TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
He made known to us the mystery of his will . . . to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. - Ephesians 1:9-10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most people wouldn't have looked twice at a packed U-Haul truck driving from California to Mississippi in June 1960. Only God knew the profound implications of this move. Leaving behind a successful career and a big house, John and Vera Mae Perkins moved to New Hebron and began practicing what John later called the three R's: “Relocation to a community in need, Reconciliation between the races, and Redistribution of the economic base.” Despite bigotry and brutality, Perkins realized that, “True justice could come only as people's hearts were made right with God and God's love motivated them to be reconciled to each other.”

Yesterday we focused on Christ's lordship over creation; today, we'll consider His lordship over His church. Recall that firstborn indicated supreme rank. Here it refers to Jesus as the beginning of resurrection life. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is “the author and perfecter of our faith,” going before us to eternal life. Because of His resurrection, Jesus is both Lord and the beginning of God's new work through the church.

Jesus has always existed, even before creation, and He has always been fully God, even though He is also fully human. In verse 19, Paul writes that God was pleased to have the full measure of His deity dwell in Christ. It's likely that the false teachers in Colosse were distorting this truth, so Paul stresses that “all the fullness” of God dwells in Christ.

The idea that it pleased God to have His fullness dwell in Christ shows that there is perfect unity between the Father and the Son. It shouldn't be surprising that the great work that God is accomplishing through His Son is to reconcile a fragmented world back to Himself (v. 19). In fact, as new creations in Christ, we are both reconciled back to God and called to participate in this “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18), so that we too may experience God's unity.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we submit to the Lord, we participate in His great work of reconciliation around the world, as He brings together human beings from “every nation, tribe, people and language” (Rev. 7:9). What a privilege to be part of such holy work. This week, ask the Lord what specific steps you or your church can take to participate in this redemptive work.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:21-23
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. - 1 Peter 2:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's always amazing to hear about the gospel's transforming power. Like many young Ukrainians living under Communism, Victor Mural-Sikorsky hoped his athletic success might help his family. But his dreams of competing in judo at the Olympics ended in a car accident. After graduating from college, he decided that being rich would solve his problems, so he figured out how to counterfeit money, but was arrested and sent to prison. As Ukraine opened up and allowed Christians to visit prisons, Victor heard the gospel and became a Christian. Now out of prison, Victor works actively bringing the gospel to other prisoners.

We've seen how God's work in Christ focuses on reconciliation. One aspect of this involves bringing together groups of people who were alienated from each other, as we saw yesterday. But bringing groups together involves a prior work of bringing an individual to God, such as Victor.

Today's passage describes this process of reconciliation. Notice how Paul says that our alienation from God is rooted in our thinking. Prior to becoming a Christian, a person's attitude toward God is characterized by hostility. Closely linked to how one thinks is how one acts, because action and attitude can't be separated. Apart from a radical shift in thinking, lifestyles can't be changed. In fact, without Christ's death, reconciliation, whether between individuals or between God and man, wouldn't be possible.

Once we have been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus, however, we are completely transformed, so that we might stand before God holy and without blemish. Despite the things we may have done, because of Christ's reconciling work, we are “free from accusation” (v. 22).

The “if” in verse 23 shows us that, although the work of reconciliation is only possible through Christ, our participation is also necessary. Believers are to remain firm in the certain hope of the gospel—recall what Paul has said earlier in Colossians 1:5.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul's focus in today's passage is on the predominately Gentile Colossian church, which has now been integrated into the people of God. Yet these verses also outline how the gospel transforms individuals. Think back to when you were “alienated from God,” before you knew Christ. What was life like then? How has it changed now? Perhaps you trusted Christ as a young child. Consider what your life would look like if you were not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:24-25; 2 Corinthians 11:22-33
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. - Philippians 3:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The second-century Christian, Tertullian, wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Church history confirms that believers who have suffered for their faith, even to the point of death, have had tremendous impact. Consider Polycarp, the bishop of ancient Smyrna. At 86, after a long life of faithfully serving Christ, Polycarp was arrested and asked to renounce his faith in a.d. 156. Refusing to deny Christ, he was burned at the stake and finally stabbed to death. His godly character, faith, and martyrdom were a powerful witness. The ancient historian Eusebius quotes from an account of Polycarp's death that “he is spoken of by the heathen in every place.”

