Welcome to relentless truth with John Warren, the podcast that extracts truth from a wide range of topics revealing who God is, who we are and how we relate to each other. Now, here's John with this week's powerful and practical insights. Welcome to relentless truth. I'm John Warren. It is good to be with you again. Please like share review and subscribe to relentless truth. You can find us wherever you get your podcast.
Good As you know, if you're a regular listener, you can also go to our website, john warren media dot com. Please send along a comment there on our contact form. If you care to or if you'd like to send an email, john at john warren media dot com is my email address. I respond to all of those inquiries personally. And I'm encouraged when I hear from you if you would take the time
that would be much appreciated. If other studies would be beneficial to you, down the road that again you'd like to request that I consider talking about a particular subject or series. I am happy to do so. We've had several the, wonderful series, beautiful series on God's word. We've also thrown in some really interesting guests. And we'll we'll continue to do that as as well. And and we've had some topical episodes where we've just talked about the economy or our government or a current event.
And I'm sure this election season will afford us the opportunity to do that again. Well, today, we're we're in, and we have arrived. At the very beautiful, chapter 2 of this epi. And, you know, Paul is is walking through the doctrine of our completeness in Christ, that is really the theme of this letter to the Church at. Paul is just a few years from his death. He obviously, wouldn't know that. And he is in prison at Rome.
And he he wrote some beautiful letters during that season of his life during that approximately a 2 year, period where he was under house arrest. Well, we've arrived at chapter 2, and I'm just gonna jump right in It's interesting. I I like to pe like to review, but it's hard to do here, and I'm not sure it makes sense. You can the, you know, the listener can always go back and listen to the last episode for the review. So, Paul has been, talking about proclaiming Christ.
He said in in verse 28 warning, everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom and that we may present everyone mature in Christ for this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully, works in me. That is we we labor by Christ's in enable, and that isn't that beautiful. He he calls us to do it and then enables us to do it. He... There are all kinds
of ways to say this. This this finds its way onto to plaques and refrigerator magnets, you know, god god equip us for what he calls us to. There are all kinds of iterations of that that you've heard over the years, And it's just true, and it's a it's not a slogan. It's a beautiful truth. God does equip us beautifully to do what he would have us to do. And then Paul starts, I I read those 2 verses because Paul starts with 4 or because I want you to know how great a
struggle I have for you. And for those at La, and for all who have not seen me face to face. This this letter has quite a different tone than the Philip letter, the church at Philip letter that we studied just before this 1. He doesn't... Necessarily know them, in and in colossus. He knows hip for us, and he... He's been visited apparently by some people from that church.
But but he he doesn't know them, and many of them have not have clearly not seen him face to face So he's been talking about how Christ works within him. That... That's why we said the theme is completeness in Christ. It's a study of christ, A study about Jesus Christ, our lord. This this letter is. And so he says because least transitioning in chapter 2 because I want you to know how great a struggle I
have for you. Notice present tense that how great a struggle has the idea of, how how great is is is magnitude, the Greek word there as as the idea of significant matt magnitude, and that word struggle is agony or or striving. It's it's well translated in the English standard version. How great a struggle I have for you and for those at L and for all who have not seen me face to face. So he's he's letting him know. I'm I'm with you. This is a tender moment in the letter.
III struggle for you, and then he says in in verse 2. That their hearts may be encouraged that they that they might be encouraged, being being knit together in love that word knit together, those words have the idea of uniting. It's it's actually AAA medical metaphor, being knit together in love. Is isn't that beautiful that their hearts may be encouraged being knit together in love, You know, talked back in Philippians about this unity. Remember our
2 ladies, Y and Cent. And just just the general issue of all of dis unity that that surface there. And if you've if you've been part of any particularly Christian organization, but any organization, you know that there's always going to be some dis unity. I I used to think, and I might have even prayed for this at 1 time that that that I I wanted to live a life just full of unity with no dis unity. And my logic was Well, you know, Christian
people should all get along. And and what I've learned is that that Unity is among, the challenges that we all face. We don't talk about it a lot. We don't we don't like to be complaining and gru to use Paul's words in back in philippians. But but we... And and we just don't talk about it a lot, but we all face this this notion of of dis unity and Paul, is talking to the church You know, they've they've had some no and other false teaching, that that really domains the...
The ministry of of Jesus Christ, and and the person of Christ. His deity, even, And, you know, they taught that all the knowledge rests in them interestingly. You've you've seen cults like this and cult kind of organizations like this. If you're not 1 of us, you don't have any knowledge. You know, you don't you don't have the ability to reason. That's why you don't get it because you're not you're not 1 of us.
