Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus Christ who forgives our sins .
COLOSSIANS 2 : 8 – 15“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncirumcision of your flesh , God made alive together with him, having forgiven all your trespasses , by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross( Colossians 2: 13 -14)”.
St. Paul’s epistle to the Colossians is believed to be one of the four prison epistles written by him from Rome. St. Paul never visited Colosse; but he learned of the Colossian church from Epaphras(Col.1:7), who was imprisoned with him at Rome. The purpose of writing this letter to Colossians is to warn them against errors of doctrine and practice. The first century town of Colosse was a perfect breeding ground for cults. Situated on a major trade route from the East, Colosse entertained a steady stream of Oriental traders with mysterious religious ideas. Even Jews in that area worshipped angels and river spirits.
Today we are meditating on the subject “JESUS CHRIST WHO FORGIVES SINS”, based on Colossians Chapter 2: 8 – 15. Who is Jesus Christ in our life? He is the One who forgives our sins and make us a new person in Him.. According to John the Baptist Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Paul is describing here the deep riches he found in Jesus. He explains to us why Jesus is so great and why Jesus is all we need. Here in this passage, we can find three types of “In Christ” experiences in the life of a Christian;-
In Christ we are complete (2:8-10)
Paul begins with a warning not to be swept away by other systems of teaching. He warns against philosophy. The word “philosophy” has a much broader meaning than how we use the word today. When Paul spoke of philosophy, he is referring to any system of thought. In particular, Paul is condemning any system of thought that does not depend on Christ. In this particular portion we see that Paul is condemning anything that does not depend on Christ, whether it is Greek philosophy, Jewish traditions, or even the Law of Moses. Do not be taken captive by anything that is not “according to Christ.”
Verse 9 summarizes Paul’s teaching in first chapter of Colossians that Christ is fully God. “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”Christ is fully God and “you have been filled in him” (2:10). You are filled in Christ, complete in Christ and need nothing that is offered by false teachers. There is nothing in philosophy or the wisdom of the world to make you complete. In Christ alone God has exhaustively revealed himself. Further, Christ is in charge of all things. He is the head of all rules and authorities. There is nothing above Christ. There is no thinking or wisdom that is greater than Him. We do not need what the world has to offer, especially when we understand what we have in Christ. Yes, in Christ we are complete.
In Christ our sins are cut off (2:11-12)
In Christ, a circumcision has taken place in our lives. Paul wants us` to know that this is a symbol. It is a circumcision that is not made by human hands. It is a spiritual circumcision that is taking place in our lives. Since it is a spiritual circumcision, we need to learn what is being cut off. Paul explains that this circumcision is the cutting off the body of the flesh. The body of the flesh represents our sinful life corrupted by our wicked ways. Paul used this idea of the body of the flesh a number of times in his epistles. In Romans 6:6, Paul mentions that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we are no longer be enslaved to sin.
Sin is being cut off. The old life that was under the rule of sin is stripped away and thrown in the trash. The corruption of our sinful ways is taken away. Christ is casting away our filth, a life stained from sins. This cutting away of our sins is done by Christ. Christ is pictured as the surgeon who is treating our sinful disease. Christ is cutting off the sins that have corrupted our lives which lead to us being condemned by God. Our sins place us under condemnation. We have not loved God but have loved sin and have become enslaved to sin. We have submitted to the ways of the world and our sinful desires. Therefore, we are separated from God. Feel the weight and the meaning of Paul’s words. We cannot be in Christ until our sins are cut out! Only Christ can do this. We cannot solve the problem of our sins. Only Jesus can forgive our sins from our lives and give salvation. In Christ our sins are cut off.
In Christ we are raised to Life from spiritual death (2:13-15)
Then Paul brings in the chilling words of our condition in verse 13. We were dead in our trespasses and uncircumcision of our flesh. The word “trespass” is not a word we use too much but we will read it quite a few times in the scriptures. It simply means, “a false step, a side-slip, an offense.” We were dead because of our false steps and offenses against God. Further, we were dead because of our enslavement to sin. We are living a life under the rule of satan and sin and not for God. We were following our own desires. This leaves us in a condition of being spiritually dead, that is, completely separated from God.
God has made us alive together with Christ. Notice that being made alive in Christ relates back to verse 12 where we are raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God when we are buried with him in baptism. God has made us alive when we submit to powerful working of God in our lives. Being made alive involves the forgiveness of everything that once alienated us from God. Please underline this one little, but very important word in verse 13: ALL. “Having forgiven us ALL our trespasses.” God has forgiven every false step, every slip, and every offense we have committed. Every mistake is taken care of, and every sin is forgiven. Verse 14 tells us how our forgiveness has come about. Our trespasses have been forgiven by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. The legal demands of the law is our spiritual death because of our lack of obedience. In Romans 6:23, Paul says “The wages of sin is death”. We are lawbreakers and God’s law stands against us because we have not kept it. However, Christ has taken care of our legal indebtedness. The debt is cancelled. What is so great about Jesus is that he has taken the large stack of debts that we have against God and cancelled them by nailing them to the cross. In Christ we have redemption and forgiveness of sins(Colossians 1:14). In Christ we are raised to life from spiritual death.
