“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3.1, ESV)

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Let us examine two separate points about our text.

First, if you have not been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2.38; 22.16) then this verse does not apply to you. Someone argues, “Not true. The verse says nothing about baptism and baptism does not save.” This argument overlooks the context of Colossians chapters two and three. Notice chapter two along with parallel passages:

“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…” (Colossians 2.11-13, ESV)

Notice at least two ingredients to being raised with Christ: faith in the powerful working of God, the resurrection of Christ, and baptism!

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 6.3-11, ESV).

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” (Eph. 2.1-8, ESV)

Notice the point of these passages. One is lost in sin and then obeys the gospel by being baptized into Christ, having his sins washed away (Acts 2.38; 22.16), that is, being made alive together with Christ (Col. 2.13; Rom. 6.8, 11; Eph. 2.5), and ultimately being “raised” with Him to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6.4).

Hence why Paul said, “If then you have been raised with Christ….” Friend, if you believe that Paul is not speaking about being raised with Christ after dying with Him and being buried with him in baptism, then you are not being honest with the texts above or the immediate context in Colossians chapters two and three. Friend, if you believe baptism does not save, you have believed a lie (2 Thess. 2.10-12)!

Peter, an inspired apostle of Jesus Christ contradicts all the false teachers who teach baptism does not save: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3.21, ESV)

Second, if you have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, then you have an obligation to the Lord:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3.1-4, ESV).

We seek the things above and set our minds on the things above by putting sin to death and being conformed to the image of our dear Lord (See Colossians 3.5-17). Are we doing just that?

If you have not been baptized and are interested in learning more about salvation contact me. Maybe you have been baptized, but were baptized believing baptism did not save you and that you were already saved prior to immersion. Notice above that we are baptized into Christ, made alive together with Him and are raised with Him in baptism. These are all truths that do not apply to the believer until he or she is baptized. Therefore, if you see the truth today that baptism does play an essential role in your salvation, be baptized in His name for the forgiveness of your sins! E-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4.9, ESV)¹

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¹Though Jesus has all authority (Matt. 28.18), He has delegated authority to His apostles and commanded us to listen to and obey them. To begin with, Jesus prayed that people would believe in Him through their [the apostles’] word (John 17.20). Further, He told His apostles, “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (Matt. 10.40, ESV) and “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10.16, ESV) and finally, “if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” (Matt. 10.14, ESV).

Hence, we are to follow the “apostles’ doctrine (teachings)” (Acts 2.42). However, we must understand that their teachings (that must be obeyed) came from Jesus (Matt. 10.19-20; John 14.26; 16.13, 1 Cor. 2.10-13, 16; 1 Cor. 14.37; 1 Thess. 2.13; etc.).

Simply put, “We [the apostles] are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4.6, ESV).

Not only are we to obey them, but we are to imitate (follow) the example of the apostles as well. Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11.1, ESV).

Are you listening to and obeying the apostles of Jesus Christ? Are you following their faith? God included these things in His word for our learning! Only when we practice these things will the God of peace be with us!

E-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905 if you’re interested in learning more about the apostles’ doctrine!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16, ESV)¹

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¹John 3.16 is a verse that is loved by all in the religious world. In fact, it is the gospel (good news) message in a nutshell. Unfortunately, too many people distort this wonderful verse and teach something Jesus does not mean.

First, some teach that one must simply believe in Christ (as in a mental faith that Jesus lived and died for us), and secondly, that this belief (mental faith) is all one needs to be saved. While it is true that Jesus said we must believe to be saved, surely no one would exclude repentance from our sins, confession of our faith that we believe in Jesus, baptism in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and obedience and faithfulness to His will for the rest of our lives (Acts 17.30-31; Rom. 10.9-10; Acts 2.38; Luke 6.46).

Simply put, the believer of John 3.16 is obedient to Christ in all that He commands or he is not the believer Jesus is speaking about!

Will you obey Jesus today?

‘G’od so loved the world, that he gave his

‘O’nly

‘S’on that whoever believes in him should not

‘P’erish but have

‘E’ternal

‘L’ife

That’s the GOSPEL!

If you’re interested in learning more about the gospel, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1.22, ESV)¹

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¹Tonight may be the last night of our meeting, but there is much work to be done. First, we must take what we have learned and internalize it and let it dwell in our hearts, and second, we must apply it to our lives.

Let us be blunt. What is the purpose of this gospel meeting if we are not going to practice what we have learned? To learn about God’s will and refuse to seek to better ourselves is fruitless in the kingdom and destructive to our souls!

Therefore, James taught, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1.21-25).

If you are interested in learning more about God’s will and how to apply the gospel to your life, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4.2, ESV)¹

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¹There are many things we are to be watchful for. For example, we are to be on alert concerning the devil and his ways (1 Peter 5.8), the coming of the Lord (1 Thess. 5.6), and in our preaching and teaching (2 Tim. 4.5 "watchful" NKJV). The apostles warned that this world, anxiety, sin, etc. would be a distraction to our focus on heavenly things. Therefore, it is vital that we keep our hearts pure, our minds filled with Christ and His word, and eyes fixed on the hope of heaven.

Besides the things mentioned above, God wants us to be watchful in prayer coupled with thanksgiving. It is obvious that prayer is an important role in our daily lives as Christians. It is one way to show our trust in God and to keep ourselves anxiety-free and spiritually focused. However, this raises the question: "If our prayer is not coupled with thanksgiving to God for all that He has done, can we really stay focused and alert as we should?"

Paul taught that once man began to suppress the truth, that man did not see fit to honor God and thank Him (Rom. 1.18-23). While this passage speaks about those who have sinned and ultimately rejected God, it shows the progression of those who enjoy God's blessings and yet do not see fit to continually thank Him for them. Remember when Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned to thank Him (Luke 17.11-19)? Ingratitude is an indicator of an ungodly attitude! Let us make sure that we are the one that returns to praise God and we do so as we are diligent and watchful in prayer!

If you're interested in learning more about being sober-minded, spiritually alert, and thankful in prayer to God, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.