In HIM: All Things Hold Together

                                              IN HIM: All Things Hold Together 

When we follow the domestic and global news, one cannot help but feel as if our world as we know it is falling apart at the seams. We would like to know if there is anyone who could repair the world's broken systems and hold them together so that we can live in relative peace and security. It has been challenging for Christians everywhere, especially those living in a pluralistic and secular society, to hold on to our Faith in God, particularly in Jesus and His redemptive work.

These challenges are not new; Christians of past generations have faced them as well. How did they handle those heretical views about Christ? We will ask the Colossian Christians, in particular, as they faced the heresy of denying Christ’s divinity, which threatened their Church in Colossae. They must have been blessed to have had the Apostle Paul on their side, who combated this damning heresy with a strong defense of Christ's divinity. In our 'In Him' series, we will explore how All Things Hold Together In Christ. Colossians 1:15-23.

Let us address two complex concepts in Col 1:15, "The Son is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." First, Jesus Christ is presented as the image of the invisible God. The Greek word "eikon," translated as "image," refers to that which resembles an object and represents it. Eikon always assumes a prototype, not merely what it resembles, but from which it is drawn. For instance, the reflection of the sun in the water is called by Plato Eikon.

 Paul's teaching here is that there was not a mere coincidental resemblance between Jesus Christ and his Father, but they were eternally related to one another. The One was the reflection of the Other, who was real and not merely the figment of our imagination. This is even though God is invisible. That which is invisible, nevertheless, can be and is real. John 1:18, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." In other words, seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing God.

The second Word, 'firstborn,' is used twice in Col. 1:15 and 18. What it means here is that Christ holds the same relation to all creation as God the Father, and He is above all creation. It does not mean that He is part of the creation made by God, but that the relation of the whole creation to Him was determined by the fact that He is the cause of the creation of all things, and without Him, there could be no creation. Let's see how this concept is clarified in verse sixteen.

I. The Supremacy Of Jesus Christ

            Have you ever wondered how everything began—the universe with its vast number of galaxies and stars within them, the beautiful Earth with all its wonders and intricacies, and, above all, human life that lives and enjoys these lovely things? When you ask such a question, we will hear several arguments from scientists, evolutionists, biologists, philosophers, and religious leaders. As a shepherd, I approach the question of how it all began from the Scriptures.

Colossians 1:16, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." To find out who this Him was, we will read John 1:1-5,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

 

 

John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Word that once was with God and was God in the beginning, at the right time, was incarnated in the world in human form. We call Him Jesus Christ, our Lord. He was the one who created all that we see and don't see: plants, animals, oceanic life, the cosmic wonders, and humans.

The Apostle Paul debunked the heretical teaching that Christ was not God but a created being by affirming that all things have been created through Jesus and for Jesus. He went one step further by including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities, which are various categories of angelic beings that were also created by Jesus and for Jesus.

In his letter to the Ephesians Church, Paul prays that the believers would be enlightened. And they might experience "the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:20-23.

Through both these letters, Paul silenced the heretics and skeptics by placing Jesus in the highest place over everything. Thereby, he established once and for all that Jesus is the only supreme God. No one would be a match for Him, for He has all the power and authority.

If everything has been created by Jesus and for Jesus, how about you and I? We, too, have been fearfully and wonderfully created by God, and we are made for Him. The Psalmist sums up the response of creation and all its creatures to their Creator. Psalm 148:1-14.

"Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command, they were created, and he established them forever. He issued a decree that will never pass away. Kings of the Earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on Earth, young men and women, older men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;  his splendor is above the Earth and the heavens." Let's examine another bold proclamation by Paul.

II In Him: All Things Hold Together

Colossians 1:17-18, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." These scriptures indicate that Jesus, the Supreme God, is not only the Creator of everything but also the sustainer of everything. 

When we feel overwhelmed, thinking that the whole world, including our personal world, is falling apart, let us take heart. Jesus, the one who spoke and everything came into existence, knows how to hold things together until He comes back and establishes His eternal Kingdom.

Jesus is the head of the Church, His body on the Earth. We are members of his body. When Jesus is the center of our lives, we are together. When we move away, we will fall apart. Jesus is committed to making us holy and presenting us to the Father without any blemish.

That is the good news. We have heard it and responded to it by placing our trust in Him.

