life and nature. God s love is manifested in that He removes what needs to be removed, sculpting us into a masterpiece. Although this process involves a certain amount of pain and suffering, we know it is necessary. By His abundant grace, God is also adding Himself into us. In the end, He will display us to the entire universe as His masterpiece. What mercy! In chapter 3, Paul shows us that God needs stewards to distribute and minister His riches among His children. These stewards help us grow in life and know the love of Christ. Paul was undoubtedly one of these stewards, which is why he prayed that God would strengthen our inner man through His Spirit, so that Christ might dwell in us, filling us with all the fullness of God. Ephesians chapters 4-6 help us practice what is revealed in chapters 1-3. Paul uses the verb walk five times throughout this portion. First, he tells us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we received from God, which implies walking in grace (4:1, 7). Then, in verse 17, he says that we should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. The word vanity here is in opposition to the word truth mentioned in verse 21. Hence, the second walk Paul mentions is the walk in truth, or in reality. The third kind of walk appears in Ephesians 5:2; it says, And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. Still in chapter 5, verse 8 speaks of yet another walk, saying, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Finally, verse 15 gives us the fifth walk in a manner worthy of our calling; it says, See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise. How can we walk circumspectly, wisely? By being filled with the Spirit (v. 18); that is, by walking in the Spirit. In other words, if we desire to live a practical and real church life, we must walk in grace, in truth, in love, in light, and in the Spirit. The last chapters of Ephesians also show us that the church life includes our church meetings (5:19-21), our family life (vv ; 6:1-4), our social life (vv. 5-9), and our spiritual battle for the sake of the gospel (vv ). In order to have the reality of the church life, we need wisdom, revelation, and a living full of the Spirit. Wisdom, revelation, and practice. Your What are the five aspects of our walk as presented in Ephesians? COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 4

5 Friday Scripture Reading: Phil. 1:3-6; 3:7-14; 4:10, Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14) PHILIPPIANS Based on the Lord s revelation, Paul wrote the book of Philippians, which reveals the destination and goal of our lives, as well as the way to get there. This is his testimony and encouragement: I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (3:14). When he said that he pressed on towards the goal, seeking the prize of the upward call, he was referring to his entrance into the millennial kingdom to enjoy the wedding feast of the Lamb and reign with Christ over the nations for a thousand years (Rev. 20:6). In the beginning of this book, Paul says that he thanked God upon the remembrance of the Philippians in his prayers, for their uninterrupted fellowship in the gospel from the very first day. The word fellowship used in this verse means participation. In other words, the church in Philippi would participate and contribute financially towards Paul s endeavors for the sake of the gospel and the Lord s work. In addition to praying, they were also eager to make offerings for the sake of the gospel (Phil. 1:3-6; 4:10, 15-16). On the way to this goal, we must keep our eyes on what is ahead of us, lest we be discouraged by looking back or to the sides. Looking around will most likely distract us and cause us to fall. If we keep looking back, bound to the past, we might feel afraid or guilty, thinking, I am nothing but a worthless, useless sinner. Instead of looking back, let us just look to Jesus our Lord. It is also important that we keep our eyes away from any storms or troubles, from right or wrong. Paul s testimony encourages us to forget the things behind and stretch forward towards those in front of us (Phil. 3:13). The Lord is at the finish line, cheering and calling us to the goal; He is saying, Come on over! Keep going! Do not give up! Come to My kingdom! Let us keep our eyes fixed on the things above, on Christ. He is ahead of us, calling us upward to get the prize! Pressing towards the goal! Your What must we do when we make mistakes or fail? COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 5