There is some mysterious link between suffering for the faith and the advancement of the kingdom. Paul understood this as he wrote from prison to the believers in Colosse. In fact, Paul was well acquainted with suffering, as his own account in 2 Corinthians 11 shows. In that passage, Paul “boasts” about his sufferings because false teachers were deceiving the Corinthian church. Paul's point is that a true follower of Christ is the one who has suffered for Him. The list of physical sufferings that Paul endured is staggering, but the greatest weight he bore is summed up in verse 28: “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

This concern is evident throughout Paul's letter to the Colossians. The idea that there's something lacking in Christ's afflictions (Col. 1:24) has led to some misguided interpretations of this passage. We know that Christ's work on the cross was complete, in no way deficient. It seems then that Paul means that the suffering Christ endured for the church must continue until He returns in glory for the church, His Bride. At Christ's Second Coming, all suffering will end, but until then, Christians will continue to “share in His sufferings,” even to the point of death.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage reminds us once again that suffering is part of the Christian life. Although not every Christian will be asked to die for Christ, we're all called to be ready to do so. It's good to be reminded of this, and to ask the Lord to renew our commitment to follow Him no matter what.

As a further encouragement, you might consider reading Shadow of the Almighty, by Elizabeth Elliot, wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliot.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:26-27; Ephesians 3:2-6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body. - Ephesians 3:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
On November 26, 1922, Theodore Davis held a candle up to a small opening in an ancient doorway and saw “strange animals, statues and gold, everywhere the glint of gold”—a sight that had remained hidden for 3,200 years. It was one of the greatest discoveries of the modern era, the tomb of Egypt's King Tutankhamun. More than 80 years later, these fabulous treasures continue to captivate viewers wherever they're displayed.

History is filled with remarkable finds, suddenly brought to light after centuries of concealment. But even King Tut's treasures, or the priceless manuscripts found near the Dead Sea in 1947, are nothing compared to the glorious riches of God's purposes for His people that were “hidden for ages and generations, but [are] now disclosed to the saints” (v. 26).

Scripture calls this treasure a “mystery,” because God's redemptive purposes can only be known through Jesus Christ. Although inklings of this plan were given to the prophets, the fullness of God's will was revealed in our Lord Jesus. Moreover, no human could have conceived the depth and splendor of God's plan of salvation. Like a treasure waiting to be discovered, God's “mystery” was waiting to be revealed at the proper time.

What exactly is this mystery? Namely, the good news that the Gentiles are now included among the people of God and participate in His promises. Today's passage from Ephesians is perhaps the clearest statement of this truth in the New Testament, though it's anticipated in several Old Testament passages like Isaiah 42:1-6.

Even though the inclusion of the Gentiles is described as “glorious riches,” Scripture tells us there's more to come! This is suggested by the expression “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (v. 27). As we've seen, “hope” in Colossians points to the certainty of our eternal inheritance. In other words, Christ dwelling within us now is the assurance our future glory with Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For many of us, it's hard to grasp the significance of what God has done by revealing the gospel to Gentiles. Yet most of us, if we could trace our ancestries back far enough, probably descended from pagan Gentiles.

This gives us cause to praise God for sending His Son so that the gospel might be offered to all peoples. This also gives us reason to appreciate the rich legacy of the Old Testament that we've been brought into.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:28-29; James 1:2-5
Like newborn babies, crave the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. - 1 Peter 2:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
From September 29 through October 5, 2004, fifteen hundred Christian leaders from around the world met in Pattaya, Thailand, for one purpose: the task of world evangelization. Teams of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization identified 31 obstacles for evangelism, and continue to meet regionally to develop plans for overcoming these barriers. Although the setting and issues have changed, the goals of the Lausanne Committee are the same as Paul's were, namely to proclaim Christ (v. 28).