But but Paul is teaching that that this church should be knit together in love in a gap. To reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hitting all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now, this is fascinating to me because He is just body slamming the no. Because they believe all knowledge knowledge was in them, and he says so being let's go
back. Being knit together in love in verse 2, that that medical metaphor that uniting in love, being knit together in love. That's what we should strive for. And then he says, to reach so the purpose of of of this is to reach all the riches a full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of god's mystery, which is Christ. How to listen to this. That that word knowledge is Gen. That that that is that this full understanding of room, we talked about the word to
know and scripture. And and there... There's 1 word in in the ia is the... Is the hebrew word often translated to know the the Y expression Yada yada is is made famous by Jerry Seinfeld and others over the years is really yeah I know. I know. It it... That's literally what it says. What it means. But in the new testament, in the Greek, there's a word we translate idaho to English, which is, you know, I know I know that flower is red. I I know my address, barely some days. But but, you know, I
know things. And and then and then there's Gen or No, GN0S sis. And that that is to to to to understand well, you know, to to to really know. And then a stronger form of the word is epi, that prefix epi, emphasizes the word makes the word more powerful, which is to deeply understand. Well, this word or Gen or Epic that it it is the, it's sep 2 agent, the the Greek version of the, of the,
Hebrew old testament. So the Greek version of that, yeah, uses this word Gen to describe the intimacy of the union between a man and woman. And and so this is this is relational this word. This is this is not just superficial knowledge. This is deep understanding relational understanding. Remember, Paul, talked in in in Romans 6 about our being in Christ incorporated with him. He uses the word baptism. He is being in us and our being in him being found in him.
And so he says the knowledge of God's mystery which is Christ. You say, Paul knew the, and he knew there was a certain mystery here around Christ, and then he explains it in verse 3, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now, if you're... Yeah, I'm just saying if you're if you're agnostic. And you're reading this. You're ticked now, because Paul has just stumped you in the head.
In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and Christ is the 1 and who are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. III just love this about Paul. Paul is loving. He's gracious in his communication, but you never see Paul, you know, and we talked about this last time. You never see Paul back down. He says the next thing. He doesn't leave it unsettled, you know, I'm I'm I'm not gonna mention that because it'll offend people. You know, I'm gonna hint at it, but
I'm I'm not going... No. He says, any and he corrects them with the right information, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. As we mature in the faith as you mature in the faith, and I tell this to my my students, my my 17, 18 year old students, I... Had 16 year to 18 year old students. I I make this clear that as as you mature, you're you're going to realize that Christ is everything. The gospel of Jesus Christ, is everything.
Scripture tells us to preach it to ourselves to remind us of ourselves of the gospel to live life in the context of the gospel. Well, what what does that mean? That means that I'm a sinner who's been saved by grace by Jesus Christ. He he came to earth was born of a virgin, lived a sin endless life. All these details are important, was tempted just like we are, was executed on a cruel roman crossed the harshest form of death, the kind of death that a Roman citizen was prohibited from suffering.
It's an humiliating death. He conquered sin and death. He took on sin for us, conquering sin and death was raised on the third day. Paying the price for our sin. And then he spent a number of days on Earth. We believe 40 days on earth and ascended sits at the right hand of father making session. For us and that salvation is is accessed by faith. By simple faith by putting our trust in our confidence in Christ. Christ is everything.
When Paul says in whom are hidden all the treasure wisdom and knowledge, he means it. He's slamming diagnostics, but this is a truth for us, and that word knowledge is in fact Gen there. So he's talking about this this knowledge, this intimate knowledge, relational knowledge, not just... Some sort of intellectual ascent. Isn't that amazing? And then he says, I say this. So so again, the beauty of of Paul's teaching. You you
you lays it out there for you. I say this in order that no 1 may d dilute you with plausible arguments. Now isn't that interesting. Attorneys out there, you I happen to know that what the word plausible means. In a legal sense. And the only reason I do is I was sitting at a conference table... Conference table selling a bank of all things 1 day, talking to board members, and the investment banker used the word plausible.
He said, well, it's plausible. We're were talking about, you know, what if we what if we don't sell it now, What might happen in the future. And and this was back during a really volatile period in the economy 2012, I believe. And and and and so the the attorney said, well plausible is actually a weak standard. It just means it could happen. It doesn't mean it's likely to happen. And so so let's look at these words. I say this in order that no 1 may del dilute you.
