Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #1 Separation from the world

 

The New Testament portion of our daily reading plan (The Bible Companion) brings us to consider the Epistle penned by the Spirit through Paul to the ecclesia at Colosse.
This Epistle covers many aspects of the believer’s walk though life, weaving many themes together to produce a delightful
tapestry of colour and beauty designed to provoke and exhort believers to a faithful servitude for Christ. As we come to prepare our minds for the partaking of the emblems of bread and wine, it seems appropriate to select the main theme of each chapter by way of exhortation and comfort in a day of evil.

Chapter 1 – Separation from the world

The First Chapter alludes to the events that came upon Israel at the time of their deliverance from Egypt. Israel left Egypt in the darkness of night, following the angelic slaying of the Egyptian Firstborn. In a similar way, it is said that we are delivered from the darkness of a Gentile night, by the slaying of Yahweh’s Firstborn.

So Colossians chapter 1 speaks of our Father:

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through this blood … He is the head of the body, the ecclesia: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead …” (Col. 1:13,18).

Notice the difference however, the Firstborn of Egypt were slain as Yahweh’s judgment against the power of Sin – they died, and shall not rise again. But Messiah is Yahweh’s Firstborn, being the first to rise from the dead into glorious incorruptibility.

With Christ being the firstborn from the dead, we can have great hope and comfort, for it is written concerning the Resurrection:

“as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Cor. 15:22-23).

There is a powerful exhortation provided when we consider these things. Elsewhere, Israel’s departure from Egypt is again compared with our deliverance from the world:

“Moreover brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea: and were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea … now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition …” (1 Cor. 10:1-2, 11)

Here is the exhortation:

Our separateness from the world must match Israel’s separateness from Egypt. As they gathered on the shores of the sea there seemed to be no escape, humanly speaking.

They were being pursued by death – the Egyptian army – there was no going back. They had to trust in Yahweh’s ability to deliver them – and it was so. Under Divine command, by the lifting up of Moses’ rod, the sea departed on either side, enabling the people to go forward, through the waters into a new life that lay ahead of them in the land of promise. Even so, we descendants of Adam, a dying sinner, are pursued by death and mortal weakness all the days of our lives. But a way of salvation has been provided, through the lifting up of Messiah upon the cross, and through the waters of baptism into His Saving Name (cp. Romans 6). Once we recognise that the only way of salvation is to pass through those waters, we also realise that there is no going back – there is nothing but death behind – but deliverance lies ahead. It is this knowledge that enables us to endure the difficulties of our wilderness journey. Again alluding to Israel’s deliverance, we read:

“There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

Israel had no way to avoid certain death – but with their trial, there came deliverance, albeit in a most unexpected way. So they passed though the waters,

“which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned” (Heb. 11:29).

Leaving death behind them in the destruction of those who had the power of death, they were to walk forward to take up their inheritance – yet how tragic it was that the word preached concerning their inheritance

“was not mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 3:2).

But what of us? Do we walk, however faltering, through the wilderness of life, along the narrow Way to take up our inheritance – or will we grow faint and faithless on our journey? The choice is ours.

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Preceding

1. Faithful to God are baptised
2. Baptised offering unity to the unbaptised
3. Jesus high priestly prayer for unity
4. Oneness with Christ is like glue that ought to hold us together

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Additional reading

1. When you believe Jesus is God: who do you think is the mediator? #2 Firstborn from the dead our advocate
2. The son of man given authority by God
3. Being one in Jesus, Jesus in us and God in Jesus
4. Unity
5. Preparation for unity
6. Commitment to Christian unity
7. Being Religious and Spiritual 7 Transcendence to become one
8. Avoiding friction and distraction in the body of Christ
9. Thought for today (January 17): Walking not after the flesh, but after the spirit
10. Atonement And Fellowship 7/8
11. Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them
12. Call for prayer to help with unity crisis
13. Be Honest
14. The Ecclesia
15. Today’s thought “The Land promised and fear of man” (April 18)
16. Today’s thought “prepare the roads for yourself and divide for the way to peace with Cities of Refuge” (May 02)
17. Today’s thought “Let the word … dwell in you richly” (May 16)