Gadfly's Muse

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28: Thrilling Sight, Comforting Words

Image: "A Grand Sight Indeed", 2013, Grand Teton Mountains, vicinity of the Gros Ventre River, Wy

1 Thessalonians 4:15–18  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:8–11  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

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Few things in this world are as awe-inspiring as magnificent mountains.  Standing on a ship or boat at night in the middle of the ocean, or at a quiet spot in the desert, and getting lost in the sparkling infinity above my head comes close.  But those stars are absolutely beyond reach, the mountains thrill me with their immanence.  I feel as if I could touch them.  They stand there, majestic, a testimony to solidity and permanence in the face of chaotic change.  They are thrilling and comforting at the same time.

Paul's words in these verses impart the same effect.

Paul knows that the persecutions that he is enduring and those which will inevitably fall on the Thessalonians, are trying indeed.  Suffering is difficult, no matter how you cut it.  What we fallen mortals need is something to inspire us and to comfort us and that is what Paul provides.

Paul shifts their vision away from their present circumstances and those they may soon endure and focuses them on the majestic sight of the Lord Jesus coming in glorious splendor to claim His rightful inheritance.  He tells them that they must not despair of seeing this thrilling event:  even those who are already sleeping, those who have passed from this life, will rise and alongside those who are alive at the moment, we will all see it together. (4:15-17)  

What an incredible promise!  It is as certain as the living Jesus Christ Himself.  The angels told the disciples who watched Jesus' ascension to heaven that one day He would return even as He left.  In John 14:3, Jesus said that He would "come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  This fits perfectly with Paul's statement in 3:17 that "thus we shall always be with the Lord." 

Here is our great hope and comfort, that one day we will gaze on the most magnificent sight possible.  The flashing lightning of Jesus' Person will descend from heaven and the skies will be ablaze with glory.  There will be royal trumpets of some sort sounding.  Angels will be singing "Hallelujah" at this coming even as they did His first.  Those who belong to Him will feel their hearts racing with excitement, joy, amazement, and every other thrilling sense.  This will be the culmination of history as we know it.  This will be the end and the beginning.  He will make all things new and sorrow and disappointment will fade away.

And those who have oppressed His people, who tortured Paul and persecuted the Thessalonians, and have continued throughout the years to behead the saints and, even now, are tossing them in prison, will with agonizing fear recognize their eternal doom.  And they will not be able to raise a single objection.  The justice of their ultimate fate will be undeniable.

Jesus points our eyes, along with the Thessalonians, to this thrilling sight.  He then emphasizes that it is meant to comfort us.  Twice (4:18, 5:11) he specifically says so.  The expectation of Jesus' return is all we need to restore the thrill in our Christian walk and to comfort our souls in the face of sorrows.  This is the hope that our loving Savior has provided to us.  As I write this, it is Sunday.  I will have the opportunity to worship and I hope to have these thoughts foremost in my mind as I lift my voice in praise.

I hope that the Lord thrills and comforts you in the same way.

 

 

 

 

 

1 Thessalonians 3:1 - 4:12: This Is God's Will... For You!

Image: "Potential Beauty", 2021, Hellebore, Severna Park, Md

1 Thessalonians 3:3–4  that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you, yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

1 Thessalonians 3:8  For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–3  Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: ...

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8  For God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

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It is a matter of some astonishment, how plainly and practically God communicates with us.  Yes, there are sublime depths to His word that no mere mortal can ever plumb, at least in this life.  He causes us to rise on the wings of eagles (Isa. 40:31) as we ponder the depths of His love, the surpassing excellence of His purposes, and the awesome extent of His power.  Like some of those monks who spent their lives in monasteries, fasting and praying and meditating, we could spend years in mental and spiritual seclusion, seeking and perhaps finding a degree of ecstasy in the process.

But God will not have that.  His plans are for us to "soar a little, serve a little" (to suborn a silly song).  God's will for our lives is that we are to live in the "real world", fallen as it is, frustrating as it is, discouraging as it is, in such a manner as to make a difference.  His purpose for our lives is directed toward how we live, not in our gaining some ethereal, near-mystical, piety.

How much clearer can He be than what is expressed in these verses?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: ... (4:3)

God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness... (4:8)

Paul goes even further.  Any person who rejects this teaching is not rejecting Paul but God Who sent him and inspired him.  That should get our attention.

Paul gives us some particular examples of what this should mean.  In 3:13 Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to "abound in love to one another" unto the end that their hearts would be "blameless in holiness ... at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ..."  He calls them and us to "abstain from sexual immorality" and turn away from the sordid passions that were so prevalent in that society.  We should note that this depravity is still all around us.  He teaches us that we must be scrupulously honest in our business transactions, even to our own hurt.  He calls us to aspire to a quiet life... to mind our own business... to work with our own hands... and walk properly toward all men, even those "outside." (4:10-12)

This is about as clear as anything can be.  It's not rocket science.  it's not some tediously involved philosophical treatise.  it is a plain picture of a plain life... a life that is growing in sanctification and illustrative of the witness God desires to be furnished by His people.

What God is here commanding is an attitude toward right and wrong.  Paul tells the Thessalonians that he doesn't want them to be discouraged (3:3) by the afflictions that he was suffering.  He was worried that they might see what he was enduring and somehow think that there must not be any truth to what he had taught them.  Their reasoning would have been straightforward:  If what Paul taught was true then why would the Christ he proclaimed allow these things to happen to him?  It's a thought process that is not uncommon even today.

Paul says to "stand fast", don't weaken (3:8).  They must know that he was "appointed for this" even as he had previously told them.  And how would they "stand fast?"  It would be by a renewed antipathy toward the degrading sexual practices in which they were immersed.  It would be by pursuing a sincere and passionate love for their brothers and sisters in the faith so that they would discover a new joy, completeness, quality of life, that would make that life found "outside" appear repulsive.

But most of all, they would stand fast if they understood that purity before God was what God deserved from them.  They should understand the pursuit of holiness as the simple reflection of a heart's desire to please its master. (4:1) 

Jesus taught that His yoke was easy and His burden was light.  This is what sanctification really entails.  It is not a giving up of joys and pleasure at all.  it is replacing old sordid pleasures with new ones that remove any passing desire to go back.  Think of a man growing up in the trash dumps of India (they are hideous) who fought starvation by eating half-rotten food other people had discarded.  He might, at the time, have gotten some pleasure from eating those things.  But then, if he was invited to a feast and was given well-prepared and delicious dishes, would he have any desire to return to the trash heap?  I don't think so unless he was truly depraved.

So it is with God.  He desires our sanctification because it not only brings glory to His name but it also is the pathway for our greatest delight and well-being.  What He commands is our blessing.  Let us fortify our will to be ever more concerned to reject the various practices the world about us commends.  Those things are not God's will for us.  His will is for our holiness and He is worth whatever effort it calls forth in us to pursue it.

 

 

 

 

1 Thessalonians 2: Welcome It For What It Is!

Image: "Responding To The Light", 2018, Severna Park, Md

1 Thessalonians 2:1–2  For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12  as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

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Sometimes we Christians are entirely too blase about the Bible.  For some, it is a book we carry to church and dutifully turn to the sermon passage as the preacher announces it.  That's about as far as it goes.  Others of us are more serious and participate in Bible studies and personal devotions.  In my experience though, even here, there is a certain pro forma mindset involved.  We are Christians, this is what we do.  What I find missing, in many cases, is the kind of awe, the sense of high privilege, that should accompany our thoughts and approach to the Bible.  We don't think about the incredible treasure we hold in our hands.  This is the Word of God!

Think about it.  God, our Father, went out of His way to ensure that we have His very thoughts, commands, exhortations, promises, threats, and redemptive story, so that we may be "thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:15ff)  This is a miracle.  If we consciously consider that God ensured that the things He wanted us to know, and only the things He wanted us to know, are contained in that book, I think we would approach it far more reverently.  In every passage, in every chapter, no matter how challenging or how plain, God caused it to be written for us to read and be changed by it.  There are no extraneous details or irrelevant sentences.  Every word is directly inspired by God.  Wow!

Look how Paul builds on this in this chapter.

1 Thessalonians 2:13, For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Here he is speaking of his verbal teachings to the Thessalonians, of course.  But can any of us doubt that his written words are any different?  Paul, without hypocrisy, acknowledges his own "prophetic" status.  He is declaring to them and to us, the very words God wants us to hear.  And notice how he shows us how it works.

First of all, he declares that the word of God is transformative on those who truly hear it.  It "effectively works in you who believe."  Yea and amen! God's word is like a seed that grows in fertile ground.  It works in and through faith and that faith embraces not only the Lord Jesus Christ as its central "object", it also embraces the Scriptures as God's word through which that faith is initially imparted and which energizes all further spiritual growth.  In the language of the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Scriptures are "most necessary" for all things in our spiritual life.

Secondly, notice how he describes how it works.  Those who hear it rightly, "welcome" it, "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God."  For those who have some science background, you may be familiar with the idea of a "resonant frequency."  This describes the effect of a string tuned to a certain tension.  When another nearby string, tuned to that same tension, is strummed, the other string will begin to vibrate with it.  It "resonates" with that nearby string.  So it is with the word of God.  It resonates with those who have been "tuned" by the Holy Spirit to hear it.

