Colossians 2:16-23
Paul contrasts the shadow of the law with the reality of Christ. The idea of false humility shows up twice as well as mystical, rule heavy worship and harsh treatment of the body. This is the early form of gnosticism that I mentioned before: the physical is evil and must be punished, the spiritual is good and must be worshiped. Angel worship comes in because they would believe that angels had special knowledge that was passed to humans if humans observed certain rituals and rules.
Paul's words would have sounded completely radical to this culture: don't let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or by which days you observe (or don't observe) as sacred and how you observe (or don't observe) those days; don't keep submitting to the ancient rules and traditions. The unfortunate thing is that Paul's words still sound radical in today's culture. We've taken the good news message of Jesus (that God became one of us to show us his love, to save us from sin and to declare the end of religion) and built up rules and traditions around it and have created a new religion. This must sadden God!
The reason that we don't have to observe the rules anymore is found in the previous verses (Paul connects this passage with the previous with the word "therefore" meaning that this section is a conclusion of the previous): Christ has canceled the charge of our indebtedness and has taken away that which condemned us. Therefore we don't have to earn God's favour - Christ has purchased it for us.
The problem is that I love rules! I love rituals and traditions because I like to know what to expect (I love the familiar with a little twist of new) and because I like to think that my observance of rules and rituals somehow pleases God. It's really an issue of pride - I want to have a role in my own salvation; I don't want to accept the fact that Christ had to do it all for me because I was incapable (that makes me seem weak and helpless, which, in fact, I really am). Worse than that, I impose my self-imposed measures of righteousness on others, trying to make them live up to the same rules I have created. I am a Pharisee.
May I experience the freedom that Christ offers from rules and rituals (self-imposed or otherwise) and may I model that freedom so others too can be free.
Showing posts with label Colossians 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colossians 2. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
coming to life
Colossians 2:13-15
The key words: uncircumcision, sinful nature. This passage contains the themes of death and life, debt and forgiveness, condemnation and justification. It also contains the image of a Roman victory parade where the defeated enemy is marched, weaponless and in disgrace, before the cheering crowds. The enemy in this case are the spiritual powers and authourities.
There is a significant surprise contained in this passage using the cross. The cross was the symbol of the justice and might of Rome. It was to put the condemned prisoner on public spectacle both so he could be ridiculed and shamed but also to inspire good behaviour on the part of the people (behave yourself or this could happen to you). While terrible, it was also just (in the Roman view). Here, Paul turns that all upside down - Jesus died, in a travesty of justice, on the very thing that was supposed to symbolize justice. If justice was to be truly served, it would be you and I that would die but here the cross is turned into a symbol of grace. Even further, Christ takes what was supposed to be a way of making a public spectacle of him and turns it in order to make a public spectacle of those forces opposed to him. I'm sure the impact is lost in this culture but in the culture to which Paul was writing this would have been huge (especially as they likely would have still seen people exposed to public spectacle on these instruments of justice).
The application is obvious and great- I am free from the debt of sin. I am made alive in Christ (through his death and resurrection) and I need to live out this freedom and life.
The key words: uncircumcision, sinful nature. This passage contains the themes of death and life, debt and forgiveness, condemnation and justification. It also contains the image of a Roman victory parade where the defeated enemy is marched, weaponless and in disgrace, before the cheering crowds. The enemy in this case are the spiritual powers and authourities.
There is a significant surprise contained in this passage using the cross. The cross was the symbol of the justice and might of Rome. It was to put the condemned prisoner on public spectacle both so he could be ridiculed and shamed but also to inspire good behaviour on the part of the people (behave yourself or this could happen to you). While terrible, it was also just (in the Roman view). Here, Paul turns that all upside down - Jesus died, in a travesty of justice, on the very thing that was supposed to symbolize justice. If justice was to be truly served, it would be you and I that would die but here the cross is turned into a symbol of grace. Even further, Christ takes what was supposed to be a way of making a public spectacle of him and turns it in order to make a public spectacle of those forces opposed to him. I'm sure the impact is lost in this culture but in the culture to which Paul was writing this would have been huge (especially as they likely would have still seen people exposed to public spectacle on these instruments of justice).
The application is obvious and great- I am free from the debt of sin. I am made alive in Christ (through his death and resurrection) and I need to live out this freedom and life.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
roots
Colossians 2:6-12
Paul is concerned that the church in Colossae might be taken in by some worldly philosphy. Paul doesn't indicate exactly what the philosophy teaches but he says that it is rooted in human tradition and elemental spiritual forces. I'm not sure exactly what he means by that but it is clear that these traditions and forces are opposed to Christ.
Paul is also concerned that the church has a proper view of Christ: the fullness of the Deity rests on him and he is the head over every other power and authourity. This connects back to what Paul said in chapter one about Christ being the firstborn - the favoured one - over all things and having authourity over all things as their Creator. As the head, he brings the church to fullness (in Ephesians he talks about the church being the fullness of the one who fills all things in all ways) and he cuts away anything that does not align with his character and purpose.
Paul uses two analogies or word pictures to describe the cutting away. The first is circumcision (the cutting of the flesh) which Paul uses to talk about Christ cutting off our sinful nature. The second word picture or symbol is baptism - in which the believer is acting out the fact that he has been buried with Christ (at which point Paul says the sinful nature is cut off - symbolized by the purifying effect of the water) and raised from the dead to new life.
This purification and being raised to new life is just the beginning - I must continue to live out my faith. Paul calls us to be rooted and built up in Christ, to draw our strength and life from him and then to bear fruit (specifically the fruit of thankfulness). I think that too many "christians" are relying on a prayer that they said when they were young to save them or the fact that they are immersed in Christian culture. I wonder if they are rooted in Christ. I wonder if they are finding their life in him.
Paul is concerned that the church in Colossae might be taken in by some worldly philosphy. Paul doesn't indicate exactly what the philosophy teaches but he says that it is rooted in human tradition and elemental spiritual forces. I'm not sure exactly what he means by that but it is clear that these traditions and forces are opposed to Christ.
Paul is also concerned that the church has a proper view of Christ: the fullness of the Deity rests on him and he is the head over every other power and authourity. This connects back to what Paul said in chapter one about Christ being the firstborn - the favoured one - over all things and having authourity over all things as their Creator. As the head, he brings the church to fullness (in Ephesians he talks about the church being the fullness of the one who fills all things in all ways) and he cuts away anything that does not align with his character and purpose.
Paul uses two analogies or word pictures to describe the cutting away. The first is circumcision (the cutting of the flesh) which Paul uses to talk about Christ cutting off our sinful nature. The second word picture or symbol is baptism - in which the believer is acting out the fact that he has been buried with Christ (at which point Paul says the sinful nature is cut off - symbolized by the purifying effect of the water) and raised from the dead to new life.
This purification and being raised to new life is just the beginning - I must continue to live out my faith. Paul calls us to be rooted and built up in Christ, to draw our strength and life from him and then to bear fruit (specifically the fruit of thankfulness). I think that too many "christians" are relying on a prayer that they said when they were young to save them or the fact that they are immersed in Christian culture. I wonder if they are rooted in Christ. I wonder if they are finding their life in him.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
knowing the mystery of God
Colossians 2:1-5
Paul's concern of the church in Colossae is that they would be fully mature in Christ and know the mystery of God - namely Christ. This passage flows right from the previous verses where Paul talks about contending with all Christ's energy to present everyone fully mature in Christ. In this passage he reveals who, specifically, he is contending for: the church in Colossae, the church in Laodicea and everyone who has not personally met Paul.
The idea of the mystery of God also connects these two passages. Previously the mystery was Christ in you, the hope of glory and in this section Christ reveals the mystery of God. I know that Paul wrote to combat an early form of Gnosticism (spelling?) which taught that there was a secret knowledge that was only revealed through certain rituals and observing rules. I think Gnosticism also taught that the physical was evil and the spiritual was good (a form of dualism). While not directly contradicting Gnosticism, Paul emphasizes in his letters the physical body of Christ and continually reminds the believer that the "secrets" (or in Paul's words, "mysteries") have all been revealed in Christ: the secret of contentment? trust in God who will meet all your needs according to his glory; the mystery of the gospel? Christ in you, the hope of glory; the mystery of God? Christ - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Don't be deceived - you don't have to spend increasing amounts of money in order to learn the deep secrets of God and the universe like the Scientologists would have you believe. The fullness of God is revealed in Christ for all to discover if they would earnestly seek him. So, the question is, have I been seeking to know and understand the mysteries? Maybe that's not even the right question because Paul is writing to the local group of believers so maybe the question is: am I contributing to the environment where we can attain the full riches of complete understanding. In other words, am I helping the believers in my sphere of influence to be "encouraged in heart and united in love so that they can have the full riches of complete understanding in order to know the mystery of God, namely, Christ?" Or are my actions and attituded helping to conceal the mystery?
Paul's concern of the church in Colossae is that they would be fully mature in Christ and know the mystery of God - namely Christ. This passage flows right from the previous verses where Paul talks about contending with all Christ's energy to present everyone fully mature in Christ. In this passage he reveals who, specifically, he is contending for: the church in Colossae, the church in Laodicea and everyone who has not personally met Paul.
The idea of the mystery of God also connects these two passages. Previously the mystery was Christ in you, the hope of glory and in this section Christ reveals the mystery of God. I know that Paul wrote to combat an early form of Gnosticism (spelling?) which taught that there was a secret knowledge that was only revealed through certain rituals and observing rules. I think Gnosticism also taught that the physical was evil and the spiritual was good (a form of dualism). While not directly contradicting Gnosticism, Paul emphasizes in his letters the physical body of Christ and continually reminds the believer that the "secrets" (or in Paul's words, "mysteries") have all been revealed in Christ: the secret of contentment? trust in God who will meet all your needs according to his glory; the mystery of the gospel? Christ in you, the hope of glory; the mystery of God? Christ - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Don't be deceived - you don't have to spend increasing amounts of money in order to learn the deep secrets of God and the universe like the Scientologists would have you believe. The fullness of God is revealed in Christ for all to discover if they would earnestly seek him. So, the question is, have I been seeking to know and understand the mysteries? Maybe that's not even the right question because Paul is writing to the local group of believers so maybe the question is: am I contributing to the environment where we can attain the full riches of complete understanding. In other words, am I helping the believers in my sphere of influence to be "encouraged in heart and united in love so that they can have the full riches of complete understanding in order to know the mystery of God, namely, Christ?" Or are my actions and attituded helping to conceal the mystery?
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