Colossians 3.15b-Experiencing the Peace of God was the Purpose of God Effectually Calling the Colossians at Justification
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday September 25, 2016
Colossians: Colossians 3:15b-Experiencing the Peace of God was the Purpose of God Effectually Calling the Colossians at Justification
Lesson # 87
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NASB95)
“To which” is composed of the following: (1) preposition eis (εἰς), “to” (2) relative pronoun hos (ὅς), “which.”
The relative pronoun hos means “which” and is referring to the peace produced in the hearts of the Colossians as a result of obeying the teaching of Christ which is communicated by Paul in Colossians 3:5-14.
This is indicated by the fact that the word agrees in gender (feminine) and number (singular) with the noun eirēnē.
This word is in the accusative case as the object of the preposition eis which is functioning as a marker of purpose.
This would indicate that the Colossians were effectually called into one body “for the purpose of” experiencing or “in order to” experience this peace which will be produced in their hearts by obeying the Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching, which is communicated by Paul in Colossians 3:5-14.
“Indeed” is the conjunction kai (καί), which is emphatic meaning it is emphasizing with the Colossians that this peace produced by the teaching of Christ was God’s purpose in effectually calling them to one body.
“You were called” is the verb kaleō (καλέω), which refers to an act of summoning which effectively evokes from those addressed the response which it invites.
The verb kaleō means, “to effectually call” and refers to the Christian’s conversion to Christianity or in other words, the moment of justification.
The word “effectual” is used of that which produces the effect desired or intended or a decisive result.
Thus, the Father’s calling of the Colossians produced the effect He desired, intended from them and the decisive result, namely to deliver them from sin, Satan, condemnation from the Law, spiritual and physical death as well as eternal condemnation.
The second person plural form of this verb means “all of you” referring to the Colossian Christian community as a corporate unit and is used in a distributive sense emphasizing no exceptions.
“In one body” is composed of the following: (1) preposition en (ἐν), “in” (2) adjective heis (hace) (εἷς), “one” (7) noun sōma (σῶμα), “body.”
The noun sōma is used in a figurative sense to describe the church as being like the human body in that it has diversity among its members.
The word refers to church age believers who are joined together as a corporate unit with the implication of each member having a distinctive function within this unit.
The noun sōma is modified by the adjective heis which means “one” emphasizing the unity of the body of Christ.
It is also the object of the preposition en which is functioning as a marker of association indicating that the Colossians were effectually called “into association with” one body or “into union with” one body.
Colossians 3:15 Consequently, the peace produced by the teaching of the one and only Christ must continue to habitually rule within your hearts. For which purpose, each and every one of you were effectually called into union with one body. Therefore, each and every one of you must continue to make it your habit of being characterized by thankfulness. (My translation)
After issuing the first command in Colossians 3:15, the apostle Paul then informs the Colossians that they were effectually called by the Father into union with one body at the moment of their justification for the purpose of experiencing the peace of God.
This “effectual call” refers to the “effective evocation” of faith through the presentation of the gospel by the Holy Spirit which unites the sinner to Christ according to the Father’s gracious purpose in election.
It does not refer to the “call of God,” which is related to “common grace” meaning grace given to all sinners by God in the form of being exposed to the gospel.
In other words, it does not refer to the “invitation” to receive the gift of salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Rather, it refers to those sinners who have responded to the divine invitation or call of God when they were presented the gospel and have exercised faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Thus, it is an “effectual call” as many commentators describe it.
Therefore, in Colossians 3:15, when Paul is speaking of this effectual call, he is referring to their conversion or justification when they first trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.
This invitation originated from eternity past and is thus directly related to their election.
By responding in faith they manifested in time that they had in fact been elected to privilege by God.
God who is omniscient looked down the corridors of time and saw that the Christian would trust in His Son Jesus Christ as Savior and had prepared in advance a plan for them and elected them to privilege.
Thus, when they placed their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, they were manifesting the fact that they had been elected to privilege by the Father.
He did not coerce their volition by electing them but rather elected them to privilege when He saw through His omniscience that they would believe in His Son.
Thus this effectual call refers to not only the Father’s invitation to salvation for the Christian through the presentation of the gospel by the Holy Spirit but it also refers to their acceptance of this invitation by faith and which invitation originates from eternity past.
The “one body” refers of course to the church, which like the human body has diversity among its members (R. 12:4 f.; 1 C. 12:12 f.).
Christ is said to be the Head of the Body (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18; 2:19) and each church age believer is a member of His body (Rm. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:27).
Therefore, here in Colossians 3:15, the “one body” describes the church as being like the human body in that it has diversity among its members.
It refers to church age believers who are joined together as a corporate unit with the implication of each member having a distinctive function within this unit.
The head and body metaphor is one of eight metaphors used in the New Testament to describe the relationship between the church and the Lord Jesus Christ: (1) The last Adam and the New Creation (1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 5:17a). (2) The Great Shepherd and the Sheep (Heb. 13:20). (3) The True Vine and the Branches (John 15:5a). (4) The Chief Cornerstone and the Stones in the building (Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:5-6). (5) The Great High Priest and members of the Royal Priesthood (Heb. 4:14a; 1 Pet. 2:9a). (6) The Groom and the Bride. (Our wedding occurs at the Second Advent) (Rev. 19:7). (7) The King of Kings and the Royal Family of God (Rev. 19:14-16).
J. Hampton Keathley III writes “The figure of the church as the body reminds us of a number of elements: (1) Submission—the church is always to submit to its head. (2) Union—every member of the body is in vital union with Christ who is its source of life. (3) Unity—the church is one body of mutually adapted parts that are to be working together as a team, as one. (4) Diversity—the church is a diversity of abilities and gifts varying in function, in strength, and in honor, yet all are vital to the body. (5) Mutuality—each member is dependent on one another as are the members of our body. No man is an island. (6) Necessity—the growth, care, function, and submission of each member of the body to its Head is vital for the effective function of the body.”