3C's Bible Study

Paul writes to the Colossians in this chapter to warn them of the possibility of being lured into false confidence in vain philosophy and empty religious legalism. This chapter examines what is wrong or missing in these spiritual ideas by comparing them with the nature of reality and offers Christ as the one who fulfils what is lacking in us.

The second half of Colossians follows up on the first to reveal the content, author and mystery of our hope in Christ. Paul presents Him as the centre of the visible and invisible creation and thus the one who gives everything its reference and meaning. And much more, Christ is also the firstborn from the dead, making Him the head of the church and the agency by which we have access to glory.

These early verses focus on the quality of our hope, which is the value that enables us to endure. When our hope is right, our faith and love can last on it. Paul also highlights here the way to materialize or realize the hope in our hearts, an outcome he prays every sincere believer in Christ will become acquainted with.

Colossians address the mingling of Christian beliefs with other spiritual ideologies and practices, prominent in first-century Colosse and our day. This letter, therefore, investigates the question, "is Christ enough?" particularly for redemption and fullness of life. Paul argues that these twin necessitates of the spiritual life can only be sufficiently fulfilled by Christ and none other by point...

Choosing to stand fast in the freedom of Christ opens up our resourcefulness to the kingdom of God in ways that Paul explains in this closing chapter. However, our fruitfulness is not without opposition or delay, and Paul aims to equip us with the right hope and mindset to persevere through to the due season.

Paul addresses in this chapter the central question of how we use our freedom in Christ. His conclusion comes right at the beginning, which is to "stand firm" and not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery. Standing firm is about taking our eyes off the superficial and fixing it on the reality.

Our acceptance into the kingdom of God should mark our deliverance from slavery to the elements of the Law. So Paul, in this chapter, unveils the pathway to sonship, drawing parallels with the alternative, which is slavery. His goal is that Christ would be formed in the hearts of his readers. What does it mean for Christ to be formed in our hearts? And how does this birth happen in our hearts? We...

The life of Abraham is the case study of this chapter, particularly his journey into the promise of God. Paul is keen for the Galatians not to misplace the basis of Abraham's faith and, in so doing, miss out on the blessing that follows it. What is this blessing? And on what basis is it inherited? We find out in this episode.

In Galatians 2, Pual's goal is to highlight the principle of substitution as the basis of our justification and to establish the same principle as the meaning of the Christian life.

The one element that hinders the gospel is the will of man; hence, God excludes it from His work of salvation in our hearts. Paul sees the same principle at work in his calling as an apostle. The end is that the gospel might bring glory to God alone by the fruits that it produces.

Galatians tackles the natural tendency we have to seek justification or rightness with God by our effort. Paul highlights the futility in this approach and offers the principle of faith as the universal and sufficient principle of relationship with the true God.

As Paul rounds off this magnificent piece, he points us to the source of his successful ministry to the Gentiles which is the working of Christ in Him. It is the same working of Christ in ours today that he trusts will make all the difference in faith, hope, and love.

Following on from the instructions on love, Paul now addresses the greatest challenge to walking in love, which is the problem of weaknesses or differences in both us and others. His goal is to present the example of Christ, who gave Himself a ransom for many, as the model to follow when significant differences that could cause division emerge.

Following the introduction to the weightier issues of the kingdom of God in the first eight verses of chapter twelve, Paul now turns his closing remarks in the letter to focus on the weightiest of them all, which is love. These verses showcase the manner of sacrificial love in dealing with fellow believers, governmental authorities and everyone else. 

With the foundation of the universality of the gospel laid in the first 11 chapters, Paul now begins to wrap up the letter by highlighting the weighty matters of the Gospel that everyone saved by it should grow in.

Paul brings his examination of Israel's current rejection of the Gospel to its full-cycle as he concludes that "all Israel will be saved". In arriving at this conclusion, Paul in this chapter espouses the principle of God's immutable wisdom behind His work in Israel's history and in ours.

In Romans 10, Paul wants his readers to know the principles that make for an enduring faith, as he continues his discourse on the dilemma of Israel and the gospel. The faith that endures is one that is established on a precise knowledge of God, emphasises the sincere conviction of the heart, and is empowered to preach the gospel.

Romans 9 introduces us to the complexity and tension that is there in every life, with Israel's current blindness to the gospel the grand archetype of this dilemma. Why are some saved and others not? Paul's attempt to resolve this begins in this chapter.

Paul highlights in these concluding verses of Romans 8, the pathway to glory, showcasing the activity of every member of the trinity in bringing everyone who receives Christ to the consummation of salvation.

Going on from the message of "No Condemnation" in Christ, Paul details the two possibilities that about to every believer in Christ, based on where we set our minds, and two "if's" to salvation.

If the cure for sin is the abundance of Grace, what happens to the righteous demands of the law under Grace? Paul unveils the system under which God deals with our struggles in Christ.

In chapter 4, Paul laid out the science behind the new testament faith, which is modelled after the faith of Abraham. Paul applies the principles of faith practically to the universal problems of sin and death.

In Romans 1-3, Paul concluded that all humanity is subject to God's wrath, including the Jews. Now in chapter 4 he addresses the questions that this conclusion raises, narrowing down to the faith of Abraham as the model for new testament faith.

Paul lays out in the first three chapters of Romans the universal and often futile search for an answer to the righteousness of God, and presents the Gospel as God's answer.

The universality of the Gospel is the main theme of the book of Romans, which is a masterpiece on the sufficiency of the gospel.