Biddeford Church of Christ

Throughout history, many people have written books about the heroes of war. They wrote stories about individuals who gave their all, even to the point of death, to save someone else or alter the battlefield conditions. Desmond Doss was a “consciousness objector” who saved between 50 and 100 soldiers in World War II at the Battle of Okinawa as a medic. A woman named Deborah Sampson disguised herself to look like a man so she could fight in the Revolutionary war. History paints with favor those who have done extraordinary things to fend off the enemy and protect freedom. Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Walter Hitchcock is the one who some believe coined the phrase, “Freedom is not free.”  Our freedom has always come at a price.

Our journey through Colossians has drawn our attention back to Christ, to His completed work on the cross. Paul wrote of those rules that were empty in their ability to free us: “He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). Do you think of the cross much when it comes to your freedom? In our midweek study of Mark, we have come to the section where Jesus reveals the cost of freedom with all its uncomfortable details. It is often called the Passion of Christ. The word passion comes from a Latin word, passio, which means suffering. So today, I want to deviate from our journey through Colossians, returning to it next week. Today, I want us to consider Christ’s Passion.

“All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night.…”

Matthew 26:31

Just moments earlier, Jesus spoke of His betrayer, Judas (vs. 23-25). Yet He knows that all his disciples will betray Him in some form that very night. Although Peter spoke up at first, saying, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will NEVER [my emphasis] be made to stumble” (v33). But he was not the only one to make such a claim; as we see in v35, “Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’  And so said all the disciples.”  As the story goes, the betrayer comes along with a great multitude, seemingly ready to take Jesus by force. After that, we know what happens, “Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). Peter, though, is following Him at a distance when the unthinkable happens; he denies Jesus three times. I can only imagine what went through his mind when he heard that rooster crow. Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”  The Passion begins with the rejection of His disciples.

“Then he released Barabbas to them, and when he had

scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.”

Matthew 27:26

The rejection amplified when His people were willing to crucify Him, an innocent man, and release a murderer. As Jesus drew closer to the cross, sinful man’s redemption drew closer to being paid. But before the cross, the brutality of wicked men and the unimaginable cost of redemption unfolds further. The Romans scrouged Him, or as your translation might say, flogged and violently whipped Him to the brink of death. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed” (Note also 1^st Peter 2:24). If that were not enough, He would face even more abuse. There is a possibility that Jesus met this kind of abuse twice because Luke’s account places this before He goes before Pilate, while the other gospels have it after. Whatever it was, it was horrific! They beat Him, spat upon Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head, and mocked Him.  Then, if that weren’t enough, they struck Him on the head with a reed, a staff (Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 22:63-65).   I know how uncomfortable this story is, and knowing that He did this for me makes it even harder to imagine. But close your eyes. See the Passion of our Savior as He brings redemption ever closer to us all.

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’

And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

John 19:30

The climactic moment of His Passion was His death on the cross. The prophet Isaiah wrote long before this would happen, “Because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). “Then they crucified Him…” writes Matthew (Matthew 27:35). His battered and mangled body was now nailed to a cross to hang in humiliation. Yet in this moment of excruciating pain, His musters the strength to say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). The innocent seeking the redemption of the fallen. The words “It is finished” that Jesus spoke, meant that his death paid the price to redeem sinful man! “‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’  Having said this, He breathed His last” (Luke 23:46).

I know there is more to the story, and we have reason to rejoice because of the empty tomb. But today, I wanted to reflect on the cost of freedom and the true heroism of Jesus Christ. What we could never do within ourselves, no matter how hard we try, is earn back freedom from the wages of sin. “He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). There was, is, and always will be only one way to true everlasting freedom through our faith in His Passion.

Dennis

As I prepared for this article, the often quoted saying echoed in many a conversation today comes to mind, “Don’t judge me.”  So it is with the first few words of our text today, “So let no one judge you…” (Colossians 2:16).  Before I can develop the thought of what the Holy Spirit is trying to say here, it is important to understand what it is not saying; that is, you can’t judge someone.  In 1^st Corinthians 5:12 the church was asked, “Do you not judge those who are inside?”  That is a rhetorical question.  “If your brother sins against you,” Jesus said, “go and tell him his fault.”  The often-misused text where Jesus says, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1) sought not to band judging altogether; but rather, to stop hypocritical judgment.  The very fact that Paul is exhorting these early Christians in Colosse to fight against Jewish philosophy that sought to shackle them to the old law demanded judgment (i.e., discernment).  And the reason for this wise, God centered judgment, is that their liberty was at stake.  Simply put, don’t let these Jewish influences rob you of the freedom you have in Christ.

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or

sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17

If we are to understand what is being cautioned here by Paul, we need to keep it in its setting; that is, this ascetic Jewish heresy being promoted.  By ascetic (asceticism) I mean suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.  As one commentator writes, these restrictions which Paul mentions have a “distinctive Jewish flavor” to them.  Not only were they being influenced to be physically circumcised, but they were also being lured into thinking that certain days (i.e., festivals) and foods matter.  The ETRV translates the first part of this verse, “So don’t let anyone make rules for you about…”.  Don’t let these so-called religious elites impose on you, requirements that have nothing to do with your liberty in Christ and the redemption that is now yours.  We know that Jesus, as He taught during His ministry, declared all foods to be pure (Mark 7:19).  In Romans 14 the church in Rome was exhorted not to judge one another concerning the eating of meat.  The emphasis was that they “not look down” on one another (Romans 14:3).  Similarly, in 1^st Corinthians 8, Paul cautions them with these words, “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak” (1^st Corinthians 8:9).  Don’t go there!  F.F. Bruce writes, “…all such matters belonged to a transitory order.”  The writer of Hebrews say, “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things” (10:1).  At best, these things are a shadow; that is, they are not reality, what they have in Christ is their reality.

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels,

intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind…

Colossians 2:18

You may remember I ask the following question some time back, “Have you ever been cheated?”  One translation uses the word disqualify.  It means to defraud.  One commentator writes, Paul is not “implying that the Colossians will be disqualified by following the false teaching, the more probable meaning is that Paul’s readers should not accord anyone the status of judge or umpire in the first place.”  Those food and drink issues, along with those special “days” mentioned earlier, were most likely being used in an attempt to make these young Christians feel less spiritual, as though they lacked something.  Don’t let them dissuade you of your confidence in Christ!  Instead, recognize them for who they are.  Paul then exposes who these ascetic Jewish philosophers really are, and he does not mix words.  They are project false humility and engage in angel worship.  They are puffed up; that is, they inflate themselves.  Humility is not a badge of honor; but rather, a characteristic of a Christ centered life, something we are to dress ourselves with (1^st Peter 5:5, NLT).  God actually opposes the proud (James 4:6).  Angel worship…well. There is only One who is to be worshipped.  Jesus taught, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10).  See them for who they really are!

…and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and

knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Colossians 2:19

What was the problem with these ascetic Jewish philosophers?  Simple!  They were not focused on Christ, who is the Head.  “Christ is the source of the life and energy of the body, the church,” writes Michael Weed.  He is the One who furnishes the church and holds it together, uniting us under one Head.  It is because of Him and through Him that they have their being as Christians.  Holding fast to Him, God will bring about the increase.  Let us likewise have our focus be on Him and the hope that comes through Him alone.  Why?  Because He is the head of the church! (Colossians 1:18). In Him redemption is found, His church is nourished and grow takes place.

Dennis

All of us have experienced some form of debt in this physical world: debt on a car, house, school loan, and the list could go on. Some debts can seem never-ending for those stuck on a high-interest credit card. As I was preparing to write this article, I found a story about a young boy who lost the key to his father’s house. His father had to change all the locks on the house and told his son he would need to pay his dad back. The boy was only 10 or 11 years old, so there was no job to provide income to pay it back: he would have to settle the debt through chores. With a ledger on the house door, the young boy worked, and his father would access its value, marking it off on the ledger. To the young boy, it seemed he would never get it paid off. Then one day, the boy checked the ledger, only to find it marked “Paid in Full.”  When he asked his father about it, his father said, “I forgive you of your debt.”  At its very core, the word of God is a message about a profound debt owed by sinful man. A debt that was impossible to be paid by the debtor, yet still given a chance to become debt-free.   Here, we pick up as Paul seeks to remind the young Christians in Colosse about their debt that Christ paid IN FULL.

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses….”

Colossians 2:13

Do you think the following is true, “You can’t truly cherish what you have without remembering where you once were”? This idea is Paul’s point as he continues encouraging these believers about what they have in Christ. They were once DEAD! Not physically, of course, but spiritually. It was all caused by a false step, which is what the word translated trespasses means. The idea of “the uncircumcision of your flesh” indicates that these are likely Gentiles. The Jews around them made them think they needed to be physically circumcised. The fact was, before Christ, they “were spiritually and morally dead in your earlier pagan days” (F.F. Bruce). This spiritual truth crosses all boundaries. To the church in Ephesus, Paul spoke of how they were “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). All are guilty of it (Romans 3:23). All deserve punishment (Romans 6:23). Physical circumcision will not change any of this. What will? Christ! For it is He who has made you alive again. Galatians 6:15, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.”  The ETRV reads in part, “The only thing that matters is this new life we have from God.”  Those trespasses that shackled them, “God has overcome this barrier” through Christ by ushering in the chance of forgiveness. You are pardoned!

“.…having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which

was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Colossians 2:14

What is the “handwriting of requirements,” or as the NIV says, “…the written code, with its regulations”? Think of it as an I.O.U. Most believe this is referring to the Mosaic Law. Yet Paul clarifies to the Gentiles that this “was against us”; that is, Jew and Gentile alike. The law’s intention was not to solve the sin problem but to “bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24). Christ had taken it out of the way when He went to the cross. Christ “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed” (1st Peter 2:24).

I end this article with v15, and for a good reason. Paul writes, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). The debt that held them prisoner and the law that proved impossible to pay resolved itself with Christ’s death on the cross. He has made you alive! He has forgiven you of ALL your trespasses! The cross that seemed weak and defeated enables us to confidently walk with the only One to triumph over it all, Christ.

Dennis

You are complete in Him!  That was the essence of last week’s lesson as we continued our series of lessons through the letter to the Colossian church.  The benefits of being in Christ are numerous; let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of some of them.  Paul wrote that “even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1^st Cor. 15:22).  Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” (Ephesians 2:10).  We can find hope knowing that we are “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).  You may have noticed that these are different from last week.  For a matter of fact, I have provided a list of affirming verses that speak of what we have “in Christ” along with many others.  The point is simple; that is, without Christ and His sacrifice, we have nothing to lay claim to.  He is our everything!

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,

by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…

Colossians 2:11

It is important to remind ourselves of those influences they were facing, some being the Jewish/gnostic that sought to distract them from what they confidently had in Christ their Lord.  That influence would seek to cause these young Christians to consider the need to be circumcised under the Old Law requirements.  Paul’s argument against that is simple, you have already been circumcised!  Circumcision involved the removal of something, and in this case, it is the “putting off the body of the sins of the flesh.”  The ETRV says, “That is, you were made free from the power of your sinful self.”  Because of His work, sinful man can now have “a good conscience toward God” (1^st Peter 3:21).  Why?  Because in Christ Jesus we are “a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2^nd Corinthians 5:17).  Paul would tell the church in Rome “that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6).  All this hope.  All this confidence!  All the promises are found only in Him.

…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him

through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Colossians 2:12

So much is about being in Him, and rightly so.  But for the church in Colosse, Paul reminds them that they are already in Him and here is when He “delivered us [them] from the power of darkness and conveyed us [them] into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13).  This all happened when you were baptized.  It is when “you were raised with Him through faith in the working of God.”   In our scripture reading today, we find the apostle Paul reaffirming this teaching, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).  It is not the act itself that saves, although it does play a role in salvation.  Instead, it is rooted in a faith that believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1^st Peter 3:21).

Many in the religious world struggle with water baptism, and I can understand why.  In years past, I have sadly emphasized the act of baptism in such a way to overshadow what makes it so important in the first place.  What makes it important?  The death, burial and resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  There is no hope outside of the gospel message.  I leave you with this final thought.  In Acts 8:26ff we find the gospel being preached to someone in search of hope.  Once he saw water, he wanted to be baptized.  And when he was, “he went on his way rejoicing” (v39).  Why?  Not because he was immersed in water, but because he was now IN HIM!  The one place all hope is found.  The one place Paul sought to remind the Colossian church to remember.

Dennis

I so appreciated Joe’s lesson last week. To confidently know who we are in Christ is nothing short of amazing. Hopefully, you received an email reminding us of who we are in Christ, but if you didn’t have a chance to read it, consider the following:  We are “A chosen generation! A royal priesthood! A holy nation! His own special people!” (1st Peter 2:9)  We are well acquainted with the verse but do we inwardly grasp the magnitude of the hope that each of these reveals. Joe spoke of the name Christian last week, and these are but a few of the descriptive words that speak to that very name. And it is all according to Christ.   

It is easy to forget who we are in Christ because of distractions! That is what our focus has been concerning the church in Colosse. We left off last time with a cautioning thought, “BEWARE.” The philosophy of their time and the gnostic mindset within the Jewish influences were a distraction. It distracted these early Christians from understanding Christ and who they were as His church. It put in doubt the very sufficiency of Christ to be the answer to their spiritual problems. So, he reminds them of who Christ is, elevating Him to His rightful place, above all human wisdom.

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily….”

Colossians 2:9

I like the simplicity of the ETRV, which says, “I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth.”  Christ was not merely an emanation of God; that is, a form of radiation from God. NO! As Christians, we can be “filled with the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19), but in Christ, “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”  As one commentator put it, “The very substance of God, if one might so speak, dwells in Christ in the full sense.”  Isaiah spoke of this long ago, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means God with us (Matthew 1:23). John would write about the “Word was God” (John 1:1), saying that the “word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). Jesus said it simply, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). One and the same, even in bodily form. This Jesus is He in whom you placed your trust and in whom there is hope.

“…and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:10

It is essential to remind ourselves of what they were facing once again; that is, various teachings suggest that they lacked something even as followers of Christ. Paul states definitely, you are complete in Him! Complete means to make replete. Here are some “in Him” bible verses. “To those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus” (1st Corinthians 1:2). “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2nd Corinthians 5:17). “For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We are blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). As one commentator writes, “To be complete is to be furnished with all things necessary for salvation.”  It is all found IN HIM! And since you are IN HIM, you are complete because He is the head, the authority, over all things.

Okay, I know that we are works in progress, so how could we be well and complete? As an artist works on his sculpture, slowly chiseling away at the stone, the fullest sense of his work is in the rock. He only needs to chip away what is not necessary to reveal his masterpiece. Help us, Lord, to trust in You completely and strengthen us to know who we are; that is, complete in You.  Let the Lord’s church say amen.

Dennis

Not too long ago, I watched a show that focused on older women getting scammed by online relationships. I mentioned this in a previous lesson, noting a woman who went to the point of selling her home to help her “fiancé.”  Many in this world seek to cheat others out of what is theirs. The saying goes, “There is nothing new under the sun.”  Back in the early church days, they had to be vigilant when it came to those who would craftily seek to dissuade them from their newfound hope in Christ. This dissuasion happened in the church at Galatia, where some believers were turning “to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6). Paul exhorted them, saying, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free…” (Galatians 5:1). The Judaizers were not denying Jesus, only saying that He was not enough. They needed the law of Moses. The urgent nature of his concern is found in Galatians 6:4, “If you try to be made right with God through the law, your life with Christ is finished-you have left God’s grace” (ETRV). So it is with the church in Colosse. Paul urges them to be aware and anchor themselves to Christ.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the

tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Colossians 2:8

The word “beware” is not found in most translations; instead, the words “see to it.”  Here, the Greek word means to look, see, perceive, and discern. Strong’s translates this word as “beware” as well.   However one wishes to translate it, Paul encourages these early Christian to pay attention. Paul urged the church in Ephesus, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Why such a posture? There are people out there looking to cheat you! Your translation most likely reads “takes you captive,” where the ETRV uses the words “led away.”  The Greek word means make victim by fraud, i.e., seduce. Jesus warned of “false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Paul would warn the church at Corinth regarding how Satan “changes himself to look like an angel of light” and how his servants “make themselves look like servants who work for what is right” (2nd Corinthians 11:14-15, ETRV). Paul does not intend to cause the church to cower. Instead, to be aware of their surroundings and deceptive teachings.

So, what about this idea of deceptive teachings? First, Paul mentions philosophy and empty deceit. What is philosophy? This philosophy would be Jewish sophistry, that is, the use of fallacious arguments, especially to deceive. Thus, the words “empty deceit” need not be viewed as something different from philosophy but rather that which describes it. With the eloquence of words and clever arguments, these false teachers can plant doubts in the minds of believers concerning what they have come to learn about Christ and His redemptive work. Remember, these false teachers in Colosse suggested that knowledge is above Christ and did so with seemingly persuasive arguments. Something sounding reasonable does not necessarily make it good. Evolution seems plausible to many, but is it? Scholars and scientists speak about the validity of its teaching. But what does God say about creation? Paul would declare in 1st Corinthians 1:20, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1st Corinthians 1:20, NIV). What may seem foolish to many makes complete sense to the believer who puts their trust in God.

Next week’s lesson will dive a little further into what exactly Paul was cautioning them about, and it all centers around Christ. Today we can walk away with two critical things. First, let’s always be fervent in our walk with Christ. Be aware that there will always be people looking to cheat you out of your freedom in Christ. Second, be mindful that their arguments can sound reasonable. Paul writes, “We destroy people’s arguments; we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God” (2nd Corinthians 10:4-5, ETRV). We do this not in arrogance but with confidence in the truth that we find in His word. Blessed be the church.

Dennis

We have all heard the saying, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”  Little did I know that this saying was actually from Benjamin Franklin’s letter back in 1789. In a world that at times has our tomorrow in doubt, we must cling to an anchor that cannot move. That is where we need to place our confidence. Confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. As one person said, “We don’t need self-confidence; we need God-confidence.”  So today, we pick up where we left off in Colossians chapter 2. Paul will build on something he just talked about; that is, the “full assurance of understanding.”  Or, as we saw in last week’s lesson, the “wealth of conviction” (NEB) or the ability “to have the full confidence” (ETRV). Where the Gnostic mindset and the Jewish influences could rob them of such a hope, Paul encourages them to walk in complete confidence of Christ.

“As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him….”

Colossians 2:6

Your translation may use the word live instead of walk. The word carries the idea of following. Follow what? What they received concerning Christ Jesus. Paul said to the Corinthians church, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand…” (1^st Corinthians 15:1). And again, to the church in Philippi he wrote, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). It is important to remember the problem they were facing; that is, those influences that were placing doubt about who Jesus is. They learned through the preaching of the gospel concerning Jesus that He is both Christ and Lord. In his first sermon, Peter proclaimed, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  As one commentator put it, “This historical person Jesus…is the Christ who reigns as the universal Lord, subject to no other powers and able to incorporate all his followers into himself as his own body,” the church. Once again, don’t get dissuaded; instead, trust in what you have learned about Jesus. Paul builds on this, saying:

“…rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have

been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

Colossians 2:7

As they walk or live in Him, remember that you have been rooted in Him.  “Have been rooted” is past tense, meaning it has already happened. Paul had written earlier, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). From what you have learned and come to believe, know you are fixed firmly [the meaning of the Greek word translated rooted] into Christ. Paul now goes from past to present with the words “built up in Him.”  Here is the reason for confidence, for as they walk in Christ and His teachings, they will get built up in Him, for He is the One who holds the church together and enables it to grow. The building up all takes place as they walk confidently in the faith as Epaphras taught them.

When one walks with confidence in what Christ the Lord has done and continues to do, one can’t help but be thankful. Thank You, Lord, for giving us confidence. Confidence in where we are; that is, in Christ, rooted in His grace and mercy. Confident in knowing that as we reside in Him, He continues to work on us, making us more like Him each day. Thank You, Lord, for loving mankind as you do. Amen

Dennis

As we prepare to begin chapter 2 of Colossians, it would be helpful to reflect on something he said back in chapter 1.  Paul wrote in 1:28, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”  His commitment to doing all he could to help these young Christians grow in Christ and fend off those who would seek to dissuade them about their newfound confidence in Jesus reveals his deep care for them. Although they “have not seen my face in the flesh” (2:1); that is, Paul had never actually met them in person; he wanted them to “know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea” (2:1). He saw himself battling for their spiritual welfare. What was he fighting?

“…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining

to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the

mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ.”

Colossians 2:2

To begin with, he wants them to be encouraged. Paul shows his unmistakable care for them throughout this letter. As he begins to close it out, he talks about sending Tychicus to them in part to “comfort your hearts” (4:8). He says this very thing to the church in Ephesus (6:22) and asks that the Lord do the same to the church in Thessalonica (2:17). He wants them to be “knit together in love.”  I think of the song lyrics which say, “Bind us together Lord, bind us together with chains that cannot be broken.”  Love is that chain! He will write in Colossians 3:14, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”  Like the church in Ephesus, he desired that they be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). 1st Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”  Paul encouraged the church in Rome also. He says, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love…”(Romans 12:10). I think we get the idea. He goes on talking about them coming to a “full assurance of understanding.”  The NEB reads “wealth of conviction.”  The ETRV reads “to have the full confidence.”  We need to remember what they were battling against; that is, a form of Gnosticism: The idea that knowledge itself is the end-all. The words in 1st Corinthians 8:1 speak loudly, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” Their hope, assurance, and conviction were in to be in the redemptive work of Christ, “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.” (Colossians 1:26) This is what Paul desires that they grow in, their conviction about the Father’s plan to redeem them through Christ. Why? For it is only in them that “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

“Now, this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.”

Colossians 2:4

The ETRV reads, “I tell you this so that no one can fool you by telling you ideas that seem good but are false.”  Another translation uses the words “smooth rhetoric.”  The use of persuasive words goes back to the beginning when the serpent asked Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'” (Genesis 3:1) Paul is cautioning these early Christians to not succumb “to the pseudo-reasoning and impressive language of the heretics” (Michael Weed) of their day, which placed their confidence in earthly wisdom that sought to lure them away from the hope that is indeed found, in Christ. Although he is not with them, he knows that such pursuits will result in “good order and the steadfastness” (Colossians 2:5) of their faith in Christ.

May it be our quest to be knitted together in love and grow in understanding the assurance found in no other than Jesus Christ. And may we be attentive to the world’s so-called wisdom that will seek to draw us away from that very hope. Be blessed this day knowing you are loved by the Great I Am, and the proof is the cross of Christ.

Dennis

As we get ready to pick up where we left off in Colossians, it is important to reflect for a moment. In chapter 1:21, we read, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled…”  This truth, directed at a group of believers, was primarily Gentile. Through the work of Christ, they can now confidently know of their newfound relationship with God, who made them “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (1:22). Little did they know that this incredible opportunity provided through the suffering of Christ had also resulted in Paul’s suffering. Paul is not seeking to elevate himself nor in some way minimize the cross; instead, he wants them to know it is all worth it.

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking

in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…”

Colossians 1:24

We have all heard the saying, “No pain, no gain.”  As one commentator observes, there are “paradoxes of the Christian faith.”  One of those is the “positive meaning and purpose invested in the sufferings endured by Christians.”  Paul spoke of his desire to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Philippians 3:10). Why? “We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ” (ETRV, 2^nd Corinthians 1:5). This suffering is where sympathy is cultivated, enabling those in Christ to share the comfort they received with others. Then, there is what Peter writes concerning how Christians are to view the “fiery trials” they may face. He encourages them to “rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1^st Peter 4:13). It will be worth it!

Paul states it is all worth it “for the sake of His [Christ’s] body, which is the church.”  After that dramatic Damascus road experience (Acts 9), Paul’s task, in large part, would be proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16). His ministry was all about helping the church to grow. As an apostle, God commissioned him “to equip his [Christ’s] people for works of service” with the hope that they attain “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, 13). This fullness was the reason for “which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God” (Colossians 1:25). The mystery he was given, which was once hidden but now revealed, was and is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).   Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,

that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 1:28

The ETRV reads, “So we continue to tell people about Christ. We use all wisdom to counsel every person and teach every person. We are trying to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be spiritually mature in Christ.”  It is all about the gospel of Christ and the maturing of His church, His body. It is all worth it! “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Colossians 1:29). May our labor be the same as Paul’s, allowing Christ to work in and through each of us.

Dennis

Today marks a time of year that many in the religious community take time to celebrate the holiday called Easter.  Although we have been walking us through the letter to the Colossians, I thought I would take a moment and remind us all of the hope and joy that is found in His resurrection.  Remember, the apostle Paul wrote that Jesus was “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18) and “His resurrection marked his triumph over all the forces that held men and women in bondage.”  So often the lessons presented on this day focus on the events of Christ’s resurrection.  I think of “Mary Magdaline and the other Mary” (Matthew 28:1) who went to the tomb of Jesus only to see an angel sitting on the rolled back stone of the tomb.  The angel told the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; FOR HE IS RISEN…” (Matthew 28:5-6).  Can you imagine how that news impacted them?  That is the Good News climatic truth, He has risen!  And because He has, there are things we can know with confidence.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

1^st Corinthians 15:19

Okay, I am guilty.  I have used this very verse numerous times in the past on this very day.  But bear with me this time.  Concerning that verse, I found the ETRV powerful and simplistic, “If our hope in Christ is only for this life here on earth, then people should feel more sorry for us than for anyone else.”  The whole thrust of 1^st Corinthians 15 is the confidence in our future resurrection.  That future rest on the reality of His resurrection.  Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1^st Thessalonians 4:13-14).  This life presents many challenges, and we find ourselves at times overwhelmed and burdened.  This journey will be worth it, for “He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you” (2^nd Corinthians 4:14).  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1^st Corinthians 15:57).  The future holds much for all those in Christ Jesus!

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

1^st Corinthians 15:17

What precedes that our resurrection is the joy we come to know that because He is risen, sin no longer holds me captive.  One of the most sobering bible verses to me is found in 1^st Peter 2:24-25.  Peter writes of how Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.”  The movie The Passion vividly brought this to a visual reality for me.  I was dead in my sins!  Void of any effort to gain redemption.  Yet, because of “His great love” for me, He “made me [us] alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised me [us] up together…” (Ephesians 2:4-6).  Paul wrote, “It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).  Because He has Risen, we have been freed from our sinful past.  This kind of leads one final thought concerning the benefits of Christ’s resurrection.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant

mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

1 Peter 1:3

Hope rests upon the truth of His resurrection!  And because He has risen, we have a living hope.  A hope of “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away” (1^st Peter 1:4).  It is not fully realized yet, for Christ has not come back.  Even so, it does not minimize the new life we have in Christ because of Christ.  When by faith in Him we gave ourselves to Him through baptism, He raised us from the dead just like Christ was and we now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). 

There is NO hope outside the resurrection of Christ!  The life He lived, the life He gave, and the power of His resurrection is where the good news is to be found.  It is all because He has risen.

Dennis