Colossians 3

Verse 3 uses the words "Your life is hid with Christ in God." Some of the Colossian saints evidently had their calling and elections made sure. This means that nothing but committing the unpardonable sin can keep the person from inheriting eternal life. A person who has his calling and election made sure has reached such a state of righteousness that they are sealed up by the power of the priesthood and will come forth with Christ in the resurrection. This is an ordinance performed in the temple and is referred to as the second endowment. It is not requirement of this life. But something we should seek for to obtain either in this life or the next.

Paul counsels husbands and wives in the same manner he did in Ephesians 5. And in this chapter he urges righteous living, asking us to control our appetites, and listing sins to avoid such as:

fornication
uncleannes
indecent affection
being covetous which is idolatry
anger and malice
blasphemy
flithy communications which is anything obscene or pornographic
lying
following the natural man

Then as he usually does, he lists qualities we should pursue that show we've become a new and righteous person:

become the elect of God - we do this by accepting the gospel and gaining the blessings of the temple
be filled with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering
be tolerant and forgiving
have charity
let God's peace rule our hearts
let the gospel make us rich in wisdom
sing hymns and spiritual songs from the heart
do whatever we do fully and do it for the Lord, not for men

Colossians 2

The mysteries of God are those things that cannot be learned by reason, deduction, or the teachings of men. They are the things that must be learned by revelation. A person can look at the world and from that figure there must be a God, but to be saved and exalted takes revelation that gives knowledge of those things that God reveals through his prophets. Paul urges the members of the church not to follow the teachings men, to not have will worship or modes of worship designed by men, to worship angels or change the sabbath. He also says that just as Christ was buried and came forth a new person, we are buried in baptism to come forth a new person in the image of Christ and his resurrection.

Colossians 1

Colossae was a small, unimportant town east of Ephsesus. It isn't even on our Bible maps. In Chapter 1, two things are taught by Paul that stand out to me. One is what he teaches about Christ, that he is the creator of all things. If so, this makes him the God of the Old Testament where he is called Jehovah. It is through him that all things exist and he is in the image of his Father just as we are. Second, by coming here to earth, we were separated from the presence of God the Father and this separation is made more so by our actions. But through Christ, we can be reconciled, or reunited with God, through the Holy Ghost while on this earth, and then physically brought back to his presence.

Paul uses an expression that was the favorite of Elder Neal A. Maxwell. Paul says in verse 23, "If we continue in the faith grounded and settled..." This is how we should be with the gospel. Firm and established, steadfast in our beliefs, and immovable and undenying in our faith. We shouldn't allow anything to interfere or weaken our resolve to live a life that is righteous, doing what we know to be right.

Phillipians 4

There are so many wonderful teachings in this chapter. There is the admonition of Paul used by Joseph Smith in the Articles of Faith to seek after whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virture, and things that are praiseworthy. He tells us to be humble, to be content, satisfied with what we have and not always be wanting, that God will supply according to our needs.

One sentence that I have always felt important to remember is: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." That is where true strength comes from. That is where the ability to get through something, to accomplish an overwhelming task comes from. We really can't do very much on our own. Even when we think we are accomplishing something on our own, we have no idea how much help we are receiving from the Lord, usually through the help of angels we are unaware of.

Phillipians 3

Life is hard, tiring, and more often than not, takes us in directions that we hadn't planned on. It is not easy to live the gospel and be the kind of person we need to be. To live righteously and overcome the our weaknesses is definitely (and thankfully) a lifelong process. The Savior said that those who are willing to sacrifice all things for him will receive a hundredfold after this life. The key word is willing. A person can't be willing to sacrifice of suffer all things for the Savior without a knowledge of him, without having a hope of what he will enter into after this life. Without this knowledge and hope, we won't have sufficient faith to count everything in this life as worthless in comparison and be willing to let it go if we need to. As Joseph Smith said, a religion that doesn't require the sacrifice of all things never has sufficient power to produce the kind of faith needed to lead us to life and salvation. "Those, then, who make the sacrifice, will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God; and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life; and will be enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I don't think I'm there yet. But I take comfort when Paul says, "Not as though I already attained, either were made perfect." He says he hasn't apprehended this yet, hasn't obtained this yet. "I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth for those things which are before, I press forward... for the the prize." And there is the key, to press forward, to keep trying, not give up, not get lost in the frustration of life and the weaknesses of others. It takes grit. It isn't easy. But is worth far more than anything else we can ever hope to obtain in this life.

Phillipians 2

Verses 4-6 talk about the ultimate possibilities for every person. Paul tells us if Jesus, who's body was in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God, that every person should be like-minded. We all have the potential and to become as He is and this does not diminish (rob) God in any way. President Lorenzo Snow addressed this poem to the apostles Paul and John and is worth reading and thinking about.

Dear Brother,
Hast thou not been unwisely bold, Man's destiny to thus unfold?
To raise, promote such high desire, Such vast ambition thus inspire?
Still, 'tis no phantom that we trace Man's ultimatum in life's race;
This royal path has long been trod By Righteous men each now a God:

As Abra'm, Isaac, Jacob, too, First babes, then men - to gods they grew.
As man now is, our God once was; As now God is, so man may be, -
Which doth unfold man's destiny.

For John declares: when Christ we see Like unto him we'll truly be.
And he who has this hope within Will purify himself from sin.
Who keep his object grand in view, to folly, sin, will bid adeiu,
Nor wallow in the mire anew;
Nor ever seek to carve his name High on the shaft of worldly fame;
But here his ultimatum trace: The head of all his spirit race.

All, well: that taught by you, dear Paul, 'Though much amazed, we see it all;
Our Father God, has ope'd our eyes, We cannot view it otherwise.
The boy, like to his father has grown, Has but attained unto his own;
To grow to sire from state of son, Is not 'gainst Nature's course to run.

A son of God, like God to be, Would not be robbing Diety;
And he who has this hope within, Will purify himself from sin.
You're right, St. John, supremely right: Who'er essays to climb this height;
Will cleanse himself of sin entire- Or else 'twere needless to aspire.

Phillipians 1

Philippi was named after its founder King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. Located in Northern Greece, it became a prosperous Roman colony whose citizens prided themselves in Roman customs. It was prosperous because of its strategic location and the nearby gold mines. It lasted as a city for about 1600 years.

Paul writes to the Philippians during his first imprisonment in Rome. It is 61-62 A.D. and he is under house arrest for two years. During this time, he is living in a rented house where he is allowed to receive visitors and teach the gospel. According to verse 13, he is evidently free to go about and teach in all places including the palace meaning the praetorium. The praetorium was a very large building that was the commander's house. The Philippians are evidently very faithful as this is Paul's most positive and happy epistle.

Paul's sure knowledge of the Savior is indicated when he says that he can't decide between staying in mortality or dying and being able to be with the Savior. He would prefer the latter, but hates not being with the people of the church, especially those like the Philippians.