BEWARE OF FAITHLESS RIGHTEOUSNESS

My Colossians

A.      Opening: Testimony to the Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Paul is writing from prison to one of the churches he was yet to meet, and was probably started or pastored by Epaphras (or Epaphroditus). They are regarded as a testimony to the fact that the Gospel of Jesus Christ works everywhere in the world, turning lives around in love and by the hope that is promised. He prays for their patient endurance that is necessary for all who will inherit the immeasurable blessings that come through Christ (who alone is the image and fullness of God, superior to all created authority by being first to taste creation, the Head of the Church, and the one in whom all things will eventually come together, 1: 17). It is important that saints join together in love in order to experience the fullness of what Christ has done, rather than be divided over traditions and ascetic practices.

B.      The Uselessness of Forcing Righteousness outside the Love of Christ

Traditions and ascetic practices though wise in their appeal to the senses, have absolutely no power in saving a person from sin (2:23). The argument is that if traditions, the law or ascetic practices could save or prevent people from sinning, there would have been no need for Christ to come. Trusting in them would therefore amount to returning to the slavery of sin, the dominion of darkness and death. Examples of how some fruitlessly try to force righteousness out of themselves and others are (2:8-18):

i.                     Reasoning Philosophically outside the Word of Christ

ii.                   Tricking People to Trust in some Christ-less Prescriptions (Empty deceit)

iii.                  Requiring the observance of human traditions

iv.                 Forbidding certain foods and drinks

v.                   Requiring the observance of ceremonial periods (including even the Sabbath day)

vi.                 Insisting on painful abstentions (ascetic practices)

vii.                Insisting on worship of angels

viii.              Claiming to have seen visions that require others to act

C.      Baptism Signifies a Break with the Past through Newness from Christ

Since you have put your faith Christ, who is fully God, consider the significance of even your baptism in Him (2:12), and you will see that you are already:

i.         Circumcised (your body cut off, even as the Messiah was cut off)

ii.       Dead to the old/sinful nature (which asceticism, the law and tradition falsely claim they can tame)

iii.      Dead to the elemental forces of the world (ceremonial requirements, appeal to the senses – Unger, p347)

iv.     Cleared of all Guilt defined by Tradition, the Law or Asceticism (forgiven as you repented and your sins atoned for in the Messiah’s death).

v.       Resurrected/made alive/born again/sown with the Seed of God (ref (1John 3:9) to live a new life.

D.      Righteousness of Faith Working through Love

Rather, when you set your mind on Christ, according to the new nature you have received, you will quickly see the need to put away all conduct that is incompatible with the hope that you have. You will see also that your religious, ethnic or any other background is of no consequence at all in living a righteous life Rather, the Spirit of God works in you to produce very refined character and acts (3:10-12 cf. Gal. 5:22-23). Examples of conduct that should spring out of those who know their position in Christ and are motivated by His love are as follows:

i.         They treat one another with love, live in peace and are always grateful to God

ii.       They soak in the Word of God

iii.      Wives submit to husbands, husbands love wives, children obey parents, parents raise children with loving care, workers serve wholeheartedly, and employers provide fair fare to workers

iv.     They are devoted to prayer that is scented with pervasive gratitude to God

v.       The speak to one another and others with grace