March 4
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KEEP SEEKING THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. – Colossians 3:1-4
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In this letter, Paul reminds the Gentile believers in Colossae what it means to be a servant of Christ. In verse 1, he tells them the importance of focusing on things that are spiritual, things that are above, where Jesus is beside the right hand of God. He further explains in verse 2 that these things are not the ones that we see and physically belongs to this world. In verse 3, Paul tells them the reason why they need to focus on these spiritual things: because they have accepted Jesus in their lives, they have already died to their flesh, their earthly desires and their lives belong to Christ now. In verse 4, he gives them hope to aim at that glory that comes with the promise of eternal life to those who follow Him.
What are the things that are above?
Guzik comments that “The best Christian living comes from minds that are fixed on heaven. They realize that their lives are now hidden with Christ in God, and since Jesus is enthroned in heaven, their thoughts and hearts are connected to heaven also. Clarke commends us to “Love heavenly things; study them; let your hearts be entirely engrossed by them. Now, that you are converted to God, act in reference to heavenly things as ye did formerly in reference to those of earth.” Vaughn says “‘Earthly things’ are not all evil, but some of them are. Even things harmless in themselves become harmful if permitted to take the place that should be reserved for the things above.” While Barclays says “We must note carefully what Paul means by that. He is certainly not pleading for an other-worldliness in which the Christian withdraws himself from all the work and activities of this world and does nothing but contemplate eternity. Immediately after this Paul goes on to lay down a series of ethical principles which make it quite clear that he expects the Christian to go on with the work of this world and to maintain all its normal relationships. But there will be this difference–from now on the Christian will view everything against the background of eternity and no longer live as if this world was all that mattered.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer continue seeking the things that are above?
Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY
ON HUMAN LAWS AND SELF-MADE RELIGION ILMA’S VLOG
March 3
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ON HUMAN LAWS AND SELF-MADE RELIGION
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
– Colossians 2:20-23:
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In this letter, Paul challenges the Gentile believers in Colossae to live a life of integrity. In verse 20, he questioned them about their bondage and submission to decrees and laws made by humans how and what they should do with their lives. He reminded them that if they have died with Christ when they became believers, why do they still follow human traditions and laws and not God’s law alone. In verse 21, Paul presents to the Colossian believers how these prohibitions about what they can and cannot handle, touch or not touch. Paul is targeting the tactics of these religious heretics who entice the believers with their own teachings and self-made religion and all kinds of rituals that actually oppose what God’s good news is.
Even though this letter is written to the Colossians who were surrounded by heresies and false teachers, we can clearly see it in our world today. So many religions, preachers, televangelists, megachurches that seemed like they are teaching the Good News, when they are actually giving you bad news. According to Wikipedia, there are 4, 200 different religions. There are 30, 000 Christian organizations (groups, branches, denominations) worldwide. This is exactly what Paul is referring to in verse 23 where these self-made religions were created by humans which seems to be leading you to heaven when they are actually leading you to hell. I had a share of my exposure to different Christian denominations that seemed to be teaching about Jesus, but is mixed up with the world systems and human traditions. Until I read the bible in-depth, I wasn’t able to discern which ones are teaching the true gospel and living it. This is why Paul were so concerned for believers being misled by these vultures, who wants to steal the faith of those who profess they want to commit to Jesus. In my experience as a new believer, I didn’t know the truth until I studied Scriptures in depth. The truth set me free.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for believers to study and meditate on God’s word?
WATCH OUT FOR FRAUDS! ILMA’S VLOG
March 2
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WATCH OUT FOR FRAUDS!
16 Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Take care that no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. – Colossians 2:16-19
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The following passages are referring to Paul’s reminder to the Colossians that since Christ died on the cross to free them from the penalty of sin, they need not follow the Judaic laws that he freed them from. The Jewish laws are made to bound people in rituals and the effort to make themselves appear holy and good so they will be elevated in the eyes of others. In verse 18, Paul addresses the seductions of these heresies going in in their midst. The heretics wanted to give adoration to angels, thinking that they have no right to go straight to God. It seems like a mere distraction so that the focus will not be on Jesus, but on lower beings than Him. Paul admonishes them to make sure that they keep their eyes on Jesus, rather than adhering to these Judaic laws that will keep them bound again.