            At times, we may not understand why we go through difficult times, but during such times, let's trust Him to know that He will hold all things together in our lives. I have been a Christian for over forty years. All these years, Jesus has never failed me; I have failed Him several times. But as he promised, when we are faithless, He remains faithful to us.

How does this truth in Him, that all things hold together, impact our daily living? Believers in Christ can hold onto this truth and remain calm and trusting while facing the turbulence and storms of life, knowing that Jesus holds all things concerning our lives together.

When the world all around us is spinning out of control, God's peace will rule our hearts because we belong to the Prince of Peace and His everlasting Kingdom. How is your life today? Is it falling apart at the edges? Are you afraid of your future and the future of your children? Run to Jesus, who holds all things together in the present and all the days of our lives.

 

 

 

In Him : The Greatest Rescue

                                               IN HIM: The Greatest Rescue

On July 4, 1976, the day the US celebrated its 200th birthday, an Israeli expatriate took a phone call that would change his life. A student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he went by the name Ben Nitay, an Americanized version of his original name. On the phone was his younger brother, calling with grave news. It concerned their older brother Yonatan, or Yoni. At 30 years old, ruggedly handsome and newly installed as the head of Israel's elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, Yoni, in the early hours of that day, led a raid to rescue more than 100 Israeli hostages held at Entebbe, Uganda.

The rescue mission had been astonishing, and the hostages were free. The leader on the ground, Yoni, had been killed in action. Their brother was dead. Ben Nitay, born Binyamin Netanyahu, drove seven hours to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where his father taught. The 26-year-old was determined to break the news to his parents himself. "I could see my father pacing back and forth. And all of a sudden, he turned his head and saw me. He looked surprised but immediately understood and let out a sharp cry.

The family flew in virtual silence from the US to Israel for the funeral of the son and brother who had already been garlanded as a military hero and was now about to enter the national mythology. The Netanyahu name would take its place in the Israeli pantheon and, in the process, open up a path that would take young Binyamin to the top of Israeli politics."[1] Over two thousand years ago, another son and brother, a young Jewish man of 33, offered his life to pull off the Greatest Rescue in human history. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, writes about how that recuse mission was unfolded. In Him: The Greatest Rescue. Colossians 1:9-14

We continue our "In Him" series from the book of Colossians, exploring the incredible spiritual blessings found in Christ for all who believe in Him. Today, we will learn about The Greatest Rescue Mission in Christ and how that impacts our daily Christian life.

To understand the gravity of the rescue mission and appreciate its benefits, we must consider the perilous place we once lived in and the safety we will enjoy eternally.

Colossians 1:13-14, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." NIV. NASB reads, "For He rescued us from the domain (authority) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of  His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

These verses inform us that God conducted a significant rescue operation at some point, delivering people from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. The NLT reads, "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son." This translation suggests that there are two kingdoms—one of Satan's and the other of God's. God is the only King we have with an enduring Kingdom. All Satan has a dominion, or "power and authority." Let's examine the dominion of darkness and its influence.

 

I. The Dominion of Darkness

During my preaching, you have likely heard me discuss God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Satan repeatedly. But did you know that a lot of Churches and Christians reject the reality of Satan?

Barna Group research in 2008 notes, "Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil."[2] In the 1995 film Usual Suspects, Kevin Spacey says, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," Why this confusion? What does the Bible say about Satan? Let's explore.

Consider the following scriptures that explain the origin and fall of Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15 indicates Satan was created as a holy angel. Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes Satan as having been made a cherub, apparently the highest created angel. He became arrogant in his beauty and status, wanting to sit on a throne above God (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15).

How did Satan fall from his high position? It was Satan's pride that led to his fall. Notice the many "I will" statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Because of his sin, God permanently removed Satan from his exalted position and role. Though he was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does to gain the worship of the world and encourage opposition to God's Kingdom. Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult, world religion, and system. He will do anything to oppose God and those who follow Him.

Satan wages war against God and God’s people in the spiritual realm. This is how Paul describes this Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Satan influences the systems and governments of the world through his evil agenda to commit evil against God and people.

He will have dominion or power over the disobedient at an individual level. Eph 2:1-2, “And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Under his control, people commit sins by engaging in acts of darkness. (Rom 13:12-13). All of us once were disobedient to God and walked in darkness (John 12:35), not knowing where we were going. We were all subjected to the wrath of God and were in danger of eternal destruction. Who would deliver us from the domain of darkness? God, being rich in mercy, conducted the greatest rescue because of his great love for us. Eph 2:4.

