The Book of Colossians part 8 – Week 18 / April 28th

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

Colossians 2:6

In our last devotional study on the book of Colossians we noted that Paul wrote the book chiefly to combat false teachings that were a threat to the well being of the church. These were Secular Humanism, Legalism and Gnosticism; all of which have their counterparts today. In the final part of chapter two, while dealing with these issues, he gives us a brilliant overview of the victory that Jesus won on the cross. He not only delivered us from the hostility of our sins, which were all nailed to the cross, but He disarmed the Devil of his power and openly conquered him and then, there being no barrier left to our fellowship with God, by His resurrection, He raised us to His right-hand in heaven! Jesus did it all and thus we need nothing more than Him as we are complete in Him. All we need to do is walk in Him, cling to Him and make Him head of the church’ nothing more! It’s just that simple and yet very powerful!

Now, as he does in all his epistles, he turns to the natural outworking of these truths in our lives. I call this section of his letter:
Victorious Christian Living

Here then Paul shares three spiritual concepts with us:

1.    Our two worlds  3:1-5
If we indeed have been raised up with Christ to be seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-7) then our ultimate perfection is guaranteed by His life in us (Romans 5:10). It also means that we live in two worlds all the time. That is; we live in a body on earth but we also live in heaven by the Spirit of Christ within us. We are truly in His Spirit seated (past tense) in heaven with Jesus. We are transformed on earth to the degree that we cultivate a living relationship with Jesus in heaven. This is why it so vital that Christians live in the Word, pray all the time and be filled with the Spirit. (2Timothy 3:16-17; 1Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 5:18-19) These bring the life of Jesus fully into our bodies which are then transformed by the incredible power unleashed toward us by the cross (Ephesians1:17-21). Christians are generally weak and failing because they do not live enough in heavenly places. Paul says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above….” This carries with it a question mark and a command! Where do you live?

It is thus important for us to know that from God’s perspective the work of redemption in our lives is already completed because of Christ’s life in us. We have to walk it out in time all the while knowing that we have in Him “everything pertaining to life and godliness.” (2Peter 1:3) This means the things in our earthly body and realm that displease God can be easily put to death. The devil wants you to believe otherwise! Christ has done it all for you. Hallelujah! We live victoriously then in two worlds and our victory is ensured when we actually, in time, live lives that are truly in fellowship with God. It is precisely here that Christians fail all the time. (1John 1:1-3) Those walking in true fellowship with Christ will never fear the Day of Judgment because being in a vital and continuous relationship with Him means we constantly enjoy His approval. (1John 4:17)

2.    Our Deliverance  3:6-7
Jesus died to deliver our lives from “fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.” If we live in them, even though claiming to be Christian we will fall under the wrath of God! The lesson is clear, we cannot claim to be redeemed and then continue to walk in the very things that Jesus died on the cross to deliver us from. This is what the Bible calls hypocrisy and it is this wickedness that Jesus preached against when He walked this earth (Matthew 22:18). We must be sober and recognize that God in Christ paid a great price to save us and is then not mocked by people who claim His name and live in sin! (Hebrews 10:26-30) The wrath of God is surely coming.

3.    Our New Likeness  3:8-11
Because Christ’s power is working mightily in us we easily put off the deeds of our past sinful lives. We no longer are given to anger, filthy language and blasphemy because we have put on Christ. It is His likeness that we embrace having been renewed in our minds with a knowledge that teaches us to appropriate Christ and Christ alone. This powerful redemptive work is available to all peoples of the world regardless of their race, color, station in life or education. Chris is all and in all. In other words, “Christ is enough!”
It is then with these wonderful words that Paul drives home the all sufficiency of Jesus’ work. We would do well to ponder these things carefully and live by them because Jesus said, “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of God….” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Malcolm Hedding

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