Christ is Our Life & Church is Our Living

Colossians Message 2:
Christ is Our Life & Church is Our Living

Scripture Verses: Col 1:15-16; 2:20-23;3:1-4, 8-17; 4:2-9, 18; Eph 2:14-18

The central theme of the New Testament is Christ and the Church. This is not difficult to see and we have also mentioned this many times before. The first four books in the New testament are the Gospels. They are the record of the earthly ministry of Christ. The book of Acts gives us the history of the producing and propagation of the early Church. All the epistles that follow were written for the exhortation and encouragement for the building up of the Church and to hasten the Lord's return. The final book of Revelation is the fulfillment of God's purpose through Christ and the Church. Hence it is not difficult to conclude that the central theme of the whole New Testament is Christ and the Church.    

We have gone through the New Testament several times over the years and we have seen that there are certain emphases in every book. However, we must be careful not to pigeon-hole any of them. To pigeon-hole is to classify or categorize in a rigid manner. For example, in the four Gospels, we know that four aspects of the Lord Jesus as the Savior are portrayed. In Matthew, He is the King-Savior; in Mark, He is the Slave-Savior; in Luke, He is the Man-Savior; and in John, He is the God-Savior. But do not pigeon-hole any of them by restricting your understanding to think that one Gospel portrays Him exclusively only in one aspect. 

For example, when we come to the Gospel of John, John 1:1 shows the Lord is the God-Savior:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) 

But there is also John 1:4 and 14 to consider:

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, (John 1:4)

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacle, Young's) among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Thus John also is about the Lord as light and life and love and many other things. Do not pigeon-hole the Gospel of John into exclusively portraying Him as the God-Savior.

Secondly, in the four Gospels, the word 'church' is mentioned only twice. Once in Matthew 16 and the other time in Matthew 18. The first time in Matthew 16, it occurred right after Peter received the revelation from the Father that the Lord Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Then:

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 16:17) 

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18) 

I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt 16:19) 

Then charged He the disciples that they should tell no man that He was the Christ. (Matt 16:20) 

Why did the Lord charge His disciples in verse 20 not to tell anyone that He was the Christ? Would it not be wonderful for the disciples to announce this to everyone? The reason is that right after Peter had received the revelation concerning the person of Christ, the Lord revealed to him concerning the church.

         When Peter received the revelation from the Father, the church had not yet been produced. So for the Lord to reveal it to Peter and the disciples for the first time was appropriate but to the rest of the crowd, who did not even recognize Him as the Christ (they thought He was Jeremiah or one of the prophets), it was premature. Hence the revelation of both Christ and the Church in Matthew 16 was only directed to Peter. 

Furthermore, the Lord continued in Matthew 16:24-25 saying:

Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matt 16:24)

For whosoever would save his life (soul, Greek) shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life (soul, Greek) for My sake shall find it. (Matt 16:25) 

Here the Lord said if anyone wants to follow Him, he has to take up his cross, deny himself, and be willing to forsake his own soul. So in Matthew 16 alone,   not only Christ was mentioned, but also the Church, the kingdom, the cross, and dealing with one's soul. Hence to say Matthew is solely about the King-Savior is to "pigeon hole' the book of Matthew.

         Similarly, with every book of the New Testament, especially since we have gone through them a number of times, we must avoid the danger of pigeon- holing every one of them.

Ephesians & Colossians are 'Sister Books'

We have come to the review of the last two chapters of Colossians this week. There is so much in every book in the Bible, especially the three 'prison epistles' of Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. Even though we have spent nearly a year going through just these three books, some saints have expressed that we have come to the end of Colossians too quickly. In taking our time going through each book, we know each epistle has a different emphasis. However, it is important that we maintain the same principle of not "pigeon holing" any of them so that we will not restrict what we can benefit by them.

Every epistle written to the churches was for the exhortation and encouragement at that particular time and for their particular situations. They were written for the saints to be built together so that God's purpose could be accomplished. The two 'prison epistles' of Ephesians and Colossians occupy an important position among the epistles so much so that we sometimes refer to them as the heart of the divine revelation.   

         Most serious Bible students know that the book of Ephesians is on the Church and the book of Colossians is on Christ. They are often called "sister books".  In sequence of the New Testament, Colossians comes after Ephesians but in time of writing, both were written when Paul was in prison in Rome. Some say Ephesians was written before Colossians while others say Colossians was written after Ephesians. The reason they gave for Colossians being written after  Ephesians given because Paul said he was made a minister to complete the word of God in Colossians 1:25:   

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil (complete, Darby) the word of God, (Col 1:25) 

If this was so, don't you think it is more logical that the revelation of Christ should also be placed before the revelation of the Church? My point is the Bible is not for us to understand in a logical and natural way.

Although each book has its own emphasis and prominence - Ephesians  on the Church, the Body; Colossians on Christ, the Head; Ephesians is not exclusively on the Church, and neither is Colossians exclusively on Christ. Actually, Christ is very prominent in Ephesians and so is the Church very prominent in Colossians. 

Ephesians and Colossians have similarities. Both books can be divided into two parts. Ephesians has six chapters which can be divided into two parts of three chapters each. The first three chapters constitutes the truths concerning the Church, and last three chapters is on the practice in the Church life. Or you might say the first part shows us what the Church is, and the second part is shows us how to conduct oneself in the Church. Similarly, Colossians can be divided into two parts containing two chapters each. The first two chapters reveal the truths concerning Christ, and the next two chapters contain the practical aspects of the Christian life. In other words, the first part of Colossians shows that anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus has received Christ as his life, and the second part of Colossians is shows us how to experience Christ as our life. 

Christ Our Life versus Asceticism

When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. (Col 3:4)  

Christ who is our life is not just for us to keep this to ourselves. Christ who is our life is for us to live out practically. In the second half of Colossians, Paul uses a   pair of expressions that describe how to live this out practically. It is "put off the old man" and "put on the new man".

Lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, (Col 3:9)  

And have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him: (Col 3:10) 

At that time, the Church in Colossé had come under the influence of certain human philosophies and prevailing teachings that distracted the saints from living a normal Christian life. They were distracted from pursuing a normal Christian life to live Christ as life and to enjoy the Church life. They were not 'nominal' believers but ones who actually tried to follow the Lord. So Paul was trying to help them live such a life and at the same time he had to counter the distracting teachings that were frustrating them,

         When one is saved, one's spirit is regenerated. This means the conscience (which is a part of the spirit) has become sensitive. And when one's conscience is sensitive, there is the desire to do something to appease it when it condemns you. The teaching of asceticism arose in order to deal with condemnations of the conscience. Asceticism is to rely on one's own efforts to deal with one's own flesh in order to appease one's conscience.

         Asceticism requires you to deal with the self, the flesh by your own efforts. For example, you have to deal with your temper, your greed, your  hatred, your offensive speech, your jealousy, and all the other things that are wrong with your flesh. For a Christian, to have to deal with all these things of the flesh is to realize that something is wrong with the old man. You may resolve not to do it again when such a behavior arises but it does not work to appease your  sensitive conscience. Some religions even go as far as to teach you to withdraw from society in order that the flesh will not be provoked. What asceticism is trying to accomplish is to appease one's conscience.       

Peace in the New Man

Paul showed the Colossians that for them to deal with and to appease their conscience was not enough. To withdraw from society like some taught was impractical. In order to be practical, Paul introduced these terms "putting off the old man" and "putting on the new man". In Ephesians 2:14-16 Paul said:

For He is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, (Eph 2:14) 

Having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that He might create in Himself of the two one new man, so making peace; (Eph 2:15) 

And might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Eph 2:16) 

These verses in Ephesians help us to understand what Paul wrote in Colossians.  Christ is our peace and has made both one. When Paul wrote the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the "both" referred to the Jews and the Gentile believers at that time. The middle wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles created the enmity because of the commandments in ordinances in the Jewish law. You might say it was like an ancient Berlin Wall that prevented the free flow of traffic between the East and the West.

Ordinances were the daily practices according to the Jewish religion. They created a gulf between the two camps. And especially when one side forces the other to comply, there could not be any peace. So when the new man was created on the cross, the middle wall of partition was broken down, the enmity was slain. There is now peace in the new man. Both the Jews and Gentiles in Colossé could now have a "clean slate" between them. But the "both" has its application in every age.    

New Man Needs Renewing

Paul continued in Ephesians 4:22-24 and Colossians 3:9-10 about the new man by saying that the new man needs to be renewed:

That ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; (Eph 4:22)

And that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (Eph 4:23)

And put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. (Eph 4:24)

Lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, (Col 3:9) 

And have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him: (Col 3:10) 

From Ephesians 2, previously, we know that the new man refers to the Body of Christ. Then why then does the new man need to be renewed? What does this mean? This is because the new man is dynamic! As time marches on and  Christ has not yet returned, the new man must still continue. As times change, the composition of the new man is constantly changing.  

         New York City is a wonderful illustration of what I mean. It is known as the 'melting pot' for new immigrants. From the 1960s to till today in 2013, the composition of this 'melting pot' of immigrants is constantly changing. And so is the new man. This is why I say the new man is dynamic. It is not to say that the new man is not new. We must always come to the cross to have a 'clean slate' for the new man. This is why especially true for us who have been in the Body of Christ for a while. We must be ready to be renewed. Do not impose your Church life ordinance on the new ones.  

