CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY
By John C. Carpenter
The apostles Paul and Timothy wrote the saints and faithful brethren
in Christ at Colossae, For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of
his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you,
that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof
I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ
in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is
given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made
manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which isChrist in you, the hope [elpis; i.e., to anticipate with pleasure] of glory [doxa; i.e., dignity, honor, magnificence; i.e., honor
of eternal life]: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus (Col 1:19-28).
In their letter to the Colossian church, Paul and Timothy outlined two significant problems they
had with the church: the church was committing gross sin, and the church had been seduced into committing heresy [opinions, doctrine,
and behavior contrary to accepted and/or revealed truth]. The Colossian church believed, mistakenly, that the heretical things they
were doing would give them hope, a relationship with God the Father, and eternal life. Paul and Timothy intended to address the sin
and the heresy, and clarify to these struggling believers that the true and one hope of eternal glory and life is found only in Christ.
BEWARE
LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU
Holy Scriptures tell us Paul and Timothy offered both words of praise and criticism. The apostles praised
the Colossian believers for their faith in Jesus Christ (Col. 1:4), the love which they had for fellow believers (Col 1:4), the hope
the Colossian believers had as a result of hearing and acceptance of the word of truth of the gospel (Col 1:5), and the fact that
the believers in Colossae had borne much fruit as a result of hearing the gospel of Christ (Co1:6). Paul and Timothy also praised
the order and structure of the church at Colossae as well as the steadfastness of their faith in Christ (Col 2:5).
But there
were also numerous criticisms of the Colossian believers that Paul and Timothy mentioned in their letter. Much of that criticism centered
around the heretical seduction and manipulation, by self-serving men, of the Colossian believers away from true Christian faith and
doctrine which they had previously received. The two apostles noted that the Colossian church was allowing certain individuals, who
were using enticing and persuasive words, to beguile [delude or deceive] them (Col 2:4). Just four verses later, Paul and Timothy
added specifics: “Beware lest any man spoil [to lead away or seduce] you through philosophy [philosophia; i.e., that is, deceptively
subtle reasoning or argumentation, vain deceit, deceitfulness], after the tradition [methods of transmission] of men, after the rudiments
of the world, and not after Christ [revealed by Christ and His Holy Spirit]” (Col 2:8). Some, with subtlety and cunning, and teaching
doctrinal error, had influenced the Colossian believers to give undue attention to outward observances regarding what they ate, what
they drank, and their behaviors pertaining to holy days, new moons, and Sabbath days (Col 2:16), while others, had seduced the Colossians
into the heresy of worshipping angels (Col 2:18). Colossian believers were even allowing false teachers to influence them into following
specific ordinances, commandments and doctrines directing them as to what they could touch, taste, or even handle (Col 2:20-23).
The
Colossian believers were also committing gross sin. The church was focused on temporal and worldly things (Col 3:2), was committing
serious sins of the flesh including adultery, incest, sex involving pain, evil and forbidden lust, and was full of greediness and
idolatrous image worship (Col 3:5). They were also full of anger, vengeance, malice, blasphemy, lying, and evil communication (Col
3:8), as well as unmerciful, unkind, arrogant, impatient (Col 3:12) unforgiving and quarrelsome (Col (3:13), and ungiving (Col 3:14).
The gospel of Christ was not fully dwelling in them (Col 3:16). In short, the Colossian church was being seduced and manipulated away
from Christ, and therefore, their one true hope of eternal glory.
WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD
Paul and Timothy responded to
the heresy and sin in the Colossian church with loving compassion and encouragement, as well as firmness; with spiritual, as well
as practical instructions. The apostles began their letter, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray
for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye mightwalk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened
with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col 1:9-12). Paul and Timothy also expressed their
desire that the Colossian believers’ hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance
of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ (Col 2:2), and that the church would
be complete in him [Christ], which is the head of all principality and power (Col 2:10). Paul and Timothy further instructed the believers
in Colossae, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Col 3:1-2), Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Col 3:5), and …put off all these; anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man
with his deeds (Col 3:8-9). In an effort to encourage the Colossian church, Paul and Timothy wrote, Put on therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving
one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be
ye thankful. Let the [gospel] word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Col 3:12-17). In greater detail, the apostles instructed, Wives, submit
yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children,
obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be
discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness
of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Col 3:18-23). The apostles Paul and
Timothy completed their instructions to the church in Colossae by writing, Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and
equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also
for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may
make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without [the faith], redeeming the time. Let your speech
be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Col 4:1-6).
IF YE CONTINUE IN THE
FAITH GROUNDED AND SETTLED
In short, due to sin and heresy, the Colossian believers in Christ were turning away from true faith
in Christ, but Paul and Timothy wanted to encourage and exhort them to continue in their struggles: And you [Colossian believers],
that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded [return to the foundation]and settled [immovable, steadfast], and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached
to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister (Col 1:21-23). They added, As ye have therefore [earlier]received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted [become stable] and built up in [to build upon] him, and established [confirmed]
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil [lead away, seduce] you through
philosophy and vain deceit [worthless deceivableness], after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete [full, perfect, supplied] in him, which is
the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the
body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers,
he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col 2:6-15).
Referring to Christ, the apostle Peter told the rulers
and elders of Israel, This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:11-12).
When
the Galatian believers were having similar heretical problems with their faith, the apostle Paul wrote to them, I marvel that ye are
so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that
trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel
unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Gal 1:6-9).
There is only one hope [to anticipate with pleasure] that
man has for glory [magnificence of eternal life]. That hope is not found in false doctrine, intellectualism, works, materialism, money,
men, leaders, nations, religion, or church attendance, but only in an individual, intimate, daily, reverent, obedient, and loving
relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul and Timothy told us exactly who that hope is, and where He is found: Christ in you, the hope
of glory. AMEN.
GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness
of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which
may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto
them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead;
so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified
him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise,
they
became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made
like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted
beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness [impurity] through the lusts
of their own hearts, to dishonour
their own bodies between themselves: Who changed
the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than
the Creator,who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up
unto vile [shameful, dishonorable] affections: for even their women
did change
the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving
the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust one toward another; men with
men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence
of their
error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in
their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate [rejected,
worthless] mind, to
do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters
of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which
commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure
in
them that do them”
(Romans 1:18-32).