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Colossians 3:15 FEBRUARY 2012 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Colossians 3:15 Colossians: Live Worthy of the Gospel Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute, ministers to more than one million listeners each week on the air, online, and on mobile devices. During Moody Radio’s annual Share event, thousands of Moody partners make it possible for Moody Radio to create encouraging, biblical programs like Midday Connection, Today in the Word Radio, and In the Market with Janet Parshall, and to air teaching programs by Chuck Swindoll, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and Tony Evans. 1 Partner 2 Pray WITH US WITH US We depend on financial Your continued prayers are an support from listeners to important part of supporting keep the programming the ministry of Moody Radio. you love on the air. 3 Share 4 Tell YOUR STORY A FRIEND Tell us how Moody Radio Spread the word about has given you hope, and read Moody Radio to your friends encouraging stories from and family. other listeners. Tune in to your local Moody Radio station for the dates of Share, or visit www.moodyradio.org. MR0003-4_Moody Radio Share Spread.indd 1 12/15/11 4:27 PM “ Moody Radio is my daily seminary class, my Christian worldview developer, my family counselor, my worship leader, my encourager, and good friend. I can’t imagine the desert I’d be in if it weren’t for Moody.” Corinne, Clearwater, FL “ Moody Radio has been a huge comfort and reviver of my spirit. It has encouraged me, speaking the right words at the right time. God has used Moody Radio to remind me that He is with me, He has not forgotten about me, and He is working in my life to meet me where I am.” Elizabeth, Oak Park, IL If you’ve been blessed by Moody Radio, would you consider sending a gift? Give online at www.moodyradio.org, call 1-800-DL MOODY, or mail your gift to Moody Radio, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610. In appreciation for your Share gift, we would like to give you this new two-CD compilation set, called This is my story, This is my song, created for Share 2012. It features inspiring stories from Moody Radio programs and music from Moody Radio’s most requested recording artists. MR0003-4_Moody Radio Share Spread.indd 2 12/15/11 4:27 PM TODAY WITH PAUL NYQUIST President of Moody Bible Institute Who’s in Control? Most scholars agree ible, whether thrones or powers or rulers that the apostle Paul or authorities; all things have been created was likely impris- through him and for him. He is before all oned in Rome when things, and in him all things hold together” he wrote his letter to (v. 16–17). When we look at the beauty of the Colossians. Though creation—whether the Grand Canyon or he was constantly the Rocky Mountains or anything else—we chained to guards, see a marvelous picture of the Creator. But he was allowed to receive visitors, accept Christ is not just Creator, He is also Sus- gifts—and fortunately for us—send letters. tainer, actively involved in the everyday He wrote this letter primarily to combat inner workings of the universe. heresies regarding Christ that were affect- And finally, Christ is the head of the body. ing the struggling first-century church in In verse 18, Paul explains Christ’s relation- Colossae. ship to the church: “And he is the head of Colossians 1:15–18 is considered to be the body, the church.” As members of the one of the greatest christological passages body, we must be careful to follow the direc- in all of Scripture. Though we could spend tion of the head: Christ Himself. Christ gives several weeks doing an exposition on all definition to God (v. 15), design to the its theological implications, I want to en- world (v. 16–17), and direction to the courage you with an overview of three church (v. 18). important truths that are just as relevant Paul puts to rest the false teaching of the today as when the apostle Paul first com- day by declaring Christ’s sufficiency in all municated them to the church in Colossae things. Though we may not be facing the hundreds of years ago. same heresies as the Colossian believers, First, Paul tells us that Christ is the image these reminders of Christ’s sufficiency and of God: “The Son is the image of the invis- authority are still relevant today. ible God, the firstborn over all creation” (v. For example, in today’s economy, many of 15). Jesus Christ has made visible to us the us are asking the difficult question: “Can One who is invisible. So what is God the God continue to provide for my needs?” Father like? Christ has revealed Him to us. Scripture says that Christ is Sustainer. He We can have assurance that one day when can provide. And in today’s world rid- we stand in the presence of God, we will den with corruption, many of us are ask- know Him intimately because He has re- ing, who is in control Scripture says that vealed His character to us through His Son. ? Christ has all authority. He is in control. Second, Christ is the agent of creation. Can Christ meet our needs Is He in con- “For in him all things were created: things ? trol Absolutely, yes. in heaven and on earth, visible and invis- ? 2 • Today in the Word THEOLOGY MATTERS by John Koessler The Mystery of the Gospel For most of us a mystery represents a Paul outlines the broad contours of biblical puzzle to be solved. We read a murder mystery in Colossians 1:26 when he char- mystery and look for clues to identify the acterizes this doctrine as something that killer. When we speak of mysteries in the “has been hidden for ages” but is “now spiritual realm, we also think of puzzles, disclosed to the Lord’s people.” Mystery in but the unsolvable kind. Consequently, this sense is synonymous with revelation. when someone asks us a difficult question Christ Himself is the mystery. It is the rev- about God, we are tempted to shrug our elation of the person and work of God’s shoulders and say, “It’s a mystery.” Son who is also Israel’s Messiah. We may mean only that God operates by This mystery also includes a revelation of rules we do not understand. They make the extent of Christ’s work. In Ephesians sense to Him and are consistent with His 3:3–4, Paul writes of the mystery made nature but are mysterious to us. Or we known to him by revelation, which he also may speak of mystery when we see an ap- refers to as “the mystery of Christ.” This parent paradox in Scripture, like the seem- mystery was not made known to previous ing tension between divine sovereignty generations but was revealed by the Holy and human responsibility in salvation. In Spirit to those who first preached the gos- most cases what we really mean when pel. It was the good news that the Gentiles we describe something as a mystery is, “I could be heirs together with Israel and don’t know.” members of the church, which is Christ’s body. The news that Gentiles could share When Paul speaks of “mystery” in the in the promises in Christ, along with those book of Colossians, he means something Jews who embraced the gospel, energized very different (Col. 1:26, 27; 2:2; 4:3). He the outreach of the early church and pro- is not speaking of a puzzle to be solved pelled the gospel to the ends of the earth. or of something that is impossible for us It is this same promise that empowers the to understand. Instead, Paul describes church’s evangelism today. mystery as a truth which was previously hidden but has now been made known by God. In the book of Colossians the mystery Paul has in mind refers to the indwelling of Christ, the believer’s hope of glory. For Further Reading To learn more about the mystery of Christ, read Love So Amazing: Exposition of Colossians by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones (Baker). www.todayintheword.com • 3 FROM THE EDITORS by Elena Mafter A Commitment to the Word in a Changing World As I write this column for a privilege, in this changing our February 2012 Today world, to bring the unchang- in the Word, I have before ing, eternal Word to His me another February is- people. In the introductory sue—the very first Today in article to that inaugural is- the Word that went to print sue, the (now unknown) edi- 25 years ago in 1988. It tor wrote: “Turn the page, seems almost like a museum and welcome a new friend piece when I think that it ap- from Moody Bible Institute— peared in a world without Today in the Word!” We the blogosphere, Twitter- can now say that the friend- verse, or e-publishing. In the ship lasted for a quarter of a past 25 years, Today in the century, and this devotional Word has changed with the and its readers have be- changing times: more than come old friends. We want 200,000 people, including citizens of 68 to thank all our friends for your commitment countries, now read the print version of our to Today in the Word, for your prayers, and devotional, and thousands receive it daily financial support.
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