It all began with Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” Die physically or spiritually? They woould eventually die phyically since they were kicked out of the garden of Eden and could no longer eat of the tree of life, but they did not die physically the very. day they sinned. So it must be that they died spiritually the very day they sinned. Spiritual death is the result of sin. Sin causes us to be separated from a relationship with God. Isaiah 59:But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Paul confirms that Adam’s sin brought spiritual death to himself and to all men, but why? Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned.” Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus came to conquer spiritual death. Hebrews 2: 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken. 9 And it will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let’s rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” So when was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled? 1 Corinthians 15 tells us when. In that chapter Paul is discussing the resurrection and what kind of a body wll believers recieve in the resurrection. He says that the resurrected body will be a spiritual, imperishable body. He then says, 15:51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” Paul is clearly saying that the resurrection of the dead would occur while some of those he is writiing to were still alive. He is saying that, dead or alive, the believers would receive immortality. 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” He quotes Isaiah 25:8,9 and says that in the resurrection “death would be swallowed up in victory”. That would be spiritual death caused by the sting of sin. He says that the power of sin was the Law of Moses. So when did the Law end? The Law ended in 70 AD. Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” The Hebrew author wrote that about 60 AD and he said that the first covenent was “ready to vanish away” at the time he wrote the letter. That has to be 70 AD whe the Romans destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem. The temple has never been rebult since then. There have been no Levitical priests and animal sacrifices since then. God replaced the old covenant with the new covenant in 70 AD. Thus he destroyed death by taking away the Law which was the power of sin which caused spiritual death. Spiritual death was the last enemy conquered by Jesus in 70 AD. 1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” That would be spiritual death. Daniel had predicted that a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous would occur at the end of the age, i.e. the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD. Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Paul predicted the imminence of that resurrrection in Acts 24:14 `And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written, 15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be (mello in the Greek which always mean something about to happen when used in the New Testament but is usually mistranslated as “certainly will be”) a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous.” (Young’s Literal Translation). Notice that Paul says that resurrection was predicted in the law and the prophets, so he must be referring to Daniel 12:2! That resurrection was fulfilled in 70 AD. The dead under the old covenant had been in hades awaiting their resurrection and final sentencing at 70 AD. In 70 AD the righteous dead of the old covenant and the believers in Jesus would be given immortality whether dead or alive. That is why Paul told the Thessalonians not to worry about their dead believing loved ones who died before that resurrection. They would still get their immortality. Immortality is only promised to believers in Jesus in the New Testament and never to unbelievers.
Jesus accomplished his mission of destroying spiritual death in the lives of believers. 2 Timothy 1:10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” John 11: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life (spiritual). Whoever believes in me, though he die (physically), yet shall he live (spiritually), 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (spiritually).” I just had an epiphany! In one sense, he did conquer physical death. Not that he stopped believers from dying or that he abolished physical death all together. Instead, he conquered spiritual death for believers so that physical death was not the end for them. They would keep on living spiritually, eternally, after death. That makes Hebrews 2:15 even more meaningful: 15 and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Believers don’t have to fear physical death any longer. Thank you Lord for that thought b/c many of us still have that fear of death that has a constant hold on us making us death’s slaves!
My wife suggested this one. I told her that no one was invisible b/c I can see them. But I really knew what she meant. We always eat our Egg McMuffins at McDonalds every Sunday morning at 7 AM. The one we eat at is especially clean and has great managers. They hire one man to do nothing but clean, mop, pick up trash, etc. He looks to be a very simple fellow although he might be the boss like in the TV show “undercover boss”. But he is there every week, so I don’t think he is the boss! My wife called him one of the “invisible people” that we seldom take notice of. AI: “”Invisible people” can include mentally challenged adults, disadvantaged, unwed mothers on welfare, runaway teens, ex offenders, uneducated and unskilled people, illegal immigrants who clean hotels or do menial jobs, residents in inner city projects, elderly, child orphans or foster children, homeless people or anyone who experiences a sense of being ignored or separated from society as a whole. It can include just ordinary people doing all the little jobs that make life easier for us, people that we take for granted. We might say “thank you” but that’s about it, or we might even tip a little. But often we just get our service from them and ignore them.
Jesus was good at not ignoring the invisible people. The woman at the well. Would you pay much attention to a woman who had been divorced 5 times, was living with someone not her husband, and who was a foreigner that many looked down on in society? Jesus did. He would not even “snuff out a smoldering wick or break a bruised reed”. He would try to bring out the best in everyone. He would draw out what little faith someone had. He would give hope to those struggling with life. We don’t know how that woman at the well ended up, but he gave her hope of a better life if she would accept the living water Jesus had to offer.
Jesus stopped to heal the blind men who were following him, even though they were crying out, making a disturbance. He talked with a sinful woman who anointed his feet at Simon the Pharisee’s house. Simon was appalled that Jesus would even let this sinful woman touch his feet. He laid his hands on and blessed the little children who were brought to him by their parents, even when his disciples were rebuking them for bringing the children. He stopped to heal the woman with the 12 year bleeding issue. He did not rebuke her for secretly touching his garment but praised her faith instead. Jesus took note of the demon possessed man who had been living in the tombs and cast the demon Legion out of him. The whole town nearby ignored this man and just hoped that he would stay in the tombs area. Jesus ate with the tax collector Matthew and his “sinner friends” even though he was criticized greatly for doing so. Jesus stopped to talk to the Syrophoenician woman even though his disciples were begging him to send her away b/c she was crying out loud, annoying them. He then challenged and drew out her faith and case the demon out of her daughter.
So the lesson today is for us to pay attention to the “invisible people” that we see every day. Not just pay attention to them, but seek them out. “To visit the widows and orphans is pure and undefiled religion” according to James 1:28. There are plenty of widows out there who might not need financial help but who would love to have some one come visit and talk to them. Each one has a story to tell. Go to some place like the House of the Harvest here in Huntsville on Saturday morning and you will find plenty of invisible people. Many of them speak Spanish and are delighted when I give them breakfast with a little Spanish conversation. Go offer to help someone who fosters children. They often have many challenges. Think through your own daily experiences and identify those invisible people in your life. Stop and take time to talk to them and help them if possible.
Remember, the invisible people are all very visible to God so don’t ignore them.
Are you always in a hurry? My wife and I have different hiking styles. I attack the trail to finish it as quickly as I can. She stops often, and I have to wait on her. She says that we should stop along the way to, as Jesus said, “consider” the great things God has created in nature. “Consider” in the Greek is katanoeó: To observe, consider, perceive, understand. (AI): “The verb κατανοέω (katanoeó) is used in the New Testament to denote a deep, attentive observation or consideration. It implies more than a casual glance, suggesting a thorough and careful examination or contemplation. This term is often used to encourage believers to pay close attention to spiritual truths or to the example set by others.” I am Type A: Type A individuals as outgoing, ambitious, rigidly organized, highly status-conscious, impatient, anxious, proactive, and concerned with time management. People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving workaholics.” My wife is Type B: People with a type B personality may be easygoing and laid-back, and approach tasks with less urgency. Type B personality traits include patience, flexibility, and an even temper. People with a type B personality may be more prone to procrastination or distraction from a task.” So combining a Type A and a Type B in marriage for 54 has been an experiment of patience with each other’s personality quirks. I won’t go any further in that discussion! I’m sure she has put up with a lot more of my quirks than I have hers. At least I am saying that for this article!
Back to hiking and life in general. Every day in an adventure with God if you will make it: the statement “everyday is an adventure with God if you will make it” suggests that embracing a life of faith and actively seeking God’s presence can transform ordinary days into meaningful and exciting experiences.” That means that we have to “stop along the way” and “consider” everything closely. We should ask, “What might God be doing in this situation? How can God use me in this situation? How can I be kind and help that person I see who needs help?” We can consider nature and everything God has created, and then praise God for creating it all, whether He did it in 6,000 or 6 billion years. Either way, it’s amazing to create everything from nothing with such amazing design. We can consider scriptures, looking more closely at what they meant to the original recipients and how they might apply to us today. Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Most of us dont just quit our devotion to Jesus. We just “drift away” slowly, like a small boat drifts out into the lake when it is loosed from the dock. We are so busy with our “worries, riches, and pleasures” (Luke 8:14) that keep us from bearing fruit and spiritual growth. We just drift away from our devotion, praying less, meditating on God and His word less.
So, short and sweet. Make today an adventure with God, considering God’s presence in everything in your life today.
Are you familiar with the book of devotionals by Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)? It is 365 devotionals to be read one at a time for the whole years. Oswald Chambers was talented in poetry, music, and art, but his passion was preaching the gospel. His parents were baptized by. the famed British pastor Charles Spurgeon and were very spiritual. Oswald felt that he heard the Lord call him, “I want you in My service but I can do without you.” He spent a decade in a theological training school and later began his own Bible Training School. He had a very “dry” period of several years until he asked God “for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, whatever that meant”. Jesus’ words in Luke 11:13 changed everything for him. Luke 11:3 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” He asked God the Holy Spirit and relied on the Spirit for the rest of his life in his preaching and writing. He married Gertrude Hobbs but he called her “Biddy”. He died from complications from an appendectomy in 1917. After his death, Biddy began putting his writings into some 4 dozen books, most notably My Utmost For His Highest. With her help, Oswald reached more people after death than he had in life.
I remember reading his devotionals in My Utmost For His Highest. It just seemed that each one spoke to my needs for that particular day. Is that just coincidence or the work of the Holy Spirit through Oswald giving me what I need for that day? I don’t know, but it sure seemed to work everyday. Maybe that is why so many people read these same 365 devotionals year and year and they never get old.
I urge you to go online and request the daily devotionals from the book to be sent to your email. I feel the same way about the Spirit using the Bible every day to meet our particular needs for that day. The Bible is not just like our constitution, filled with laws and doctrines, once for all time (and it does have that). All of it was written specifically to someone living in the past: to the Jews, to people living in the first century, to believers in churches, and to individuals like Timothy and Titus. None of it was written directly to us and yet the Spirit can use the Bible to speak to us through the application of what the Spirit wrote to others. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Spirit can apply the word to our lives and needs. So when we read the word, we should be asking, “Ok, I know this was written to someone else, but what would the Sprit want me to take from it in my life today?” My mom wrote several looooooong letters before she died, dealing with some issues. When I read those letters, I can feel her spirit still speaking behind those words. It is the same with the Spirit and the word. When you read the word, try to picture the Spirit (however you might picture the Sprit) watching you reading the word and hoping that you will apply what you read to your daily life and needs.
A little human interest story. Recently a mentally challenged adult was able to visit the Signals Museum in Huntsville, Al. He has listened to radios 24/7 all his life and his parents let him buy radios, stereos, etc. all through the years. He has bought hundred of them. If you go on a trip and call him, he will always ask “what radio station do they have”. He enjoyed the visit to the Signals Museum. It’s mission is “to educate visitors about the history of information communication advancements and the scientists, engineers and business leaders who made them possible” (from their brochure). It has many amazing exhibits and displays, such as telephone, telegraph, radio, television, Ham Shack, etc. . Go visit if you can.
One of the exhibits is “telegraphs”. In big letters on the display are the words, “What God hath wrought”. That is taken from Numbers 23:23 (KJV). That was the first message ever sent over a long distance telegraph line (from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland). The inventor of the telegraph was Samuel Morse and the message was sent in “morse code” on May 24, 1844. Annie Elsworth composed the message. The context of Numbers 23 is the prophet Balaam’s 2nd attempt to curse Israel as they passed through Moab on the final leg to the Promised Land under Joshua. Balaam tried 4 times to curse Israel to get his pay from Balaak the king of Moab, but all 4 times the Spirit took over and Balaam blessed Israel. The whole verse reads: Numbers 23:23 For there is no magic curse against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel; at the proper time it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel, what God has done!” (NASB). In other words, not only would the Spirit not curse Israel but one day in the future people would be amazed at what God did for Israel, HIs people. He would lead them into the. Promised Land and defeat all the Canaanite nations. He would make a great nation of Israel and established the mighty kingdom of David. He would do mighty miracles for them such as the walls of Jericho and the sun standing still. People would look at the history of Israel and her God Yahweh and say, “Wow! Look what God did with them. What an amazing God!”
I can’t read what Annie Elsworth had in mind when she composed that 4 word message, but I can only guess that she was amazed at what God had accomplished through Morse and others in inventing the telegraph. What an amazing way of sending information. That was just the beginning, of course, and look at where we are today. The history of all that is at the museum. Even as late as 1974, when we were in Trinidad, West Indies, we had to find a ham operator in Trinidad and get him to talk to a ham operator in the U.S. who would then call our parents collect so we could talk through the them via ham. Now I can call people in Trinidad on whatsapp and see their faces as we talk.
All that got me thinking about signals from God. How did He communicate with man? How did he reveal Himself to man? It starts with “general revelation”. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” The very existence of a universe created from nothing and the design of that universe tell us there is a creator God. Psalm 19:1 “The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” Constantly 24/7 the universe and everything created is speaking to us, telling “there is a glorious God who created everything. Give Him the honor and praise that is due Him.” Atheists can’t hear that message appaarently.
But gneral revelation via the creation does not tell us what that God is like. Is is the Greek pantheon of gods headed by the chief god Zeus? Or is the many gods of Hinduism with Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva? Or is it Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu of Zoroastrianism? Or is it the many Egyptian gods like Ra, the sun god? Thus God used “special revelation” to tell us what He is like and what His plans are. He used prophets who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” They told us in inspired words what God has been doing throughout history with Israel. They told us about the many miracles of God. They told us about the nature of God. They told us about God’s plan to save sinners by sending His Son to die for us. There had to be a message sent via the telegraph or it would mean nothing. God’s special revelation through prophets was that message sent via God’s telegraph system.
Just as communication methods have progressed from the simple first message sent via telegraph, God’s revelatiion progressed. After centuries of prophets, God spoke through HIs Son. Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 [a]in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.” Now it is the “red letter” words of Jesus (used in the gospels in some Bibles) that tell us even more about the Father and HIs will. He then left the Spirit with His apostles, guiding them to “all truth” and they preached and wrote the rest of the New Testament, leaving us a core of all the truth that we would need to “not be tossed about by every wind of doctrine”. God sill speaks to us through creation and through His word. He even speaks to us in personal ways as we listen for HIs voice.
Well, there you have it. The “Signals” history of God’s communication to us. We live in an amazing time of communication. We also llive in an amazing time of studying God’s communication via HIs word. You can click on biblehub.com and get the Greek or Hebrew for any word in the Bible with its meaning, its cultural usage, different translations of the word, and the places in the Bible where it is used. You can google the internet to get amazing research on any Bible topic.
Here is Peyton Synthetic Gospel Harmony for Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. I like Peyton b/c it blends all 3 accounts of his prayer into one.
FRIDAY
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane – Before Dawn (Mk 14:32-42; Mt 26:36-46; Lk 22:39-46; Jn 18:1)
Lk 22:39 Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, Mt 26:36 to a place called Gethsemane, Jn 18:1 across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it. Lk 22:40 When he came to the place, he said to them, “Sit here and pray that you will not fall into temptation Mt 26:36 while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter, James, and John, the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Mk 14:35 Going a little farther, about a stone’s throw, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour would pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Lk 22:42 If you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.” 43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And in his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted from grief. Mk 14:37 He said to Peter, “Simon, why are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 38 Get up, stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mt 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed the same thing, “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.” Mk 14:40 When he came again he found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to tell him. Mt 26:44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that! Look, the hour is approaching and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!”
Notice the words that describe Jesus’ mental and emotional state in the Garden. 1) Mt 26:37 “Anguished” (lupeó: To grieve, to cause sorrow, to distress). 2) “distressed” (adémoneó: To be distressed, troubled, or deeply grieved). 3) Mt 26:38 “Deeply grieved” (perilupos: Deeply distressed, exceedingly sorrowful, very sad). perílypos (an adjective, derived from 4012/perí, “encompassing” and 3077/lýpē, “sorrow”) – properly, being sorrowful “all-around,” i.e. engulfed in sorrow. AI: “The term “perilupos” is used to describe a state of profound emotional distress or sorrow. It conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by grief or sadness, often in response to a significant or impending event. In the New Testament, it is used to express the deep emotional turmoil experienced by individuals in moments of great trial or anticipation of suffering.” In other words, not just grieved (lupeo in 26:37) but overwhelmed with grief, perilupos 26:38). 4) Mt 26:38 “to the point of death”. What does that mean? “He confesses a deeply troubled state of mind. “Jesus describes this as being so distressed that He almost feels the emotion would kill Him.” Have you ever been so troubled, depressed, grieved that you just felt like you couldn’t go one, you couldn’t face life any longer? Jesus felt that. 5) Lk 22:44 “sweat like drops of blood falling to the ground”. 2 possible meanings for this: “Hematohidrosis: This condition occurs when blood vessels around the sweat glands rupture, allowing blood to mix with sweat. It can be caused by extreme distress or bleeding disorders. Simile: The phrase “like drops of blood” could be a simile to compare the large, heavy drops of sweat to blood dripping from a wound.” Since it says “like”, I think it means a simile.