 

II. In Him: The Greatest Rescue

Colossians 1:13, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.” This is the greatest rescue operation that God ever conducted to deliver people from the power and authority of Satan. This rescue did not happen without bloodshed. It took the life of God’s only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. Through his blood, he paid the penalty for our sins. Gal 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

Paul never wants believers to forget who was behind this greatest rescue, saying, “In Christ, we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.” Where are we transferred to once we are rescued from the dominion of darkness? Into the Kingdom of Light, of God’s beloved Son.

 

III. The Kingdom of God's beloved Son

Vs. 13, “For he has rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves.” This is where all the believers in Christ live today, while we are still alive in this world. When we die, we will live in His eternal Kingdom when he establishes it on the second return of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Jesus becomes our true King, and we become the citizens of His enduring Kingdom. What is God’s Kingdom like? It reflects its King.

It is the Kingdom of Light, where no darkness or evil will exist. It is the Kingdom of Love, where there is no fear and hatred. It is the Kingdom of righteousness and justice, and injustice has no place. It is the Kingdom of Peace; unrest and anxiety will not exist.

It is the Kingdom of Joy, where sadness and sorrow will flee. It is the Kingdom of eternal life and health. Sickness and death are dealt with once and for all. That is the kind of Kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray when he said, “Let Your Kingdom Come.” That is the Kingdom Jesus preached about and commissioned us to preach. Matthew 24:14. As the citizens of God’s loving Kingdom, let us enjoy its benefits now. However, as heavenly citizens,  let us work hard to lead as many people as possible to believe in our eternal King, Jesus Christ.

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[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/25/entebbe-raid-40-years-on-israel-palestine-binyamin-netanyahu-jonathan-freedland

[2] https://www.barna.com/research/most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exist/

In HIM: True Knowledge & Wisdom

                                         IN HIM: True Knowledge & Wisdom

Take this simple true or false quiz. 1. "Prayer is more important than mowing your widowed grandmother's lawn. 2. Sharing the gospel is more important than taking a meal to a new mother and father just home from the hospital. 3. Doing "sacred" work, such as preaching or being a missionary, is more important than "secular" work, such as accounting or being a lawyer.

If you answered "true" to any of these questions, you've been deceived by the ancient heresy of Gnosticism." We will see how so.[1] In our "In Him" series, we have been learning about the incredible spiritual riches found in Christ in the book of Colossians. So far, we have learned that in Christ we belong to God and His family of brothers and sisters, both locally and globally.

One of the spiritual benefits of belonging to God's family is that we can be protected against heretical teachings that derail our Christian Faith. In our passage today, the apostle Paul tackled a heretical teaching called Gnosticism that plagued the Church in Colosse by pointing them to Christ, in whom True Knowledge & Wisdom are found. Colossians 1:9-12

I. The Heresy of Gnosticism: Both Then and Now.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Colossian believers to warn them about Gnosticism, a heresy that affected the believers in the early Church in the first 200 years. This heresy was repudiated not only by the writers of the N.T. Epistles, but also by the Church Fathers.

Irenaeus exposed Gnosticism by saying, “Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than the truth itself." What is Gnosticism? How does Gnosticism mask itself today, and how does it affect our Christian faith? The word is derived from the Greek word, gnosis meaning, "knowledge." The Gnostics separated matter from thought.

They considered matter as evil and thought or knowledge as the ultimate for salvation. That heresy led them not to attribute humanity to Jesus Christ, since humanity, being material, was evil to them. Such a belief developed into two directions. One was a complete denial of sexual and other bodily appetites, virtual asceticism, and the other was the unrestrained indulgence of the body. The key belief is that the spiritual is good, the physical is bad.

Gnosticism disguises itself in contemporary culture. According to an article on Gnosticism by the Christian Institute, "Millions of people today unknowingly hold Gnostic beliefs that are central to the transgender debate. The distinction between men and women should be rejected because it is part of the useless creation order, which led to Gender Identity Issues.

Many famous people were influenced by Gnosticism, such as the Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung. A music legend, John Lennon, said, “The only Christians were the Gnostics, who believe in self-knowledge, i.e, becoming Christ themselves, reaching the Christ within.” Gnostic themes, “chime in with contemporary ideals of self-discovery, self-awareness, self-actualization and self-salvation, not to mention a dislike of any kind of authority, especially the Church.

