Micah 6:8 says that the Lord requires three things: that we do justice, love kindness (mercy or steadfast love), and walk humbly with God.

Justice is understood through the work of Christ. Romans 5 teaches that through the blood of Christ we are justified by faith. Faith opens the door and gives access to grace because of the work that Christ has done on the cross. So, we have seen justice demonstrated for us in Christ. Justice is the work of reconciling the lost and comes at great cost. Justice is love demonstrated first in Christ, and then in the church that bears His name.

“Church is not another ball for me to juggle but that which defines who I am and gives Christlike shape to my life”

“Church that is a discrete set of responsibilities, can never carry the weight of Jesus’ mandate. Only life that is infused and transformed by a communal identity can be lived ‘before men’.”

“To be a community of light from which the light of Christ will emanate we need to be intentional in our relationships– to love the unlovely, forgive the unforgiveable, embrace the repulsive, include the awkward, accept the weird. It is in contexts such as these that sinners are transformed into disciples who obey everything King Jesus has commanded.”

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

As I am reading through this book I am staring in the face the removal of Jesus from the spotlight. At this time of year we notice what happens every other week of the year in the world around us, a disregard for God and his loving plan of rescue. Christmas serves each year to remind us of the fulfilled promise of God, of who our faith and hope are in, and the sweet promise of a day where we live free, satisfied, and restored with Him for eternity!

Let us purpose this Christmas and throughout all seasons to put the spotlight in our families and our churches solely on Christ.

“And when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32

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This advent as we journey to the manger to see a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, let us not forget the task at hand of daily mortifying our flesh. Christ came into the world to save the world from its sin. Remember today that “sin sets its strength against every act of holiness and against every degree we grow to. Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts.”

Quotes from John Owen’s, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers.

Colossians 1:15-23

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1. The Supremacy of Christ in All Creation

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

1. He existed before creation
2. He created all things
3. He created everything for himself
4. He holds all things together

2. The Supremacy of Christ in the Church

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

1. He is the head of the church
2. He is the originator of the church (beginning)
3. He is the most important of all who have been raised from the dead (firstborn/ preeminent, a position)

3. The Supremacy of Christ in Salvation

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1. He is the initiator of salvation
2. Man is separated from God
3. Man is an enemy of God
4. He reconciles us to Himself through the cross
5. He purposes our personal holiness
6. He gives us hope

• We who are truly his are not shaken (earthquake, there were many in the area of Colossae and true believers are those who remain faithful over the course of time when the foundation is shook but continue to stand)
• Our focus is on the coming riches and glory that we have in Christ, not on the situations and circumstances that we are facing today.
• Our salvation is in the present. Therefore our faith is seen and practiced in the present with our hearts and minds focused on the future grace that we receive through Christ.

1 Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

As Paul records the word of the Lord to the Colossians he begins with a declaration of God’s grace and will in his life and ministry. God has established Paul as an apostle by His will. Paul has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not a result of his works, but by the will of God! God’s word as delivered by Paul is for the saints who are in Christ and for those who are in Colossae. All who are saints have received grace and peace from God through Christ. The Colossian church like all churches was facing an attack on the truth and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. They like we today were being pulled in directions away from the centrality of Christ and the supremacy of Christ to focus on works and mysticism as the added means to salvation and faith. When we add to or take away from the understanding of the Gospel we no longer have the Gospel. To take away from what is true or to add lies to the truth is no longer have the truth. The Colossian church, like us today, needed to hear from God that their faith and salvation was the result of His will and His work in Christ Jesus. They, like us needed to hear that there was nothing else to add to the word of God to be saved.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made know to us your love in the Spirit.

1. It is by God’s grace that we are saved

The reason for Paul’s thankfulness is the salvation of the faith of the Colossian church. The reason for the Colossian’s faith is the grace of God understood through the truth of the gospel. Paul is thankful for the grace of God that is evidenced by their faith and their love. When the truth of the gospel is understood it is by God’s grace. We must guard against the pride of thinking that we have understood the mysteries of God without His grace to do so. We as sinners are not capable of discerning the mind and will of God. But, by the grace of God He gives us understanding to the truth of the gospel that brings faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of sin, and forgiveness for sins. When God’s grace brings understanding it comes with evidence. The evidence is a testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a love for Christ and His church.