So, was Jesus depressed? It would seem so. He is “overwhelmed” with grief which is a symptom of depression. He feels that his grief and anxiety is going to kill him. He is sweating thick drops of sweat, which is a sign of a panic attack for me (I have awakened from a panic attack, sweating profusely even though the room temperature is cool). Is depression a lack of faith? Had Jesus lost his faith in the Father’s plan? Of course not. Some might feel guilt b/c they feel that their depression is due to their lack of faith. That just adds more stress to their depression. Depression is just a fact of our human weakness that we all endure at one time or another, some for longer periods than others.
So how did Jesus handle his depression? He prayed. Mk 14:35 Going a little farther, about a stone’s throw, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour would pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Lk 22:42 If you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And in his anguish he prayed more earnestly.” He prayed this same prayer 3 times. Did he really think that it was “possible” that his impending hour of suffering and death would pass from him and not happen? He knew that his fate, dying on the cross, was imminent, but He knew it had to happen to do the Father’s will and save sinners. After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, John 12:27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” I think his mind knew that it was not possible at the last moment to change God’s plan for him to die, but his fleshly spirit was so overwhelmed that he asked the Father if there was any other way. He is so distressed that he even reminds the Father “all things are possible for you”. But then he adds, “yet not my will but yours be done”. He is totally ready to accept his fate, suffer, and die. I think he knew there was no other way.
When we pray for a loved one with cancer, we know that all things are possible with God. He can use doctors and medicine to reverse a death sentence, or He can just reverse it mysteriously without medicine. So our grief causes us to pray for healing. We pray with faith that God can heal. We don’t pray with faith that God will heal. We know, as Jesus did, that for whatever reason God might not let the fate of our loved one pass: he/she will die from the cancer. We should not feel guilty if our loved one dies, thinking that he/she died b/c of our lack of faith or lack of prayer. I have heard some expressing that thought when we had a loved one die and it devastating to the survivors, causing them to live with unnecessary guilt for years afterward. We lost a loved one in a car accident, and as she was in intensive care I was asked, “we prayed and we believe so she will be okay, right?” We lost another loved one in intensive care and I heard someone say that if we prayed hard enough and believed enough that the loved one would live. She did not live and I wonder how that statement affected others’ faith in God.
We just have to pray, believing that God might heal, but we must be ready to accept whatever the will of the Father is. Not some predetermined Calvinistic fate, but whatever the Father feels is best. Then we just leave the outcome to God. We don’t lose any faith in God is he doesn’t heal. We accept it and move on. If we pray like Jesus did, then the Father can say “yes” to all of our prayers. We pray, “heal my loved one, but if not, do what is best”. The Father can say, “yes, I wil do that”: even if our loved one dies, He has answered “yes” to our prayer. If we just pray, “Father heal my loved one”, then He can’t say yes. He can say “I hear your prayer, but “no”, I will not heal your loved one.”
We can learn so much from the prayer life of Jesus. Here is a great site that lists all the verses (and you can click on the verses for each time of prayer listed) in which Jesus prayed: https://jesusalive.cc/times-jesus-prayed/. Here is a great summary from the article by Steve Shirley:
“The Bible tells us in (1 Th 5:17) to “pray without ceasing.” While I don’t believe this literally means to never stop praying, I would say that Jesus probably came closer to never stopping than any person who has ever lived on this planet. He was continually in a prayer mode. He is shown to pray: alone (Mt 14:23)(Mk 1:35)(Lk 9:18)(Lk 22:39-41), in public (Jn 11:41-42)(Jn 12:27-30), before meals (Mt 26:26)(Mk 8:6)(Lk 24:30)(Jn 6:11), before important decisions (Lk 6:12-13), before healing (Mk 7:34-35), after healing (Lk 5:16), to do the Father’s will (Mt 26:36-44), among other things. He also taught on the importance of prayer (Mt 21:22)(Mk 11:24-26)(Mt 7:7-11)(Lk 11:9-13)(Jn 14:13-14)(Jn 15:7,16)(Jn 16:23-24)(Mt 5:44)(Lk 6:27-28)(Mt 6:5-15: including the Lord’s Prayer)(Lk 11:2-4)(Mt 18:19-20). If you take all of the places that show Jesus praying, you will have a PERFECT outline of how to pray (check out Jn 17).” Go to the article and read this summary b/c you can click on the verses and see each verse for each category. You can’t do that from reading the summary in this blog article. The author lists 25 places, times, and occasions where Jesus prayed and you can click on the verses for each one.
I don’t know about you, but my prayer life is weak and I hope this article will help me be more prayerful.
So, add “prayer” to “heal to deal with depression.”
The prophet Elijah had just achieved a maor victory over the wicked King Ahab and his wicked wife, Queen Jezebel. On Mt. Carmel, he had just defeated the 400 prophets of Baal and the 450 prophets of Asherah. He should feel quite victorious, yes? No. Instead he goes into depression, even what would be considered suicidal depression. The mental health questionaires always ask, “did you ever consider killing yourself when you were depressed?” Eliah did. After his victory, he heard that Jezebel had sworn to kill him the next day. There would probably be many of her soldiers tracking him down 24/7. 1 Kings 19:3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” That is suicidal thinking. An angel gave him food and sent him on a 40 day journey to Mt. Sinai. 1 Kings 19:9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” “I have accomplished nothing, my life is a failure.”
