2016-08-12
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, I was led to complete the segment of these “Knowing God” messages on “Who Jesus Is.” This was done with a discussion on rules for holy living. We have now reached the part of this series of messages in which we need to look at some of the competing ideas with Christianity that worried Paul so much. We’ll be able to see how religious sects arise in this historical perspective, and we will do so without departing from the Christian beliefs we hold so dear. It is very helpful to begin with a picture of what the city of Colossae was like and its geography in relation to Hierapolis and Laodicea.
Colossae is located in the Lycus River Valley located in what is now modern Turkey, in Asia. A main travel route went through it. Its population was made up of Jews, Phrygians, and Greeks. Phrygia was the adopted home of oriental mysticism. Colossae was open to new ideas from the east. It was 160 KM (about 100 miles) east of Ephesus. It formed a triangle with Laodicea and Hierapolis. This once prosperous city was later eclipsed by its two neighbors. One of its leading citizens was Epaphras, who was a close friend and ally of the apostle Paul [COL 1: 7; COL 4: 12]. This letter, that was written by Paul to the Colossians was done so while Paul was imprisoned, and given to Epaphras to deliver. Epaphras was, like Paul, a strong believer in Jesus Christ. Another colleague in this effort was Archippus [COL 4: 17; PHM 2]. Philemon and his slave, Onesimus, lived in Colossae [COL 4: 9].
In the course of the overview in this series, I mentioned the “Colossian Heresy.” This series of heretical beliefs and practices was the seed that gave rise later on to Gnosticism, the main heresy that worried Paul so very much. You’ll remember that the “Colossian Heresy” competed with Christianity with these beliefs: false humility [COL 2: 18], angel worship [COL 2: 18], the legalism of the written code [COL 2: 14], human-crafted rules and commands [COL 2: 22-23], judgment based on rites and rituals regarding food and drink [COL 2: 14-16], Asceticism [COL 2: 21, 23], deprecation of Christ [COL 1: 15-20, 2: 2, and 3: 9], and secret knowledge [COL 2: 2-3, COL 2: 18]. It became quite clear as this history laid itself out that Paul’s concerns about competition with Christianity were well founded.
Gnosticism served as serious competition for pure Christianity for quite awhile. Its basic beliefs are not God-centered in the least, but man-centered. Gnostics believed only certain humans have sufficient knowledge to be “enlightened ones,” supremely powerful in this community, considered “pneumotiko” [Greek for “enlightened”]. Knowledge was held supreme and not completely available to the common man. The Greek word, “gnosis” means “to know.” Philosophy is the search for higher knowledge, and Gnosticism is a human-crafted philosophy.
A main belief of Gnosticism is the separation of spirit and matter. All matter is evil. Next week, I’m led to write more about that.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, You have promised us the same strength that the Father used to raise You from hell to His side in heaven for eternity, to be used to battle the evil one in Your name [EPH 1: 18-20]. This is strength we can gain from no other source. All along, You have known that some people are driven by the adversary to do and say evil things. We struggle against these people just as people did when Gnosticism was a popular philosophy competing with true faith in You. EPH 6: 12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We must not be fooled as to who is behind this competition with true faith, and we must don God’s full armor in the course of our spiritual warfare with them. The armor is truth, righteousness, knowledge of the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Holy Spirit, and prayer [EPH 6: 14-18]. We must remember to allow the Your leadership in our lives and relationships, have a good working understanding of Biblical truth, and always be obedient to You. We must bear in mind PS 119: 24 and 93, “Your instructions give me pleasure; they are my advisors…I will never neglect Your precepts, because by them You have preserved my life.” We stand resolved to live according to Your teaching at all times, and we pledge fidelity to our faith in You. We thank and praise You, Lord, for the wisdom You share with us. This prayer is said in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As promised above, I’m led to continue writing about Gnosticism, a very main competition to pure Christianity that gave Paul so many concerns in his time. It’s important that we learn history and allow it to warn us against heresy and its negative consequences. It’s also important that our lives be God-centered, rather than man-centered. The only way we can really understand the importance of this is to see how it arises out understanding and wisdom that comes from learning the lessons history has to give us. I can personally attest to the fact that life without the Lord Jesus in it is no life at all. This is meant both literally and figuratively. Misery, self-loathing, artificial ranking of others, and many negatives are a part of a life lived in greed, self-centeredness, giving in to the desires of the flesh, and the other traits that come with a man-centered existence. The opposites are true with a life lived in Christ. These are inner peace, knowing first-hand the joy of serving others, unselfishness, and modeling the love Jesus taught us. EX 15: 11, “Who among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” PS 30: 11-12, “You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; You have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy. So, I will be silent. I will sing praise to You. Lord, You are my God; I will give You thanks forever.”
Praise and thanks be to the Lord forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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