May 09, 2013
Old Sinful Self:
New Life in Christ:
Colossians 3:23 - "In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people." You are serving Christ and he will give you your reward. If you are serving self, any "rewards" are at the best temporary and the end result is punishment.
It has to be either/or. It cannot be both. You are either serving the Lord—or you are not. You cannot serve yourself and God. Cannot. You cannot serve two masters. Either God is Lord of your life—or He isn't. If He is Lord you receive an eternal reward. If He is not Lord, you receive punishment. Psalm 1 lays it out very clearly. There are two ways to live with two very different end results. The choice of how we live our lives is ours. The consequences for our choices are set by God.
Psalm 1:6 - "The Lord takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed." You can't color it any other way. It is what it is.
Colossians 3:24–25 - "Remember... you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people... but remember... anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong." The Lord is an equal opportunity God. Obey—receive my reward. Disobey—receive my punishment.
Colossians 3:25b - "The Lord treats everyone the same." We are ALL held to the same standard. Whether we excel or fall short is up to us and is a result of the choices we've made. God has given us everything we need to succeed.
Exploration Verses from Life Lesson:
Acts 3:19 - So you must change your hearts and lives! Come back to God, and He will forgive your sins. Then the Lord will send the time of rest.
Romans 5:1–5 - Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us.
I Corinthians 6:9–11 - Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled. Those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob—these people will not inherit God's kingdom. In the past, some of you were like that, but you were washed clean. You were made holy, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
II Corinthians 1:21–22 - Remember, God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God made us his chosen people. He put his mark on us to show that we are his, and he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised.
I Peter 3:8 - Finally, all you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble.
Next Entry: Colossians 4:2–18
"Think about the things in heaven, not the things on earth. Your own sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Christ is our life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory." Colossians 3:2–4So, put out all evil things your old self wanted.
Old Sinful Self:
- Sexual sinning
- Doing evil
- Letting evil thoughts control you
- Wanting things that are evil
- Greed
- Anger
- Bad temper
- Doing or saying things to hurt others
- Using evil words to harm
- Lying
New Life in Christ:
- Show mercy to others
- Be kind
- Be humble
- Be gentle
- Be patient
- Get along with each other
- Forgive each other
- Love each other
- Have unity
- Let God's peace control your thinking
- Always be thankful
- Use wisdom to teach and instruct others
Colossians 3:23 - "In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people." You are serving Christ and he will give you your reward. If you are serving self, any "rewards" are at the best temporary and the end result is punishment.
It has to be either/or. It cannot be both. You are either serving the Lord—or you are not. You cannot serve yourself and God. Cannot. You cannot serve two masters. Either God is Lord of your life—or He isn't. If He is Lord you receive an eternal reward. If He is not Lord, you receive punishment. Psalm 1 lays it out very clearly. There are two ways to live with two very different end results. The choice of how we live our lives is ours. The consequences for our choices are set by God.
Psalm 1:6 - "The Lord takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed." You can't color it any other way. It is what it is.
Colossians 3:24–25 - "Remember... you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people... but remember... anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong." The Lord is an equal opportunity God. Obey—receive my reward. Disobey—receive my punishment.
Colossians 3:25b - "The Lord treats everyone the same." We are ALL held to the same standard. Whether we excel or fall short is up to us and is a result of the choices we've made. God has given us everything we need to succeed.
Exploration Verses from Life Lesson:
Acts 3:19 - So you must change your hearts and lives! Come back to God, and He will forgive your sins. Then the Lord will send the time of rest.
Romans 5:1–5 - Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us.
I Corinthians 6:9–11 - Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled. Those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob—these people will not inherit God's kingdom. In the past, some of you were like that, but you were washed clean. You were made holy, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
II Corinthians 1:21–22 - Remember, God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God made us his chosen people. He put his mark on us to show that we are his, and he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee for all he has promised.
I Peter 3:8 - Finally, all you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble.
Next Entry: Colossians 4:2–18
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