Abounding, PERISSEUW (Perisseuw) Part. Pa; to Be Outstanding, Prominent, Orto Excell

COLOSSIANS #91 (6-17-14) COL. 1, pg. 89

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Abounding, PERISSEUW (perisseuw) part. pa; to be outstanding, prominent, orto excell.

Knowing, OIDA (oida) part. ra; to possess information about; to know, to know about, to have knowledge of, or to be acquainted with.

Believers are commanded to 1) be steadfast 2) be immovable 3) abound in the work of the Lord 4) know that their labor is not in vain.

Colossians 2:5 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.

The stability of your faith in Christ… There are many believers who think that this phrase refers to the faith that they had when they believed the gospel. However, we know that we must have faith in Christ every day as we make decisions concerning the exigencies of life.

The faith we had at the point of salvation has already accomplished everything it will ever accomplish be-cause God did it all. The 40 things we received when we believed the gospel are permanent and irrevocable.

Now it is an issue of applying doctrine to our circumstances and trusting God that our effort to serve Him will not be in vain. The problem with so many believers is that they know nothing about the eternal rewards, privileges, and decorations that are available to them so they often lack the motivation to excel in the work of the Lord.

So Paul mentioned two important things in this verse:

1) “good discipline”

2) “stability of faith”.

Remember, the second depends on the first. Without a solid spiritual routine and the self-discipline to follow it, there will be no stability of faith in your life.

Colossians 2:6-7

As you have therefore received [v. aai]Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

COLOSSIANS #92 (6-19-14)

The Christian life should continue as it commenced: just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him. Many believers start out with great zeal after they are saved but they will fizzle out if they don’t get the B.D. they need to sustain their spiritual momentum. Emotions will not cut it because they never last.

So walk in Him, PERIPATEO (peripatew), v. pam; to conduct one’s life, comport oneself, behave, or live. PERI = around, PATEO = to go or walk

All believers are commanded to live their life (or walk) in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. Spiritual life begins with faith and it continues by faith. Faith is not feelings, we live the Christian life by faith whether we feel like it or not. Our feelings have nothing to do with it. We are a Christian as much when we don’t feel like a Christian as when we do feel like it.

Gal. 3:11 …the righteous man shall live by faith.

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

COL. 1, pg. 90

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

2 Cor. 5:7 … for we walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called,

Walking in Him (Christ) is only a potential and no one is perfect in that walk.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk [v. aas] in newness of life.

All believers are positionally “in Christ” but most of them do not walk in Him (Christ). Believers who don’t know this are afraid that their eternal salvation is in question if their behavior falls short of the standards set in God’s Word.

Walking in Him (Christ) in confidence, courage, and gratitude is only a potential, and no one is perfect in that walk.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk [v. aas] in newness of life.

All believers are positionally “in Christ” but most of them do not “walk in Him (Christ). Believers who don’t know this often take verses concerning the failure to “walk in Him” to mean loss of eternal salvation.

John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If (3rd)you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine…

Romans 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if (3rd) you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

COLOSSIANS #93 (6-24-14)

Colossians 1:22-23 …yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23)if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…

1 Tim. 2:15 (RSV) Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if (3rd)she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

Romans 2:5-8 …God, 6) who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7) eternal life [abundant life] to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8) but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath.

Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if (3rd) you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Hebrews 3:14 For we have become [v.rai] partakers [METACHOI, metacoi] of Christ if (3rd) we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

In all the verses above, something is stated to happen only if certain conditions are met. These verses, as well as all other verses like them, do not refer at all to eternal salvation because the only condition for securing that is believing the gospel. Period!

COL. 1, pg. 91

Believers who don’t walk in Him are called “infants in Christ” in 1 Cor. 3:1.

What must a believer do to consistently “walk in Him”?

Romans 6:19 …present your members as slaves to righteousness…

Romans 12:1 …present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice…

Romans 12:2 …be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Romans 13:14 …put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh…

Ephesians 4:22 …lay aside the old self…

Colossians 1:9-10 …be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10) so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…

Verse 7 …having been firmly rooted and built up in Him… these four words are one word in the Greek, RIZOO (rizow); part. rp; to become firmly rooted or fixed. The growth of trees and plants depend on their roots. From the roots, a fallen tree can renew itself and put forth fresh shoots:

Job 14:7-9 For there is hope for a tree when it is cut down, that it will sprout agai, and its shoots will not fail. 8)Though its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the dry soil, 9) At the scent of water it will flourish and put forth sprigs like a plant.