The New Age movement shares common thoughts with Gnosticism. Gnosticism affects all aspects of life, for instance, the Gnostics would say, “since the real you is what you feel deep inside, the inner person overrules all external factors, including objective biological reality.

So the transgender movement claims that gender identity doesn't necessarily align with birth sex. A person can look within to write their own script—whether that's male, female, or some other option, regardless of their body." How does this flawed thought get refuted biblically? God, in his supreme Wisdom, "Created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him male and female. He created them." Gen 1:27. The Gnostics claim to have access to superior knowledge and Wisdom, but what is their real source of knowledge and Wisdom?

II. Worldly Knowledge & Wisdom

The scripture indicates two sources of knowledge and Wisdom: worldly and godly. What is the difference between knowledge and Wisdom? The dictionary defines Wisdom as "the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting." Knowledge is "information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance." Knowledge can exist without Wisdom, but not the other way around. One can be knowledgeable without being wise. For example, knowledge is knowing how to use a gun; Wisdom is knowing when to use it and when to keep it locked.

Not all worldly Knowledge and Wisdom is bad. For instance, developing and properly using education, medicine, science, and technology could improve society and the quality of life. Here are some Biblical views on worldly knowledge and Wisdom. Paul notes that knowledge without love amounts to nothing. I Cor 13:2. Human Knowledge makes one arrogant. 1 Cor 8:1.

King Solomon noted that pursuing knowledge without God is foolish. "Then I applied myself to the understanding of Wisdom, which, too, is chasing after the wind. For with much Wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:17-18.

Paul urges us to "Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.”1 Tim 6:20-21. James 3:13-16 reads, “Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for Wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't Wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't Wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't Wisdom. It's the furthest thing from Wisdom, it's animal cunning, and devilish plotting. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart, and everyone ends up at the others' throats.” (The Message). If the Gnostics' source of knowledge comes from the world, where does true Knowledge and Wisdom come from?

III. In Him: True Knowledge & Wisdom

We don’t combat Error with more Error but with truth. The apostle Paul dealt with Gnosticism, not with worldly knowledge and Wisdom. Instead, he implored Godly Knowledge and Wisdom. James explains that Godly Wisdom comes from heaven, which is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. James 3:17

The Apostle Paul prayed that the believers would be filled with True Knowledge and Wisdom. Colossians 1:9-10, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the Wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Where do we find True Knowledge & Wisdom? In Him alone!

Man can create AI (Artificial Intelligence). But only God is the source of  True Knowledge and Wisdom. Since He is the source, they are called godly knowledge and Wisdom. One of God's natural attributes is that He is Omniscient, which means “All-Knowing God.” Everything in the universe, on earth, and in your life is known to God.

That all-knowing God challenges the wise people. “Let not the wise boast of their Wisdom, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” Isaiah 9:23-24. How well do you know Jesus, who became Wisdom for us?

Our lives will change when we know the One who is the True knowledge and Wisdom. We live wisely “Pleasing God in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Col 1:11-12. 

 

 

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[1] Derrick G. Jeter, www.DerrickJeter.com. 

In Him: We Belong To God's Family

                                                    In Him: We Belong To God's Family

            In his book Feels like Home, Lee Eclov shares the story of "How Long-Lost Brothers and Sisters were discovered." As a child in California in the 1970s, Jeff wondered who he was. "I never looked like anybody growing up," he said. Everybody looked like somebody, but I was the odd man out." Finally, a few years ago, he and his brother took a DNA test, and, sure enough, they didn't have the same father.

            A couple of years later, a woman named Julie, an amateur genealogist, was trying to learn more about her roots and had her DNA analyzed. There was no match with anyone in the genealogy company's database, so she put the whole business aside. Some months later, she rechecked the database, and there was a match this time. She was apparently closely related to a guy who'd also had his DNA tested. She looked at his photo and remembers thinking, "He looked exactly like my father." She emailed the man, and five minutes later, she had Jeff's reply.

            The DNA database also showed that Jeff had another unknown sister, Beth, whose birth father was the same as his. The three of them arranged a reunion. Julie remembers, "It is kind of weird finding a brother when you're in your fifties and he's just a dead ringer for our father-the way he walks and his laugh and some of the expressions on his face."

