• walk: conduct, lifestyle, consistent with the gospel
• rooted, built up, established, abounding

• danger of incarceration through speculation and deception
• the standard: according to Christ

• hymn-like quality (4 “in Him” and 4 “striking” participles)
• filled in His fullness (9-10)
• circumcision (11), burial/resurrection (12), death/new life (13), expunged record (14), disarming/triumph (15)

• “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh my soul…” (Spafford)
• “And when before the throne I stand in Him complete, ‘Jesus died my soul to save’ my lips shall still repeat…” (Hall)
• “There we leave you in that blessed dependency, to hang upon Him that hangs on the cross.” (Donne)
• Cling to Christ!

• rejoicing in sufferings
• filling up what is lacking…
• making the word known
• Christ the hope of glory
• Paul’s “faithful dependence” and “furious drive”

• new hearts and common hope
• encouraged through unity
• enriched with understanding
• established against error
• purpose and commendation

• Living in absolute submission to Jesus Christ safeguards believers from spiritual seduction.
• At the heart of every cult is a defective doctrine of Jesus Christ.
• “Admonition is love’s authentic expression in time of danger.” (MacGorman)
• Prosperity of soul is the best prosperity. (3 John 2-4)
• “Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as You art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought.” (Newton)

• identification of recipients
• extension of grace and peace

• example of Epaphras
• note the progression

• redemption
• forgiveness

• Cultivate a text-driven perspective.
• Pray in response to and anticipation of God’s word. (Before You Open Your Bible by Matt Smethurst)
• “The pipe of love is often dry because the pipe of prayer is not deep enough.” (John Piper)
• “Sweet hour of prayer…” (William Walford, 1845)

• rejoicing in a “blossom” of concern
• a delicate appreciation
• the discipline of sufficiency in Christ
• a learned “secret”
• enablement for the assignment

• exclusive partnership
• a grace-centered commendation
• a fragrant offering
• fullness according to wealth
• directed doxology

• When you rely on the enabling power of Christ, you can live with consistent contentment and confident generosity.
• You can do what the Lord assigns you to do because of the power that He keeps on pouring into you.
• “The power of Christ in Paul was not for the gratification of Paul’s whims but for the carrying out of Christ’s will.” (Robertson)
• “For Paul, contentment is not found in creating our own security but by abandoning our security to Christ.” (Ferguson)
• “Under the shadow of Your throne Your saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Your arm alone, and our defense is sure.” (Watts)

• inclusive command
• specific focus

• from observation to imitation
• imminent and intimate incentives

• clear prohibition
• balanced perspective
• panorama of prayer

• with the result that…
• guaranteed coverage
• the peace of God going…the God of peace guarding

• Our capacity to rejoice in the Master is connected to our concentration on His worth.
• “Thy mighty name salvation is, and keeps my happy soul above: Comfort it brings, and power and peace and joy and everlasting love. Jesus, mine all in all Thou art: My rest in toil, my ease in pain, the medicine of my broken heart. In war my peace, in loss my gain, my smile beneath the tyrant’s frown, in shame my glory and my crown.” (C. Wesley)
• “Watch over your child ____, O Lord, as his days increase; bless him and guide him, and keep him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer)