BEN F. VICK, JR.
The city of Colosse in Asia Minor was located about one hundred miles east of Ephesus and approximately 1000 miles east of Rome. Colosse was in the region of Phrygia. Pagan religion was rampant in the region. The Syrian king, Antiochus, imported 2000 Jewish families there in 170 B.C. It has been estimated that there were maybe 50,000 Jews in the area in the first century. So, Colosse was influenced by both paganism and Judaism. It may well have been a mixture of both, a syncretic religion, with a mixture of Judaism having been greater. This is gathered by the response that Paul gives in Colossians 2.
In Colossians 1, Paul emphasizes the preeminence of Christ (1: 15-20). His preeminence is expressed by the fact that He is the Creator of all, the Sustainer of all and the Redeemer of the obedient ones. Amid exhortations for growth and warnings of false teachers, the apostle Paul wrote, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” (Col. 2:10.)
The Greek word (πληρόω) which is translated: “ye are complete” means to “fill up to the full.” One interlinear translated the word, “you have been made full.” If one’s cup is full, then nothing can be added. If one is complete in Christ, there is no reason to look elsewhere for completeness. Many in the world are looking for purpose in life. They may consider some denomination, Eastern religion or a cult; however, one will not find purpose, completeness in anything but in Christ.
If one is complete in Christ, then he is incomplete outside of Christ. Therefore, one needs to be in Christ. So, how does one get into Christ? Faith in Christ is necessary (John 8:24; Heb. 11:6). One must repent of his sins (Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38). Confessing Christ is essential (Rom. 10:9-10). Baptism puts one into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27).
If one’s life is complete in Christ, why would there be a need to return to Judaism, paganism or some mixture of the two? Paul had warned, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col. 2:8.) He also pointed out that the Law of Moses, “the handwriting of the ordinances” had been nailed to Jesus’ cross (Col. 2:14-15). Then, Paul added, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Col. 2:16-17.) “Let no man therefore judge you….” he said. “Judge” here means “take you to task.” The tense of the verb indicates stopping an action in motion. Some were already taking them to task because they did not observe those ordinances of the law of Moses.
Those ordinances – dietary laws, the feast days and the sabbaths (under the Law of Moses) were a mere shadow of that which was to come (Heb. 10:1)? Why would one go back to the shadow when he could enjoy the substance?
It is beyond my comprehension why any member of the Lord’s church would leave Christ for some denomination. None of them can be found in the New Testament. Did the person not find fulfillment in Christ? Did he or she not realize that all spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3)? Was he or she looking at the imperfections of the members? Did the individual take his focus off the Captain of our Salvation?
SIGN IN CLINIC:
“May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness walk through your door.”
BIBLE CLASS
A new quarter has started for our children’s Bible classes. You never know what children will say in class! Here is an example—true story:
The teacher was reviewing the Bible lesson with her 2-4 year olds. She asked them, “Who was the Jewish ruler who came to see Jesus by night?” One bright 2 year old promptly answered, “Nakedemous, but he had clothes on.”