What happens next is interesting. 1 Kings 19:11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ” In other words: The Lord doesn’t always punish our enemies when and how we want him to. He doesn’t always remove our enemies when we want him to. It would be several years before God punishes Jezebel and the dogs eat almost all of her body and lick up her blood. Sometimes God has a more gentle way of dealing with our depressing circumstances, so we just need to trust him and be patient.
1 Kings 19:13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” Apparently Elijah didn’t get the lesson with the gentle breeze whisper! God asked him the same question that he did before the breeze. God was not asking that for His sake. He was asking that to challenge Elijah’s depression thinking. In other words: “Elijah, why are you even here? You should not even be here, several days away from the action. You should not be here feeling sorry for yourself.” Self pity is a big part of depression. You get the “victim mentality. You complain a lot. You dwell on things that have happened to you or past mistakes. You look at others who are doing better than you. You just feel sorry for yourself. Why me? Have you ever felt that? Self pity is a symptom of depression or can lead to depression. Of course, if you look at how many others are suffering then you won’t feel so sorry for yourself.
So what did God tell him to do to deal with his self pity and suicidal depression? 1 Kings 19:15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” In other words: “Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Get back to work using your gift to do what I have commissioned you to do, i.e. to do the work of a prophet. I have work for you to do and this self pity and depression is hindering that work. Go anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: I will use him to punish the idolatry of Israel (and God did that later). Go anoint Jehu to wipe out the household and descendants to Ahab and Jezebel, which he did later. Go anoint Elisha to take your place later, and he will pronounce even more punishments on Israel for their idolatry. But be patient. The strong wind, earthquake, and fire will come, but only when I am ready and how I dictate it to happen. You just get back to work using your prophetic gift.” Elijah apparently immediately did what God said. Maybe it helped him deal with his depression and self pity.
So in part 1, we got lessons from the depression of Job. What is the main takeaway from the depression of Elijah. To me it is this: Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and go use your gift to help others. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 2 main types of gifts: teaching and serving. Using our gifts will help get our minds off our depression and make us feel useful. The world is full of opportunities for us to use our gifts. Find something that gives you purpose and perspective, that gives you a reason to live and gives meaning to your existence.
So, from Job: trust in God that he knows what’s best and humbly accept depressing circumstances.
From Elijah: quit feeling sorry for yourself and go use your gift to serve others.
From Paul: Keep your eyes on eternal life and whatever you face here on earth will be light and momentary in comparison with our eternal weight of glory.
When you have done all that, go get some good home made banana pudding, a good cup of coffee, and make the best of every day that you have left. At least, that’s what I do!
I was a little shocked at the severity of Job’s depression. Someone has said that Job 30 is a classical definition of the symptoms of depression. Justing quoting one section from that chapter.
Job30:16 “And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me. 17 The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. 18 With great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic. 19 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. 20 I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me. 21 You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. 22 You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm. 23 For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living.
Physical and emotional pain, crying, hopeless feeling, physical exhaustion, sleeplessness, anger at God, self pity, loneliness, feeling of isolation. It’s all there. He had already wished that he had never been born or that he had been born dead in chapter 3 when his trials began. His 3 “friends” say that his suffering must be as a result of his sins. He argues that he has not committed sin and has always helped the needy, not lusted, etc. He wants an umpire to settle this dispute with God. He challenges God’s fairness. We don’t know how long Job sat with boils from head to foot, but by chapter 30 it seems that he is in full blown depression. A 4th friend, Elihu, speaks for the first time. He rebukes the 3 other men for not giving Job satisfactory advice, and he rebukes Job for his self righteousness and for challenging God.
Finally, for the first time in the book, the Lord speaks.
Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” In other words: “Man up. If you think you can challenge God, I have some questions for you. Where were you when I created all these wondrous things in nature?” 40:1 And the Lord said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” In other words: “Job, who do you think you are than you can challenge Me and question My character and fairness.”
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” In other words: “Shut my mouth. I will never challenge you again, God.”
God is not through with him. Job 40:6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:7 “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” In other words: “Man up. I’ve got some more questions for you.”
Job has had enough! Job 42:Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” In other words: “I repent of my attitude, my challenging you, God. I will humbly accept whatever you do to me and just trust you even if I don’t know why You are doing what You are doing.”
I don’t claim to be a counselor for depression, but at least my advice is free! I always told them when I was preaching every Sunday for a congregation of 500, only getting part time pay since I was full time in Christian education, “My preaching is not some super speaker, but at least it’s cheap!”
The next article on depression will be Elijah. God’s rebuke of Elijah in his depression will add to “how to deal with depression”. But what do we get from God’s rebuke of Job in his depression? Simple: “You just need to recognize that I am the Creator and Sustainer of all things and trust me whether you know why I am doing what I am doing or not. Just humbly recognize that I am God and trust Me that I know what’s best.”
Counselors give great advice on how to deal with depression that should be included here. From AI:
Seek Professional Help:
Consult a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or therapist, for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT), can help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Antidepressant medications may be prescribed in some cases to improve mood and reduce symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes:
Engage in regular exercise, even if it’s just a short walk or bike ride.
Get enough sleep and maintain a healthy diet.
Avoid alcohol and drugs, as they can worsen symptoms.
Spend time with supportive friends and family members.
Self-Help Techniques:
Practice mindfulness and meditation to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation.
Engage in activities that bring joy, such as hobbies, reading, or spending time in nature.
Set small, achievable goals and celebrate your successes.
Keep a journal to track your thoughts and feelings, and identify triggers that may worsen depression.
That’s great thorough advice, so follow it. But Christian counseling adds another dimension, the spiritual. The very first step in dealing with depression is to simply trust God that He knows what is best. Just humbly accept whatever it is that depresses you. Trust God that He has something really good for you in the future that will make your depressing circumstances seem like nothing one day, sooner or later.
