LIVING FOR CHRIST
Colossians 2:6-19
WALK IN THE SHOES OF THOSE YOU PREACH
V:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live 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 basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
To understand the mindset of those you preach the Gospel, it is a good idea to
understand the environment that they are living in. They may not be able to understand
the Word preached because of the influences around them.
In verses 1-5, Paul expressed his concern for the churches at Colossae and Laodicea
knowing the deceptive teaching in the church by those who opposed the Gospel.
The Churches at Colossae were believed to have been established by Epaphrus after his
conversion in Ephesus(Act 19). Paul probably had not visited Colossae but heard
about their faithfulness. He considered himself with them in the spirit as the
writing of the letter.
Since Paul was not there at the establishment of the Church he encouraged the church
with a message from him about the love of Jesus Christ for all Gentiles which had been
hidden in ages past. God chose Paul to present the Gospel to them and the hidden treasures of knowledge and wisdom. Paul taught the Gospel with clarity and
convictions so that others believed and spread it where they traveled so the church grew.
It is one thing to hear the Gospel and believe it but another to live in Christ with faith
and thankfulness. The churches at Colossae and Laodicea were encouraged to continue
in faith but cautioned not to be deceived by the philosophy and traditions of the world.
The world’s philosophy of life constantly changes to oppose God’s commands and to
destroy the righteousness of God in the hearts of believers.
NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
V:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
The human soul is empty and void filled with the vain and useless doctrine of the
world. In Christ dwells the fullness of God's head suited to fill the void of the soul with divine knowledge, wisdom, grace, mercy, and love of God. Any man in Christ
becomes a new creation
In Christ, we have been circumcised of our sinful nature by His death on
the cross. His shed blood washed us clean of our sins making the righteousness
of God the foundation of our new nature. We were raised in His resurrection making us
full members of the body of Christ. We were buried in His death and raised
in His life and given a measure of faith to believe in His power, authority, and promise
of eternal life.
CANCELING THE DEBT OF SIN
V:13 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took 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.
The cross was a necessary and planned part of our salvation. The law was given as
a tutor until Christ came (Galatians 3-24). The righteousness of God contained in law was never designed as salvation but as judgment. No man was able to keep the law but Christ. At His, death the law was nailed to the cross for sinful man, Satan, and his demons to see. The plan of sinful man to kill Jesus by destroying the flesh was short
-sighted because Jesus lives in the Spirit. The proof was Christ’s resurrection on the third day.
The influence of Satan, the ruler of darkness no longer exists for those who believe in
Jesus. The temptation to sin exists in the flesh but we have the power to resist sin
and are no longer under the penalty of the law. Our sins, past, present, and future
have been atoned for by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:12). Jesus who knew no sin
became sin for us.
The shadow of death exists in our minds (23 Psalms). But a shadow only exists because
of the light that shines behind the object. That light is Jesus Christ that dwells in
each believer.
GRACE AND MERCY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
V:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or about 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.
The judgment of the law no longer applies to believers having been nailed to the cross.
By the law no man is justified (Galatians 2:16). We are justified by faith in Jesus only.
Believers are dead to the law to live in Christ. The Sabbath, the holy day under the law
was moved to Sunday the day celebrating Jesus’ resurrection, the new life for
believers (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2)
The law remains our tutor teaching us the righteousness of God. Jesus came not to
abolish the law but to fulfill all its requirements for us for all times (Matthew 5:17).
We must be alert and on guard to those who add their traditions and misinterpretations
of the law as additional qualifications for our salvation.
BELIEVE JESUS AND HIM CRUCIFIED ONLY
V:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has 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.
We must be careful of preachers and teachers who preach a doctrine other than
Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is faith in Jesus plus nothing (John 3:16).
We are saved by faith through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Some make Mary the mother of Jesus or angels the guardians of
our salvation. Some preachers preach donations of money to them
and their causes prompt God to favor you financially and materially, thus
undermining the grace of giving (2 Corinthians 9:7).
It is faith in Jesus only. To add to faith in Jesus minimizes the power and
authority of Jesus. Focusing on anything other than Jesus loses contact with Him.
Focusing on anything other than Jesus adds idol gods to faith. Those who preach
idols in any shape, form, or fashion are under the influence of Satan.
Jesus Christ descended from heaven in the most humble spirit, born into a poor
family, made himself known to shepherds first, and lived a life void of pride
and possessions for our sake. He was poor in worldly possessions, but rich in the
Spirit with all power and authority. It is Jesus who is the author of our faith,
the salvation of our life, and the one who holds the body of believers together.
Let us not be deceived that the name of a church, the size of a congregation,
the fame of a pastor, and vain teaching have anything to do with our salvation. It is Jesus Christ and Him crucified only.
It is by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit that we live, move, and have our being as citizens of
Heaven.
JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED PLUS
NOTHING
Rev. M. Mitchell
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