Colossians 2:16-17 — Christ Is the Reality

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Roger

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

so (v.16) — in light of what Christ accomplished on the cross as outlined in vs. 13-15

let no one judge (v.16) — = sit in judgment — tense indicates an action currently happening

Nobody should use observance of the Mosaic law as a basis for judging someone’s standing before God.

food or drink (v.16) = lit. “eating and drinking” — probably refers chiefly to asceticism in general, which denied the body any pleasure, but also probably includes the dietary rules in the law

new moon (v.16) — The festival of the new moon is placed beside the Sabbath (Isaiah 1:13; Ezekiel 46:1). The day was celebrated by blowing of trumpets, special sacrifice, feasting, and religious instruction. Labor was suspended, and no national or private feasts were permitted to take place. The authorities were at great pains to fix accurately the commencement of the month denoted by the appearance of the new moon. Messengers were placed at commanding heights to watch the sky, and as soon as the new moon appeared, they hastened to communicate it to the synod, being allowed even to travel on the Sabbath for this purpose. The witnesses were assembled and examined, and when the judges were satisfied, the president pronounced the words “it is sanctified,” and the day was declared new moon. — Wuest, page 210.

substance (v.17) = reality (in contrast to the shadow of the law)

Paul was saying that the Old Testament laws regarding food and feast days were a shadow of a (then, in the Old Testament) future reality. Christ is that reality. In Christ, the “things to come” have come.

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 2:16-17 — Christ Is the Reality

Colossians 2:13-15 — What the Cross Accomplished

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Roger

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

alive together with Him (v.13) — ties back to v.12

uncircumcision of your flesh (v.13) — separation from God by their carnal disposition and because they weren’t of Israel

having forgiven (v.13) = to grant a favor — from the same root word as that for “grace”

forgiven you all trespasses (v.13) — all that had alienated them from God

trespasses (v.13) = “a falling beside” — failing to follow the path set out for us by God

wiped out (v.14) = cancellation

handwriting of requirements (v.14) — the law — it was (1) expressed in commandments (2) “against us” — had a valid claim on us (3) “contrary” — hostile because we could not keep it

Law is against us, because it comes like a taskmaster, bidding us do, but neither putting the inclination into our hearts nor the power in our hands. And law is against us, because the revelation of unfulfilled duty is the accusation of the defaulter, and a revelation to him of his guilt. And law is against us, because it comes with threatenings and foretastes of penalty and pain. Thus, as standard, accuser, and avenger it is against us. — Wuest, page 208.

taken (v.14) — tense indicates action with abiding results

nailed it to the cross (v.14) — public demonstration

principalities and powers (v.15) — spiritual powers opposed to God

The principalities and authorities here are the same as in Ephesians 6:12, the demons of Satan in the atmosphere of this earth. Our Lord, after His death on the Cross, needed to present Himself at the heavenly Mercy Seat in His bloodless body glorified, as the great High Priest, thus completing the atonement, fulfilling the Old Testament type when the High Priest on the Day of Atonement killed the sacrifice at the Brazen Altar and then carried the blood into the Holy of Holies, sprinkling it on the Mercy Seat, thus completing in type the atonement for sin. In order to do this, our Lord had to pass through the kingdoms of Satan in the air. The demons offered opposition. He, stripping them off and away from Himself (apekduomai spoiled), displayed them boldly (deigmatizo, “to make and example of,” “made a show of”), leading them in triumph in it. These are the captives taken by our Lord in His ascension as He left the tomb (Ephesians 4:8). — Wuest, page 209.

__________

triumphing (v.15) — The picture, one  quite familiar in the Roman world, is that of a triumphant general leading a parade of victory. The conquering warrior, riding at the front in his chariot, leads his troops through the streets of his home city. Behind them trails a wretched company of vanquished kings, officers, and soldiers — the spoils of battle. Christ, in this picture, is the conquering general; the principalities and powers are the vanquished enemy displayed as the spoils of battle before the entire universe. — Vaughan, page 81.

it (v.15) — the cross

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 2:13-15 — What the Cross Accomplished