The grace of God is understood by His will and through the proclamation of His word. The Colossians, like us, came to faith in Christ through the hearing of the word of truth, the gospel. God says in His word “But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14) It is through the preaching/ teaching/ proclamation of the truth of the gospel that the Colossians, that we, and that the world will be saved. Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ?” The word of Christ is the Bible, the Bible tells the Gospel from cover to cover. And the gospel is this: God created all things. Man sinned against God. All men therefore are sinners and God’s judgment for sin is death. God, showed his love for man by promising and sending a savior to take the place of man in the judgment for His sin. Jesus Christ is that Savior and his death on the cross was done in the place of those who have faith Him. God’s judgment for sin was placed on Jesus Christ instead of on us. Jesus died in our place, was buried in our place, and was resurrected after 3 days to conquer sin and death forever! God’s grace is given through faith in Christ. We have new life and the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so, as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

2. It is by God’s grace that we live

As believers in Christ, our understanding of God’s grace grows each day. Every day we are reminded through our own sins that we need Jesus Christ. We are reminded in God’s word that our growth in faith is the result of the knowledge of God’s will. God’s will is always understood through His word. If we come to faith in Christ by grace as we understand scripture, why would we think that we could grow in that faith through something or someone other than Christ and His word. It is tempting to try and grow in our faith through experiences and through different relationships. But, our experiences are tainted with sin and so are the people that we are building relationships with. Christ is the sinless sacrifice who has saved us. He has given us his word for the purpose of understanding his grace, salvation, and his glory. If we are to live our lives in a manner that is worthy of the Lord, then we must do so through our understanding of God’s grace as revealed in his word. As our understanding and knowledge of God’s grace and will grow so does our response to it. As we mature we are more and more led to offer up suitable sacrifices and expressions of worship to the one who has saved us. God’s word continually reminds us of the gospel, that we are sinners who need a savior, and that he has come to rescue us through Christ! The life that is worthy of the Lord, is one of humility and love, because it is a life that knows without God’s grace there is only death and destruction. But, with grace, we are a new life that is lived by faith!

- So how do we grow in our understanding of Grace?

o We preach the Gospel to ourselves daily

o We continually repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness of our sins

o We read scripture and meditate on it throughout our day

o We pray and express our gratitude to God for the grace he has given us

o We humble ourselves and show love that reflects the grace of God we have through Christ to others.

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered 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.

3. It is by God’s grace that we persevere/ last/ are qualified

God gives us grace for salvation. God gives us grace to live a life that is worthy of his name. God in his graciousness strengthens us every step of the journey. Our salvation is by grace, our life is lived under grace, and we persevere through grace by the power of God. He has saved us and he is with us. God desires for our lives to bring glory, fame, and renown to His name. HE is committed that end and because of that he gives us strength, endurance, patience, and joy to result in our glorifying him through our giving of thanks to him in all things because of the redemption we have in Christ!

God’s grace has transferred us through faith in Christ from the kingdom of sin and darkness to the kingdom of Jesus Christ His Son. What glorious news that in Christ we have been redeemed apart from our own works! What inconceivable joy we have at the forgiveness of our sins through the death of Jesus Christ! God’s grace has saved us, and we live today under His grace and by His grace.

Let us pray with thankfulness, for the understanding of grace that leads to salvation, and for the grace to continue to follow Christ by faith in the days to come.

“But God demonstrated his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Wendell doesn’t have to get it right for God to bestow His grace through Christ to him. We cannot earn the grace of God, it has been given through God’s demonstration of his love for us. I know I can’t, and I am eternally grateful for the love of God displayed through Christ.

Father, I pray that today you continue to remind us of all of our need for Christ. I pray that you sustain us with your grace, through your word, and by your Spirit. Watch over Wendell today and supply the needs of your servant in the city of New Orleans. Amen.

“8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

2:11-12

The sufficiency of Christ’s work for complete salvation

Romans 4:11-12, “He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.” In the OT God established a covenant with His people. The outward sign of their devotion to Him in their hearts was circumcision.

Deuteronomy 30:6, “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” God had established a people for himself. Israel was set apart to Him, to love Him with their heart, God through Christ has circumcised the hearts of those who are his. God has brought about a new covenant through the body and blood of Christ that is established through the work of Christ in the hearts of men.

