I'm Following Jesus – Page 1602 – Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Sunday, December 15, 2019
Chapters: The Books of Colossians & Philemon
Message: Saved By Grace Not Mans Rules

Hello My Friend,

I was sitting in a memorial service it occurred to me that as Christians many strive so hard to be accepted by what man expects them to be that they often run from rather than to Jesus. Life is so precious, so fast, and so hard sometimes, did it ever occur to anyone who are so judgmental of those who have fallen from grace that that is their judgment? Some will learn, and repent of their sin before they go home, but many will struggle until the day God decides they will no longer be a threat to themselves and takes them home. “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” – Revelation 2:5.

The Book of Colossians was written by Paul in approximately 64 AD, when he was imprisoned in Rome. The epistle (letter) was written to the church of Colosse, who were instructed to share it with other churches. The purpose of the letter was to address doctrinal issues within the church. What we are to learn from the book is that Christ, who is the Head of the Church, and God in the flesh, is the only hope of man’s redemption, in whom we are complete. When Paul got word of the Colossians and their faith in Christ he was ecstatic, but some false doctrine was being used, he cautions them against the devices of judaizing teachers, carnal wisdom, human inventions, and traditions being brought in, as these were not consistent with the full assurance on Christ. He begins his letter by reminding them, and all of us, that all things were created by and for Christ.

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” – Colossians 1:16-23.

“by him to reconcile all things unto himself;” Who better to redeem fallen man that God Himself coming in the flesh? Think about it, God made hell for Satan and his minions, he never intended it to be for man, and even when man fell from grace, He did not want one soul to end up in hell. Why did it take God four thousand years to come in the flesh? It was all in His time, everything that took place before Christ, the tabernacle, the temple, the sacrifices, the altar, and all the items from the tables to the candlesticks, were a foreshadow of Christ redeeming reconciling man with God once and for all, should they choose to believe in Him. As Paul continues, He reminds us of this, and warns us not to get caught up in doctrines brought on by man.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?” – Colossians 2:8-10,12-14,16-17,20-22.

“are ye subject to ordinances,”Saved, born again Christians are not subject to harsh laws that even God would never suggest. Lighten up people, stop telling people what they can and cannot wear, eat, watch, listen to, since the Holy Spirit lives in them too, if they are doing something questionable, He will tell them. We all sin and come short of the glory of God, therefore, each and everyone of us are saved by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by the works of man. We have no idea what people are dealing with, and what they are struggling with, so, stop forcing them to live the life you want them to live, and let them follow what God wants them to do. If they mess up, let them handle it, and if they ask you for help, then be there with open arms in the way that Jesus would. Now, with that said, since we are saved by grace, being dead to sin, we ought to do whatever we can to remove sin from our lives. The excuse that the devil made me do it, or that my flesh is weak, or even that my salvation gives me an exemption, can only go so far before God calls us on it. As Paul continues his letter, he reminds them, and all of us, that since we are saved by grace, we are so much better than that, and we should not be using our salvation as means to satisfy every lust of the flesh.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” – Colossians 3:1-7,23-25.

“and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Being dead to sin means that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour we are no longer walking, talking corpses, we are living souls, made alive through Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are not subject to ceremonial law, that does not mean we are take that for granted. Let me tell you, when life happens, it tends to put God on the back burner, and we lose sight of what Christ did for us. Do you realize the state you were in before you knew Christ as your Saviour? I sure do mine, and I never want to go back where I was. Jesus fills in the holes and cracks that sin broke us with, He took all that stuff to the cross with Him, never to be remembered by God again. Of course, we are going to suffer in the body for the consequences of our actions until we confess and repent of them, but that is what His grace is for, to help us conquer and overcome every sin. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” – Hebrews 12:1.

“and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” We all have our own race to run, therefore, what He has for me is not the same as He has for you. It is like a person who goes on a specific diet and loses a lot of weight, expecting that everyone else will get the same result. Everybody’s body is different, so instead of trying to make a person fit in your image of what you expect them to be, let them fit into the image that God called them to be. As Paul concludes his letter, He reminds us all that we serve the same God.

“Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.” – Colossians 4:1-9.

“With Onesimus,” While Paul wrote these letters in prison and identifies himself as a prisoner of Christ, he never wondered where God was through all the pain and suffering. In the Book of Philemon, Paul speaks of Onesimus also, he was actually a slave of Philemon’s who had robbed his master and fled to Rome where he met Paul and converted. Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter as a testimony on his faith.

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?” – Philemon 1:10-16.

“Not now as a servant, but above a servant,” Before we got saved we were unprofitable, servants to the world, and imprisoned in our sin. Jesus set us free when we received Him as our Saviour, therefore, we are no longer unprofitable servants, rather brothers and sisters united with Jesus. Praise God! We are not slaves to sin, we are above that, in fact, we are more than conquerors, we are victors in Christ. “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:36-39.

Today’s Prayer: God, In the midst of all my struggles, failures, and doubts I remain confident that You will complete the work You began in me. You accepted me as I was, and since then You lovingly began reshaping my life into an image of Your Son. Not only are You continuing the good work You began, but You are perfecting those things that weaken my faith and my testimony. I thank You that You will fulfill Your purpose in me, no matter what people believe, and I thank You for Your grace that abounds so much. Lord, lead me and guide me, teach me, and show me how to be more than a conqueror by my faith and faithfulness to You. Let me not get caught up in ordinances to please man, rather live to please You, and fill me with Your wisdom so that I can be ready to answer those who are trying to discourage me. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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