Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #4 Speaking the truth

 

Chapter 4 – Speaking the truth

We have seen that the central exhortation of this Epistle is, as expressed in the words of Paul’s prayer
for the believers:

« that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of they mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ » (Col 1:2).

Being united together in a « full assurance of understanding », true brethren in Christ experience a joyous fellowship which greatly surpasses any friendship the world can offer. For the unity of the believers ought to mirror in measure, that perfect unity subsisting between the Father and Son. Thus the lord prayed:

« keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are … neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us … and the glory which thou hast given me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one » (Joh 17:11,21,22).

Being risen with Christ in the baptismal waters of a typical grave (Col 3:1), this is a powerful influence which irresistibly draws brethren together, irrespective of their personal differences. By contrast to the morass of humanity who seek only their own, whose only desire is to satisfy the grovelling instincts of the flesh, Christ’s brethren have no regard for the temporal advantages of this life. Rather, being One with him, and in him, they seek to set their affections

« on things above, not on things on the earth », (Col 3:2),

for ‘above’ is where their Master is, and is therefore where their hope of life is hid (3:3). They are elements of a New Creation (cp 2 Cor 5:17), formed in the image and likeness of their maker (Col 3:10) – the constituent parts of a « new man » (Col 3:10), formed by the living influence of the Word upon the tables of their heart. And as a new man – complete in Christ, having no need of further addition by way of the traditions of men and the Judaising influence of those who would have them believe in « another gospel » – they stand whole, with mutual regard one for the other,

« forbearing one another, and forgiving one another » (Col 3:13),

even as Christ forgave them.

 

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Preceding

1. Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #1 Separation from the world
2. Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #2 Completeness of the united Body of Christ
3. Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #3 Living the Truth
4. Participants bonded together into one body
5. Oneness with Christ is like glue that ought to hold us together
6. Baptised believers left in the world to use
7. Jesus high priestly prayer for unity

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Additional reading

1. Not about personal salvation but about a bigger Plan
2. Looking at what the Gospel of Thomas Teaches
3. The night before Jesus his execution
4. The Hater of Jesus and Jesus’ followers having become a speaker for him
5. Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
6. A fact of History or just a fancy Story
7. Be Honest
8. Unity
9. Commitment to Christian unity
10. Being one in Jesus, Jesus in us and God in Jesus
11. Blindness in the Christian world
12. Not making a runner
13. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
14. Today’s Thought: “Your life is hidden” (May 16)
15. Today’s Thought (August 10): Upon this I awaked
16. Today’s thought “Putting on the robe of compassion, kindness, humility and meekness” (November 15)
17. Taught by God to love one another
18. The Greatest of These is Love
19. Matthew 18:21-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Forgive 77 Times!
20. Forgiveness always possible
21. He who knows himself, is kind to others
22. Forgiveness
23. Tunnel under resentment
24. Today’s thought “Forgive … from your heart” (January 16)
25. Beautiful feet of those who announce the good news
26. The Ecclesia

The ready baptismal candidate

 

During the pilgrimage there comes a time when one clearly realises which path to take and how to put an end to one’s former life.

Every individual, at another time in his or her life, encounters such a moment that there is sufficient insight to realise that one must turn and say goodbye to old life.

Those who realise that they can best stand as candidates for baptism will be welcomed with open arms to take that step. But they will have to be able to prove that they are ready to be baptised.

Every baptismal candidate is expected to possess a fundamental knowledge of Biblical Truth. To this end, many mutual conversations will be able to make clear. A clear understanding and awareness of what assignment and baptism mean is explored in several conversations that precede baptism. We will also check in our brotherhood whether the baptismal candidate is well aware of the consequences of baptism. Because once one has been baptised, certain ‘obligations towards Jehovah’ are expected.

If one is baptised, this means that one wants to make things done with the old life, and that one wants to enter a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ. As a Jeshuaist, or follower of Jeshua (Jeshua ben Joseph or Jesus the son of Joseph), the immersion in the water indicates that one indulges in purification through Jesus’ blood and wants to be included in the community of brothers and sisters in Christ, or the Christadelphian community.

The baptismal candidate is expected to recognise Christ’s position and authority and realise that Jesus is the one through whom God has provided „ with a corresponding ransom”. We expect the baptised person to be aware that there is only one God and one mediator between God and man. (1 Timothy 2:5) Those who work in the church community are only servants of and for Christ and his God. They are all as fallible as any other person, but should be fully committed to ecclesial work. They are such servants of God who will invite baptism and immerse someone in Jesus’ name. One of the elders may therefore request that he no longer hesitate and be immersed so that the baptised person may be washed away his or her sins and declared righteous by the baptismal candidate Jesus’ invoking his or her name. (Acts 22:12-16).

 

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Preceding

1. The spiritual “garment” for our souls
2. We must be faithful to God
3. Faithful to God are baptised
4. On the way to the altar of the world
5. What does the Bible say about baptism?
6. To stand for true baptism

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Extra texts

1. Only One God
2. God is one
3. One mediator
4. Jesus son of God
5. Jesus son of God or god the son
6. Relationship with God, Jesus and eachother
7. Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
8. Created to live in relation with God
9. Facing our existence every day
10. Belief of the things that God has promised
11. Americans their stars, pretension, God, Allah and end of times signs #2 War on God’s Plan, Name and title
12. Matthew 21:23-27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Question of Authority
13. The Climax of Matthew’s story
14. Mark 8:27-29 Simon Peter said Jesus is the Messiah,the Son of The Living God!
15. Out of the seed of Eve
16. Hope that those who take Jesus as their god shall come to accept and subject to him
17. The son of man given authority by God
18. Prayer of a man of flesh and blood who is authorized and glorified by God
19. Memorizing wonderfully 70: Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God
20. Additional verses to memorize Philippians 2:6-9 + Luke 22:42 Jesus not regarding equality with God
21. The saviour Jesus his human side
22. Slave for people and God
23. Today’s thought “The vision of the branch and unleashing judgment upon the whole ear” (December 22)
24. Today’s thought “… and learn from me” (July 10)
25. Our Father allows U turns
26. Thou Whited Wall
27. From those preaching the Gospel and Baptism in Jesus name
28. A strange thing might happen when you come under Christ
29. Who Should Baptise?
30. Rebirth and belonging to a church
31. June’s Survey – Baptism by immersion: Necessary for salvation?
32. Who or what is a Jeshuaist
33. Beautiful feet of those who announce the good news
34. Proclaiming: a task given to Christians