Colossians 2:9-7

Colossians 2:9-7  I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.  My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.  For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.  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. 

When Paul wrote his pastoral letters, he desired these nascent churches to comprehend fully the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  He struggled for their growth in Christ, for these believers' roots to grow deep in the faith they had accepted when they received Christ Jesus as Lord.  His holy aim and firm resolve was that these new Christians might not waver but remain well-grounded in understanding by faith they were founded IN CHRIST as new creatures, collectively known as the body of Christ.  Because of his former life, Paul understood the dangers of religion outside of the power of the cross and the cleansing blood of Jesus.  He knew how easily the flesh becomes subtly distracted and begins mixing law with grace by returning to old patterns and worldly methods, trying to build a relationship with God based on works instead of God's unmerited favor.  He desired to affirm these babies in Christ because if they began to turn from the truth of Christ's work in them, they might leave the purity of the new covenant, the gospel of faith in Christ alone and look for security in religious ceremonies, sacred days, and righteous works based on human efforts.  He wanted them to know beyond any doubt the grace and mercy given to them through Christ remained powerful enough to save their souls for all eternity.  He was a loving spiritual father with a passion for these dearly beloved brothers and sisters, even those he had not met personally.  Yet he did not want to come across as a righteous judge.  We see this love in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica: You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.  (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Paul's heart welled up within him with a vision for this church, this people of God gathered together in Colosse in Jesus' name.  He encouraged these beginners in Christ to be united in love, to develop a oneness in attitude, purpose, and action for the benefit of the community of Christ.  He wanted these new Christians to understand their position, purpose, and privilege as members of the living body of Christ.  They weren't outside of Christ praying for his blessing or for some type of special visitation from God that might set them apart for some future service.  No, Paul cried out with a missionary zeal to these converts, describing what he saw with spiritual eyes for the Colossian church as he told them not be led astray by any fine-sounding arguments.  He wanted them to know they were IN CHRIST, FILLED WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT.  Paul struggled in prayer for them because he knew the wolves of dissension lay in wait to scatter the flock and to devour the weak ones.  He knew the evil one, the deceiver, would try to lead some astray if they did not understand and walk in their position in Christ.  He knew these Gentile believers came directly out of complete darkness into the light.  Paul understood the powers of evil would not easily release their hold on the newly saved.  Peter was writing to Christians when he encouraged the church:  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  (1Peter 5:8-9)  Paul wanted these believers to know he was contending for them, believing for their spiritual success through the wondrous power of the cross.  He was saying even though he was absent from them, he was there in the spirit, confident in who Christ was in them, seeing them strong in the faith.  Therefore, he encourages them to serve Christ in his body, the church, strengthened in the faith as they had learned to do, overflowing with thankfulness.  

Today, many people gather on Sunday mornings as observers of events planned to please God and to comfort people, and others take part as casual participants in spiritual exercises that do not translate into their everyday walking about lives.  Modern-day christianity in some instances has adopted the philosophy that sitting in a pew, singing a few songs, and listening to an engaging sermon is the epitome of worship.  We who are IN CHRIST were not meant to sit in some building, worshipping Christ, independent of each other.  As surely as we are in that building, we are IN CHRIST, AN INTEGRAL LIVING PART OF HIS BODY, CALLED TO FUNCTION, CALLED TO SERVE, TO LIVE OUT THAT CALLING.  We are the pancreas, the colon, the little toe of a body.  When the body works as it should, the Bible says, we grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.  (Ephesians 4:15-16)   If we view ourselves as merely sitting with a group of people, going through the exercise of worship, our attitude is completely wrong.  We are not students of a historical Christ, what He did a long time ago.  We are not bemoaning what He has not done.  We are not spectators of the paid performers who are the church staff: we are his body, necessary to each other.  If we don't function IN CHRIST as Paul instructs, we will not have the joy, peace, and love that will cure the ills of the world.  Paul commended the Colossians for their orderliness and firmness of faith as they functioned for the benefit Christ.  When the body of Christ squeezes itself into that building to sing, worship, listen, testify and provide for each member as we ought, then the body is rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith.  May the Spirit grow our roots down deep in you, Lord!