Colossians 1:21-29

If indeed you continue in the faith

Paul urges the Colossians to not fall prey to the allure of fake greenery across the fence, as if there might be life elsewhere with deeper knowledge and greater spiritual power. God the Father makes us eternally clean and safe through the physical death of the Lord Jesus. We were alienated and hostile but now are at peace, blameless, and beyond reproach because of God’s rescuing grace. There is nothing more effective or wonderful.

And yet the plea to cling to Christ must ring out to ears and hearts that are prone to wander.

Paul knows that his letter will be heard by both true believers and those who are pretenders to Christianity. Both are endangered by falsehood. Pretenders might abandon their present state and follow headlong into the darkness of gnostic lies never to return. Yet, believers are not immune to sin and deception. They can wander, pierce themselves with many a pang, and stand in need of the Father’s discipline.

Paul writes to protect the entire group from destruction by false teaching. Who knows? The pretenders may one day recognize their true need and be saved, if they will continue in fellowship with believers.

The reality of the amazing rescue is the basis of Paul’s appeal. We start life alienated from God, engaged in living our own way, trapped by self-serving and hurtful patterns of behavior. God rescues us from this evil and guilt, bringing us back to Himself. What more could we want than to be washed clean beyond reproach, to be free of enslavement to evil deeds, and to be wrapped in a loving relationship to our heavenly Father?

Paul is writing from Rome while under house arrest, chained to guards and awaiting trial before Caesar. He is not dejected but glad to be able to participate in the spread of this good news of Jesus. This task was laid upon him as a stewardship from God. Paul calls the message of this reconciliation a mystery, that is, it was knowledge that had been hidden before but was then being revealed by God with the intent that it be widely proclaimed. This was the true revelation in contrast to the false secret knowledge offered by the gnostics.

What is that message? “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Repentant faith brings us into a close relationship to Jesus our Savior. He promises that He and the Father will come to dwell with us. (John 14:23) Having Christ in us brings full confidence of a permanent future in glory.

God is at work throughout the world and throughout these centuries convincing people of the truth of this message. He works within us with His power to enable us to be effective purveyors of the good news. Christ makes us complete. We needn’t look anywhere else for life.

Pursuit of wisdom for today from the Ancient of Days

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