We begin with a review of Colossians 2:19 and the need to “hold fast to the Head” (v.19), to Christ, (v.17), and not let false teachers pull us away from Christ and focus more on ourselves and what they say we need to be doing in our lives. Why hold fast to Christ? Because He is the means to spiritual life and growth for us as individuals and for our life together in the church, as the body of Christ. Verse 19 tells us that we only grow “with a growth that comes from God.”
If we lost our...
We begin with a review of Colossians 2:19 and the need to “hold fast to the Head” (v.19), to Christ, (v.17), and not let false teachers pull us away from Christ and focus more on ourselves and what they say we need to be doing in our lives. Why hold fast to Christ? Because He is the means to spiritual life and growth for us as individuals and for our life together in the church, as the body of Christ. Verse 19 tells us that we only grow “with a growth that comes from God.”
If we lost our own head, we would die very quickly. Jesus uses another picture image with the same emphasis, in John 15:1-5. He is the vine, and we are the branches. We cannot live and bear fruit without our connection with Him. He cleanses us and prunes us through His Word and blessings. But He reminds, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 reminds us that we can plants seeds and water, but only God gives spiritual growth. 2 Peter 3:17-18 tells us not to be carried away by the error of lawless people, but to keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, above all. To Him be the glory for any growth we have.
The same is true for the church, the body of Christ. In Ephesians 2:20-22, Christ is our Cornerstone, and we are built up by the Word of God, coming from the prophets and apostles. In Christ, we grow and are built up, as the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, dwells among us. Ephesians 4:14-16 tells us not to be blown around by human ideas and teachings, but to speak the truth in love - the truth of Christ, our Head, Who is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Then the church, the body of Christ, can grow and mature in Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
God brings us growth through His Word, but also through the Word connected with visible elements in the two Sacraments, the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. In John 6:47-48, 53-58, and in 63-64, Jesus is mainly emphasizing Himself and His Word as the Bread of Life for us, so much better than the physical food He gave the 5000+ and better than the manna of the Old Testament. But He is also preparing the way for the gift of the Lord’s Supper, which He would institute the night before His death on the cross. Christ Himself comes to us and strengthens us through His Real Presence, His Body and Blood, in this holy meal. The Holy Spirit is also at work in the Word to bring us life and help.
As we also heard already in Colossians 2:13-14, in our Baptism we are connected to Christ and die to our old life and are raised to a new life in Him, as Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again on Easter for us. See also Romans 6:3ff.
This leads us into Colossians 3:1-4, where Paul speaks of our focus now on things above, where Christ is, rather than on earthly things. It is a hidden life in Christ right now. But as we go about our daily life as believers in Christ, we are called to seek to “put to death” the ways of our old life and sinful nature (Colossians 3:5-9), and to “put on" the ways of our new life in Christ (Colossians 3:10-17).
This is all very practical, for it affects family life and much else that we do, as Colossians 3:18-4:1 tells us. All this gives us a simple outline of what we will be looking at in more detail beginning next week. Christ and what He has done for us are still the key for us; but He can help re-direct our lives in ways that can better honor Him and say “Thank you“ to Him for His great love - and ways that are actually better for us and for one another, too.
