A Pivotal Passage.

John Farley
Pastor-Teacher
Sunday,
July 22, 2018

A pivotal passage

COL 1:21-23

COL 1:1-29 - COL 2:1-3

COL 1:21-23 is a pivotal passage.

COL 1:15-20

This is a hymn to the glories of Christ.

COL 1:24-29 - COL 2:1-2

This is about Paul’s ministry, and his labor and striving on behalf of the church.

We see here in verse 24 the afflictions associated with Christ.

Then we see a mystery revealed, and it is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Paul is proclaiming Christ, admonishing and teaching every saint so that he may present them all complete in Christ.

What’s the connection between the glories of Christ and the strivings of Paul?

The spotlight shifts to the saints.

COL 1:21-23

The connection between the glories of Christ and the strivings of Paul is found in the hope that …

…the saints would be presented before our glorious Lord, presented holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

We also have our first indication that there may be a problem.

We see an opposing force.

It is trying to stop the saints from continuing in the faith.
 

It is working to shake that faith and move the saints away from the hope of the gospel.

And that hope has to do with the saints being presented to Christ as holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

Am I saved?

Does this passage mean that I can lose my salvation?

Or that if I don’t continue in the faith, then I was never really saved in the first place?

Is it possible that this is not even talking about eternal salvation at all?

 

Spiritual Gifts

 

Speaking:

Pastor-Teacher
evangelist
teaching
exhortation

Serving:

helps
service
leadership
mercy
giving

ROM 12:4-13

A few words about the gift of service.

The person with this gift has an unusual capacity to serve faithfully behind the scenes.

The person with this gift loves to provide assistance, especially to the weak or needy.

Present your body and start serving in some capacity.

1. Member care, including visiting people who are sick, homebound, or in prison.

2. Outreach ministry: bringing the gospel to unbelievers in our community, …

as well as inviting people to church, and following up with new believers.

 

No services:

Thursday, August 2nd or Sunday, August 5th.

Next luncheon:

Sunday, August 19th

 

Adoption Programs

Adopt a plane

Adopt a missionary

Adopt a country

Short term mission trips

 

Nick and Jocelyn Frey, serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo