Built Up in Christ

February 10, 2013

Lesson: Colossians 2:4–15

Key Verse: Colossians 2:6–7

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Introduction

It was on the evening before the feast of “All Saints,” October 31, 1517, that Martin Luther nailed to the door of Wittenberg, his 95 theses. His words spoke against the selling of indulgences, as if salvation and forgiveness could be bought by a coin thrown into the box of Tetzel. Tetzel carried a red cross, preaching, “This cross has as much efficacy as the cross of Jesus Christ.” Luther carried God’s Word, saying, “For Christ did not design that our comfort, our hope and our salvation should be built on a word or work of man, but solely on himself and on his word.” We have, in the 14th verse, these words of Paul, “having nailed it to the cross.” When Paul spoke of being sent to preach the gospel, he distinguished the gospel with these words: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). Our sins are nailed, not to a wooded cross, but to Christ Himself, the Savior who was nailed to HIS cross, that we might know the Father and His forgiveness. It is to His cross to which we come today, to learn more about what Christ has accomplished for us on Calvary’s cross.

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Established in the Faith—Colossians 2:4–7

There are congregations that love to have their ears tickled with homespun stories, illustrations that don’t challenge the heart and words that keep the body sitting comfortable in the pew. This kind of preaching and hearing does harm to the soul redeemed by the precious blood of Christ; for there is no real growth in faith, unless it is firmly established and nourished in the Word of God. Paul reminds the saints that they must be aware of those who would deceive the children of God with persuasive or enticing words. It is a horror for a pastor who has counseled a member, only to discover the he or she is being led astray by appealing lies. However, Paul’s heart is rejoicing; for he sees the steadfastness of their faith in Christ.

Let us continue in the Word of God, attending to these words of Paul, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Paul “would not have them simply remain immovable, but would have them grow every day more and more. When he adds, with thanksgiving, he would have them always keep in mind from what sources faith itself proceeds, that they may not be puffed up with presumption, but may rather with fear repose themselves in the gift of God” (John Calvin, Commentary).

Discussion: Why must our faith be nourished by the Word of God?

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The Godhead—Colossians 2:8–10

There will be those who would cheat us, leading us astray by deceits, which come by way of man’s traditions. Are we to live according to the principles of this world? Is it true that character doesn’t count, that history can be rewritten to express the beliefs of the liars? The question we should ask ourselves is this: “Who shall be our teacher?” Scripture claims that the truth shall make us free. Truth is best known to us by way of revelation. It is God alone who knows what is true, and what is not true. Christ Himself is known as the Truth. Therefore, our first step to knowing the truth of our redemption in Christ, and how we should walk in righteousness, is to be taught by the Spirit through His Word.

We must take the warning of Paul seriously, to “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit.” Justin the Martyr confronted the philosophers of his day, those who accused the Christians of being “atheists,” bringing in a new deity while they served their gods, who committed all kinds of crimes and evil. He answered: “Hence are we called atheists. And we confess that we are atheists, so far as gods of this sort are concerned, but not with respect to the most true God, the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is free from all impurity. But both Him, and the Son (who came forth from Him and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels who follow and are made like to Him), and the prophetic Spirit, we worship and adore, knowing them in reason and truth, and declaring without grudging to every one who wishes to learn, as we have been taught.”

We are the atheists of this world, for we do not bow down to their gods. We come to Christ alone; and this is our testimony: that in Him alone we know the “fullness of the Godhead.” The truth of the Triune God is the core of our proclamation of the Gospel, the revelation of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Him alone we are made “complete.” Christ alone is the “head of all principality and power.” The second Person in the Godhead is the King of kings who has absolute authority over all things, both in heaven and on earth, whether they are the office of the magistrate, or the traditions of man. He is far above all dominions, the Father having put “all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things in the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:21–23).

Discussion: What does it mean for Christ to be the fullness of the godhead?

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The Circumcision—Colossians 2:11–12

The circumcision given to Moses was a figure of Christ’s work upon the cross. The circumcision of Christ is the circumcision of our hearts. It is a divine work of God himself. This is illustrated in the words, “buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” What do we mean by this, “buried with Him in baptism?”

Let us put aside the outward act of baptism by water. That is only a sign. Here we have the reality of our regeneration by the blood of Christ. Being buried with him in baptism, we truly identified with Christ in his death upon the cross. In other words, our sins were nailed to Christ. He was identified as the sinner in our place, thereby taking upon himself the punishment we really deserved. Therefore, we were buried with Him. This is the work of God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead. In other words, we find our victory and resurrection in Christ, who accomplished a complete salvation for us: the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.

Discussion: What does it mean for us to be crucified with Christ?

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The Cross—Colossians 2:13–15

Speaking to the Gentiles who came to Christ, uncircumcised in the flesh, and therefore not of the body of Israel who had the sign of circumcision, Paul brought them to an understanding of their being engrafted to Christ, and so to the everlasting Body. They were like all men, dead in their sins. They were estranged from Jehovah God, not knowing his covenant and tender mercies. In the words of Calvin, “If you understand it in its proper sense, the meaning will be, ‘Uncircumcision’ is the badge of alienation from God; for where the covenant of grace is not, there is pollution.” We also were dead in our sins, alienated from the true God. In Christ, however, we were “quickened together with (Christ),” having all of our sins, our transgressions forgiven. We are now identified with Christ and his work on the cross of Calvary. We are like all those who have been made alive, one with another, in Christ. The Father has forgiven us our sins because of the redeeming work of his Son on His cross.

Because of our Savior’s cross, we understand “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us”; for Christ took the condemnation, which we deserve, and nailed it to His cross. That which was against us because of our trespasses is wiped out! No one can accuse us of being a transgressor of God’s Law, deserving eternal death. For as our sins were nailed to Christ on the cross, so also was every ‘true’ accusation against us. He ransomed our souls from these accusations, by taking them upon himself, and paying the penalty.

Therefore, every accusing tongue is made as a public spectacle, shown to be false, for he himself triumphed over sin and death. For to say that we still deserve death is to say that the grace of God in Christ Jesus and his shed blood were not sufficient for our salvation.

Discussion: How is the cross of Christ a triumph for us?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.