Live Death to the World, Alive in Christ

Colossians 2.20-3.4

We will continue looking into the letter written by Paul and Timothy to the people in the city of Colosse.

As Pr.Paul had mentioned in the previous weeks, Colossae was a city never visited by Paul. He writes from prison, and know that the connection to this church comes through Epaphras, who shared the Good News in Colossae.

We read that the Christians in Colossae we thriving in faith and love. Highlights love for others that the Holy Spirit gave them.

CHRIST:

Visible image of the invisible God (1.15)

Eternal (1.15)

All powerful (1.16)

Creator and Sustainer (1.16-17)

Reconciler (1.19-20)

Alive in us (1.27)

The secret  revealed: Christ lives in you! This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. Cl. 1.27

All treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2.1)

Foundation (2.6-7)

Fulfilment (2.9-10)

Victorious (2.13-19)

v.20 “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world such as,”

For those who died with Christ:

in death to sin, self, and the world.

Paul refers that he has been crucified with Christ. The dying bodies participant in Jesus’ death. (Gal. 2.19; 2Cor. 4.10-12)

Delivered from Spiritual powers of this World

Separated from the world’s order

There is only one way to die to the world and that’s to die with Christ (Rom 6:3, 5, 8)

Those who are now living according to the Spirit and not to the flesh (Rom 8.4) are freed from the World’s rule

V.21 Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch!

Rules to keep safe and protect

Jesus to save and rescue

not abstinence, not indulgence, not mystic immersion into an external symbolism, as in the mysteries of Eastern Greece - not in these, but in the appropriation of Christ in His person and His work does the Christian life consists.

v.22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

1 Co. 6.15-20 perishable rules (food)

Isa. 29.13 hearts far from God…

“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” Tim 4.4

v23. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self- denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Colossian Heresy ?

Jewish Pythagoreanism ?

Chapter 3

v.1 Since you have been raise to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

new spiritual kingdom in which Christ their Lord was sovereign

v.2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Christ as our new lenses

v.3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

we have died with Christ, Christ has His being in God, those who belong to Christ have their being there too.

v.4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world you will share in all his glory.

“For me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1.21)

He is also our hope of glory.

For those who have been raised with Christ:

New Reality

In Luxembourg as it is in Heaven

When living in Christ, do not expect the World to understand your choices until Christ has become a reality to all.

The most rigorous asceticism can coexist with insufferable spiritual pride.