The letters affirm our need to understand who we are in Christ and the call to keep growing in Him.
Colossians shows us our position in Christ.
We are united with Him 2:2; complete in Him 2:10; dead in Christ 2:20; buried in Christ, Romans 6:4; and even risen with Christ 3:1.
"And your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Col. 3:3
Being a Christian is more than creeds and systems of doctrine or styles of worship. The truth is that we are hidden in Christ.
If you make a list of who Jesus is you discover He is the image of the invisible God, 1:15; He is the preeminent One, 1:18; in redemption, He is reconciling all things through His blood, 1:20-22; He is head over all principalities and powers, 1:18, 2:14; He is the Head of His Body - the church, 1:18, 2:19.
Jesus is building His church in four ways - upward in Him; downward as we are rooted in Jesus; inward as we are hidden in Christ; outward are we share our faith with others.
In Philippians, we are reminded that the joy of the Lord is our strength. The whole book is filled with admonitions to rejoice and be glad.
Paul ends up reminding the Philippians that when he travels, he is on Christ's errands. When he suffers, it is for Christ's service. When he speaks, the theme is Christ. When he writes, he fills his letters with the Person of Christ and what he has accomplished on our behalf.
Next we are introduced to the life and ministry of Peter.
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