“Hidden”

Bible Study August 15, 2025

Colossians 3:2 – 4  (CSB)

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

As a Christian there are many things we are called to do and decisions to make. We can ask the Lord for leadership but in many cases we should do what is right and proper by knowing right and wrong.

I believe Paul is saying in verse two to live as you would live in heaven. After all we set our minds on heavenly things then the tings of this world are not so important. I know they will still look appealing that is what Satan does by making wrong look right. Setting our minds is our decision we control our thoughts and actions.

If we were to look a t a compass it points north, then our complete life should point itself toward heaven as the compass points north.

Paul says our life is dead. That is past tense in the English language. It is also when Jesus died in the past and when he died He buried the sin in our lives with His death, but we must accept the new life free of sin He is offering. When Jesus died He died for our past, present, and future sin there is nothing else he can do he will only die once.

Hidden in Christ has three meanings according to John MacArthur:

1. Believers have a common spiritual life with the Father and Son,
2. The world cannot understand the full import of the believers’ new life, and
3. Believers are eternally secure, protected from spiritual enemies, with access to all God’s blessings.

If we are in fellowship with Him thru the shed blood of Jesus then we will also appear with Him in glory. Revelation 19:11 – 13 “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.”
God Bless.

Bible Study August 13, 2025

Colossians 3:1  (CSB)

“Raised With Christ”

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

This word “So” would better be translated “Since.” It simply means “to be co-resurrected” in our union with Christ.

One verse today but it is packed with guidance for us today. What thought enters your mind when you think of the word “raised?” There are many thoughts that come to my mind. One is you are raised from the dead as Lazarus was when Jesus spoke the Word for him to come out of his tomb. A second thought that comes to me is the idea of being  “lifted up” as to be lifted up and set above. We have been placed in a new realm, a holy realm if you will.

When the lifting has taken place and we are new spiritual beings raised from the dead (the sin in our lives) then we are to seek the things above. So what are those things? When the Lord’s Prayer is repeated there is this verse “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven.” What would it be like if we lived our lives on earth as we will in the kingdom. Wel you might say heaven and earth are much different (and they are) but what if we lived our earthly lives as we will in heaven from what we know about the kingdom? What would you change in your life?

As a result of this taking place in our lives we are now alive unto Him and can understand spiritual truths, realities, the blessings of God, and know His will for our lives. Paul called these “the things above.”

What if? What if we looked at this life as our heavenly preparation for the next life? What if we treated others the way we will be treated in the kingdom? What if we looked at life from the perspective of being here a short time and in eternity a long time what would we change?

What if …?

God Bless.

Bible Study August 13, 2025

Colossians 1:23 (CSB)

“Whose battle Is It Anyway”

“I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.”

How much in this life do you struggle with? I read the above verse today and while we passed over it before it hit me again. Paul said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” (Eph. 6:12).

How do we see these together? In the Colossians reference Paul is talking about the balance of Christian living. Paul put all his efforts into serving God and honoring God. The ESV uses the word “toil” the CSB uses the word “labor.” They both refer to working until we are exhausted.

The Greek word for “struggling” is where we get our word “agonize.” Agonize refers to the effort it takes in an athletic event in which we are required to compete in. He notes that his struggling  or work has eternal results and that it is God working through him.

In the Ephesians reference Paul is saying we “wrestle” a term signifying hand to hand combat. Coping with Satan who is deceptive requires truth and righteousness. Satan operates in the spiritual realm by making the physical things look enticing. When we live in the spiritual realm under the guidance of the Holy Spirit then we find the battle is not ours but God has already won not only the battle but the war.

When Paul refers to these two phrases: “against flesh and blood” and “spiritual forces in the heavens” may possibly refer to the most depraved of sins such as extreme sexual perversion, occult worship and practice, and the worship of Satan himself.

When we fight we fight a battle that has been won we are awaiting the crowning moment when Jesus returns and seals the victory. Life will have its battles but let the Victor fight them for you and live in the spiritual realm.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 12, 2025

Colossians 2:18 – 23 (CSB)

“Do Not Be Disqualified”

8 “Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind. 19 They don’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God. 20 If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.”

Paul is warning the church not to fall into the temptation to allow false teachers to cheat or defraud them of their present blessing nor the ones to come in eternity. Do not be led into some type of irrational mysticism (vague or ill-defined religious or spiritual belief, especially as associated with a belief in occult forces or supernatural agencies). False teachers can make things sound so enticing that they are believable But Paul tells them to avoid this. Our basis for all things right should be compared to the scriptures.

False teachers will base their teaching on false claims of visions and revelations they claim to have received. An example of this is all the end times “prophets” (who are really not prophets) who proclaim they received a vision that the world would end on a certain day at a certain time and as we all know they were wrong. Scripture teaches no man knows when the return of Christ will take place and the end will come.

Paul is saying they are full of hypocrisy and lies. Their minds are empty of the truth. These false teachers do not hang onto the head who is Christ the head of the church. The body is held together and perfectly created to function together. The same is true for the church. When Christ is the head of the church and all members are in ministry and each person has their gift(s) flowing in the body then the church will move forward.

If we are buried with Christ we are raised with Christ stay away from the things that will bring you down. He sums it up well in verse twenty-one ““Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? Avoid these things at all cost.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 11, 2025

Colossian 2:16 –  18 (CSB)

“Legalistic Rules”

“Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ. 18 Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.”

Paul is warning the Colossians to avoid anyone who tells them they should trade their freedom in Christ for a set of man-made legalistic rules. Legalism is just that. In Christian theology, legalism refers to a distorted view of Christianity that emphasizes adherence to a strict set of rules and regulations as the means to achieve salvation and righteousness, rather than relying on God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It often involves a focus on external behavior and performance, potentially overlooking the heart and genuine relationship with God.’

