Posted 7 years ago by Anonymous

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Posted 5 years ago by Anonymous

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Summary

“Until He Comes: He Is Our Hope” - Colossians 1:21-29 Before and after pictures - weight loss, facelift, etc. No one wants the before picture shown unless there is an after picture. Is there a before and after in your life? Certainly so, if you are a Christian. 2012 Theme: Until He Comes - looking for Jesus to come again & living according to that perspective. Until Jesus comes, the before and after should be evident in our lives, and we should especially be people of hope. Paul paints a before and after picture in Colossians 1:21-29. Colossians 1:21-29 Seeking to combat false teaching, Paul has expressed his gratitude to God for the Colossian Christians’ embrace of the gospel, has prayed for them to understand God’s will in their lives and to endure the trials that have come their way, and has reminded them of the total sufficiency and preeminence of Christ. They/we need no other Savior, have no other Lord. Now, Paul seeks to remind them (& us) of the difference Christ has made in their (our) lives, in the present and for the future. I)Once alienated from God, now reconciled to Him - 21-22a. This is the work of Jesus, the agent of reconciliation. II)Once reproachable, now holy and blameless and above reproach before God - 22b-23. This is our position/standing before God because of Christ - II Corinthians 5:21. We can’t make ourselves acceptable to God, but are to live out what God has worked Our part is to continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, enabled by the Holy Spirit. Our practice is proof of our position. III)Once living for self, now living for Christ - 24-26. We, like Paul, are called to service, to the proclamation of the Gospel. “What is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” - not that Jesus didn’t complete the task or suffer enough, but Paul identified with Christ by taking on the stewardship of the gospel given to him. The spread of the gospel and building of the kingdom of God always has and always will be costly, but it is a cause worth taking up and a cost worth paying. IV)Once separated from God, now Christ is within - 27. Mystery - truth once hidden, then revealed. Christ and the gospel was not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles, all who would believe. Miracle of miracles! By the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ lives within each believer - John 14:23, Galatians 2:20. This is the hope of glory - I John 5:11-12. Do you have the Son? Can the beauty of Jesus be seen in you? Are you hopeful? We win, we win, we win! V)Once without direction, now being made like Christ - 28-29. To make us mature in Christ is God’s design - Romans 8:29. To become mature in Christ must be our aim, cooperating with Him, giving ourselves away everyday, learning to think new, live new - Romans 12:1-2. Until Jesus comes, the difference He makes must be evident in our lives, and we should be people of sure hope.