Tag: salvation

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Philippians 2:8c – Life and Death

Jesus and the cross (Grok)

… even death on a cross!

Summary: The challenge of understanding who Jesus is continues to haunt us as we read more of Paul’s words. It is one thing to jump on a grenade to save your friends; it is entirely something else to allow yourself to be flayed alive and hung on a wooden cross until dead.   

In our last meditation, “Our Selfless God,” we stumbled across what the Bible calls the “stumbling stone.”* In our version of the “stumbling stone,” we realized: 

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Philippians 1:28b – Things to Come

A picture of a simple road sign. I wooden post with a pointed wood board pointing right, marked "HEAVEN" and another wooden sign board pointing left marked "DESTRUCTION." A heavenly light shines from the heaven side of the picture and the glow of a raging fire radiates from the destruction side of the picture. (Grok)

This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 

Summary: The Bible often mentions signs and wonders meaning miraculous events. The kind of “sign” Paul refers to in this passage is a bit different. Paul considers it a proof of things to come. 

Generally speaking, Paul’s words about the Gospel are instructional. Yet, now and then, he makes an undeniably clear statement about good and bad, right and wrong. 

In this passage, Paul makes such a statement. 

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Philippians 1:17b – The Human Herald

Paul, writing about spiritual forces. (Grok)

… not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 

Summary: Looking at Paul’s letter from a human perspective reveals a Paul who is, like us, an imperfect vessel. 

As you no doubt remember from our last meditation, Paul is talking about the people who preach Christ for unchristian reasons. So far, Paul has mentioned that they are motivated by “envy and rivalry” (Verse 15) and “selfish ambition” (Verse 17a). In this passage, he adds that they hope to “stir up trouble” for him while he is in prison. 

Who would do such a thing, and why?

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Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras’s Prayer

Picture of the jailer in Acts 16 who is asking Paul, "What must I do to be saved?"

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 

Summary: Epaphras’s prayer is a wonderful model of what to pray for ourselves and each other. 

In this passage, we learn a bit more about Epaphras.* Paul says he is “one of you” which I take to mean he is originally from Colossae. Somewhere along the line, Epaphras must have met up with Paul because Paul explains that Epaphras brought the Gospel to Colossae “on our behalf.” 

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Colossians 3:11 – A Place Called “Here”

Picture of a mirror , two butterflies, and a caterpillar.

Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Summary: There is a place that is not a place where God wants us to be. When we get there, we discover that our differences are not what we thought they were. 

There is a place where hate and division do not exist. It is not a physical place, although you might say the place Paul is talking about is in the physical place we live. 

Where is this place within a place? 

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Colossians 3:7 – Working for Heaven

Illustration of Matthew 10:1-16 where the landowner pays his workers at the end of the day.

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

Summary: It is one thing to understand that God offers us salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. It is another to understand the difference between our lives before knowing Jesus and after. 

After hearing that the “wrath of God” is coming, there is nothing more delightful to the soul than hearing that there is hope of avoiding God’s wrath. 

Paul has just listed some of the reasons God’s wrath is coming. They include but are not limited to sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. (Paul has other lists in his letters that are more extensive.) 

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