            More time passed. A  San Diego man, Brandon, who knew he'd been adopted, decided to get a DNA test, too. Lo and behold, he also matched Jeff, Julie, and Beth. "It's wonderful, Brandon said, of rediscovering of his birth family. "My adoptive parents had passed on; my adoptive brother had passed on. I thought I was a party of one, and now I'm a party of 110."[1] That's our kind of story! As Christians, when we think we are on our own, a party of one, we will be pleasantly surprised to discover hundreds of other brothers and sisters we never met before.

In our sermon series, In Him, we are learning about the incredible riches found in Christ alone through the writings of the Apostle Paul to the Colossian believers. Paul reminded the Colossians that their first identity was God's Holy People, or People who belonged to God.

Once we were alienated from God because of our sin, but Christ died for our sins, so that In Him now we can be reconciled back to God. That is the Good News. Belonging to God opens up this vast and beautiful opportunity to belong to God's BIG family, where we will meet hundreds of our brothers and sisters. In Him: We Belong to God's Family. Colossians 1:1-8

1. We Are Brothers and Sisters in a Local Church. 

Colossians 1:2, "To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. The Church in Colossae comprised Jews and Gentiles of various ethnicities and backgrounds. Yet Paul calls them Faithful brothers and sisters. How could that be possible?

Those four reunited siblings in the story shared family resemblances. What do the Colossians and all other believers have in common? We all have the same Heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. As siblings, we share family resemblances. What is our distinguishing resemblance among Christians? In other words, how can people know that we belong to Christ? John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Our new family resemblance is our love for one another and all God's people.

Colossian believers not only belong to God but also to God's family in a local Church. How does this impact us today? In Hope Church, no matter who you are, once you have accepted Christ's forgiveness of sins, you are not alone; you are adopted into God's family. This local Church becomes your newfound home, where you will find love, healing, and wholeness. In this family, you have brothers and sisters in Christ, you never thought you had them before. Do you know all their names? Let's get to know, love, and build each other in the Hope Church family.

Christians in the New Testament are referred to as brothers and sisters 139 times. A Greek word, adelphoi, appears repeatedly and relates to believers, both men and women, as part of God's family. Eclov notes, "Regarding one another as brothers and sisters was far more radical than we realize. In our culture, we're used to speaking of people outside our family as brothers and sisters. A 'band of brothers' describes a tight-knit military unit. Sometimes athletic teams will use the terms, as do good friends. But that almost never happened in the language of New Testament times. No one called someone a brother or sister who wasn't a blood relative. The entire perspective on family in that culture was dramatically different from ours."[2]

 Joseph Heller explains in his book, "When the Church was a Family, "that we cannot simply import our American idea of being a brother or sister into our interpretation of the New Testament. "Brother meant immeasurable more than a strong group to the authors of the Bible than the word means to you and me—it was their most crucial family relationship."[3]

By reading these explanations, we can perhaps for the first time properly appreciate what the early Christians meant when they referred to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Who created space for this spiritual kinship in the first place? Who introduced this radical concept of calling someone outside of your family a brother or sister?

            Once, his family came to where he was teaching. Someone brought a word to Jesus, saying, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you. Then Jesus pronounced this: "Who are my mother and my brothers? Looking around, those in the circle said, "Here are my mother and brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:33-35. Let this sink in! If you do God's will, we become a part of God's family, and Jesus becomes our brother. This circle of brotherly and sisterly relationships expands beyond a local Church.

II. In Christ, we belong to God's Worldwide Family

Colossians 1: 5-6, "the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in Heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the Gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole World, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace."

The Apostle Paul had to open the eyes of the Colossian believers from their self-centered and inward focus to a broader family of God beyond the confines of their local Church. He reminded them that as the Gospel came to them, it spread to the whole World and bore fruit. As a result, now they have brothers and sisters who belong to God's Worldwide Family.

How does this truth of belonging to God's family in Christ impact us today? At Hope Church, all those committed to following Christ become part of God's local family in Sharon. If you think you are alone, look around; you have over 40 brothers and sisters, perhaps you never thought you had them. You have many more brothers and sisters in our online community.

Though we are a small church, we are very diverse, coming from various countries and backgrounds, yet we all have something in common: We have the same Heavenly Father and share the same Spiritual DNA of Christ. We also have brothers and sisters beyond Sharon, infact, all over the World, as the Gospel is bearing fruit and more and more people getting saved every day. God's family is enormous and continues to get even bigger by the day.

What should be our commitment toward our brothers and sisters at Hope Church and those who belong to God's Worldwide Family? It all begins by thanking God and praying for them. Make a list of our brothers and sisters, both locally and globally.

Like Epaphras, the founder of the Colossian Church, let us wrestle with God in prayer for our brothers and sisters so that they may stand firm, in all the will of God, become mature and fully assured.

 

 

 

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[1] Lee Eclov, Feels Like Home, page 43-44

[2] Lee Eclov, Feels Like Home, Pages 45-46

[3] Joseph H. Hellerman, “When The Church Was A Family, 50.

The Last Supper

                                                              THE LAST SUPPER

What goes through your mind when you hear the word Communion? Do you think about wine, grape juice, or Matza bread? Do you sigh to yourself, Oh no! "It will be a long service today (that's how I thought as a kid). Or do you chide yourself for forgetting your check for the Deacon's fund offering? What is Communion, and what is its significance in the believer's life?

In the Bible, different names are used for what we call "Communion, First Holy Communion, and Eucharist, as the Catholics and some other christian denominations do. They are "breaking of bread together" (Acts 2:42), "The Lord's Supper" (I Cor 11:17-27), The Lords table or blessing of the Cup," (I Cor 10:14-22), and the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-20, John 13:1-2). For centuries, followers of Jesus have met together to partake in a meal referred to as the Lord's Supper or The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-20.

I. The Last Supper of Jesus was the Last Passover Meal with His disciples.

            Growing up in an observant Jewish home, Jesus must have remembered the significance of the Passover Meal, which his ancestors celebrated each year for generations. He was told it was a night like no other, a night of redemption for Israel's 400 years of slavery. It was a night when God distinguished between His people and the heathen nations.

            It was the night when Pharoah begged Moses, "Leave my people, you and Israelites! Go Worship the Lord to Go and Worship the LORD as you have requested." (Exodus 12:31). Things quickly changed! With no time to linger around, the Israelites were instead driven out in a hurry, carrying dough without yeast, with which they later baked Unleavened Bread.

It was a night of freedom for nearly 600,000 Jewish people, including many other heathen people. It was a night that set them off to a Promised Land that flowed with Milk and Honey. God did not want them to forget that most significant night of redemption ever, so He commanded the Israelites to celebrate Passover yearly and pass it on to future generations. 

Keeping up with the tradition, Jesus wanted to celebrate Passover one last time with his beloved disciples who stood with Him till the end. Listen to the desire Jesus expressed towards the Passover Meal, Luke 22:14-16, " When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Jesus wanted to eat his last meal with his disciples before He was crucified. Think of that for a moment. The last meal with your best friend, would you ever forget that?

II. The parallels between the Passover Lamb and The Lamb of God.

            God clearly instructed what kind of Lamb should be prepared and how the Israelites should celebrate the feast. It should be a year-old male lamb without defect (Exodus 12:5; cf. Leviticus 22:20-21). The head of the household was to slaughter the Lamb at twilight, taking care that none of its bones were broken. God also gave specific instructions on how the Israelites were to eat the Lamb, "with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand" (Exodus 12:11). In other words, they had to be travel-ready.

In the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of this prototypical Passover lamb in Jesus Christ. John the Baptist pointed to his disciples, saying, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Peter connected the Passover lamb to Christ, whose blood, without blemish or defect, brought our redemption (1 Pet 1:19).

The Israelites applied the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts, and Christians symbolically applied the blood of Christ on their hearts so we could be spared from eternal death. (Heb 9:12,14).

Passover Lamb was offered annually, whereas the Lamb of God was offered once and for all, for all time. "We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all." Hebrews 10:10.

The first Passover marked the freedom of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. Christ's sacrificial death marks our freedom from slavery to sin. (Romans 8:2). The first Passover was to be held in remembrance as an annual feast, whereas Christians are to memorialize the Lord's death in Communion until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26).

 

III. What is the Significance of the Last Supper or Communion for Today?

Observing how Jesus celebrated his last supper during the last Passover meal with his disciples, we can learn a few ways to celebrate it today. First, we must prepare ourselves and eagerly desire Communion as Jesus did (Luke  22:16). Second, Jesus offered thanks for the bread (his body) and the Cup (his blood) before giving them to his disciples to partake (Luke 22:19). We thank Jesus for offering his body and shedding his blood to forgive our sins.

Thirdly, Jesus ensured that the disciples and subsequent followers would not forget his great sacrifice on the Cross by saying, "Do this in remembrance of me." (Vs. 19) The Apostle goes one step further, reminding the Corinthian believers that they would proclaim his death each time they celebrated the Last Supper until Christ returned.

