Critical Issues Commentary Radio

Christ's Temporal Priority to All Things: Colossians 1:17a, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We urge Christians to learn important aspects of the doctrine of Christ even though they are somewhat technical. Paul expects all Christians to learn these matters. We urge our listeners to care deeply about the doctrine of Christ to avoid being deceived. (duration 00:34:46)

Christ as Creator is Non-Contingent: Colossians 1:16b, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We show that the unseen realm of the spirits is not a place where we want to go to directly to interact with them. We are mercifully put by God under human leadership. We discuss the meaning of Christ being eternal and non-contingent... (duration 00:36:02)

Christ as the True Creator of Everything: Colossians 1:16a, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. Christ is proclaimed as the Creator of everything. People in Colossae feared bad fate caused by hostile spiritual powers. Paul's doctrine of Christ as Creator was to comfort them. In our day, people are going to the creation itself for their spirituality. (duration 00:32:50)

Christ as First-born Over All: Colossians 1:15b, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. Christ is not only the image of the invisible God, but the firstborn over all. This is about Christ's preeminence. We describe what this means and that it does not imply that Christ was created. He is the eternal Creator. "First-born" implies supremacy. (duration 00:32:03)

The Supremacy of Christ as the Image of God: Colossians 1:15a, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. The Colossians were tempted to integrate their belief in spiritual beings to be manipulated or placated by various means into their Christian faith. To counter this, Paul teaches the supremacy of Christ. We explore Christ being the image of God... (duration 00:32:51)

Sowing to the Spirit: Galatians 6:6-7a, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We are commanded to share with those who bring sound teaching. We must discern the difference between the truth and error to know what to support. The idea of sowing and reaping is introduced. To listen to the Judaizers is to sow to the flesh. To listen to the Word of God is to walk in and sow to the Spirit. (duration 00:34:39)

Self-examination: Galatians 6:4-5, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. The Greek word dokimazo_ means "to test something to see if it is genuine." This word is used in Galatians 6:4. We discuss Romans 12:2 that also uses this word. We want to know what it means to put things to the test to know God's will... (duration 00:33:20)

The Danger of Self-deception: Galatians 6:3, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We discuss the danger of thinking we are better than others in the body of Christ and thereby rejecting them. We must receive repentant sinners like Jesus did. The danger of self-deception always lurks to mislead us into sinful pride. (duration 00:33:55)

The Law of Christ: Galatians 6:2, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. Jesus Christ and His apostles are the law-givers of the New Covenant. We fulfill the law of Christ by walking in the Spirit which results in caring for one another. We discuss communicable and non-communicable attributes of God and their significance... (duration 00:33:32)

Restoring the Fallen Brother: Galatians 6:1, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We show that Paul's instructions are practical out workings of walking in the Spirit. Those who are spiritual are not an elite class of Christians but Christians walking in the Spirit and not displaying the works of the flesh. (duration 00:34:51)

Walking in Christ by the Spirit: Galatians 5:25-26, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. Christians are those who live by the Spirit. This is stated by Paul by using a first class ("as is the case") conditional in the Greek. To go beyond the teaching of Christ is to leave the work of the Spirit and "go too far" (2John 9). (duration 00:31:30)

The Crucified Flesh: Galatians 5:24, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We have an extended discussion about what it means to be crucified with Christ and to crucify the flesh. There are many conflicting ideas about this issue, but we examine the evidence in the text itself to help us... (duration 00:31:02)

Fruit of the Spirit, Part 2: Galatians 5:22b-23, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. The fruit of the Spirit in lives of people of faith show that there is a true work of grace. Bearing fruit shows that we value life as those who bear God's image. Secular ideas devalue human life. We show that love does not mean compromising... (duration 00:34:39)

Fruit of the Spirit, Part 1: Galatians 5:22a, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. We show from John 15 that the key to bearing fruit is abiding in Christ. Man-made schemes and processes cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit. Luther was right when he said so often, "The Holy Spirit comes to us through the Word." (duration 00:34:56)

Works of the Flesh, Part 2: Galatians 5:20b,21, presented by Bob DeWaay and Eric Douma. The works of the flesh include hostilities. The presence of unnecessary hostilities shows that something else is at work than the Prince of Peace reigning within us. False teaching always stirs up strife. We discuss various works of the flesh... (duration 00:34:54)