2017-09-22
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, my writing of this “The Church” segment of the “Knowing God” messages reached the point where it is time to analyze the “Colossian Heresy.” Paul never really states the teaching of this heresy, but infers it from his objections to false teaching in this epistle. To remind us of the content of this heresy, it contains: 1) Ceremonialism, which has strict rules about food, drink, religious festivals [COL 2:16-17], and circumcision [COL 2: 11; COL 3: 11]; 2) Asceticism, which has many “do nots” and denies pleasure [COL 2: 21 & 23]; 3) Angel worship, which is a denial of Christ’s supremacy [COL 2: 18]; 4) Secret knowledge, denying the treasures of wisdom from Christ in us [COL 2: 2-3]; 5) Deprecation of Christ, against Christ’s supremacy as stressed in Paul’s comments of COL 1: 15-20; 6) Reliance on human wisdom and tradition [COL 3: 4, 8]. This heresy had elements of Judaism in it, and one can see how it grew into Gnosticism as well.
It’s not hard to see why Paul was so worried about the competition the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had with all these false teachings. We must also remember that Paul was under house arrest in Rome, making it necessary for him to send emissaries to deliver his letter to Colossae, Hierapolis, and Laodicea. COL 2: 20, “You have died with Christ and are set free from the ruler spirits of the universe. Why, then, do you live as though you belonged in the world? Why do you obey such [human-crafted] rules as these?” Heretics told the people, “Do not touch, taste, handle…etc.” In COL 2: 23, Paul writes, “These rules appear wise in their forced worship of angels, false humility, and severe treatment of the body. But, they have no value in controlling physical passions.”
We learn more about Christ in this little 4-chapter book of Colossians than in many others in the Scriptures. Of the nature of His character, we learn: He is supreme [COL 1: 18]; He is the visible image of the invisible God (the Father) [COL 1: 15a]; He is the Firstborn of all creation [COL 1: 15b]; He created everything on earth [COL 1: 16]; He is the Head of the church, His body [COL 1: 17]; He is the First to have died and been resurrected, making Him supreme [COL 1: 18]; God was pleased to have His fullness in Christ [COL 1: 19]; the Father reconciled all believers to Himself through Christ’s Atonement [COL 1: 29]; Christ purifies us by means of His Atonement, so that we can be presented to the Father without spot or blemish [COL 1: 22]; Christ is the Paradigm for how we should live [COL 3: 1]; Christ has made us fit to share in His inheritance and have the strength to endure with patience all the challenges we face [COL 1: 12]; it is through Christ that we have the hope of glory [COL 1: 26b-27]; by Him we can recognize heresy when we encounter it [COL 2: 4]; Christ circumcises our hearts by causing us to be dead to sin [COL 2: 11-12]; it is Christ, Who forgives our sins [COL 2: 13]; Christ cancels the written code [the laws] and Who shows us how to live according to the Spirit [COL 2: 14; RO 7: 6] (this is what gives us freedom from human regulations); it is Christ, who causes us to mature spiritually [COL 2: 19] and to restrain natural sensual indulgence [COL 2: 23]; we are hidden with Him in God [COL 3: 3]; we can look forward to appearing with Him and sharing His inheritance [COL 3: 4]; through the Holy Spirit, Christ renews us in our knowledge of God [COL 3: 19]; He is all and is in all [COL 3: 11b]; Christ teaches us gentleness and patience, and to forgive as we were forgiven [COL 3: 13]; Christ models love for us and binds us in unity [COL 3: 13]; He calls us to have peace and to do all in His name [COL 3: 12-14]; He encourages us to do everything for Him and not for other humans [COL 3: 23]; Christ never favors one of us over the others [COL 3: 25]; He is the Master over all, regardless of one’s station in life [COL 4: 1]. If you are surprised there was this much about our Lord in this little book, then you are not alone in that!
PRAYER: O Lord, for many years some of us have been studying Your word. We are never left bored or empty by this effort. That is because of the supernatural nature of the Bible, unlike any other book. We find a wealth of Your knowledge shared with us in these precious words, knowledge that functions to improve our lives. We are stunned by Your consistency throughout the Scriptures. Your generosity in sharing the wisdom of this teaching is to be praised and given our thanks. You are a diligent and loving God, Who is always available to us and Who loves us unconditionally. You have chosen not to give us every detail, but instead to give us just enough to engender our faith in You. What an awesome and outstanding God You are! We ask that You continue to lead us to be closer to You, to come to You first with our questions and troubles, and to revere and respect You. You also teach us to love others, as You love us. We offer You our thanks, praise, loyalty, reverence, focus, and glory. In Christ’s holy/mighty name, we offer this prayer. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray with the Lord’s Prayer of MT 6: 9-13. However, there is more to say about prayer, and that will begin next week’s devotion. As a Messianic Jewish person, I came to all this teaching of the NT years ago with a working knowledge of the OT and none of the NT. A period of reading the NT followed with consideration of its teachings as they apply in various contexts. One never learns anything so well as he does when he has to teach it. That is what happened to me in the years that followed. Along the way, the Lord blessed me with many new friends—mostly Gentile believers and a few Messianic Jewish believers like myself included. The truth of 2 TIM 3: 16-17 is stamped on my heart. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” Going one step further, I keenly feel the responsibility we all have, to proclaim Christ’s Lordship and share His Gospel with others. It’s the same responsibility the Lord gives us in MT 28: 19-20, “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them My disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” We should all feel richly blessed that our Lord has never been selfish, keeping this teaching to Himself. Instead, He brings us to peace with our God and makes us His friends. Praise be to Him forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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