Often we think of evangelism in terms of bringing someone to saving faith in Christ, and certainly that's essential. But Paul shows that this is just the beginning. The word “admonishing” includes the idea of warning or expressing disapproval. So, when a person turns toward Christ, he or she must also turn away from sinful habits and wrong thinking. Epaphras no doubt encouraged the Colossians to do this very thing when he proclaimed the gospel to them, but even after their conversion, there was need for further correction, as the rest of Colossians will show.

Paul says that proclaiming Christ involves teaching people “with all wisdom.” As we have noted (see Oct. 5), wisdom concerns relating rightly in life. Wisdom comes when we ask God for it (James 1:5), particularly as we encounter trials. James shows us the progression from perseverance to maturity as we learn to trust the Lord. Wisdom comes from such practices as prayer, fellowship, worship, studying the Bible, and listening to godly preaching and teaching. Just as a child grows strong by eating the right food, we grow in Christian maturity by feeding on God's Word.

This type of maturity, making us “perfect in Christ,” is the goal of proclaiming Christ. It was Paul's all-encompassing calling. The image behind Paul's words in verse 29 is an athletic competition. Paul was willing to go round after round, fighting with God's power, to bring these believers to spiritual maturity.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Organizations that focus on evangelism, such as the Lausanne Committee or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, also focus on instructing new believers further in the faith. If you have shared the gospel with someone recently, or have just become a Christian yourself, consider visiting the Web sites of either of these organizations to obtain materials aimed at growing in Christ. Remember, becoming a Christian is just the beginning—maturing in Him is the long-term goal.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:1-5
Epaphras . . . is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God. - Colossians 4:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Anyone who has ever walked or run a race knows how encouraging it is to have crowds cheering along the way. You've probably never met most of the people urging you on, but their enthusiasm goes a long way toward helping you complete the course.

The power of encouragement explains why Paul wanted the Colossians, and their neighboring church in Laodicea, to know how he'd been laboring on their behalf, even though he had not met them personally. The word that Paul uses for “struggling” (v. 1) is similar to the word that he used for “labor” at the end of chapter 1 (v. 29). Both words described an athletic contest, perhaps some type of boxing. The idea here is “wrestling in prayer.” What a great encouragement for the small congregation at Colosse to learn that the apostle Paul was engaging in spiritual warfare on their behalf. Such encouragement was Paul's purpose, as he states in verse 2. From this encouragement, Paul hopes that the Colossians and Laodiceans will be brought closer together in love for one another, because from that unity will come an increased understanding of God's purposes in Christ.

We have already seen that the primary understanding of God's mystery is His plan of redemption revealed in Christ. But here Paul goes on to show that everything that the Colossians need for salvation has been “hidden” in Christ. Most likely false teachers in Colosse were deceiving believers by claiming that they had access to secret, mystical knowledge or hidden wisdom that was necessary for salvation.

Scholars don't know the exact nature of the Colossian heresy, primarily because Paul doesn't focus on that. Instead, he keeps reminding the Colossians that everything they really need is in Christ, and Christ alone. Notice that he says that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. Believers need nothing else, despite the “fine-sounding arguments” of any false teacher.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like the false teachers at Colosse, many offers of “hidden wisdom” bombard us daily. Consider the staggering array of “how to” books that promise the “secret to a perfect marriage,” “the secret to financial success,” or “the secret to self-actualization.” The problem is, however, that these so-called secrets can't deliver, because what we really need is a Person who perfectly embodies and reveals God's wisdom. As they say, it's less about what we know than Who we know.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:6-7
He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. - 1 Timothy 3:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many scholars believe that 1 Timothy 3:16 reflects an early Christian hymn or confession of faith. It's possible that Colossians 1:15-20, which we looked at earlier, reflects a hymn that Paul composed. The same is possible for Philippians 2:5-11. It shouldn't surprise us that Paul, who was so concerned to ground believers in correct doctrine, should write hymns or confessional statements in his letters.

