🎭 Colossians 1:19–20 | Same Story, New Scene

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📧 In today’s email…

• ✍️ Seeing a familiar narrative

• 🤔 Reflect: Are you rejoicing in Christ?

• 🔦 Community spotlight!

 🧠 Memorize

_{see if you know what words go in the blanks}

For in ____ ___ the _________ of _____ ___ _______ to _______,

and ________ ____ to ________ to ________ ___ _______, _______ ___ ______ or in ________, _________ _______ by the _______ of ____ _______.

Colossians 1:19–20

✍️ Seeing a Familiar Narrative

Yesterday, we learned that Paul used poetry to set up his argument to fight against the words of false teachers who were leading the Colossians astray.

What were the false teachers saying?

• They were combining Greek occultism and philosophy with Jewish ceremonial practice.

• They promoted worshipping angels and attempting to placate other spiritual beings in ascetic fashion.

• All of this was done to gain further favor, acceptance, and security with God.

How did Paul fight this?

Paul used poetry to correct these errors, chiefly in his doxology (praise) on the preeminence of Christ in verses 15–20.

But here’s the thing:

This fight wasn’t new. God’s people have been in the same struggle with the same underlying issue since the first days of creation.

The issue is idolatry. But how was it present in the Colossian church?

• Idolatry (anything that competes against God in our attention and affection) is an ever-present temptation in the life of God’s people.

  • Most explicitly seen in idol worship throughout the OT, but also inward idolatry of pride/self.

  • It stems from unbelief—which fueled the Colossian heresy to gain acceptance before God and spiritual beings through adherence to the law and asceticism.

• To be truly free from idolatry, we must truly grasp the beauty and glory of the Savior to strengthen our devotion to Him.

  • Our focus must be on his sole sufficiency to save and His sovereign control over His creation.

When we are rightly focused on Jesus:

• We rejoice in His work

• We rest in His promises

• We run after His perfect will

When we are wrongly focused on idols:

• We resent our circumstances — no peace.

• We risk spiritual burnout — no sustainment.

• We relinquish our gaze from Jesus —

Rejoicing in Christ’s Completed Work 🏡 🤒 

Like we mentioned earlier this week, our culture is so inundated with achievement leading to acceptance that we almost can’t believe that Christ’s work takes care of 100% of our debt to God and also places us 100% in His favor.

Instead of good fruit being the result of the Holy Spirit moving and drawing us unto becoming more like Christ, we switch those roles, hoping that our fruit would gain us more favor with God.

As part of your daily inventory that we mentioned in yesterday’s post, you can use this additional reflection and prayer throughout your time with God.

Reflect 🤔 

What is keeping you from resting and rejoicing in Jesus’ completed work for your salvation?

Where you can you practically “make the switch” to realign your thinking about the role of the Holy Spirit and His fruit within your life?

Repent 😩 

Lord, I am sorry for seeking to gain more from You, as if Your Son’s death and resurrection was not enough.

I have replaced my devotion to You with accumulating more fruit from works and thus, greater acceptance from You. This vain attempt to win favor reveals the ugliness of my unbelief, but I want to rest in the assurance only You can give.

Thank You for the comfort Your Word brings, and the strength that Your Spirit gives me to pursue Your will. Help me stay connected to you today. 🙏 

👀 Note: Tomorrow, we’ll share specific, practical ways you can rejoice in Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency.

Community spotlight 🔦 

Feedback ❤️ 

You guys have a really good format for verse memorization. It's nice to get some fill in notes as well. Keep up the good work. I find your style very helpful.

- Jim N

The newsletter was edifying and informative. It took a very familiar scripture verse for me and made it so much more applicable which helps me to understand the Lord's desire for me to trust in and draw close to Him. Thank you!

- Neil S.

Shout-outs 📣

• HUGE thank you to Robert, Jeff and Beth for choosing to pay-it-forward so we can help more people memorize and learn about God’s Word!

p.s. Many of you have requested the option for a one-time payment to support our work rather than a recurring subscription.

You now have that option here!

Thank you so much to everyone paying-it-forward to help us keep operating! 🙏

Answer key ✅ 

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:19–20