This circumcision is spiritual, and it is complete. The work of Christ is one that has put to death sin in the flesh. The Christian is no longer driven and controlled by his flesh, but by Spirit of God. The baptism that is spoken of is the spiritual baptism of the Spirit through which we are transformed by the power of God. We are dead to sin and made alive to God in Christ! Romans 6:6 “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” This is only possible because of the powerful working of God that raised Christ from the dead. The idea behind the “powerful working of God” is that of God’s active power. Those who believe and trust that God raised Jesus from the dead will also be raised with himJust as Christ was buried, our sins are buried. Just as Christ was raised to life, we are given new life. All of this is the result, not of anything done by our hands, but by the work of Christ and through our faith.

2:13-14

The sufficiency of Christ’s work for the forgiveness of sin

We are sinners who stand separate from a holy God because of our sin. We have the need for forgiveness of our sins. We do not stand in place of neutrality before God. We stand condemned in our sin in need of rescue. But who would rescue us in our sin? Who would forgive those who don’t deserve it? Who would pardon those who deserve their punishment? Where is the justice in the pardon if there is no punishment? Where is the righteousness of undeserved forgiveness? Where is the holiness of God in communing with sinners? (Ephesians 2:1-10) God in His mercy has brought us to himself through Christ. He has rescued us from our sin. God has granted forgiveness to those are in Christ Jesus. He has pardoned our inquities through the blood of Christ. God has punished Christ for our sins so that we can receive the forgiveness of sins. By the work of Christ on the cross God has brought us into communion with Him.

The work of Christ is sufficient for the forgiveness of sin. Forgiveness of sin is offered to the sinner because we who are set apart from God in our sin cannot make a way for our sins to be forgiven or removed. But, God through Christ has made a way for sin to be forgiven. “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 There is nothing that we can do to earn the right to be forgiven. The work of Christ for the forgiveness of sin is not dependent upon the works of any man. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The forgiveness of sin is fully dependent upon the grace of God through faith in Christ. There is nothing else necessary for forgiveness of sin, the work of Christ alone is sufficient. The work of Christ is sufficient to pay the debt owed by sin. It was common for the debt that was owed to be displayed above the head on the cross of the dying criminal. God has set our debt aside and nailed it to the cross of Jesus Christ. Christ has died in our place for the forgiveness of our sins. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

2:15

The sufficiency of Christ’s work and freedom from sin

The sufficiency of Christ’s work results in freedom from sin. For the believer there is freedom in Christ! We are no longer under the dominion of evil and sin, even though we still live in the presence of sin. Paul writes of his personal struggle with the presence of sin in Romans 7:14-25.

What then do we do with the struggle of sin in our lives? We must focus on the truth of Christ. Paul celebrates the truth that is found in Christ in Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Some may ask then, “are we free to live in sin?” Romans 6 “by no means!”

How then do we live under grace and free from the dominion of sin? We live according to the expressed will and pleasure of God as revealed in scripture. “1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 We must focus our hearts and our minds on following Christ in obedience to the will of God. Our efforts are still to be done in the grace and mercy of God, lest we find ourselves focused more on our efforts than on the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

How do we guard against legalism and heresy in the church of today? We must make sure that as we teach a manner of life that is in accordance with Christ, that we always present the reason why and the hopeful result, which is Christ. If not, we will find ourselves with generations who know how to live a moral life but who don’t know the one who died to rescue them from their sins. We must teach Christ in all things so as to honor and exalt him and guard against the enemy as well.

We must preach the gospel to ourselves daily! Even today I have struggled with my own sin in publishing this as a blog, I have struggled with my own inadequacies and my desire to be respected and appreciated by you the reader. But, God in his mercy has reminded me of the sufficiency of Christ, that it is not my efforts that save me or anyone else, but the work of Christ on the cross. In light of our sin and his glory we must preach Christ to ourselves daily! If our goal is Christ, and He is the initiator and sustainer of our faith, then the life we live in Him we now live by faith in Christ. A life lived by faith in Christ is done holding Christ as our normal, seeking to be like Him, and where we fall short, we ask for forgiveness, repent of our sin, and pursue Him more!