Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were in Colossae. .More specifically today’s passage is found in the second and third chapters of this New Testament book. “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being king together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-3).
“Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:4-5).
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:8-10).
“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:11-15).
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (Colossians 2:16-19).
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23).
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
“Therefore put to death your member which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them” (Colossians 3:5-7).
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, But Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:8-11).
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:12-17).
“Wives, submit your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality” (Colossians 3:18-25).
When you come to the second and third chapters of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Colossae you will find the apostle Paul continuing to exhort these saints according to the truth that is found in the gospel. If you turn and direct your attention to the words which are found in the previous chapter you will find the apostle Paul beginning to set the stage for the supremacy and the preeminence of Christ above everything that exists and everything that was created. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is when you take the time to understand what the apostle Paul was truly saying. If you take the time to read the epistles and writings of the apostle Paul you will find the apostle seeking to bring the saints of God into a mature man in the person of Jesus who is both Christ and Lord. It is absolutely impossible to read the epistles written by the apostle Paul and not encounter and come face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the apostle desiring the churches to recognize their idenity in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. What’s more is within the epistles and writings of the apostle Paul you will find him seeking to demonstrate and declare who Jesus is—Jesus who is the Christ, Jesus who is the Lord and Jesus who is the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. Within the writings of the apostle Paul you will find the apostle describing and declaring unto the saints who Jesus is—that One who suffered in the flesh, that one who was crucified upon the cruel Roman tree, that was one who buried in a borrowed tomb., that One who was raised from death to life on the third day and that one who is seated at the right hand of the Father who is in heaven. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the apostle Paul and that which he sought to encourage and promote within the saints of God in the cities, towns and places whithersoever he traveled.
Beginning with the ninth verse of the opening chapter of this epistle you will find the apostle Paul emphatically declaring unto the saints which were at Colossae how since and from the day he heard of their love in the Spirit he did not cease to pray for them and to ask that they might be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. The apostle Paul earnestly prayed and interceded on behalf of these dear saints that they might walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Oh I find it absolutely necessary to pause for a moment before going any further and call your attention to what the apostle Paul has just written and declared unto these precious saints. The apostle Paul did in fact declare that he prayed for the saints which were in Colossae and that he brought them before the throne of grace in prayer and intercession. What we must needs understand is that when the apostle Paul prayed for these dear saints he prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of the will of God “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Pause for a moment and truly think about that which the apostle Paul declared unto these saints in Colossae for there is language that describes our knowing what is that good and perfect will of the Father which is in heaven and now we find the apostle Paul emphatically writing unto the Colossian saints that they might be filled with the knowledge of the will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. How absolutely wonderful and incredible this truly is when you take the time to truly think about it for there is something powerful about those who not only know the will of the Father but those who are filled with the knowledge of that will of the Father. What’s more is that with this being filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father there must be a wisdom and spiritual understanding. Remember how in the twelfth chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome he admonished them to present their bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable unto the Lord which was their spiritual act of worship that they be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of their mind “that they might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
There is something truly astonishing and captivating about the words which are found in the first and opening chapter of this epistle written unto the Colossian saints for within it we find the apostle Paul writing unto them that they would be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. In all reality these words suggest the incredible reality that the knowledge of the will of the Father is something that must needs fill us thoroughly and completely—fill our heart, fill our soul, fill our spirit and even fill our mind. Permit me to ask you whether or not you are one who is filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father as you attempt to navigate the days and times we are presently living in? Have you truly walked within and from the place where you are indeed walking in the fullness of the knowledge of the will of the Father—and not merely walk in the fullness of the knowledge of the will of the Father but doing so in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is something which warrants strong consideration for it demonstrates and reveals the astounding reality that the will of the Father is not something that cannot understood or realized by those who worship Him and those who call upon His name. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray He taught them to acknowledge God as Father and to declare His name as holy. With this being said we find Jesus also instructing them to entreat God who is Father that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven:
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:8-13).
One of the greatest truths we must needs recognize and understand is that the will of the Father is not only something that is too distant for us to understand and comprehend. There are those who treat the perfect and acceptable will of the Father as something that is too distant and too far reaching for us to understand and for us to walk in as we navigate this life walking and following the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit. The truth of the matter is that when we read the words which the apostle Paul wrote unto these saints we find him emphatically declaring unto them how he prayed for them that they might be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the understanding that not only is this fullness of the knowledge of the will of the Father something we ought to pray for but it is also possible for us to be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father. It’s similar to that which we find in the Old Testament books of the Law which were written by Moses and when he was standing before the children of Israel on the eastern side of the Jordan River in the plains of Moab. Prior to the children of Israel crossing over the Jordan River and entering into the land of Canaan under the direction and leadership of Joshua the son of Nun we find Moses instructing them in righteousness and revealing unto them two distinct path—one path that leads to the blessing of God and another path that leads to the curses of God. What’s more is the apostle Paul even alludes to and speaks to this particular truth when writing unto the saints which were at Rome:
“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:1-6).
“Also the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you’ll. And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and do all His commandments which I command you today. The LORD your God will make you abound in all the w or of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 30:7-10).
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who will ascend into heaven for us to and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I hav set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may bling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give them” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
Consider the following words which are found in the tenth chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome beginning with the first verse of the chapter:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, The man who does those things shall live by them. But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, Do. Not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (That is, to bring Christ down from above) Or, Who will descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is the word of faith which we preached): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things? But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, LORD, who has believed our report? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their works to the ends of the world. But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation. But Isaiah is very bold and says: I was found by those who did not seek me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me. But to Israel he says: All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people” (Romans 10:1-21).
If you transition back to the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Colossae you will find the apostle emphatically declaring his prayer for them that they might be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. What’s more is the apostle Paul goes on to describe something which we must needs understand within our own hearts and lives. The apostle Paul declares unto them his prayer that they might not only be filled with the knowledge of the will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding but also that as a direct result of that knowledge they might walk worthy of the Lord. Not only did the apostle Paul pray that they would walk worthy of the Lord but He also prayed for them that they might walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it reveals and brings us face to face with what we are and have been called to in this life. We as the saints of God must needs be those who are so completely filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father that as a result of that knowledge we are able to walk worthy of the Lord. With this being said it’s important for us to recognize that if we want to truly walk worthy of the Lord as we please Him fully we must be willed with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. If you want to truly walk worthy of the Lord and are fully pleasing unto and before Him you must needs recognize that you need to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality of the reality that we can indeed walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him, however, the only way to truly walk worthy of the Lord pleasing Him fully and completely is to be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father. Thus the will of the Father and pleasing the Father are intrinsically linked and connected to each other and cannot and must not be separated. Oh there are those who would dare think they can somehow walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him without and apart from being filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father and the truth of the matter is that this is simply not the case.
Upon continuing to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture we must needs understand that not only have we been called and invited to walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him but we have also been called to be fruitful in every good work. If there is one thing we must needs understand as saints of God and as those who are disciples of Christ who walk with and follow Him it’s that we have indeed been called to be those who bear and produce fruit. With this being said there must needs be the understanding that not only must the word of the gospel produce fruit within us as the saints of the living God but we ourselves must needs produce and bring forth within this life. We have indeed been called and chosen to be those who bear, produce and bring forth fruit in this life and we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this. There is something truly powerful about those who recognize and understand that they have been called to produce and bring forth fruit in this life—a reality which the Lord Himself emphasized and explained. In the parable of the seed and the sower the underlying principle and reality is the sowing of the seed and the need for the seed to produce and bring forth fruit. Not only this but within this parable there are at least two distinct individuals and groups of people who showed signs of bringing forth fruit within their lives, however, that fruit would be short lived and would quickly be destroyed. Those who were represented by the seed which was sown on the stony ground were those who received the word with joy and did at the beginning produce and bring forth fruit. This fruit, however, would be short lived for when persecution and affliction arose for the sake of the word they were offended, they would stumble and I would dare say that would turn back and walk no more with Jesus. Those who were represented by the seed which fell among the thorns were those who produced and brought forth fruit, however, as time progressed the love of money and the cares of this world choked the life of the fruit within their hearts and lives and as a result of this they withered away and the fruit died and perished.
I am absolutely convinced that we as the saints of God must needs be those who are not only filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father in all wisdom and spiritual understanding but we must also walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him. What’s more is that with this being said we must also be those who are fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Within this passage of Scripture we find the apostle Paul speaking of (1) being filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father, (2) walking worthy of the Lord, (3) fully pleasing the Lord, (4) being fruitful in every good work, (5) increasing in the knowledge of God, (6) strengthened with all might according to the glorious power. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of that which is found in these passages of Scripture for within them we are brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful and incredible truth surrounding the experience we as the saints of God and we as the disciples of Christ must needs have within this life. We as the saints of God and we as the disciples of Christ must recognize that at the very heart of everything we do and everything we are is the fullness of the knowledge of the will of the Father. If we are truly honest with ourselves we must needs admit that at the very heart of everything we are and at the very heart of who we are as the saints of God is the knowledge of the will of the Father. It is when we know and are filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father we recognize and understand what we have been called to do and are indeed free to begin to walk in the manner in which we have been called. Have you ever noticed that those who know the will of the Father seem to walk in a way and manner that is entirely different than anything that is manifested and experienced within the hearts and lives of others? There is something about those who are filled with the knowledge of the will of the Father for it delivers, sets them free and makes possible their walking and living the way they were intended on according to that will of the living and eternal God.
