INTRODUCTION
Colosse was an important city in Asia Minor, not far from Laodicea and Hierapolis. The church there had been planted by Epaphras, perhaps during Paul’s residence at Ephesus. The Apostle, apparently, had not visited it himself, Col_2:1, but was deeply interested in it through the report of his friend.
This Epistle was written during Paul’s imprisonment at Rome, Col_1:24; Col_4:18, and apparently about the same time as those to the Ephesians and Philemon; for the three letters were sent by the hands of the same persons, Tychicus and Onesimus, Col_4:7; Col_4:9; Eph_6:21-22. The Church was suffering from the teaching of a false philosophy which combined Oriental mysticism with Jewish ritualism, and turned the disciples from simple faith in Christ. The object of this Epistle, therefore, is to set forth the majesty and glory of our Lord’s person and character.
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS
“Christ in You the Hope of Glory”
The Ministry of Redemption
THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF THE CHRISTIAN
False Practices to be Avoided
5. How does the work of Christ free us from the reproach of human judgment?
ALIVE IN CHRIST
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
LET NO ONE DISQUALIFY YOU
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [Isa_29:13]
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Colossians 2:13-23
AVOIDING ERRORS
The reiteration of the prepositions in and with emphasizes our close identification with our Savior. Such we are in the purpose of God, and so we should be in daily experience. In union with Him we have once and forever put away the sins of the flesh, have lain in His grave, have passed to the heavenside of death, and are living under the blue sky of acceptance with God. Our Master’s victory is potentially ours. He won it, but we may share its fruits. Yet faith must apprehend and affirm these blessings. The land of Canaan is ours by right, but every inch has to be claimed by faith. “Faith is an affirmation and act that bids eternal truth be fact.”
We must not allow our religious life to become a piece of outward ritual, Col_2:16-17; nor permit the supposed mediation of angels to obscure the supreme majesty of our Lord, Col_2:18-19. We who have died with Christ must not be always regulating ourselves by the don’ts of the Law. Let us enter Christ’s more intimate fellowship and live on the positive side. Ours should be the freedom of a full life, and the ampler vision of the mountains. Nothing else really avails against the indulgence of the flesh.
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
The Shadow of the Sabbath
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