THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS
LESSON 1
Chapter 1 Cont.’:
Col. 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
1:12 We are grateful to the Father who qualified us to participate in the complete portion of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (The light of the Gospel reveals what God accomplished to transform the sinner into a saint; from hagos, an awful thing to hagios, a consecrated object: “call no-one unholy or unclean.” Acts 10:28). Mirror
1:12 as the image of our Father, who has enabled us to co-sharer this birthright with the Whole of humanity, as the True Light of the World. RERichmond Tree of Life Bible
Thanks to the Father
Eph. 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Psalm 136: 1-3 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:
There are many ways to praise and thank God for what he has done for us, such as praying: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). We should continually remember to thank God for all things through prayer. Another way to give praise is by “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Partakers of the Inheritance
Inheritance as Sons of God
Rom. 8:16-17: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
WE ARE MOVING FROM SPIRITUAL BABES OF HIS HOUSEHOLD TO MATURE HEIRS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD!
If we want our inheritance, then we have to grow up. Only sons receive inheritance, not babes. What is our inheritance? Our inheritance is to eat of the solid food of heaven; divine and secret mysteries, great power and anointing from the Holy Spirit, and the very glory of God as our own atmosphere! To bear much fruit and that fruit remain.
PERFECT MEANS MATURE
Ephesians 4:11-14a:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children.”
Over the last several decades the Lord has worked diligently to restore the five-fold ministry within the church. Now it’s time for the body to be equipped, mature into a man/woman, operating in the fullness of Christ, and no longer be children!
Characteristics of the Manifested Sons of God:
1. are the elect of God
2. those who have aligned themselves with God
3. who listen to His voice
4. who put on His mind
5. who obey His commands
6. who walk in His nature
7. who do His will
8. who do His divine purpose
9. who are faithful, loyal subjects
10. true citizens, under His rule and authority
11. ambassadors for Christ
12. heirs & joint heirs with Christ
13. who carry His glory
14. know and practice that Jesus is Savior and Lord
15. also know who we are in Christ and who Christ is in us
Inheritance as Saints/Sons of God
Whatever Christ inherits, the saints/sons of God will inherit also. What do Christ and the saints inherit together?
All Things (The Universe)
In Heb. 1:2, we learn that Christ has been “appointed heir of all things”. The saints will share in this inheritance, for in the book of Romans, we read:
Rom. 8:32: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
Thus, with Christ, the saints inherit the universe.
1. The World
As the Seed (Christ) of Abraham, the saints inherit the world:
Rom. 4:13: “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world (Greek: kosmos) was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
Gal. 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds’, as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed’, who is Christ.”
Gal. 3:29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Why is “the world” stated as the inheritance of the seed of Abraham? The Greek word “kosmos” means “orderly arrangement” (Strong’s Concordance); and thus refers to the world as an ordered system in all its variety of created things (both animate and inanimate), and including all of its inhabitants. The original promise made to Abraham is noteworthy:
Gen. 22:17: “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore;” … [KJV]
Thus, it is only in Christ that Abraham’s seed will be so multiplied. This vast number refers to those redeemed in Christ, which in the fullness of time will include all humanity (1 Cor. 15:22). There is a connection here with Christ’s words as recorded in John’s gospel:
John 3:16: … “for God did so love the world, that his Son — the only begotten — He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.” [Young]
God so loved the people of the world that He sent his Son to save them from sin and death. In context, this mention of the world — the kosmos — refers to all the people of the world throughout the ages, and confirms God’s plan for the salvation of all mankind. As heirs of the world, the saints will judge the world (1 Cor. 6:2). Thus, the first-born saints participate in God’s plan for the salvation of all mankind.
We are not talking about the world system as it is now but, when the The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ
(Rev 11:15) And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.
2.The Kingdom of God
The saints inherit the kingdom of God. The inheritance of the kingdom is directly connected with the inheritance of incorruption and immortality:
1 Cor. 15:50,53: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. … For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
Incorruption and immortality are related to eternal (aeonial) life. Incorruption and immortality refer to endless life. Aeonial life refers to the quality of this endless life; for aeonial life is that life which God imparts in accordance with his purpose or plan of the ages:
Rom. 2:5-7: … “righteous judgment of God, who shall render to each according to his works; to those, indeed, who in continuance of a good work, do seek glory, and honour, and incorruptibility — life age-during;” … [Young]
Thusly we children of the King and are kings under the King of Kings;
3.Eternal Life (Aeonial life)
In many translations of the Bible (KJV, NKJV, NIV, etc.) we read of “eternal life”. Robert Young (Young’s Literal Translation) speaks of “age-during life”; R.F. Weymouth (New Testament in Modern Speech) speaks of “life of the ages”; and Andrew Jukes (The Restitution of All Things) speaks of “aeonial life”.
In scripture, God is called both the “King of the Ages” (1 Tim. 1:17; Weymouth) and the “God of the Ages” (Rom. 16:26; Weymouth). As such, He has a “purpose of the ages” (Eph. 3:11; Weymouth; footnote). According to this purpose, He imparts Life of the Ages to the saints.
Titus 3:5-7: … “He did save us, through a bathing of regeneration, and a renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having been declared righteous by His grace, heirs we may become according to the hope of life age- during.” [Young]
Andrew Jukes, in his Restitution of All Things, (pp. 65-68), speaks of “aeonial life”:
“Aeonial or eternal life therefore is not, as so many think, the living on and on for ever and ever. It is rather, as our Lord defines it, a life, the distinctive peculiarity of which is, that it has to do with a Saviour, and so is part of a remedial plan. … Nor does this affect the true eternity of bliss of God’s elect, or of the redeemed who are brought back to live in God, and to be partakers of Christ’s ‘endless life’ (Heb. 7:16), of whom it is said, “Neither can they die any more, for they are equal to the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection (Luke 20:36); for this depends on a participation in the divine nature, and upon that power which can ‘change these vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto Christ’s glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue even all things unto Himself'” (Phil. 3:21).
4.Salvation ( sozo, soteria)
By Christ’s sacrifice, the saints have been saved from sin and death (Rom. 8:2), and thus inherit salvation:
Heb. 1:14: “Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
What is our salvation inheritance?
5.The Promises
Paul refers to the saints as “heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29). The saints inherit the promises:
Heb. 6:12: … “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
There are many promises mentioned in the New Testament, and all the promises of God are fulfilled in Christ:
1 Cor. 1:20: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
The Holy Spirit has come by promise (Eph. 1:13). The eternal (aeonial) inheritance of the saints has been promised also (Heb. 9:15).
6. The Seal of Approval, Sealed with the Holy Spirit
Eph. 1:12-14: … “for our being to the praise of His glory, even those who did first hope in the Christ, in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth — the good news of your salvation — in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.” [Young]
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the guarantee (earnest) which secures the inheritance of the saints “to the redemption of the acquired possession”. Peter refers to the saints as a “people acquired” (1 Pet. 2:9; Young). The saints, then, are the “acquired possession” who will be redeemed “at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51-54). The saints have been both purchased and redeemed by the blood of Christ:
1 Cor. 7:23: … “with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men” … [Young]
Eph. 1:6-7: … “He did make us accepted in the beloved, in whom we have the redemption through his blood” … [Young]
(Php 4:1) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
We are His………
Beloved, longed for brethren, joy, crown, crown of creation, own special kin, special people, chosen generation, holy nation, possession (bought with a price),elect, precious……….
Just to name a few
What is Jesus’s inheritance? …same as ours except He paid the price.
(Heb 12:2) looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God.
His inheritance is a community of redeemed people made one in Him. John 17
In the Saints- Saints – NT:40 hatios, sacred, perfect and pure.
I have the Ephesians/Colossians personalized prayers for you of you would like a copy. Please request a copy at: ms_davis@bellsouth.net
We will continue with Les.1 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue