JESUS, THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHER We have been subjected to a marvelous proclamation of the accomplishments of Christ Jesus. They have been declared as the work of God Himself, for Jesus was fulfilling the Father's will in every facet of salvation. Jesus made peace because God desired, and purposed, that peace should be made. God reconciled all things to Himself through Jesus because that is what He desired, and therefore that is what He willed, or purposed. Those who were formerly alienated and enemies in their mind by wicked works have been reconciled because that is what God wanted. In the body of His flesh Jesus bore the sins of the world, laying down His life a ransom for many, then taking it up again. This He did in order that the reconciled ones might be presented to God holy, without blame, and without a single accusation against them. This is what the Father desired, and the Son, joining Him in that desire, heartily fulfilled the will of the Father. -- Tomorrow:
Devotion 32 of 32
God set before the Son the joy of a bride, the pleasure of having joint heirs, and many brethren. He promised to give Him the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession (Psa 2:8). When the Lord Jesus considered the greatness of it all, and the magnificent purpose for which He came into the world, He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. It was for "the joy that was set before Him" that He "endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb 12:2).
This is why Jesus Christ is the focal point of the Kingdom of God. It is why the Scriptures all of them testify of Him (John 5:39). It is why it pleased the Father that in Him should "all fulness dwell" (1:19). The Gospel pertains to Jesus. It is not the Gospel of the Spirit, the Gospel of the church, or the Gospel of good works. The thrust of the Good News is not what men should do, but what Jesus has done. The "power of God" is not found in an institution, but in the Gospel. Everything was made by Him and for Him. These are the continual declarations of the Apostle's doctrine, in which the people of God are to continue.
How is it that Jesus is so easily upstaged in the modern church? How can other themes be presented as though they were the sum and substance of the Gospel? Why is it that religious careers, worldly wisdom, and passing fads and trends are getting so much attention? Why is "preaching the Word" being viewed as a secondary thing a sort of auxiliary activity of the church? What reasons can be adduced for the prevailing ignorance concerning Christ Jesus that exists among professing believers?
Ah, these are merely rhetorical questions. The existence of these circumstances is no mystery. It is because neither the Lord Jesus nor the Gospel that proclaims Him is comprehended. The love of God has not been discerned, and thus other things have appeared to be more important.
This is precisely why this epistle was written. There were certain encroachments happening among the disciples that made days, seasons, and disciplines more important than Jesus. It was an intolerable situation, requiring that the hearts of the people be once again turned to the Captain of their salvation.
Now, in our time, and in our part of the world, it is time for the real people of God to stand up. There may be tremendous social issues that are demanding our attention like the collapse of the family, the removal of religion from daily life, the spread of sodomy, abortion, and the likes. All of these things are completely unacceptable, and are to be condemned. But they are not the foundational issue. As evil as these things are, they are not where the brightest light is to be shined.
Do not think for a solitary moment that there were not social vices extant in the days of the Apostles. There were rulers like Herod, Pilate, and Caesar. There were goddesses of lust, where the base desires of people had been deified. Their were temple prostitutes and all manner of occultic, or curious, arts. The majority of the Roman citizenry was slaves, and the form of entertainment that was on the horizon involved fierce bloodshed. Taxation was out of hand, and laws were being passed against the free expression of Christians. Troubles like this did not begin with this generation.
When the Apostles of Christ came, they did not bring a social Gospel, nor did they focus on the ills of Roman society. They held up the Lord Jesus Christ, proclaiming and expounding Him with power. They knew that sin was reigning because of the ignorance of God, and that immorality was the result of the lack of sanctification. They knew if ever people were born again, sin would lose its dominancy, and people would be responsive to Divine directives.
Our day, however, is even more complicated than the first century. The Gospel has been preached, penetrating every segment of the world before the first century had entered its second half (Col 1:23). In our very country, the Gospel of Christ became a byword. Numerous revivals spread across the country, and morality was more advanced than in many other nations of the world. Some of us can remember when there was a far better spiritual climate than there is now. What has happened? Why is iniquity increasing and the wicked spreading themselves like a green bay tree? Why does the fabric of society seem to be tearing away at the seams?
In my judgment, the fault for these conditions may be laid at the feet of the professing church. Although it was Divinely appointed to be the custodian of the truth the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15), it chose to refrain from lifting up the "banner" given to it by its Head (Psa 60:4). It chose to emphasize other things, train specialists in other fields, and be more entertaining than informative. It elected to entertain rather than edify, and to please sinners rather than to convict them. It converted its schools to scholastics formats that were more pleasing to the world, and opened their doors to all manner of carnality.
The short of the story is that God has nowhere pledged to dwell with such a people. He has never committed to undergird the kind of efforts that are now prominent in many churches. God's standards have been the same from the very first days of the church. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor 6:18).
The book of Colossians, together with several other Epistles, are intended to shut the door to the intrusions of the flesh. It is designed to readjust the focus of those who are in Christ Jesus, so that He is again seen as He really is. Solemnly we are told, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Col 2:6). We initially "received" Him because we heard about Him. We received Him "at the first" because He became preeminent in our thinking. Herein is the secret to spiritual growth and recovery. This is the means whereby establishment will be realized, and the blessing of the Lord obtained. The Lord Jesus must be seen as preeminent. If He is not seen in this way, God will neither bless us nor be with us. Life is thus lived in vain.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus I thank You for a reconciliation that extended further than the curse, and brings back more than was taken away.