Thus the word of God acts like a wedge, driving through the mass of mankind, separating out those who are bound for eternal blessedness from those who will be judged and found wanting.  Paul speaks of this also in these verses.  He mentions (vs. 15-16) those who did not recognize Paul's teachings as the word of God and persecuted him even as they "killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets."  This referred to the unbelieving Jews of course.  But it also applies to all who reject Scripture.  Paul says that by doing so, they are filling up "the measure of their sins."  He solemnly declares that "wrath has come upon them to the uttermost."  In other words, they are already judged, condemned, and sentenced to eternal darkness.

As you can see: this is serious stuff.  So we need to get back to basics regarding God's scriptures.  Away with those "Christians" who don't really hold the Scriptures in high regard.  I am speaking of those who want to ground their faith in how they "feel" about Jesus.  I've heard people say that particular teachings of Scripture are of no great concern, that all a person has to do is "love Jesus."  What a terrifying thing to say.  Jesus can only be known through God's word by faith.  Faith and Scriptures are integrally united.  You cannot have one without the other.  Oh, I know that some distant tribe somewhere may have never received the actual, physical Bible, but for them to be saved they must have someone, like Paul, to declare it to them.  "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God!" (Romans 10:17)

So then, like the Thessalonians, let us "welcome" the word of God into our lives and rejoice in it for the treasure that it is.

 

1 Thessalonians 1: It's Amazing So It Must Be True

Image: "TheBridge",2018,  Grounds of Winterthur Museum, Wilmington, De.

1 Thessalonians 1:4–5  knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:6  And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10  For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

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Tertullian was an ancient "father" of the Church who struggled with many of the same problems we face today.  He has been quoted and misquoted about equally.  For example, he is falsely credited as having said: "I believe because it is absurd."  This false attribution was widely quoted among those who, during the enlightenment, wanted to move religion away from any mystical and, to their mind, irrational basis.  What Tertullian actually said was: (in translation from the original Latin), "He was buried and rose again, it is certain because it is impossible."  It might be useful for us to ponder what he meant.

Like Paul (vs. 10), Tertullian grounded the "certainty" of his faith in the otherwise impossibility that Jesus rose from the dead.  In effect, he, like us, being removed at some distance in time from the actual event, had to rely on the testimony of Scripture.  The Scriptures plainly teach this fact.  Tertullian faced the question of whether the Scriptural account might just be some kind of myth.  His conclusion was, in effect, that no one would try to mislead others by telling such an impossible story.  If the purpose was to form just another human religion, then certainly some less fantastic story would have been told.  But Tertullian was confronted with two things:  (1) this story is seemingly impossible, and yet (2) he believed it.  Thus, he thought, there must be some reason why he was so certain of its truth.  As Paul develops here regarding the Thessalonians, the "fact" of his faith must come from God and therefore was the seal of the truth of Jesus' resurrection.  With that, all other things fall into place.

Notice how Paul develops a similar line of reasoning.  In vs. 4 he says that he "knows" their "election by God!"  Now, this is the most important imperative in any human being's life.  Nothing is of greater importance than to know our own election and to grow in recognizing that same election in others, such as our intended spouse, or our children, or our brothers and sisters in the church.

On what does Paul ground his knowledge of their election?  He plainly tells us.  It was by the obvious work of the Holy Spirit among them that worked to transform their lives through the gospel of Jesus' resurrection that he had preached.  The "impossible" idea that Jesus was risen and alive caused them to become followers of the Lord even in the face of the "affliction" they suffered for doing so. (vs. 6)  This power that worked in them, "turned" them from idols "to serve the living and true God."  This was no small thing.  There was no such idea of religion being a matter of individual, personal, private belief.  Religion in those days was very public (and should be today also).  To be "impious" in ancient Rome was tantamount to being unpatriotic and subversive because the Roman worldview tightly linked worship of the gods to the hope of success and peace of the empire.  When a man or his family or a church turned away from those gods they were brought under severe disapproval by virtually everyone.

But in the face of that prospect, these Thessalonians had rejected their previous idolatry and conformed themselves to the doctrines Paul had taught them.  To Roman ears these doctrines were foolishness.  It was amazing to them that anyone could believe that a man who had been crucified, dying a death reserved for the worst kind of criminals, could rise from the dead.  (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18, the text that Tertullian was pondering)  Yet the undeniable fact was that they did believe and, very importantly for Paul, that belief stimulated them to share this same gospel far and wide.  They believed and spread the word that not only was Jesus alive but that He was coming again to deliver "us from the wrath to come."

This is an amazing message.  It should still be amazing to us today, though our long familiarity with it has bred a certain complacency about it.  It was so amazing that this had transpired among them that Paul could confidently state that it proved their "election by God."  And that is the main lesson, among others, that we should draw from this chapter.

