2016-05-19
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, we learned how Paul imprisoned in Rome, sent Epaphras, a Colossian local, to deliver this letter to Colossae, Hierapolis, and Laodicea—three small towns near each other in Asia Minor [modern day Turkey]. We also saw Who Christ is and what He has already done for us, i.e. justified us, ushered us into the on-going process of sanctification, redeemed us, eternally forgave us, and gave us the hope of the resurrection. Then, we set the stage to turn to some of the warnings contained in Colossians. In EPH 1: 18-20, we learned that the Father, through Christ, imbued us with the power to send the devil packing when he attacks us, the same power that He used to raise Christ from death to eternal life! That is how, if we remember to use it, we can be victorious in spiritual warfare in Christ’s holy name. So the fact that we will have to engage in spiritual warfare is the first warning in Colossians. COL 1: 13, “God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves.” We are urged to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit [GA 5: 22-23], “having endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father…” [COL 1: 11]. If this joy sounds weird, it’s because our spiritual maturity is forwarded most efficiently as we learn to rely on Him and to work through the challenges, losses, disappointments, and troubles of our lives with His intervention. Under the circumstances, the rather strange admonition that we should welcome our challenges makes sense. So do 1 PET 2: 20-21 (ideal conduct in the face of persecution), and 1 PET3: 15 -17 (willingness to suffer during spiritual warfare). The same holds true for 1 PET 4: 14 & 16, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
As the ad for the Ginzu knife said, “But there’s more…!” There are warnings in Colossians on knowing in full the hidden mystery of God, the dangers of false teaching leading to human-crafted regulations, false humility, angel worship, the need to be holy, prayerful, and watchful, and to stand firm in God’s will. It makes sense that the first chapter of this book begins with reminding us of what God has already done for us. This supplies sufficient motivation to heed the warnings that follow. We are reminded that we are no longer alienated from God, as our repentance coupled with Christ’s Atonement has made us His friends [JN 15: 13-16; RO 5: 9-11; COL 1: 22-23]. Once again, I feel directed to explain the hidden mystery of God, which is Christ in us [COL 1: 26-27; COL 2: 2-3]. This is “Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Why is this so important? It is because we have access to our God as no human child has to his parents; this access is by means of the Holy Spirit’s teaching as we study God’s word and through prayer. It is knowledge that is given, so that we are not captivated by false teaching, driven by evil as the ever-changing breezes impact leaves on a tree. Paul’s God-given ideas are that we will be united in love and not deceived by false but fine-sounding arguments [COL 2: 4, 8].
Traditional Judaism had become very legalistic, a fact that drove Christ to argue with the Pharisees about this during the last week of His earthly incarnation [MT 23: 1-36]. The hypocrisy of placing emphasis on the format rather than the content of God’s teaching over the years can be seen. It’s also mentioned in God’s righteous judgment of the Jews in RO 2. It is for these reasons that God sent His only Son, Jesus, to the cross, so that those who believe in Him can have everlasting life and truly understand the Spirit, rather than the human-crafted regulations that lead to legalism and hypocrisy. Our loving God understood the need that only Christ could fulfill for justification, eternal forgiveness of sins, and redemption [RO 4: 3;1 JN 1: 9; JN 3:16: RO 3: 24-25 ]. Repeatedly, the Holy Spirit has directed me to write about the “circumcision of the heart” which is embodied in RO 7: 6 and COL 2: 11-14. Our understanding of God’s teaching is very different than traditional Judaism’s legalistic one. Keeping human-crafted regulations leads one to a life hard to live. COL 2: 13-14, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations.”
During writing the inspired book of Romans, Paul recounted the difficulties that new Christians of the early church-- converts from traditional Judaism and from Gentile Paganism caused. The Antinomians believed in grace without license, and Paul argued against this in RO 2: 17-21. Yet another cultural clash came when former traditional Jews, who had been raised in a kosher regime and celebrating the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, argued with former Pagans, who believed the Sabbath should be on Sunday and there should be no dietary restrictions. What the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write to the Colossians about this controversy comes in COL 2: 16-17, “Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a new moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of things to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
PRAYER: O Heavenly Father, we come before Your mighty throne with heads bowed and hearts filled with reverence and awe. Our ability to perceive Your greatness, sovereign rights over us, and supremacy is limited, and we accept it. We are determined to acknowledge Your fabulous attributes and courageous, creative deeds on our behalf. We give our lives to relying on You for wisdom, to opening our hearts to Your Spirit for direction, and to serve You with all the distinction we can muster. Today, we are learning some of the warnings You have given Paul to write in his letter to the Colossians. At the time it was written, there were controversies between diverse peoples in the early church, and You want us to know the dangers of the times and the attitudinal priorities You want us to have. Your teaching was for yesterday, is for today, and is for forever. You have urged us to think eternally, and not to limit our thoughts and decisions only to our earthly lives. You have given us the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, and by Him (Your beloved Son), You have made it possible for us to be justified, have our sins eternally forgiven, and enabled us to gain eternal life with You. We freely agree to participate in sanctification, to allow You to gradually perfect us, as we are ready. You have, through Christ, given us the hope of the resurrection and motivated us to be sanctified, moving us toward spiritual maturity sufficient for glorification. We know that legalism in the practice of our faith is not what You want. Instead, You want us to have a good understanding of Your will and Your will for our individual lives through study of Your word and prayer. These are the ways we can get to know You better. We stand alert to our common enemies and willing to “walk through the narrow gate that leads to the hard path” to eternity with You. In Christ’s holy/mighty name we offer praise and thanks to You, as we offer this prayer. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m directed by the Holy Spirit to write more on the warnings in Colossians. We will look at false humility, and if space permits, at how it leads to false teaching. Long ago when our son was age 11, we found that he was very unhappy. He had been living where the list of rules was so long that they nearly crushed his spirit. My husband, Peter, and I decided we needed only three or four rules to be strictly kept by all three of us. One of them was to always let the others know where you are and when you are coming home, if you are out. If plans change while out, a family member must call the others to discuss this change and let them know about it, so decisions can be made. Keeping this rule kept the others in the family from worrying about where a member is and if he/she is all right. We all learned from having fewer rules how to make wise, workable decisions. This led to the rule that if we made a bad decision, then we had to suffer the consequences of it, take responsibility for it. The only times we, as parents, would intervene was when the behavior was illegal, immoral, or unsafe. We gradually observed a huge change in our son’s attitudes and actions. He is, by no means, perfect, but things got considerably easier than they had been. God knows that too many regulations damage human spirits too. He loves each one of us in so many wonderful ways. Our Triune God is the greatest member of our fan club we could have! He urges us, through the Holy Spirit, to make wise decisions, to be protected as a Father protects his children, and supplies us with all our needs. Praise and thanks be to God forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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