It might even be that God will reward your trust in this life, as he did with Job. 42:12 And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.”
But for most, that reward might be eternal life with the Father, Jesus, and loved ones. Jesus had jsut finished telling his apostles that riches would not be the reward for following Him. Peter then asked, “We have left everything to follow you. If the reward is not riches, what’s in it for us?” Jesus answered: Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
So, when depressed, keep your eyes on eternal life after death. Whatever it is that depresses you will seem like nothing in eternity, so why are you allowing it to take away your joy of living? Just trust God and accept your depressing circumstances. Don’t question God or spend time asking “Why?” You might even be able just to laugh at it all and say, “Thanks God. This just keeps me humble and makes me appreciate heaven even more.” And then go do all those tips the counsellors gave you.
Paul’s suffered so much for Christ, but listen to his perspective on suffering. 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
He calls his suffering “light momentary affliction?” Listen to what that “light” affliction was: 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?” I bet your depressing circumstances pale compared to what Paul suffered, but he was not depressed.
Why not? Because he knew his suffering was only “momentary”. But they lasted a lot longer than one moment of pain, didn’t they? Yes, his suffering lasted about 30 years from his conversion to his death by beheading at the hands of Nero. But Paul calls them “momentary” b/c he kept his eyes on his eternal reward in heaven. He viewed his suffering as “preparing an eternal weight in glory beyond all comparison”. In other words: “what I am suffering here is nothing compared to my eternal reward.” So that’s the key. Don’t let your mind dwell on your depressing circumstances. Make you mind look with faith to the distant future, eternal life in heaven. Block out all other thoughts and think about heaven. An atheiest can’t do that. We can. Even facing death, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” We have the hope of eternal life, which God promised, and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
I hope this helps if you suffer from depression. Trust God. Keep your eyes on eternal life in heaven. Enjoy the day as best as you can.
Please read the last article on the all sufficiency of Christ (Colossians chapters 1 and 2). Summary:Jesus is all sufficient for your forgiveness and guidance. He is the Son of God, the very icon (exact image) of the Father. He is the Creator and all things hold together by His power. He is your redemption from sin and reconciliation with God. He is the head of the church and directs every thought, word, and deed. Don’t let anyone tell you that simple faith and obedience is not enough, that you need to focus on sectarian rules or new revelation or asceticism or visions or intellectual doctrinal debates or charisms of some latter day prophet or legalism withdrawing fellowship with other believers. You don’t need those things to be “spiritual”, to be more “complete or mature” as a Christian.
So, Christ is all sufficient but what does that mean in practical daily Christian living? Since he is all sufficient, do we even need to try to quit sinning? Will the all sufficient grace of Jesus save us no matter what we do (universalism)? Do we need to do good works since salvation can’t be earned by good works? Are there any rules to keep? Are there any doctrines essential to salvation and fellowship with other Christians?
I think the Colossian letter answers all those questions. Remember, Paul is writing to house churches in Colossae who don’t have a completed New Testament. Some false teachers are trying to persuade them to focus on some new philosophy about the nature of Christ or some food laws of the Old Testament or some visions they have seen. After discussing the all sufficiency of Christ in chapters 1 and 2, what will Paul tell them to focus on.
1:4 Continue “your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints.”
1:10 Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
1:23 Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard.”
3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Don’t focus of all that stuff the false teachers are pushing at you.
3:5-11 Put off the old sinful self and all your old sinful thoughts, deeds, and practices. Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. lying. That list covers it all, doesn’t it? Look at each one of those and ask yourself, “How hard am I really tryin to no commit those sins?”
3:10-13 Put on the new self that is constantly being “renewed”. The Greek for renewed is anakainoó: To renew, to make new again. (AI): “The verb ἀνακαινόω (anakainoó) is used in the New Testament to describe the process of renewal or making something new again. It conveys the idea of restoration and transformation, often in a spiritual or moral sense. This renewal is typically associated with the inner self or mind, indicating a profound change that aligns with God’s will and purposes.” Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other just as Christ forgives you, love, which is the perfect bond of unity, peace, be thankful. Let the word richly dwell within you b/c that is the main way that the Spirit renews your mind every day to put off the old and put on the new. It is a constant battle of the mind 24/7 to do that, but you have to stay in the word. Look at that list to put on. Which ones do you need to ask the Spirit to help you practice more? Ephesians expresses this same “put off the old, put on the new renewal of the mind: Ephesians 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” A great summary verse: Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
3:18-4:1. Be a submissive wife, loving husband, obedience child, gentle father, obedient slave, fair slave master. It should all start in the home!
4:2-4. Be devoted to prayer with thanksgiving. 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Pray for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. Pray and support organizations like EEM that print and distribute Bibles in many countries in many languages.
4:5-6. Make the most of every opportunity that you have to influence outsiders, non Christians. 6 Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” That would include handling conflicts, not returning insult for insult, defending the faith ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you about the hope of eternal life that you have, and just being kind to others in your speech, encouraging others. That would include: Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
4:7-18 Share greetings with fellow believers and co-workers in the kingdom. Paul mentions several, including John Mark and Luike. Special mention of Epaphras who started and pastored the church at Coossae but was in Rome when Paul wrote the letter: 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.” Also share this letter with the Laodiceans and read the letter I wrote to them.
