Post by Les Brewer on Feb 29, 2020 21:42:03 GMT
CHRIST IS PREEMINENT
Let us understand that the enemy of our soul never ceases to assault our faith. Therefore we have this valuable resource in this epistle to the Colossians addressing the Judaism heresy. We must conclude in ourselves that Christ is preeminent in all things; in creation, redemption, and in the church.
(9) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
(10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
(12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
(14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:9-14 KJV
In the above passage Paul is praying for the Colossians. I believe it is a prayer which could be prayed for new born saints and even seasoned saints as a reminder of what God wants to impart in us and to remember our inheritance in the correct enlightenment and illumination of the word of God.
Paul prayed for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will concerning wisdom and spiritual understanding. The assumption is that once we have the knowledge of his will; we will act on that knowledge.
To walk worthy of the Lord means to reflect his character and to be pleasing, bringing an increase to every good and godly work; thereby increasing in the knowledge of the person of God.
Then Paul prays for the saints to be strengthened with might in the inner man through the power of God to produce patience, endurance, and real joyfulness. Then he prays for the revelation of thankfulness for what God the Father has done through delivering us from the power that darkness had over us and has transferred us into the Kingdom of Christ to walk in the light has he is in the light.
Habitual faith produces the purpose of God! A faith that is fixated upon the word of God is a faith that is focused on the will of God.
Concerning troubles; with outside philosophies and inside heresies contaminating a body or portion of believers. Number one: it brings anxiety to those who oversee those flocks and number two: by virtue of good leadership causes conflict between leadership and laity. Error in the body creates confusion and confusion always causes conflict. When error has taken root it begins to distort the truth and promotes the lies of human philosophy and false doctrine. Paul exhorts those who are in Christ not to be beguiled by the enticing words of men’s wisdom.
(6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
(7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
(10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:6-10 KJV
The word for spoil in the Greek comes from a word which means “to strip away” and also means “to seduce”. Brethren, true Christianity will always suffer the assault of false philosophies and false Christian cults for the purpose of leading true Christians into apostasy. Therefore we must take heed when God the Father warns us through the epistles concerning these seducers. Brethren our life is in Christ the fullness of the Godhead.
(19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
(20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
(22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
(23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:19-23 KJV
If you continue in the faith: a practiced faith is a faith that produces stability. Adherence to truth produces right motive and conduct. The gospel that converted us and regenerated us; the gospel we heard at the moment of our salvation and the doctrines we founded our faith upon cannot be contaminated to our detriment. We cannot afford to move away from that which has rooted, grounded, and settled us. Brethren, do not allow false philosophies and doctrines of demons to cause us to walk upon the blood of Jesus as some unholy thing.
Brethren; the Colossian Heresy was the contention that aroused the spiritual sensitivity which provoked Paul to define and defend the faith. The Jews were attempting to transform the Colossian church into a church based upon the dietary laws and certain Jewish traditions and heresies. This provoked Paul’s response and correction! The church is not a new Jewish cult but a flourishing new entity based upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. Old Covenant Law is not binding upon New Covenant People!
(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
(17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 KJV
Brethren the types and shadows have passed; Christ has come and all is fulfilled. Christians are free to observe these things if they choose but the fact is that now all things are sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
(4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
(5) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV
The legalism of Judaism has no place in the body of Christ. We are called to liberty not legalism.
(20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:20-22 KJV
Brethren; it is evident that the adversary of our soul wants to contaminate the gospel of our salvation. Many times you will receive a knock at the door from emissaries of deception who bring a false gospel to deceive. Many times you will meet someone who seems to be spiritually charismatic that claims to have new truth that will enhance your spirituality; but in fact they are messengers of false light. Christ is preeminent and his word is sovereign and final concerning our salvation. We must never let go of the preeminent Head of Christ Jesus. His word is light and life. It is finished and finalized for all things which pertain to life and godliness; let us bind it to our hearts and minds that we will walk in obedience to God’s will. Selah
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
Let us understand that the enemy of our soul never ceases to assault our faith. Therefore we have this valuable resource in this epistle to the Colossians addressing the Judaism heresy. We must conclude in ourselves that Christ is preeminent in all things; in creation, redemption, and in the church.