God in His sovereignty will bring in new ones to New York City. When I first came to New York City in the late 1950s, Billy Graham had his Gospel Crusade in 1957 in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. In 1960, he returned to New York City for his first Spanish speaking crusade. Then in 1969 he returned to New York City and held his meetings in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan again. The in 1970 he returned to New York City and this time he held his meetings in Shea Stadium in Queens. It was called Billy Graham's  most cosmopolitan crusade in the world. Then in 1991 he returned to New York City and held his meeting in Central Park in Manhattan again. After an absence of more than a decade, in 2005, Billy Graham returned to New York City, and according to him, it would be his last visit to New York City, he chose Flushing Meadow Park in Queens instead of Manhattan. The reason he gave was that according to their own studies, over the years the dynamics of the city has changed. We have the census from 1960 thru 2012 to confirm this. Do you know what this is? This is the new man and the new man is dynamic.

The church will become stagnant if we do not preach the gospel. It is wonderful we have the monthly Chinese speaking gospel meetings, the English speaking gospel meeting coming up next month, and we will also be having a Spanish speaking gospel meeting soon. In every gospel meeting we bring in new ones. That means the new man is dynamic!

The new man is dynamic and therefore we need to be renewed. It is not that Christ is not new. Paul said in the new man "there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all" (Col 3:11). That was the composition of the new man at that time. The principle is the same today. This is not racial profiling. It only speaks to the fact that the new man is dynamic and we must be renewed.

And He came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: (Eph 2:17)

For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.  (Eph 2:18) 

Those who were nigh (or near) refers to the Jews and "those that were far off" refer to the Gentiles. The Jewish believers were the first in the early Church life and they preached the gospel to Gentiles. And through Christ, both the Jews and the Gentiles have access in one Spirit to the Father. Now there is peace.

         In the same way that the Jewish believers preached the gospel of peace to the Gentiles in the book of  Ephesians, we who have been saved a little longer and earlier must preach the gospel of peace to the latest composition of the population in New York City.

         Asceticism will not bring in peace in the new man. It only tries to bring peace to your own conscience. But it will not work. When you are dealing with others, your attitude, your prejudices and your arrogance cannot be overcome by your resolutions. It will not bring you peace. The only way is to put off the old man and put on the new man; not by asceticism but by being renewed.  

The Firstborn Of All Creation

Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love; (Col 1:13) 

In whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: (Col 1:14) 

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; (Col 1:15) 

For in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and unto Him; (Col 1:16) 

Controversy has been raised about Colossians 1:15 throughout Church history. Some said that since it mentions the Son is the firstborn of all creation, the divinity of Christ is no longer there; it emphasizes only His humanity. However, they fail to include the first part of verse 15 and verse 16 which says, "Who is the image of the invisible God", and "for in Him all things were created", and "all things have been created through Him, and unto Him".

In Genesis 1:26, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over ...". This was God's purpose for creating man - for image and dominion. Then in Genesis 1:27, "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him...".  That is, man was created in the image of the Son.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18) 

God is holy, all powerful, invisible and dwells in unapproachable light. Yet He desires to have an expression in the universe. In John 1:1 we saw that the Son  was the Word, and "the Word was with God, and the Word was God"; and John 1:14 continues:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacle, Young's) among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. (John 1:18) 

"The Word became flesh" speaks of incarnation - God becoming a man. And "we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father" meant that Christ was God the Father's glory. Glory is the expression of God the Father. Therefore the Son who declares the Father is the expression of the Father. He is the "image of the invisible God" who has declared Him. In other words, the Son who is the image of the invisible God fulfills God's desire to have an expression in the universe.   

But God's desire is not just to have the only Begotten Son to express Him. In Romans 8:28-29:

And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) 

For whom He foreknew, He also foreordained to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren: (Rom 8:29) 

So now with Romans 8:29 you can understand what Colossians 1:15 means when it says, "Who is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation". As man is the head of God's creation, so the Son, who is the image of the invisible God, is the head of all creation. He  is no longer the Only Begotten but He is now the "firstborn among many brethren'.   

         On the cross the Lord Jesus accomplished redemption and in resurrection the He is no longer the Only Begotten. He has become the firstborn among many brethren. Those of us who have believed God and who have His life, can live a life on the earth just like the firstborn Son, who expresses the Father. This is so that "all things were created through Him and unto Him". I hope that after this short summary, all of us will be able to give a proper answer when the question of the divinity of Christ is raised in Colossians 1:15.

One New Man

         On the cross the Lord Jesus also created the one new man. His salvation is always effective in every age. Hence the new man is dynamic. We have not only received the life of Christ, but we can also live in peace with one another. On the cross the new man was created in an atmosphere of peace. So in Colossians we not only see  Christ is "the mystery of God" (Col 2:2), that is, He expresses God; we also see the Church in the light of the new man.

         In my previous message, I mentioned that I was touched by the testimony of an elderly  brother who was recently saved. He said Colossians 3:9-10 sounds so easy. All you do is take it off and put it on. But in practice, it's not so easy.

Lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, (Col 3:9) 

And have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him: (Col 3:10) 

This is because Colossians 3 deals with conduct and practices and  like anger, wrath, malice, shameful speaking, and so forth. These are the things that you have to deal with the self in the context of our interaction with others. These are all the things in our fallen nature. Even though you are a Christian, sometimes hurting words like a sword just blurt out and you can't help it. Neither resolutions nor asceticism can work to control it. The only solution is to put on the new man.    

The Peace of Christ & The Word of Christ

         To put off the old man and put on the new man is not sequential. It's not what you try to do but it's all a matter of peace. Paul said:

And let the peace of Christ rule (preside, Darby) in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col 3:15) 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. (Col  3:16)

To preside is to have the final say, to referee or to arbitrate. To let the peace of Christ make the final decision in your heart is the way to put on the new man. In other words, it is very easy when we are with others to create an 'un-peaceful' or unpleasant  situation.  These 2 verses are the 'litmus tests' of whether we put on the new man or not.   

Paul followed this by introducing the different human relationships from Colossians 3:18 to 4:1. A brother asked why did Paul specifically mention, "Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged" in Colossians 3:21? Is not "parents love your children and teach them" enough? Why does Paul specifically use the word "provoke"? The reason is that within the family environment it is very easy for parents to disturb the harmonious and peaceful relationship with their children. 

A sister testified last night that she used to tell her children, "The Bible says, children obey your parents in all things," with emphasis on "all". If she did not emphasize 'all' it was not so bad, but once she insists on it, the harmonious atmosphere was broken. That is not putting on the new man.

The same principles apply in Colossians 3 and 4, and in Ephesians 5 and 6. When one party tries to make the other party conform to the teachings mentioned there, especially between husband and wife, it actually disturbs the peace. For example, if the husband insists on the wife submitting to him, the harmony in the human relationship is disturbed. In every human relationship the enemy will always try to create an atmosphere of confrontation, not one of peace and acceptance. We all need to preach the gospel of peace to ourselves first.   

      Christ has created on the cross "in Himself of the two one new man, so making peace" (Eph 2:15) . We can apply this to all our human relationships. It was between Jews and Greeks or between slaves and masters then. Today in our midst we can apply it between the English speaking and the Spanish speaking saints, or between any other groups. We were all called in one body and we must be thankful. To the children, you must be thankful for your parents; to siblings, be thankful for the environment you are in; to the serving ones we all must help the children to learn of God's sovereignty. God wants us to experience putting on the new man so that we can be in a peaceful relationship, not just to co-exist with each other; not just within the family, but with all the saints.

In Colossians 3:16 Paul said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" and he continued in Colossians 4:6 with:

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. (Col 4:6)

Some saints have morning watch with another one, some have scheduled prayer times with another. This is not only for your personal supply but also for you to have something to give to others. This is to have our speech be "always with grace, seasoned with salt".

At Peace

          At the time of writing the book of Colossians, Paul was in prison and at an advanced age. Yet he was neither a bitter old man nor did he show any signs of self pity for the environment he was in. He was at peace. He practiced what he preached. If we really put off the old man and put on the new man, we will be at peace with God and at peace with men. Paul said:

Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; (Col 4:2) 

Withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; (Col 4:3) 

That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Col 4:4) 

This shows he still was experiencing Christ as life for the Church in whatever situation he was in. This is to put off the old man and put on the new man. He was contented and at peace.  

Paul concluded the book of Colossians with half a chapter of greetings. An epistle of only 4 chapters, he spent half a chapter on greetings. Why? Because he was happy and contented and Tychicus, "the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord" (Col 4:7), could comfort their hearts with this news concerning them.

Together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here. (Col 4:9)

Onesimus  was a runaway slave from Philemon. This was mentioned in Paul's epistle to Philemon. You can see here, Paul's goal was to bring peace between Onesimus and Philemon. This is the real putting on the new man

Christ is our Life, Church is our Living

In conclusion, what the book of Colossians is about can be summarized by this, 'Christ is our life and the Church is our living'. We have Christ as our life, and we can put off the old man and have the Church as our living  when we put on the new man. This means we are at peace with God and at peace with all men. The new man is dynamic and we must preach the gospel of peace. In this peaceful relationship the church can be edified and built just like in Acts 9:31:

So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied. (Acts 9:31) 

This is how God's purpose can be accomplished.