In closing, remember that Paul told how they became Christians and how they were saved. Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.“
I’m still convinced that one must believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). These verses teach that baptism is the final “step”, being buried (the word baptizo means immersion) in the water and then raised up from the water. Still saved by grace through faith, but baptism is part of that initial saving faith. Similar to Namaan being told to dip in the River Jordan 7 times to be healed of leprosy. The water or the number of dips didn’t save him, it was the power of God. But he was given “conditions” to meet to be cleansed and he would not have been cleansed if he did not obey those conditions. The same with baptism. It’s not the water. It’s not a “work” by which we earn salvation. It’s simply a condition of faith that must be met. We were dead in sin, but after baptism we were raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6). Baptism is not just something you do to join a church. It is a critical step in being saved by grace through faith.
So, if you are not a Christian, please do so. If you have not been baptized, please do so. Don’t let anyone get your focus off the all sufficiency of Jesus and what simple Christian living is.
Do you see why I made the title?If Colossians was the only book in the New Testament that you had, it would be more than adequate for you to believe in the all sufficiency of Christ and how you should live a a believer.
CHRIST IS ALL YOU NEED AND COLOSSIANS IS ALL YOU NEED!
(AI): “If you ever lose confidence in the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ, it means you start to doubt that Jesus alone can provide everything you need for salvation and a fulfilling life, potentially looking to other sources or actions to fill the gaps in your faith, which goes against the core Christian belief that Jesus is enough on his own.”
The theme of the letter to the Colossians is “the all sufficiency of Christ”. Paul is in house arrest in Rome for 2 years around 60 AD, during which he wrote his 4 prison epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Epaphras started the church in Colossae. Epaphras was a coworker of Paul’s and a native of Colossae. He likely converted to Christianity while Paul was in Ephesus. Maybe he was converted while Paul was teaching two years in the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus. Paul would have laid his hands on him and given him miraculous gifts. He then returned to Colossae to spread the gospel. He probably ministered to the Colossae church for several years. He traveled to Rome to update Paul on the church’s condition. That’s how Paul knew about the heresy being spread at Colossae. He became Paul’s fellow prisoner in Rome. (AI): “During Paul’s three-year stay at Ephesus, “all the residents of Asia (including Colossae), both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10, CSB). It is quite possible that Paul, while in Ephesus, had led Epaphras to Christ, discipled him, and then commissioned him as a church-planter to Colossae.”
Picture Paul in Rome writing a letter to the house church(es) in Colossae after Epaphras told him about the false teaching being spread in Colossae. Mind you that the church there doesn’t have a copy of the New Testament yet. They might have had access to the gospel. But Paul is dealing with a very specific issue that maybe Epaphras is not able to deal with. The Colossians would have respected Paul as an apostle and hopefully they dealt with the issues after receiving Paul’s letter. It makes you thankful that we have the completed New Testament “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14).
What was the heresy being spread in the church there? This wasn’t a minor dispute over eating meats. The heresy attacked the very nature and sufficiency of Christ. (AI) “The concept of “all-sufficiency”: This means that Jesus’ sacrifice and power are enough to cover all your needs, including forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and strength to live a godly life; you don’t need to add anything else to be saved or live a righteous life.”
(AI): “The “Colossian Heresy” refers to a set of false teachings that spread within the early Christian church in Colossae, which Apostle Paul addressed in his Epistle to the Colossians; this heresy likely involved a mixture of Jewish legalism, pagan mysticism, and angel worship, essentially downplaying the supremacy of Christ and emphasizing the need for additional rituals or practices beyond faith in Jesus for salvation.
Key points about the Colossian Heresy:
Secret knowledge:The false teachers might have presented their beliefs as a form of “secret knowledge” accessible only to a select few.
Focus on angels:A significant aspect of the heresy was the excessive reverence or worship of angels, potentially viewing them as intermediaries between God and humans, diminishing Christ’s role.
Ascetic practices:The heresy might have also promoted strict asceticism, encouraging practices like fasting and self-denial beyond what was necessary.
Jewish legalism:Some elements of the heresy could have involved adherence to Jewish laws like circumcision or dietary restrictions, even for Gentile Christians.”
The false teachers were persuasive. Colossians 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 2:8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. 2:16 Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.”
False teachers are still very persuasive today, deceiving many Christians. Following Christ is really pretty simple. You acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior. You put your faith in His atoning death on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. You try to stop “practicing” sin. You try to love fellow Christians and the lost. You try to allow Jesus to lead you in every aspect of your life. You try to obey his commands. You try to be a loving mate, child, worker, neighbor, and influence with everyone in your life. Then some persuasive false teacher comes along and says, “what you are doing is not enough. You need to keep some of the food and feast laws of the Old Testament”(even though they were given to the Jews and you are not a Jew, you are a Gentile Christian under the new covenant:the Seventh Day Adventists do this). “You need to have some secret knowledge that is not in the New Testament” (the Mormons do that with the Book of Mormons which they say is equal to the New Testament in authority; Christian Science does this with their special healing concepts taken from their prophetess). “You have the wrong view of the nature of Christ; he was a created being, not eternal” (the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that and then use persuasive arguments to get you to believe that Jesus invisibly came in 1914 AD to establish the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses and that you need to join).”
Or maybe a persuasive teacher (not so radical as the cult teachers mentioned above) comes along and says, “Here is a list of doctrines that you must follow: no instrumental music in worship, Lord’s Supper every Sunday, no jewelry, infant baptism, etc and you can’t fellowship with others who don’t adhere to these teachings” (the doctrines might just be honest attempts to teach the truth, but it is legalism to make minor doctrines as tests of fellowship with other Christians). “You need to come worship with us b/c we have a pastor or prophet who gets visions from God to guide us” (many cults have latter day prophets who rely on visions they have seen). “You need to speak in tongues to really be a spiritual Christian and you need to follow our Spirit led prophets” (the Bethel group does that as well as many Pentecostal groups: speaking in tongues might not be a heaven/hell issue but it can’t be used to make believers feel more spiritual than others who don’t do such practices).
