revmattil.org

Colossians 2:13–15 ¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

“When you were dead.” God did not tell you that you had to first make yourself alive, then He would accept you. God did not tell you to try harder and be better and then He would consider claiming you as His own. God did not say you had to earn your forgiveness.

“When you were dead in your sins.” Those without faith are physically alive but spiritually dead. Standing before God without faith in Jesus, you will fall short. You will be destined for hell, eternal separation for God.

“The uncircumcision of your sinful nature.”  Those who were not circumcised were not part of God’s chosen people, not heirs of the promise.

“God made you alive with Christ.”  It was something Jesus did for you. The one who lived without sin, offered Himself as the sacrifice on the cross, was crucified, dead and buried is the same one who was raised back to life on the third day. God gives you that same new life because you trust in Him.

“Having canceled the written code.”  This was a reference to a document that someone signed when they borrowed money. Paul compares our sins against God’s Laws to a “debt” we owe Him, and it is one we cannot repay. The cancellation of this debt is a huge thing for us.

“He took it away, nailing it to the cross.”  The debt was paid, but not by us. Jesus did it on the cross.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  Is certainly a reference to spiritual forces, but can also remind us that worldly powers and authorities are often opposed to Christ and His church. These have been conquered by Jesus, but they still attempt to pull us away from our Savior.

“He forgave us all our sins.”  Jesus did it all. Jesus paid it all. We need to remember this Good News every day.

Colossians 2:6–12 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Paul’s epistles were meant to encourage converts in their faith walk. As part of that, he would often point out errors that should be corrected and give warnings about false teachers. We see some of this in today’s reading.

e reminds the believers in Colosse that they were led to faith in Christ and that they should remain steadfast and thankful for what they have received. Then he warns against false teachers who try to get people to trust in things other that Christ.

Just as he did in the first chapter (1:19), Paul asserts again that all the fullness of God is in Jesus Christ the man. As a man, He was able to go through everything we encounter, yet He did so without sin. As God, He was able to pay for the sins of everyone when He offered His perfect life as the acceptable sacrifice for sin. That is why Paul says we have been given fullness in Christ.

This passage also connects Baptism with circumcision, the only portion of Scripture that does so. I think it is a powerful and important connection. Circumcision marked the Jewish people as God’s chosen. It was part of the promise God made to Abraham, the sign of the covenant. Baptism connects us to everything Jesus did for us, and it marks us as God’s chosen people, claimed and forgiven by Him. But it is more than symbolic. Baptism is a true washing of sins by the power of God’s Word of promise connected to the water (Titus 3:5).

You may know that the Jewish people were told to circumcise their boys when they were eight days old. Those little boys no say in the matter. The parents saw to it that this happened for their boys to mark them as part of the chosen people, beneficiaries of the promise God made to them.  I think that is significant that Baptism is compared to circumcision. Baptism is something God does for us, not something we do for Him. He is the one who places His name on us. He is the one washing away sin. Through Baptism, we are the beneficiaries of all that Jesus earned for us. That is why parents willingly bring their children to be baptized, that they might be the recipients of God’s grace through this Sacrament.

Colossians 2:1–5 ¹ I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. ² My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

When someone says “I am praying for you,” How does that make you feel? Sometimes you may not grasp the import of that statement. Other people are pleading for you before God Almighty. You are not alone. Members of the body of Christ are there for you. When separated by a great distance, they can still be by your side through their intercessions on your behalf.

Paul reminded the believers at Colosse that even though he was not with them, he is working on their behalf. His letter is an encouragement for them to hold on to the Good News they have heard. He reminds them of the tremendous value of the wisdom and knowledge that has been given to them.

Paul also warns them that others will come with contrary messages, trying to lead people away from the free gift of life that Jesus earned. Beware! Don’t fall for it. Hold on to Jesus in faith! He alone delivers what we need to be saved.

Paul wrote: “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ…”

United in love. Paul wants believers to mature in their faith and love each other, be there for each other. That does not mean only when things are going well. It means being there for each other when life gets hard, when problems and troubles arise.

Jesus showed us how to love in all situations. He loved us to death. He did what was needed.

How can you love a neighbor who is in need today?

Colossians 1:1–8 ¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. ³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

As Paul begins his letter to the believers in Colosse, he follows his normal manner of complimenting them on what he has heard about them. “…we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints…”

I wonder how many of us would be described that way. Would our daily actions bring accolades or condemnation? Would your behavior in your community warrant praise or ridicule? If Epaphras came to your house, what report would he take back to Paul? We have the same motivation to live new lives, don’t we?

,,,the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.

We have heard and believed, as the Colossians, that Jesus lived and died and rose again to earn our forgiveness and open heaven for us. We have had the same message shared with us. The Spirit has worked faith in our hearts. We have that message to share. Do our lives reflect that or hinder the spread of the Good News?

Lord Jesus, thank you for having led me to faith. I know I have been forgiven and look forward to being with you forever. Help me to live now in a way that shows my certainty and opens the way for others to follow you. I pray this in your most holy and precious name. Amen.

Throughout Scripture we are told to “live as children of light.”

1 John 1:5-6 “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth”

Peter reminds us that God has “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

And Jesus told His followers “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

There is an old stone church in the Swiss Alps that does not have a lighting system, nor has it ever had one. A traveler heard a church bell ringing and saw the people heading up to the church, each one carrying a small bronze lamp filled with oil and having a wick. She approached one of those worshipers and said, “I’m a stranger here. Will you tell me why you are carrying a lamp to church?” The woman heading to the service explained that the Duke who had built that church asked that each worshiper bring his or her own lamp. The traveler replied, “I would guess that keeps some folks from attending the evening services!” “Quite the contrary,” the other woman said. “Everybody that goes makes it a little brighter, and when anybody is tempted to stay home or go somewhere else, they remember that the church needs everyone’s lamp. If your lamp is not there, there is that much less light. We also remember those who are not believers can look to the church and see its brightness or dimness in the windows. A bright church gives a good witness to those in the darkness. And not only does the church miss your light, but you miss the blessing by not being there.”

That is how all the children of light should feel. Your Church is brighter when you are there. But do not just let your light shine at church. Your faith goes with you when you walk out the door and put it into action. You carry the light with you. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8), or stated another way, you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. When you share that Good News, you are letting your light shine.

Live as children of light.

One of the wonders of modern technology is fiber optics. They have become so common place that we take them for granted, but they are still a marvel. These things look like a solid tube, yet they have the ability to channel light to otherwise hard to reach places. Optical fibers can transmit light around curves and corners, with the light emitting from the end of the fiber. The uses are almost unlimited. Optical fibers are used to transmit telephone conversations and to illuminate automobile instrument panels. They are also used in medicine to perform exploratory surgery through just a small incision large enough to insert the small cable. The fibers carry light inside the body and then transmit the pictures back outside for the doctors to examine. As I said, they can transmit light to those hard to reach places.

Christians should think of themselves as optical fibers for the Lord. You are to carry His light with you to places where it otherwise might not shine. What are those hard to reach places in your life?

What about in school? When your friends and classmates are doing something that you know is wrong, do you let the light of Christ shine through you to expose their sin, or do you turn it off and simply go along with the crowd?

How about in your job? When others are pilfering, do you point this out for the wrong that it is, or do you let the light of Christ shine in that situation?

When unethical practices are encouraged, do you justify that you have to go along to get ahead, or do you shine for Jesus?

You are to be the channel of the light of Christ everywhere you go. This has to do with the way you treat every single person you encounter, the people you work with, your family members, and even those you casually meet each day. Jesus did not say “You are to be the light of the Church.” He very clearly said, “you are the light of the world!” (Matthew 5:14).

My encouragement today is the same as yesterday: make a conscious effort to be a light bearer today.

You’ve probably heard someone say, “There are two kinds of people in this world…” The categorizations are endless. They point out the differences that exist, contrasting the two groupings.

Male and Female
United States and Mexico
Democrats and Republicans
City folk and Country folk
Texans and everyone else

When we distinguish between two different groups, we usually point out the differences, which often comes down to “those I like and those I don’t like.”

But maybe we should focus on the similarities a bit more.

2 Corinthians 5:14  For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  

“One died for all.”  “Christ died for sins once for all.”  God loves everyone and does not want anyone to die eternally.

1 Timothy 2:3–4  God our Savior … wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

We need to remember that those who are currently outside of God’s grace are people for whom Jesus dies, people whose sins were covered by His sacrifice, people God loves and wants to be part of His kingdom forever. Their debt was also paid by God our Savior.

Perhaps we should consider this classification:

“There are two kinds of people in this world – those who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and those God still wants to be saved through faith in Jesus.”

Romans 16:17–20 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

There will always be false prophets and charlatans among us. Some things never change. And their presence in the church hurts all followers of Jesus. It also hurts the spread of the good news of who Jesus really is. He is not a huckster or after your money. Jesus wants you, all of you, every bit of your life. He paid for it with His life so that you could be His own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him. He gives you forgiveness, life and salvation. He wants you to respond with a new life of gratitude.

Paul commends the believers in Rome who were living that way, and encourages them to continue to do so.  And he gives them two promises:

1. Jesus will crush Satan.
2. God’s grace is with them.

That message is for you, still, today. Live in that confidence.