LEARNING DAILY

 

Jude 24-25, Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen

 

The message this weekend was from Colossians 1:15-23. It was about the preeminence and supremacy of God. The target statement from the Listener God was: “Your view of God determines the value you place upon God, thus possibly creating a version of God that is way too small”. Pastor Ed Newton stated, “If you view Him as a little God, you won’t go to Him. But if you view Him as a big God you will go to Him knowing He can do anything.” In summary Pastor Newton reminded us Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He reminded us of Scripture where Jesus said He and the Father were one (John 10:30); Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3). He existed with God before creation. John 1:3 and Colossians 1: 16, tell us that Jesus made all things and all things were created for Him. Colossians 1:17 tells us, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

 

I want you to go back to the target statement from the Listener Guide (in the above paragraph). Read it again. What is your view of God? Do you believe He created all things? Do you believe that He holds all things together? Do you believe He is able to keep you from stumbling? Do you believe He is able to present you to God the Father faultless? I truly hope so. There are those things that distract us from believing and following God’s Word; those things are all around us, you know that. False teachers are telling us to follow this or that just like in the days of Paul, the disciples and Jude. These false teachers are teaching sinful living is okay because we are saved. They live sinful lives and are trying to drag “even the elect” into their lifestyle of sin. But Jude and Paul are encouraging all Believers to know that Jesus is the “glue that holds us together” (Dr. Ed Newton); He is able to keep His own. We are warned to walk the narrow way according to God’s Word, to live an unwavering and holy life. Be assured by the verses in Jude and Colossians that Jesus is willing and able to purify His followers. We must face the problem that we are all sinners. All of us will fail. But Jesus Christ is faithful and will keep us and will present us to the Father cleansed and blameless.

 

The walk on the narrow way has been said to be a race – my race has become a steady walk; whether you run or walk this race, we are encouraged to do so with patience and to keep looking to Jesus to keep us from stumbling. Read Ephesians 5:27, “that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she might be holy and without blemish.” Yes, this is the teaching to the husband regarding his wife. But the connection is that Jesus Christ is cleansing His Church to be without spot or wrinkle in order to present the Church to God the Father. And, He is going to do so with “exceeding joy”!

 

Be encouraged to know that Jesus Christ gave us eternal life through His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. When we give our lives to Him, He cleanses and purifies us and no one can ever snatch us out of His hand (John 10:27-29).  That’s why we give Him all praise and all glory!