Our Reality is in Christ
Colossians 2:16-23 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Today we look at a portion of Paul’s letter that deals with the physical world and superstitions that were observed during that time. Paul declares straightforwardly that the festivals and celebrations that were common had no part in the new life found in Christ.
Today we may mistakenly believe that what we see is reality. But fellow believers, Paul says the world in which we live is a shadow of the world to come.
May we join together with other believers to strengthen our faith by speaking only the truth found in God’s word, acting on His authority, and rejecting those actions that have no lasting value in the Kingdom of God or in this world.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Keep on Keeping On Christians
Colossians 2:6-15 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
As we continue in Colossians, Paul reminds these new Christians that their foundation is in Christ and Him alone. Because their faith is rooted in Jesus, they have the ability to be strong in the Lord, being of good courage and ever thankful.
Occasionally we think the wickedness of this world is something new, yet Paul warned the Colossians about listening to false teaching. I always encouraged my congregations to read their Bibles daily, developing a close relationship with the Holy Spirit so that they would not only grow in their Christian walk, but that they would immediately recognize any false teaching, even from the pulpit.
The last few verses of this section are a concise view of the gospel
- Christ paid the legal debt for our sins
- They were nailed to the cross while we were still dead in our sins
- The resurrection power of the Holy Spirit brought us into new life through forgiveness, redemption, and restoration.
Today’s churches are not automatically immune to the cultural influence that surrounds them. The Church was never intended to be influenced by the world, but instead we were to become world overcomers.
May we be so immersed in God’s love and in His teaching that we share Jesus with all we meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Contending for the Faith
Colossians 2:1-5 1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
How many of you have been a part of starting a new church? You begin by checking out the demographics, sending out mailers, announcing a new congregation, then you find a building to rent. And each Sunday morning you have faithful members who show up with a Uhaul loaded with chairs, dividers and other paraphernalia.
But even more important than the physical properties accompanying a church is the sound teaching upon which that church is built. Paul says he wants the church to be encouraged in heart and united in love.
May we follow Paul’s example as we encourage the people where God has planted us, giving of ourselves and standing strong in the faith. May we who are committed to Jesus Christ and Him crucified be dedicated to do as Paul did—encourage the church in heart and unite them in love.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Christ Proclaimed
Colossians 1:24-29 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Who likes a mystery? In Paul’s letter to the Colossians Paul revealed what was considered to be a mystery— that Christ had come not just for the Jews but for the Gentiles as well. Although Paul had not planted the Church at Colassae, it was vital that the errors and infighting within the church be addressed.
Paul heard of the conflicts within the church while under house arrest in Rome. He understood the importance of settling problems before the church was negatively affected. Even today godly people can misinterpret scripture, enter into minor disagreements which can cause difficulties, and allow pride or stubbornness to prevent them from settling arguments.
May we who are intentionally seeking holiness put aside any discord, keeping Jesus at the center of our lives, our relationships, and proclaim Christ always and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reconciled and Established
Colossians 1:21-23 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
There are some words that send shivers up my spine. Alienated is one such word. Alienated does not connote a disagreement, but rather isolation. But reconciliation, oh, reconciliation is a word that brings peace and comfort and hope.
And how did reconciliation occur? Through the spent body of Jesus Christ who became the first to conquer the grave and receive a resurrection body. Paul is reminding these new Christians that they have received the truth. It is now up to them to live accordingly.
Paul did not say. “Wait a minute. Did you forget what you were told not that long ago?” Instead, Paul measured his words, showing real restraint. He reminded the Colossians of the unique centrality of Jesus, emphasizing He had no equal in all of the world.
Do you ever read these letters and wonder how you would handle the same situation?
May we learn from the Word as we meditate on its power day after day, and may we determine in our hearts that we, too, will be ready to encourage fellow believers who have slipped on the pathway of life, giving them a hand up to regain their footing.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 