Sermons and Biblical Studies

COLOSSIANS 3:15–17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). All of us want peace in our lives, but few of us experience as much as we wish. We desire that sense of the peace of God that … Continue reading “AND BE THANKFUL”

COLOSSIANS 3:5–11 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). In Colossians 3:5–11, Paul covers four of the most important areas of Christian ethics. The first he mentions is “sexual immorality, impurity, lust.” It is clear from the Bible and … Continue reading “THINGS THAT SHOULD DIE”

COLOSSIANS 3:1–4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). Yesterday we considered briefly a form of legalism. Today let us take up an objection that the Judaizing Gnostics at Colossae might have raised against Paul’s teaching. … Continue reading “THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST”

COLOSSIANS 2:16–23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Colossians 2:23). Our sanctification is to flow out of our justification; it is measured by the Word of God for salvation and … Continue reading “THE DOCTRINE OF DEMONS”

COLOSSIANS 2:13–15 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13b–14). Whether he or she admits it or not, every person has a problem with guilt. There is nobody … Continue reading “GUILT AND FORGIVENESS”

COLOSSIANS 2:9–12 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the flesh, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ (Colossians 2:11). When God called out Abram to be a priest to the nations, He gave him the sign of circumcision as a … Continue reading “CHRISTIAN CIRCUMCISION”

COLOSSIANS 2:9–12 And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:10). The headship of Christ over all earthly powers and authorities also contradicts a pervasive heretical tendency seen throughout church history. Many have felt that because Christ is their King, they need not recognize lesser … Continue reading “THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS”

COLOSSIANS 2:6–10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Greek philosophy, and all pagan thought, pitted the realm of the spirit against the physical world. Plato, summarizing Greek thought, said that the eternal world of “ideas” or “forms” was imperfectly manifested in physical things. Thus, the goal … Continue reading “THE SCANDAL OF THE INCARNATION”

COLOSSIANS 2:1–5 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally (Colossians 2:1). The history of the church displays various theories of preaching. One view is that the preacher should never let his personality show, but should present … Continue reading “DOCTRINE AND LIFE”

COLOSSIANS 1:24–29 “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints” (Colossians 1:26). In ordinary English, a mystery is a puzzle to be solved. In theology, a mystery is something that is true, but that the human mind does not completely understand, such as the mystery … Continue reading “THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST”