Year 2, Week 47, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 47, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Colossians 2-4.

Today’s reading continues and completes the Book of Colossians. The Book of Colossians, which is one of at least four letters that Paul wrote during his time in Rome, confronts false views of Jesus as well as the false notions of Christianity that result from false views. Colossians 2 urges a continued relationship with Jesus: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). Colossians 3 explains multiple implications that flow out of a continued focus on Jesus: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-3). Colossians 4 closes with a miscellaneous of greetings and updates, but includes a personal prayer request for the continued advancement of his ministry of proclaiming Christ: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:2-3).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the clear warning that Paul issued concerning the dangers of losing focus upon Christ: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). This warning is the negative counterpart to what Paul had just stated previously: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” The essential starting point for living the Christian life is an ongoing focus on the one true Christ. The temptation to take focus off Christ and onto a perspective that is deceitful in its approach, man-made as to its source, and demonic in its agenda, is to be seen as an ever-present possibility. It is only in relationship with Christ—the One in whom the fullness of God dwells, as well as the One in whom all authority resides—that the Christian life that occur: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:9-10). The Christian life is doable only because believers have been joined to Christ through faith: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11-12). The Christian life stems from the new life in Christ.

Paul expressly mentions some of the deceptive, man-made, and demonic perspectives that lead to captivity and not life: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). Paul seems to be identifying a kind of moralistic religion, perhaps partially created out of certain ideas of Judaism, which only leads to the bondage of judgment. Instead, Paul redirects to Christ, whose work on the Cross pardons and rescues: “And you…God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). Paul also refers to a further danger of a deceptive, man-made, and demonic perspective that would only result in disqualification in living the Christian life: “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head” (Colossians 2:18-19a). Rules for living and even religious experiences without Christ are unable to deliver what they promise: “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23). Outward requirements and even exciting experiences are ineffective in bringing about the kind of inward heart change that is needed.

The starting point for living the Christian life is Christ: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). There are moral and spiritual requirements for the Christian life. Some things need to be outright put down: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:4). The starting point for putting to death what we need to, is the realization of the death that a believer has already experienced in Christ: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3). The obligation to kill the “earthy” things still lingering in us, is grounded in the blessing that occurred when we died with Christ. And the new life that believers are required to cultivate is grounded in the new life that Christ provides to His people whom He has raised. The Christians life requires Christ.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe