Remember Who You Are
Compromise is everywhere. It’s a potential pitfall even for the most well-intentioned Christian. No wonder Paul reminds the Colossians to remember who they are in Christ. Affirming the life-changing benefits of a relationship with Jesus means we’re alert to even deceptive religious-sounding ideas—ideas and practices that constrict a believer’s freedom in Christ and replace it with legalism.
We’ve observed before in our Colossians study that it’s all about Jesus. In what sense is your life all about Jesus? What does that even mean for you?
The Colossian believers were surrounded by deceptive ideas. Read Col. 2:11-15. Note the specific benefits enjoyed by every believer in Jesus. (It’s an awesome list; make a few notes)
Only after Paul affirms who we are in Christ does he then tell us what to do. Read Col. 2:16-19. What are the practices Paul highlights?
Legalism is the deadly enemy of our freedom in Christ. What is legalism? Read Col. 2:20-23. What legalistic practices does this passage warn us about?
Why is legalism appealing to so many? In what ways have you moved from legalism to freedom in Christ?
Further Reading
Searching for the Generous Life
Just like modest investments can grow over time, our investment into God's kingdom generates growth and produces eternal dividends. The apostle Paul presented the Macedonian believers as an example of generous giving to the Corinthian church and to us. Let's explore...
Searching for Reconciliation
Confronting others concerning biblical/theological compromise is never easy or pleasant. Such encounters must be handled with sensitivity to the needs of others, directed by spiritual wisdom and the Scriptures, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul closed chapter two of...
Searching for Courage
On the surface, hearing God and following His commands seems straightforward. However, when God calls us to do something that generates fear in us and feels daunting, second-guessing His call becomes reasonable. Finding the courage to obey such a call is overwhelming....
Searching for the Abundant Life
Jesus explicitly explained his purpose when He said “…I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said similar things many times, and these ideas are repeated, over and over again, by those who wrote the New Testament. Yet many people,...
Searching for Real Friendship
Some relationships may imitate friendship, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible, we’ll identify some distinguishing features of friendship that are often overlooked and discover how to infuse...