Indeed we have plenty of the “Colossian heresy” today among religious groups. You might wonder why false teachers would come up with all these heretical or divisive teachings. Maybe it is just a desire for control or power over others, to make the false teacher feel more important b/c of his/her teaching. Maybe even money or sexual motives. Maybe an honest attempt to get people to believe in truths that he/she thinks other believers have missed, but even if that is the case they should not cause division.
But Paul says that the. root of the problem of the heresy is that some are not totally sold on the “all sufficiency of Christ”. Again: “The concept of “all-sufficiency”: This means that Jesus’ sacrifice and power are enough to cover all your needs, including forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and strength to live a godly life; you don’t need to add anything else to be saved or live a righteous life.” We should focus all our attention, devotion, and study on Christ and not issues, new philosophy, new rules and regulations, new forms of spirituality, new intellectual debates, new revelations, etc. Since Christ is the head of the body, he does give us all the basic truths we need. His revelation through the inspired apostles and prophets as recorded in the New Testament is sufficient for us. We won’t come up LGBQT approval if we trust in the sufficiency of His revelation. We won’t listen to a pope as the head of the church. We won’t accept extra books like the Book of Mormon. We won’t follow some latter day prophet. We might sit around in a house church and discuss issues and doctrines, and we can have minor disagreements, but we will always trust Jesus’ new covenant to keep us straight!
We will not feel like we have to keep more rules to be more righteous. We will trust in the reckoned or imputed righteousness of Christ that is given us by our faith in Jesus. We won’t feel like we need some extra secret knowledge or false spirituality to be more spiritual.
We are now ready for Paul’s doctrinal statement of the “all sufficiency of Christ”:
Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16 for [y]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power which works mightily within me.“
Paul gives 12 facts about Christ in these verses:
He is King (verse 13). We are translated into his spiritual kingdom, the church, which is his figurative body of the saved. Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) .
He is our Redeemer (verse 14). The Greek is apolutrósis: Redemption: release effected by payment of ransom. He frees us from the power of death and sin. The ransom price is paid to God to appease His wrath against our sin. His grace will cover you if you sincerely try. His blood will continue to cleanse us of our sins (1 John 1:7). Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight”.
The image of the invisible God (verse 15). The Greek is eikón: Image, likeness, representation, as with the image of an emperor on a coin. “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father” (John 1:9)
The firstborn of all creation (verse 15). The Greek is prototokos: Firstborn but in the sense that the firstborn son has preeiminence or soverignty over other sons. Jesus was the not the first thing created by God like the JW’s teach. Paul makes that clear in the next verse.
Creator of all things (verse 16). John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” He is the creator of all things, so he can’t be part of the creation itself.
He is eternal (verse 17). “Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 5:58). Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” Isaiah 9:For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” If he is eternal, then he was not created.
In Him all things hold together (verse 17). What is gravity? What keeps protons and electrons from collapsing into the nucleus of elements? What makes Newton’s laws of motion work? What keeps stars and planets in orbit? It is the power of Jesus who holds all things together.
The Head of the Church (verse 18, 24). The head controls every organ in the body and everything that we do. We must look to Jesus, not the pope, to direct everything we do. Ephesians 1:22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
The firstborn from the dead (verse 18). Again the Greek is prototokos: Firstborn. He was not the first one ever raised from the dead (for example Lazarus were raised by Jesus), but he was the preeminent one ever raised from the dead. His resurrection would verify Christianity.
The has first place in everything (verse 18). The Greek is próteuó: To have the first place, to be preeminent, the first in importance. He must be first in everything thing you think, say, and do. He must be first priority in your life.
In Him the fullness of God dwells (verse 19). The Greek is pléróma: Fullness, completion, that which fills. In other words, the Father filled Jesus with everything that He, the Father, is. He is God. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Believed what? Believed, like Thomas, that Jesus is Lord and God!
He is our reconciliation with God (verse 20-22). The Greek is apokatallassó: To reconcile completely, to restore to favor. It emphasizes the total restoration of a relationship that was once broken due to sin. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” 2 Coriinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Christ then is all sufficient for those who trust in Him. If you are just trusting in Jesus and walking in the light, then you don’t need anything or anyone else. Don’t let anyone tell you that you need something else to be “complete in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). It is “Christ in you” that is the hope of the glory of eternal life (Colossians 1:27). Focus on who Christ is and what he provides for you instead of your religious works and good deeds.
Let’s finish where we started. (AI): “If you ever lose confidence in the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ, it means you start to doubt that Jesus alone can provide everything you need for salvation and a fulfilling life, potentially looking to other sources or actions to fill the gaps in your faith, which goes against the core Christian belief that Jesus is enough on his own.” When you have problems, do you believe that Christ is sufficient to give you the strength to handle the problem? When you feel like you are no doing enough or that you don’ know enough, do you trust Jesus to save you anyway? When someone is trying to add things that you need to be complete in Christ, can you tell them, “No thanks. Jesus is all I need.”
I close with a song. “Jesus is all the world to me.” You can listen to the song on youtube.
1 Jesus is all the world to me, My life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without him I would fall: When I am sad, to him I go, No other one can cheer me so; When I am sad, he makes me glad, He’s my friend.
2 Jesus is all the world to me, My friend in trials sore; I go to him for blessings, and He gives them o’er and o’er: He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain; Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my friend.
3 Jesus is all the world to me, And true to him I’ll be; Oh, how could I this friend deny, When he’s so true to me? Following him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night; Following him by day and night, He’s my friend.
4 Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better friend; I trust him now, I’ll trust him when Life’s fleeting days shall end: Beautiful life with such a friend, Beautiful life that has no end; Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my friend.
Nicky's Notes 