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?
Showing posts with label mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
another mystery "solved"
Colossians 1:24-29
The word servant seems to show up a few times in this letter. Paul, in the previous section, has called himself a servant of the gospel and in this passage he calls himself the servant of the Church. This indicates Paul's deep humility - the purpose of Christ takes precendent over his own purpose and he will put aside his own agenda in order to make sure that the message of Jesus is given to whoever needs it whenever they need it and to make sure that the Church is operating how Christ intended it to operate.
There is so much in this short passage that could be unpacked and some of those things are very difficult statements (for example, v. 24 seems to indicate that Christ's suffering somehow was lacking and needed Paul's suffering to make it complete but what Paul is actually saying is that Christ's suffering was enough for our redemption and fully satisfied the justice of God but Paul had to suffer in order to take that message to the Gentiles. So, in order for the work of Christ to be complete in the Gentile's life, Paul had to suffer as well). However, the main point of the passage is the mystery that Paul reveals: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Paul continues that thought when he says that he labours with all his (Christ's) energy which so powerfully works in Paul. The hope that Paul has to see everyone perfected in Christ is Christ at work in him and Christ at work in them. So Paul can labour with confidence knowing that the results do not depend on him but on Christ.
Sometimes I take too much responsibility for the work that Christ has given to me. I don't mean that I should be lazy or work less but that I should labour with all Christ's energy, remembering that my hope for my own sanctification is Christ in me and my hope for the continued growth and maturity of my students is Christ in them. Paul was so clear in his purpose and calling and I feel like mine has become a bit distracted or broad. I need Christ to refine my focus and to remind me that it is not by my strength or power but by the Spirit of God and Christ that the work and will of God will be done.
The word servant seems to show up a few times in this letter. Paul, in the previous section, has called himself a servant of the gospel and in this passage he calls himself the servant of the Church. This indicates Paul's deep humility - the purpose of Christ takes precendent over his own purpose and he will put aside his own agenda in order to make sure that the message of Jesus is given to whoever needs it whenever they need it and to make sure that the Church is operating how Christ intended it to operate.
There is so much in this short passage that could be unpacked and some of those things are very difficult statements (for example, v. 24 seems to indicate that Christ's suffering somehow was lacking and needed Paul's suffering to make it complete but what Paul is actually saying is that Christ's suffering was enough for our redemption and fully satisfied the justice of God but Paul had to suffer in order to take that message to the Gentiles. So, in order for the work of Christ to be complete in the Gentile's life, Paul had to suffer as well). However, the main point of the passage is the mystery that Paul reveals: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Paul continues that thought when he says that he labours with all his (Christ's) energy which so powerfully works in Paul. The hope that Paul has to see everyone perfected in Christ is Christ at work in him and Christ at work in them. So Paul can labour with confidence knowing that the results do not depend on him but on Christ.
Sometimes I take too much responsibility for the work that Christ has given to me. I don't mean that I should be lazy or work less but that I should labour with all Christ's energy, remembering that my hope for my own sanctification is Christ in me and my hope for the continued growth and maturity of my students is Christ in them. Paul was so clear in his purpose and calling and I feel like mine has become a bit distracted or broad. I need Christ to refine my focus and to remind me that it is not by my strength or power but by the Spirit of God and Christ that the work and will of God will be done.
Monday, March 19, 2007
I know a secret...
Ephesians 3:1-6
Paul is famous for interupting himself (ok, I can only think of one other place off the top of my head but just go with it!). This is a two paragraph interruption - if I was doing my devotions at my normal consistency, I wouldn't have a clue what Paul was talking about in v. 14 because I would have forgotten that he started the thought in verse one.
Anyway... here's what I see (besides the interruption): Paul is in jail because he was obedient to Christ in taking the gospel to the Gentiles. If he hadn't responded to Christ on the road to Damascus, he'd probably still be free and if he hadn't agreed to take the gospel to the Gentiles, he'd probably be free in Israel. Sometimes we use adversity as an excuse to stop heading in a certain direction but we need greater discernment to know when it is opposition from Satan and when it is God attempting to direct our paths. Can you imagine if Paul had decided that he was outside of God's will in being an apostle to the Gentiles because he was in jail?
The main point of this section of Scripture is the great mystery or secret that has been revealed to Paul and that Paul now reveals to us: that the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members of one body and sharers (is that even a word?!) together in the promise in Christ. I can't get over this! It probably doesn't seem like that big a deal to most believers today because we are so ethnocentric - we (generally) think that we've always been included but the truth is that we haven't. We (generally) have adopted the same arrogant attitude of the Jews in Paul's time: to be truly chosen by God you must be one of us (Jew then, North American today). We, as the church of North America, should get down on our knees every day and thank God that, in his mercy and grace and through the work of Jesus Christ, he saw fit to bring near those of us who were once far away, to make us heirs who were once enemies and to allow us to share in the covenant promises who were once strangers to the promise. The extent of God's work - not just to cleanse me from sin but to make it possible for me, a Gentile, to share in the inheritance of Israel - causes my heart to skip a beat (to borrow a phrase from Graham!).
Paul is famous for interupting himself (ok, I can only think of one other place off the top of my head but just go with it!). This is a two paragraph interruption - if I was doing my devotions at my normal consistency, I wouldn't have a clue what Paul was talking about in v. 14 because I would have forgotten that he started the thought in verse one.
Anyway... here's what I see (besides the interruption): Paul is in jail because he was obedient to Christ in taking the gospel to the Gentiles. If he hadn't responded to Christ on the road to Damascus, he'd probably still be free and if he hadn't agreed to take the gospel to the Gentiles, he'd probably be free in Israel. Sometimes we use adversity as an excuse to stop heading in a certain direction but we need greater discernment to know when it is opposition from Satan and when it is God attempting to direct our paths. Can you imagine if Paul had decided that he was outside of God's will in being an apostle to the Gentiles because he was in jail?
The main point of this section of Scripture is the great mystery or secret that has been revealed to Paul and that Paul now reveals to us: that the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members of one body and sharers (is that even a word?!) together in the promise in Christ. I can't get over this! It probably doesn't seem like that big a deal to most believers today because we are so ethnocentric - we (generally) think that we've always been included but the truth is that we haven't. We (generally) have adopted the same arrogant attitude of the Jews in Paul's time: to be truly chosen by God you must be one of us (Jew then, North American today). We, as the church of North America, should get down on our knees every day and thank God that, in his mercy and grace and through the work of Jesus Christ, he saw fit to bring near those of us who were once far away, to make us heirs who were once enemies and to allow us to share in the covenant promises who were once strangers to the promise. The extent of God's work - not just to cleanse me from sin but to make it possible for me, a Gentile, to share in the inheritance of Israel - causes my heart to skip a beat (to borrow a phrase from Graham!).
Friday, February 9, 2007
The secret of piety
1 Timothy 3
What I observe:
The deacons had to pass some kind of test before they could become deacons (v. 10). Judging from v. 9, it would seem that the test probably checked on their knowledge of the deep truths of the faith and that they were living with a clean conscience.
Paul's purpose for this letter was to be an instruction manual on church conduct when the church is in crisis or chaos (v. 14-15). I know I'm reading into it a little bit but it is obvious from chapter 1 that this is a church in crisis.
The church plays a very important role - it is the pillar and foundation of truth (v. 15). I think this means that the community of disciples plays a large role in determining truth. I know that truth is ultimately found in the Scriptures but the community plays an important role in the interpretation of those Scriptures.
What I learn:
After all the instructions about deacons and elders, Paul gets down to the secret of the pious or godly life: Jesus and his incarnation. This reminds me that everything I believe is based on a person, not a creed. It all comes down to Jesus - he is the secret and the mystery. I love that Paul bursts into song here - almost as if the secret has to come bursting out of him. The point of conducting ourselves well in the household of God, the church of the living God and the pillar and foundation of the truth is the glory of Jesus. Conversely, and mysteriously, it is Jesus that allows us to conduct ourselves well.
What I observe:
The deacons had to pass some kind of test before they could become deacons (v. 10). Judging from v. 9, it would seem that the test probably checked on their knowledge of the deep truths of the faith and that they were living with a clean conscience.
Paul's purpose for this letter was to be an instruction manual on church conduct when the church is in crisis or chaos (v. 14-15). I know I'm reading into it a little bit but it is obvious from chapter 1 that this is a church in crisis.
The church plays a very important role - it is the pillar and foundation of truth (v. 15). I think this means that the community of disciples plays a large role in determining truth. I know that truth is ultimately found in the Scriptures but the community plays an important role in the interpretation of those Scriptures.
What I learn:
After all the instructions about deacons and elders, Paul gets down to the secret of the pious or godly life: Jesus and his incarnation. This reminds me that everything I believe is based on a person, not a creed. It all comes down to Jesus - he is the secret and the mystery. I love that Paul bursts into song here - almost as if the secret has to come bursting out of him. The point of conducting ourselves well in the household of God, the church of the living God and the pillar and foundation of the truth is the glory of Jesus. Conversely, and mysteriously, it is Jesus that allows us to conduct ourselves well.
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