Discipleship Study Week 6
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Colossians 1:15-23
Colossians 1:15-23
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
We looked at verses 9-14 in Week 3 of these studies. Paul praying for these believers to have spiritual wisdom and understanding, to see things from God’s perspective and what is really happening around them.
Why so we can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit and increasing in our knowledge of Him.
Now this section in some translations is called the Preeminence of Christ. Before all and better than all, above or rules over, ruler of all.
Now if Paul had opposition, which he did, in reading his side of the “conversation” what is he dealing with? The true nature and deity of Jesus.
Evangelical Commentary on the Bible A. Christ’s Work and the Reconciling of the Gentiles (1:15–23)
Christian heresy called Gnosticism by writers in the second century A.D. It was more a philosophy (2:8) than a religion and challenged the intellectual credibility of Christian faith, declaring that salvation was achieved by knowledge rather than faith and that the knowledge (Gk. gnōsis) was a gift of God to the predestined few who claimed to have it. God contacted man through divine emanations that reached from heaven to earth.
There’s also a combo of some Jewish issues here as well, angels, moons, sabbaths and festivals etc.
So back to the Preeminence of Christ.
Christ is preeminent in relation to the entire creation.
Christ is preeminent in relation to humanity and the church because of the resurrection from the dead. The first born from the dead.
He, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, what is an image? Really a representative, an exact representation, not necessarily in looks but in person, character, He showed who God is and what God is like.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
The firstborn of all creation?? First born means not necessarily the first born in a sense of existence. But rather the idea of existing before, superior, but also what being the firstborn male of a family meant. So birthright, the families head and leader, the inheritance entitled to the firstborn.
By Him all things were created, … all things were created through Him and for Him. What is all things?
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
V17 before all things, only God is before all things.
He is the sustainer of all things.
The head, the leader, the body is the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, the first to bodily resurrect and ascend to heaven. The firstborn of a new form of human. If Elijah was taken to heaven he was not in this new form, forgiven and bodily resurrected.
He existed before all, and so now He also is the first to resurrect bodily and ascend to heaven. His body will follow.
The fullness of God was pleased to dwell, fullness all of who He is dwelt in Jesus, pleased to dwell so people could know him and be reconciled all things to Himself. Made peace by His blood.
Heaven, not necessarily heavenly beings but in regard to all things, all of creation. Peace
V21, don’t forget who you were, alienated and hostile, doing evil
But because of His life death, his bodily death, why? To present us holy and blameless, above reproach, that’s how God sees us.
If, we must continue in the faith, don’t fall away, firm and faithful.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Quick up to speed on what was taught before this passage.
All the gifts are from the same Spirit
Different services, same Lord
Different working, same God.
Who are these gifts, services and workings for? Not us, but for the benefit of others, for the body.
This list is not exhaustive nor is it in order of importance, but typical of the gifts that had been experienced at one time or another by Christians at Corinth.
The source and power behind each of these gifts is who?
These are given out how?
The motive for possessing certain gifts should be what? Look at v31 quickly
But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
In the NLT it reads, “So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”
Now on to 12-31
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Now on to 12:12-31
So, Paul likens the church with its members having different spiritual gifts to what? a body with its different members who serve different purposes.
One Spirit, One Body
So there is Unity-one body, diversity-different parts, and integrity-each part vital and integral, deserving equal honor.
Let’s focus on V22-27
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Why does Paul write this? What is human nature? How do we tend to regard one another, say on a baseball team?
Unity, all are part of the body. Diversity, not all are the same, all have different roles but all equally important. Integrity, the so-called less honorable deserve greater honor, that’s how God designed it.
If a “small or less significant” member suffers, the whole body suffers. Stub a toe, have a back disc issue, problems with your eyes, but if all these function at a high level, then the whole body benefits and allows the more notable parts to thrive.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Now Paul seems to rank or prioritize the gifts, why?
What are the first 3 centered around? The next 2? The next 2? Which one is listed last? Speaking in tongues, why?
It seems here in Corinth, tongues was the sexy gift, the desired gift, an indicator of Spiritual giftedness, but clearly to Paul, this wasn’t the most important gift.
Why should one desire the greater gifts? Again, for the benefit of others, for the body, for the unbeliever, not for ourself.
Ephesians 4:1-6
Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
At the end of 3, Paul has reminded us of the completed work in Christ, what He has done for us
Because of this, Paul has made himself a prisoner of Jesus, a lifetime servant
urge to walk in a manner worthy of our calling
humility and gentleness? Who are we? God saves us, God gifts us, we are a member of the body, not standing alone.
The bond of peace,
Reminder One body, One Spirit, One hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God,
Who is over all and through all and in all.