Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

(14) But above all these thing put on love which is the “bond of perfection.  (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(18) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as if fitting in the Lord. 

(19) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

(20) Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

(21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul in response to news that heresy was threatening the Christian church at Colosse. This heresy preached strict obligation regarding food and drink and observation of ceremonial days: a denial of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ Jesus; and a “super knowledge” of a few privileged insiders.  Paul, alerted to these distortions, wrote to the Colossians urging them to preserve true doctrine and to beware of anyone who tries to cheat them/us out of their/our salvation according to man’s rules – we are to follow Christ’s principles, not those of the world.  To Paul, Christ is all in all and his audience is urged to seek things above, not things on earth.  Through faith, Christians are alive with Christ.

The faithful are told to put off the clothing or attributes of the old man’s sinful nature and to put on – as the elect of God – qualities of mercy, kindness, humility.  This concept of rejecting the old sinful nature and acquiring the qualities of a new man is accomplished only through conscious love as an intellectual choice, not an emotional reaction.  We are urged to do all – everything – in the name of Christ Jesus as a new man/woman.  Saints (Christian faithful) are to live differently from the world which is passing away.  Christians are expected to be different because we are different – the life of Christ is in us.  The faithful do not elect themselves – they do not make themselves holy but they become so only through the love of God and the finished work of Christ which led to sovereign election and free forgiveness and grace.  We are to never forget what God has done for us in Christ.

Christian belief should be followed by Christian conduct.   We are God’s creatures.  The Bible aims all it’s commands at turning from the self to God and others.  We, as debtors to God, should not hesitate to cancel the debt others owe us. God did not spare His own Son as our substitute and man, as a beneficiary of such a great gift, must also freely give to others the gift of forgiveness – this is not an optional part of Christian life.

The transforming power of grace to do what we could not do alone is not earned but comes through faith in Christ Jesus.  We cannot forgive as the “old man” but, as a new man in Christ,  forgiveness flows through.  In this conscious choice to release others, we can be set free.  Think of how little we know of each other – too little to be censorious or harsh.

Beyond all these things we are told to put on the new man in love.  Virtues without love is legalism.  We are only acceptable to God through love- without love we are as a “sounding brass and a tinkling symbol”.  The new man/woman in love has the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.  This peace of Christ is the redeemer’s legacy – the ultimate peace of Christ is the presence of Christ and Paul urges the faithful to not let people deprive themselves of their reward as if they are unworthy.  The peace with God is a result of the acceptance of Christ as Saviour.  We are to be one with Christ and one with Christians.  The possession of peace/harmony is the prime end of Christianity for which we should be habitually grateful.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, (2) which He promised before, through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, (3) concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.  (5) Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, (6) among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

(7) To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul identifies himself as the author of the letter to the Romans.  He establishes his credentials and states his mission in the very first verse of today’s reading. The intended readers are located at Rome and Paul writes to them a rather complete exposition of the gospel he had been preaching for almost 20 years.

First Paul calls himself a bondservant to Jesus Christ – he is no longer a servant of sin, of man or the law of Moses (the tradition of man).  He was called to be an apostle and this call was divinely initiated according to the will of God –  Paul was set apart by God “from his mother’s womb”.  This God given authority implied that he (Paul) was the authorative representative of Christ Jesus – to witness to the resurrection of Christ Jesus – and to be the messenger of the gospel for salvation of lost sinners, Jew or Gentile.  In these verses we are studying Paul’s gospel as historical fact.   If there was no resurrection there was no forgiveness.  Jesus is the conduit of grace to humanity – it is a free gift from the Father but comes through the Son.  Paul stresses the obedience of faith – in Romans Paul is setting aside religious duties and a faith in the living Christ is substituted.  All are invited to believe that Christ died for sinners – the whole world – it is a message for all nations.

The Letter to the Romans is called the theology of the Old Testament.  (Paul was certainly himself a Rabbi and studied at the feet of Gameliel, the most revered  biblical scholar of Paul’s time.)  Salvation in both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that man is declared justified – right with God – thru personal faith.   All biblical history leads to the Messiah who died for salvation of man.  Faith in Christ Jesus is all.

Romans is appropriate to study at Christmas, as it is Christ centered.    The reason Christ was born into this world is told in the gospel of Matthew:   The angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph, telling him that Mary is with child by the Holy Spirit and he is to take her for his wife.  And, by the way, Joseph should call his name Jesus “for he will save people from their sins”.  The prophets of the Old Testament also testify that the Messiah,  true man according to the flesh, and also declared to be son of God will come to bring salvation to sinful man.   Isaiah (9:6) prophesied:

“For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Merry and blessed Christmas to all my readers.  amen

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  (8) You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

(9) Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.  Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!  (10) My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.  (11) Indeed we count them blessed who endure.  You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

James was the half brother of Jesus and an important figure of the ancient church.  He was the head of the Christian church at Jerusalem.  This early and powerful letter to all Christians tells his audience that they cannot just talk Christianity, they must live it.    James addresses his readers – the Christian Jews and Gentiles who were suffering – telling them that they are being proved or tested like gold through fire, and that once proved they will receive the crown of glory promised by the Lord Jesus to those who love Him.

