From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Mon, Jun 20, 2022 at 6:06 AM

Subject: 6-20-22 THOUGHTS

6-20-22   THOUGHTS

Paul’s letter to the Church at Colossae is one of the most powerful in the Bible.  The verses below illustrate that fact.  In Christ, dwells the fullness of deity bodily.  Immanuel, “God with us.”  We are encouraged to be “rooted, built up and established” in our faith.  And I must ask “how are you doing there Phil?”  The removal of sin is beautifully pictured as a ritual cutting off in a spiritual way... it is in baptism!  We are buried, we die, we are raised up and made alive with Christ.  Compare Romans 6:1-14.  Our transgressions are removed. It is said to be ”through faith in the working of God.”   Good discipline and stability in the faith of the Colossians brought joy to Paul’s heart.  We would do well to take these passages to heart.  Life is a process of renewing our minds and our commitment to Christ.   Join me in thought this morning.

Col 2:1-17     For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2  that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,  3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  4  I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.  5  For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. 6  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7  having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.  8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  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 all rule and authority; 11  and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made 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 up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  13  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,  14  having canceled out 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. 16  Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day —   17  things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.        
 
My Prayer:
Help us, O Lord, to be renewed continually. We want to be rooted, built up and established in our faith. We desire good discipline and stability.  Keep us from wandering in our pleasure zones.  Give us desire for a closer walk with You each day.  Help us to pursue salvation with all  our heart.   In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus,        Amen.