Authentic Spirituality Colossians 1 Background Col 1 1

Authentic Spirituality Colossians 1

Background Col. 1: 1 -2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, [2] To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Pa ul s su e h p E Acts 19: 9 -10 … He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. [10] This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Background Col. 1: 3 -5 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, [4] since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;

Background Col. 1: 5 -7 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel [6] which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

Background Col. 1: 7 -8 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, [8] and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

Gnosticism

Authentic Spirituality - What does it look like? - Is it obtainable, tangible, practical? - How obtained?

Authentic Spirituality: Gostic View Personal Experience n Intuition n “Look Within” n

Authentic Spirituality: Bradshaw’s View “There are myriad approaches to both prayer and meditation. No way is the right way. . . The real thing is the actual experience of God. . . Spiritual growth comes through deepening insight into my being. ” – John Bradshaw, Bradshaw On: The Family (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, 1988), pp. 234, 235.

Authentic Spirituality: Walsh’s View GOD: You cannot hear God until you stop thinking that you’ve already heard God. I cannot tell you my truth until you stop telling me yours. WALSH: But my truth about God comes from you. GOD: Who said so? WALSH: Others.

Authentic Spirituality: Walsh’s View GOD: What others? WALSH: Leaders, ministers, rabbis, priests, books--the Bible, for heaven’s sake! GOD: Those are not authoritative sources. WALSH: They aren’t? GOD: No.

Authentic Spirituality: Walsh’s View WALSH: Then what is? GOD: Listen to your feelings. Listen to your highest thoughts. Listen to your experience. Whenever any of these differ from what you’ve been told by your teachers or read in your books, forget the words. Words are the least reliable purveyor of truth.

Authentic Spirituality: Darth Vader’s View Search your heart, Luke…

Authentic Spirituality: the Biblical View 1. Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. n Objective, Contentful, Cognitive. n Revolves around the Messiah. Col. 1: 6 Col. 1: 5 Col. 1: 9 Col. 3: 16 For this reason, since the day Romans 12: 2 …since the day you heard of it and …the hope laid up for you in heaven, of Let the word of Christ richly dwell within Hebrews 5: 13 we heard about you, we have not Ephes. 5: 17 And do not be conformed to this world, understood the grace of God in truth; you, with all wisdom teaching and For everyone who partakes only of milk is which you previously heard in the word So then do not be foolish, but understand stopped praying for you and asking God but be transformed by the renewing of your admonishing one another with psalms and not accustomed to the word of righteousness, of truth , the gospel… what the will of the Lord is. to fill you with the knowledge of His mind , so that you may prove what the will of hymns and spiritual songs, singing with for he is an infant. God is, that which is good and acceptable through all spiritual wisdom and thankfulness in your hearts to God. and perfect. understanding.

Authentic Spirituality - Why Pursue It? - Why Would Anyone Want It? - What’s It Good For?

Motivation: Gnostic Viewpoint

Motivation: New Age View

Authentic Spirituality: the Biblical View 1. 2. Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. Motive: A Desire to Please Him. Col. 1: 10 …so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects…

Authentic Spirituality: the Biblical View 1. 2. 3. Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. Motive: A Desire to Please Him. Effects: n Impacting Other People Ch. 3: Spouse, Children, Work, Citizen Col. 1: 10 so that you will walk in a manner n Ch. 4: Everyday Life n worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects: bearing fruit in every good respects, work…

Authentic Spirituality: the Biblical View 1. 2. 3. Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. Motive: A Desire to Please Him. Effects: n Impacting Other People n Intimate Knowledge of God Col. 1: 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; dðßãíùóéò = Real Knowledge

Authentic Spirituality: the Biblical View 1. 2. 3. Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. Motive: A Desire to Please Him. Effects: n Impacting Other People n Intimate Knowledge of God n Strengthened with His Power Col. 1: 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might…

Authentic Spirituality: the Biblical View 1. 2. 3. Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. Motive: A Desire to Please Him. Col. 1: 12 …joyfully giving thanks to Effects: the Father, who has qualified you to n Impacting Other People share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. n Intimate Knowledge of God n Strengthened with His Power n Steadfastness Col. 1: 11 …for the attaining of all steadfastness n Patience Hebrews 6: 19 This hope we have as an anchor of and patience… the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast n Joy and Thankfulness

Authentic Spirituality: Summation Col. 1: 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.