The need to pass on the core teaching of the Christian faith arose early. Probably the earliest confessional statement was “Christ Jesus is Lord,” which we find in verse 6. When Paul says that the Colossians received Christ, he means more than that they had put their faith in Christ as their Savior. He also means that they had received the basic teachings and traditions concerning Christ, including such truths as He came in the flesh (1 John 4:2), was crucified and resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3), and is coming again (1 Cor. 11:26). Paul's interest here, however, goes far beyond reminding the Colossians of things they had learned “in the classroom,” most likely from Epaphras (v. 7). He's reminding them of the basics because he wants them to live accordingly. Remember that false teachers were attempting to persuade the Colossians to consider other sources of spiritual wisdom and knowledge. Instead of refuting the errors of this teaching point by point, Paul simply brings the Colossians back to the basic truths of Christ that they were taught from the very beginning.

Paul uses a series of metaphors to exhort the Colossians to live in line with the basic confession that Jesus is Lord. First, he says that they are to root themselves, like a tree, in that teaching. Second, they are to build themselves up, like a building. By strengthening themselves with what they were taught, they would abound in gratitude for the truth of Christ (v. 7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many confessional statements have been entrusted to the church throughout history. Early Christians hammered out such confessions as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, found in most hymnals. In 1563, the Reformers crafted the Heidelberg Catechism, and in 1646, the Westminster Confession of Faith. Consider reading through one of these statements, especially the early creeds, sometime this month to see how great Christians in the past have articulated the basics of our faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:8-10; Ephesians 1:3-10
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. - 2 Peter 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Few things are more terrifying than a kidnapping. In many countries, wealthy or influential individuals face the daily threat of kidnapping for ransom. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says that of the 4,600 children missing every year, nearly one hundred are taken by strangers for extended time periods.

Given this, it may seem surprising that Paul uses this severe verb, “take captive,” to describe the deceptive teaching in Colosse. The idea is literally to kidnap, or to prey upon. Paul knows that it is dangerous to be exploited both spiritually and physically.

Paul's description of this teaching as “hollow and deceptive philosophy” might not sound very harmful. But then again, most cults have just enough truth to sound harmless. Paul here counters teaching that had the appearance of wisdom, but which was actually empty.

This problematic teaching was rooted in human tradition. We saw yesterday how important it is to have believers grounded in the basics about Christ, which depend upon God's revelation, not human traditions. Again, we're not exactly sure what these false teachers were saying, but it's clear that they were drawing on the conventional wisdom of the day. They might claim that certain mystical experiences or religious rituals were necessary to be accepted by God.

Today people often say that as long as you're just good enough then you'll go to heaven. Teaching that rests on human traditions and the world's way of doing things ignores the fact that humans can never be good enough and that a price had to be paid for human rebellion. In other words, false teaching denies Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross.

In denying Christ, false teaching often either denies Christ's humanity or His deity. That's why Paul stresses both in verse 9: the fullness of “God-ness” is in Christ bodily. Salvation is only possible through the fully human, fully divine Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
False teaching always ends up being deceptive and empty. Truth and fullness can only be found in Christ. That's the point of verse 10. “Fullness in Christ” is another way of saying that believers have perfect completeness in Christ. This includes such things as full acceptance before God, abundant life, membership in the body of Christ, and provision of every spiritual need. Looking over Ephesians 1, what other blessings have we been given with “fullness in Christ”?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:11-13; Genesis 17:9-14
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants. - Deuteronomy 30:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The practice of circumcision is so common today that we might not remember its significance in the Old Testament: it was a physical indicator of faith and covenant obedience for Israel (Gen. 17:11). Although it is a physical act, its primary significance has always been spiritual. Today's verse shows that circumcision involved loving the Lord whole-heartedly. After the people had sinned by worshiping the golden calf, Moses commanded them, “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer” (Deut. 10:16). Obedience was always key to the covenant commandment of circumcision.

The state of being spiritually dead and having an uncircumcised heart (v. 13) is clearly seen in Jeremiah 9:26, where the Lord compares Israel's sinfulness with the uncircumcised surrounding nations, and laments that “even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

Recall from our study on October 8 that, in Jesus Christ, the division between Jew and Gentile has been removed. This truth aids Paul's understanding of circumcision after the work of Christ. Physical circumcision indicated those who were in the covenant community. Now spiritual circumcision was effected through Christ within the church. It's not the physical act that sets us apart; rather, the spiritual cutting off of the sinful nature distinguishes believers from nonbelievers. Most likely, Paul's opponents in Colosse were teaching that physical circumcision was still necessary in order to be a follower of Christ.

