In a letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks about Jesus using powerful words. He explains that the complete nature of God lives in Christ, and those who trust in him are made whole. Paul is showing that everything about Jesus is shared with his followers.
Christ is not lacking in any way. He is more than enough for the needs of the heart, the body, and the mind. Through him, people are able to live the life that God intended for them. Christ is not empty or missing something.
Jesus is the head over all power and authority, and those who are in him share in this fullness.
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;
In 1 Corinthians 12:28, the Bible lists different roles in the church, starting with apostles. This order is important because it shows the special place apostles had in the early Christian community.
Apostles were the first group chosen by Jesus. There were twelve of them, all witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. After Judas left, Matthias took his place. These men were the first to preach the gospel and teach what Jesus had shown them. The teachings they shared became known as the apostles’ doctrine. Early Christians would meet to learn from these teachings, which formed the foundation of the church.
The apostles also received special messages from God and wrote much of the New Testament. Because of their role, they are given a unique honor in Christian history. Paul is also counted among the apostles, even though he was not one of the original twelve.
After the apostles came prophets, who were early preachers who received guidance from God to help the church. Next were teachers, who helped explain the faith clearly. These roles are similar to today’s pastors and teachers. Evangelists, who focus on sharing the gospel with those outside the church, also play a key part, as seen in Ephesians.
The apostles hold a special place as the foundation of the church, a group that cannot be repeated. The church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. I hope this understanding helps explain how the early church was organized and why apostles had a unique role.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,
To hear God’s voice, we must first admit that we need to learn. This begins with having a teachable spirit. We need a heart that is open and humble. When someone believes they already know everything, they close themselves off from growth. Pride becomes a barrier to hearing from God.
Being teachable means being ready to receive truth, not just from personal reading or prayer, but also by learning from others. It means being willing to try, to apply what we learn, and to grow from experience. This kind of attitude invites God to speak, because it shows that we are ready to listen.
If we want to hear from God regularly and clearly, we need to stay open, eager, and honest before Him.
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Many people hesitate to give because they worry they will not have enough left for themselves. This fear comes from forgetting what God has already promised. Scripture tells us that the Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. God is the source of every resource.
If He is the One who creates and sustains life, then we can trust Him not to abandon those who choose generosity. The call to give is not about losing, but about trusting that God will continue to provide.
God enriches us in many ways so that we can use those blessings to be generous.
And my God will supply [a]all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
In 2 Corinthians 6:1, the Apostle Paul gives a strong warning to the church in Corinth about not receiving God’s grace without purpose. Paul’s message is clear: believers must not treat God’s gift of grace as something worthless or without effect.
This warning can be understood in two important ways. First, Paul may be addressing those in the church who did not truly believe. He encourages the Corinthian Christians to carefully examine themselves to be sure they really have faith. Some people in the church might have heard the gospel but never truly accepted it, so the grace of God had no real impact on their lives.
Second, Paul could also be warning true believers who had accepted God’s grace but were beginning to live by strict rules instead of by faith. He asks if they are now trying to be made perfect by following the law. He reminds them that salvation comes through the Holy Spirit’s work, not by human efforts or legalism. In other words, some believers might reject the freedom found in grace and try to earn God’s approval through their own actions.
Paul’s message shows that grace must be received sincerely, either by truly believing or by continuing to rely on God’s Spirit rather than human effort. Christians should avoid treating grace as meaningless and instead live in the freedom and power it offers.
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
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