1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Isaiah 6

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.…” Colossians 1:3-6 (Read Colossians 1:1-8)

Though the Apostle Paul may never have visited the church in Colosse, when he heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and the resulting love these believers had for their fellow believers, he, together with Timothy, gave thanks to God for giving them the confident hope of eternal life in heaven through Christ Jesus.

The good news of God’s offer of pardon and forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life in heaven because God the Son became a true man and redeemed mankind reached the ears of the Colossians through Epaphras and, perhaps, others; and faith in Jesus was kindled in their hearts.

As the good news of God’s gracious gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven for Jesus’ sake was used to generate faith in the hearts of the believers at Colosse nearly 2,000 years ago, so this same message generates faith in human hearts today. The same Gospel, that word of truth, tells us of the certain hope laid up for us in heaven, not because of anything we have done or can do, but because God’s own dear Son, Jesus Christ, came into this world and suffered and died for the sins of all and rose again in victory. God’s Word tells us that His gift to us for Jesus’ sake is life everlasting in the mansions of heaven.

Such a gracious gift of God – the forgiveness of all our sins because of His own Son’s holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead and the assurance that we have a place in His eternal, heavenly kingdom – will also move us to selfless love for other believers and fellow heirs of eternal life in heaven; but this love is the result of God’s loving gift of salvation to us, not the cause of it.

What a comfort to know that, though we have sinned and come short of the holy demands of God’s good law, Jesus fulfilled it for us and took our sins upon Himself, paying the just penalty upon the cross that we might have forgiveness and life everlasting! And this hope which we have is not an uncertain hope, but simply waiting for the things assured to us by the promises of God. God has offered and promised to us a place in heaven through faith in His Son. That place has been made certain to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We await that day in confidence and assurance that heaven is ours for Jesus’ sake.

When we face the end of our lives here in this world, we need not doubt and wonder if we will make it into heaven – heaven is guaranteed to us because Jesus shed His blood for us and paid in full for all our sins. If our salvation depended upon us or anything we did, we could have no certainty and no hope; but because it depends upon Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for us, we have every assurance and hope of everlasting life in the mansions of our heavenly Father’s house!

Paul wrote this letter while he was himself a prisoner because there were those who were seeking to rob these believers of the assurance and hope they had in Jesus by placing other demands upon them – suggesting such things as the worshiping of angels, eating of certain foods or observing certain days. Today, too, there are many false teachers who would suggest and say that to be true Christians people must exercise certain gifts, eat certain foods or observe certain days. The apostle’s message, the true gospel, is that we are complete in Jesus – our salvation and everlasting life is certain in Him – there is nothing we need add to His redemptive work!

Dear Father in heaven, thank You for graciously bringing to us the word of truth, the saving gospel of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in Your Son, Christ Jesus. By Your Spirit, move us to believe and take heart and be assured that, for Jesus’ sake, our sins are forgiven and, for Jesus’ sake, we have life everlasting with You in heaven. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” Deuteronomy 18:18-19

When God gave the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai and the people saw the lightning and heard the thunderings, they told Moses: “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (Exodus 20:18-19).

In accordance with their words, God promised to raise up a Prophet from among them like unto Moses who would be the mediator of a new covenant with God. He would be the mediator between God and His people by fulfilling all righteousness for us and then suffering and dying on the cross to make full atonement for the sins of all.

And, as God promised, He would put His words in the mouth of this Prophet like unto Moses and this Prophet would speak all that God commanded Him.

We know that Prophet, “like unto” Moses, is none other than Jesus Christ, God’s only-begotten Son sent into this world to make atonement for our sins and redeem us. As the Apostle John writes, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:17-18; cf. Acts 3:19-26; 7:37; John 5:45-47; 3:14-15; 6:14; 7:40).

And, Jesus’ preaching and teaching are none other than the teaching of God the Father in heaven. His message to the people of this world is God’s message to us in this fallen world (cf. John 14:24). Jesus condemned sin and demanded perfect righteousness — greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees and perfect like God the Father in heaven (cf. Matthew 5:20; 5:48) — but Jesus also offered God’s mercy and forgiveness to all who look to Him in faith (John 3:14ff.; Luke 24:46-47; John 5:24; 8:24; Mark 16:15-16). Jesus provided that righteousness by His perfect life, and He atoned for our sins by His perfect sacrifice in the cross. And to all who look to Jesus and His cross in faith is imputed the perfect righteousness of Christ (cf. Romans 3:21-26).

And what is the result of not heeding Jesus’ words and repenting of sin and rebellion against God and looking in faith to Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness? It is as Moses wrote: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” And Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48; cf. v. 44-50; Matthew 17:5).

The question for us to consider today is what do we do with Jesus’ words? Do we believe that He is, as He claimed to be, the eternal Son of God in human flesh come into this world to be lifted up and die on the cross for the sins of the world? Do we believe that He rose again and gives life to all who believe in His name? Do we repent of our sinful and rebellious ways — our disobedience to God’s commandments — and look to Him for pardon, forgiveness and life everlasting?

If so, we have the promise of forgiveness and life eternal in His name. It is as Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24; John 3:16, 36; Mark 16:15-16). If not, His words — the words given Him by God the Father — will judge and condemn us on the Last Day! Cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; John 3:18,36; Mark 16:15-16.

Dear Lord Jesus, our God and Savior, grant us faith to hear and heed Your words that we might repent of our sins and iniquities and trust in You and Your cross for mercy and forgiveness and life everlasting. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

What did the Old Testament prophets teach? “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30; Cf. Jonah 3).

What did John the Baptist preach? “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4).

What did Jesus preach? “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

What did Jesus command His disciples to preach? That “it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

What did Peter preach on the day of Pentecost? “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38).

What do ministers preach today? “It’s OK. God loves you. Don’t judge; just love everybody.”

What’s wrong with this picture? Have we forgotten to preach repentance from sin and dead works, and faith in Christ Jesus and His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the world? Have we forgotten our need for repentance – to turn from our sinful ways to God for mercy and forgiveness for Jesus’ sake? Have we forgotten our need for daily contrition and repentance?

God’s Word says: “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness … If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:8-9, 2:1-2).

The message of God’s Word to you and to me is this: We are, by nature, sinful and unclean and we live in a world headed for judgment. If we continue on in our own selfish and sinful ways and follow the course of this world, we will be judged and condemned to the eternal torments of hell. Rather, God would have us repent of our evil ways and turn to Him for mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the sacrifice of the Son, Messiah Jesus (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). He calls us by His Word, and His Spirit convicts us of our sin and guilt and offers us full pardon and life eternal through faith in Christ Jesus.

O gracious God, we are sinful and unclean and have gone our own way – a way which leads to eternal death and damnation. Have mercy on us. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake. And lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible]

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:1-2

The book of Colossians is actually a letter, sent by the apostle Paul and Timothy to the believers in Colosse by the hand of Tychicus and Onesimus. And this letter was to be read by all the believers in Colosse and then read also in the church at Laodicea (Colossians 4:16); and the Colossians were directed to read a letter sent to the church in Laodicea (a letter which we apparently no longer have).

Because God preserved this letter and moved the churches to include it in the Bible, we still read this letter today and can learn much about Jesus Christ, who He is and what He has done for us. It lays out for us the fact that we are complete and have eternal salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. This short epistle also shows us how we should live as believers in this world while we await Christ’s return and our partaking of the eternal joys of heaven which He won for us.

Notice that Paul, formerly known as Saul, was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Acts 9 explains how the Lord Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus and called him from being a persecutor of the church to being an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul himself explains more about his calling in his letter to the church at Galatia (Galatians 1:11ff.). Timothy is our brother in the Lord too. He came to faith in Jesus through the teaching of his mother and grandmother and was adopted by the apostle Paul to help in his ministry to the churches (cf. Acts 16:1ff.; 2 Timothy 1:2-5; 3:14-17).

And this letter is addressed “to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse.” It is addressed to those who are counted righteous and holy through faith in Christ Jesus – to the believers in Colosse. And, as a part of God’s inspired Word, it is addressed to all who today are saints – counted righteous and holy not by our works but through faith in Christ Jesus – faith which is worked in our hearts by God the Holy Spirit through the hearing of God’s Word (Romans 10:17).

And Paul’s salutation or greeting was a blessing: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” God’s grace, His undeserved love and favor toward us, is offered and given to us for the sake of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of all.

When we trust in Jesus, we have peace with God, the peace of sins forgiven and God’s acceptance of us as His dear children. It is as the apostle wrote in another letter to the believers in Rome: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).

O gracious and merciful God, we thank You for preserving for us this letter of the apostle Paul to the believers in Colosse that we too might read it and from it be strengthened in our faith in Messiah Jesus that we might hold fast to Him and receive the eternal joys of heaven He won for us by His death upon the cross for our sins and by His glorious resurrection. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.