From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Tue, Oct 4, 2022 at 6:04 AM
Subject: 10-4-22 THOUGHTS
10-4-22 THOUGHTS
We are working this passage area in our Tuesday morning class. Paul’s vision of the CHURCH, and his “participation in that Church”, is discussed below. Also stated is Christ’s position in the CHURCH. He is ITS HEAD! Paul’s mission was to FULLY carry out the PREACHING of the WORD OF GOD. His GOAL was to PRESENT every man COMPLETE in Christ. We are close here to the meaning of Matt 5:48, discussed in our auditorium class Sunday morning. Jesus asked us to “be perfect”. We must hasten to the meaning of the word as Jesus used it in his time. Complete, mature... is close. Surely EVERY MAN can see Jesus in the reading below.
Col 1:12-29 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 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 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 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, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body 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 moved away 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 do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
My Prayer:
Father, help us to see the beauty of your design in the Church as you purchased it with the blood of your son, and set Him to be head over it. Help us to know that You are in the presence of your saints whenever they gather. Teach us to have a fervent desire to be completed in you, through your word and our sharing of that word in fellowship. May your Spirit be in us as we mature in Christ. Remove apathy and complacency from us as we deny and discipline ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen Pray for our sister Heather