Unlike the Passover, Communion is not a once-a-year event that should be celebrated and forgotten for the rest of the year. Instead, it is a constant reminder for a believer. Every time we partake of Communion, whether daily, weekly, or monthly, let us remember the great sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of our sins.

 Fourthly, Passover was a family time to learn and retell God's redemptive story. God instructed through Moses, "When your son asks you, "What does this mean? Say to him, "With a mighty hand of the LORD brought us out of Egypt, of the Land of Slavery. (Ex 13:14). Similarly, when your children ask you what Communion is, you tell them How Christ suffered and died on the Cross and rose again for the forgiveness of all people.

IV. Cautions to be observed while partaking in Communion

The Passover was exclusively meant for a Jewish family or with a few other families to celebrate it. Though some exceptions were made, non-Jewish people were excluded. (Exodus 12:43-45). Even among the Jewish people, certain acts like ceremonial uncleanness and business travels would restrict some Jews from celebrating it. (Ex 9:9-14).

Communion, or the Lord's table, though it is a large table open for both Jews and Gentiles, is a sign of remembrance for those whose lives have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. It is not a public event but an exclusive celebration of God's children who gathered in gratitude, reflecting on Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross. So, our advice to our non-Christian friends is that they refrain from partaking in Communion until they accept Jesus as their savior.

What might hinder a born-again Christian from partaking in Communion? The apostle Paul cautioned the Corinthian believers, saying, "So, whoever eats the bread or drinks the Cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the Cup." (I Cor 11:27-28) What might have been an unworthy manner for Paul to talk about?

From a reading of the context, we might conclude it might have been an unconfessed sin, divisions among the believers, and unresolved conflicts. The principles of reconciling first with those who may have something against us, as in Matt 5:23-24, and forgiving others when they sin against us, as in chapter 6:14-15, apply in celebrating Communion.

Communion is all about what Christ has done for the forgiveness of our sins. How can we come to the table harboring unforgiveness toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord? Partaking in Communion doesn't require perfection but recognition of our sins, confessing to God first, and getting reconciled with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN HIM: WE BELONG

                                                                IN HIM: We Belong

 

Tim Keller shares this illustration on Our Riches In Christ: "Imagine you're a billionaire with three ten-dollar bills in your wallet. You get out of a cab and hand the driver one of the bills for an eight-dollar fare. Later in the day, you look in and find out there's only one ten-dollar bill there, and you say, "Either I dropped a ten-dollar bill somewhere, or I gave the taxi driver two bills." What are you going to do? Are you going to get all upset?

Are you going to the police and demanding that they search the city for the cab driver? No, you are going to shrug. You're a billionaire. You lost ten dollars. So what? You are too rich to be concerned about that kind of loss. This week, somebody criticized you. Something you bought or invested in was less valuable than you thought. Something you wanted to happen didn't go how you wanted it to—these are real losses. But what are you going to do if you're a Christian? Will this setback disrupt your contentment with life?

Will you shake your fist at God? Toss and turn at night? If so, I submit that it's because you don't know how truly rich you are. If you're upset about your status with other people and constantly lashing out at people for hurting your feelings, you might call it a lack of self-control or self-esteem, and it is. But more fundamentally, you have totally lost touch with your identity. As a Christian, you're a spiritual billionaire, and you're wringing your hands over ten dollars."[1]

On Easter, we celebrated our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As commissioned by Jesus, the early followers preached the Good News of the Gospel everywhere. The Gospel reached the farthest regions of the World and changed many lives. In our sermon series called IN HIM, we will study the lives of the believers in an ancient city called Colossae and discover the incredible riches that are in store for all believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Eugene Peterson of The Message Bible has this to say in his introduction to Colossians.

"Hardly anyone who hears the full story of Jesus and learns the true facts of his life and teaching, crucifixion and resurrection, walks away with a shrug of the shoulders, dismissing him as unimportant. Of course, people who are ignorant or misinformed about the story regularly dismiss him. But with few exceptions, the others know instinctively that they are dealing with a most remarkable greatness.

