Authentic Christianity

THE MESSAGE OF THE LORD TO HIS BELOVED CHURCH

AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY; INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

COLOSSIANS 1:9-12

And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

INTRODUCTION

We all like what is original (genuine). In the recent past there has been so many counterfeit items including mobile phones. One is usually disappointed at realization that he/she has been keeping a fake item. The reason being that a fake item doesn’t last long, it usually has a lot of problems and it’s unable to perform as expected.

Authentic means original, genuine, not counterfeit, conforming to the fact hence worth to believe.

What then is authentic Christianity?

COLOSSIANS 1:9-11

Let us go through this text together, this will help us understand the topic.

The book of Colossians was written by Apostle Paul while still in Ephesus. He was with Timothy and probably other brethren during the instance of writing this letter.

He wrote it for many reasons including warning them against the false prophets. Though Paul was not the spiritual father of this church he felt responsible to give them helpful information about the Christian faith.

This was a young church and they were all growing in their walk with Christ. Epaphrus (the spiritual father of this church) reported to Paul and the brethren of the faith of these people and the love they had for all the saints.  They had hope of the second coming of Jesus who would take them with him to heaven, and that hope sprang in them faith and love.

There was a problem, even with all this faith and love for the saints: the people of Colossae were being swayed and tossed in their beliefs. They were not rooted and hence many teachers would come with false teachings and confuse them. The only prayer then that Paul made for them is verse 9.

That God may fill them with the knowledge of His will. This then means that when we know the will of God, we are able to follow it. So then it’s our obligation to make sure we know the will of God. This can be done through reading of the word, since it’s His word and His mind in writings. We also pray in order to know the will of God.

They were to be filled through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.                    In 2 Cor 2:10….God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. It’s only the Spirit that can reveal to us the will of God. We therefore depend on Him for guidance.

In verse 10, Paul clearly states that the reason of him making such a prayer is so that after the above has been accomplished in them, they may live a life worth of the Lord and may please Him in every way. I believe a life worthy of the Lord is an authentic one, its genuine, according to God its worth living. This then yields to one pleasing God in every way; not some ways but every way.

Bearing fruitful in every good work. A genuine Christian is able to perform as per the maker (God), that is bearing fruit and not anywhere else but in every good work. All this will be sustaining by a continual growth in the knowledge of God.

Through the knowledge of Christ we receive strength: strength to say no to sin or any appearance of sin. Have you read about some men of faith in the Bible who have said NO to sin?

MOSES:

At the instance when Moses was called by God, we see him as a fearful man. In fact he had gone there to hide from Pharaoh. When God tells him about his assignment to deliver the Israelites, he starts to give excuses. He had not known God! Moses was not aware that when God says “I will be with you”, He exactly means that. (Exodus 3:4)

Interestingly, in chapter 33:14-15, Moses seem to have known who actually God is and its recorded in verse 15…And he said to him, "If thy presence will not go with me, do not carry us up from here. Moses cannot afford to make a step without God. He has now increased in the knowledge of God.

JOSEPH:

Genesis 39:9……….he is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife; how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" 

I love the way Joseph puts it: ‘and sin against God’. As much as the order was from Pharaoh that Joseph shouldn’t touch his wife, sinning against God was the first consideration for Joseph. Till this far Joseph had become a friend of God, they had walked together through dreams, rejection and he knew it’s only God who can never leave you. So how could he then do such a thing and sin against God?

SHADRACK, MESHECK,ABEDNEGO

Daniel chapter 3, also describes another scenario of 3 men of God who refused to bow to idols. The situation in which they were in (in exile as slaves) was not the best such that one can claim they were in comfort and therefore they would boldly go against a kings command. Quite a number of us sin and say “I was forced by circumstances to lie”. We have good examples with us.

Time and space will not allow me to write all the men of faith, but the above will act as an example.

CONLUSION:

As Paul had told the Colossae we have seen that through the increased knowledge of God we are able to be authentic Christians.(them that become what God called them to be.

Be ye Holy as am Holy. That is the call of God, to resist the devil and to flee from him. To embrace Christ and His teachings.