"The Crown of Grace"; The Epistle To The Colossians
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
November 1, 2012
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Introduction: November 1, 2012 "The Crown of Grace" The Epistle to the Colossians Grace crowned the head of Jesus with glory and honor. Hebrews said it. Everything about Grace comes through Jesus and exalts Him above everyone (and above all other things). Grace could not have been extended to man without Him. (This truth cannot be stressed enough. This fact must bathe every message of the church. It must oversee and over-ride every consideration of its people. No greater fact can be stated, no greater truth repeated---It is Jesus alone who saves, redeems and restores). This is the message of Paul to the Colossians.Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Much of the revelation found in Ephesians is repeated in this epistle. One must remember that Paul did not travel to Colosse. Epaphras, the pastor, visited Paul in prison and out of their interaction, the Spirit directed this message. Conveniently for the reader, it falls into two parts. The first two chapters exalt Christ and ascribe all matters of faith to be IN HIM. The second two chapters are more practical, but emphasize what must be the manifestation of Jesus' work in the saint. Colossians is the essence of what Jude wanted to write about-that which is common among all saints. Again, Paul directed his comments to the saints (the Holiness Ones, the faithful ones, those who took to heart and banked on what was said in its message). This group of true believers (saints and faithful brethren) is Paul's target for the Colossian truths. These are the ones among whom it can be said:Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you ... Behold the primacy of Grace!Colossians 1:4-6 When the realization of, the understanding of, and the power of Grace entered them-everything changed! Epaphras attested to it and Paul underscored it. Paul then burst forth with power punches about the work of Jesus. After praying over them (the identical things he prayed over the Ephesians [which work was read cyclically among the churches]), he engaged them in understanding the mystery of the gospel.Colossians 1:7-8 In other words, "Look what Grace has done!" It, undeniably, is a mystery.Colossians1:12-14 Look now at the various underlined words found in the above passage.Paul continued this theme and ended it with a huge "if" clause. Paul wished to make sure the foundation of truth in Colosse. (If he were to return and look into the condition of Christianity today, he would again preach this message. He would ask the membership, "Am I describing you? Can you attest these truths are in you?")Colossians 1:21Later, Paul continued his treatise by increasing knowledge of the work of Jesus in the heart of the saint. (It is necessary to declare over ourselves these elements.) Now Paul introduces the great "He / Him" passages. With these, he crowns Christ with grace- glory and grace-honor. After telling his readers the greatness of Jesus' work in them, the Apostle turns toward Jesus and says to the saints, "Behold, your King." Stand Up and Shout: JESUS!Colossians 1:15-20 and 2:9 Full to the brim with the glory of this mystery, Paul literally shouts to his audience, "Get these truths into your spirit, for they are the revelation of the great mystery of salvation and it has been revealed to the saints for their edification." No other religion has such a mystery. The Old Testament saints would have given everything to have this mystery. Angels desire to understand this mystery. (Paul could well have said, "Don't lose the power of this mystery, the privilege of the stewardship of this mystery---regale in this mystery!") The goal of Grace is to present "every man perfect in Christ Jesus." This is the power that worked mightily in the Apostle and which must be restored to pre-eminence in the heart of every man or woman who claims to represent the gospel. Trivia-Religio be damned!Colossians 1:26-29 What is the primary thrust of the gospel if it is not to bring all believers to the same power that possessed Paul? Seminaries and Seminars struggle through every machination imaginable to train and prepare their patronage to receive their several forms of identical deadness. Paul detested such deception. Listen as he reiterates his goal. (This is why I continually say, the goal of grace is to bring man from where he is to the place of the perfection in Christ.)Colossians 2:2-3 Paul wished that every saint would advance to the same place he was in the knowledge of the mystery. Notice verse 8. The vast majority of church members have been cheated! The goal of every message and every lesson session ought to be the advancement of the participants to the perfection of the mystery in them!Colossians 2:6-8 Doctrines and theologies pale before Paul's impassioned appeal: Writer Paul discerns forms of trivia that divert attention away from Christ:2:17 the substance is of Christ. We must examine now the famous "Put On" passages. These trail the restraints to religious "do's and don'ts" which Paul denigrates. Notice how each of these "Put -On's" is like a step leading to a high altar.1. Attention to the "principles of the world."Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.2. Judging another by religious standards.Col 2:16-17 let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come Clothed in the "Put On" garments, one is able to come to the place of High Praise. Here, Paul examines the elements comprising what is pleasing to God. Notice the mixture of elements and how each of them must have a place in praise and worship or it isn't acceptable praise and worship.Colossians 3:10, 12-13, 14-15 Grace-Singing is just different than what most worship teams and congregants attain.Colossians 3:16 In Romania, at a church dedication among Gypsy believers, I witnessed a purity of music seldom reached in the U.S. They sang the Psalms and old hymns spontaneously. Seemingly without program or agenda, first one, then another, pitched a melody that touched the spirit of one who did not know their language. Similarly, I witnessed another occasion, when Keith Moore led a New Year's celebration by incorporating these elements and calling for "singing in the Spirit." Although everyone had a different "tongue," the music rose from grace-filled hearts and sounded more like a heavenly choir than anything I had witnessed in the past. There is a higher place than we are experiencing today.Paul, after asking prayer for more opportunities to preach the Word, touches a true "Grace Note." It is in the form of a Spirit led desire. "Grace Speech" issues a different sound.Colossians 4:5-6 "Grace Speech" surrounds the listener with edifying love. It comes from one's lips with a different tone than the world can emulate. It ushers grace to the hearer and incorporates every aspect of this epistle into the spirit of the recipient. It feels good on the tongue and swells up inside like some spiritual nourishment, some manna of unspeakable satisfaction. Within its scope is interpretation which can be received before the word is spoken (I have witnessed this on mission fields). Its essence is a fragrance like that of the Song of Solomon (which is a book laden with grace talk). It is effortless from a heart full of the knowledge given by Colossians. It is self edifying both to the speaker and the hearer. It reaches into the psychological and physiological and touches hurt and infirmity even without defining the issues. It brings its healing balm with it. It surgically removes the sources of all the maladies of a lifetime, painlessly. "Grace talk" wells up inside to such a degree that it must be expressed, all the while checking itself by the measure of faith within its occupant. Oh, that pulpits would preach with such grace. Oh, that we could hear it just this once more, flooding our ears using a palette with colors of grace to sooth our spiritual eyes and end the tired clichés of a thousand sermons. Rising from the ashes of a former day would come a conquering force called God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, Grace! Grace, Grace to it! Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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