What do I know with Isaac Carroll
What do I know with Isaac Carroll
Today's Bible Reading: Colossians - Christ's Supremacy, Spiritual Growth, and the Unity of Early Christians
What if you could unlock the secrets of spiritual growth and discover the true supremacy of Christ? Join us as we unpack the Apostle Paul's deeply inspirational letter to the Colossians, where faith, love, and hope are woven into every powerful verse. We'll reflect on Paul's profound gratitude for the Colossians' unwavering faith and love, his heartfelt prayers for their continued wisdom, and his compelling message about Christ's unparalleled supremacy. Listen closely as we journey through Paul's teachings on how all things were created through and for Christ, the powerful reconciliation through His death and resurrection, and the importance of standing firm against deceptive philosophies. This episode is a treasure trove of spiritual insights, emphasizing the completeness found in Christ and the call to live a life truly reflecting our new identity in Him.
The episode also brings to life the personal updates and heartfelt greetings shared by Paul through his trusted emissaries. We spotlight Tychius, tasked with informing and encouraging the Colossian community, and explore the significance of greetings from fellow workers like Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus called Justice. Hear about Epaphras's fervent prayers and dedication, along with greetings from Luke and Demas. Paul's practical instructions to share the letter with the Laodiceans and support Archippus in his ministry underline the interconnectedness of early Christian communities. As we conclude with Paul's poignant reminder of his chains and a heartfelt blessing of grace, you'll gain a deeper appreciation of the timeless and transformative messages in this epistle.
May God bless you and lead you always.
Welcome to the podcast. I'm Isaac Carroll, and this is what Do I Know? All right, in today's Bible reading, we're going to be reading through the book of Colossians. If you're ready, let us begin.
Speaker 1:Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God, our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord, jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints, the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard, in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you All over the world. This gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God. You learned it from Epiphas, our beloved fellow servant, who is faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all the power according to his glorious might, so that you might have full endurance.
Speaker 1:The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for in Him all things were created, things 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. He is before all things and in him all things hold together, and he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that all things he may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and, through him, to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood on his cross.
Speaker 1:Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds, but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death, to present you holy, unblemished and blameless in his presence, if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and which I, paul, have become a servant. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ's affliction for the sake of his body, which is the church. I became its servant by the commission that God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to his saints. To them, god has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of his mystery, which is Christ. In you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end, I also labor, striving with all his energy, working powerfully within me.
Speaker 1:Colossians 2. Hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric, for although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and I delight to see you orderly, conditioned and firm faith in Christ. Therefore, just as we have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in faith, as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy or empty deceptions which are based on human traditions and the spiritual forces of the world rather than Christ, for in Christ, all the fullness of the deity dwells in bodily form and you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. In him you were circumcised in the putting off of your sinful nature, with a circumcision performed by Christ, not by human hands. And having been buried with him in baptism, you were raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Speaker 1:When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, god made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses. Having counseled it ascribed to us and the decrees that stood against us, he took it away, nailing it to the cross and having disarmed the power of authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore, let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to the feast, a new moon or a Sabbath. They are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that cast it belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and worship of angels disqualify you with speculations about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
Speaker 1:If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belong to the world, do you submit to its regulations? Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. These will all perish with use because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against the indul treatment of the body, but they have no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 3.
Speaker 1:Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on earthly things, for you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God, when Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. So put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. When you lived among them, you also walked in these ways, but now you must put aside such things as these anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator.
Speaker 1:Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian or Scythian or slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourself with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord has, forgave you and over all these virtues, put on love, which is a bond of perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. For this you were called as members of one body and be thankful. Let the word of Christ rule in your hearts. For this you were called as members of one body and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father through him.
Speaker 1:Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. And children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children so they will not become discouraged Slaves. Obey your earthly master in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of the heart and fear of the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong and there is no favoritism.
Speaker 1:Colossians 4. Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a master in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful as you pray also for us. That God may open us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should Act wisely toward outsiders. Redeeming the time, let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Speaker 1:Tychius will tell you all the news about me, his beloved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose that you may know about us and that he servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose that you may know about us, that he may encourage your hearts. With him, I am sending our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
Speaker 1:My fellow prisoner, aristarchus, sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him. Jesus, who is called Justice, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God, for I testify about him that he goes through great pains for you.
Speaker 1:For those at Laodicea and Hierapolis, luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings. Greet the brothers at Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house. After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus, see that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord. This greeting is in my own hand. Paul, remember my chains and grace be with you, alright. That concludes Colossians and all our time for the. Paul, remember my chains and grace be with you.