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Colossians
BC Weekly Digest Monday, January 12 1998 In this issue: Colossians 2:11-13 Colossians 2:8 Colossians 2:13 Colossians 2:16 Colossians 2:16-18 Colossians 2:11,12 Colossians 2:18,19 Colossians 2:20-23 Colossians 2:11-13 The question has been asked: I wonder about the analogy of circumcision and whether the application of Paul's question from Roman's is appropriate here. As Abraham was justified by faith prior to the covenant of circumcision, could justification be apart from baptism by faith? God instituted the act of circumcision with Abraham. It was the token of the covenant that God had made with Abraham in which God would give the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession to his descendants. Gen 17:11 says, "And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you." It is not reasonable to believe that Abraham would have been justified by faith had he not followed the command of God to be circumcised. God considered Abraham a faithful man because he followed his commandments. The same is true with baptism today. We are justified by faith today if we follow the commands of God. One of the commands which he has given is that we are to be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins. If we refuse to follow the command of God to be baptized, we cannot expect God to consider us as being faithful to him. We are justified through faith by being obedient to the commandments of God. Lonnie Woodruff ------------------------------ Colossians 2:8 This question has been asked: My question concerns philosophy and vain deceit vs true knowledge. Some non-Christians ask: "Why do you believe since you have no proof of God and the Bible?" I say some of my belief is based on just plain faith and accepting what the Bible says. The non-Christian then says if I can believe God on faith then the agnostic and atheist can also believe based on just plain faith. How then do I respond to that statement? === Most of our knowledge in every area is based on faith. Faith is the acceptance of certain testimony or evidence as a reliable source of information. Faith is strengthened by duplication of the testimony (two or more witnesses) and by various sources of evidence that point to the same conclusion. Judicial systems are based on conclusions drawn from testimony and evidence. Certain testimony is "believed" by the judge or jury. Other testimony might be rejected ("disbelieved") because it comes from an unreliable source. It is also possible to reject ("disbelieve") testimony and evidence that is absolutely conclusive. (There are still people who refuse to believe that the world is round. I know of some who do not believe that man has been to the moon, but think that it was a camera trick.) Anyone who looks at the creation and then denies that there is a Creator, is rejecting conclusive evidence. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, [even] his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened" (Romans 1:18-21 ASV). In addition to the conclusive evidence of a Creator in that which is made, God has also provided us with testimony, speaking through prophets and finally through His own Son. "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son" (1 John 5:9,10 ASV). How do you feel when someone refuses to believe you when you are telling them the truth? You are offended because that is the same as calling you a liar. God has given an overwhelming body of evidence of His power and deity in the works of His creation. Furthermore, He has provided us with testimony in thousands of ways through the Holy Scriptures. Faith is simply the acceptance of the evidence and testimony God has given us. They who CHOOSE to reject this conclusive evidence and testimony, are calling God a liar. Their only alternative, after rejecting God, is to say that everything "just happened" which is a very unreasonable thing to believe. Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:13 The question has been asked: Are we saved by faith before baptism like Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcized (Romans 4:9,10). == Baptism is not being compared with physical circumcision but with spiritual circumcision. It is a "a circumcision not done with hands" (Col 1:11 OPV). As Paul says in Romans 2:28,29 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." This inward circumcision under the Old Covenant could not be done by parents for their children, but was based on the faith and actions of the individual when he came of age. Although baptism is compared with circumcision, this does not mean that the two are completely parallel. Christian baptism only applies to one who has personal faith in Christ: "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col 2:12 OPV). Notice "raised with Him through faith in the working of God." We participate in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ when we are immersed only if that immersion is accompanied by a personal faith in the working of God. Baptism is not a "work of the law" that saves us. It is a personal submission to a "working of God" that saves us. One cannot be saved before this "working of God" takes place in baptism. Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:16 Colossians 2:16 (Reply by Frank Worgan) The question has been asked: "How do we explain this verse in relation to drinking alcohol? Many people use this verse "let no one judge you in eating and drinking" to allow alcohol." == If the second part of this statement is correct, those who use Col.2:16 to 'allow' alcohol are making a serious error, because the social use of alcohol is not under consideration in the verse. The warning contained in the verse has to do with the attempt which was being made to impose on the Christians in Colosse the old and obsolete rules and regulations of the Jewish law. This is proved by verse 17, which states that those rules were only 'a shadow of good things to come,' and endorsed by Hebrews 10:1, where the same legal code is described as 'having but a shadow of good things to come, instead of the true form of these realities.' 1st. How was that possible? Bear in mind that Colosse lay in a region which, for over 200 years, had known a large and influential Jewish population - so influential, in fact, that in 62 B.C., when the Jews sent their annual tribute of a half shekel each, to support the Temple in Jerusalem, the amount was so huge that the provincial governor was alarmed. The sum represented over eleven thousand men alone, and did not take into account women, children and slaves. Although the church in Colosse was largely Gentile, there was a fair number of Jewish converts, as the tone of the letter makes clear. It was among these Jewish Christians that someone arose who was trying to impose on the Christians the rigid mystical asceticism which later became one of the main planks of the heresy known as Gnosticism, which has already been considered in these studies. 2nd. This introduces another factor which must be considered, namely that these Gnostic tendencies, which expressed themselves in terms of Greek philosophy, prevailed very strongly among the general population of that whole region, and had, not surprisingly, found their way into the Jewish population of the province - and thus into the Colossian congegation. This is what is behind Paul's statement in the verse we are considering. It appears that a persuasive teacher had arisen in the church - a Jewish Christian - who, under the guise of bringing a new, deeper truth, was seeking to impose these obsolete ceremonial and dietary laws on the believers. Paul's inspired response is to state that this was an attempt to restore the old covenant which was annulled when Christ died on the cross. See ch.2:14. His statement in Romans 14:17 should also be noted. "The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Spirit." Anyone really anxious to know how Paul felt about food and drink should also ready the 21st verse of the same Romans chapter. It is interesting to read that some 50 years after the Colossian letter was written, this very same problem had spread out, to influence the churches in the nearby Meander Valley, so that Ignatius wrote to the Church in Magnesia warning of the danger, and urging the Christians to 'put away the evil leaven which has grown stale and sour, and betake yourselves to the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ.' The meaning of the verse in the question may therefore be summed up as follows: Do not allow yourselves to be led away from the freedom and joy which you have found in Christ, to the futile slavery of the old Judaistic law, which has nothing to offer you but which will cost you everything. Remember that your salvation depends on the grace of God, brought by Jesus Christ, not in ritualistic and legal ordinances. 3rd As to the scriptures 'allowing' the use of alcohol, we might point out that in Romans 14 and lst Corinthians 8, Paul deals with the question of Christian liberty, howbeit in a rather different context. He readily agrees that the Christian has liberty, but he points out that it is the liberty to choose to refuse anything which will harm his brother. Paul issues this admonition; "Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow becomes a stumbling block to the weak." lst Cor. 8:9. In the same chapter, verse 11, he warns those who insist on exercizing their freedom, that the danger exists that they run the risk of 'destroying the brother for whom Christ died.' He amplifies this warning in Romans 14:10, "Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God." And in verse 21 the ultimate principle is laid down: "It is right NOT to eat meat or drink wine or do ANYTHING that makes your brother stumble." For those who wish to be pleasing to the Lord, the question of the use of alcohol may be settled on the basis of example alone. In other words, always consider the influence exerted by your example, for good or for evil. Frank Worgan ------------------------------ Colossians 2:16-18 The question has been asked: Would you explain Colossians 2:16 and 17 in relation to observing holidays like Christmas and Easter? Apparently the Colossian christians were being led to believe that they must add to their worship practices the observance of certain holy days and dietary regulations. But the apostle Paul explains that Christ came to liberate us from the burden of such regulations! They were but 'shadows' of what Christ gives us under His gospel! He is the 'reality' that removes sin,-He is the reality that cast the shadow- reality that we now possess in the body of Christ, His church. His covenant alone makes us complete, lacking in nothing, and gives us access to the prize of salvation. His Testament alone is binding on us, freeing us from all man-made rules and traditions. To go beyond, to add to,or to modify His Testament is to partake of the apostasy ( falling away from the faith ) predicted in 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Read also Galatians 1:6-9; and 1 Corinthians 4:6. Of such things as 'food or holy days'- no one can impose on us their man-made rites of worship added to the New Testament account of what Christ revealed through the Holy Spirit to His apostles.In Christ we are free to voluntarily observe or not observe those things our conscience considers important. But we must not bind these on others or use them as a pretext to cause a weak person to fall. Prayerfully read the principles taught in Romans chapter 14 and in Galatians 4:3-11; 5:1. Let us practice the New Testament principles concerning 'food and days' and avoid binding anything that men would add to Christ's perfect law of Liberty, including religious holidays unknown as such in Bible times. J.Lee Roberts ------------------------------ Colossians 2:11,12 The question has been asked: Does the comparison of baptism with circumcision authorize infant baptism? This is really two questions, How does circumcision compare with baptism, and what authorizes infant baptism. Circumcision compares with baptism only in a very limited sense, in that they are both forms of obedience required by God for his people, and a display of our submission to His will, but for different peoples, at different times, under different law, and for a different purpose. Baptism is our demonstration of our willingness to accept the terms of salvation as set forth by God, and provided for by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, of which baptism is a parallel, or symbolic action. Circumcision was a token ( symbol, reminder for Abraham and his family and seed) part of a covenant ( contract, agreement ) between God and Abraham, a jew, God told Abraham, that he would make of his seed, Isaac, yet unborn, a great nation, a source of kings, and "establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him" Gen 17:19 KJV. Christ was the fulfillment of God's promise of an everlasting covenant with Isaac and his seed after him. see Matthew 1. Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised, and Ishmael, his son was 13 years old. How can this example have anything to do with infant baptism? God has been establishing covenants with man from the beginning, and they all have the same pattern: Obey me and you will be blessed. disobey me and you will be punished. Circumcision was a token of the covenant with Abraham, Gen. 17, and Baptism is a part of a covenant with all of us in a different age, under a new covenant with a new promise, "for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 (ASV) Infant baptism: Nowhere in the inspired word of God is there any command, example of, or reference to infant baptism, it is purely the invention of man's wisdom, for what purpose I cannot imagine, but the man that invented the practice was surely not thinking of children in the same manner as Christ, who said Except ye turn, and become as little children , ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt:18:3, (ASV) and again in Matt. 19: , Suffer the little children , and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven. Paul said in Romans 1:16:6 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Has an 8 day old infant believed? 7 So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17, (ASV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.Mark 16:16 (asv) So the pattern of baptism that God intended includes the hearing about Christ, the realization of who he is, what he did, and what we must do, and our obedience and submission to his will. Can an infant do these things? And-those who practice infant baptism, is it truly the death to sin, burial in water, rising to walk in newness of life that parallels the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, or is it a compromise designed by the wisdom of man, consisting of a few drops of water? Ed. Crabtree. ------------------------------ Colossians 2:18,19 Colossians 2:18,19 (OPV) 18 Let no one deprive you of your reward through contrived humility and the worship of angels, dwelling continually on things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not adhering to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and joined together through the joints and ligaments, grows with the growth of God. === 2:18 "Let no one deprive you of your reward" Many people will be lost because they allowed themselves to be led astray by false teachers. 2:18 "Contrived humility" Humility is one of the most elusive virtues. It is much easier to 'pretend' to be humble than it is to have genuine humility before God and man. This is because pride is one of the most persistent tendencies of the flesh. The proud man is "vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Humility is simply the result of an honest evaluation of one's position before God and among men. Many orders and sects are based on contrived humility. By depriving themselves of wealth, pleasure and ease, sometimes even by self-inflicted pain, some people pretend to be lowly and are then very proud of how 'humble' they are. Paul exposes this for what it is: carnal-mindedness! There is nothing spiritual about the superficial tricks people use to 'appear' humble. 2:18 "Worship of angels" We may not worship angels. "And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: worship God" (Revelation 22:8). The worship of angels and saints is idol worship. According to Paul in Romans 1:25, anyone is a heathen who worships "the creature rather than the Creator." "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Luke 4:8 ASV). Although it may be accompanied by an outward show of religious piety and contrived humility, the worship of angels and saints causes one to loose the reward. 2:18 "Dwelling continually on things which he has seen" People who basis their faith on "personal experiences" are proud and carnal-minded. Once, many years ago, when I was going door-to-door in Haarlem, Holland to invite people to learn more about the gospel, a lady told me in the course of the conversation that she did not have to be baptized because an angel had appeared to her and told her that she did not have to be baptized. Whether she was just making this up, had deceived herself, or whether she really did see something, I have no way of knowing. But I do know what Paul wrote to the Galatians: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema" (Galatians 1:8,9 ASV). 