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?

• Delivered us from the power of darkness
• Translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
• In whom we have redemption through his blood
• The firstborn of every creature
• By him were all things created
• He is before all things
• The head of the body/the church
• The beginning
• The firstborn from the dead
• In him should all fullness dwell
• By him to reconcile all things unto himself
• He can present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
• In whom is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
• As we receive Christ, “so walk ye in him” 

Paul teaches that Christ has done everything for us.  He created this world, He suffered all things, died for us, took up His life for us, and, because of Him, we have to chance to be forgiven and to live again with our Heavenly Father.  He can be, literally, everything to us.  Our responsibility to the Lord, in order to receive these wonderful blessings, is to be obedient, to share the gospel and our knowledge of the Savior with those around us.  Through Christ, we are able to find all truth and it is up to us to exercise that gift to seek and find the truths of this world and the world to come.

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.”

After reading these two verses, being “rooted and built up in [Christ] and established in the faith” means that the basis of our faith and our testimony is founded on Christ and His teachings.  For me, that has meant having a personal relationship with the Savior that has been developed through prayer and fasting, reading the scriptures and the words of modern-day prophets, and acting in faith on the promptings and guidance I’ve received and acting on the truths I’ve learned from my reading. 

In Helaman 5:12, he talks about the reason why we build this foundation on Christ: so that “when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds…when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down...because of the rock upon which ye are built…” (Emphasis added).  So, the meaning behind being built on Christ is more than just having a testimony of Him.  To me, it means fully converted to the gospel of Christ.  Having the kind of conversion that is built on and added to as each trial and storm of life rages around you, with you remaining as steadfast and immoveable as possible.  In some ways, I think this kind of conversion involves some moments when we falter a little and then come back to that foundation of Christ. 

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?

Being spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men and the rudiments of the world and not after Christ

The beguiling of men mediators for Christ vs our direct line of communication to Christ

False teachers of Christ, who don’t understand what they’re teaching and are vainly puffed up

2 Nephi 9:28-29 goes into more detail about what Paul taught.  It warns against false wisdom and learning, being vain and the frailties of the human mind, being prideful and not accepting of God’s counsel, and supposing that we are know better than God.  In verse 29, it clarifies that learning is a good thing when it is coupled with obedience to God’s teachings.

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”

Affection on things above  The “new man,” which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Christ Bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering Forebearing one another, forgiving one another Charity, which is the bond of perfectness Let the peace of God rule in your hearts Let the word of Christ dwell in you in wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Let every action be done in the name of the Lord

Not thing on the earth Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth Lying and the natural man

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:

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

• Wives, submit to your husbands
• Husbands, love your wives
• Children, obey your parents
• Fathers, provoke not your children to anger
• Obey in singleness of heart, fearing God

·         What did Paul teach about the importance of hymns?

Paul teaches that they are extremely important and should be part of our teaching and admonishing of the gospel.  In my experience, there is a very special spirit that accompanies the music in this church. 

Romans 6. Baptism

1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing: 

v  What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

We must put sin away and repent before we can be baptized.

v  What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

Christ’s resurrection is symbolized in baptism.  The action of being buried in the water symbolizes his death.  The action of being lifted out of the water, clean from sin, is a representation of Christ being resurrected, to die no more.

v  Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

It is the immersion in the water that symbolizes our sins being washed away.  It is our old self, our sinful self, which is crucified as we are buried in the water.  As we come up out of the water, we rise as new beings.  Alive in the spirit of Christ, being washed clean from our sinful life before.  A sprinkling would not be enough because there is only a small part of our body that is “washed.”  Symbolically, there would always be some part of our sinful self leftover because the entire body of sin was not washed away.

v  What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

These verses teach us that we should never let sin or physical lusts take over our physical bodies.  We need “…to be dead indeed unto sin…” (Rom. 6:11).  We are to be “…instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13).  The “newness of life” that is talked about in verse 4 is maintained by obedience and righteous living.  By living our lives as Christ would.

v  According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

Ideally, it is the “natural man” that would die at baptism.  Goodness.  As I sit here and think about that, my heart is overwhelmed with the image.  What if this did actually happen?  What if the natural man part of us literally died when we get baptized?  I can’t even accurately imagine what our wards would be like, let alone what the world would be like.  All I know, is that this world would be a beautiful place to live if the natural man actually died when we got baptized. 