If the most important question any human being faces is the question of his/her own election by God then here is how we are to gain confidence in it:  has the power of the Holy Spirit worked powerfully in us to the end that we cannot help but believe in a risen Jesus of Nazareth?  It must be a powerful belief.  It must have caused us, in repentance, to turn away from all those other false teachings that threaten us on every side.  It must produce a certain "joy of the Holy Spirit" (vs. 6) which cannot be explained other than being a work of God in us.  Do we also anxiously await His return with hungering anticipation?

If these things are true in us, and in others whom we love, then we also can "know" our election and theirs. This faith in us should appear amazing to us and to all who see it in us.  That's the whole point.  It is amazing... it is the work of God... and He is amazing above all measure.

 

 

 

 

 

Colossians 3 & 4: Putting On... and Off

Image:  "The Watcher", 2018, Conowingo Dam, Md

Colossians 3:1–2  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:23–25  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians 4:5–6  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

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Paul rounds out this brilliant exhortation to the Colossians and Laodiceans with an earnest call to turn away from the practices of the false religions around them and to turn to a life reflective of Christ's glory.  We might not recognize the pagan practices as the background to these two chapters but they certainly were.  

"Works" based religions are always popular when people desire to indulge their lusts.  If a "god" was offended by some lewd or abusive behavior, then "he" could always be bought off by doing a few religious duties, paying appropriate penance, or other similar things.  Thus when Paul tells the Colossians to put to death those members of their flesh which "are on the earth" (vs. 5), he is linking back to his previous denunciation of the "basic principles of the world."  Paul sees all moral behavior as ultimately religious.  The way we view how life should be lived will always be reflective of our view of God and His will.  Atheists have to explain God away.  Libertines have to erect an idol that condones their behavior. 

Paul says "no!"  The truth (see previous chapters) is that Christ sits at the right hand of God, in heaven. (vs. 1)  This reality should transform all our thinking about life on earth.  If we "set our mind on things above", then we embrace the metaphysical truths that color and inform everything we see or do on earth.  When Paul says that we are not to "set our minds... on things on earth", he is not saying that we should think of our lives on earth as useless or without significance.  He is, more narrowly, saying that we are not to find our ultimate truths in physical things as the pagan religions taught.

By focusing on "things above" we see how the beauty and perfection of Christ's heavenly kingdom should be reflected on earth.  We better understand what Jesus meant when He taught us to pray "Thy Kingdom Come."  Then we long to "put on" the things of heaven and to "put off" those things which would deface heavenly beauty.  Here is the fundamental impetus for Christian living.  It is longing for heavenly things and conforming to those things in our continuing earthly life.

Thus, of course, there is no place for those horrid impulses listed in verse 5.  Paul specifically ties these sins to idolatry.  These are the characteristics of Christ's enemies, not His friends and disciples.  As such, we know that the "wrath of God is coming" on them.  So Paul calls us to a higher standard of conduct, especially within our church fellowship.  Rather than being controlled by anger, wrath, malice, etc. (vs. 8&9) we should put on the "new man" who shows forth the "knowledge" that Christ has revealed to him.  In doing this all the common barriers that divide men (race, social status, etc) will fall away.  If a brother has his mind focused on heavenly things then Christ is in him even as He is in me.  My brother and I are joined by unbreakable bonds and who cares about the color of his skin, his relative social status, or the land of his birth.  It is Christ in all that matters and therefore our conduct toward each other shows forth this truth.

But there is an even greater moral imperative.  If we set our mind on heavenly things then we will immediately be confronted with love.  There is the deep, unfathomable love that binds the Trinity together.  There is the transforming love which the Trinity extends to us and which prompted all our blessings.  It was love that elected us, love that redeemed us, and it is love that will bind us to our God for eternity.  Hence Paul says to set our mind on the heavenly thing of love and to rank it "above" all else. (vs. 14)

This is the bond of perfection.  We, as Christians, certainly have religious duties.  Every religion has its rites and gatherings and we are to participate in those things.  But in the Christian religion, those "works" are not our prime duties.  Rather we are to do those things (vs. 16-17) as an outworking of love.  We perform religious duties in love for Christ and for each other and all is done in the name of the Lord Jesus who sits at the right hand of God.

The same basic principle applies to our ordinary lives in our homes and families and even our business occupations. (3:18-4:1)  Our goal is to redeem the time (4:5) by so conducting ourselves, to the best of our ability, to reflect the glory and beauty of heavenly things.  That is where our mind is centered and in so doing we will not fail to hear the "Watcher of our Souls" say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

 

 

Colossians 2: Only the Appearance of Wisdom

Image: "Barren Branches", 2018, Chesapeake City, Md.

