The Messenger of The Lord

 Bible Study for Pastors 

Colossians 1

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

{Redemption: To redeem something means to buy it back: When Adam and Eve sinned we no longer belonged to the Lord - sin and Death owned us (Romans6) - we were destined to be destroyed with Satan.

To forgive means to release or to let go scripture of the debtor

Who is Jesus 

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (John ch.1)

18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. (The highest place - higher than anyone or anything else - the first to rise from the dead - the first in everything)

19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 

{So Jesus Christ when he walked the Earth wasn’t half God…or a little bit God - He was FULLY and completely 100% God - in a human body like ours.

vs.20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. 

{Reconcile- to bring us back as friends- vs21)

21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.(separated to the point where we did not know him)

22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—

23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

2Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

He made him who knew no sin

John 10

9 I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. (John 14:6)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. (Completely) This isn’t talking about prosperity and things of this life. From the moment Jesus ascends to the Apostles will give their entire lives over to the preaching of the Gospel - and eventually they will each lay down their lives - Following Jesus completely👇

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

12 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

13 The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,

15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.

{We have to know Jesus like this: as our good Shepherd - if we are to be good shepherds to others.}

16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd. 

Who are these sheep? See Revelation 7:9-17

17 The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.

18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

John 21

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Jesus forgive him, comforts him, and releases him into his calling - as shepherd of the sheep - as Pastor!

1Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

4 And when the chief Shepherd (Jesus) appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

1Corinthians 13

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Colossians 1:4 since we heard of your faith ~ in what..?

in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Faith in Christ Jesus results in Hope for eternal Life - resulting in Love for one another 

The Body of Christ 

Ephesians 

1:

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 

23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

4

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.