Truth For Us
Notes
Transcript
Experiencing Truth
Experiencing Truth
Colossians 2:1–7
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 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.
About Christians
Paul is going to open a full scale attack on the cult.
He does so by first flying his banner on the mast.
Banner of truth.
Truth causes a division but also causes unity.
Philippians 1:12–30
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
We are engaged in a common battle
The enemy will choose different tactics for different churches.
Colossie it was Mysticism,
Leaodicea it was Luxary
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; [These things] saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[So then] because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee [out of] my mouth.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and [increased with goods,] and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest [be rich;] and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with [eye salve,] that thou mayest see.
[As many as] I love, I rebuke and chasten: [be zealous] therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if [any man] hear my voice, and open the door, I will [come in] to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
To him [that overcometh] will I grant to sit with me in my throne, [even as] [I also] overcame, and am [set down] with my Father in his throne.
[He that hath] an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Ephesus it was work.
We are encircled in a common bond
Verse 2a
Love.
You might be able to win a battle with doctrine, but the war is won in love.
About Christ
In an increasing way
v2b
When we know the Lord as we ought to we will be protected from subtle devices of clever men.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man [brought forth plentifully:]
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, This will I do: I will [pull down] my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods [laid up] for many years; [take thine ease,] eat, drink, and [be merry.]
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall [those things] be, which thou hast provided?
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and [fine linen,] and fared sumptuously [every day:]
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, [full of sores,]
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs [which fell] from the [rich man’s] table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it [came to pass,] that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the [rich man] also died, and was buried;
And in hell he [lifted up] his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham [afar off,] and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, [have mercy] on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy [good things,] and likewise Lazarus [evil things:] but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: [so that] [they which would] pass [from hence] to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come [from thence.]
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The knowledge of God enlightens us.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to [them that are lost:]
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of [them which believe not,] lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
In an inexhaustible way
I have read that every hour scientists are publishing enough new information to fill a thousand page volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica
All that knowledge and yet the world will be perplexed at the simplicity of the Gospel.
The queen of the south shall [rise up] in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the [uttermost parts] of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
In an invincible way
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [your own selves.]
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: [no man] cometh unto the Father, but by me.
About Christianity
Life in a new dimension
For though I [be absent] in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle [that is called] Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
And hath [raised us up together,] and [made us sit together] in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [who hath blessed] us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
[Put on] the [whole armor] of God, that ye may [be able] to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore [take unto] you the [whole armor] of God, that ye may [be able] to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness [to enter into] the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, [that is to say,] his flesh;
And having a high priest over the house of God;
Let us [draw near] with a true heart in [full assurance] of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us [hold fast] the profession of our faith [without wavering;] (for he is faithful that promised;)
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Life under a new direction
Life with a new distinction
Rooted and [built up] in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.