(9) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
(10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
(12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
(14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:9-14 KJV
In the above passage Paul is praying for the Colossians. I believe it is a prayer which could be prayed for new born saints and even seasoned saints as a reminder of what God wants to impart in us and to remember our inheritance in the correct enlightenment and illumination of the word of God.
Paul prayed for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will concerning wisdom and spiritual understanding. The assumption is that once we have the knowledge of his will; we will act on that knowledge.
To walk worthy of the Lord means to reflect his character and to be pleasing, bringing an increase to every good and godly work; thereby increasing in the knowledge of the person of God.
Then Paul prays for the saints to be strengthened with might in the inner man through the power of God to produce patience, endurance, and real joyfulness. Then he prays for the revelation of thankfulness for what God the Father has done through delivering us from the power that darkness had over us and has transferred us into the Kingdom of Christ to walk in the light has he is in the light.
Habitual faith produces the purpose of God! A faith that is fixated upon the word of God is a faith that is focused on the will of God.
Concerning troubles; with outside philosophies and inside heresies contaminating a body or portion of believers. Number one: it brings anxiety to those who oversee those flocks and number two: by virtue of good leadership causes conflict between leadership and laity. Error in the body creates confusion and confusion always causes conflict. When error has taken root it begins to distort the truth and promotes the lies of human philosophy and false doctrine. Paul exhorts those who are in Christ not to be beguiled by the enticing words of men’s wisdom.
(6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
(7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
(10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:6-10 KJV
The word for spoil in the Greek comes from a word which means “to strip away” and also means “to seduce”. Brethren, true Christianity will always suffer the assault of false philosophies and false Christian cults for the purpose of leading true Christians into apostasy. Therefore we must take heed when God the Father warns us through the epistles concerning these seducers. Brethren our life is in Christ the fullness of the Godhead.
(19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
(20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
(22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
(23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:19-23 KJV
If you continue in the faith: a practiced faith is a faith that produces stability. Adherence to truth produces right motive and conduct. The gospel that converted us and regenerated us; the gospel we heard at the moment of our salvation and the doctrines we founded our faith upon cannot be contaminated to our detriment. We cannot afford to move away from that which has rooted, grounded, and settled us. Brethren, do not allow false philosophies and doctrines of demons to cause us to walk upon the blood of Jesus as some unholy thing.
Brethren; the Colossian Heresy was the contention that aroused the spiritual sensitivity which provoked Paul to define and defend the faith. The Jews were attempting to transform the Colossian church into a church based upon the dietary laws and certain Jewish traditions and heresies. This provoked Paul’s response and correction! The church is not a new Jewish cult but a flourishing new entity based upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. Old Covenant Law is not binding upon New Covenant People!
(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
(17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 KJV
Brethren the types and shadows have passed; Christ has come and all is fulfilled. Christians are free to observe these things if they choose but the fact is that now all things are sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
(4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
(5) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV
The legalism of Judaism has no place in the body of Christ. We are called to liberty not legalism.
(20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:20-22 KJV
Brethren; it is evident that the adversary of our soul wants to contaminate the gospel of our salvation. Many times you will receive a knock at the door from emissaries of deception who bring a false gospel to deceive. Many times you will meet someone who seems to be spiritually charismatic that claims to have new truth that will enhance your spirituality; but in fact they are messengers of false light. Christ is preeminent and his word is sovereign and final concerning our salvation. We must never let go of the preeminent Head of Christ Jesus. His word is light and life. It is finished and finalized for all things which pertain to life and godliness; let us bind it to our hearts and minds that we will walk in obedience to God’s will. Selah
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
