2017-09-15
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The opening five verses of COL 2 complete comments on Paul’s work serving the church. Because the notion of God’s mystery is so important, he enlarges on it, saying, “I do this [reveal what it is] in order that we may be drawn together in love and so have the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings. In this way, they will know God’s secret, which is Christ Himself. He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge” [COL 2: 2-3]. Paul brings up one of his greatest concerns in (4) by saying, “…Do not let anyone deceive you with false arguments, no matter how good they seem to be.” We must remember Christianity was being compared to its competition at the time—the “Colossian Heresy” and Gnosticism.
Paul then, beginning with (6), turns to the fullness of life in Christ. This section of his epistle begins with a reminder to remain strong on one’s faith, as they were taught, and to be ever thankful. What follows is a statement of Christ’s supremacy and a reminder that the fullness of a life in Christ is our being in union with Him. He is both divine and human. [COL 2: 9-10]. We are told that in union with Christ, we were circumcised-not by human hands but by divine ones. This circumcision by Christ frees us from the power of the sinful self. This renders us dead to sin and alive in Christ [COL 3: 11-12]. Through His Atonement, Christ canceled the unfavorable record of our debts, nailing them to the cross and freeing Himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities and making them captives in His victory procession [COL 2: 14-15].
It is at this point that Paul tells His readers, “Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels” [COL 2: 18]. These are clearly warnings that answer teachings of Gnosticism. Verse 19b puts forth the notion that following the teaching of Christianity is the Father’s will.
The final section of COL 2 begins with (20) and spills over as far as COL 3: 3-4. It deals with dying and living with Christ. Our willingness to obey human-crafted rules is questioned, in view of our being raised to a life in Christ. Things like angel worship, false humility, severe treatment of the body (Asceticism) are given as examples of worthless practices. We are encouraged to fix our minds on the things of heaven and not on those of earthbound living. The control of physical passions is not aided by human rules and regulations. COL 3: 3-4 is a passage that deserves frequent citation: “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ and when He appears, then you too will appear with Him and share His glory.”
This gives us a capsule outline of COL 2: 1-3: 4, and it reiterates important notions that are enlarged in other parts of the NT. (We’ll look at them later).
PRAYER: O Lord, we are so very blessed to have and to know Your mystery, which is Christ in us. If any of us takes the time to assess our lives before Jesus Christ came into them with the contrast after His entry, we will see amazing differences in attitude, thoughts, decisions, and actions. RO 12: 2, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by the complete renewal of your mind.” If we obey this very important command, it reveals what we are saying in this prayer. It helps us to better understand RO 6: 6, 11. “And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on His cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be slaves to sin…In the same way, you ware to think of yourselves as living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.” Your intervention and our access to Your wisdom are great blessings for us, and we are forever grateful. Christ in us has altered our entire lifestyle and thinking to something that brings us closer to You. PS 145: 18-19 is what the Lord Jesus does for us. “He is near to those who call on Him, who call to Him with sincerity. He supplies the needs of those who honor Him; He hears their cries and saves them.” We thank and praise You; we offer You our love, honor, loyalty, and glory, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am commanded to analyze the “Colossian Heresy” in next week’s devotion. In the meanwhile, this week’s notions cause me to be introspective, in looking back at my life before and after Christ entered it. I’ve often said I grew up in a dysfunctional household—one in which dinnertime controversies led to intellectual competition and constant criticism. Since I was the youngest at the table, I had little power to persuade the others and felt quite worthless. These feelings continued through my teen years, when I developed an attitude of destructive anger and willingness to push back against the adult authorities in my life. My father was only home when he was tired and crabby from long days practicing medicine and making house calls. My mother spent her time working in his office and rarely stood up for either herself or for me. Neither parent was evil, but they were a poor match emotionally and intellectually for each other. I was emotionally immature and resentful of the household responsibilities that I had been given. My father forced me to attend our temple and take instruction there in traditional Conservative Judaism; it was not filling my soul, leaving me spiritually empty. That was my life before Christ entered it. After He came into my life, everything changed for the better. My life had worth, purpose, direction, and service to Him balanced by taking care of myself. To this very day, our Lord Jesus has brought this life in Him forward. 2 COR 5: 17, “Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” COL 3: 9-10, “Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits and have put on the new self. This is the new being, which God its Creator, is constantly renewing in His own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of Himself.” Praise be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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