Colossians - An Expositional Study
ENCOURAGING AMBITION
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1 (KJV)
"If ye be risen with Christ"
It is evident that life for the Christian is intended to be different from that of the world. Different in nature, outlook, interests, and aim. His rightful ambition is indicated in our present text. It is described here as a resurrection life, "If ye then be risen with Christ". In Philippians 3:10 it is perfected in "the power of His resurrection." Consider first...
"If"
The Authorized Version uses "If"; also in Colossians 2:20. But Greek construction will not allow such dubiety in these two fundamental matters. Moffatt's rendering is better. In chapter 2, he translates the original with these words, "As you died with Christ." The NIV is even better, "Since you died with Christ." There is no doubt attached to it. In chapter 3, the King James translation, "If ye then be risen with Christ," is weak. Moffatt and the NIV both properly render it, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ" – no doubt about it! Paul is writing to Christians; and of such it is indubitably true that two basic certitudes abide. In view of their union with Christ, thank God, they are dead men; and, praise God, they are risen men. There is no "if" about either case, but the consequential "as," and "since."
But what is this union with Christ that Christians often speak of? It results from an exercise of obedient faith in God. Consider Leviticus 1:4, "He shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him" (see also Lev. 4:24). Under the Old Covenant God made special arrangements, temporarily dealing with sin until the time came to deal with it permanently and eternally. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Heb. 10:4) – sacrifices were ordained to cover sins (hence, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Ps. 32:1). This was as far as the Psalmist could go) until, "now once in the end of the age hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb. 9:26). Those oft-repeated offerings of the Old Testament pointed to, and drew their significance from, the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament. With regard to obedient faith, Christians meet those Old Testament believers on similar ground. However, there is one powerful difference; Jesus Christ became the one-time sacrificial Lamb when He died on the cross of Calvary – "That by means of [His] death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament" (Heb. 9:15). Also, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Rom. 3:25).
We see in Leviticus that by Divine appointment the transgressor brought his animal victim as an offering for sin. The priest carefully scrutinized the beast, making sure there were no spots or blemishes. The person making the offering would then stand, placing his hand on his head, confessing his sin. God then reckoned the sin of the obedient man was on the beast – the spotlessness of the animal accounted for sin. The victim was then put to death, spiritually bearing the man's sins, suffering in his stead. Thus, the one making the offering left the scene forgiven. It was a God-given, God-ordained, prophetic picture of what was coming. By obedient faith, we can be joined to Him as one dead to sin – as one alive, resurrected to "newness of life" (Rom. 4:11; 6). Risen from baptism, one is born again with Christ. The only question is whether we are living up to our high privilege, walking after "the power of His resurrection." Let us go on to another aspect of this truth...
"with Christ"
Notice in our brief text the phrases, "with Christ" (3:1); "where Christ" (3:1); "with Christ" (3:3); "when Christ" (3:4). It is evident where the center of the resurrection life lies. When all our life revolves around Him as our Living Center, then we know resurrection life in happy truth. Indeed, this is what salvation means. Consider three statements having an intimate bearing upon our relationship with Him.
"Christ...on the right hand of God"
The Epistle to the Hebrews shows us that three things are implied in this posture of the Master:
Rest – "when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). In amazing grace, He undertook the plan of our salvation. When it was completed, He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). He paid in full the enormous debt of our sin. When the cancellation was complete, He said, "It is finished." The cross was payment in full; the resurrection was God's receipt. With God's approval, He undertook to drink our cup of woe and when His drinking reached the last bitter dregs, He handed the cup back to His Father and said, "It is finished." The plan that He came to the earth to accomplish (the shedding of righteous blood for the sins of the world) was fully carried out. Now, in order for the whole plan to be completed and for death to be overcome, our Lord was resurrected, providing eternal life for His children. He then went back to Heaven to take His seat of rest at God's right hand, awaiting His second coming.
Intercession – "seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). Can we ever assess what we owe to our Savior's prayers? Did not even Peter fall away for a while? "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32). If you are so ill and weak that you cannot pray for yourself; or, if you are so lonely that there is no one to pray for you, it is a deep comfort to know that Jesus Christ is praying for you. While on this earth we will never be able to estimate what we owe to Him for His prayers on our behalf. On one occasion, Jesus looked into a house and said of a man there, "Behold, he prayeth" (Acts 9:11). When we are in need of comfort and strength, we can look up into Heaven and say, "Behold, He prayeth."
Sovereignty – "we see Jesus...crowned" (Heb. 2:9). One day He is coming back for His children. But we should never forget that He reigns on high right now. And, by reason of our union with Him, we, too, reign with Him. He "hath made us kings and priests" (Rev. 1:6). If only Christians would put into practical daily use their exalted position in Him.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:2-3 (KJV)
"Set your affection"
We become like what we love – it is likeness to Him that wields the greatest influence on others. The NIV translates it, "Set your minds" suggesting the idea of setting our watch by the sun. If our clock is fast, slow or stopped, we seek to put it right. It is not wise to make a guess or to follow another person's clock. The best way is to regulate it by Greenwich Mean Time, which ultimately means the sun – spiritually "the Sun of Righteousness" (Mal. 4:2). If we desire to keep our life right we must regulate it by Him. Then, if others seek from us the right time we will not lead them astray, because we are right with Him – "ye became followers of us, and of the Lord" (1 Thess. 1:6). Paul and his Lord were synchronized. In other words, going by Paul was tantamount to going by Him. May our behavior always be so accurately adjusted that "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). So, then, set your mind...
