Bible Study - Christ the Center - Center of My Church - Colossians 1 - February 12, 2012

Bible Study – Center – Center of My Church – February 12, 2012

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Christ The Center.”

Our scripture is Colossians 1: 24-2:7.

Is CHRIST the center of your life? Is HE the center of your church? Step one is CHRIST in you and for HIM to be the center of your life. You can control whether or not CHRIST is the center of your life but it is more difficult to control whether or not HE is the center of the leadership of your church. There is the brick and mortar church building, which is a meeting house. It is those who meet there that constitute the church body. Within that body is a mix of all sorts of people, most of who meet in order to grow and mature in CHRIST.

In the ideal church, CHRIST must be the center of everyone in the hierarchy of the church, which begins with the pastor and all its leaders, teachers, staff, born-again believers/members. Most often, tradition overrules the leadership of the Holy Spirit because to some members the church becomes their fiefdom (Sphere of activity that is controlled or dominated by a particular person or group.). The human hierarchy wants to control what happens within the church. Certain control is necessary and action taken to ensure that the Gospel is being taught as revealed in the Bible and followed.

Several years ago, our church conducted a survey based on a book entitled “Natural Church Development.” The idea is for the church to grow and mature through the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The survey is designed to highlight areas that need to be focused upon. Our pastor introduced me to the book. My first reaction was, “That is all we need, another program.” I finally read the book and found the concept interesting and worth pursing. Our church conducted the survey, got the results, which highlighted the areas that we needed to address, but it was never implemented. Therefore, I do not have any experience with how it might work once implemented. If you are interested you can contact dwetzler@churchsmart.com.

Let’s read Colossians 1:24-27:

Paul’s Ministry

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church.
²⁵ I have become its minister, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known,
²⁶ the • mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints.
²⁷ God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this • mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

What on earth was Paul saying? Did he mean that CHRIST’S passion was not sufficient for salvation? NO!!! CHRIST gave HIS life to pay the penalty for sin and all who would acknowledge that by asking CHRIST to forgive them for their sins and for HIM to come into their lives, receive salvation and all that comes with salvation – eternal life, being born into GOD’S family, citizenship in heaven, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and much more. So what was Paul saying?

CHRIST’S passion was complete; both sin and death were conquered. The proof was HIS resurrection. This was only the beginning process of GOD’S plan, which GOD kept a mystery for a purpose.

First Corinthians 2: 7-8 gives us some insight why GOD kept it secret until the right moment - -
⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
⁸ Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The cross was a mystery but more importantly the message of salvation had to be delivered to each person upon earth. That would be a daunting task. GOD’S plan was further revealed in John 14:26: (JESUS was speaking)

25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

CHRIST had to ascend back into heaven, sit at the right hand of The Father before The Father could send the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell those who accepted CHRIST as their Savior. The plan was for those who received CHRIST as their Savior to receive the Spirit of GOD and become HIS Children through the miracle of rebirth. They would be empowered, enlightened and sealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit and would be HIS witnesses throughout the world!!! Now that is a plan. The Holy Spirit would teach and empower all Christians – Acts 1:8 (JESUS is speaking) -
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends[2] Lit the end of the earth.”

CHRIST suffered, gave HIS life and was resurrected. Now Paul was carrying out GOD’S intended plan of establishing Christians groups, which we call churches, for the purpose of learning, teaching, growing, maturing and spreading the Gospel of CHRIST. He was carrying out GOD’S plan. He was suffering but rejoicing in his suffering because he knew the reality of GOD’S plan and his final destination was heaven to be with CHRIST and GOD for all eternity.

He was spreading the Good News of salvation through CHRIST, as he was led and empowered by the Holy Spirit and establishing the living church. He knew that the message of salvation was for all who would receive CHRIST as their Savior. This joyful suffering was not just reserved for Paul because every Christian is commissioned to take the message of salvation through CHRIST, to the world.

This does not mean that a Christian has to travel to distant lands because the world begins where ever a person is, at any given moment. It begins at home, work, school, gym, social life, traveling or any place where we are. There are special callings for some to go to specific places but GOD calls and issues the invitation to go. But all Christians are called to obediently serve HIM. Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We contain the living water that quenches the thirst of those seeking a new life in CHRIST. How do you know where to serve? Dr. Henry Blackaby put it best, “When you see GOD at work around you that is your invitation to adjust your life and to join HIM.” The essence of this statement can be found in the book entitled “Experiencing God, Knowing and Doing the Will of God” written by Dr. Henry T. Blackaby and Dr. Claude V. King and published by LifeWay Church Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 and available at LifeWay Stores. I recommend using the kit that contains DVD’S of Dr. Blackaby’s lectures along with the study.

Since the Israelites were GOD’S chosen and CHRIST being born a Jew, the revelations and prophesies given from GOD to the prophets regarding the coming Messiah, as recorded and kept in the Jewish scriptures, it would be easy to conclude that salvation was for the Jews. Paul was saying that he had been called to carry the message of salvation to all peoples, especially the Gentiles. Jews, as well as, Gentiles or anyone that acknowledged CHRIST as his/her Savior would receive salvation and become a living stone in the body of true believers, the living church. Yes, there is the physical structure called the church but the true church is made up of those truly born-again in their Spirit by the Spirit of GOD.

