Colossians 3

Choice 3: Colossians 1-4. Becoming New Creatures in Christ

1.       Make a list of names, titles, and phrases used by Paul in Colossians 1:13–2:7 to describe the Savior. What did Paul teach that Jesus Christ has done for us? What do these verses teach about the responsibilities we have to receive the blessings of the Lord?

1. Son, image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, creator, before all things, head of the body, the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, preeminence, treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2. He is the creator of all things and we are redeemed thru him.  He is the head of the church.
3. We need to continue in faith grounded and settled.  We need to do the little things, like reading our scriptures, saying our prayers and going to church.  That is what lets us be grounded and settled.  We also need to be reconciled with Christ.  We need to accept his gift and let it take power in our lives. 

2.       Write Helaman 5:12 next to Colossians 2:7 in the margin of your scriptures. After reading these two scriptures, write a paragraph explaining what it means to be “rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith.”

Colossians 2:7-  Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Helaman 5:12-  And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his might winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

A.     To be rooted and built up in him means that our foundation is in Christ.  When you think of the story of the wise man that build his house upon the rock.  The storms came and because the house was on rock it was not moved or damaged.  But the foolish man who built his house on the sand, his house was destroyed when the storms came.  If we build our foundation on the ways of the world then we will be deceived.  In my history and systems of psychology class we talked about this.  To the world there is the empirical(scientific observation) and rational (logic) views to gain knowledge.  Also authority figures can be the source of knowledge also.  But there is no acknowledgement of divine revelation.  As Latter Day Saints we believe in revelation.  By doing the small everyday things we can get this revelation and be rooted up in the gospel.   

3.       Review Colossians 2:8, 18 and the institute student manual commentary for Colossians 2:18-19, “What does Paul Mean by the Worshiping of Angels?” (p. 345). List at least four means of deception Paul warned the Saints about in Colossae. What does 2 Nephi 9:28-29 add to what Paul warned?

1. A verse in acts really hits this home.  Acts 17:18  “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him.  And some said, What will this babbler say? Other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”  They called Paul a babbler because he taught of Christ and of the resurrection.  He warns us of philosopy and vain deceit, traditions of men, not to let others beguile us of our rewards.  He warned against the worshipping of angels because in those days it was believed that you could not get revelation from God directly.  Instead you had to go thru a messenger or Angel.  Paul is saying that this thought it wrong. 
2. 2 Nephi 9:28-29 really hits this home.  Nephi warns us of “the foolishness of men.”  How they are deceived and “hearken not unto the counsel of God.”  They totally ignore it and even say deface it and say that it is not needed anymore.  They say that we don’t need a God because reasoning and observation can explain everything.  In verse 29 I think this drive the point home.  It says that “to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.”  So gaining knowledge and being learned is good as long as we don’t forget God and revelation and his counsel. 

4.       Review Colossians 3 and make a list of what we should “put on” and “put off” or “mortify.” Make a chart like the following one and place your findings in the corresponding column:

Things We Should Seek After or “Put On”	Things We Should “Mortify” or “Put Off”
The elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgive others, charity, peace of God, be thankful,  word of Christ Dwell, Do things in the name of the Lord	Members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, lying,

5.       Review Colossians 3:15-21 and identify in writing several ideas that would help families live in greater harmony. Then answer the following questions in writing:

A.     What specific counsel did Paul give to children, parents, husbands, and wives?

1. He counseled to let the peace of God rule in your hearts and to be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.  He really taught that we need to be loving to our families and to not have bitter feelings toward them.  Don’t provoke and for children to obey their parents.  Husbands love their wives and not to be bitter against them.  Also Wives to submit to their husbands.  Be grateful for what you have.

B.      What did Paul teach about the importance of hymns

1. That they are very important because it brings the spirit of Christ into your home.  Hymns can be a way of teaching because of this.  So when we sing hymns we can actually teach one another.