Comment: Not in
carnality, but in Christ. This is a statement that can be foreign in the mind
of most who profess to be children of God. I do not say this as someone who is
above reproach on this subject. I am as carnal as the next one in line, it is
only by the grace of God that He brings us through those dark moments and helps
us realize that we have been raised up with Christ. Our position in Christ is
constant and will never falter, while our experience in life is variable and
often faulty. As we move into the practical section of Colossians we will be
reminded that life in Christ is DIFFERENT than life in the flesh. We are to
seek CONTINUALLY those things which are above, where CHRIST/MESSIAH is. Where
is HE today? Christ is sitting at the Right hand of God the Father.
Positionally you and I are there, but sadly many are groping around in
darkness, bumping into one sin after the other. 1 John 1:9 is so worn out on
the lips our soul that our soul is chaffed and brittle with rote repetition.
Devotional: Colossians 2:1 through 3::11 – The apostle
Paul is an itinerant PREACHER/TEACHER under the direction of God, through his
conversion in Christ (Acts 9:1-9) and now in the guidance of God the Holy
Spirit he is concerned for the churches that the Holy Spirit and he have
established. The Spiritual well being of the ‘the Christ of the church’ is
always the goal of his ministry and it should be ours too. The two main subjects that cripple churches in
those days are the same today. Spiritual and secular philosophy and religious legalism; these
are cancerous blights on churches throughout this dispensation.
The conflict within the mind
of the apostle is troubling, he sees that these false efforts to control the
children of God are present; verse 2 of chapter 2 is critical in that as a
whole the church ought to be bonded together in the love of God as love is the
only godly gift from God to attain to understanding the mysteries of God. All
the riches of assurance in Christ is provided by the Father. Note verse 6; “as
you have received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him. We received Jesus by
faith, we are rooted in Him, we are built up in Him and we are being taught by
Him. Therefore, we are to reject all philosophical distractions which are
simply the basic ways of the world which torment our position.
We have Christ, He is our
life as we are hidden in Him, we do not need a physical system of do’s and don’ts.
We are baptized into the death of Christ and we were raised up with Him through
faith. Faith in the working of God who raised Christ/Messiah from the dead.
Once we were dead in trespass and sin. He (Christ/Messiah) made us alive in Him
(together and forgiven). Our legal standing before the throne of God is secure
in Christ, therefore we have NOTHING to add. God in Christ has wiped out the
certificated of debt. By faith our sins are nailed to the cross and He (Jesus) has
taken us away from darkness and death – see 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
Colossians 3:1-11 was part of
my opening comment.
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