Colossians 1:21- 2:3
“21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. 24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfec] in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. 2 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Have you ever asked the question what is God’s plan for my life? Paul moves from Praise, Prayer, and Preeminence and now to God’s Plan. He starts with our Past, we were alienated, arrogant and antagonistic. Then he moves to our Present reconciled through Death and redeemed through deliverance. Now he talks about our purpose.
Colossians 1:24-2:5 answers the question, “Now that Jesus is supreme in my life, what is my purpose as a believer?”
- STAND vs 22-23 – The AUTHOR of your life
The plan here is for you to Stand firm in the faith, what are you standing on, the finished work of the Savior “you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” Paul is saying that we start with salvation, the finished work of the Savior, but we continue to stand in the finished work of the Savior. Paul is telling the Colossians (and us) this is reality Now –Accept it… Believe it… Live like it. Don’t let anybody rob you of your faith and your hope by getting you to accept the lie that your salvation has to somehow be earned. If Jesus’ death on the cross for you isn’t enough for you then nothing will be. Paul is not talking about losing your Salvation here as some believe. The problem with that is they are saying we are saved by the Savior and then sustained by self. Paul is saying that the Purpose of life starts and is sustained by the Author of your life. The town of Colosse was located in a region known for earthquakes, that would dislodge and move homes. No matter how well they were built what they rested on had to be solid. Paul reminds us that in order to stand firm we need a solid foundation, the Good News Gods Word. We have to stand on the truth and when we drift away we drown. When Adam and Eve started to question God’s spoken Word they drifted away. Its not name it and claim it but God said it so I believe it.
Moments in the life of a Pastor 