Bruce comments: “It would be preposterous indeed for those who had reaped the benefit of Christ’s victory to put themselves voluntarily under the control of the powers which he had conquered.” Guzik says “The point is clear: days and foods, as observed under the Mosaic Law, are not binding upon New Covenant people. The shadow has passed, the reality has come. So, for the Christian, all foods are pure (1 Timothy 4:4-5) and all days belong to God.
Vaugh comments “That is to say, the heretics probably insisted that their worship of angels rather than the supreme God was an expression of humility on their part.”
Guzik states his point that “False humility and the worship of angels do not make anyone more spiritual. Instead, holding fast to the Head (Jesus) makes us truly spiritual.”
A lot of Christians miss out the sacrifice on the cross. Christ did it all. It is finished. We do not need to follow laws made my humans to appear good. We need to abide in Jesus so that we will not be derailed and misled in our walk in the Spirit.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it essential for us to be anchored on truth and the sacrifice on the cross?
PUBLIC DISPLAY OF TRIUMPH OVER EVIL ILMA’S VLOG
March 1
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PUBLIC DISPLAY OF TRIUMPH OVER EVIL
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. – Colossians 2:12-15
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In these passages, Paul explains to them that their baptism has given them that resurrection power of Jesus when they believed in Him. The previous verses are warnings against false teachings regarding the importance of circumcision. Paul was explaining to the Colossians why the act of circumcision isn’t as essential as the act of baptism. In baptism, the believer is submerged in water to die to the old self and raised up again from the water as a reminder that in Christ, he has been resurrected. In other words, the old life is gone and the new creation in Christ has begun. In the cross, Christ canceled our debt (sin). When we were born, we were all sinners as an aftermath of Adam and Eve’s sins. But, God gave us a way out so we can be spared from His wrath. He gave his only Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sins to be cleansed and has paved the reconciliation process for us. Verse 13 explains the state of our life before Christ died for us: we were dead in our sins. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross changed that dead person to one who is alive in Christ. In verse 14, Paul explains the process that happened when Jesus died for our sins. When we sinned, we violated God’s laws, so we are supposed to pay a penalty for those violations. Jesus cancelled all those penalties by his death on the cross which produced the blood that was the sacrifice that is the only thing that could appease God’s wrath for our sins. In verse 15, Paul further explains the meaning of the cross, which is the public display of Christ’s triumph over the rulers and authorities Wright comments “The greatest powers of the earth at that time – Rome, the greatest governmental power and Judaism, the greatest religious power – conspired together to put the Son of God on the cross. “These powers, angry at his challenge to their sovereignty, stripped him naked, held him up to public contempt, and celebrated a triumph over him.”
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REFLECTION
• How is the cross a public display of triumph over evil?
SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION THROUGH CHRIST ILMA’S VLOG
February 28
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SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION THROUGH CHRIST
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, – Colossians 2:9-11
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In this passage, Paul follows up his concern about the Colossian believers in being surrounded by false teachings. He reminds them that they do not have to believe in other philosophies or any human traditions. Paul explains the Deity and Sovereignty of Christ. In verse 9 he explains to them that though Jesus became human, he is full Deity in a physical body. In verse 10, he reminds the Colossians that they are complete if they believe in Jesus because of His sovereignty. During those times, some of the heretics are propagating angels, rulers and authorities having authority. Paul tells them that it is only Jesus who is Sovereign and Almighty over all creation. In verse 11, Paul explains spiritual circumcision through Christ, which is not a mere physical removal of the body of flesh, but a removal of our old nature, our old self that is being removed from the believer because he is now a new creation in Christ, stripped off his old nature.
David Guzik comments as “The Colossian Christians had to deal with a whole variety of false teaching. Not only did they have wrong ideas about Jesus, but they also had wrong ideas about things like circumcision. Apparently, they were being taught that they had to be circumcised to be right with God. Paul makes it clear that they were circumcised, by putting off the sins of the flesh. Vaugh comments: “Our spiritual circumcision meant the putting off of the old man. “The Greek word for ‘putting off’, a double compound, denotes both stripping off and casting away. The imagery is that of discarding – or being divested of – a piece of filthy clothing.”
Guzik further comments that even the Old Testament acknowledges that there are two types of circumcision: one of the body and one of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4 and 9:25; Ezekiel 44:7 and 44:9). Sincere baptism shows that the real “circumcision of the heart” has taken place.
Paul finds it important to bring the Colossians to an understanding of the false teachings that they were bombarded with so that they continue to focus on the true teachings.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us Christians to have a thorough understanding of what spiritual circumcision is? What happens when we have no knowledge of it?
WATCH OUT FOR DECEPTION, HUMAN TRADITIONS AND EMPY PHILOSOPHIES! ILMA’S VLOG
February 27
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WATCH OUT FOR DECEPTION, HUMAN TRADITIONS AND EMPY PHILOSOPHIES!
8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. – Colossians 2:8
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In this passage, Paul addresses the issue of the heresies that the Colossians were surrounded with during the time Paul was writing this letter. Like a protective father, he was doing his best to guard his flock, those believers that were assigned to him by God Himself.
While Paul had probably passed through Colossae on his second missionary journey, he didn’t found the church at Colossae — directly. Rather, it was founded by Epaphras, whom Paul mentions in this letter. So, it may have been Epaphras who reported to Paul what was threatening the church in Colossae: heresies and deception. Dr. Ralph Wilson states in his introduction to the Colossians that the heresy have the following elements: a belief system that was hollow and deceptive, based on human traditions not godly ones, elemental spiritual forces underlying the system, not a Christ-centered teaching, ascetic disciplines are encouraged, Jewish food restrictions followed, angel worship, visionary experiences are flaunted, proud false teachers, rule-keeping, Christ is being maligned, Gnosticism and Stoicism are practiced. David Guzik comments that the Colossian heresy promoted itself as traditional. It could trace some or many of its ideas back to traditions among the Jews or the Greek philosophers or both. Paul here warned that the tradition of men has no equal authority to the word of God.
The letter of Paul emphasizes the importance of the Gentile believers in Colossae to be watchful of these heresies that they are being attacked with. He wants them to focus their eyes on the teaching of Christ so that they will not be easy prey for these heretics.
It is interesting to hear from Paul his concerns with the Colossian church. Aren’t our current churches being faced with the same heresies from the world system and other philosophies, cultural and political traditions that are not Christ-centered and are mostly false and deceptive? So many believers have been led astray by these people who claim that they are teaching the gospel of Christ, when they are actually just using the name of Jesus to propagate their heresies and create much chaos and corruption in our world? Many spiritual leaders themselves are the ones instigating all these heresies.
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REFLECTION
• What can a true believer do in order to bring back to light those who are misled?
BE ESTABLISHED IN YOUR FAITH ILMA’S VLOG
February 26
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BE ESTABLISHED IN YOUR FAITH
6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. – Colossians 2:6-7
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Paul presents to the Colossians their responsibilities and what is expected of them when they accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 6, he admonished them to walk in Him. In other words, since we are given a new life in Christ, we are expected to follow and go by His teachings and truth.
In the gospel of Luke, we are given the criteria for being a follower or disciple of Jesus such as:
• They must be able to give up all the things they love and make Jesus their priority
• They must be ready to give up their lives for the sake of Jesus’ purpose
• They must be able to suffer or carry their cross
• They must be able to count the cost of being a believer
Luke was a close friend of Paul, who referred to him as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Paul also refers to Luke as a “fellow laborer” (Philemon 1:24). Luke joined Paul in Troas in Asia Minor during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16:6–11). Luke was left in Philippi during the second missionary journey (Acts 17:1) and picked up again to travel with Paul in the third journey (Acts 20:5). Luke accompanied Paul on his journey to Jerusalem and Rome and was with him during his imprisonment there (2 Timothy 4:11). He was a disciple of Paul but the way he explains the cost of being a follower is probably what it means to “walk with Jesus.”
Paul emphasizes in this letter to be rooted in Christ, which means to constantly abide in Him, following all his teachings and living the same life Jesus led for all believers to follow. Luke gives us a parable of the ten lepers in his gospel which focuses on the importance of gratitude and Paul resounds the same words to the Colossians.
We know that the writers of the bible were all inspired by the Holy Spirit and used by God to bring truth about Christ. According to Jonathan Petersen on his article on “When was each book of the Bible Written?” The gospel of Luke and the Letter to the Colossians were written in the same time period between AD 60-62. Luke must have been discipled by Paul himself and so we see how in sync they were in their teachings about Christ.
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REFLECTION
• Can you say that you are established in your faith in Jesus? Why or why not?
FULLY CARRY OUT THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD
FEBRUARY 24
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FULLY CARRY OUT THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power which works mightily within me.
– Colossians 1:24-29
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In this letter, Paul shows the Colossians that he rejoices in his suffering for the sake of being able to fully fulfill his commission from God as a minister of the church. The world and unbelievers will never understand the importance of rejoicing in the midst of suffering. It is very hard to grasp the Spirit’s work when one does not believe in God. The world’s perspective regarding suffering is to avoid it whereas in God’s economy, we need to go through it so we can endure and mature spiritually. Without suffering, we will all be shallow and superficial. It is the pain that makes us endure and press on to God. Paul talks in verse 25 how he was commissioned by God to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God. He speaks about the honor that was given to him as God gave him this responsibility to reach out to the Gentiles, to bring them into the kingdom of light by preaching the true gospel. In verse 27, Paul explains to them the mystery of Christ revealed: that Jesus is the wealth that we possess when we accept Him in our hearts. That the mystery is that Jesus is in every believer and that there is hope that all believers will experience the same glory that Christ has. In verse 28, Paul says that we need to proclaim and preach the Good News of Christ’s act of sacrifice to bring us out of the kingdom of darkness into God’s light. He reminds us all believers of our responsibility to preach the word of God and fully carry out what Christ has begun. He started a good work in all of the believer’s heart. We are all expected to follow through with our assignment in the carrying out of preaching the word of God throughout the ends of the earth.
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REFLECTION
• How far have you obeyed this mandate to preach the Good News to all mankind?
THE AIM OF RECONCILIATION ILMA’S VLOG
February 22
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HE WHO RECONCILES ALL THING TO HIMSELF
18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. – Colossians 1:18-20
________________________________________In verse 18, Paul continues to explain to the Colossians that Christ is the head of the church. He points out some truths about the relationship between the church and Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. In other words, just like our head is the one that dictates the other parts of our body, the parts cannot function without the head. What the head says, the body follows. Jesus serves as the Master of the church. He heads it and has authority over it. Without Christ, the church is powerless. He is the Spirit that guides the church in order for it to live and function. Barclay comments that without Christ, the church cannot think the truth, cannot act correctly, cannot decide its direction. There are two things combined here. There is the idea of privilege. It is the privilege of the Church to be the instrument through which Christ works. There is the idea of warning. If a man neglects or abuses his body, he can make it unfit to be the servant of the great purposes of his mind; so, by undisciplined and careless living the Church can unfit herself to be the instrument of Christ, who is her head. Barclay comments further that Christ is the beginning of the Church. The world is the creation of Christ and the Church is the new creation of Christ. She is his new creation by water and the word. Jesus is also the beginning of resurrection and the first in everything. Barclay says that there are four great facts about Jesus Christ in his relationship to the Church, which now we can put in order. He is the living Lord; he is the source and origin of the Church; he is the constant director of the Church; and he is the Lord of all, by virtue of his victory over death.
Because of the sacrifice on the cross by Jesus, we are reconciled to God the Father and we are going to be able to have all that God promised those who abide in Christ and all those who are members of the body of Christ. What a great privilege it is and an honor to be a believer!
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REFLECTION
• Why is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross the only way to be reconcile to God?