Interestingly, Paul does link this spiritual circumcision with a visible act, namely baptism (v. 12). When a person becomes a believer in Christ, the sinful nature is “circumcised” by Christ's atoning death on the cross, and the “old” person is buried with Christ. By faith in Christ's resurrection, this new believer is then raised to new life in Christ. In this way, just as circumcision was a sign of a spiritual commitment, so too baptism is an outward confirmation of an inward reality.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In one sense, our hearts are circumcised of our sinful nature at our conversion. Yet it's appropriate for us to ask Him daily to forgive our sins and to remove everything that prevents us from Christ-likeness.

Spend time this week identifying areas in your life that need to be “cut away” so that you might grow in godliness. Then claim the promise in Deuteronomy 30:6, that the Lord will indeed cut away all that keeps us from Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:13-15; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . . who for the joy set before him endured the cross . . . and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Try to imagine first-century Rome, as you finally catch a glimpse of the victorious Roman general, wearing a purple toga with gold palm leaves sewn on it and a crown on his head, standing triumphantly in a great chariot. He's holding an eagle scepter as a symbol of the god Jupiter. Behind him follow his own troops, dressed in white, and behind them, the conquered leaders and enemies, naked, humiliated, and in chains. Once the procession winds through Rome, these pitiful captives will be sent to either a huge slave auction or a public execution.

A Roman triumph is the powerful image that Paul draws on to explain the significance of Christ's work on the cross. In verse 13, Paul says that we were made alive in Christ when we were raised with Him through faith. He also makes it clear that our being made alive was due to the forgiveness of our sins. Now he'll develop this more.

The “written code” in verse 14 has been understood in various ways, but it seems most likely that it refers to some type of written debt, or I.O.U. Paul seems to identify this with the obligations outlined under Mosaic law. Paul is not saying that the law is bad, but that its ability to convict individuals of failure to live up to those obligations, or debt, has been graciously canceled. This is how Paul explains forgiveness of sins—a cancellation of our debt before God through Jesus' death on the cross.

But Paul goes further in showing how we've been made alive. Formerly, we were held captive both by our sins and by spiritual powers and authorities (v. 15). This verse shows us what was actually happening on the cross. Although Satan and his forces thought they were victorious, God actually disarmed their power and vanquished them for all creation to see. Not even a Roman triumph could ever come close to this decisive victory.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today we see another reason that Jesus has all power and authority: His victory on the cross. Yet Jesus' rightful claim to lordship is frequently challenged. Some deny that anyone has absolute control over anything, or even that anyone should. Others say that we're the masters of our own lives.

The lordship of Christ is not popular today, but it's essential for us to know that He has conquered the very things that seek to conquer us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:16-19; John 15:4-8
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. - Romans 14:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his commentary on Colossians, David Garland describes an interview about American spirituality in which a respondent claimed, “I am religious but I don't go to church. I believe that God is inside me, my own little voice.” Garland notes, “Sociologists tell us that nine out of ten people in America believe in God, but only a fraction worship regularly with others.”

These sad statistics exemplify what it means to have “lost connection with the Head.” Religion for these people is essentially whatever they want it to be; there's no apparent understanding that we must worship the True God as He wants us to do so.

There are lots of ways that religion cut off from the Head can appear. We find one example in verses 16 and 17. This is the approach that focuses on do's and don'ts. Today's passage suggests that the false teachers in Colosse came from a Jewish background. Instead of understanding the fullness and freedom in Christ, they insisted on strict, ascetic practices that forbade certain foods and mandated legalistic observance of religious festivals. But these practices were intended only as a shadow of the coming reality in Christ, a point Paul makes clear in Romans 14:17.

The next type of religion cut off from the Head appears in verses 18. This mystical approach seeks to create another mediator, in this case angels, between human beings and God. The Bible is clear that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). This approach includes harmful speculation based on visions and mystical experiences, while falsely claiming to be modest or contrite.

