Becoming New Creatures in Christ

Colossians 1-4

1. Make a list of names, titles, and phrases used by Paul in Colossians 1:13–2:7 to describe the Savior. What did Paul teach that Jesus Christ has done for us? What do these verses teach about the responsibilities we have to receive the blessings of the Lord? Son, Firstborn of every creature, Head of the body, the beginning, Firstborn of the dead. Christ has suffered so that we may become clean. He has made a clear example that if we root our selves in we will receive eternal happiness.
2. Write Helaman 5:12 next to Colossians 2:7 in the margin of your scriptures. After reading these two scriptures, write a paragraph explaining what it means to be “rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith.” To be "rooted" in Christ means to center your whole life around his teachings. We can do this as we make a conscious effort to live each day as Christ would. When we build ourselves up in Christ we have a special strength against satan and all the temptations he throws our way. We can see more clearly the difference between the right and the wrong.
3. Review Colossians 2:8, 18 and the institute student manual commentary for Colossians 2:18-19, “What does Paul Mean by the Worshiping of Angels?” (p. 345). List at least four means of deception Paul warned the Saints about in Colossae. What does 2 Nephi 9:28-29 add to what Paul warned? spoil you through philosophy, vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world. The pride of our knowledge can become our spiritual death.
4. Review Colossians 3 and make a list of what we should “put on” and “put off” or “mortify.” Make a chart like the following one and place your findings in the corresponding column:

Things We Should Seek After or “Put On”	Things We Should “Mortify” or “Put Off”
-Set affection on heavenly things - bowels of mercy - kindness - humbleness  - meekness - longsuffering - forbearing one another - forgiving one another - charity - peace of God in your heart - thankful - the word of Christ dwell in you - teaching and admonishing one another - do all things in the name of the Lord - do all things heartily unto the Lord	-Set affection on things of the earth - Fornication - uncleanness - inordinate affection - evil concupiscence - covetousness - anger - malice - wrath - blasphamy - filthy communication - dishonesty  - do things to please man

1. Review Colossians 3:15-21 and identify in writing several ideas that would help families live in greater harmony. Then answer the following questions in writing: A family is a group effort of cooperation. This means that every member is responsible to make it a place of harmony. If the family is centered in Christ they will find that peace that is needed to live in harmony.
   • What specific counsel did Paul give to children, parents, husbands, and wives? wives, submit to husbands; husbands, love your wives; children, love your parents
   • What did Paul teach about the importance of hymns? "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Romans 6 ---->Baptism

Romans 6:1-13

- What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?
We must not let sin reign our hearts as it says in verse 12 but rather that we should be instruments of of righteousness that we may yield our hearts to God. This means that we must come clean of our sins, we must come to baptism with an energy  and devotion to Christ. As it would say in the Book of Mormon, it is a change of heart.

- What events from Christ's life are symbolized in baptism?
The death of Christ is symbolized as we are submerged into the water and as we rise back up it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. The death of the sinner and the rising of a new, clean man.

- Consider this symbolism, why couldn't someone be baptized by sprinkling?
Being fully submerged is cleaning of the whole body whereas by sprinkling one is just receiving a portion of his/her body this cleansing.

- What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the "newness of life"?
I find it interesting that verse 6 it explains boldly that our old man of sin has died with Christ so we should not return to being a servant of sin. We can be alive in Christ! Baptism is the first step.

- According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?
Ideally the natural man, which is an enemy to God, would die. This means putting our pride, our selfishness on the side and submitting to his will.

Romans 6:14-23
In this scripture block it is clear to an understanding of who we are servants to. We are servants to that of which we yield to which means "to give up or surrender". When we are listening to the promptings of the Spirit and act upon promptings we are showing that our master is our Heavenly Father and we are his servant. It goes the other way as well when acting out of pleasure or lust. We become servants of the devil. 

The true source of freedom comes from being free from sin because we are then promised eternal life instead of death.

God Comforts Us in Times of Tribulation

2 Corinthians 1,4,11-12

Paul and Timothy were able to avoid despair because they knew (2 Cor. 1:3-5; 4:15-17 and Hebrews 12:6-7) that the Lord had a special plan for them. They realized that they only had a certain view on what was happening but in fact the plan is more eternal. It is noted that it wasn't easy and that they were confused at times but they kept their heads up and their spirits high. Even though it was rough they knew it would be worth it.

I think often times it is hard to remember that this hard times are for our good. They will be but a moment. The blessings will become known unto us.

Being a bold witness of Christ was not an easy task for Paul nor as was it for Joseph Smith. The cruelty that they would have for such testimonies is such a hard thing to understand but both men were such great examples of sticking it out and standing boldly.

Grace is an incredible gift we all have. It is only by grace that we are saved. That grace helps us strengthen our weaknesses and reach our greater potential. As we know that as Adam and Eve fell we became a fallen man full of imperfections and weaknesses. It is through the Savior's loving atonement that we can receive the help we need in order to make our stumbling blocks become our stepping stones.

It is interesting that Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 that "...Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me." I was most confused by such a bold statement and wondered why anyone would want hard things but as I was thinking about it and found the answer within my own life story. The humbling times in our life helps us see that we can't do it all alone! I have seen quite a few times when the Lord has shown me to things that I needed to lift my spirits.

What better healer than the Master Healer?

1 Corinthians 9 Being Influential for good in the lives of others

In this chapter Paul does a wonderful job at explaining the role of being a missionary. As a an Apostle, he took great pride in his opportunity to share the gospel. It is really interesting that he talks about how he learns about and becomes like those he shared the gospel with. During my service I realized how important it was to learn about them so we could show them how the gospel would be a blessing in their life.

We need to live as Paul did with such vigor that everyone knows we are followers of Christ! Like we heard Saturday morning during General Conference "I'm a mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it." We are often told how we should be proactive and just like Gandhi said "be the change you wish to see in the world". There is a great need of our shining examples in this world!