Let us examine ourselves. Are we able to experience this new life In Christ, which God provides us when we believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary; thereby redeeming us from the sins and making us His children through our faith in Christ Jesus? In Christ we are complete, our sins are cut off, and raised to life from spiritual death.
“The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7)”.
Today we are meditating on the subject “JESUS CHRIST WHO FORGIVES SINS”, based on Colossians Chapter 2: 8 – 15. Who is Jesus Christ in our life? He is the One who forgives our sins and make us a new person in Him.. According to John the Baptist Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Paul is describing here the deep riches he found in Jesus. He explains to us why Jesus is so great and why Jesus is all we need. Here in this passage, we can find three types of “In Christ” experiences in the life of a Christian;-
In Christ we are complete (2:8-10)
Paul begins with a warning not to be swept away by other systems of teaching. He warns against philosophy. The word “philosophy” has a much broader meaning than how we use the word today. When Paul spoke of philosophy, he is referring to any system of thought. In particular, Paul is condemning any system of thought that does not depend on Christ. In this particular portion we see that Paul is condemning anything that does not depend on Christ, whether it is Greek philosophy, Jewish traditions, or even the Law of Moses. Do not be taken captive by anything that is not “according to Christ.”
Verse 9 summarizes Paul’s teaching in first chapter of Colossians that Christ is fully God. “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”Christ is fully God and “you have been filled in him” (2:10). You are filled in Christ, complete in Christ and need nothing that is offered by false teachers. There is nothing in philosophy or the wisdom of the world to make you complete. In Christ alone God has exhaustively revealed himself. Further, Christ is in charge of all things. He is the head of all rules and authorities. There is nothing above Christ. There is no thinking or wisdom that is greater than Him. We do not need what the world has to offer, especially when we understand what we have in Christ. Yes, in Christ we are complete.
In Christ our sins are cut off (2:11-12)
In Christ, a circumcision has taken place in our lives. Paul wants us` to know that this is a symbol. It is a circumcision that is not made by human hands. It is a spiritual circumcision that is taking place in our lives. Since it is a spiritual circumcision, we need to learn what is being cut off. Paul explains that this circumcision is the cutting off the body of the flesh. The body of the flesh represents our sinful life corrupted by our wicked ways. Paul used this idea of the body of the flesh a number of times in his epistles. In Romans 6:6, Paul mentions that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we are no longer be enslaved to sin.
Sin is being cut off. The old life that was under the rule of sin is stripped away and thrown in the trash. The corruption of our sinful ways is taken away. Christ is casting away our filth, a life stained from sins. This cutting away of our sins is done by Christ. Christ is pictured as the surgeon who is treating our sinful disease. Christ is cutting off the sins that have corrupted our lives which lead to us being condemned by God. Our sins place us under condemnation. We have not loved God but have loved sin and have become enslaved to sin. We have submitted to the ways of the world and our sinful desires. Therefore, we are separated from God. Feel the weight and the meaning of Paul’s words. We cannot be in Christ until our sins are cut out! Only Christ can do this. We cannot solve the problem of our sins. Only Jesus can forgive our sins from our lives and give salvation. In Christ our sins are cut off.
In Christ we are raised to Life from spiritual death (2:13-15)
Then Paul brings in the chilling words of our condition in verse 13. We were dead in our trespasses and uncircumcision of our flesh. The word “trespass” is not a word we use too much but we will read it quite a few times in the scriptures. It simply means, “a false step, a side-slip, an offense.” We were dead because of our false steps and offenses against God. Further, we were dead because of our enslavement to sin. We are living a life under the rule of satan and sin and not for God. We were following our own desires. This leaves us in a condition of being spiritually dead, that is, completely separated from God.
God has made us alive together with Christ. Notice that being made alive in Christ relates back to verse 12 where we are raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God when we are buried with him in baptism. God has made us alive when we submit to powerful working of God in our lives. Being made alive involves the forgiveness of everything that once alienated us from God. Please underline this one little, but very important word in verse 13: ALL. “Having forgiven us ALL our trespasses.” God has forgiven every false step, every slip, and every offense we have committed. Every mistake is taken care of, and every sin is forgiven. Verse 14 tells us how our forgiveness has come about. Our trespasses have been forgiven by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. The legal demands of the law is our spiritual death because of our lack of obedience. In Romans 6:23, Paul says “The wages of sin is death”. We are lawbreakers and God’s law stands against us because we have not kept it. However, Christ has taken care of our legal indebtedness. The debt is cancelled. What is so great about Jesus is that he has taken the large stack of debts that we have against God and cancelled them by nailing them to the cross. In Christ we have redemption and forgiveness of sins(Colossians 1:14). In Christ we are raised to life from spiritual death.
Let us examine ourselves. Are we able to experience this new life In Christ, which God provides us when we believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary; thereby redeeming us from the sins and making us His children through our faith in Christ Jesus? In Christ we are complete, our sins are cut off, and raised to life from spiritual death.
“The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7)”.
Prayer
Father God, I submit my life to you this morning. I repent of my sins. Forgive my sins and help me to lead a sanctified life during this Lent season. I praise you Lord because you have delivered me from my sins. Enable me to worship you in truth and spirit and experience the new life in Christ in all the days to come, Amen.
Thought for the Day
Christ died our death when he died on the cross for our sins
Mr.Philip Jacob
Mar Thoma Church -Staten island
Mar Thoma Church -Staten island