Paul had been called by GOD to take the message of salvation through CHRIST, to the Gentiles. This was GOD’S plan all along but it was hidden. Now it has been revealed to all who would accept CHRIST as his/her Savior. When a person receives salvation he/she in turn is to share the message of Salvation with anyone, as led by the Holy Spirit, regardless of nationality, race, color, gender, etc.

The great mystery was and is “CHRIST in you, the hope of glory!” As we have studied, it is CHRIST in you that made you a Christian. Salvation is nothing more and nothing less than, “CHRIST in you the hope of glory!!!” Christians do not have to say to a person seeking CHRIST, “Go over to this place or to that place or do so-and-so and you will find CHRIST.” No!!! Christians have the living, resurrected CHRIST dwelling in them. Christians have the light and are the light. That is GOD’S plan. Let others see CHRIST in you. It is an awesome responsibility but it is GOD’S plan.

Consider that GOD’S Spirit is the sperm and your spirit is the egg. Once you ask CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life, GOD’S Spirit, the divine Sperm, unites with your spirit the egg, and a miracle takes place in an instant. You are born-again in your Spirit. Just as the union of the sperm and the egg came together which created you can never be undone, the same is true when GOD’S Spirit unites with your spirit. The miracle of rebirth is a mystery and once you have been born-again in your spirit, the fact that you are GOD’S child will never change. Oh, Christians can disappoint GOD and fail to be obedient to HIS call and HIS desire for them to grow and mature Spiritually but the fact is those truly born of HIS Spirit will never lose their salvation.

Paul had a great desire and zeal to let ever person he came in contact with to know JESUS CHRIST as his/her Savior. You can read the enthusiasm in the words that he wrote. CHRIST in you confirms the fact that you are GOD’S child. Romans 8:16 - 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

Remember 1 Corinthians 3:11-16:

11 because no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid—that is, Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,
13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day[4] The Day of Christ’s judgment of believers will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.
14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.[5] Lit yet so as through fire
16 Don’t you know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
17 If anyone ruins God’s sanctuary, God will ruin him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

Let’s read Colossians 1:28-2:3:

28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
29 I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.
2 [I want]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding, and have the knowledge of God’s • mystery—Christ.[1] Other mss read mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ; other ms variations exist on this v.
3 In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

It is clear Paul knew CHRIST intimately and it was his heart’s desire for Christians to know CHRIST, grow in HIM and be Spiritually mature. CHRIST is the center of all things. HE is preeminent and when this fact consumes your being, then nothing matters except obediently serving HIM. HE is the center and embodiment of all wisdom.

Paul’s desire was for the unity of all Christians. Unity results in the strongest Christian bonds – encouragement and love for one another. Unity in the Holy Spirit provides an environment which mines the Spiritual riches of assured understanding and knowledge of GOD’S mystery, which is discovering the fullness and sufficiency of CHRIST. The treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden in CHRIST. Do you desire wisdom and knowledge? Then commit your life to CHRIST and let the indwelling Holy Spirit teach you.

Although Paul had never been to Colosse or Laodicea, he had a heart for the Christians there. When we know CHRIST as the truth, it is our desire for all to know HIM and our hearts are bonded to those who are called to serve HIM whether we have ever met them or not. Christians are brothers and sisters in CHRIST because GOD is their Father.

Let’s read Colossians 2:4-7:

Christ versus the Colossian Heresy

⁴ I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.
⁵ For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the strength of your faith in Christ.
⁶ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, • walk in Him,
⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Paul wanted the Christians in Colosse to remain firmly rooted in the truth of the Gospel. The church had been infiltrated with those who wanted to add to the Gospel. CHRIST is sufficient for the salvation of all who would believe in HIM. Paul did not want them to be led astray by deceptive words of human logic.

Paul was physically in prison but he was with them in spirit and his desire was for them to have an intimate loving relationship with CHRIST. In essence he was saying, you have received CHRIST now put into action what you know by walking with complete trust and confidence that you are serving the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Walking carries the idea of lifestyle. When a Christian knows who CHRIST is and the power HE has, then serving HIM with complete trust and confidence is a given truth.

Paul referred to being rooted and building upon the foundation of CHRIST and what they had been taught. The roots of thriving plants need to have their roots extending to the water for nourishment. When plants are nourished, they grow. Christians need to have their Spiritual roots extending to the living water of CHRIST and then, as they are led by the Holy Spirit, they build upon the foundation of CHRIST, which is CHRIST in you, the hope of glory. Being rooted in CHRIST, results in a lifestyle that depends upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit. A lifestyle dependent upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit results in building the right relationship with CHRIST.

In pondering what I think Paul was trying to convey to fellow Christians was the fullness of CHRIST that he had discovered during his walk with CHRIST. It is much like you trying to tell someone about the most exhilarating thing you have ever witnessed or experienced in your life – a sunrise, a sunset, a scene in nature, a song, a painting, a poem, a mother’s love, a father’s love, a child’s love, a new born baby, music and the list goes on. Now, try to tell someone about that experience. Mere words fall short of all that you experienced. Walking with CHRIST, building trust in HIM, gaining confidence in HIM and experiencing HIS presence in you is impossible to put into words because it embraces so many emotions and assurances of HIS reality. It is a Spiritual experience and becomes reality in the eyes of your heart, which is deep within you as a born-again believer. You have to experience it to understand it. CHRIST in you, the hope of glory.

Embrace this reality by asking HIM to take you as you are and to make out of you what HE wants you to be. Blessings and joy as you walk with HIM as your Savior building a loving, intimate relationship with HIM.