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Christ Brings Real Life
6You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. 7Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.
8Don't let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ.
9God lives fully in Christ. 10And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. 11Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. 12 And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. 13 You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.
14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.
Reflect
Many of the Christians in Colossae would have been Gentiles. Lacking the traditions and historical understandings of their fellow Christians with Jewish roots, they are particularly susceptible to the “ideas of the day.” Paul is writing to remind them to grow their lives with deep roots in Christ and to build their futures on a foundation that is firm and wide, based on the truth of the gospel, faith and gratitude. Such a life will withstand drought and earthquake.
What are the basics that Paul is reminding these youngsters in the faith? “God lives fully in Christ”. When we know Christ, we know God. A life submitted to Christ loses interest in selfish desires and is most satisfied by pleasing God. The old self-centered person has died and the new one brought to life. Our sin is forgiven, the penalty paid by Jesus. Better still; the original charge has been erased. We are left with a clean record. A fresh start is truly possible – every day. Christ has defeated the powers of darkness. His death and subsequent resurrection have paraded this fact clearly to the world.
Because of this we too can live today with a clear conscience, our lives deeply rooted in Christ our futures anchored by a firm foundation of truth and faith. The brave new world in which we live with its confusing mix of fad and fallacy can be engaged today with courage and conviction. “So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our lives complete.” (Hebrews 12.1)
Respond
Jesus, Thank you for the great victory you have won over Satan. Thank you that in you, your victory is my victory. Help me today to forgive myself for my sin, as you forgive me. May I enjoy your presence with me today in life’s ups and downs. Amen.
Rob Cornish
Rob grew up in Southern Africa, meeting SU at camps and clubs in his childhood. He worked as a Chartered Accountant, then SU. Rob and family moved to Canada in 1991 to work with SU, becoming Canadian Director until 1997 when he left to build a financial advisory practice with a bank until retiring recently. Rob and Cheryl work as volunteers in welcoming immigrants to Canada, showing them the love of Jesus, so that they may know and understand the gospel.