Focused Solely on Christ

February 3, 2013 Background Scripture: Colossians 1 Lesson Passage: Colossians 1:12 – 23 Religious opinion can be a dangerous philosophy when placed in the hands of someone who desires to teach. Teachers can always find a group willing to absorb nonsense when it differs from accepted doctrine. Isn’t accepted doctrine also just a religious opinion? It’s not quite the same. Accepted doctrine has stood the test of time and has been confirmed over and over many times through signs and wonders and answered prayers. Accepted doctrine also has been tested against the entirety of the Holy writ and found to be sound and in accordance with all revealed scripture. If this is true then why do religious opinions keep popping up all over the place? People have itching ears and they are constantly seeking to be a part of some great learning experience that sets them apart from others. When religious opinions outside of accepted dogma begin to raid the ranks of established congregations then heresy is in full bloom. Unfortunately, this has been the case since the inception of the first century church. All biblical authors of the New Testament epistles addressed heresy in one form or another. This seems to be the central theme or topic of Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse. Historical evidence from the early church supports the belief that Paul was not the one who founded or organized the Colossian church. Rather, it was a disciple or convert of Paul’s by the name of Epaphras—who he mentions in this letter. Since much of what Epaphras taught would have been secondhand, it is possible that this provided an opportunity for heresy to creep into that congregation. This can also lead teachers to limit their teaching to their own personal experience as though it were the entirety of the revealed truth in the word of God. It is a dangerous position to take to assume something is not true simply because one has not experienced it for himself. The greatest heresy is to teach Christians that Jesus is not all-sufficient. This type of teaching is still prevalent today. There are some that will tell you today that you must believe in Jesus and confess him as your Lord and Savior as a first step. But then they will go on to suggest that something else must be done if one is to be saved. Some may suggest that you are only saved if you have been given the gift of speaking in tongues. Others will insist that you cannot be saved without water baptism. Of course, both of these heresies are refuted quite clearly in the New Testament scriptures although the proponents of these heresies never seem to refer to those scriptures when they are defending their doctrinal position. In no other writing outside of the Colossian letter does Paul so clearly denounce such heresy. He reminded the Colossians that “For it pleased the Father that in him (that is in Jesus) should all fullness dwell.” To be full is to suggest that there is no room for anything else. Salvation is solely the work of God through Jesus Christ. Salvation is received when the believer puts all of his faith (or trust) in the “finished” works of Jesus on Calvary. No other works on the part of sinful mankind can add or subtract from God’s plan of salvation. What a saved person does will either help or hinder their spiritual growth in grace. Our salvation is attained, assured, and secured solely by Jesus Christ. As far as salvation is concerned, our focus should be solely on Christ. Robert C. Hudson January 23, 2013