AIM: In Jesus is everything we need for spiritual maturity
Spiritual fitness=Christlikeness (sanctification, growing in holiness inside out, work of the Holy Spirit)
Colossians 1:28 - Theme verse
He is the One we proclaim,
admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ
A) God the Father, perfect or of maturity
(1:1-2) Paul, chosen by will of God, apostle of Jesus to God's holy people, colosse - faithful family in Christ
(6) Same Good News is going all over the world, bearing fruit, changing lives just like yours-hear/understand God's grace
(7-8) Good News from Epaphras, beloved coworker, faithful servant, told us of your love for others-given by the Holy Spirit
(9) Praying without stopping, God gives complete knowledge his will to you spiritual understanding
(10) Then your life will honor, please the Lord, produce every kind of good fruit, growing to know God better
(11) Pray for strengthened with his glorious power, endurance and patience you need, filled with joy
(Colossians 1:12-14) Thanking the father, enabled you to share inheritance, his people, living in light, rescued from darkness Kingdom of his Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins
(12) giving joyful thanks to the Father
- qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people, kingdom of light
- (13) Rescued us from dominion of darkness, to Son’s kingdom
- (14) in Christ we have redemption, forgiveness of sins
Application: It's in knowing and doing that builds spiritual muscle and the Bible is essential in knowing and understanding truth about God and ourselves. How am I putting my knowledge to work and are their areas I'm neglecting?
B) Col 1:15-23 God the Son, Perfection of Maturity
(15) Christ visible image of invisible God, existed before anything, supreme over creation
(16) Through him God created everything
(19-20) God’s fullness in Christ, to reconcile to himself all things, earth/heaven making peace through his blood shed on the cross
(21) Once alienated from God, enemies in our minds-because of evil behavior
(22) Now reconciled by Christ’s physical body through death- to present me holy in his sight
(23) if you continue in your faith, established firm, do not move from the hope held in the gospel(Colossians 1:21-22) Includes you, once far, enemies by evil thoughts and actions - now reconciled, He brought you into his presence/holy/blameless/without fault
(23) you must continue to believe this truth, stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from assurance when you heard the Good News, preached/proclaimed all over the world
- Principal: Jesus Christ is the embodiment of spiritual fitness
(24) glad, suffer for you, participating in suffering of Christ for his church
(25) God given responsibility serving church, proclaiming entire message
(26) message was secret, now revealed to God's people
(27) God wanted them to know that riches, glory of Christ to all, Christ lives in you giving you assurance of sharing his glory
- Promise is for born-again believers (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:3,21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:17;Romans 6:3;Galatians 3:26; Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5; John 1:12; John 6:44)
- Not for the natural man (John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:18-21)
(29) why I work, struggle, depending on Christ's power working in me
(2:1) Paul is contending for Colossea and Laodicea
(2) Goal encouraged in heart and united in love, they have full riches of complete understanding, know the mystery of God Christ
(3) in Christ is hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge
(4) so that no one deceives you with fine-sounding arguments
(5) I’m absent in body, present in spirit
Special thanks to BSF staff for training at the leaders retreat in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Feb 11-13). https://www.bsfinternational.org
