Colossians 2:13-15 (part 2)

Nothing is better then being made alive in Christ! The most awesome thing about being made alive in Christ is the fact that ALL of our sins are forgiven. Let me repeat that in case you missed it...ALL...yes, I said ALL our sins are forgiven. Did I mention that ALL our sins are forgiven. Well what had to take place for Christ to take away all of our sins?

First of all, if Christ is not fully God and fully man all in the same body then it was not possible that Jesus could take all of our sins. We have been made complete and full (fully forgiven) in Christ because he was able to be to propitiation of our sins. He would have not had the authority to do this otherwise. Without Jesus being fully God and fully man, our sins would still be a mill stone slung around our necks.

Second, Christ had to be willing to take on a criminals torture in order to nail our sin record or "certificate of debt" to the cross. In bible times, a certificate of debt was an official document written in a debtors handwriting that they used to acknowledge their debt to the indebted. Christ on the cross acknowledge this document and then canceled the debt by "taking it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross".

To sum up the points: Christ had the Godly authority as well as perfect human existence to qualify as a sacrifice that would allow our sin record to be canceled.

On top of all of this, Christ not only forgave ALL of our sins (which is more then enough) he also disarmed all other "demonic powers" that may utilize false power of us. I love how Colossians 2:15 says "He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them." In modern day terms, Jesus slapped 'em all in the face and showed He was da man!

Now that ALL of our sins are forgiven and ALL powers have been triumphed over, what do I need to do now? Well, being free from legalistic powers and the shame and burden of my sin records frees me live a life used to glorify God. I can now access the power of the Holy Spirit to move towards the fruits of the spirits. I can work to be sanctified (made more like Christ). I have no more hoops to jump through, I have only a God to glorify!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for canceling my debt. Thank you for being willing to take on human form to come and be the sacrifice that I could not be for myself. Neither my sins nor false rulers and authorities have power over me. Holy Spirit, reveal to me the sins that I hold so dear and guide me towards your glorification. Since I am no longer a slave to sin, let me be a bond slave to God!

Colossians 2:13-15 (part 1)

Can a non-believer truly understand the saving power of what went on when Jesus died on the cross without confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and humbily repenting from their sins? In verse 13, When you were dead, shows right there that there is NO life without the saving power of Jesus Christ. Here it just shows that even though I am living, I am dead in my "tresspasses and sin". I could even say that even though I am living, I am in a never ending downward spiral of bottomless and unfulfilling self-fulfillment. This downward spiral of bottomless and unfulfilling self-fulfillment is why my commentary on these verses says that this word "dead" does not mean annimilation from this earth, rather it means spiritual seperation from God. There is no possible way for you to be serving two "spiritual" masters as it refers to in the gospels. Either you are serve and glorify yourself or you are striving to serve and glorify God, you canNOT have both: the actions are too contrary.

Well, since we are dead, seperated, selfish, unable to glorify God on our own accord then we basically come to a very quick conclusion that we have no chance. However, we a so quick to miss the the tense of the pharse. PAST TENSE! When we are talking about death and suffering and eternal damnation, I am so glad I realized that this death (seperation from God) is now in the past. The next phrase after "when you were dead" seems to be contridictory and only possible after a lengthy explanation of why. You used to be dead, but he made you ALIVE.

In my eyes, these two very simple phrases are the things that drive men mad. How can I go from seperation, spititual annihilation, self-glorification to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness etc. and only have it seperated by a comma? How can it be that someone I hated through my selfish actions, I now long to give glory to through my actions? How can I now be alive and inherit the crown of life, an eternal life of glory, and not have done any physical action to earn it other then confession and belief? It blows me away that the same power that Christ used to be risen from the dead in order to be made alive is the same power that can take a spiritually dead, sinning man (just like me) and ressurect his life in order to make him spritually alive.

So, can a non-believer truly understand the saving power of what went on when Jesus died on the cross without confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and humbily repenting from their sins? Well first the non-believer must begin to understand the death that has them intangled. We must first see our death, in order to accept the life that is freely given to us.

