This Sunday Looking at Colossians ch 2

At our ecclesia, the same as in many other ecclesiae, last year and this year we had no opportunity to meet each other face-to-face. Like the apostle Paul in his time, we also do know that doesn’t make any difference, because at the present time we have to live on the safe side, avoiding infecting each other.

As brothers and sisters united, in and with Christ, we do know that we are on each other’s side, right alongside each other. We also do know that we are not in this alone.

Once more we come together in a virtual meeting this Sunday morning. In many places people may mix with each other as if there is nothing at hand. But we do not feel such urge to copy the behaviour of the world, and prefer to stay in our little bubble. Lots of people are in this time of pandemic focussing on pleasure and travelling. They focus on the “after corona“, on the “what’s next”.

At this meeting we, like in the previous weeks, shall feel our connection with each other, knowing that there is the love for Christ but also the love for each other that connects us. If there is anywhere that God wants to meet us, it is in the present, at this moment, exactly where and how we are.

The apostle Paul in his time also wanted those followers of Christ woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.

“that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, [even] Christ,” (Col 2:2 ASV)

We love to see our minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery, to find all the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge which are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And the great thing about is that we’ve been shown the mystery!

“in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.” (Col 2:3 ASV)

As a small ecclesia we just want to go forwards and do not want to lead someone off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or “the Secret.”

“This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.” (Col 2:4 ASV)

We want to arrange our church matters carefully and conduct them in orderly ways with the solid substance of our faith in Christ. Whatever happens in the world we continue on our path, even when we know that we are just a very small community. We go ahead with what we’ve been given.

“As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in him,” (Col 2:6 ASV)

Our aim and hope is to be deeply rooted in him and to be well constructed upon him. Once we’ve accepted Jesus as our master and wanting to call ourselves Christian, we must continue to follow him and to keep to his teachings (and not to false human doctrines). To let our roots grow down into him, we should take his words into our heart, but wanting to be part of his body we should let his blood go through our veins and let his words come to all those around us. His words we take at heart, to build our lives on him, who we have taken as our example. To give our faith the opportunity to grow strong in the truth we’ve been taught. Altogether, we want to help each other to build up our faith, so that each will know their way around the faith.

“rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col 2:7 ASV)

Each day, we sent our prayers up to our Father in heaven. We are not afraid to show our need for Him but also let our living spill-over into thanksgiving.

Being a minority faith group, we are aware of the dangers of others trying to convince us that we would be wrong. Therefore, we also want to warn our members and those who want to come to us, to watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ.

“Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:” (Col 2:8 ASV)

As followers of the sent one from God, we got to know his Father very well and are aware that everything of God gets expressed in Him. So we can ‘see’ and ‘hear’ Him clearly. We don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realise the greatness of Jesus’ heavenly Father nor for seeing the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him.

“for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,” (Col 2:9 ASV)

Today, like on other days that we come together to praise Jehovah our God, by being willing to give ourselves to God and His beloved son we get that warm feeling that fullness comes together for us, too. Together we feel that marvellous power that extends over everything.

“and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:” (Col 2:10 ASV)

We are fully aware that this is only possible through what Christ has already gone through for us, destroying the power of sin.

“in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;” (Col 2:11 ASV)

We have been through an initiation ritual by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of our old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising us from the dead as he did Christ.

“having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:12 ASV)

That old life most of us have already done away with several years ago. But that does not mean we can be tempted to another life, without Christ. The adversaries of God are still there, active as always. They shall not give up soon. They even do know that as they try harder and harder, they often manage to get people away from God, to abandon the idea of God or to come to worship two or three-headed godships.

Let us not forget:

“And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, [I say], did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;” (Col 2:13 ASV)

God brought us alive —right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant cancelled and nailed to Christ’s stake. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the stake and marched them naked through the streets.

“having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;” (Col 2:14 ASV)

So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days.

“16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.” (Col 2:16-17 ASV)

Yes, we believe Jesus liberated us of all the chains of this world. We have him as the substance of our life. The source of our life is the Nazarene Jeshua ben Josef, whom we believe is the Christ, the Messiah who puts us together in one piece. In us we let his, very breath and blood flow through us. Having taken him as the head of our body, believing that we can grow up healthy in God only as Jesus and his heavenly Father nourish us.

“18 Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.” (Col 2:18-19 ASV)

We, united with Christ, have put all those pretentious and infantile religions behind us.

Today we are pleased that once more, even when not in real life, we can meet with brothers from all over the world in our virtual meeting. Together we keep rejoicing and no matter what happens, when we leave the service we still shall be rejoicing loudly so that others shall be able to hear and may question why we are so pleased and joyful. To all that can hear we shall let them know that we have come into a period where it is high time to show the world that Jesus is the way given to find real peace, good health and the right way to God.

Preceding

1st thought for today “The world may be wicked” (January 16)

Today’s thought “That you be united in the same mind” (February 20)

A breathing ecclesia

Today’s service from Mons

Avoiding friction and distraction in the body of Christ

Today’s thought “Bearing fruit” (November 13)

Today’s thought “Rooted and built up in him” (November 14)