"Watch your life and doctrine closely"
It happens every year. In spite of my best efforts, it continues to show its ugly head. No matter how much I till, rake, mulch, or pull, the intrusive weed somehow finds a way into my garden. Almost mockingly, it maneuvers through layers of mulch and springs forth as the obnoxious, uninvited guest to a…
Colossians 2:3-5: …in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments In Christ are ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Scripture is filled with knowledge about Christ and his work. We discussed in the previous post the importance…
Colossians 2:2: …that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ… In the previous verse, Paul shared his pastoral longing for the Colossians and those in Laodicea. In this verse, he tells them what…
Colossians 2:1: For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face… In the previous passage, Paul shared the sufferings of his ministry and his willingness to continue suffering for the sake of the church….
Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a guest preacher in many churches all over the world. He typically did not preach in a theologically liberal church unless he felt they were looking for help. On one occasion he found himself in such a situation (for reasons unknown). Murray gives an account of what happened: After listening to a…
From the blog this week: A Different Kind of Easter Sunday The Scoundrels of Scripture: A 6-Day Video Devotional “Over and over again, Scripture shows us how Jesus interacted with people— people with hopes, dreams, hurts, and disappointments. We’ll hear what Jesus said to those who welcomed him and wanted him, as well as to…
Colossians 1:29: For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. As we saw in the last verse, we are to proclaim Christ to others. We are to warn them of the judgment to come and provide the hope of the gospel. Since this is so important, we are…
Colossians 1:28: Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Paul shows us the content of the message we are to preach: Christ. If the teaching of vv. 15-20 is true, then Christ is the all-powerful, loving savior. He is the answer to all…
Colossians 1:26-27: …the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. In the previous verse, Paul made it clear that his…
About 15 years ago, I spent some time in Russia doing mission work. While gathering with a Baptist church one Lord’s Day, I was speaking with a local who was fluent in English. We were discussing Easter Sunday and the difference in the way Russians and Americans celebrate. He informed me that due to the…