Scripture

For you were buried with Christ when you were baptised. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Observation

When we came to Christ, we were spiritually circumcised. We were buried with Christ in baptism and raised to new life through the mighty power of God.

We were dead in our sins, but God cancelled our sins and brought us to life. In doing this, God disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.

So now we are free from condemnation. People try to impose rules on what we can eat or touch and rules about religion. This comes from sinful minds of people who are not connected to Christ.

We have died with Christ, and He has set us free from spiritual powers. Do not go back to the rules of this world which do not help us to overcome our evil desires.

Application

When we were baptised into Christ, we were baptised into his death and resurrection. We are new creations in Christ, born again by the mighty power of God.

A new life means a new body that is not subject to the rules and regulations of the old life.

We are conquerors, which means that Satan no longer has any hold over us. He could trick us into sinning in the old flesh, but in this new life, his only recourse is to make us forget our position in Christ.

I am baptised into the death and resurrection of Christ. The old life of death of death and sin no longer controls me.

Prayer

Lord, I praise you! You have given me a new life in Christ. Hallelujah! Amen.

Scripture

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Observation

Paul agonises for those believers he has never met personally. He wants them to understand God’s mysterious plan, that is, Christ.

Just as we accepted Christ as Lord, we must continue to grow in Him, putting deep roots into Him so that our faith is strong.

Empty philosophies and high sanding nonsense come from demonic powers, not from Christ. We should ignore these because Christ is the one who completes us.

Application

How can I put my roots down into Christ?

Firstly, I need to talk with Him regularly. Prayer and listening, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me deepen my relationship with Him.

Secondly, I must read the Scriptures. The Bible is God’s word, my daily bread.

Thirdly, in fellowship with other Christians, I can worship, pray, and share in faith.

Fourthly, obedience to Christ is essential. I must continually turn away from sin and towards Christ. I must learn to love my neighbour as myself, and to love God with all my heart, with all my mind, and with all my strength.

There are many ways to draw near to Christ. The cares of this world and its distractions can lead me to neglect these things, so I need to build them into my daily life and monitor my spiritual temperature.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help me to build my life on you alone. Amen.

Scripture

You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Observation

We were once far away from God, separated by our sins. He has reconciled us to Himself through the death of Christ. Now we are in His glorious presence – holy and blameless.

But we must continue to believe that truth. We must not drift away from the assurance we received in Christ.

Paul has the responsibility to proclaim the whole gospel. He works and struggles, depending on Christ’s mighty power within him.

Application

I was once an enemy of God, separated from Him by my evil thoughts and deeds. I have been redeemed by Christ’s death on the cross.

Christ’s death was real and it was physical. We must never down play this or spiritualise it. It is the death of Christ in his physical body which atoned, or paid the price, for our sins.

Christ died physically on the cross and He rose from the dead physically three days later. It was a real event.

My salvation is not about how I feel or how good I am on any day. It is not on a theoretical or spiritual process in heaven. No, it is a physical act that happened at a specific place and at a specific time.

I can’t change that. I can’t add to it or take away from it.

All I can do is receive this most awesome gift of grace from God.

I was separated from God by my sins. He brought me close by paying for my sins. His love is limitless.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the amazing gift of salvation. Please help me to always stand in the truth of the Good News. Amen.