Imagine being given the password to a smart, keyless door, yet every single day,  you stubbornly use a physical key trying to unlock it.  

Or being given a free ride to work, yet choosing to stand in the long queues and extended commutes every single day.  

Or maybe being provided an escalator for a safer, more stable, and more convenient access to the higher floors, yet opting for an old, brittle ladder.  

It's easy to conclude how foolish the choices of this person are when, clearly, there is an easier path to take. 

    Colossians has been the book I am reading with this small circle from church, with whom I meet twice a month. Our discussion of Colossians 1:15-23 led us to see the struggle of the believers in Colossae. Living in a society already hostile to their faith,  they are also being conflicted from within, as there were people inside the church that were swaying them with different teachings -- not entirely dismissing Christ but adding certain doctrines that promise a higher form of spirituality, access to secret knowledge, or having mystical visions; others were promoting self-denial to the point of harming the body to achieve spiritual maturity. These particular teachings are corrupting the church, so the Apostle Paul firmly reminded them of the truths that might have been buried amidst the consistent persecution from the outside and spread of these false gospels inside. 

 
dinner while in discussion

    Our discussion text for the week began with Paul's explicit description of Christ's supremacy --  him being above all the existing rulers or authorities, seen or unseen. It was a highly important statement of Paul, as this establishes Christ's preeminence over the existing deities or spiritual beliefs that the false teachers were promoting. 

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20

    Paul assures the Colossians that their salvation was secured by the One who is above ALL THINGS in heaven and on earth. It was a profound reminder that Christ, their Savior, is preeminent - all things were created through him and for him. With all the persecution and the sufferings,  it was easy for the Colossians to forget these truths. 

    This particularly hit us hard. Like the Colossians, we have reflected on how we also easily forget the richness of the glory of our Savior. Different manifestations, but the same idolatry. It was easier to look at our suffering or be distracted by something else rather than behold the majesty of the One who called us to Himself.

    Forgetting who Christ is results in devising new ways on how to 'secure' our salvation and performing certain acts as if doing so could earn us more favor before God. It was a rebuke to us because Scriptures tell us how everything is already accomplished in Christ -- that nothing can be added to it. He is enough. The cross is enough. Subscribing to the teachings brings unnecessary burdens that weary the soul. Resting in the assurance of Christ brings more glory to Him.
   
"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." Colossians 1:21-23

    Paul's reminder for the Colossians is the gospel.  He realigned their misguided hearts through the message of Christ's death and resurrection. It was both a warning and encouragement: if indeed they would continue in the faith and not shift towards a different gospel, they are reconciled with God and are presented holy and blameless and above reproach before him in Christ.

    The false teachings have misled a lot of people during their time, telling them their salvation is not enough and they still have to do this and that.  This sounds so familiar because, sadly, a lot of teachings still continue to mislead even professing believers today.  They have evolved in different forms and channels and have a way to attract our distracted gazes. With claims of a prosperous, suffering-free life if you do this and that, and no more health crisis if you give this and that -- they have completely distorted the purpose of Christ's death: it was reconciling us to Himself and therefore providing peace between God and us, setting us free from His wrath, not by our own performance but through His Son's.

   Embracing them would make someone like the foolish man who chooses to struggle his way inside when he has access to the key that opens the door, or exhausting himself walking when a transport was provided, or risking himself with a brittle ladder when there is a sturdy staircase that assures safety. 

   Like the Apostle Paul's reminder, the same gospel is what gives us a clearer lens and discernment today. Beholding Christ as the all-sufficient Savior leaves no room for every other enticing promise, and knowing Him deeply anchors the heart on a solid ground unmoved by empty deceits. 

Personal takeaways from our session:
  • Christ is the Creator and sustainer of ALL THINGS -- therefore, I can rest assured that my salvation and my life are being held steadfastly and lovingly by him alone.
  • Christ's death and resurrection have brought reconciliation between man and the Father. This is my greatest peace. No longer do I need to perform my way for God's favor; instead, I serve and strive to live obediently and faithfully as an overflow of the mercy I received in Christ. 

  • Paul's compassion for the Colossians led him to preach to them the truths that were so easily buried under the consistent persecution and suffering, and I ought to have the same zeal for the lost around us. 

We ended the night with a renewed understanding and zeal for the gospel message and, above all, gratitude for the peace and reconciliation brought by our Savior Jesus Christ. It was a session that made me look forward to the next one. :D


See you around!
- N