But it is quite common for those who consider him truly important to include others who seem to be equally important in his company—Buddha, Moses, Socrates, and Muhammad, for a historical start, along with some personal favorites. For these people, Jesus is important but not central; his prestige is considerable, but he is not preeminent. The Christians in the town of Colosse, or at least some of them, seem to have been taking this line. For them, cosmic forces of one sort or another were getting equal billing with Jesus. Paul writes to them to restore Jesus, the Messiah, to the center of their lives." [2]

 

            How do you consider Jesus Christ? Do you see him as an important person in your life, but add other gods, religious leaders, and prominent personalities along with him? If that is your view of Christ, you must read Colossians to move Jesus from a list of importance to the center of your life. Our study of Colossians would help us keep Jesus at the very center of our lives. Before we study Paul's Epistle to Colossians, what do we know about the Church in Colossae?

            Colossae was a city in Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia (part of Modern Turkey), about 100 miles east of Ephesus in the region of the seven churches of Rev.1-3.

Although Colossae's population was mainly Gentile, there was a large Jewish settlement. This mixed population of Jews and Gentiles manifested itself both in the composition of the Church and in the heresy that plagued it, containing the elements of both Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism.

            The Church in Colossae began during Paul's three-year ministry at Ephesus. Its founder was Epaphras, who apparently was saved during a visit to Ephesus and likely started the Church in Colossae when he returned home. Paul wrote the letters to Ephesians and Colossians during his imprisonment in Rome, between AD 60 and 62. He sent them by the same messenger, Tychicus. Paul begins his letter by reminding the believers of their threefold belonging. Colossians 1:1-8.

I. IN HIM: We Belong To God.

 Belonging is an essential aspect of human survival. From the time we are born, we have an innate need to belong. None of us likes to be isolated or excluded. We will do anything to overcome that sense of not belonging anywhere. Why is belonging important to people? Studies tell us, "There are several individual benefits of belonging as well. The Belonging Barometer found that in addition to workplace benefits, belonging also leads to better physical and mental health, increased life satisfaction, and decreased pain, stress, and loneliness.

It also leads to better social cohesion, including community involvement. This aspect of social cohesion is especially interesting as it links back to the workplace. In the same study reported by Harvard Business Review, researchers found that feeling excluded causes people to give less team effort. The direct impact on the workplace is that if employees feel excluded, they likely aren't giving their all to the organization."[3]

When there are so many benefits to belonging, how can one truly meet the need for belonging? Who could satisfy the inner longing for belonging and being connected? That was the first thing Paul reminded the Colossian believers. Col 1:1-2a, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God's holy people in Colossae."

Paul regards Colossians not from their past sinful background but from their redemptive restoration background. He calls them God's holy people. It doesn't mean they were sinless, but it suggests they were set apart and belonged to God. Not only the Colossians but every believer in Christ now belongs to God. Do only believers belong to God, or do all human beings also belong to God? How would that impact you and your relationships once you know you belong to God?

II. God desires all humans to live with Him forever in Heaven

            In Genesis' second chapter, we read that God created humans, male and female, in His own likeness. He placed them in a beautiful Garden of Eden to work and care for it. Man and Woman enjoyed their relationship with God. God visited them every evening. But Satan, the deceiver, tempted them to sin against God, breaking up that peaceful relationship.

Since then, humans have become restless, searching to return to God and rejoin Him. Man has tried everything to regain his lost relationship with God, but nothing has helped him in his pursuit. In the end, God, in his love for the people he made at the appointed time, sent His begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the World to bring his lost sons and daughters back home.

III. Jesus' mission is to reconcile people to God.

During his ministry on earth, Jesus clarified several times why he came to the world. Matthew 20:28, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

After bringing salvation to Zacchaeus, a rejected tax collector by society, Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:9

Jesus reconciled the Jews and Gentiles to God. "His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Ephesians 2:15-16. Through Christ's death on the Cross, both the Jews and Gentiles have access to the Father.

The most important relationship to be restored is our relationship with God. If you have not been reconciled with God, you can do so by trusting Christ. What are the implications of belonging to God? Our peace and joy are restored. Our purpose and hope are renewed. We can even experience physical healing. But above all, we will live with God forever in Heaven.

 

 

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[1] Tim Keller, The Two Advocates (Encounters with Jesus Series) (Penguin Group, 2014), Kindle Locations 242-244

[2] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message (Numbered Edition, NavPress, 1993), Page 1625 Colossians

[3] https://thediversitymovement.com/what-is-workplace-belonging-why-is-it-important/#:~:text=The%20Belonging%20Barometer%20found%20that,social%20cohesion%2C%20including%20community%20involvement.