Scriptures reviewed: I Cor. 11:27-30

Discipleship Points: Various parts of these verses may cause concern to a believer, like unworthy manner, examine oneself, drinks judgement. The best understanding is these refer to an unsaved person taking communion. Believers are not made right with God by their performance. If we have a sin, we confess, He forgives and cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness (I John 1:9.) Our New Covenant/New Testament relationship shows the verses as well as others refer to unbelievers who are not possessors of salvation but only professors.

Testimony: Manny and Gary taped a program on a Wednesday about 1pm. At Bible study that night, Gary quoted verses from the program to a hurting believer.

Scriptures reviewed: I Cor. 11: 1-7 (summary) and 17-26.

Discipleship Points: Groups took the teaching on head coverings and made incorrect practices/doctrines. Factions/heresies may exist in churches, to lead the immature astray; Paul chastised the Corinthians for poor conduct re: Lord's Supper; Jesus gave His body and blood for us; His blood brought us near, cleanses us, redeems us, justified us and more. We are to avoid making the act of communion more important than remembering His death and sacrifice.

Scriptures reviewed: Colossians 3:5-17

Discipleship Points: Paul tells believers since we have put off the old man, be careful of our conduct. Put off anger wrath, malice and more. Also lie not to other believers and walk in the fruit of the Spirit, letting the peace of God and the Word of Christ dwell in us mightily. Do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him.

Scriptures reviewed: Col. 2:23 - 3:4

Discipleship Points: Rules and regs have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion and false humility but do not value in our fight against the flesh. If we are saved and raised with Him, focus/give 100% attention to/dwell on the things which are above. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God, so find, follow and grow in our new life and identity.

Scriptures: Col. 2:17-22, Mark 7:14-16

Discipleship Points: Do not be cheated by ascetism; Keeping rules can produce false humility; Hold fast to Christ/what He's done; We have died with Christ to basic principles - we do not subject ourselves to them again; Things that perish (food, drink, et al) do not defile us but what comes out of us may.

Scriptures: Colossians 2:16

Discipleship Points: Be confident in your identity/salvation in Christ/in Him; We are complete in Him; False teaching at Colossae inspired Paul's letter to Colossians; No one can judge us in food, drink, festivals, sabbaths, new moons, et al as these are but a shadow of the substance (Christ) to come.

Testimony: Gary and rock music and a believer who burned himself out doing so much, returns to God after learning his identity in Christ.

Scriptures Used: Col. 2:13-15, Romans 3:21-30

Discipleship Points: All mankind has sinned; We were spiritually dead but now made alive; Handwritten rules against us were wiped out; Our past was nailed to the Cross; Christ made a spectacle of hostile forces; We are freely justified, by faith IN CHRIST and APART from the Law.

The teaching on our identity as believers continues.

Scriptures Used: Col. 2:10-12

Discipling Points: Believers are no longer "just sinners" but saints; Confess known sins but trying to confess every possible one is impossible and usually produces bondage; believers are complete in Him, we need nothing else; our circumcision was not by human hands or rituals.

Testimony: A dismayed and down believer was lifted hearing the old man is dead and we are now freed from sin, the law, condemnation, & more (A. Wommack story)

This program continues the topic started last week, the identity of believers from the book of Colossians and verses 16-20 from II Cor. 5. Highlighted points include (1) we now know Christ not after the flesh; (2) believers are new creations, so we know not each other after the flesh; (3) God reconciled the world to Him through Christ and has given believers the message of reconciliation; (4) stay rooted and grounded in Christ and the Gospel, dispelling new and fancy sounding false doctrines.

Many Christians are not completely sure of their identity. They are in Christ but not sure what that means. Starting in Colossians 1, Manny and Gary share various verses that focus on points like these: Christians are called saints, not "just old sinners; believers have a hope stored in heaven; believers have been qualified...by God, not by their works, not by Christian performance, and not by any goodness.