If you continue reading the words which are found in this epistle you will find the apostle Paul not only describing the supremacy and preeminence of Jesus who is the Christ and Lord but He also describes the work which was accomplish by Christ on our behalf and within us as those who are His disciples. If you begin reading with and from the thirteenth verse of the first chapter you will find the apostle Paul writing how we have been delivered from the power of darkness and have been conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins. Immediately following this the apostle Paul goes on to speak of and describe the supremacy of Christ over and above everything that exists and has been created. Beginning with the fifteenth verse of this first and opening chapter the apostle Paul describes the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God as being the image of the invisible God who is the firstborn over all creation. Moreover the apostle Paul also goes on to describe and declare that by Christ all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth—both visible and invisible—whether thorns or dominions or principalities of powers. Not only this but the apostle Paul goes on to describe how all things were created through Him and for Him and He is before all things. In Him [Christ] all things consist and He is the Head of the body—the church—who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that in all things He may have the preeminence. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it brings us face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the knowledge that Christ must needs be at the center of everything that exists. What’s more is not only must Christ be at the center of everything that exists but Christ must be exalted over everything that exists and is present in the earth and absolutely everything that is present within our hearts and lives. The eternal and only begotten Son of the Father must needs be exalted and established over and above everything that is present within our lives and everything must needs be brought under His authority and dominion:
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did he ever say: You are my Son, Today I have begotten you? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels He says: Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. And: You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak you will fold them up, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not fail. But to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:1-14).
“For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under Him.l But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you. And again: I will put my trust in Him. And again: Here am I and the children whom God has given me. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared int. He same, that through death He might destroy Him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like his brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:5-18).
If you continue reading in the first chapter of this epistle you will find the apostle Paul describing how it pleased the Father that in Him [Christ] all the fullness should dwell and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. The apostle Paul then goes on to describe the life which these saints had before they were redeemed and delivered by the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning with the twenty-first verse of this passage you will find the apostle Paul describing unto them how they were once alienated and enemies in their mind by wicked works and yet how He [God] has reconciled in the body of the flesh of the Son through death that they might be presented as holy, as blameless and adobe reproach in His sight. Moreover the apostle Paul also goes on to describe how they bore the responsibility to continue in the faith grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which they heard which was preached to every creature under heaven. The apostle Paul also goes on to describe how he rejoiced in his sufferings for them and filled up in his flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of His body which is the church. Not only this but the apostle Paul also describes how the mystery of the gospel was previously hidden from ages and from generations but has not been revealed to His saints whom God willed to make known what were the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles. Furthermore the apostle Paul writes and speaks of Christ being in them who is the hope of glory whom they preached warning every man and teaching every man in wisdom that every man might be perfect in Christ Jesus.
As you continue reading in the epistle written unto the Colossian saints you will find the apostle Paul describing how he had a great conflict for them and those who were in Laodicea and for as many as had not seen his face in the flesh that their hearts might be encouraged being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the knowledge of the mystery of God both of the Father and of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote unto the Colossian saints that his desire was for them that their hearts might be encouraged as they were knit together in love and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the knowledge of the mystery of God both of the Father and of Christ. This is something which warrants strong consideration for the apostle Paul goes on to write how he wrote these words lest anyone should deceive them with persuasive words. The apostle Paul goes on to write how though he was absent in the flesh yet he was with them in spirit rejoicing to see their good order and the steadfastness of their fain in Christ. The apostle Paul goes on to write how as they had received Christ Jesus the Lord so also they ought to walk in Him being rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as they had been taught abounding in it with thanksgiving. The apostle Paul earnestly and eagerly desired that they would stand fast, that they would be rooted and grounded in the knowledge of the will of the eternal Father and that they might know what was the truth of the word of the gospel which was preached unto them. The apostle Paul sought to ensure they were able to stand strong and stand firm in the face of anyone who would seek to deceive them through persuasive words—through false doctrine, through false teaching and through a false gospel which they had not heard preached unto them. What’s more is that we must needs recognize that one of the greatest safeguards against false teaching and false doctrines is in fact the spiritual body of Christ. Perhaps one of the greatest truths we must needs acknowledge within our hearts is the importance of the body of Christ and how the body provides an atmosphere in which we can keep each other rooted and grounded and established in the truth of the gospel that we might not be led astray.
I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in these passages of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the tremendous truth that the spiritual body of Christ provides the members with a powerful atmosphere and environment whereby we can know the truth, whereby we can live and practice the truth and whereby we might be able to challenge each other. There is not a doubt in my mind that the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed structured in such a way that we as the individual members help encourage and promote the truth of the gospel that was preached by the apostles and what is found in the Scriptures. There is not a doubt in my mind that when we read the words found in these passages of Scripture we are indeed brought face to face with the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus Christ and how the body has been provided to us that we might encourage one another as we speak the truth in love. Oh there is a great need for us to recognize just how important the spiritual body of Christ truly is within our lives—not only that we might be rooted and established within it but also that we might indeed be challenged and spurred on by the faith of others. What’s more is there is a certain safety that is found within the spiritual body of Christ for when anyone seeks to position themselves on an island of their own creation and of their own choosing they open themselves up to the myriad of voices which are present within and throughout this generation. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand it’s that there is absolutely no shortage of voices which are present in this world—voices who will seek to deceive and distract us. There is absolutely no shortage of false teachers, false apostles, false prophets and even false brethren who can and will seek to deceive us through their own teaching and doctrines.
Before I delve any further into the words which are found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were In Colossae I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the twelfth chapter of the first epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints. What’s more is I find it necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the fourth chapter of the epistle written unto the saints which were in Ephesus as well as the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the twelfth chapter of the epistle written unto the saints which were at Rome:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to your faith; or ministers, let us use it in our minister: he who teaches in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:1-8).
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadflast in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:9-21).
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and that no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Sprit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” 1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jes or Greeks, whether slaves or free-0-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, Is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. NO, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one members suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never failed. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I Know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, on faith, on baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. (Now this, He ascended—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things). And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the statute of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, to seed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:1-16).
The more I think about and consider this the more I am brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding the safety and security of the spiritual body of Christ. There is not a doubt in my mind that when we think and speak about the body of Christ we are speaking about a community and fellowship whereby the individual members of the body are able to be rooted, established and grounded one with another. Moreover when we speak about the spiritual body of Christ we are indeed and are in fact speaking about an atmosphere and environment whereby we are able to spur one another on to good works and whereby we are indeed able to serve as a safeguard for the other members of the body. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the spiritual body and how it provides the members with an environment and atmosphere whereby we are indeed able to watch out for and look after the other members. It is indeed true that God has appointed pastors, teachers, elders and deacons as overseers for the members of the body of Christ, however, we must needs recognize that we have a divine responsibility to each other to look after, to care for and to watch out for each other. There is a reason why the apostle Paul used the phrase “fellow soldier” when writing his epistles for although we have indeed been called to put on the whole armor of God since we do not fight against flesh and blood we were never destined nor designed to fight alone. I am sure the apostle Paul might have had full view of a Roman soldier when writing of the armor of God and I am confident that when he wrote those words in the epistle written unto the Ephesian saints he did not for one minute think that any member of the body of Christ would indeed fight alone. Although the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds and the casting down of imaginations it must be recognized and understood that we as the spiritual members of the body of Christ have indeed been called to fight alongside others—fight alongside others in prayer, in worship, in intercession and even in standing fast in the midst of the spiritual attacks of the enemy.
The apostle Paul sought to warn and admonish these dare saints of the tremendous dangers that were present during those days—dangers which are indeed present in our generation as well. Within the second chapter the apostle Paul wrote and spoke about those who would seek to deceive them with persuasive words. What’s more is that as you continue reading the words presented in this epistle you will find the apostle Paul declaring unto them that they ought to beware lest anyone cheat them through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men and according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ. This must be carefully understood for when we read the second epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints we find him admonishing them to beware lest the serpent should be able to beguile them as he did Eve in the garden. The apostle Paul wrote of a false gospel, of a false Jesus and even of another Jesus who had not been preached unto them. Moreover when writing the epistle unto the churches which were in Galatia you will find the apostle Paul speaking unto them of this false gospel which they had not only entertained but also turned themselves aside to it. As you read the words presented within this epistle you will find the apostle Paul writing to the saints which were in Colossae and admonishing them to guard themselves that they might not be deceived or cheated. Please pay close attention to the words presented in this passage of Scripture for within it we find the apostle Paul speaking of being deceived with persuasive words and being cheated through philosophy and empty deceit. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the incredible truth that we must needs be those who carefully guard our ears, who carefully guard our eyes, who carefully guard our hearts and our minds and who carefully guard over what we allow ourselves to interact with in this life—even within the church itself.
