Buffalo City Church

Caleb Drahosh \\ In the Christian life, our newfound identity in Christ is not immediately accompanied by actions and attitudes that are perfectly consistent. Old habits die hard. We are learning to live as those who have been raised with Christ. And that includes putting sin to death, killing what is earthly us, not only as individuals, but we wage war against sin as fellow Christians.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Those who are in Christ have been raised with Christ. We don't need to seek to finish the work that's already been done; that's what false teachers want to convince the Colossians of. Christ's work is finished and it's all freely given to us, and since that's the case, we seek to live as those whose life is Christ by living in Christ and as Christ lived.

Caleb Drahosh \\ After instructing the Colossians to walk in Christ, Paul goes into greater detail regarding his warning of empty and deceptive philosophy. The Colossians need to avoid worldviews that try to mix pagan or Jewish practices with the gospel message. Those practices are shadows, Christ is the substance.

John Baumgartner \\ Paul proclaims Christ to the Colossians and wants them to walk in Christ and discern empty and deceitful worldviews through Christ. They are no longer subject to such things. They have been raised from the dead, forgiven completely, and freed fully from their past masters. God triumphs over all rivals through the cross of Christ.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Paul proclaims Christ to the Colossians and wants them to walk in Christ and discern empty and deceitful worldviews through Christ. How is this possible? By being filled with the fullness of Christ to the point of satisfaction. When filled with Christ's fullness, when fully satisfied in Him, we overflow with gratitude.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Paul suffers and struggles to bring the gospel message to the Colossians and many others. He knows that there are threats out there, but the message of the gospel has immense value and he is willing to risk his life to get it to the churches. It is Christ that Paul proclaims, nothing else. Through the proclamation of Christ, the Christian is warned and taught; he or she is moved toward maturity. But Paul recognizes that while he's the willing vessel, it's all the work of Christ through Him.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Paul bookends this passage with rejoicing. First, he rejoices in his suffering. Through suffering he participates with Christ in the building up of the church. And secondly, Paul rejoices in the good order and firm faith the Colossians have in Christ. Here Paul sees Himself as a military general, pleased with how well this outpost of the gospel is doing. But the enemy is on the horizon.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Paul bookends this passage with rejoicing. First, he rejoices in his suffering. Through suffering he participates with Christ in the building up of the church. And secondly, Paul rejoices in the good order and firm faith the Colossians have in Christ. Here Paul sees Himself as a military general, pleased with how well this outpost of the gospel is doing. But the enemy is on the horizon.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Paul moves from telling us who Jesus is in verses 15-20 to what Jesus has done in 21-23. Jesus' death had the effect of reconciling us to God. Before Christ, we were out of alignment with God in our status, attitudes, and actions. But Christ's death makes us holy, blameless, and above reproach.

Blaze Culliton \\ As the Apostle Paul explains the attributes of the beloved Son and laying out the supremacy - or preeminence - of Jesus Christ, He explains two foundational elements of the Christian faith. The divine nature, or deity, of Jesus and the reconciliation from sin and death that occurs through Him by the blood of the cross. His deity - which is in Him - allows for reconciliation through Him.