Colossians 2:11-12 — With Him

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Roger

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

The “circumcision made without hands” is obviously intended to contrast the Christian’s circumcision with the circumcision required by the Mosaic law (and preached also by the errorists of Colossae). That circumcision, which represented the cutting away of man’s uncleanness and was the outward sign of one’s participation in Israel’s covenant with God, was made with hands (i.e, was physical) and affected an external organ of the body. The circumcision which the believer experiences in Christ is spiritual, not physical, and relates not to an external organ but to one’s inward being. In short, it is what elsewhere in Scripture is designated circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:28ff; cf. Philippians 3:3). The tense of the verb (“were … circumcised”) is aorist, pointing to the time of conversion. — Vaughan, page 74.

putting off (v.11) = stripping off and casting away — as in getting rid of filthy clothing

of the sins (v.11) — not in the best manuscripts

body of the flesh (v.11) — the sinful, depraved nature

circumcision of Christ (v.11) — spiritual circumcision performed on the believer at salvation.

The fleshly circumcision removed only a portion of the body. In spiritual circumcision, through Christ, the whole corrupt, carnal nature is put away like a garment which is taken off and laid aside. We must be careful to note here that the evil nature is not eradicated. That remains in the believer until death (1 John 1:8). Its power is broken, and it has no more power over the believer than he allows it to have. It is the physical body as dominated by the evil nature that is put away in favor of a physical body now dominated by the divine nature. — Wuest, pages 205-206.

working (v.12) = active power, energy

To understand this verse we must go back to Romans 6:3-4, where Paul says: “Do you not know that so many of us as were placed in Jesus Christ, were introduced into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by this aforementioned introduction into His death in order that just as Christ was raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also may be able to order our behavior in the energy of a new life imparted.” The believing sinner’s identification with Christ in His death, broke the power of indwelling sin. His identification with Him in His resurrection, resulted in the impartation of the divine nature. The baptism (placing, introduction into) is that effected by the Holy Spirit. The baptism in our Colossians passage is the same. Thus, “risen with Him” does not refer to our future physical resurrection, but to that spiritual resurrection from a sinful state into divine life. this was in answer to our faith in the operation of God who raised Christ from the dead. — Wuest, page 206.

__________

Paul goes farther within the preaching of the cross to show how Christ, by an act of His own will, died not only for us, but as us. He identified Himself with mankind in yet another act — the cross, in order that He might represent us by bearing the penalty for our sins and so setting us gloriously free.

Now then, the next great truth we must learn about the Mystery is that the believer, by an act of his will, is baptized into Christ, and is eternally, and inseparably, identified with Him in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. How and when does this take place?

Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Him from the dead (Colossians 2:12).

Or as 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For by one Spirit are we all bapatized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles.”

It is by the operation of God, but then we must learn that it is when we believe.

When I go to Calvary by faith, see Christ dying there on that cross, and I say, How is this? Why is He dying? He had no death to die. “The wages of sin is death.” “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” But Christ did not sin. Why then is He dying?

The only conclusion for the death of Christ, the conclusion of faith must be, that He is dying my death — and He was. As He was baptized into humanity at His birth, so He was baptized into our death at Calvary. That is what He meant when He said to the apostles in Luke 12:50: “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished.”

He had already been baptized at Jordan, but He said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened. What a strait, what a spot I’m in until that is accomplished.” Thank God He met death, He did accomplish it. He died our death, and that is why Romans 6:3 says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death.”

That happened at Calvary. The cross is the only meeting place between God and the sinner. It is only as we come to Calvary and see that it is our death He is dying and acknowledge it and accept it as the gift, as the wonderful expression of His grace. It is then that we are made one with Christ, baptized into Christ, and baptized into the Body of Christ. Ah, what a wonderful truth is this great revelation of the Mystery! — Stam, pages 143-145.

A lot of commentaries see water baptism in verse 12. As an example of just how awkward and complicated this gets, I thought I’d include what Vine has to say:

In the act of being baptized the believer sets forth in symbol what took place when he first trusted Christ. For, ideally, spiritual life in Christ, imparted on the ground of faith, and death to the former state, are simultaneous, but in baptism it is one who already has life in Christ who symbolically expresses his identification with Him in the way mentioned.

The “in which” refers to baptism, by which the believer sets forth, in the symbolic act of being raised from the water, that he has been raised with Christ, the actual spiritual experience (which was antecedent to the figurative act) being by faith in the operation of the power of God in raising Him from among the dead. Faith was the means by which the experience of spiritual identification with Christ in His resurrection was accomplished, the testimony being given in baptism. The ordinance of baptism does not bring about the change; that is effected by faith. The ordinance is the necessary outward symbol of this; it is an essential testimony to the death of the old self in the death of Christ and to resurrection life in participation in His risen life. Nothing less than this makes a true Christian. — Vine, page 352.

Huh? First of all, that’s not even close to what the verse actually says. It says nothing of baptism being a symbol of something that already happened by faith. It says we are buried with Him in baptism.

Second, verse 12 is a continuation of the sentence in verse 11 which clearly points out that true circumcision takes place inside and isn’t just an outward show, so verse 12 can’t be talking about the outward show of baptism.

And lastly, Vine makes great effort to point out that salvation is by faith and that baptism isn’t salvation but is just a symbol of what has already taken place — then he goes on to say that without the symbolic baptism, we can’t be a true Christian. If that’s true, it must be a requirement, not just a symbol.

There’s no water in Colossians 2:12.

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 2:11-12 — With Him

Colossians 2:9-10 — Complete In Him

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Roger

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

for (v.9) — referring back to the warning in verse 8 — Any system of thought not centered on Christ is wrong.

in Him (v.9) — emphatic

dwells (v.9) = permanent residence — tense indicates continuous action

“Fullness” (v.9) translates the same word which was found earlier in Colossians 1:19. Here it is defined by the addition of the phrase “of the Godhead.” These latter words translate a term found only here in the New Testament, though a similar, but weaker, word (denoting “divine nature”) is found in Romans 1:17. The word employed in the present passage is an abstract term, betokening not just divine qualities and attributes but the very essence of God — “the whole glorious total of what God is, the supreme Nature in its infinite entirety.”

The Gnostic teachers asserted that deity was filtered through a succession of spirit powers (angelic beings). Paul denies this by affirming that the Godhead in “all” its fullness dwells in Christ. It is in Him that God gives a full and complete expression of Himself.

The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily (v.9), that is, in incarnate fashion. The fullness of Deity resided in the preincarnate Word (cf. John 1:1 ff), but not in bodily fashion. At Bethlehem, however, the Word was clothed with flesh and made God “gloriously tangible and accessible to us.” — Vaughan, pages 72-73.

__________

“Are complete” (v.10) is a participle in the perfect tense. Literally it is, “and you are in Him, having been filled full with the present result that you are in a state of fullness.” Paul says in Ephesians 3:19, “In order that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” Not, ye are made full in Him, but ye are in Him, made full. In Him dwells the fulness; being in Him, ye are filled.” Being fulfilled with a direct reference to the preceding pleroma; “your fulness comes from His fulness; His pleroma (fulness) is transfused into you by virtue of your incorporation in Him.

We must be careful to note that the fulness of God communicated to the saints does not consist of the divine essence which is alone possessed by Deity, but of such qualities as holiness, righteousness, and the like, as in Ephesians 3:19. What Paul means is that in Christ they find the satisfaction of every spiritual want. It therefore follows of itself that they do not need the angelic powers. That Christ is the Head of every principality and power is a further reason why they should not seek them. All they need they have in Christ. — Wuest, page 204.

__________

The apostle declares that believers stand before God “in Christ” and in Christ, God has pronounced you “complete.” There is no such thing as being partly saved and partly lost. You and I are “complete in Christ” or we are completely out of Christ.

Now the word “complete” is quite adequate as a translation. But is is really two words in the original meaning: “made full.” How beautifully it goes with verse 9: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are [made full] in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. — Stam, pages 137-138.

principality and power (v.10) — See Colossians 1:16.

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 2:9-10 — Complete In Him

Colossians 2:4-8 — So Walk Ye In Him

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Roger

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

this I say (v.4) — verses 1-3

beguile (v.4) — deceive by false reasoning

enticing words (v.4) — speech adapted to persuade

order (v.5) — a military term, used for disciplined soldiers

in the spirit (v.5) — Paul’s spirit

steadfastness (v.5) — a military term for a solid front

Paul was in prison when he wrote Colossians, chained to Roman soldiers at all times. No doubt that, in part, explains why he used so many military terms.

as … so (v.6) — by faith, and with the same doctrine

received (v.6) = received by instruction — the doctrines they were taught regarding Christ

Christ Jesus the Lord (v.6) — should be “the Christ Jesus the Lord” — His person, not just the gospel

rooted (v.7) — tense indicates a “once-for-all” experience

built-up (v.7) — tense indicates an ongoing process

in Him (v.7) — not upon Him — He is the sphere within which the building occurs (Ephesians 2:20).

established (v.7) = being made firm — tense indicates an ongoing process

abounding (v.7) — overflowing

spoil (v.8) — another military term — taking a captive in war for slavery

philosophy (v.8) = love of wisdom — speculations, particularly about God

vain (v.8) = empty, futile, to no purpose

rudiments (v8) — can mean “elemental spirits” and may be Paul’s warning against angel worship

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 2:4-8 — So Walk Ye In Him

Colossians 2:1-3 — The Mystery IS Christ

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Roger

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

conflict (v.1) = strife, strenuous activity, agony

for (v.1 – 3x) = on behalf of

knit together (v.2) — the Greek word includes an aspect of instruction

love (v.2) — agape

knowledge (v.2) = deep, full knowledge, true knowledge

the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ (v.2) — “both of the Father” isn’t in most manuscripts. It should probably read “the mystery of God, which is Christ.”

in whom (v.3) — Christ

Paul is countering the Gnostics here. His point is that all searching for wisdom and knowledge outside of Christ is doomed to fail. (See v.4)

The two thoughts contained in this statement [v.3] are: (1) all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, and (2) they are in Him in hidden fashion. The false teachers claimed to have a higher knowledge than that possessed by ordinary believers. Paul, against this, argues that all wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. The term “hidden” does not mean that they are concealed, but rather are laid up or stored away as a treasure. The treasure is accessible to and available for every believer. — Vaughan, page 66.

__________

Wisdom and knowledge are the very treasures. The word knowledge is here gnosis, not epignosis: for the simple form adequately describes that which belongs to God, and is not a matter of attainment, as of that epignosis to which we seek to attain. Knowledge is the mental possession of powers of perceiving objects, wisdom is the power of right reasoning concerning them and forming right decisions accordingly. — Vine, page 349.

__________

This deals with the glorious all sufficiency of the finished work of Christ: what it has done for us; how it reconciles us to God in one Body; and baptizes us into Christ and into each other, as it were. For “by one Spirit” has He “baptized” all believers into “one Body.” And how it gives us a position in the heavenlies in Christ, there to be blessed with all spiritual blessings. Oh, the apostle exclaims, I pray that you might know this, the great Mystery of God — Christ.  — Stam, page 124.

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 2:1-3 — The Mystery IS Christ

Colossians 1:27-29 — Every man

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Roger

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Him (v.28) — Paul preached the person of Christ Jesus, not a religious system

we (v.28 — 1st usage) — emphatic — perhaps to distinguish himself from the Gnostics

warning (v.28) — about things that are wrong and untrue

teaching (v.28) — about things that are true

every man (v.28 — 3x) — Again, to distinguish himself from the Gnostics who believed the truth was available only to a select few.

perfect (v.28) — mature, complete (Colossians 2:10)

labor (v.29) = wearisome toil — from the same root as “agonize”

working (v.29) = energy

In Colossians 1:27-28, speaking of “this Mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory,” he says, “Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT [FULL GROWN] IN CHRIST JESUS.”

Note that the long hidden purpose of God, called the “Mystery,” here in Colossians 1:27, centers wholly in Christ. ALL is Christ. Verse 27, “This Mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST in you, the hope of glory.” Verse 28, “HIM WE PREACH … that we may present every man perfect IN CHRIST.” It is no mere coincidence that the very epistles which deal with the Mystery are filled with such expressions as “in Christ,” “in Him,” in Whom,” “With Christ,” “By Christ,” “With Him,” “By Him.” ALL is Christ, and today you are either “Complete in Him” or completely outside of Him. — Stam, page 114.

__________

Notice a significant phrase in this portion of Colossians: “The full assurance of understanding.”

It is wonderful to have the “full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).

It is more wonderful to have the “full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11).

It is most wonderful to have the “full assurance of understanding” (Colossians 2:2).

This goes with “the acknowledgment [Gr. epignosis, full knowledge] of the Mystery.” When men are established in this truth they are no longer “children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” They have an intelligent understanding of “[God’s] own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” They have the full assurance of faith, which comes with spiritual maturity.

We quote again Colossians 2:2-3: “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

The Mystery among the Gentiles is — Christ. The Mystery of God is — Christ. It is not the world being blessed through Israel, Abraham’s seed; but the world being blessed through Christ, though Israel had failed.

It is not the message of Acts 2:36-39 and Acts 3:18-26, but the message of Romans 11:25, 32 and Ephesians 2:16. — Stam, pages 116-117.

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 1:27-29 — Every man

Colossians 1:24-26 — The Mystery Given to Paul

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Roger

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

now (v.24) — transitional (“therefore”) and temporal (Paul was writing of his current condition)

rejoice in (v.24) = “in the midst of” — not “because of”

sufferings (v.24) — Paul was in prison

for (v.24) = in the interest of

fill up (v.24) = in the process of filling up

“The afflictions of Christ” here do not refer to His expiatory sufferings on the Cross, but to His sufferings endured in His humiliation prior to that event, sufferings for righteousness’ sake, sufferings incurred through exhausting service, heart-sufferings due to the opposition of sinners, sufferings which were the result of persecution; and for two reasons, first, because the atonement was a finished work, and second, because the word for “sufferings” here, thlipsis, is never used of the vicarious sufferings of the Lord Jesus. These sufferings, incurred during His earthly ministry, were necessarily curtailed by reason of His limited life on earth, and needed to be continued in His servants if the work of preaching the Word was to be carried on. Thus, all the saints down the ages are partakers of these sufferings when they are faithful to the obligation they have of preaching the Word. — Wuest, pages 191-192.

_________

We must remember the Spirit-inspired words of Paul: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29).

But what have our sufferings, great or small, to do with the Mystery revealed to Paul? Let us see. Paul wrote to the Colossians believers: “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which behind [or, still remains] of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the Church” (Colossians 1:24).

Surely the apostle did not mean to imply here that the redemptive work of Christ had not been completed. This passage can only be explained by the Mystery — which indeed is the subject here (See verses 25-27).

It was when the stage was all set, as it were, for the return of Christ to judge and reign, that the rejected Lord revealed to Paul the secret of His eternal purpose and grace. According to this purpose the Lord would remain away for a time, in grace offering reconciliation to His enemies.

Thus He remains to this day a Royal Exile, still despised and blasphemed in every city. But who bears the sufferings of His continued rejection? He is now forever blessed. His sufferings are over. It is we who, like Paul, stand before the world “in Christ’s stead,” bearing His reproach, yet offering men grace and peace through His finished work. We fill up that which still remains of His afflictions as the rejected Son of God.

Little wonder the apostle says it is given to us, as a privilege, to suffer for Him. It was, of course, also a privilege for the Messianic believers to suffer for their rejected King, and they counted it so (Acts 5:41), but ours is in a special sense His suffering and the spiritual believer in this dispensation of Grace will pray with Paul: “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10). — Stam, pages 108-109.

minister (v.25) = one who serves

stewardship (v.25) = dispensation, management of a household

fulfill the word of God (v.25) — make it fully known (Romans 15:19)

mystery (v.26) — formerly hidden, now made known by, and only by, divine revelation — not “mysterious”

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 1:24-26 — The Mystery Given to Paul

Colossians 1:23 — If, indeed

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Roger

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

if — expresses a confident expectation (Vine)

continue = persist in, stay with, adhere to

grounded = lay a foundation — the firmness of the foundation

steadfast = seated — the inner firmness of the building

The word “if” here is not ean, an unfulfilled, hypothetical condition used with the subjunctive mode, presenting the possibility of a future realization, but ei with the indicative, having here the idea of “assuming that you continue in the faith.” That is, continuance in the gospel as it was preached by Paul would show that the person was saved and thus would be presented holy, without blemish, and unchargeable before God. That is, Paul was here addressing truly born-again Colossians, not unsaved professors of Christianity who would follow the Colossian heresy. Heretics would not be so presented, only true believers. It is not the retention of salvation that is in the apostle’s mind, but the possession of it that would be shown by their continuance in the gospel. This is directed against the false teacher’s assurance that the gospel they had heard needed to be supplemented if they wished to attain salvation. — Wuest, pages 189-190.

