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.