Prayer:
Your power is unbelievable at times. I just don't see how such a great God would ever let me into heaven. However, the best thing is: you don't just want to let me into heaven, you are longing to have a relationship with me. You want to be my daddy. You not only want me to give you glory, but you are more then willing to give me power that is greater then any earthly power. I just don't get it, but I am thankful and humbled and forever indebted to you. I will strive to live my life to glorify you!

First Crossfit Workout

Rachel

5 pull-ups
20 squats
10 sit-ups
in 9:36


Chris

10 pull-ups
10 dips
35 squats
15 sit-ups
in 13:49

Met a goal

I met the goal of running 3.1 miles in under 24 minutes. I'm pretty pumped!

Psalm 32 message

Lord humble my heart to your spirit. I have prepared for this message, and mulled over this message, and thought about these verses for years, but that means nothing if you want me to do something else. I want to be sensitive to your call and your leading. Take this message and make it yours. Take me out of the way, and speak to the youth in a way only Your spirit can accomplish. I pray for the students that are at the end of their leash, striving as hard as they can to accomplish their own plans. I pray for myself. Lord show me where I am. I want to be where you want me, not forging ahead, but following behind you! Speak to my heart as you speak to those students hearts!

Chris

contentment?

Over the last five weeks in youth Sunday school we have been studying a series of messages titled "Stepping Out". The premise of the messages was obedience. The two that stuck out the most were last weeks lesson on Paul while writing 2 Timothy and this past Sunday's lesson on Jonah.

Both men were called to serve God in very similar ways...they were to preach the name of God to the pagan nations. Both Jonah and Paul had very similar out comes in the end...many many many people were converted and began glorifying God. However their means were very different.

Jonah was of course called to Nineveh (which is in Turkey - the far east of the Mediterranean Sea), while Paul was called to go back to Jerusalem. Jonah refused to go to the pagan city and went to Tarshish instead (which is in Spain - the far west of the Mediterranean). We all know how the story ends up. Jonah is swallowed up by a big fish, vomited out three days later, begrudgingly goes to Nineveh, preaches the word, hundreds of thousands are turned back to God, he wants God to destroy the city, he pouts, he whines, and he cries, and he doesn't get his way. Jonah's lack of obedience causes lots of problems for him, however one very huge side effect that i noticed yesterday blew me away.

Paul on the other hand, was begged by his close friends not to return to Jerusalem. His friends, and even Paul, knew that his return to Jerusalem would mean certain death. Paul, despite the warnings and pleas, was obedient to God's call and went to Jerusalem. He was captured, jailed, and later executed. While in the prison Paul penned 2 Timothy. A letter with a very interesting twist that stuck out to me yesterday.

Paul and Jonah had decisions to make, they could be obedient or disobedient. A very interesting outcome to obedience is contentment. Paul's letter to Timothy is a peaceful writing that reflects on a life well lived. Paul, in the face of death, is satisfied with his outcome. Shortly after writing the letter, Paul is beheaded and turned up-side-down to allow all the blood to run out of his body. Yet he is peaceful knowing that he has "fought the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith". Whereas Jonah...Jonah was just pissed off and not happy about anything.

I know this sounds like common sense, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. If I am experiencing lack of contentment then maybe I am practicing disobedience...just a thought!

Deny yourself...

Matthew 16:24 says very matter of fact "if anyone one wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." Lord, I'm stuck on the deny yourself part. I'm so let down, so turned off, so hurt by some of my most respected colleagues. Their recent actions are more like immature children rather then dignified, educated and professional adults. Fortunately, you did not give me the ability to control the actions of others. As much as I want to go shake them or tongue lash them or wreck shop on them, you have called me to deny myself. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? Lord, use this time in my life as a teachable moment. Let me not slide through this time leaning towards selfish ambition. You have created me for a purpose, a purpose that is far above anything that I can fashion for myself. I must act submissively towards you and others in authority. I must follow you towards the goal in which you have set out for me. I must do this in a way that draws glory and honor and praise and worship to you. Teach me to encourage and put others before me!

I love you Lord!

Chris