Tag Archives: Colossians

Saved but longing for your old self?

Cross-Easter

Earlier this week, every daily Bible reading seemed to focus to a single theme – Christians who, after experiencing the grace of God begin to mourn the loss of their old lifestyle.  In the past, I have come across a lot of Christians that will eagerly share, with much excitement, the old life that God called them from.  Now while sharing a testimony of how the Lord found you is a powerful personal evangelism/witnessing tool, for a handful of Christians there is that attitude of “them were the days…” or “wow, those were some parties back in the day…”  I once knew a gentleman that actually told me that since he had become a Christian, he missed the camaraderie and fellowship that he had with his lost friends.

Even the apostle Paul was confounded by Christians who longed for their old lives. He even wrote to the early Christians at Galatia, Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (Galatians 4:8-9).  There were Christians in that church that not only longed for the “good old days” but also longed to worship the old gods through the old faith.  Maybe it is because of a lack of discipleship or maybe their acceptance of Christ was from the head and not the heart, but they truly felt that they better understood their old faith – a religious system created by man – than the liberating force and faith that Christianity truly is.

Even Solomon, the wisest of all Jewish kings, wrote, As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly (Proverbs 26:11).  The apostle Peter understood this proverb and even used it as a part in his discussion on those who make a profession of faith and then long for the old life: These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (II Peter 2:17-22).

Peter refers to these people as being “wells without water” because of the impact they can have on other people.  By still hanging on to the things of the world and of the flesh as a Christian, they are not only causing a crisis of faith for weaker Christians, but they are also deceiving themselves.  As a Christian, our sins are forgiven – And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Colossians 2:13) – but it does not give a license for us to continue to willfully live and seek out the pleasures of sin.  Even the apostle Paul explained this to the Christians and early church in Rome: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid (Romans 6:14-15). We should never willfully seek to disregard the grace of God!

The Lord Jesus Christ was not silent on this very topic either.  During one of Jesus’ many travels during his earthly ministry, he had a conversation with a few members of the crowd that followed after him: And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62). I think that it is telling that each man that approached Jesus wanted to follow him, but only after they did one more thing before they could go.  Jesus then gives us his view on those who accept salvation then longs for their old life, with its sin and depravity.  Jesus tells us they are not fit for the kingdom of God.  I often have wondered if that is because their salvation was not real and they are actually lost but had become caught up in the emotion of the moment or if they are the ones that will be in Heaven, but upon understanding God’s grace, will weep out of their own embarrassment and shame before Jesus wipes away their tears.

As Christians, when we choose to live a carnal life much like we did before we accepted Christ as our Savoir, we remove ourselves from a place of blessings and fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  I often wonder why would anyone want to turn back to their old life, because before they knew God, they lost to his grace.  The apostle Paul states, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23), and with this in mind, an eternal separation from God to be cast into the lake of fire for eternity does not sound like much cause for rejoicing or celebrating.  In fact, Jesus gives a description of what it will be like: And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:45). What a bleak outlook for anyone that has never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior! Why would any blood-bought Christian want to hold onto the old fleshly nature knowing what their eternal destination would have been if not for the grace of God?

The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 4)

A Bible studyThe devotional for today is not only a continuation of the one that began last week, but is the final devotional of this series about the phrase take heed.  As mentioned before, this series began as a part of my daily Bible study routine. While doing my daily reading, the phrase seemed to jump off the page at me.  I began to study that phrase and discovered there are only fifteen times, as listed by the Thompson Chain Topics Bible, that the phrase is used in the entire Bible; all fifteen are in the New Testament.  In this instance, the words, take heed, mean to pay attention to our conduct or the way we act.  I might need to add a note that I use the Authorized King James version for all my devotions and personal readings, so if you are using another version, you might not see that phrase in the verses that I highlight in this series of devotions. For a recap of the first twelve verses containing this phrase, please see The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 3).

These last three verses were all penned under the hands of Paul and Peter, the ones most directly responsible for developing character of the local New Testament church.  The first two, by the apostle Paul, focus on those who have been called into the ministry; the verse by the apostle Peter, is similar to the previous verses mentioned because it is applicable to all Christians, regardless if they are serving in the ministry or an active member within the body of Christ.

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it (Colossians 4:17)

As a student of the Bible, it is important to realize that the letters written by the apostle Paul do contain verses that are either addressed to or mention certain people by name.  In this verse, addressed to an early Christian minister by the name of Archippus, Paul is instructing him to take heed – to pay attention to – the ministry where the Lord has called him into service. There are some that will say that these verses that are addressed to certain people are there because it is the only way to maintain the context of the letter.  While this is most certainly true, I also believe that there are no idle words in the Bible. There are no verses that simply are no longer applicable today.  I believe that every scripture in the Bible is there for a purpose; in fact, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

Although this verse was addressed particularly to Archippus, it is still applicable to anyone serving in the ministry today.  Regardless of the ministry it is, whether it’s the role of a pastor, missionary, evangelist, Sunday school teacher, or even nursery worker, there are obligations that any ministry requires to be a growing and practical ministry.  It means spending time in Bible study and in prayer to prepare to do the work that God has called you to do.  All Christians are called into some specific aspect of the ministry – particularly personal evangelism;

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee (I Timothy 4:16)

Again, this is another verse written to a specific person, Timothy, who had been called into the ministry and a young man who had mentored under the apostle Paul.  There is an interesting parallel in the Old Testament that fits along with Paul’s warning to Timothy: Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul (Ezekiel 33:9). Now what the apostle Paul is telling Timothy is this – as a man of God, as a pastor and preacher, he has an obligation to warn others of the consequences of sin.  He has an obligation to tell them the end results of sin.

Continued on next page.

Older Christians: are you willing to be a mentor?

tutor

Just as the Lord used the everyday activities of a potter to teach Jeremiah, God still speaks to us through the Bible and through the remembering of scripture at what first appears to be strange times. This morning, while I was going through the various emails, I came across one from a faculty member of the college I work at that encouraged us to tell students of the college’s tutoring center, the hours it is open, and the help available to students in a variety of subjects.  The email went so far to explain that the tutoring and mentoring program was designed to help and encourage students to reach their academic potential in an environment that was comfortable and supportive of their needs.

During my office hours, I began to think about the wisdom behind the mentoring and tutoring program that the college has in place.  I then began to think about how within the various writings of the apostle Paul he calls the older and more mature Christian to do the same thing.  In Paul’s letter to Titus, he wrote, But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you (Titus 2:1-8). Paul is telling Titus, and future Christians through the preservation of this particular letter, that spiritually mature Christians are to mentor and teach younger Christians.

When I was a younger Christian, there were lots of things that I did not understand (please do not misunderstand me,I still do not know or understand everything about the Christian faith).  Not having the benefit of growing up in a biblically based home, I didn’t know a lot about my newfound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  As a young Christian, I didn’t know the importance of reading my Bible each day, taking time to pray for my needs and others, or even regular church attendance.  As I have matured, and have learned about what it means to be a Christian, I have also begun to understand that as an older Christian, I do have responsibilities: Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:43-48).

More on next page.