6 Saturday Scripture Reading: Col. 1:13-20, 27; 2:9; 3:11 He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:15-16) COLOSSIANS The book of Colossians presents the mystery of God, Christ, in a wonderful way. It tells us that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ bodily. In other words, He is due the preeminence, the first place, in all things. Paul wrote to the Colossians to remind them of the mystery hidden from the ages and the generations, yet manifested in their midst Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). In order to free ourselves from everything that takes the Lord s place in our lives, we must turn to Christ who became the Spirit of reality. He is in our spirit today as everything we need (3:11). If Christ had not become the Spirit, but remained in the flesh, we would have no way to receive Him in our spirit, or enjoy any of His riches today. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ bodily, and He is the expression of God (2:9). Where Christ is, so is God. A number of Christians pay attention to God, but not so much to Christ. Without Christ, we cannot know God, as He dwells in unapproachable light. Everything that God is and has is in Christ; hence, He is the mystery of God. Through Christ, we can know, enjoy, and have fellowship with God. This divine fellowship takes place whenever we call, Oh Lord Jesus! Oh Lord Jesus! Christ and God are one, and we can access all of God s divine riches through Christ. Through Christ, not only do we enjoy what God has, but also what He is. For instance, since God is love, when we are one with Christ, God s love is spontaneously manifested through us a love that moves us to love the brethren, and even our enemies. What a wonderful mystery! The supremacy of the love of Christ. Your Through whom are we able to know, contact, and enjoy the invisible God? COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 6

7 Powered by TCPDF ( Week 1 - In Him All the Fullness of the Godhead Dwells Sunday Scripture Reading: Philemon For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother (Philemon 7) THE EXPRESSION OF GOD S LOVE Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians are considered the heart of the Bible. Earlier in the reading, we compared these four books to the main parts of an airplane, as well as to a runway and a well-defined flight plan. As in previous series of the Daily Food, we have again emphasized the importance of a solid, proper runway for the aircraft to take flight love. Love is the main subject of Paul s letter to Philemon, which he wrote around the same time he wrote his epistle to the Colossians. According to our illustration, the letter to Philemon is the runway from which the airplane of God s economy can take off and fly towards its destination. Paul wrote an epistle to Philemon, a brother from the church in Colossae, to show him that love is the foundation and basis for the practice of God s New Testament economy (Philemon 5, 7, 9). The epistle to Philemon gives us a practical example of love as the foundation for our Christian lives. In verses 8-11, Paul speaks on behalf of Onesimus, a man who had wronged Philemon in the past. Onesimus was eventually saved and shepherded by Paul in prison. Paul sent him back to Philemon along with his letter, testifying that Onesimus, whose name means useful, had changed and become profitable to him and to Philemon. We can clearly see Paul s love in his recommendation for Onesimus, I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart (v. 12). He also mentions that though a former slave in the flesh, Onesimus had become a beloved brother in the Lord (v. 16). When we stand on the ground of love, we avoid looking at others from a fleshly standpoint and see how valuable they all are to the Lord. If we are not grounded in love, we will only condemn others a conduct that will undermine any chance to advance in the Christian life. On the other hand, if we are in Christ, we will have a victorious spiritual life and will spontaneously practice the love shown in this epistle. The Spirit of God we have within us is manifested through love. God is love. As He manifested Himself to us through His Son, He wants to manifest Himself to our brethren and to people in general through us. Whether we are attacked, persecuted, or harassed in our service to the Lord, we must still love everyone. This needs to be our conduct and stance. Our natural love cannot love everyone, only the manifestation of God s life in us can do it God is love. As we consider the Lord s love for us, in that He saved us from the lake of fire, our hearts and church life should be filled with love. If we abide in Christ, everything that God is and has, all of His fullness, will overflow from us and reach those around us. This is the secret to have the expression of God s love in us. Expressing God s love. Your Which part does the epistle to Philemon correspond to in the airplane illustration? Additional Reading Enrich your reading of the Daily Food by simultaneously reading the books suggested below: Learning from the Apostles chaps. 2-3 Dong Yu Lan The Word and Prayer in the Christian Life chaps. 2-3 Dong Yu Lan COLOSSIANS THE MYSTERY OF GOD: CHRIST - The Truth of the Gospel 7