Colossians 2:6-15. New life in a world of Death 25/7/10
(6) So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, {7} rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. {8} See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. {9} For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, {10} and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. {11} In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, {12} having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. {13} When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, {14} having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. {15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Today we a reminded that we are to live the new life that we have in Christ. We read; So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. So, here we are reminded that we have been made alive in Christ, and so are now to live in light of this new life that is ours in Christ.
But the challenge for us is that we are to do so in the face of death: in a world of death. We are living in a world that is painfully sick and yet doesn’t want to know it. Most of the time we are like the terminally ill patient, who is experiencing that last, ‘what seems to be a revival,’ before the end. At that time he thinks he is on ‘the improve’, and then he will be well again. That is the way it is for much of our world today. She’ll be right mate! We’ve got it all under control. Just around the corner is our pot of gold.
So, much of our world and in many cases the church also, is caught up in this hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. And how so is that not the case, certainly here in this country of ours. Our science and modern technology, not to mention the almighty dollar, has determined how everything should be run and what is right and good, even in the church. As a result, many no longer believe in the ‘seven day creation’, because our scientists have told us otherwise. Our present human philosophy has told us that we are all equal and that we must be tolerant of all, and so now it is OK to have homosexual pastors and the idea that all religions are heading toward the same God. Our church growth experts tell us that if we do this, that and the other, we will grow, because that is what happens out in the business world. And I could go on.
But the reality is that we and our world are sick and dying. As we follow the hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ, we will face the reality of death. Sure, we might see what we think are signs of life and hope; but the downward spiral is inevitable. For all the seeming advances that have been foisted on us, out there in life in general, and in the church, we know deep down that all is far from well, and those heralded new saviours are ultimately of no help.
However, the Good News here is that in the midst of this rollercoaster of death, there is new life for those who are in Christ. Sure, we will still suffer much in this sin-sick world, and we will still face a physical death, but now we, who are connected to Christ, have a sure and certain hope that changes our perception and values as to what life is all about.
How, can this be so? Surely as we look around us, most Christians do not seem to be any better off than anyone else? In fact, a lot of them don’t even appear to be any better in their moral lives either.
Yet, here we are reminded that all those who are connected to Christ, have all the fullness of the Deity living. Think about that; in you, each one of you, dwells not only all the perfection and goodness of God, but the very God himself. In you dwells all the power of Christ himself. You have life in all of its greatness and eternity now within you.
How is this so, you say? We read; In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Yes, in your baptism you were connected to Christ’s death and resurrection. There at the baptismal font you died. All that is bad, rotten, rebellious and sinful died a thousand deaths. Christ took the sting out of it all for you and I. Taking the punishment we deserve on himself, he in turn forgives us and gives us his own life, goodness, and all of the fullness of God Almighty himself. There, God made you alive in connection with Christ. There God has given you everything that is good and perfect.
Now to this I can hear many say; well if that is the case, where is it? Where are these good and perfect Christians who have got it all together, and who are healthy wealthy and happy? Why is it that Christians still suffer and die? Here again, we must firstly remember, that it is because of our sin; our rebellion against God and what he has to say to us, that we have to and will continue to live with troubles and death, as long as we live in this world.
Here too, we need to look to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as lived in this world of ours. Even though he was God, he still had to live in this sinful, dying world. He still lived in relative poverty. He certainly suffered much. He too died; and a horrible death at that. Yet he was God, and had all the fullness of the Deity living in him. Through this suffering and death, he brings about the greatest good that we could ever imagine. He went through it all for you and I; so that he might reach us and save us, and so that this world of death is not the end for us.
That being the case, now surely our day to day life can be alive and positive. Even though we live in a sick and dying world, we can now go forward in confidence, knowing that because we are in Christ all the fullness of God is in and with us. We can now seek to live this new life, as God would have us. Like Christ, we now know that God is at work through our seeming weakness, helping others to know of the salvation that is theirs in Christ. He works in and through our less than perfect world to bring the focus back onto Christ and what he has done for us through his death and resurrection.
And yes, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Now how easy is that: just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord! At the baptismal font he took a hold of you, and there he gave you everything: There he did all that was necessary for you to be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. There then also is your ability to live and be that which you are in Christ so that you can have an impact on others despite your weakness and failures. God himself makes you alive and is at work in and through you, helping others. So, even though we are weak and helpless and may seem as if we have very little going for us; all that is needed is to stay rooted and built up in him and from there God will be at work in and through you with all of his fullness.
All we now need to do is come regularly to where he made us alive; to his Word and Sacraments week after week, and he will keep filling us with his fullness. From there he will send us out into our daily lives as his people to point others to Jesus Christ, so that that too may live.