James sources the Old Testament for our instruction and, like Paul, believes that all Scripture is profitable.  We need to know biblical history for growth in godliness through examples of application, perspective and example.   Biblical truths proclaimed by generation after generation of godly men strengthens Christians today.   It is clear that serving the Lord does not make us exempt from trials.  The Bible stresses the need for endurance through trials – our lives should be viewed as a marathon, not a sprint.  Submission is required – this comes from a firm and informed belief in the sovereignity of God.  This sovereignity implies that God has a plan, a purpose, and we should never doubt this.  Today is a staging place for eternity.

This letter from James is a moral, doctrinal and literary masterpiece, written in the Judaic tradition.  It is written in the context of Jewish history – written to descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel;  to people who follow Christ and have the experience of trials of faith for a great purpose which will bring spiritual completeness in eternal life.  Trust in God is key – the riches of this world bring no protection.  James cautions against blaming God for difficulties.  We must choose to rely on God and the practise of right living contrasts human behaviour and God’s ways.  Knowing is not enough, we must act on what we know is right.  Belief informs behaviour – belief is demonstrated by actions.  Right behaviour in every day life requires wisdom and this is learned only by connection to God and His word to us.  The human heart wants what it wants – too often it wants what it ought not have.  Following the world’s ways we become enemies of God.  James tells us to submit to God.  Life is short and we are to get our priorities right.  Material goods are of no benefit.

Acting in faith in times of trial in submission to God’s plan provides a powerful example in proving faith by works.  We need not just patience in times of trial but patience and endurance in all things.  The foundation of patience is faith in Christ Jesus and the sure knowledge that Christ will come again to judge all things.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  (5) Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, (6) that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(7) Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us to the glory of God.  (8) Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, (9) and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christian community of Rome.  The letter to the Romans is about God from beginning to end – and His plan for the world.  In the verses we study today, Paul is emphasizing the practical value of the word of God – or the practical value of the Bible.  He is saying that all Scripture is God breathed:  inspired and inerrant, profitable for teaching.  The Scriptures were intended not only for those generations in which they were delivered but they are relevant today.  I believe that they were written for our learning,  abounding hope, and comfort, and the greatest dereliction of the church of Jesus Christ today is ignorance of the biblical Word of God.

Paul reminds the church in Rome that hope is in Christ Jesus and this was pointed to in the Old Testament.  (at the time of his writing there was no new Testament.)  He teaches the glorious biblical truth of hope of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ – the doctrine of justification through faith by God’s free grace.   Hope here is the hope of the glory of God which is taught by God’s word in Scripture – hope pushes out contrary emotions.

In the mindset of the early church the phrase “one accord” is often used – a goal of unity or common interest rather than of personal feeling.  The point of this section is the purpose of unity and mutual acceptance to bring glory to God the Father.  The work of Christ is an example:  we were sinful, fallen and helpless and if Christ could accept and minister to fallen man, we can receive one another and live in harmony.  Christians are called on to live an inclusive lifestyle.

Paul continues to reference the Old Testament.  The promise was made to Abraham (this promise was made before the law because Abraham had faith in God) that through him all the nations of the earth be blessed.  Christ came to confirm that promise and fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament.    The ministry of Christ was not just to Israel but the Gentiles were to share the blessing.  Jesus is Messiah for all.    The Old Testament shows that the inclusion of the Gentiles was always God’s plan.  Israel was to be the instrument through which Christ’s redemptive work would extend to the Gentiles.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  (13) Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  (14) Bur put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The letter to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul – a towering theologiccal exposition of the gospel.  Our verses today concern an application of that theology.  Paul is writing to motivate believers to holy living:  we are saved through faith by grace – not of ourselves but as a gift from God.  Paul makes use of metaphors of darkness and light – Christ is the light of the world and we are called by God to that light.  The sinful world is the darkness which is eternal death.  It’s interesting that the world sells itself as enlightened and infers that the Christians are living in darkness.

The Bible says the world is in darkness concerning God and man.  None of man are basically righteous or good and the period of darkness is also a time of moral and spiritual darkness as opposed to the light of the gospel.  Jesus Christ ushered in the light – the faith, love and hope of salvation.  Paul thought of believers as already in light and he expected them to live like sons of day/light.  Not only is the believer to take off the garments of darkness (all those darling sins) but to put on the armor of God – the protection of grace.

Paul piles on time phrases here – time, hour, night, day, nearer – all of which give a strong sense of urgency.  We should feel warned not to let the urgent crowd out the important.    Time and opportunity are limited.  Mick Jagger in 1964 sang the song “Time is on our side” but you don’t hear that included in Rolling Stones concerts today.

Paul is saying that the first coming of Christ Jesus brought salvation to believers and the 2nd is for judgment on unbelievers and final salvation for believers.  It is still dark but the night is almost gone.  We are to live with the possibility that Christ will come at any time and the certainity that He WILL come.  Believers have been saved in the past, are being saved in the present and will be completely saved in the future.

I remember seeing a play about a woman who squandered her time and opportunities and when death came her last words were “I thought I had more time.”