I’ve been
giving a lot of thought as to what direction to take in the next series of blog
posts, and I keep coming back to Colossians.
No, it is not a prophetic book per se, but it is a wonderful resource
regarding central truths in the word of God.
It seems that the veracity of scripture is more and more under attack
even by those who profess to be Christian.
Frankly, I believe this is one of the primary evidences that we are in
the end times just preceding the return of the Lord Jesus to take His place as
the King of kings on planet earth.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 & 13 “This know
also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof….But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived.”
2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be
turned unto fables.”
2 Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that
there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts….”
Matthew
24:3–5 & 11 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came
unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall
be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and
said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many….And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
deceive many.”
I pray that
you will be strengthened and become more discerning spiritually as we
investigate Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse and discover its many
treasures. As the time gets continually
closer to the Lord’s return, the truth of scripture will be ever more
manipulated by wicked men toward their own purposes. We need to hold tightly to the truth of God’s
word and exercise great discernment so as not to fall for their deceptions.
Please note
that Paul was formerly known as Saul and was a zealous member of the Pharisees
who persecuted the early Christians until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary,
Colosse was located in what is today known as Turkey “about 12 miles above
Laodicea, and near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates.”
Colossians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timotheus our brother, To the saints
and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Paul starts
out six books in similar fashion (2Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians,
1&2 Timothy)—with a statement to the fact that he is an apostle according
to the will or commandment of God. This
is an emphasis to the fact that his Damascus Road experience was the
turning point in his life. I think this
is a wonderful example of God’s supernatural intervention in a man’s life to
accomplish His will. Paul could have
rejected the whole experience, but he chose to embrace the truth when it was
revealed to him so powerfully. There is
nothing in the narrative (Acts 9) indicating that he was forced against his
will. In fact, as soon as Jesus
identified Himself to Paul as the One he was persecuting, Paul became
immediately submissive. He immediately recognized
the truth and wanted to serve God in truth.
This is also a statement of Paul’s authority as established by God to
declare His truth.
Many times throughout
my journals I have noted that you can’t experience the peace of God without
first experiencing His grace. It is by
His grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), and it is only in Christ that we
can find peace. Peace is a work of the
Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22), and we don’t benefit from the
presence of the Spirit in our lives until we are “in Christ.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of
works, lest any man should boast.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.”
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace….”
(to be
continued…)
1 comment:
Thanks, Sharon. Blessed words.
Best,
Robert
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