Anger itself is not necessarily sinful, but anger quickly kindled – the anger of impatience – is a hallmark of the fool.

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

This post by kathylarkman was originally published at GRACE PLACE

Growing in the Christian Life is about understanding and relying on what God has done for us in Christ.

We can be confident in Jesus because of who He is-the full image of God- and what He has done- dying to reconcile a rebellious world to God.

Because Jesus is fully God and His victory is total, it is foolish and useless to move on from Him. Instead, we should grow stronger in our love for and obedience to Him.

The big idea of the coming study for February is on the passage in Colossians 2:9-23. Christ has done everything we need to be reconciled to God through his death on the cross. If we add anything to Christ, it will only weaken our confidence in Christ and undermine the work of Christ.

Paul is reiterating to the Colossians ( vv9-10) the necessity to understand the origin and completeness of life in Christ we are offered (see Col 1:16-18). Paul goes into greater detail about the nature of the false teaching and the doctrine of what we have in the fullness/completeness of Christ to explain why we need to add nothing!

This February Study is on GRACE PLACE as well as hard copies at COTG and CBC. Praying you will be blessed.

The way of escape is as common as the temptation itself: Listen to the Holy Spirit. Trust that God is not a liar. Choose the path of righteousness. All temptation is common. All temptation is escapable. Every believer has the ability to overcome it. Like a muscle that gains strength over repeated workouts, so our ability to turn from temptation grows stronger with repeated practice.

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

We tell ourselves, as Adam and Eve did, that perhaps God is holding out on us. Perhaps he wants to keep good gifts from us, to cheat us of something. Every entertainment of temptation questions the goodness of God.

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

Whereas we are happy to entertain the suggestion of sin, to God it is laughable. He knows every outcome of every scenario. He cannot be fooled into thinking sin will end well. We, on the other hand, allow ourselves to weigh the costs and benefits (as if there could be any benefit to sin).

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

Alas! I knew not what I did;
But now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain.

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
I die, that thou mayst live.”

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its darkest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace
It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy
My spirit now is filled,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I killed.

We should be known as the people who respond to ‘I hate you’ with ‘I love you’

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

Our lives should demonstrate that there is no such thing as scarcity when you are a child of God, that our heavenly Father has given all that is needful and much more than we could ask or imagine.

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

Don’t miss this [from Titus 2:11-14]: grace teaches us to heed God’s moral law. … Whereas the law pointed us to our need for grace, now grace points us to our need for the law. Grace enables us to humbly submit to God’s good government.

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”

Jesus purchased for us not just a merciful reprieve from the penalty of death, but an introduction into a life of grace beyond measure.

Jen Wilkin, “In His Image”