'Anathema' means 'accursed'. Someone who bases his faith on "personal experiences" is egotistical "dwelling continually on things which he has seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Col 2:18 OPV). We should humbly base our faith on the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). 2:19 "And not adhering to the Head" Christ is the only Head of His body, the church. Any ecclesiastical organization with a head other than Christ is being led by an antichrist. There is only one body (Ephesians 4:4). Any religious body that has a distinctive identity other than simply being the body of Christ, is disconnected from the Head. The body is guided in EVERYTHING by the head. To be a church of Christ, a local congregation must be guided in everything by the New Covenant (New Testament) of Christ. 2:19 "Grows with the growth of God" As Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (1 Cor 3:6). Again we notice a similarity with Paul's letter to the Ephesians: "that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love" (Eph 4:14-16 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ Colossians 2:20-23 Colossians 2:20-23 (OPV) 20 If you died with Christ [to get away] from the principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances: 21 do not touch, do not taste, do not handle 22 (things that will all perish with using), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23 Such things do have an appearance of wisdom in will- worship, and humility, and severity to the body; [but are] not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. === 2:20 "If you died with Christ" We die with Christ when we are baptized into His death through baptism (Romans 6:3-8). 2:20 "The principles of the world" This is the same expression we saw in verse eight: "See to it that no one carries you away as [his] prey through philosophy and vain deceit, in agreement with the tradition of men, in agreement with the principles of the world, and not in agreement with Christ" (Col 2:8). This world operates on the basis of certain fundamental principles which in many cases are exactly contrary to the teaching of Christ. This is very clear in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, chapter five. To turn the other cheek and to love one's enemies, for example, are not among the principles of the world! The world thinks the pushy and the violent will prevail, rather than the meek and the peacemakers. But this also applies to religion! False religions are based on the principles of the world which result in slavery. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul says: "So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world" (Gal 4:3 ASV). After explaining that Christ came so we might be sons rather than slaves, he goes on to say: "Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years" (Gal 4:8-10 ASV). Worldly religions are based on man-made superficial regulations and observances which result in bondage and accomplish nothing spiritually. And the flesh desires such regulations! There has always been a tendency among people who are not spiritual to substitute outward observances for inner spirituality. It is so much easier to make a show of religion by outward rituals, than to be truly faithful to God. The many false forms of the Christian faith result from this tendency. 2:20 "As though living in the world" Jesus explains this in His priestly prayer: "I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14-16). 2:21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle" Some people think they are very religious because they do not eat certain foods or because they observe certain ritual washings based on human traditions and teachings. 2:22 "Things that will all perish with using" Such outward things do not directly affect the inner man. As Jesus said, it is what comes out of your mouth that makes you unclean, rather than what goes into your mouth, because what you say comes from your heart (Matt 15:11,18). 2:22 "According to the precepts and doctrines of men" The fundamental question everyone needs to ask himself about his own religion is whether the things he does to serve God are based on the word of God or on the teachings and traditions of men. Jesus says that people who worship God "According to the precepts and doctrines of men" are hypocrites and that their worship is vain (Matt 15:7-9). 2:23 "An appearance of wisdom" Many false religions appear to be very wise. But appearances can be deceiving. 2:23 "In will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body" In will-worship one worships God according to his own desires rather than according to the word of God. The humility referred to here is the contrived, false humility mentioned in verse 18. 2:23 "Not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh" The 'rationale' behind such voluntary depravations is that they in some way make one more spiritual and less carnal. This appears wise, but actually is completely ineffective. One man who had left a religious order in which the voluntary depravation was that they never spoke, testified that it did not prevent hateful communication because people could still stare daggers at each other when they were angry! When we die with Christ we are freed from all such ineffective religious dogmas and practices. In Christ we have the knowledge of God and the wisdom of God, and hope of eternal life. Roy Davison