Daily Writing

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

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, Colossians 1:24

The words of this verse have been misused by the Roman Catholic Church to indicate that the sufferings of Christ were not all sufficient for our redemption and atonement, and that Christ’s people must continue to earn their way into glory. This has nothing to do with what Paul is speaking about here.

He begins with “I now rejoice.” The Greek is more abrupt, beginning with the word “now.” The word “now” is temporal. He is saying, “I am bound with a chain, and in the midst of this captivity and suffering, I rejoice. This was the case even though he was appointed as an apostle by Christ and was doing that work as an apostle. The sufferings then are a part of that apostleship which is “for you,” meaning those in Colossae (and thus us!).

In these sufferings, he states, “and fill up in my flesh what is lacking the the afflictions of Christ.” The term, “the afflictions of Christ” is unique to this passage of Scripture and the intent is a fuller explanation of 2 Corinthians 1:5 which said –

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”

The church is destined for suffering, just as it is destined for glory. Paul understood this, and he felt that as much as he suffered there was an abounding of consolation to be found at the same time. Nothing was lacking in the process of suffering. And the consolation which he felt was surety that he possessed the Spirit of God. In knowing this, he was thus comforted because the Spirit is a guarantee of future glory for the believer. Hence, he notes exactly this in Philippians 3:10 –

“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

In “being conformed to His death,” we shall also be raised as He was to eternal life through “the power of the resurrection.” There could be no shame in the suffering if there is the coming glory which that suffering leads to. Understanding this, believers are not to be ashamed of suffering, but instead are instructed to be willing to bear His reproach, knowing that we bear all of the honor and future glory that comes with it.

With this understanding, we can then see that the words, “and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” mean that suffering is a part of the human experience in a world filled with sin. Paul’s sufferings don’t add to the atonement which Christ alone provided, but they rather are a natural result of what is expected in the church as it takes on the challenge of bringing the gospel to the world. Missionaries have died, or have been tortured, for bringing the message of Christ to pagan lands. In this, they are filling up what is lacking. There is a need to be met (a lack), and they are the ones who are filling that need. This is, as he says, “for the sake of His body, which is the church.” If the message is going to go out as Christ commanded, there will be afflictions associated with it. Were it not so, He would not have told His followers to take up their cross. This continues even now as the message continuously finds those who wish to crush it and persecute those who proclaim it.

The physical body of Christ Jesus suffered for our sake so that we could become a part of the mystical body of Christ, the church. This body continues to suffer until the church is complete. This has nothing to do with atonement or earning our way into glory, but it is the natural result of carrying the message in a world which needs to hear the good news of Christ Jesus.

Life application: Not all will suffer as Paul speaks of here, but for those who do, they are filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of the church. This is not something to be ashamed of, but to glory in. Let us rejoice if we do suffer in the process of sharing the gospel. It means we are a step closer to the day when the church is complete.

Heavenly Father, thank You that everything necessary to bring us back to You has been accomplished by Christ Jesus. What He did on the cross has completed that need, once and for all. Now, it is our turn to continue on with the work of Christ in sharing what He has done for us. Should we suffer in the process, let us rejoice that we have shared in a small way in bringing the message to those in darkness. Any suffering is temporary, but the glory of what lies ahead is eternal. Help us to remember this as we head out to share this precious message. Amen.

Monday, 3 April 2017

…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. Colossians 1:23

There is a lot going on in the first two words of this verse. It says, “If indeed…” On the surface, it seems as if what he has said in the previous verse about being reconciled, and thus presented “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” is conditional. However, the word “if” “conveys a supposition hardly hypothetical – ‘If as I presume;’ ‘if, as I trust.’ St. Paul cannot refrain from needful warning, be he refuses to anticipate failure” (Charles Ellicott).

The word translated as “if” is noted as a word where “the assumption may only be portrayed as valid” (HELPS Word Studies). Stated even more directly, the Expositor’s New Testament says that it “expresses the Apostle’s confidence that the condition will be fulfilled. This abiding in faith is the only, as it is the sure way, to this presentation of themselves. This is directed against the false teachers’ assurance that the gospel they had heard needed to be supplemented if they wished to attain salvation.” In other words, what appears doubtful in the English is actually a statement of certainty in Paul’s mind.

The same construction of “if indeed” is found in Ephesians 3:2, and 4:21. In both instances, Paul is stating a fact, not something to be doubted. He would not use the grammatical construction as he has, unless he was making a point of certainty. Taking the words now in this light, they can continue to be properly evaluated. He says, “…if indeed you continue in the faith.” Many translations say “in your faith,” and this is what Vincent’s word Studies argues for. He says, “The faith is not the gospel system, but the Colossians’ faith in Christ. Your faith would be better.”

And so Paul is arguing that the Colossians have a hope which is grounded in their faith, not in some external thing that must be applied to, or added to, their faith. He next speaks of this faith as being “grounded and settled.” The grounding is in what the faith is directed to, which is “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). That which is settled is is based on the grounding. The Greek word comes from a root which means “a seat.” The idea is that we are seated on the foundation and are thus immovable. Our faith is what set us firmly and fixedly in this manner.