That that that word d dilute literally means to reason or speak beside. It it it has the idea of faulty logic. So so he he's saying, I'm I'm writing for your own good church at. That no 1 may may fool you with faulty logic with plausible arguments. That is that word plausible is literally a persuasive argument, a type, a type of speech they're designed to entice others. I don't know about you. But when I listen to say, oh, I don't know. Joel Ol or somebody, I just really enjoy that. III...
You know, I I know he's a a false teacher largely. And and there there's some other people out there who names I just can't think of right now who who who just... Every word is beautiful and and some of what they say is is is true and they're just so encouraging. I I know older people who who must listen to him, Joel, Hosting. And and there some others that are out there that are they're just smooth. They they dilute people. They use faulty logic.
Their teaching is is damning, but It's a kind of persuasive a type of speech designed to entice. They make it flower and beautiful. It's not edgy and harsh. It... It's designed to entice. It's it's it's kinda cool, on the surface in in human terms. It's it's ana. It's it's to be it's to be tram. It's it's it's not worth our time. It's it's dangerous. It's it's. But but these arguments are enticing. Don't ever. Please, dear brother and sister in Christ.
Even think for a moment that we're above falling for false teaching. It is the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. In whom all treasures are hidden back in verse 3, and we are to walk by faith in him. And and that's a mouthful. That that means a lot of things that we'll talk about as we go forward here. So so there's... There's just beauty in this This this is a warning. It's a it's a warning against the no. It's a real punch in the mouth to to the no, but it's an encouragement to
the church. You know, you can imagine. I I mean, I can barely imagine paul's in prison under house rest, and shack to a Roman guard. And and, you know, they don't have... They can't text their friends to see how things are going the in other parts of the world, like we can do now, but they had to write and have letters delivered and and read, you know, replicated by hand and red out loud. And so communication took time, travel was on foot or by boat, and and it was slow.
And and and so Paul, you you can just imagine how he feels as he's trying to protect this dear your church. What, as as you get seasoned in the faith, and and that that... That's a that's a nice way to say old, as you age, you become wiser, and you naturally want to protect other people. And and 1 1 of the things I say to students often, and I said it at a graduation that where I got to speak a couple years ago, you know, parents need to understand that But by the time, a a student is
graduating from high school. They already have all the advice that we're going to give them. But what we actually do is we... We imagine that, you know, if they're going off to college, what that's gonna be like, and we wanna be sure. We feel like maybe we failed them, not that they've failed us necessarily, but that we might have failed them and so we we think, oh, my goodness. I gotta pack all this knowledge.
Into them, and get... We... So we give them our opinion again and again, and again, if you ask them, they already know our opinion on and everything. And what they need to know is that they're loved. But there's this, you know, if you if you want to just put on Paul's hat for a moment and imagine what this was like. You can, just think about a child going off to
college. And by the way, parents, if you're not there yet and haven't experience that brace yourself, that is 1 of the hardest things you will do and parenting for an adult teenager or a person in their early twenties is really difficult. To do. But in any case, that's probably the best example that I can think of. And and Paul is Paul is warning them that no 1 made to dilute them with plausible arguments. He's he's hearing things from reliable sources, probably.
That that these people are are struggling. There's false teaching in the church and he's and he's trying to shore them up in the faith and he says in verse 5, for though, I am absent in the body. Yet I am with you in spirit. Re to see your good order, that good order is actually discipline re to see your discipline, your good order, and the firm ness of your faith. Your your corporate strength and stability is the idea there. The firm of your faith in Christ. So he
I'm absent in the bottom. I'm not there with you. I haven't I haven't even met some of you yet. Most of you Yet, I am with you in spirit, re to see your good order and the firm of your faith in Christ. If you've worked with missionaries supported people, you don't know communicated with other churches and works across the country or across the globe even you know what this means. You can we can rejoice in Christ. If we agree on the essentials of the faith. And we can rejoice with others
just like Paul says here yet. I'm with you in Spirit re. Practicing what he taught in philippians, experiencing joy to see your good order, your discipline and the firm of your faith in Christ. He's he's he's basically corrected And then he's saying, though I'm not there, I'm with you in Spirit, and I know that you're disciplined and that you have the...
The strength together, the corporate strength and stability of your faith in Christ, the faith that you need, He encourages by being so positive. And and he and he doesn't lie. He knows this about them that they're a strong church. Then he goes on, He pivot. Therefore, so again, because of this, as you received Christ, Jesus, the Lord, so walk in him. Well, how how did they receive Christ Jesus the Lord by faith. Right? This is this is 1 of the hardest? Bits of teaching, I believe in in all
of scripture. Hardest in the sense that it gets abused and misunderstood and we gravitate toward legal ism and and and and you say, what in the world are those things. We'll talk about that in a minute. But he but that we we are so tempted to become self sufficient every day, post salvation post trusting in Christ. Therefore. As you receive Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. I I have people who asked me, and I've heard people ask other people in in sort of audience question sessions.
What does it mean to walk by faith? Does it mean to follow Christ? Well, Paul gives it to us right here? Therefore, as you received Christ jesus the Lord? How did you receive him by faith. So walk in him. Walk by faith. This is this is present tense. It it indicates perpetual activity, daily, constantly. So walk in in him. That now there there are kinda 6 features of of the walk that he gives us here. And let let's look at him. So so so first 1 is by faith as
you receive Christ jesus the lord. So so the this wall happens by faith. Not by sight. First not by grinding not by waking up every day and trying harder with a checklist. Although if you need a checklist, that's fine. I do from time to time. So walk in him. So second feature of the walk is it's a walk, not a run. It it it... I mean, it it a metaphor expression, but it's... But it's... It it there's a walk. It indicates it present tense indicates doing it perpetually or daily constantly.
It's So walk in him at him being Christ. Rooted. Number 3, grounded, beyond grounded, rooted. And built up in him, and this... That's 4 built up in him. Rooted his 3, and then 5 is and established, you know, Paul constantly talks about how suffering makes us steadfast. Makes us grounded rooted established. He uses this language throughout all of his epi. Established in the faith I was talking about in the faith, the faith, the truth of Jesus Christ.
Just as you were taught abounding in number 6, thanksgiving. So this walk is by faith, walking in him, rooted, built up, established in the faith and abounding in Thanksgiving. 1 of the things, 1 of the barometer indicators that I can use in my own life is is whether I'm being thankful. Have a thankful heart or not. If I'm living in the flesh or or or or just ticked off because Usually, I have a good underlying reason or theme or at least I think
I do. And and I'm just gru and And that that person this and this that, in that situation is not good. And I am not thankful. But if I'm walking in him as Paul describes here, I am grateful, which makes me gentle, which makes me established, rooted, built up. And walking in him. So I think Thanksgiving is an important part of
this. Paul talked about that in Philippians if you remember I think those 2 ladies would have stopped fighting if they turned and looked at Christ and their own salvation and were thankful. I think a wonderful way. Paul Paul goes through conflict resolution in that book, and there's an episode titled something like that conflict resolution. You should go back and listen if you missed it. But but III just think Paul's a master at at conflict resolution. He knows biblical truth.
He knows god's truth, and he knows that a, thankful heart is not going to be in in conflict. And then let's go on. The new new paragraph. See to it that no 1 verse 8, see to it that no 1 takes you captive by philosophy, by or through philosophy. And empty d see. So he's gonna rattle off a few things that are that that are ways that we're taking captive. I think there are 5 of them here approximately. See to it that no 1 takes you captive by philosophy and empty d.
So he's... Again, he's he's talking about the no and the aesthetics and others who who are trying to take you captive. He's He's back to visiting that same topic that he visited in chip and verse 4 when he of chapter 2 when he says I say this in order it to know when may. To dilute you with possible arguments. So it goes back to that topic. See to it that no 1 takes you captive by philosophy and empty defeat. It's it's interesting we we become captive too bad philosophy. If you buy in into
bad ideas. Now, you've probably tried to talk to people who reject Christianity. And they bought into a couple of tenants of nonsense that that philosophical nonsense. It makes it impossible for them to see the truth. And I think that's the kind of captivity
that Paul is is talking about. You might relate to this in terms of being captive to sin young people can relate to this because they they live in sin, they form lies around their life for with let's say, for example, with their parents, and and or they live 2 lives, 1 with their Christian friends and 1 with non Christian friends, and they become captive to that so that they're they're serving it. They're they're a slave to it. That's what happens with
Sin. It owns us. And well the same thing happens with simple, Aaron philosophy. We should constantly anchor ourselves. In truth. Paul says, an empty d. So he's talking about lies. So so he's talking about heresy And then he says, so first, it's... We're taken captive by bad philosophy. And empty d is second. According to human,
tradition. Third, there are lots of human traditions that are sinful and and and and secular tradition, know, Paul's already identifying secularism here just so, you know, I know we didn't name it that until a few decades ago, but but that's exactly what it is. Human tradition, according to the number 4 elemental spirits of the world, Those are those are principles. It's it's that things in a in a in a series, legal observations. Observe... Or or ob absorb as even. The elemental spirits, the
there's so many... It's not really that word spirits is kinda of poorly translated. Talking about principles, elemental principles of the world. There there are some just some some assumptions. It you it pause Paul's here talking about worldview. You know, he's talking about not being taken captive by the the elemental principles or or things in a series that that might appear to have some logic, but are ob of of the world or We should be so careful. We should not embrace legal as we should
be afraid of it. It is counter to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It sounds good. It feels good. We like to have legal neighbors because they're really good and keep their lawns nice and their and their fence is tidy and and they're they're very courteous. But but but they... They... Their philosophy is damning, and Paul knows that. And then he goes on and not according to Christ, All of this is not according to Christ Christ is everything. He is all. He is
in all. And then he says for in him, the whole fullness of deity dwell bodily. There... There's a long conversation we could have about this. He is completely God, the whole fullness. Paul would have been okay just saying the fullness. Right? But the whole fullness. The full fullness, the whole wholeness, all all of it. The full the whole fullness of Deity dwell blah bodily. Now Jesus Christ had been in heaven. Now for about 30 years as Paul's writing this. Give or take a few years.
And so Jesus, we know, and from this section and other teaching in scripture, is has the body that was resurrected and maintains it. Is in that state in heaven the whole fullness of Deity dwell bodily present tense. And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Now there there was the tendency by the no too to worship and these these things they called angelic, intermediaries.
And and so he's paul setting everything straight here for in him, the whole fullness of Deity dwell bodily. We we we we don't need the angels aren't little gods aren't part of god. Mormons have it wrong. Lot lots of lots of other groups have it wrong. We're we're not becoming little miniature gods. In Christ, the whole fullness of Deity dwell bodily. And you have been filled in him. Beautiful ephesians talks about this in chapter 1 being in him.
It's very consistent with Gen that knowledge and intimate knowledge, being in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Jesus Christ is the head of all rule and authority. There are no angelic intermediaries or other intermediaries areas, and we should be careful with astrology with with with fortune telling with. I I see Christians dabble in some of these things, and it it makes me cringe it gives me pause because Christ is the head
of all rule and authority. And then verse 11, in him, also, you were ci sized with a ci decision made without hands. Very consistent with language Paul uses in the... His epi to the church at Rome. He's he's talking about salvation. A ci decision made without hand. So he's he's going to appeal to Jewish readers here. By putting off the body of the flesh by the ci of Christ. J taught that physical ci decision was essential for salvation Didn't they.
Paul had been aggressively pursued by them. You could make an argument that they pushed him to go to some of the places he went and and and actually, they stirred up enough trouble they have them arrested. And and yet he's he's still fighting by the ci of Christ having been buried with him in baptism, that is spiritual baptism incorporated with him in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised him from the dead.
So We we've been ci sized, spiritually by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith and the powerful working of God who raised him from the dead resurrection is important. We could talk a long time about the resurrection. It is the conquering the proof. Of the conquering of sin and death. And Jesus was seen by so many after his resurrection the resurrection indicates victory over over death. No no other person did that.
Was was resurrected, and any who experienced something similar to that where they were dead for a short period of time and healed by Jesus, restored to life by Jesus, eventually died a second time, didn't they? Not him. He lifts today and inter seats for us at the right end of the father. And verse 13 and you who were dead in your tres passes. That is your, your... Your your your your acts of sin, your deliberate acts of sin, dead in your tres passes and the un. Of your flesh.
God made alive with him. Having forgiven us all our tres passes. That is apart from human merit. He has God made a alive together with Christ. When we are in him. Ephesians 2 5 through 6. God made a lot God made a life together with him having forgiven us all our tres passes. Listen to this. By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.
God's righteousness was maintained throughout the entire gospel of Jesus Christ through his sin life his death, his resurrection and his ultimate ascension. And setting at the right hand of the father. God's righteousness was not compromised. If you struggle with that go read Romans 3 I think it's around verse 20 and following. Just read it. God did not compromise his righteousness and in forgiving sin.
By faith in Christ through his death and resurrection and ascension, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. What were those legal demands? Well, the the legal demands were were were were were debt. Death. The the record of debt are our sin, that see... We understand that it was it was a debt, he's using accounting language. It was a debt, that that then we can understand that our our... That that was purged that debt from our account taken on by Christ.
On the on the cross. And and then righteousness was was credited to our account because of him. It it's it's really an accounting term. By canceling the record of death that's stood against us with its legal demands. Its legal demands were death. This this reminds me of Romans 8 1. There's therefore now no condemnation to those are in christ. Jesus. That's condemnation of reference to the to the pen phase, the punishment phase of the trial. The the yes. Yes, we had debt built up by sin
that... And its legal demand was death, but he... This, he set aside, Paul says here, nailing it to the cross. Our debt, sinful debt, debt because of our sin was nailed to the cross. He took on our debt. It was nailed to the cross in the person of Jesus Christ the sun, of God. God in flesh. Then verse 15, he disarmed the rulers that the disarmed is to to put off or away from the rulers and and authorities. Again, ephesians 02:14 and 15 are good references there.
Ephesians 02:14 and 15 and put them to open shame by triumph over them. In him. He put them to shame, Christ canceled the debt of humankind to the law, His death covered all tres passes past, present and and future. That is just a beautiful picture. There's so much because we get so confused about the law and Christ relationship to the law we'll talk.
More about that next time. But the beauty of this is that Christ canceled the dead of humankind to the law, is his death covered all tres passes past, present and future. I struggle to read this without just sobbing. When I read by canceling the record of death that stood against us with its legal demands. This, he set aside, nailing it to the cross. What love for us our Lord has. Nailing my sin all of my sin to the cross, past, present and future.
He put away from or disarmed, the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumph over them in him. What what beautiful words these are in paul's epi to the C church. I hope this study is as much a blessing to you as it is to me. Next week, we're gonna... Gonna look at another hard subject to, all all of this, this completeness in Christ is is is beautiful, but but but seems to be challenging for us when we live it out.
And and we'll we'll talk about we'll talk about the rest as we'll start in verse 16 of a chapter 2 next week and we'll work our way through the the end of the chapter. We're gonna... We're gonna talk about legal again in as again, it's it's very important and if you're if you're just starting on this journey, this Christ following journey. You've just put your trust in him. I I want to encourage you to read these words and understand them.
Get yourself an English standard version of the bible or similar. And, new King James is fine. There some others that are that are okay. N iv, even is alright. New American standard version is fine. Some of the more modern ones lose some of the rich content. Some of the modern para phrases, like the message bible and others I'd I'd kinda stay away from for this study, But if you you can study this scripture and and by filling in just a few gaps, Yeah, you you you can you can get this.
And you'll see that, the beauty of Christ's love for us even in the way that we live the Christian life that when we look at the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of Jesus Christ, it is it is good for us for living day to day. Salvation is not just a transaction. It has it has multiple facets. This, san justification are walking by faith, or following Christ making disciples, being a disciple of his and making disciples, is just so incredibly important in scripture.
Paul spends a lot of time writing here about how to do that. Who Christ is what he accomplished when he says, this he set aside nailing it to the cross. I've talked before about the fact that I don't. I I, you know, I like it. I guess that him that old him, he could have called 10000 angels. But Christ gave himself. He emptied himself and gave himself. We talked about that back in Philippians. He gave himself. He didn't wanna call me. He First of all if he had
wanted to. He didn't need to because of his deity because of his sovereignty because of his his his power. He he he didn't need any angels. But but could he have called thousands of them or or or multitudes of the course he could have. But the but gave himself. He he... This he set aside nailing and nailing our sin to the cross. He took on sin, himself. If you go read Romans 03:20 and following, you'll see that he was our
appropriation. On the day of atonement, the arc of the covenant would have the blood of the spot less spot less lamb, sprinkled on it. He was our lamb who was slain our spot less perfect lamb who was slain on our behalf, and that's what Paul is talking about here. This, he set aside nailing it to the cross. Well, thank you for listening to this beautiful truth from C. I hope it's helpful next week, as I said, we'll start in verse 16 of chapter
2. Well, God willing will finish chapter 2, and we can move a little quicker through the rest of the book. It'll take us just a few more weeks. I look forward to being with you then. Please like share review and subs subscribe to relentless truth. Remember you can learn more about our work on our website john warren media dot com send along an email to john at john warren media. Dot com if I can pray for you or be of assistance to you in any way, I look forward to being with you again next time.
Thanks for listening to relentless truth with John Warren. Please consider sharing this podcast and subscribe to receive future episodes. Connect with John regarding your comments, questions and show ideas through john warren media dot com. Or at john warren media, all Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. That's all for this episode. Join us next week for another edition of relentless truth, With John Warren.