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Welcome to our 7th study were we are going through the book of Colossians from on Friday Night Apologetics chat in Paltalk.  In this week's discussion we studied Colossians 2:13-14 on the topics of:  dead in your transgressions; alive together with Him; forgiven us all our transgressions; no free will; total inability; regeneration; born again; certificate of debt; power of the blood.  In our discussion we talked a bit about Calvinism and Arminianism from these verses which was interesting.  This was a good study and our room had good chatters on the microphones and in text.  God bless you.

Notes from study below

Verse 13

1. You were dead in your transgressions (uncircumcised in the flesh – did not know God truly/             Ephesians 2:1-22)

2. He made you alive together with Him (new creation 2 Cor. 5:17)

3. Having forgiven us all our transgressions (1 John 1:7)

These are amazing Scriptures for us to treasure, to examine deeply. 

What does these verses say to you?

• You were dead in your transgressions                                                      

(uncircumcised in the flesh – did not know God truly/ Ephesians 2:1-22)

What does “dead in your transgressions” mean?

Reading Eph. 2 as a whole, does it apply to this text we are reading from?  Why?

• Some believe this has reference to having no free will, therefore we cannot follow God unless God first regenerates us.

Total Inability:  "Therefore, all people are conceived in sin and are born children of wrath, unfit for any saving good, inclined to evil, dead in their sins, and slaves to sin; without the grace of the regenerating Holy Spirit they are neither willing nor able to return to God, to reform their distorted nature, or even to dispose themselves to such reform."  (Canons of Dordt, III & IV, Article 3)  Canons of Dordt are official statements on what Calvinism teaches, this quote is concerning "total inability."  This statement indicates that a person cannot be willing to choose God unless the Holy Spirit regenerates them.  The Canons of Dordt explains what Calvinism is, and is in agreement with what John Calvin taught on "total inability." 

http://www.afcministry.com/Calvinism_total_depravity.htm

What does the Bible teach about “regeneration”? 

What does Jesus teach in the gospel of John chapter 3:1-21?

The Canons of Dordt teaching on "Total Inability" is in error  because it states that a person must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit first to come to God.  This means they must first be born again and then they can choose God or have faith in Christ to be saved.  Nowhere in Scripture does it say we have to be first born again or regenerated first in order to be able to believe in Christ or choose God.  We are told in Scripture time after time that we have to make a decision based upon us, not based upon God deciding for us.  For example in John 3 where Jesus is speaking of being born again Jesus states 3 times in verses 15-18 that a person must believe in the Son of God in order to receive eternal life.  Jesus says if a person does not believe in Him they will perish (meaning to die in their sins) and will be judged.  "15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.   16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.   17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.   18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:15-18) There are some important keys to seeing this correctly.  Jesus says "whoever" believes in Him will have eternal life, Calvinism teaches that the "whoever" is those whom God has predestined to be saved.  The clear context here is that the "whoever" is anyone, not some elite group.  Jesus states that God loved the "world", who is the world?  Calvinism teaches the world is the ones whom God has predestined to be saved.  The clear context is that the "world" is all mankind.  Jesus said in verse 18 that the reason the ones who will be judged or condemned is because they "did not believe in the name of the only Son of God", not that God predestined them to eternal damnation.  Not only did Jesus teach that He came not to judge the world but to save it, but that it was for anyone to be saved from their sins.  The Apostle Peter said:  "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)  The clear context is that God does not desire for any to perish; that is for none to go to eternal damnation, but for them to come to repentance and be saved.  There are some who attempt to make the word "all" mean only the elect, but the clear context here is for anyone to come to repentance.  The word "all" is the Greek word "Pas" which means "anyone, whoever, whosoever, every, all."  So in context it is very clear that God desires for all to be saved which shows the doctrine of God regenerating only those whom are predestined to be false. http://www.afcministry.com/Calvinism_total_depravity.htm

• He made you alive together with Him (new creation 2 Cor. 5:17)

What does this statement mean if we do have choice?

How were we made alive, what did Jesus do to accomplish this?

• Having forgiven us all our transgressions (1 John 1:7)

What an amazing scripture teaching.

ALL…transgressions forgiven, awesome.

What other Scriptures speak of this, can you think of any? (1 John 1:7-9)

Verse 14

• having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us (John 19:30)

• taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (The power of God defeating the stain of sin Romans 5:6-11)  

All mankind who does not know God are in danger of the wrath of God to come, and need to come to know the way of salvation through Jesus Christ.  That is the thrust of Paul’s heart in Colossians 1:13-2:23

Again more awesome Scriptures.  This is the love of God for mankind, all people, yes I said all people, amen. 

Seriously, are these not amazing Scriptures.

What do you believe about these verses? 

Remember that song, “nothing but the blood”, amen!  There is true power in the blood, the blood of Jesus for our sins, what an amazing truth, if one is truly open to receive and live by this they will have a complete life, complete in Christ now and for eternity!

May you be blessed in the Lord.  Do you have any comments or questions concerning this study?  You can email us or you can check out our blog where you can share things online to discuss with others on these studies.  Go to www.afcministry.blogspot.com