So go from here today with the sure confidence and hope that you are alive with all of the goodness and greatness of God Almighty himself, even though you are from a worldly point of view, sick and dying and living in a sick and dying world. Know that God is in you and works through you despite what may look otherwise. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
To him alone be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
(6) So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, {7} rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. {8} See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. {9} For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, {10} and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. {11} In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, {12} having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. {13} When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, {14} having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. {15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Today we a reminded that we are to live the new life that we have in Christ. We read; So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. So, here we are reminded that we have been made alive in Christ, and so are now to live in light of this new life that is ours in Christ.
But the challenge for us is that we are to do so in the face of death: in a world of death. We are living in a world that is painfully sick and yet doesn’t want to know it. Most of the time we are like the terminally ill patient, who is experiencing that last, ‘what seems to be a revival,’ before the end. At that time he thinks he is on ‘the improve’, and then he will be well again. That is the way it is for much of our world today. She’ll be right mate! We’ve got it all under control. Just around the corner is our pot of gold.
So, much of our world and in many cases the church also, is caught up in this hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. And how so is that not the case, certainly here in this country of ours. Our science and modern technology, not to mention the almighty dollar, has determined how everything should be run and what is right and good, even in the church. As a result, many no longer believe in the ‘seven day creation’, because our scientists have told us otherwise. Our present human philosophy has told us that we are all equal and that we must be tolerant of all, and so now it is OK to have homosexual pastors and the idea that all religions are heading toward the same God. Our church growth experts tell us that if we do this, that and the other, we will grow, because that is what happens out in the business world. And I could go on.
But the reality is that we and our world are sick and dying. As we follow the hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ, we will face the reality of death. Sure, we might see what we think are signs of life and hope; but the downward spiral is inevitable. For all the seeming advances that have been foisted on us, out there in life in general, and in the church, we know deep down that all is far from well, and those heralded new saviours are ultimately of no help.
However, the Good News here is that in the midst of this rollercoaster of death, there is new life for those who are in Christ. Sure, we will still suffer much in this sin-sick world, and we will still face a physical death, but now we, who are connected to Christ, have a sure and certain hope that changes our perception and values as to what life is all about.
How, can this be so? Surely as we look around us, most Christians do not seem to be any better off than anyone else? In fact, a lot of them don’t even appear to be any better in their moral lives either.
Yet, here we are reminded that all those who are connected to Christ, have all the fullness of the Deity living. Think about that; in you, each one of you, dwells not only all the perfection and goodness of God, but the very God himself. In you dwells all the power of Christ himself. You have life in all of its greatness and eternity now within you.
How is this so, you say? We read; In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Yes, in your baptism you were connected to Christ’s death and resurrection. There at the baptismal font you died. All that is bad, rotten, rebellious and sinful died a thousand deaths. Christ took the sting out of it all for you and I. Taking the punishment we deserve on himself, he in turn forgives us and gives us his own life, goodness, and all of the fullness of God Almighty himself. There, God made you alive in connection with Christ. There God has given you everything that is good and perfect.
Now to this I can hear many say; well if that is the case, where is it? Where are these good and perfect Christians who have got it all together, and who are healthy wealthy and happy? Why is it that Christians still suffer and die? Here again, we must firstly remember, that it is because of our sin; our rebellion against God and what he has to say to us, that we have to and will continue to live with troubles and death, as long as we live in this world.
Here too, we need to look to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as lived in this world of ours. Even though he was God, he still had to live in this sinful, dying world. He still lived in relative poverty. He certainly suffered much. He too died; and a horrible death at that. Yet he was God, and had all the fullness of the Deity living in him. Through this suffering and death, he brings about the greatest good that we could ever imagine. He went through it all for you and I; so that he might reach us and save us, and so that this world of death is not the end for us.
That being the case, now surely our day to day life can be alive and positive. Even though we live in a sick and dying world, we can now go forward in confidence, knowing that because we are in Christ all the fullness of God is in and with us. We can now seek to live this new life, as God would have us. Like Christ, we now know that God is at work through our seeming weakness, helping others to know of the salvation that is theirs in Christ. He works in and through our less than perfect world to bring the focus back onto Christ and what he has done for us through his death and resurrection.
And yes, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Now how easy is that: just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord! At the baptismal font he took a hold of you, and there he gave you everything: There he did all that was necessary for you to be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. There then also is your ability to live and be that which you are in Christ so that you can have an impact on others despite your weakness and failures. God himself makes you alive and is at work in and through you, helping others. So, even though we are weak and helpless and may seem as if we have very little going for us; all that is needed is to stay rooted and built up in him and from there God will be at work in and through you with all of his fullness.
All we now need to do is come regularly to where he made us alive; to his Word and Sacraments week after week, and he will keep filling us with his fullness. From there he will send us out into our daily lives as his people to point others to Jesus Christ, so that that too may live.
So go from here today with the sure confidence and hope that you are alive with all of the goodness and greatness of God Almighty himself, even though you are from a worldly point of view, sick and dying and living in a sick and dying world. Know that God is in you and works through you despite what may look otherwise. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
To him alone be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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