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We know who servants we are based on our actions and who we obey.  Are we slaves to sin and carnal lusts?  Or are we servants of righteousness?  Do our actions lead to goodness, light, and life?  Or do they lead to misery, addictions, and, ultimately, death?  “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Rom. 6:16)? 

True freedom comes from our Father in Heaven and none else.  When we obey His laws, we are made free from sin and the consequences thereof.  We do not become slave to addiction or vices that would otherwise destroy us.  Our bodies are kept free from harmful substances and we are stronger, more physically capable, and clean.  

2 Corinthians 2:1–11. Forgiveness

The people of Corinth were commanded to forgive and comfort and confirm their love towards those that caused grief (2 Cor. 2:7-8).  This was a very eye-opening way of phrasing how we should treat people that have hurt us or sinned against us.  Not only did they need to forgive, but they were commanded to comfort and confirm their love towards those who had made a mistake.  It made me think of how the Savior handles forgiveness, in my experience.  When I’ve made a mistake, whether it be bigger or small, there’s usually been something wrong with me.  Either I’m tired so my patience is worn thin and I’m quick to snap at my daughter or I’m not maintaining my spiritual duties like I should be and I don’t have the spiritual capacity to handle a specific trial or issue that is facing me as well as I should.  There is almost always a reason behind why I sin towards another person. 

When I go to repent, the Savior offers mercy and comfort as I work to rectify my wrongs.  He offers love and patience and guidance as I work to change myself, through His redeeming and enabling power.  This commandment that Paul gave the people of Corinth is what will further enable them to become more like Christ as they act and obey it.  Any opportunity we have to become more like Christ, we need to take and give our all to it.  Our hearts and lives will be blessed beyond measure as we love, forgive, and comfort as the Savior would.  As we forgive, we can, in turn, be forgiven by our Father in Heaven.  The danger of us not forgiving others is that we will not be forgiven.

Forgiving is a blessing in our lives.  We do not have to carry around a burden of anger, bitterness, or hate.  As we forgive, we will be blessed with the lightest yolk of peace, harmony, joy, and mercy.  Forgiveness is a gift the Lord has given us.  And we need to use it and exercise it to its fullest measure. 

Being Influential for Good in the Lives of Others

Paul’s position in the church was an apostle.  The corresponding responsibility of this position is to teach the gospel.  In 1 Corinthians 9:1, Paul asked, “….are not ye my work in the Lord?”  In verse 16, Paul taught that it was his duty to teach the gospel.  These two things teach us quite a bit about how we, in today’s world, should approach teaching the gospel. 

Teaching and sharing the message of joy and good news that is the gospel of Christ is our work.  As members of the church, it is our job.  It is our duty to share that message with anyone and everyone we meet.  While every single member of the church is not a full-time, set apart missionary, we are given the call to be a member missionary.  Every single person we come in contact with is deserving of the opportunity to learn of Christ.  No one should be left out.  Our loving Father in Heaven wants his home to be complete and it is our duty, our privilege, to be part of bringing our spirit brothers and sisters home.

In 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, Paul goes into more detail about how we can and should accomplish this task of teaching those around us.  He says, in verse 22, “…I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”  What he means here is that he adapted himself to his surroundings.  He made a point of fitting in with whatever group of people he was teaching.  If he was teaching Jews, he behaved like the Jews.  If he was with those that are weak, he became weak.  What I love about his comment in verse 22 is that he is recognizing that he won’t be able to convert every person he teaches.  But he still is willing to make the sacrifices to adapt and change his behavior and persona in order to “save some.”  The number does not matter to him.  If he can be the means of saving “some,” that is enough for him.  It shows the great love for people that Paul had.  His desire to save anyone he could displays a very sweet and powerful love.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie clarifies Paul’s actions.  He states, “Paul here says he made himself all things to all men in an effort to get them to accept the gospel message; that is, he adapted himself to the conditions and circumstances of all classes of people, as a means of getting them to pay attention to his teachings and testimony. And then, lest any suppose this included the acceptance of their false doctrines or practices, or that it in any way involved a compro­mise between the gospel and false systems of worship, he hastened to add that he and all men must obey the gospel law to be saved” (New Testament Institute Manual).

We are not expected, as members of the church, to succumb to whatever sins or vices those we are teaching have.  We need to keep ourselves obedient to the Lord’s commandments.  However, in my experience, we are asked to be empathetic and loving and gentle to those we teach.  First, we need to love.  When we learn to love as Christ does, we are then able to understand the people we are teaching.  Their point of view matters.  Their background is part of what defines them, so it, too, matters.  Who they are matters.  If we can understand them, we are able to better relate to them.  If we can relate to them, we are even better equipped to help them find the strength and ability, through Christ, to overcome their challenges and use the gift of the atonement.

As we go forward and teach the gospel, it is important for us to remember that we, first, need to love those that we teach.  The sense of kindness and love that we feel and show towards the people we meet will be felt.  Our efforts will be magnified as we serve and teach in a spirit of love and offer understanding to everyone we meet. 

1 Thessalonians 3–5; 2 Thessalonians 3:1–6, 11. Counsel for Members

• Read 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13; 4:1–12; 5:1–22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1–6, 11.Then compile a list of attributes Paul counseled members to improve.

Increase and abound in love toward all men

Your hearts unblameable in holiness before God

Walk and to please God

Abstain from fornication, for your sanctification: the law of chastity

Control physical appetites – know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter

God hath…called us unto…holiness

Taught of God to love one another; and do it toward all men

Study to be quiet

Do your own business

Work with your own hands that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without and that ye may have lack of nothing

Watch and be sober

Put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of “the hope of salvation”

Comfort yourselves together

Edify one another

Know them which labor among you – esteem them very highly in love

Be at peace among yourselves

Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men

See that none render evil for evil unto any man

Ever follow that which is good

Rejoice evermore

Pray without ceasing

In every thing give thanks

Quench not the Spirit

Despise not prophesyings

Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good

Abstain from all appearance of evil

Pray that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified

Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly

No gossiping

• Select three attributes from your list and write plans of how you want to improve in each area.

“Know them which labor among you – esteem them very highly in love.”

                This is a quality I want to work on with my family…my husband in particular.  My plan to improve is to daily look for the good things my family is doing in their individual work.  Before I go to bed each night, I’m going to write down at least three things for my husband and daughter that they’ve done well in their work.  I am usually a very complimentary person, but, with my family, I struggle a little more because there are more frustrations and opportunities for discord.  But I want to change that.  So, each day, I’ll make a list of at least three things I’ve noticed and that I appreciate about them.

“Rejoice evermore.”

                I know during times of trial, I don’t always have an optimistic attitude.  And, lately, with school, I’ve been struggling more to keep my head above water, so this is definitely a quality I want to improve on.  I find I’ve been letting myself get bogged down with the amount of work I have to do between kids, a household to clean, a husband, school, and church stuff to handle. In order to improve on this quality, I don’t know that I can really create a specific plan to improve other than trying to intentionally looking for the silver lining in each situation and challenge I face.  I will pray for the ability to see the good and to have a sunny outlook on life.

“In every thing give thanks.”

                With this, I plan to improve by saying ‘gratitude prayers’ more often.  I will focus on the blessings in my life vs what I still “need.”  I plan to make an intentional decision to choose to give thanks, even when in the midst of trials.  Along with the first quality, I will make a point of expressing my gratitude for my family, in particular, and for those around me.