__________

There are two words translated “if” in the New Testament, but even then grammar is involved. The idea of one is “if haply, if so be; but the other is, if indeed. It is Paul’s familiar challenge; you have the negative side in 1 Corinthians 15:13: If there be no resurrection — he knows there is a resurrection, but he is challenging them:

Verse 14, If Christ be not risen, then there is no resurrection. Verse 16, if the dead rise not. Verse 17, if Christ be not raised — now he had no question about the resurrection, he knew that resurrection was a fact, but he was challenging the Corinthians.

Now that’s on the negative side. But right here in Colossians we have the positive side, for example, in Colossians 2:20, he says, If ye be dead with Christ … why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? Now he didn’t question that they had been raised with Christ, they had been. But it’s a challenge:

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).

I might illustrate it in this way. Here’s a mother, and her son has turned to be 21, and he’s bragging: “I’m 21 now, you know, and I can do what I want” and so on. And the mother says, “Well, if you’re 21, act it.” Now she didn’t have any doubt that he was 21, and yet she used the word if. She was challenging him, and Paul used it in the very same way here in Colossians 1. Christ died to reconcile you:

and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight (Colossians 1:20-22).

Assuming is the way he uses “if indeed,” assuming that you are still as you were when I saw you.” If they had not been, if they had departed from the faith, it would have meant only one thing: that they had never been saved in the first place, because God keeps His own. — Stam, pages 86-87.

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 1:23 — If, indeed

Colossians 1:20-22 — Reconciled to God through Christ

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Roger

20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight —

reconcile (v.20) = to change (from enmity to friendship) — here “to change completely” — Grammatically connected to “for it pleased” in v.19 (parallel with “dwell” in v.19).

Reconciliation in the case of God and man is twofold. A holy God is reconciled in that justice has been satisfied at the Cross, and sinful man is reconciled in that, in the case of the believing sinner, his attitude of enmity towards God is changed to one of friendship. The verb “reconcile” is apokatalasso. The compounded preposition apo gives the force of back, hinting at a restoration to a primal unity. The whole universe of things, material as well as spiritual, shall be restored to harmony with God. We must be careful here to remember that when Paul wrote “the all things” he did not include the lost in eternity. Any portion of Scripture must be considered in the light of what the rest of Scripture teaches. — Wuest, page. 188

all things (v.20) — the universe (Romans 8:19-22)

The Universalist reads the verse this way, “By Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, all things, I say” — but the apostle Paul does not say that here. He says, “By Him to reconcile all things to Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20).

The thought here is that the only one through whom men can possibly be reconciled to God is the Lord Jesus Christ. And you’ll notice that those who were reconciled occupy earth and heaven, not Hades or the lake of fire. This is very important, for in Philippians 2 we have another subject, not universal reconciliation, but universal subjugation, and more than heaven and earth is involved here:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.

Here the celestial, the terrestrial and the infernal are included.

And that every tongue should [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

But this is universal subjugation, not universal reconciliation. — Stam, pages 76-77.

by Him (v.20) — emphatic — “only by Him” — further emphasized by “by Him, I say.”

peace (v.20) = bound together — Peace is the action of the Father through the Son.

alienated (v.21) = transferred to another owner

enemies (v.21) — in their thoughts, attitudes, minds, outwardly expressed by wicked works — hostile, antagonistic

body of His flesh (v.22) — to counter the heresy that Christ’s body wasn’t real or that angels are involved

holy (v.22) — consecration, dedication

unblamable (v.22) = without blemish — a term used of sacrificing, used of an animal without flaw and worthy of being offered to God

unreprovable (v.22) — with no accusation or blame — a legal term

Posted in Colossians | Comments Off on Colossians 1:20-22 — Reconciled to God through Christ