By Ruth Dusingize 
HIGHLIGHT: Jesus Christ is our Creator and Redeemer. Through Him, we are reconciled back to God. This week, we are studying the fact that God always takes the first step in reconciling us to Himself. In addition, in our work for Christ, we must remember that we are merely His agents in a much bigger divine plan. Furthermore, the power of the Gospel causes us to mature for salvation in Christ.
Memory Text: 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
SABBATH:
As we continue the theme of reconciliation first seen in Colossians 1:20, Paul now moves from the cosmic to the personal—unpacking the process of individual reconciliation. Through Christ’s death, those once alienated by sin are reconciled to God by faith. The cross is not a passive symbol but an active reality, with God’s love transforming people as they hear the gospel and receive Christ Himself, the hope of glory. Paul also reveals “the mystery hidden for ages” (Colossians 1:26)— uniting all things in the saving love and restoring power of Jesus Christ.
SUNDAY: RECONCILED FROM WICKED WORKS
When Adam sinned against God in the garden of Eden, he hid away from His presence. God looked for Adam, evidenced by the question He asked, “Where are you?” as seen in Genesis. Just like for Adam, God still seeks you and I, individually and He has a perfect plan to reach us. By this, we learn that we cannot help ourselves in any way. We can only be helped by accepting Jesus’ death as ours through faith, repentance and baptism to be set free from the condemnation of sin. Furthermore, a transformed life-a life in Christ is a result of being united with Him.
(READ Colossians 1:21&22; Ephesians 5:27; Genesis 3:9,15; Romans 5:6-11; 2Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:20)
MONDAY: IF YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH
Paul urges the people of Colossae to remain holding onto the path of faith that they have chosen and entered. By telling them to persist, Paul calls them, just like he told Timothy, to remain faithful to the doctrinal and practical instructions he has given. In response to God’s initiative of winning us back to Him eternally, we must continue in the faith and not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel. We must keep ourselves rooted in God’s word and we must believe and hope in God for salvation and not in human achievements.
(READ Colossians 1:23; 2:5,8,20-22; John 8:7; Acts 12:16; 1Timothy 4:16; Matthew 7:25; Ephesians 2:20; 3:17)
TUESDAY: GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN
Paul knew that his ministry was not an end in itself. He was just a player in a much bigger plan. This is the reason why he rejoices in his situation of suffering. In line with this, for the fulfilment of His eternal purpose, God had called many characters throughout the centuries to enact their role in the story of redemption, such as Rahab, Ruth, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, among others. God is leading in all the events on earth for the fulfilment of His eternal purpose in Jesus Christ! This purpose is the mystery that was hidden but has now been revealed.
(READ Colossians 1:24&25; Acts 20:20; Matthew 13:35; 24:9; John 16:33; Romans 8:18; 2Timothy 2:9; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5
WEDNESDAY: MYSTERY OF GOD REVEALED
God’s plan of redemption involves having all things in heaven and on earth brought back together into complete oneness in Christ. The details of this will forever be a study that will cover eternity. However, God made it possible for us to understand His plan through the Gospel. Understanding the Gospel results into unity of the body of Christ(the Church) for this shows that He is dwelling in our hearts by faith. Furthermore, having Christ in our hearts and lives shows that He is already uniting us with heaven.
(READ Colossians 1:26&27; 1Corinthians 2:7; 1Peter 1:10-12,20; 2Corinthians 3:14; 5:15; Ephesians 1:7-10; 3:3-6; Galatians 2:20)
THURSDAY: POWER OF THE GOSPEL
The gospel of Paul aims at presenting each individual as mature in Christ. The life of a Christian who is mature in faith is evidenced by a walk with Christ that steadily grows and becomes firm. We grow into maturity by believing and putting the word of God into practice. In addition, God wants us to be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth is signified by growing in faith, growing in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and growing in love. Not forgetting that spiritual growth only comes from God.
(READ Colossians 1:28&29; 1Corinthians 1:23; Ephesians 5:27; 2Thessalonians 2:15; 1Timothy 4:11; 5:7; Titus 1:9; Acts 20:29-31; Romans 16:17; Psalms 119:96; Hebrews 4:12; Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 8:20)
FRIDAY: FURTHER THOUGHT
If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake, you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.
More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure.
(READ Steps to Christ pp.62&62 and Evangelism p.363 by Ellen G White)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS;
- When you look at yourself, your character and your innermost being, what does that sight tell you about your need for the cross?
- What has been your experience regarding the importance of continuing to exercise faith? That is, why must you always make a conscious choice to do that? What will happen if you don’t?
- Think about your own life. How might the decisions you make(big and small) fit within God’s larger plan? Can we really know whether a decision is actually “small”? How might it have larger ramifications that will become apparent only later?
- In what ways has God sought you in the past? Share an experience with the class.
- What part do you have in the grand scheme of salvation? With whom have you shared your story of God’s redemptive love? How has your story already impacted the lives of others in a meaningful way?
- How “grounded and steadfast”(Colossians 1:23, NKJV) in your faith are you? How well do you know what you believe and why you believe it? What can you do to better know what you believe? And why is it so important that you be “grounded and steadfast” in the faith?
Edwin Kyle Kule