If there is one thing we find within the New Testament book of Acts as well as within the writings of the apostle Paul it’s the danger of legalism and religion. If you begin reading with and from the eleventh verse of the second chapter you find the apostle Paul describing unto the saints which were at Colossae how they were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands by the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. The apostle Paul emphatically declared unto them how they had been buried with Him in baptism in which they were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead. The apostle Paul reminded them how they were dead in their trespasses and the uncircumcision of their flesh but have been made alive together with Him having forgiven all their trespasses and having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against them which was contrary to them. Moreover Jesus took it out of the way having nailed it to the cross and disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it. This is incredibly important for us to recognize and understand within our hearts and lives for it brings us face to face with the awesome reality that we have been set free and delivered that we might walk in and enjoy and experience that freedom. We as the saints of God have indeed been called to recognize that which we have been delivered from and that which we have been removed from—much like the children of Israel who were delivered out of the slavery and bondage of the land of Egypt and even their captivity in the land of the Chaldeans. There is a great need for us as the saints of God to recognize and understand that we have indeed and have in fact been called to be those who not only recognize what we have been delivered and set free from but also walk in that freedom. Not only this but we must needs diligently strive to ensure that we are not taken captive or deceived by any false gospel, by any false teaching or by any false doctrine.
Having described how Christ Jesus the Lord had completely and utterly set them free and delivered these saints and translated them from the power and dominion of darkness he then goes on to admonish them to let no one judge them in food or in drink, or in regards to a estimable, or a new moon or sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come. The apostle Paul admonishes them to let no one cheat them of their reward taking delight in false humility and worship of angels intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind and not holding fast to the Head from whom all the body has been nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments. This is the second time the apostle Paul admonished these saints to guard themselves carefully that no one cheats them—the first time admonishing them to be diligent that no one cheats them through philosophy and not admonishing them to hearken unto themselves that no one cheat that no one cheats them of their reward. GUARD YOUR REWARD! GUARD YOUR INHERITANCE! This is something which warrants strong consideration within our hearts and minds as the saints of God for we have an inheritance in Christ that is secured in the heavens where neither moth nor rust can destroy and where thieves and robbers cannot steal, kill or destroy. With this being said we must needs recognize that since we have died with Christ from the basic principles of the world we ought not to subject ourselves to that which would enslave, ensnare and bring us into bondage again. There are things that have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility and neglect of the body but at the end of the day have no value against the indulgence of the flesh. We as the saints of God must needs diligently strive and hearken unto ourselves that we might not walk after the flesh and might not allow ourselves to be ensnared and taken captive again by those things from which we have been set free. What’s more is that there is a bondage that typically doesn’t present itself until we have been delivered and set free from the bondage of sin and death.
As I prepare to bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the incredible truth that although we might have been delivered and set free from the bondage of sin and death that does not mean the struggle against bondage is over. If there is one thing the epistle written unto the churches in Galatia proves and if there is one thing the epistle written unto the saints which were in Colossae reveals it’s that there is a bondage that presents itself after we have been delivered and set freedom from sin and death. This particular bondage is what I would like to call and refer to as BONDAGE AD—or “Bondage After Christ.” I am absolutely convinced that once we have been delivered from the owner of sin and death and after we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light there is another bondage the enemy and adversary can and will seek to ensnare and enslave us with. The enemy and adversary can and will seek to deceive us through false teaching, through false doctrine, through false gospels and will send false teachers, false prophets, false apostles and even false brethren and it is for this reason we must needs be on our guard that we not allow ourselves to become entangled to the Law. This was what the scribes, the Pharisees and the religious system during Jesus’ day were in bondage to and that which Jesus continually rejected and indicted them for. There was even one occasion when Jesus declared unto them that they were teaching as doctrine the commandments of men—something which He indicted them for in the fifteenth and twenty-third chapters of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew. If there is one thing we must with all diligence strive for it’s to ensure that no one deceives us through false teaching, false doctrine and a false gospel and that no one would cheat us out of the inheritance we have in the person of Christ secured in heaven for us according to the foreknowledge and divine will of the living and eternal God.
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