Colossians 2:2–3  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 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.

Colossians 2:20  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

Colossians 2:22–23  which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

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A theologian whom I much admire, Herman Bavinck, lived through the cataclysm that ushered in the "new" 20th century.  It was a time of great flux.  Social movements shook the "old world" global structures and the advances in science, medicine, engineering, and philosophy combined into something like a new religion.  Man, confidently thought he could know it all.  Yet, as Bavinck noted, many of the younger intellectuals were keenly aware of a spiritual vacuum. They became aware in the midst of an "idolization of science and culture", of a growing apprehension of spiritual elements that must account for the "unknowable and unrecognizable" reality surrounding us.  This led, in Bavinck's words, to an incipient "mystical idealism."  That which was common to the idols of both scientific and mystical ideology was "an aversion to the common Christian faith."

I submit that not much has changed in the last 100+ years.  Paul says that in many ways it was the same then in the regions of Asia Minor to which he wrote.

"Mystical idealism" is not a bad characterization of the problem troubling the church at Colosse and Laodicea.  They were being assaulted by "philosophy and empty deceit" that was woven from the witch's brew of "tradition(s) of men, according to the basic principles of the world." (v. 8)  There were several elements to this threat, as in Bavinck's day and as are now.  At its core, these false teachings stem from sinful man's desire to explain the cosmos his way, that is through reason.  

The key principle is to construct both empirical (physical) knowledge and religious (metaphysical) knowledge from the "basic principles of the world." (vs. 8 and 20)  Thus man wants to reason from what "he sees" to "what is."  In physical knowledge, science, this is straight-forward, though very deficient when it comes to explaining all things.  In religion, man wants to construct "idols" from what he sees and assign to them the spiritual power to explain events in the real world.  Thus the "stars", in Paul's day, were thought to be angels or demons.  Astrology was embraced as explaining any life events.  

In both physical and metaphysical aspects, it always comes back to man wanting to be in control.  If all it takes is "wisdom and knowledge" (cf. vs. 5) then man can manipulate his world.  He can satisfy the gods through rituals and offerings.  He can manipulate the physical world to master all of its terrors.  In other words, at its heart, there is man's absolute desire for autonomous knowledge.  This was Adam's sin and it is man's sin right down to this day.

Paul takes on this autonomous desire head-on.  Knowledge, true knowledge, absolute knowledge, is not possible to man through contemplation of the "basic principles of the world."  The most man can attain, whether through science or philosophy, is a "provisional knowledge" that has some undeniable benefits but it always fails in the comprehensive sense.  True knowledge, as Paul teaches, is only available through "revelation."  In other words, God has to make known to man that which is absolutely true.  

Paul unequivocally states that the fullest revelation of absolute truth was revealed to man in the Person of Jesus Christ.  In Him are "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  ALL of it.  The answers to all man's questions man are found in Him.  And the means by which man gains access to this knowledge is through faith.  Faith brings a man into relation to Jesus.  One does not gain this privilege and the freedom it brings by doing "stuff."  The idols demand religious works or they, very petulantly, turn on their followers.  But Jesus frees His followers from those burdens, those "regulations". (vs. 20)  

In Jesus, through faith, the physical world and the metaphysical world are opened to man.  Certainly, we do not know comprehensively.  But that which we know we can know absolutely.  The ultimate truth of all things, physical and metaphysical, is God Himself and in Christ, we are brought in relation, and knowledge, of the "fullness of the Godhead!" (vs. 9)  As we "walk in Him (and) are rooted in Him" and "abound in" Him (vs. 6) we turn away from the "appearance of wisdom" (vs. 23) and obtain the real thing.

In science we no longer begin with the elementary principles or observations, we begin with Christ and thus see those things through Him.  This is the path of true knowledge in Science.  Philosophy or Metaphysics, do not start with the world as we perceive it but with Christ as He has revealed it.  Thus our world becomes unified in our understanding.  Chaos becomes order and order reveals glory.

No longer are we to seek knowledge through vain religious activities. (vs. 23)  We are to seek it where it can be found, in Christ, as He has revealed Himself to us through His Word and His Spirit.  This is freedom and this is joy.

 

Colossians 1: The Glory of the Mystery

Image: "Plainly Pictured", 2018, Severna Park, Md

Colossians 1:3–6  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Colossians 1:15–18  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:25–27 ... I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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Paul's Colossians is a beautifully concise summary of Christian truth.  He wrote it, as we shall discuss in chapter 2, to combat encroaching heresy in the church.  Paul knew that to fight any heresy one must know the truth... period.  It's not a case of "blind faith" wherein Christians simply close their ears to contrary doctrines.  Rather it is by knowing the truth that heresy is distinguished from it.  Sometimes this is blatantly clear.  On other occasions, as it was with the Colossians, it can be a bit challenging.  

We need a clear standard against which all else is measured.

Take, for example, a nice white bathtub.  We will perhaps think it is "pure white" until a small paint sample of pure white is placed on it.  Immediately we see that the tub is more grey or yellow than we thought.  The same analogy holds with the truth of Christ.  We have to place all other teachings next to it and then their shortcomings will be obvious.

That's what Paul does here.  He lays out, in glorious detail, the dazzling "white" of Jesus Christ.  He calls this the "truth of the gospel" (vs. 5) and specifically centers it on the "hope which is laid up for you in heaven."  Down in verse 27, Paul uses similar terminology to "bookend" the chapter.  He says that the gospel is being revealed to the Gentiles by making known the "glory of this mystery... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

In between these bookends, Paul develops what amounts to a joyous hymn of Christology, extolling and proclaiming the Person of Christ Himself.  Think of it this way.  Paul says that knowing Jesus, Himself, as  Paul describes Him is indeed our hope... it is indeed the gospel.  He is our "hope laid up for us in heaven" and He is our present, immanent, hope dwelling in us... the hope of Glory.  He is what we look forward to and He is what we have now.  This "hope" becomes our sure defense against false teachings if we fully appreciate what we have and what we will have.

Paul lays it out for us.  Starting in verse 12 Paul extolls our Blessed Savior in terms of His works and His Person.  He reminds us that God, the Father, through our Christ has given us an inheritance with Him.  He has delivered us into the kingdom of the Son of His love and has blessed us with redemption through HIS blood.  We are forgiven of all our sins.  This is Who is with us and Who is awaiting us!

Now, for the glory to really shine through.  Consider this Christ.  He is God Himself, imaged for us in created flesh.  The astonishing reality of this is overwhelming.  This is the God who created all things... all powers... all the cosmos.  He created them and they find their ultimate purpose in Him. (vs. 16)  Creation was not just a sudden whim on the part of the Triune God.  It was designed as the sphere in which the Son would be glorified.  His glory would shine forth in His upholding providence (v. 17) as well as His purposeful ordering of all things unto the creation of His Church, which is His body.  Thus all things, ultimately, will be summed up in a living body of the redeemed from the earth, with Christ as their Head, rejoicing before God the Father so that He, Christ, would be pre-eminent.

Space does not permit the fuller development of verses 19-23, but it should be noted that Paul roots his confidence in the Colossians standing against heresy in the way they cling to "the hope of the gospel." (vs. 23)  This hope, as developed above, is the touchstone for all doctrines and faith.  Any teaching that somehow diminishes the unique and encompassing focus on Jesus Himself is fundamentally and fatally flawed.  

We are today facing heresies far more dangerous than those encountered by the Colossians.  Powerful ideological, philosophical, and religious movements threaten the gospel Paul taught.  We are constantly hearing Jesus discredited as a "man ahead of his time" who had some nice liberal ideas.  Or we are told that Christ needs to be reinterpreted in the light of man's advancing moral knowledge.

Forget about it!  Cling to the hope Paul proclaimed and that Jesus purchased for you with His very own blood.  This is the truth and it judges all pretenders to truth and condemns them to perdition.

 

 

Philippians 4: Meditate on These Things...

Image: "Meditation", 2018, National Arboretum, District of Columbia

Philippians 4:4–7  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:12–13  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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Paul rounds out his exhortation to the Philippians (and us) to "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." (2:5) by giving some very helpful and beautiful guidelines by which to pursue this.

In verses 4-6 (above) he points us to the mind of Christ as expressed in rejoicing, gentleness, hopeful expectation, confidence, and prayer. All of these bring a comprehensive "peace of God" that settles our whole souls.

Here is "Christian quietness."  It is not, fundamentally, refraining from speaking, and especially it does not imply that we have "nothing to say."  Christian "quietness' has more in common with a deep, slow-moving river.  Little troubles it, "it just keeps rolling along."  Gentleness in keeping company with others works to prevent unnecessary troubling conversations. (Proverbs 15:1)  The same can be said of "rejoicing."  It is very difficult to "pick a fight" with someone who is genuinely expressing gladness and joy.  In fact, that rejoicing can transform another person's entire attitude.  Whereas before they saw "gloom and doom" and the rising crescendo of anger, here they encounter a person, encountering the same circumstances, and yet possessed of genuine good feelings.  All it takes is to see the hand of Christ in our everyday life (cf. Phil. 3, previous meditation) and rejoicing will not be absent.

This joy coupled with gentleness also is grounded in persisting "hopeful expectation."  If we are convinced that "the Lord is at hand" then all our present woes are seen as passing inconveniences.  We have a bright future.  "Tomorrow is another day!"  Another "Day" entirely!  Similar things can be said about the attitude of constant prayer and supplication.  If our joyful thanksgiving carries over into our prayer life (vs. 6) then we reinforce our certain expectation that God will govern and grant our new requests as He has done henceforth.

It doesn't take much to see how all these things work together to produce in our hearts and understanding that "peace of God" which Paul expresses.  It is certainly mysterious since it comes through Christ Jesus via His Holy Spirit, but it is not "mystical" as such.  It is a prevailing calm that shines forth from a settled mind, that same "mind" which we see present in Jesus when He prayed in the Garden, even as He faced the Cross coming soon upon Him.

Next, Paul points us to another facet of this program or discipline by which we gain the mind of Christ.  Verse 8 is one of my favorites in the entire Scripture and it calls us to a life of meditation.

Now, this is very important.  John Chrysostom, in the earliest centuries of the Christian Church, preached on this verse and beautifully summarized its principle effect in us.  He basically said that the things which produce a troubled soul in us are those things that are rooted in the flesh.  In other words, when our minds are preoccupied with fears, lusts, ambitions, etc. then we cannot attain that "quietness" and "peace" described above.  Paul's exhortation is dead simple:  "Stop it!"

Paul says that we should rather, consciously, focus our minds, every day, on the things that are "praiseworthy."   Think about it.  If we are going to "rejoice always" then we need something worthy of praise in our minds... right?  So, Paul very helpfully gives us categories of things that conduce to rejoicing.  They are exactly that, categories.  So, in order to specify what things we are to meditate on we have to understand these categories and consciously look at our lives for specific instances.

For example, things that are true, noble, and just.  What in your life is "true?"  Certainly, we can immediately "get spiritual" and talk about the Holy Spirit and Jesus, and we should.  We should start there and we should fire up our zeal in doing so.  But that is not all there is.  The Presence of Christ adds luster to the other things.  Certainly, you have known genuine love, both given and received.  That can never be taken away from you and your life is blessed for having known it even if the object of your love has passed on.  You have seen and heard and appreciated "beauty", in all its myriad forms.  Think of all the warm and beautiful instances where beauty has confronted you and occupied your full attention.

I do not have space to develop this further but you get the idea.  At every step of your travels, you have been in the presence of things that are/were true, noble, just, pure, lovely, having a good report.  You have also understood virtue and the transforming moral power of noble living.

Those things are there.  No matter how dark were your days or how dark they are now.  All you have to do is to look for them and deflect your concentration and obsession from the ugliness that screams for your attention and meditate on them.

To find your peace of God, all that is needed is to "have the mind of Christ."  He Himself will bring it to you.

 

 

Philippians 3: That I May KNOW!

Image: "Intersections", 2021, Severna Park, Md

Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Philippians 3:7–11  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:15–16  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

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Paul's emphasis on having the "mind of Christ" as the distinctive hallmark of our lives continues in this chapter.  We see this explicitly in verses 15-16 and this ties everything in this chapter to the previous chapters. (cf. 1:27; 2:2,3; 2:5-7; etc.) 

Here we are called to "have this mind..."  Now that means a very specific mind.  Paul says that we are to conform to the outlook on this present life that he, himself, possesses and as he describes it in the previous verses.  We are also to aspire to the same aspiration, the same motivating desire, the same hope.  

At the core of this godly mindset is an intense longing to "know" Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, and the "power of His resurrection." (vs.10)  Let's zero in on that.

Paul is affirming here that in a deep and conscious manner, through faith (vs.9) we can grow into a degree of certain knowledge regarding Jesus Himself.  Jesus, in the manner of modern speech, becomes very "real" to us.  He is everywhere with us.  We become conscious of His warm and loving presence.  He comforts us and encourages us and enlightens us in our daily conduct. 

And, amazingly enough, along with His Personal Presence, Jesus also opens up to us the "power of His resurrection."  We become attuned to the out-workings of His Kingly authority.  He not only works in and through our circumstances, but He also opens up vistas of service that we would never have considered.  As some theologians say, we begin to live in the sphere of "possibility."  This inspires our zeal, offsets the debilitating effects of sin, and enables us to rise to new heights of our own humanity.  We not only know Him, but we also know the power of His resurrection which ushered in a new era in human possibility.

With Paul (vs. 12ff), we humbly confess that we never achieve the fullness of understanding in these things.  We are still mortal, still hindered by residual sin, still tentative in our steps, still dim in our understanding.  But, as virtually any Christian of advanced age will testify, we can grow to see, with 20/20 hindsight how God through Christ worked in us, through us, and for us, in our previous years.  As this cumulative experience is deepened in us that certainty of our knowledge is more and more confirmed.

Our testimony becomes: we count all things loss, or rubbish, for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, our Lord. (cf. vs. 8)

And, like icing on the cake, our "mind" is filled with the same hope.  We view ourselves as "citizens" of a heavenly city (vs. 20) and this conditions us to see our present environment as "not our home."  We see the pitiful pretensions of happiness, security, and contentment that is all this world can offer and we are saddened by those who only have these things.  We know that joy, lasting joy, fulfilling joy, is only to be had in our "home city."  We have a measure of it here through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but we anxiously await the fullness of that city.  We know that one day (v. 20) our Lord will return and, "joy of all joys", He will "transform our lowly body" to be truly conformed to His. (v. 21)

On that day He will "subdue all things to Himself."  The realm of "possibility" will be replaced by "reality."  That which is "perfect" will now become the actual state of our lives along with His.  I can only speculate on how our continued life with Him will be manifested.  I know this: it will be the fullness of what we can have now.  There will be an organic relationship between our life "with Him" now and our life "with Him" then.  Thus it truly behooves us to long to KNOW that life now.  With Paul, we don't want to take mere sips of that life, we want to drink deeply of it. 

Here is our prayer... Lord, this day, open my eyes to know You and the power of Your resurrection ever more clearly.  Grant that I, we, may rejoice with You, today, in some semblance of how we will do so with You in that glorious day when we are finally brought home to Your glorious city. 

 

 

 

Philippians 2: An Uncommon Mind...

Image: "Time Out of Time", 2013, Colonial Williamsburg, Va

Philippians 2:1–2  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Philippians 2:5–7  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:14–15  Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Philippians 2:20–21  For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

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Philippians 2:5-11 is perhaps the most beautiful and instructive passage on Christology in all of Scripture. It stands there, boldly confronting any and all who dare to question the uniqueness of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God.   As supposedly highly-educated religious scholars scoff at the notion that Jesus was anything other than a "normal" human being, though perhaps one blessed beyond measure by spiritual insight and power from God, Paul here takes a pugnacious stand.  

Jesus of Nazareth was born of Mary and thus, in his human "form", had his beginning then.  But the Christ of God, Who in some mysterious way, was united to Jesus of Nazareth in His conception, did not begin then or there.  This Christ of God existed from eternity, beyond time and space, "time out of time", in loving intimate relation to God the Father.  He existed in glorious majesty, celebrated by innumerable legions of angels and, at some point, resented by legions of demons.  The point is that the Christ was "of God" but was also "God."  Here we have a marvelous mystery but one that has been plainly revealed.  It was from this glorious union and fellowship that the Christ, from His own free will but in joyful submission to the Father, set aside those brilliant trappings and set Himself to become a man.

But He did not decide to become a man or take on human appearance in a manner like those "gods" in Greek and Roman myths.  In those stories, the "god-men" gave up nothing of their glory or their power.  They came into the world of men to be exalted, glorified, and sometimes to be a terror.  This was not the Christ's purpose.  He came not to be served but to serve.  He came, not to be exalted, but to be debased.  He came to be obedient even to death and not any death, but death on a cross.  A cross!!!  You simply can't get farther removed from a throne in glory than a cross.  Yet this was what Jesus was of a "mind" to do... and this is what He did.

Yet here, in this way, was God's glory magnified!  Through the weakness of humility and suffering and the agony of the cross, God worked the salvation of His elect.  The angels were astonished.  The demons were horrified.  Yet it became clear, in His resurrection and ascension, that Jesus, the Christ of God, had been highly exalted and given a new name... a name at which every knee should bow and will bow... those in heaven and those on the earth and those who have died and are buried in the earth.

The Christ had this "mind" in Him when He gave up His glory and entered into His own creation.  It was a mind of absolute devotion to God and absolute love for those whom God had appointed to eternal life.  It is this "mind" that Paul commends to the Philippians and to us.  This is to be the controlling idea of our lives:  we also are to enter into the world to which God has sent us, we also are to give ourselves in absolute devotion to God in the process, we also are to love our brothers and sisters in the faith absolutely and serve them and God in humility, as did our Lord.  This is the "mind" Paul commends to us and this is the life that must flow from it.  In this way we are to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling", being convinced that God is working in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. (vs. 12,13)

With this "mind" controlling us, then we indeed can become "blameless and harmless, children of God, without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation."  And like that of our Lord, we will have an "uncommon mind" also, one which will enable us to "shine as lights in the world." (vs. 15)

What a glorious vision of our Lord... what a glorious vision is presented to us of His Church!  Can we hope for any higher calling?  All that is left is for us to bow in gratitude to our God for giving us the privilege of serving Him in a manner even somewhat analogous to His own.

Let His mind be in Us!