THE PRISON EPISTLES: NURTURE FOR OPPRESSED BELIEVERS

II. Colossians: Nurture In Living Focused On The Supremacy And All-Sufficiency Of Christ

J. Nurture In Applying Christ's Supremacy And All-Sufficiency To Our Walk

1. Nurture In Setting Our Attention On Our Positional Certainties In Christ

(Colossians 3:1-4)

I. Introduction

A. When Paul wrote the "Prison Epistles" of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon in his Roman imprisonment, his status as a prisoner troubled believers, cf. Philippians 1:12-13; Colossians 2:1-2; 4:7-8 and Philemon 22; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, p. 1672, "Introduction to the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians."

B. Even more disturbing was the pressure of the false Colossian heresy Paul wrote to counter, complete with its vain philosophy, legalism, mysticism and asceticism, cf. Colossians 2:1-23.

C. Thus, Paul's Colossians 3:1-4 statement on the believer's positional certainties in Christ provide great insight and direction amid pressures from government (Paul's imprisonment), religious foes (cults) and even the angelic conflict (worship of angels, visions, etc. in mysticism, cf. Col. 2:18) that we face today (as follows):

II. Nurture In Setting Our Attention On Our Positional Certainties In Christ, Colossians 3:1-4.

A. Upon critiquing the Colossian error, Paul wrote the partical, oun,"therefore" to make a conclusion, Col. 3:1a.

B. That conclusion directed that if the believer is risen with Christ, implying he has positionally died with Him to sin, the Law and the world (Rom. 6:2; Col. 2:20, 11-14 and Rom. 7:4), he should "'seek or strive earnestly' (cf. Rev. 9:6; 1 Cor. 7:27)" (Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 680) for the things in Christ that are above, Col. 3:1b.

C. Paul also directed the believer to set his "mind" (phroneo, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 874; Ibid., Bible Know. Com., N. T.) on things in Christ above and not on things on earth, Col. 1:2.

D. The basis for this orientation is that the believer has positionally died with Christ, his new life in Christ then being hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), so that when Christ who is the believer's spiritual Life shall appear for His Kingdom on the earth, the believer will also appear with Him in a glorified state, Colossians 3:4.

E. Yet, the reason for this heavenly orientation in the believer TODAY is provided in Paul's claim that in heaven right now, Christ sits on the right hand of God, Col. 3:1c. Reviewing what that enthronement entails provides great encouragement and direction for the Christian walk in view of problems believers face now (as follows):

1. Paul's description of Christ's enthronement at the Father's right hand in Ephesians 1:20-23 provides application and direction for Colossians 3:1-4, for the two epistles have "striking similarities" and hence a "close connection" as to subject matter, Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction, 1971, p. 481.

2. We thus view Ephesians 1:20-23 as applicable to Colossians 3:1-4 for direction and edification as follows:

a. The believer can strive earnestly for and set his mind on Christ above to offset concerns re: the angelic conflict he faces in countering mysticism (Col. 2:18-19), for the Father has seated Christ "high above" (huperano, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 847) all (pas, Ibid., U. B. S. Grk. N. T.; Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 636-638) "principality, and power, and might and dominion," (Eph. 1:21a KJV), words "in rabbinic thought of the time, described different order of angels," Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Eph. 1:21.

b. The believer can strive earnestly for and set his mind on Christ above to offset concerns about problems he faces in dealing with government (Paul's incarceration), religious (legalism in Col. 2:11-17; asceticism in Col. 2:20-23) or academic (vain philosophies in Col. 2:8) parties, for the Father has seated Christ "high above" every (pas again) name that is named, both in this world and in the one to come, Eph. 1:21b.

c. The believer can strive earnestly for and set his mind on Christ above to offset concerns about problems faced in the local or universal Church (applicable to the whole Colossian heresy), for the Father has seated Him "high above" all things (pas again) relative to the Church, Eph. 1:22. Indeed, the Church is Christ's body, and He fills it for Himself (middle voice) with blessings, Eph. 1:23; Ibid., B. K. C., N. T., p. 621.

d. Ephesians 1:22 adds the idea that the Father has put all things under Christ's feet (citing Psalm 8:6; Ibid., U. B. S. Grk. N. T., p. 666), so any other concern of this life is overcome by focusing on Christ in heaven!

Lesson: In view of the believer's spiritual position in Christ in His death and resurrection, and all it entails relative to all creation and to the believer's future glory, the believer should focus his heart, attention and actions on the Supremacy and All-Sufficiency of Christ in heaven in facing ANY concern in this life from ANY source.

Application: May we focus on and function in every way for our Absolutely Sovereign, All-Sufficient Lord in heaven in dealing with any and every problem we face in our earthly Christian walk!