"on things above"
There are things which guide the Christian life here on earth:
Accumulate possessions in heaven – "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt. 6:20). This is so different from earth's treasures.
Value popularity with Heaven – it is said of some that "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12: 43). How different is Paul's good soldier, "that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:4).
Enjoy the pleasures of Heaven – "in Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 16:11); so different from "the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb. 11:25).
Rejoice in a position in Heaven – "but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). So different from those, no matter how great or famous they may be, who are only "written in the earth" (Jer. 17:13).
Endure and energize for the prize of Heaven – "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [upward, Gk.] calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). So different from the "corruptible crown" (1 Cor. 9:25), which is the best the worldly can attain.
Covet the power of Heaven – "tarry ye...until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). So different from man, who out of much failure has to confess "How frail I am" (Ps. 39:4). Wisdom causes a Christian to set his mind "on things above." Such is the outlook of the resurrection life, always the up-look. Speaking metaphorically, the Christian's habit is "look from the top" (Song of Solomon 4:8).
"not on things on the earth"
There are those "who mind earthly things" (Phil. 3:19). Strange as it may seem, some Christians regulate their lives by earthly things. They seem unable to rise above their conditions and circumstances; no resurrection life for them. They seem to be at a low-level, incongruously dwelling in the things of this world. Consider the occasion when, before a battle a company of Israelites were gathered with the Philistines and the princes of the latter asked in surprise, "What do these Hebrews here?" (1 Sam. 29:3). Regarding an earth bound Christian one is inclined to ask, "What do Christians do here?" Of course, we cannot ignore earthly things. When one becomes a Christian he/she is not at once transported to heaven, but left here to be a "salt" of the world illumining the darkness, a "city" set on a hill, guiding people on to the city "whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10). These three ministries are committed to Christians as part of the economy of the Kingdom (Matt. 5:13-14). Yes, "in the world," but not "of the world" (John 17:11, 16). "For ye are dead [died], and your life is hid with Christ in God" (v. 3).
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:4 (KJV)
"Christ...our life"
Christ not only brings or gives life, but "is" life in Himself:
Its entrance – "He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12). Physical life? – Yes, but without the Son of God we do not have spiritual life, because He is the Christian's life.
Its continuance – "I give unto them eternal life" (John 10:28). Being eternal it continues; lasting because He lasts.
Its abundance – "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). There is a world of difference between the two qualities. The barely alive hospital patient is like a Christian who hasn't grown in faith. The hospital nurse; busy and full of life is the kind of Christian we should be; the kind we are meant to be.
Its influence – "By reason of him [Lazarus] many...believed on Jesus" (John 12:11). Because of the Savior, his new life produced a real advertisement for the Master, enabling him to wield a powerful influence for Jesus on others.
Its fragrance – "He could not be hid" (Mark 7:24). If He is in our heart and life in an effective degree, the fact is sure to be noticed. The story is told of a man who spoke of meeting several women emerging from a factory for their lunch break. He said they carried an attractive aroma. As he passed the gate he saw that it was a perfume factory. Likewise, if our life is "hid" in Him, something of His fragrance will be on us, i.e., "the savour of life" (2 Cor. 2:16)." Spiritual fragrance comes from sacrifice. This was the case when "the house was filled with the odour of the ointment" (John 12:3). When the box was broken the fragrance was released. Certainly it is true that when self is broken the savor of Christ is known; "not I, but Christ" (Gal. 2:20). Christ Himself is the Living Center of the resurrection life. Is He the real center of our lives? Consider the teachings of old astronomers concerning our planetary universe. Ptolemy was the first in the field (127-51 A.D.). He was one of the most eminent of the scientific men in the ancient world, teaching that our earth was the center of the universe and that all else revolved around it. How grand to think of ourselves as the hub of the universe. It took about 1300 years to dispel the illusion. Copernicus (1473-1543 A.D.) demonstrated that the sun was the center, with the earth and all else revolving around it. Likewise, have we changed our life's center? In the material world, self is given a grand position. In other words, things turn around self. Often it takes a long time for us to see the falsity and futility of the idea that self is the hub of life. It is a happy moment when we alter our outlook, recognizing "the Sun of Righteousness" (Mal. 4:2) as our new Center. From that point on, every aspect of life rotates around Him. Such, then, is the resurrection life of salvation. Consider now...
This resurrection life centered in Him, not self-centered, has a magnificent wide sweep. The risen life will never forget that while "He is the propitiation for our sins," it is "not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). A well-known Christian teacher was once scheduled to speak for an important graduation at a training school for preachers. However, near the date his doctor refused to allow the trip; but he promised to send a cable to be read at the ceremony. When the time came, there was some anxiety in the audience because the message had not arrived; but it came just in time. The message consisted of one word – others. What a start, what a theme, for any graduation of Christians. So much like the Savior, of Whom even His enemies acknowledged that "He saved others, not Himself" (Matt. 27:42). If Christ is our Center, others will be our circumference – "the whole world" of others whom we may be able to reach for our Lord by prayer, example, testimony or touch. To that end...
"shall ye...appear with Him in glory"
The fact of the Christian's union with Christ through identification by obedient faith has now come full circle – died in Him; buried with Him; and raised with Him. The Christian has ascended with Him, is seated with Him, anticipating the time when He returns to call His own to be with Him forever. Such is the glorious teaching in Paul's letters to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians. Thus we have observed the resurrection life, from its root in the cross to the fruit in His coming. This truly is salvation.