To many churches have established rules that are legalistic. If you place emphasis on rules rather than relationship then legalism is ruling your life. I understand this as growing up in a church way too much emphasis was placed on meaningless practices than living in freedom. It’s not freedom to do what you want it is free to live free in Christ without the burdensome rules hanging over your head.

Paul gives us an excellent example of legalism in verse sixteen. False teachers were attempting to place dietary restrictions based on the old Mosaic law. Since the Colossian are now under the new covenant they did not need to follow the OT rules of dietary restrictions.

There were many festivals that were celebrated in the OT and they are no longer required under the new covenant through Christ. Looking at Acts 20:7 Sunday, the first day of the week the church gathered for worship, because it was the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Scripture does not require Christians to observe the Saturday Sabbath; the Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic covenant.

More about this tomorrow.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 8, 2025

Colossian 2:11 – 15 (CSB)

“Full Punishment In Exchange For a Full Pardon”

11 “You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were 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 trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.”

“Dead in sin” means we are caught up in all the worldly stuff that brings about death to the human body and the spirit of man. It is the sphere of the world that we find sin. There is no hope for man to come out of the sin world – Unless someone comes and takes his place. That is where Jesus came to take our place. The debt He cancelled refers to the “erasing of the record of our debt.”

We all owe God a debt for violating His law a debt we cannot pay. Paul refers to “a certificate of debt” as a written document and says Jesus wipes the ink off the parchment as though it was never there in the first place. He nailed it to the cross when He died on the cross. “Nailing it to the cross” is a metaphor. The list of crimes committed by the crucified criminal were listed  and nailed to the cross where he would die for all to know the wrongs he had committed. It simply outlined the offenses for which he was being put to death.

In our case our crimes were listed and nailed to the cross that Jesus hung from when He died on our behalf. He received our full punishment and we receive a full pardon.

However, there is an additional benefit to what took place on the cross that day. Paul tells us that he disarmed Satan and his forces. While His body was dead His spirit went to the abode of the dead and announced victory over sin, death, hell, and Satan himself.

Christ won the battle and the picture we can have in our minds is one of total and complete victory over the forces of sin led by our adversary – Satan.

Be an overcomer.

God Bless.

Bible Study August 1, 2025

1 Chronicles 16:34 (CSB)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

“When God Ran”

I woke up this morning with the words running through my head “Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.” Ten I received a text from a friend whom I have known since we were six years old asking for prayer.. I wanted today not so much to say something but to ask to read these words and join me in prayer for the request that was made.

Verse 1

I love You, Lord

For Your mercy never fails me

All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Chorus

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Verse 2

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest night

You are close like no other

I’ve known You as a Father

I’ve known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God

Bridge (x2)

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

With my life laid down, I surrendered now

I give You everything

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

Here is the YouTube link to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FBb6hnwTo

God Bless.

Bible Study July 31, 2025

Genesis 1:1 – 2:25 (CSB)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

“What a Creation”

We have been looking systematically at the book of Colossians by intention. But today I feel we need to step away today only. Here is why. Read the complete creation story to get the full impact.

Earlier today I put one of our dogs outside as I do every morning. We will almost all agree it has been very hot. Today is much different as I was sitting on the patio watching her sniff what seemed like every blade of grass in the backyard. She sniffs the smell of a toad on occasion who crosses our patio, bunnies are regular visitors to our yard as is the squirrel that torments her who lives in the tree in the backyard. She has a keen sense of smell missing nothing within the range of her nose.

As I sat there I saw the breeze blowing through the trees over tha hill that falls behind our home some had their leaves turned, my mother said that was a sign of rain (I have never followed up to see how accurate she was).

We have four huge planters with flowers that we plant every year on the patio and our tradional hanging ferns and a flower basket. What intrigued me was that three of the four planters are doing great one has not seen any change from the day we planted them. I thought about the life of a human being.

All these plants get watered at the same time, each has sun available to them in equal amounts, in fact Cindy treats each of them the same she has no favorites. As I was sitting there it was impressed upon that is the exact way many people live their lives. All have some opportunity even the same opportunity, Romans 2:11 says, “11 For there is no favoritism with God.” We all have opportunities in this life to grow.

I have no idea why the one planter is not flourishing. Humans do not flourish spiritually because we do not spend time reading the Word, listening to sound teaching, listening to Christian music, and growing deeper in our faith.

The question I have for myself today is a simple one with complex answers – what will I do today to flourish?
God Bless.

Bible Study July 30,2025

Colossian 2:8 – 10 (CSB)

“Robbery”

“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”

Paul uses the term “takes you captive’ here to mean robbery. False teachers who are successful in getting people to believe their lies rob them of salvation, truth, and blessing. You can and I did a search of false teachers. Recently I saw a video of several who promised money, healing, and abundant blessings if you sent them money. God does not put  a price on His blessings

Paul uses the word “philosophy” (love of wisdom) only appears here in the New Testament. It is used to describe the meaning of life. Those who followed the heresy that was being taught claimed to have attained but Paul equates them as full of “empty deceit.” Their teachings are full of Satanic and human elements.

Christ possesses the fullness of the God in His body. Greek philosophical thought believed it was unthinkable that God would even take on a human body but believer know He was fully human and fully divine.

Believers are secure in Him both through the imputed righteousness of Christ as well as complete sufficiency in heavenly resources to grow spiritually.

Jesus is both creator and ruler over the universe and its spiritual beings not emanating from God but God Himself.

God Bless.