In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians…
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9-10) Christians believe something remarkable about Jesus Christ – we believe He was and is God. Christians get so used to saying and thinking this that they often…
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8) The apostle Paul had never met the Christians of Colosse, but he cared about them and how false teachers and their teachings threatened their…
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7) In the ancient city of Colosse there were false teachers who hoped to seduced the Christians there away from…
I’m not often given to tears, but my eyes definitely welled up this last Saturday (December 10, 2016) as I finished teaching notes on Psalm 150, completing a commentary work through the whole book. For me, it was quite a milestone. The work on Psalms began more than 15 years ago, when I was a…
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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3) In these two verses Paul…
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. (Colossians 2:1) Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Colosse (and the city of Laodicea, which was near Colosse), and we normally…
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. (Colossians 1:28-29) Do you know what a mission statement is? Many people and organizations use a mission statement…
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. (Colossians 1:19) This section of Paul’s letter to the Colossians is something of a meditation on the person and work of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-20). Paul explained to the Colossians who Jesus is and what He did to rescue us, and he…
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. (Colossians 1:16) Paul prayed Christians in the ancient city of Colosse, and in part of his prayer there is…
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:14) This remarkable statement comes in the midst of a prayer Paul prayed for the Christians in the ancient city of Colosse. The whom referred to in Colossians 1:14 is Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus that we have redemption through His…
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. (Colossians 1:12-13) The Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in the ancient city of Colosse,…