Making the Gospel Message Clear 5

Colossians 4:2-4 ESV

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

This is a six part series on the subject of making the gospel message clear. The first writing covered the subject of “Salvation.” Next was “Obedience of Faith.” After that was “Redemption and Forgiveness.” Then was the “Grace of God,” and this one is “God’s will and purpose.” After this will be the subject of Gentile believers now being one with Jewish believers in Christ in one body as fellow heirs of the promises of God to his people Israel. But these writings are devotionals, not doctrinal treatises.

God’s Will and Purpose

There is so much ground to cover here. So, where to begin?

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV).

God’s will for us, as followers of Jesus Christ, is that we know what his will is for our lives, which we learn about in the Scriptures, and that we walk (in conduct, in practice) according to his will and purpose for our lives in a manner (way) that is worthy (suitable, fitting, appropriate) of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. And it is that we bear fruit in every good work, which are the works God had planned for us in advance that we should walk in them.

So, contrary to what many people are teaching today, we who believe in Jesus are to live our lives according to the express will of God, which is written down for us in the Scriptures, i.e. we are to obey our Lord. And we are to conduct our lives in a manner that is suitable and appropriate of the Lord Jesus who laid his life down for us on that cross to free us from our slavery to sin so that we would now walk in obedience to his commands (New Covenant). And we are to live our lives to please him in all that we do.

Worthy

[Matt 10:37-38; Lu 9:62; Eph 4:1; Php 1:27; Col 1:10; 1 Thess 2:12]

Pleasing God

[Romans 8:8; 2 Corinthians 5:9; Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 5:10; Colossians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 13:6; 1 John 3:22]

Good Works

And we are to be bearing fruit in every “good work,” which is also contrary to what many people are teaching today. But these are not our own fleshly good works which we determine we will do for God. For, as God’s workmanship we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). And please note that Ephesians 2:10 goes with Ephesians 2:8-9 which is the primary Scripture people are using to claim “no works” required.

Works Required

[Eph 2:10; 1 Co 15:58; 2 Co 9:8; Gal 5:6; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:9-14; 2 Thess 1:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:21; Tit 2:11-14; Jn 15:1-11; Tit 3:8; Jas 2:17]

Chosen by God to be Holy

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV).

For we were also chosen by God before the world began to be holy and blameless before him, but not just in status, but also in conduct, as his obedient children. And we were predestined of God to be conformed to the image (likeness in character) of Jesus Christ. And to be holy is to be separate (unlike, different) from the world because we are being made to be like Jesus Christ in character and in deed. And it involves surrender of our lives to Jesus Christ to do his will and to walk in his ways and in his truth.

[Romans 8:29; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Ephesians 1:3-12; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 1 Peter 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:7]

Purpose of the Church

Then, the purpose of the church, the body of Christ, is so that we can minister God’s love and grace and encouragement to one another to help us to grow in Christ and in our walks of faith in him. And it is also that we might share the truth of the gospel of Christ (what Jesus and his apostles taught us) with the people of the world so that they can come to know Christ, too.

Body of Christ, Life and Ministry

[Ac 2:42-47; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Rom 12:1-8; 1 Co 3:9,16-17; 1 Co 6:19-20; 1 Co. 12:1-31; 2 Co 5:1; 2 Co 6:14-16; Eph 1:4,22; Eph 2:19-22; Eph 4:1-32; Eph 5:17-30; Col 1:18-24; Col 2:19; Col 3:12-16; 2 Tim 1:9; 2 Tim 2:21; 1 Pet 1:13-16; 1 Pet 2:4-9; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 3:13; Lu 9:23-26; Matt 7:21-23; Jude 1:20-21; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]    

Songs in the Night  

An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

https://vimeo.com/379484387