Both approaches are dangerously cut off from the life-giving connection with Christ Jesus, the Head. No body, or part of a body, can ever grow apart from the head. Using a different metaphor, Jesus makes this very point in John 15—the branch cannot exist apart from the vine.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Angels are very popular at the moment. It's not uncommon to find angel lapel pins that promise to protect. Movies and television shows often portray angels as more involved in people's lives than God, sometimes implying that God is too busy for some of our problems. While it's true that angels are sent to minister of our behalf (Heb. 1:14), we need to be careful that we don't shift our focus and worship away from our only true mediator, Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:20-23; Galatians 5:16-25
Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. - Isaiah 29:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most of us probably think that the “basic principles” of the world means the conventional wisdom of the day or worldly wisdom. But it's quite possible that Paul was also referring to something like the elemental spiritual forces of the world. This might sound strange to some of us living in the West, but in many parts of the world, the good news of Jesus Christ means being set free from hostile spiritual forces that are experienced in a tangible way on a daily basis. What freedom the gospel brings!

Consider, for example, the remarkable account of Annie Skau Bernsten, a missionary serving in China. One day she passed a group of people worshiping idols in an attempt to break a severe drought. When told to take off her hat out of respect for the idol, she refused to honor the idol over Christ, and the villagers threatened to kill her. She told them that her God would provide rain for them that night by midnight, and they reluctantly agreed to let her live until the next day. Miraculously, it rained that evening and an entire village was set free from idol worship to follow God.

We've already seen that Paul was fighting against false approaches to God that included legalism and angelic worship. Today's passage warns against another false teaching about the spiritual realm. More than likely, the Colossian false teachers were combining Jewish rituals with other ascetic beliefs and taught that abstinence from food or even marital sexual relations along with harsh treatment of the body could make a person more holy.

Despite the fact that these rules have some appeal and might look wise, such rules cannot get at the problem's root, the sinful nature. In fact, it's possible that this self-denial may make the problem worse because it focuses on human effort and not on Christ's atonement. Christ's death has severed any allegiance to these spiritual forces. Believers are in Christ, and are no longer bound to these worldly principles and principalities.
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Since we have been set free by Christ's death, submission to any of the world's rules or spiritual forces forfeits our freedom and denies the lordship of Christ.

Sadly, many well-intentioned Christians fall into a similar way of thinking by seeking godliness through following a strict set of rules to follow or practices to avoid. Instead, we are alive by the Spirit, and in this way, we will not “gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:5-10
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” - Psalm 110:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the essentials of sailing is to pick a stationary point on the horizon, such as a lighthouse, and then to keep focused on that point—no matter what! Regardless of changing wind gusts or strong water currents, regardless of how many times the sailboat must tack back and forth, the good sailor knows the value of a fixed point of reference for reaching one's final destination. Today's passage is a kind of sailing lesson—we will end up in exactly the place where we put our focus!

Building on the truth that we've died to the basic principles of the world (2:20), Paul now gives us the other side of the coin. If we've died with Christ, then we have also been raised with Christ; if we're dead to the things of the world, then we're alive to the things of heaven.

Paul draws upon Psalm 110:1 to underscore the exaltation of Christ (v. 1). After God disarmed the rulers and authorities by Jesus' death and ascension, Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father, a move that underscores His victory. Hebrews 2 shows that although complete subjugation of all things to Christ is certain, it has not yet fully occurred, because of Christ's humility in tasting death on behalf of believers and in suffering so that He might lead many children to glory. The key is to understand Christ's victory on the cross and His final victory when He returns in glory.

Here lies Paul's main remedy for the false teaching in Colosse: focus on Jesus. Because Jesus is victorious in heaven, believers are to put their focus there as well. But it's not just Jesus who is in heaven—because our lives are hidden in Christ, and Christ is our very life, then in some mysterious way, we, too, are in heaven with Christ. The final revelation of our glorified bodies will occur when He returns, but even so, we are securely hidden in Him now.
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Compared to the fact that our very lives are hidden in Christ, what other type of secret or hidden knowledge could we ever want? That's Paul's point.

