The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Colossians

  • Lesson 10: Keeping Christ as the Head: Colossians

    Key Verse

    Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

    —Colossians 3:2

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. Use the following definitions to help you understand this verse a little better.

    • Set your affection on means “the action as being accomplished – as in to have a mindset, be minded; involves the will, affections, and conscience. To think, or sense mentally; to be mindful of, or to be devoted to.”
    • Earth means “earthly things or pertaining to this life.”

    In this lesson, we will learn that Paul taught Christians how to keep Christ as the Head of the church, by keeping their head, their mind, on Christ.

    Emphasis: Christians must learn the importance of keeping Christ as the Head of the church by keeping the heart and mind off of the things of the world, instead placing them upon heavenly things by putting on the new man.

    Lesson Summary: In the letters of Paul we have studied so far, we have understood the teaching of doctrine (Romans), reproof for failure to live right (1 and 2 Corinthians), correction, rectifying wrong doctrine that had permeated the church (Galatians), Paul revealed deeper doctrinal truths intended for growing Christians (Ephesians), and last week Paul wrote to rectify a potential problem, reproof for wrong living (Philippians). In this lesson, we continue as Paul writes correction to rectify wrong doctrine in Colosse.

    Paul wrote Ephesians to teach that Christ is the Head, and the church is the body of Christ (see Ephesians 1:22-23). He then wrote to the Philippians to come together with one mind when there were divisions in the body of Christ, the church (see Philippians 1:27). Paul also found it necessary to write to Colosse after he heard of error being taught in the church, causing them to forsake Jesus as the Head of the Church (see Colossians 2:19). Instead, false teachers were changing the simple Gospel of Jesus into a quest for philosophy after the ways of the world instead of the things of Christ. Christians are to set their affections on things above, not things on the earth (see Colossians 3:2). This book was written to fight against the error being taught.

    In Colossians, Paul first encouraged them to walk worthy, reminding them of what Jesus had done for each and every Christian. This was foundational in being able to be grounded, not falling for false teaching. He then proceeded to correct the false doctrines that were being taught. The people of Colosse believed in worldly teaching, philosophies that were deceiving and misleading God’s people. Paul taught that Christians must “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2, this lesson’s Key Verse). He gave them a detailed list of things Christians must put to death and eliminate from their lives. After which Paul gave a list of things the Christian must put on in their new life in order to live a more Christ-like life. He then encouraged them to continue in prayer, enabling them to walk and talk as a Christian must in this world.

    Y3Q3 – Lesson 10 Questions

    Y3Q3 – Lesson 10 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to younger children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember this lesson:

    We traced our footprints, cut them out, and glued them to a piece of construction paper. We added the verse from Colossians 1:10 to remind us the importance of walking worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him with all that we do, and learning more about Him.

    The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Three is now available through Amazon.

  • Have You Been a Faithful Witness?

    “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”
    Colossians 1:16

    In Colossians 1:16 we read that God created everything, and it was created for Him. It is important to understand that God created us for a purpose. God created man to have a relationship with Him. After He created Adam and Eve, God walked with them in the garden until they disobeyed His Word, and sin entered into the world.

    After understanding that God created us to have a relationship with Him, we look at the Bible from beginning to end. Firstly, we will take a bird’s eye view over all of history to see that God dealt with man in different ways through the ages. The Bible is laid out in certain timeframes, also called “dispensations.” A dispensation is basically a means by which God deals with mankind throughout the ages because of sin and employing God’s divine government. Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment, marking man’s utter failure in every dispensation. God dealt with His creation in different ways at different times. God created the world as perfect, but when man sinned, he brought the judgment of death into the world. Throughout the ages, God gave individuals many opportunities to have a relationship with Him, but each time they failed. They had to understand that the only way this relationship could ever be restored would be by the atoning death of His Son, Jesus. It is with this understanding that we look at the scriptures as a whole.

    The seven dispensations allow us to see how God worked among the people throughout the years. What began as a face-to-face relationship with God (remember Adam and Eve in the garden) quickly turned to a sinful people unable to approach God. But God, through His grace and mercy, promised to make available to man the opportunity to once again have a relationship with Him. We learn how man fell and was punished, and then how all of mankind was only evil continually, so that God destroyed all but one family. God then gave the governing responsibilities to mankind, and they blew it again, causing God to confuse their language. When God selected a family, they ended up in bondage and needed God to deliver them from Pharaoh. Yet when God laid the Promised Land out in front of them, they were afraid to go. Once they entered the land, they forsook God and needed judges to deliver them from the judgment God sent.

    They then believed they needed a king “like the nations around” to rule them, once again rejecting God and His plan. This kingdom ended with the people in captivity because they did not heed the prophets God sent to warn them. When God allowed them to return to their land, there was great sadness, for they were not the great nation God had intended for them to be. When God sent His Son, Jesus, the fulfillment of the promise was given, if only one would believe. Jesus did many works to reveal God to the people and then laid down His life for our sins. He restored that broken relationship that nothing else through the centuries could do. When Jesus rose from the grave, He sent His disciples to tell the world, allowing His apostles to do mighty works to help establish the church.

    Although the time of the mighty works has passed, today God still uses His people to witness to a lost and dying world. A faithful witness will tell them that the only way to have a relationship with God is through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus.  

    Have you been a faithful witness?

    First published at: http://lighthouse.pub/blog/2020/03/06/have-you-been-a-faithful-witness/?src=n