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

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul challenging corrupting doctrine of the gospel which was gaining momentum in Colosse, with biblical truth which is: Christ is the source of salvation – Jesus Christ alone is sufficient. We are born spiritually dead in sin, separated from God and void of spiritual life. In faith, in Christ, we are born a new creature delivered from condemnation and alive in the Lord. Paul is not supporting regeneration in baptism but faith – baptism is an outward testimony of an inward change. Paul is saying we must be saved before we can be changed. We owed a debt we could not pay. Sin had to be atoned for and we could not do it – we were declared guilty. Christ bore our sin on the cross and the holiness of God was satisfied and atonement made. When we come to Christ by faith His righteousness is imputed to us. We are righteous through the Son of God; our sin and condemnation is nailed to the cross.

Union with Christ is key here. We are either of Adam or Christ. All fell by Adam and all in Christ are saved. Paul warns the Colossians – and us – don’t run after false teaching when we have everything necessary in the Lord Christ Jesus. In Christ we are forgiven all our sins; not just last and present, not just big and little, not repeated, hidden and public. Our sin is paid for us in Christ’s life and death.

In the c.s. Lewis essay ‘The World’s Last Night’ he addresses the end of life in this world either by death or the promised Second Coming of Christ. “What is important is not that we should always fear (or hope) about the End but that we should always remember, always take into account…….Now what death is to each man, the Second Coming is to the whole human race. We all believe, I suppose, that a man should “sit loose” to his own individual life, should remember how short, precarious, temporary, and provisional a thing it is; should never give all his heart to anything which will end when his life ends. What modern Christians find it harder to remember is that the whole life of humanity in this world is also precarious, temporary, provisional……All achievements and triumphs, in so far as they are merely this-worldly achievements and triumphs will come to nothing in the end.” BUT, in faith in the divinity of Christ and the truth of biblical revelation we are assured of eternal salvation. Lewis also wrote; “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.”

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. (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.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. At the time he was writing this letter Paul was under arrest in Rome facing possible death for preaching the gospel. In our opening verses he first refers to the suffering of Christ for our redemption and then talks of his own suffering – with joy. He seems to be saying his suffering seems somehow to add/complete the suffering of Christ but NOTHING can be added to or taken away from the finished work of Christ on the cross despite the fact that some religions teaching (from this verse) that our good works are added to the atonement of Christ. Paul suffered what was aimed at Christ – he suffered for the church and knew that his example was noted. To some the honor of his apostleship might seem tainted but to most he encouraged the faithful not to be intimidated by persecution for the gospel. He rejoices that he does not suffer in vain but aids their faith. He teaches always that what Christ has endured for our salvation is sufficient.

The mystery Paul writes of is one specific area – something known by divine revelation; hidden from the Jews in the Old Testament and to all generations of Gentiles until Christ. A blessing never secret in the Old Testsment – God’s blessing of the Gentiles – but it was believed that this blessing would be through the Jews and subordinate to Jews. Paul here teaches Christian Gentiles are partakers in Israel’s promises and inheritors of Israel’s covenants with God. The special revelation was not given to the twelve but to Paul as apostle of the new dispensation. He was the chosen instrument of God. This mystery could never have been known by human reason. The middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile is broken down.

The letter to the Colossians is a plea for continuance and loyalty to the apostolic gospel. Paul preached Christ, not a system. C.s.Lewis says in Mere Christianity that “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (18) And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (19) 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 in earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. In our verses today Paul underlines most of the distinctions of Christian faith; he instructs us of the unique Jesus. We live in a world of diversity and with this comes a variety of religious beliefs. Many respond to diversity by watering down the truth of the gospel, trying to become more inclusive minimizing areas of disagreement and emphasizing things held in common. This is actually a denial of the truth of Scripture.

In Colosse the church was being infiltrated by those who taught a distorted message – they focused on angels and gaining a special knowledge and blessing; they focused on man’s efforts and denied the full glory of Christ Jesus and even denied His absolute deity. Paul, in our verses, does not attack the heresy but emphasizes the truth – he instructs us of the unique Jesus. Christ is the first born – before all creation in time and over all creation in authority. He existed before all things and is the creator Himself – the first born cannot be part of creation if He created all things. The incarnate Jesus is the image of God in the sense that He possesses the nature and character of God. He is uniquely God in human form. By His resurrection He broke death’s hold on humanity. Without his resurrection there could be no resurrection for others. Christ is supreme in two realms; creation and salvation. Everything necessary for our redemption is accomplished through Christ’s work on our behalf.

Christ is the head of the church. Through the blood of the cross He fulfilled the design of ceremonial law thereby abolishing the obligations of the law. The walls between Jewish and Gentile were broken down. The sins of believing men were expiated and peace was made between God and man. These mysteries of a character are beyond the ability of the human mind to grasp. The truth of the gospel is to stir the soul to worship and thanksgiving, not for the exercise of the intellect in theological speculation.

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision not uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. (16) And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (17) From now on let no one trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (18) Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The letter to the Galatians was written by the apostle Paul. In our verses today Paul is writing against false teachers – with some indignation – and defending his apostolic authority as well. He makes it clear that nothing external – circumcision or not – or good works – factor in salvation. His battered body from scourging, stoning, shipwreck, imprisonment, etc., testify to the truth/authenticity of his gospel message. Paul preached the gospel as revealed to him by Jesus Christ and if it is not accepted by unbelievers he asks they trouble him no more. Being a Jew or a Gentile does not prove any advantage when standing before God; the way to God is the cross of Christ.

The Bible is a theological treatise from beginning to end. In our verses Paul is talking about something he considers fundamental – the theological differences between the system of law and the system of grace – grace being the principle that leads to eternal life. He is talking about two different gospels, not two different interpretations. In the legalizers corruption of the gospel man stands before God based on human merit. In Paul’s gospel man stands before God in the realization that man can do nothing to satisfy God but can stand only on the merits of Jesus Christ – here the initial movement comes from the grace of the Spirit who makes the unwilling, willing. The way to God is the way of the cross of Christ. It is faith apart from works. This is rule by which we ought to live – that in faith in Christ, we shall enjoy the favor of God, the forgiveness of sin and peace of conscience. The mercy of God supports the faithful.

Paul’s farewell ends this letter as he begins by wishing the Galatians the grace of God; that by the guidance of the Spirit they remain in Christ, our Savior, who gave him (Paul) the strength and grace to explain this epistle and granted them the grace to hear it; that they (and we) are preserved and strengthened in faith until the day of redemption.