“And ye are complete in Him…” Colossians 2:10
Dear Ones:
True Christianity is a curious business, because it begins at the end. Though the gospel was evident after the fall of man, and preached unto Abraham, yet the finality, and realization of the message did not occur until Jesus uttered those pivotal words on the cross: “It is finished.” In those words encapsulates a work so vast, so complete, and perfect, that only God could have accomplished it. And it is God who has preserved it until this day, and into eternity. How does this apply to us?
Watchman Nee, a renowned evangelist and Christian writer, once wrote that Christianity begins with sitting down. What did he mean? We know for a fact that Christ came into this world to save sinners. We know also that the means by which He would do this would first be seen in that He became the spotless Lamb, who would bear the sins, and judgement for sins, for the whole world. But that is only part of the story. When Christ died on the cross, He bore our sins, but also, bore “us.” He took us to the cross with Him. Just as no man can pay the price, and debt, for his sin, so no man can deal with the “sinner” and every manifestation of that “sinful self.” Well then, how does this work? How are sins forgiven and the sinner saved from its power and grip?
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he wrote: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” (2:6) We see here a principle here that applies to truly coming to Christ to be forgiven of sins, and also, the same principle that applies to our walk by the Spirit, knowing the living reality of so great a deliverance from sin, self, the world, and Satan. What is this principle? Jesus once used the illustration of a Publican who had NO trust in himself that he was in the least bit “righteous,” or “good,” in the sight of God. We see this man standing “afar off,” his eyes looking down and not to heaven, beating his breast, saying: “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus said that this man was “justified,” approved of God. Why? Here is a man who is convinced that he IS nothing, indeed, less than nothing, for he is a sinner before God. So convinced of his lost and helpless condition, he has but one recourse…to seek the mercy of God. This he does, and he is rewarded by God. What does it mean to “receive Christ?” It means that we know that we are bankrupt with regard to any merit whatsoever, with nothing that we can do to save ourselves. We are cast upon the mercy of God. But the promise is clear: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) If the same principle applies to receiving Christ as to walking with Him, then HOW is it to be applied? The same appeal to the mercy of God alone, to walk before Him, is God’s way. Will He respond to such faith? Yes.
What is the basis for which God will SURELY work in the life? It is faith, faith in the faithfulness of God. We believe God to forgive sins because He has declared that He will do so, on the basis of what has been DONE. We also believe God will change us into the image of Christ, because He has declared that He will do so. In dealing with Abraham, God told him what He was going to do, with respect to giving him a “son of promise” in his old age. Because Abraham believed, God “…counted it to him for righteousness.” (Gen. 15:6) We are called to “sit down,” and behold, and understand this finished work of Christ, to believe it DONE, and in its application, true of us in Christ. This is God’s way of working wonderfully.
Dear Father, open our understanding to grasp the significance of Thy Son’s sacrifice, and the completeness of it. Strengthen our hearts to grasp Him, and this work, by faith. Then You will work wonderfully in and through us, for Thy glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad