20140525
For the past 5 months of 2014, we studied the book of Colossians. Apostle Paul’s letter is just as relevant today as at the time when he wrote it. The names of the different heresies and wrong teachings might have changed along with many of the religious and philosophical ideas but certain elements are always there. Today, religious tolerance is interpreted to mean “one religion is just as good as another”. To the world, Jesus is only one of several great religious teachers, with no more authority than the rest. He may be prominent, but is definitely not preeminent.
Colossians is about the supremacy of Jesus. He has no equal among other religious leaders because He and He alone is God’s Son and “the Way and the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Col. 1:15). “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, 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” (Col. 2:13-14). On the basis of the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His glorious resurrection, the Apostle Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Many early Christians were killed in the Roman Empire under the Caesars because they proclaimed “Jesus is Lord” and were not able to say “Caesar is Lord”. In like manner, we proclaim “Jesus is Lord” in our lives and hold fast to the truths taught in the Bible in totality and without adulteration. We apply the practical commands in our daily lives – “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3:1–2). Demas was mentioned in Col. 4:14 as sending greetings to the Colossians but in 2 Tim. 4:10 we are told that he loved this world and deserted Paul – he had given up his faith. We must by God’s grace and mercy simply press on in our Christian lives – until Jesus comes! “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” (Col. 2:6–7).
