Part of the teachings found here is that God created everything with a purpose, including the spiritual realm. God gave everyone a free will. Even though all mankind and some of the angels chose sin, God is still sovereign and in control, and one day (at the right time) He will wrap things up.
Meanwhile, as people choose to believe in Jesus and His work on the cross, Jesus saves us from Satan's domain of darkness and brings us into God's light...
(Colossians 1:9-20) For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Much like the dangers of believing in evolution and how that theory is now being taught as fact in our schools today, Paul addressed the dangers of being deceived by a popular Colossians' philosophy which they deemed as fact - "according to the elementary principles".
That culture believed, based on the cosmic spirits of Hellenistic syncretism, that the stars were moved around by the powers of the angels. So not only did they seek guidance from the stars, but some of the people worshiped the "angels"...
(Colossians 2:8-15) See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Because Jesus has the victory and authority over the entire spiritual realm, Paul told the Colossians not to worship angels or follow the futile religious commandments invented by the (fallen) angels or mankind. Why worship the created when we can worship the Creator...
(Colossians 2:16-23) Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
From this we see:
- the Colossians' culture believed in a deceptive philosophy, based on the cosmic spirits of Hellenistic syncretism, that the stars were moved around by the powers of the angels. So not only did they seek guidance from the stars, but some of the people worshiped the "angels" (Col.2:8)
- God created everything, including the spiritual realm with a purpose, while giving angels and mankind free will. Even though all mankind and some of the angels chose sin, God is still in control and sovereign; and at the proper time, God will wrap all things up (Col.1:16-20)
- Jesus has the victory and authority over the spiritual realm (Col.2:15)
- when we believe, God saves us from Satan's domain of darkness and brings us into His light (Col.1:12-13)
- do not worship the angels (God's angels or demons), and do not believe the demon's deceptive visions (Col.2:18)
- if you believe in Christ the Creator of everything, do not follow futile teachings of empty religions, and do not worship the created (which includes the spiritual realm and the stars) (Col.2:20-23)
Personal experience: while the Colossians' philosophy made the stars and the angels their gods, evolution makes nature and people their gods. All of these take God out of the equation. And both of these, although man-made inventions, say they are based on fact. Although more and more, science itself is poking holes into the theory of evolution.
And still, in order not to look foolish to the world (and their classmates and colleagues) - I know there are a lot of Christians who will say that perhaps God used evolution to create everything. But there are some major flaws in this thinking. One of them being, if one is going to question part of the Bible, how can you believe and be confident in the rest of God's words?
Today's takeaway: are we going to believe and obey what mankind or angels say? Or are we going to believe and obey what God says?
Are we going to live as the world does? Or are we going to live and abide in God's will?...
(Colossians 2:1-23) Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
(Colossians 3:1-25) Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
No comments:
Post a Comment