It is the spiritual roots, deeply implanted in the rich soil of B.D. that is the hope of a new beginning after a catastrophe occurs.

COLOSSIANS #94 (6-26-14)

The verb ERRIZOMENOI (errizomenoi), perfect, passive, participle, plural, nominative, masculine of “having been firmly rooted” means the result of having deep roots in the Word of God will produce blessings both now and for all eternity.

The passive voice indicates that we do not produce spiritual roots, God does. However, these spiritual roots will not grow if we do not consistently expose ourselves to accurate teaching of the Word. When we supply positive volition, God supplies the spiritual growth through the spiritual roots which supplies the nourishment needed to produce spiritual fruit.

Psalm 1:1-3 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3) He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. 8) "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.

Eph. 3:17 says that we should be rooted and grounded in love, that means thoughtfulness & consideration of others.

1 Cor. 13:1 says that if we do not have love, we have become nothing more than an annoyance, a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Do you yak away or do stop to listen to what others have to say? Before you speak, do you THINK? Before you speak ask yourself:

T Is it true?

H Is it helpful?

I Is it inspiring?

N Is it necessary?

K Is it kind? Am I lovingly thinking and treating this other person as better than myself?

COL. 1, pg. 92

And built up in Him, EPOIKODOMEO (epoikodomew), part. pp; to engage in a building process of personal and corporate development, edify, build up/on.

“To finish the structure of which the foundation has already been laid, to give constant increase in Christian knowledge and in a life conformed thereto.”

James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).

This metaphor, built up, is different than the tree and roots us down, while a house is not a living thing and it requires a tremendous foundation. The Greek word above refers to building on something that already exists. Buildings are built on foundations, our foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ we are commanded to build on Him..

COLOSSIANS #95 (7-1-14) Brief review

See 1 Cor. 3:10-15 The FOUNDATION is ALREADY Jesus Christ. To get firmly rooted, we need to get built up = strengthened = gold, silver, precious stones. All the if’s are 1st class.

Matthew 7:24-27 Everyone who HEARS these words of mine and ACTS on them may be compared to a wize man who built his house on the ROCK.

Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Not only do Christians need to grow deep spiritual roots, we need to grow up as well. We need to build something on our foundation. Many homes and buildings have been built out of bricks and they were built up brick by brick. The same is true for our spiritual edifice, it is constructed verse by verse, one Bible class at a time, one doctrine and precept at a tie.

Isaiah 28:13 So the word of the LORD to them will be, "Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there."

Read Isa. 28:7-18

Isaiah 28:5 …order on order, line upon line… is how we establish roots and get built up

COLOSSIANS #96 (7-3-14)

Col. 2:7 …having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your [the] faith [deeply rooted], just as you were instructed [by means of many instruction/feeding/

watering classes in the past], and overflowing with gratitude.

Established, BEBAIOO (bebaiow) part. pp; to make a personal and firm commitment; to establish, strengthen, to put confidence in or to think beyond doubt about something.

Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace…

In your faith… is translated as in the faith in the NKJV, KJV, RSV, ESV, and NIV, meaning the entire realm of Bible doctrine, divine norms and standards.

Faith, PISTIS (pistis) n. dsf; it has the definite article before it showing that it refers to that which is believed or the body of faith/belief/teaching.

The same use of “the faith” is found in Ephesians 3:17 ... that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Just as you were instructed, DIDASKO (didaskw) v. api; to provide instruction or teaching on the condition that you humbly receive it.

COL. 1, pg. 93

Teaching produces the three characteristics in the previous part of the verse, being firmly rooted, being built up, and being established. Teaching is the foundation for stability, and we need to be stable, knowing what we believe and WHY we believe it.

1 Timothy 2:4 & 7 …who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… 7) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle -- I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying -- a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

This is the reason that Paul was appointed an apostle, 1Timothy 2:7, and that is why I and every other pastor was appointed the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher.

Recognizing all that God has done to help us grow up spiritually in order to live the abundant life, our natural response should be appreciation and thankfulness to Him.

And overflowing with gratitude… EUCHARISTIA (eucaristia) n. dsf; the expression of content or gratitude; the rendering of thanks or thanksgiving. This word comes from the combination of: EU, meaning good + CHARIS, meaning grace = And overflowing with Good Grace…