2018-10-05
Good Morning Dear Ones,
In discussing supporting Scriptures to the book of Colossians, I’m commanded by the Holy Spirit to continue with comments on our “certificate of debt.” Remember that this “certificate of debt” is defined as the total of our sins before we came to Christ. First, let’s recap what COL 1: 1—2: 15 has to say. Paul tells the recipients of this letter that he has been praying for “God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” In addition, it is Paul’s hope that these Colossians, Hierolaters, and Laodiceans would “live worthy lives, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” [1: 9-10]. We are reminded that “Christ has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son, where we have redemption and forgiveness of sins” [1: 13]. Christ’s purpose is to present us “without blemish and free from accusation” before God. This heretofore hidden mystery gives us access to all the understanding and knowledge that God has to offer [1: 26-27 and 2: 2-3]. This makes us “free from human regulations, because Christ is the “fullness of Deity in bodily form” [2: 9]. Eternal forgiveness of sin is granted when we are alive in Christ and dead to sin. The written code (the law) with all its rules and regulations is cancelled in favor of disarming all the powers and authorities. When one is alive in Christ, he lives in service of the Holy Spirit [2: 14-15]. He is not circumcised by human hands but by the Holy Spirit. This brings him eternal forgiveness.
Now, we must examine other supporting Scriptures. JN 17: 17 cites God as always being truthful. Thus, what we learn from Him is truth. The same notion is taken up in HE 4: 12, “The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.” The hope of the resurrection is the fulfillment of salvation, eternal forgiveness of sin, and being justified (deemed acceptable by God). Moreover, it is the gaining of eternal life (glorification) and sharing in Christ’s glory [COL 3: 3-4]. This wonderful and uplifting message for believers brings them into a special kind of community living described in EPH 2: 20-22. “You too are built upon a foundation laid by prophets and apostles, the Cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself. He is the One Who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. In union with Him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through His Spirit.” And, to think, that is our earthly lives in Christ. Imagine what our heavenly life will be!
Historically, Paul was writing the epistle to the Colossians at a time when the truth of Christianity was competing with the false teaching of Gnosticism and other lies. It worried Paul and motivated him to be the greatest apostle of all at spreading the truth over Asia and Africa. He would be delighted at the spread of Christianity in today’s Africa as well. Only North Africa and Middle East remain firmly under the threat to democracy that fundamentalist Islam provides in modern times. Paul wanted believers to have a joyful and thankful spirit. This notion is supported in 1 THESS 5: 16-18. “Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.” PHIL 4: 6-7, 13 further described what being “alive in Christ” was to be like. “Do not worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus…I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.”
An underlying truth is the reminder we have in PS 115: 1 and EPH 2: 8-10 that God deserves the credit for the grace He extends to us and the talents to do His work that He has planned for us. “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts that God’s gift, so that no one van boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.” These foundational truths undergird every teaching of the NT in one way or another. Christian conduct is further elaborated upon in Titus 3. “Be ready to do good in every way…be peaceful and friendly…show a gentle attitude…submit to rulers and authorities…do good deeds useful to everyone…choose friends wisely and avoid stupid arguments.” It is by God’s mercy that we are saved by the Holy Spirit through Christ.
PRAYER: O Lord, as we approach Your heavenly throne today, we offer You our utmost respect, reverence, and awe. Long ago when primitive tribes first formed, mankind recognized that a higher power had created all that was familiar to them. They never knew You, but as time and history laid out, we learned more and more about You and from You. We see ourselves still as sinners in need of Your watchful intervention and teaching. It became clear that knowing You better is important. In Your perfect time, You sent Jesus Christ, Your only Son, to model for us a perfect attitude of heart and series of actions. His humility throughout His earthly incarnation was right for us to emulate. While the law taught us what pleases You and what doesn’t, only Christ could bring those who genuinely profess faith in Himself the eternal forgiveness [1 JN 1: 9], salvation [JN 3: 16] and justification [RO 4: 3] that we so badly needed. You alone deserve the credit for civilizing and bettering mankind! You created us to be capable of learning Your great long-held mystery and accepting the instruction of the Holy Spirit. Once we accepted Your Son as our Savior, our lives were made better both vertically and horizontally. We thank and praise You for Your unconditional love shown this way. In the holy/mighty name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m commanded to continue this discussion of supporting Scripture to the book of Colossians next week. In the meanwhile, I want to share some of the ways that Christ’s great sacrifice has impacted my life. My own “certificate of debt” began with being a wanderlust. As a young child in preschool age, I was always wanting to examine things I found in my environment. I would eat flowers and fruits in our backyard. I would wander off without concern when my mother or grandmother would take me on walks. At age 8, I spent the day at the opposite end of the alley behind our house with my girlfriend without telling my mother where I was. Mother was frantic. Toward middle school age, I ran with the wrong crowd, hitched rides to school on the back of a garbage truck and cursed like a sailor. I also didn’t believe that God existed or that He cared about me. Then, my father stepped in to right my sinking ship. He pulled me out of the school I was in, arranged for me to test with the district’s all-academic high school to see if I could get into it, and forced my older brothers and I to pay hard-earned allowance portions to a “swear box.” The worse the word, the greater the cost. What patience the adults in my life had to have! By my sophomore year of high school, things began to change. I got interested in the many subjects this school offered that weren’t available in a comprehensive high school. I became interested in a possible career of teaching, never knowing the path of discovery on which God would take me. Once I accepted Christ, He called me to the ministry of His service that has been my life for the last 43 years. Best of all, I’ve never been happier and more at peace than I am now! Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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