This truth is wonderfully expressed in the song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” by Helen Lemmel, which says: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus / Look full in His wonderful face. / And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:5-7; Luke 12:13-21
With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed–an accursed brood! - 2 Peter 2:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
There's something about the so-called seven deadly sins that captures peoples' imaginations. Every few years there seems to be a new movie or television series centered around greed, gluttony, envy, sloth, pride, lust, and wrath. These things are certainly opposed to the way of God, but there's no hierarchy of sins that are more “deadly” than others. Paul warns of some insidious sins in the list found in our passage today.

These letters from Paul were not the first time that lists of sins were made—such lists were found in both Jewish and pagan sources. But there's something quite deliberate about Paul's list. First, it follows right after his discussion of believers being hidden in Christ. Second, it's part of his overall discussion of how believers are to live now that they have died and been raised with Christ.

Our death to the sinful nature occurred when we were buried with Christ, but we're still involved in a daily battle against misusing the bodies that God has given us (v. 5). That explains why each item in this list has to do with sexual sin. The first involves any type of illicit sexual activity, and the second is any type of indecency. Similarly, both the lust and evil desires here are sexual in nature. Each of these sins distorts God's intentions for our bodies and sexuality.

Given this list, it might seem surprising to find greed, which is defined as idolatry. Although the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12 is not about sexual sin, it does reveal the essential problems with greed: it grasps for more and refuses to be content with what God provides. Rather than thank the Lord for his abundance, the rich fool hoarded it up, perhaps so that he wouldn't have to trust God. This helps us see the link between greed (wanting more) and idolatry (not trusting God).

God's just wrath is poured out against those whose lives are continually characterized by these sins.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul isn't addressing anyone who has ever sinned. Instead, he's targeting those who are characterized by such practices. Notice he says that the Colossians used to walk in these ways. Today's verse from 2 Peter also addresses those whose lives are given over to evil. As believers, we must make a clean break from such lifestyles. We have died to that. But we must also keep in mind that there's forgiveness for those who repent and confess sins (1 John 1:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:8-11; Philippians 4:8
The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ - Matthew 15:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a 2004 article in the Christian Science Monitor * entitled “Lying: If you play by the rules will you lose out? Many Americans think so,” G. Jeffrey MacDonald cites the following statistics: a 2002 survey of 12,000 high school students revealed that 74 percent had cheated on an exam in the past year; based on 3.8 million background checks, ADP Inc. found that 52 percent of job applicants lied on their résumés. Interviewees, including professing Christians, understood that it was wrong to lie, but did so anyway. That's sobering, for it's easy to think that lying isn't really a big deal.

Today we find another vice list, one focusing on speech and attitude. The first two items are hard to distinguish, but the first may indicate chronic anger and the second, passionate outbursts. Both are often expressed verbally. Malice involves the intention to harm another, whereas slander is saying false things about someone to ruin that person's reputation. Filthy speech includes obscenities or cursing. What seems to link these sins is that each destroys unity and fellowship.

We might be surprised that lying gets such attention, but perhaps nothing breaks down community more than the broken trust from dishonesty. Moreover, lying is completely out of line with our new character in Christ. The old self is dead and cast off, including lying.

Often we lie out of fear—fear of not measuring up, or fear of not getting what we want. Sometimes we lie because we're too proud to admit that we're wrong. But Paul tells us that our new self is being renewed according to the image of our Creator; in other words, we are being renewed according to God's intent for humanity. In this renewed humanity, divisions based on ethnicity (Jew, Gentile, barbarian, Scythian) or status (circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free) no longer hold, because the new humanity is bound together in Christ.

*For study reference only. MBI does not in any way promote the views of the Christian Science movement.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In MacDonald's article, retired pastor Jack Good identifies a serious problem within the church. “People who come to church on Sunday don't see a people willing to confront conflict or tough issues. . . . The church is setting a bad example [about honesty].” His words should convict each one of us to take seriously the imperative of being truthful. Lying seriously compromises our witness. As a help, consider memorizing the high standard outlined in Philippians 4:8.