In this position, he then says, “and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard. Because of our faith which is grounded and fixed, we will not be so moved away. His words, again, are not words of doubt, but of reassurance. The words went out, they were received, and it is these words which have grounded us. Nothing needs to be added to them in order for our hope to be realized. Paul then says that the gospel “was preached to every creature under heaven.”

His words are given with the time-reference of “was” to indicate that which is ideal, not actual. In other words, the gospel was effectively proclaimed “when the Saviour, in His accomplished victory, bade it be done (Mark 16:15)” (Cambridge). In other words, when Christ said that the gospel was to be preached to every creature, it was effectively done at that time. The commission was given, and it it will meet its intended goals; nothing can thwart the purposes for which it is intended. This is certain because the words “every creature” are not limited to humans, but to all of the scope of creation. Through the gospel, all things will be reconciled, even those things to which the gospel was not actually preached. But the proclamation that it is to be done is itself sufficient to ensure that it will be accomplished.

Finally, he concludes with, “…of which I, Paul, became a minister.” This phrase is used by him in Ephesians 3:7 also. He has made an emphasis of the gospel being the true and reliable message of God which comes through the work of Christ. It is the only true message of reconciliation among all of the countless false gospels which have been proclaimed. In stating that he has become a minister of this gospel, he is asserting that his commission is valid and authentic. Any message by an evangelist or apostle that contradicts his words is thus a false message.

Life application: There are nuances in the Bible which are intended to keep us from error. If we simply assume that the English translation we are reading is correct, we can easily fall into error. This is especially so because even in the English, there may be several ways of interpreting what is being said. However, the same is true with the original languages. Therefore, a careful study of Scripture with other passages in Scripture are often needed to fully understand what is being conveyed. If one verse assures the believer of eternal salvation, and another seems to imply this is not so, then one or the other must be misunderstood. Study and contemplate the words of Scripture carefully, don’t get stuck on a single translation of the word, and don’t trust only one commentator’s views on what is being said. Be well-rounded in your study of this precious word.

Lord God, thank You for the many blessings of this life. You have given us so much, and we often fail to show our gratitude for what You have blessed us with. Help us to make gratitude an on-going and constant habit. Help us to be thankful at all times, but especially for the Gift of Christ Jesus our Lord. In showing thankfulness for Him, we will then never have a time when we are ungrateful! How good You are to us, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 2 April 2017

…in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— Colossians 1:22

Paul’s words of this verse place a stress on the literal, human body of Christ Jesus. His words here expand on the thought of being reconciled from the previous verse. This was accomplished “in the body of His flesh.” Atonement could not come through God who is Spirit, nor could it come through an angelic being which also has no physical body. Rather, it had to come through a human. However, not any human could do. As humanity is infected with sin, this needed to be a sinless human, or no atonement could have taken place.

It is for this reason that Paul has already carefully and precisely described the deity of Christ. In so doing, the humanity is clearly revealed as pure, holy, and capable of redeeming man. As He is fully God, He inherited no sin from a human father. As He is fully man, He is capable and qualified to atone for man’s sin. It is through this unique “body of His flesh” that the necessary atonement can be obtained, but still it had to come “through death.” The Bible instructs us that without the shedding of blood, there can be no atonement for sin. In the Greek, there is an article before “death,” and so it reads, “through the death,” or “through His death” (the article is masculine).

Again, Paul stresses the humanity of Jesus with the article. He really lived, and He really died, proving that He was Man with a human body. It is through this part of His nature, His humanity, that atonement was realized. Paul then shows that this was done in order “to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” The “His” of these words is speaking of God. The human aspect of Christ died in order for man to be acceptable before the divine aspect of Christ in God. And thus, the work is sufficient to please the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In Christ, we are deemed as “holy,” and thus we are positively set apart as acceptable to God because of Christ. In Christ, we are deemed as “blameless.” The word indicates “without blemish.” Because of Christ, we will be presented to God as bearing no sin. Sin comes through law, and in Christ the law is annulled. Sin cannot be imputed where law is ended. Therefore, we will be without spot or blemish, and considered pure and undefiled by sin because of Christ. And in Christ, we will be considered “above reproach.” The word speaks of legal charges used against someone in a court of law. No charges will stand against us as we are brought into the presence of God. The decree “not guilty” will be proclaimed over us because of our standing in Christ who is “not guilty” before His Father.

Life application: Because of the work of Christ, we are free from guilt, and we are reckoned as righteous before God. Paul asks in Romans, “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Take time today to ponder your standing in Christ, and show your gratefulness to God for what He has done. Give praise, glory, and honor to Him for freeing us from what would otherwise be eternal condemnation.

Heavenly Father, when we contemplate what You have done to restore us to Yourself, it is beyond imagination. You prepared a body for Christ in order to redeem us. Without His humanity, we would have been forever lost, condemned and unforgiven. But in Him, the law is fulfilled, the charges are dropped, and we can stand before You blameless. Thank You, O God, for the life and the work of Jesus Christ who cleanses us from all unrighteousness! Amen.

Saturday, 1 April 2017

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled… Colossians 1:21

Paul just wrote about the reconciliation and peace which is found through the blood of Christ’s cross. Now equating that to what occurred in the lives of those at Colossae (and thus us!), he says, “And you.” He uses this phrase to demonstrate that what he just said applies directly to them and what occurred between God and them because of Christ. They “once were alienated.” This thought is similar to that of Ephesians 2:12 where he wrote that they “were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise.”

Those in Colossae, and indeed all who have not yet come to Christ, are in this state. They are alienated from the good that God offers through Christ Jesus. And not only alienated, but “enemies in your mind by wicked works.” The Greek reads “in wicked works.” In the performing of wicked works, alienation from God, and the state of enmity, is realized. This is the “power of darkness” which he spoke of in verse 13. The devil holds sway over the world, and all who are not in Christ are bound under his power. However, through the blood of Christ’s cross, these things are defeated. As he says, “…yet now He has reconciled.”

The enmity between God and man is ended, the alienation no long exists, and a state of reconciliation is realized. This is the power of the blood of Christ. All things are made new for those who reach out in faith and receive the gift of God which is found in the work of the Lord Jesus.

Life application: Paul takes it as an axiom that all people are alienated from God until they come to Him through Christ. This is something we need to consider as we interact with others. They are either in Christ, and thus reconciled to God, or they are alienated from Him. If we can just remember this simple truth, and then gear our hearts towards the fact that Christ died on a cross to end this alienation, then maybe we will make evangelizing others a greater priority. What prompted God to do what He did through Jesus should be what prompts us to act in the same manner. Let us display the love of God towards the lost, endeavoring to change hearts and minds for the purpose of reconciliation and salvation.

Heavenly Father, the fact that You sent Christ Jesus to walk among us, share in our troubles, and to die in order to reconcile us to Yourself should motivate us to have a like-attitude towards the lost. If You went to such great lengths to reach out and bring reconciliation, shouldn’t we be willing to explain that to those who so desperately need it? Help us to share in Your heart for the lost, and help us to be willing to speak up about the shed blood which covers all sins, and which reconciles us to You. Amen.

Friday, 31 March 2017

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. Colossians 1:20

For context, the previous verse needs to be cited with this one –

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 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.”

The words, “and by Him” are thus speaking of Christ Jesus while the words, “to Himself” are speaking of God of the previous verse (remembering that the words “the Father” are inserted, but are speaking of God as the Father). The means by which God is reconciling all things to Himself is through Christ Jesus.

Here the term ta panta, or “all things,” is brought in again. All things which are to be reconciled are done so through Christ Jesus. Paul then follows this up with the words, “whether things on earth or things in heaven.” The intent here is that there is a need for reconciliation between the earthly and the heavenly things. As Albert Barnes notes, “The meaning is not, that ‘the things in heaven’ were alienated from God, but that there was alienation in the universe which affected heaven, and the object was to produce again universal concord and love.” This sentiment is found elsewhere, such as in Ephesians 1:10 –

“…that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”

Through Christ, there is this gathering together of all things. In Him the fracture is healed and peace is restored. God has done this, “having made peace through the blood of His cross.” The words “the blood of His cross” are given to mean the blood that He shed on the cross. The blood and the instrument which caused it to be shed are almost tied together as one in Paul’s mind. God chose the cross to be the means by which Christ’s blood would be shed, thus the cross stands as the symbol of what occurred. When we look to the cross, we look to the symbol of our faith which represents the blood that was shed.

It is through this instrument of death that life and reconciliation come about. It is through the cross that peace is realized. The blood of His cross then is a term which is linked to the thought of atonement, redemption, and propitiation as is spoken of in Romans 3 –

“…being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26

One thing that must be understood from this verse is that “all things” must mean “all things” just as it did before. Paul uses the same Greek term, ta panta, in verses 16, 17, and 18. It would not be logical to think that he suddenly means something different here than he did in those verses, because they are all connected to the same overall thought concerning Christ. Understanding this, while at the same time taking in the whole counsel of Scripture, the idea of reconciling all things through Christ must include the thought of condemnation, not merely salvation.

All things are potentially reconciled through Christ’s cross. Not all things are actually reconciled though, at least not in the same way. God reconciles His faithful through salvation; God reconciles those who are at enmity with Him through condemnation. God has set forth the cross of Christ as the means of reconciliation, while faith in that cross is the mode by which it comes. Without faith, the potential reconciliation is not realized, and thus only condemnation is left.

Life application: When we look to the cross, we are looking to the instrument by which God has brought us back to Himself. When we boast in the cross, we are not boasting in an idol, rather, we are boasting in the highest act of God’s love for mankind. The cross stands as a symbol and a banner for the work of Jesus Christ. Let us not be confused about the meaning of the cross. Rather, let us boast in it because in so boasting, we are exalting the work of God in Christ.

Lord God, thank You for the peace and restoration which has come about through the cross of Calvary. There Christ our Lord shed His blood, thus allowing peace and reconciliation with You once again. Help us to never shy back from speaking boldly about the great thing You have done for us in that act. May our boast be in Christ and in His cross, knowing that without them, we would be forever separated from You. But in Him, there is peace. Thank You, O God, for the precious blood of Calvary. Amen.