Seek wealth, But they had judgment." Ambition might try its power with them, and say, Come, make to thyself a name. seek honour, seek to be spoken well of. another master, even God: and he warned them, "Whosoever will be the friend of the world, is the enemy of God." Covetousness might put in its claim, and give some tempting reason why they should enrich themselves, and disregard the interests of others. But they were "made free" from the power of such temptations, and had become "servants to God:" and the maxim of his family is, "What shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul!” This is the answer to that question which corrupt nature is too ready to ask: May we not continue in sin, since we are not under the law, but under grace? It would frustrate all God's purposes. He has "redeemed us from all iniquity," that we might yield ourselves unto God. But "whoso committeth sin, is the servant of sin," still under the yoke, for which the Son of God came to "make him free." For his servants ye are, whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. 5 Col. iii. 5; Eccles. xi. 9. 6 Bovλnon. James iv. 4. LXII. THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST TO SALVATION. COL. ii. 8-15. 8. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Ir is part of Satan's malice to turn men aside from the plain truths which Christ has revealed, and spoil them of their blessings by philosophy and vain deceit. He had perverted the Jewish nation in this manner. God had prescribed them laws, which should "be their righteousness." But they had made the commands of God of none effect through their traditions; and interpreted the divine law after the rudiments of the world. And now "the simplicity of the Gospel" was corrupted under the pretence of wisdom: as if something must be added to the work of Christ, and the redemption wrought by him were not in itself sufficient. St. Paul warns the Colossians against such 1 μη τις έσται ὁ συλαγωγων-lest any rob or despoil you of what ye have gained. 2 Mark vii. 13. false teachers: assuring them, Ye are complete in him: "filled with his fulness:" all things are fulfilled in you, which are needful for your salvation. Ye have that which is required for your pardon and acceptance with God for his satisfaction is "perfect and sufficient." Ye have that which is required for your sanctification; having the promise of his Spirit to lead you into all truth, and being enabled to "do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you." The branch which is united to its stem, has all that it needs to give it life and fruitfulness. And so have ye, whilst "rooted in the faith, and stablished." Ye have Him with you as your Lord and Saviour, who is "one with the Father," into whose hands "the Father hath committed all things;" who is the head of all principality and power, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead, not merely as God was present in the Jewish tabernacle, or "above the mercy-seat in the temple," but in a bodily form. There were some, perhaps, who would deny this completeness, and object, that they had not circumcision. It was by circumcision, said the Judaizing teachers, that the people of God were distinguished. So God himself ordained, and prescribed the ordinance to Abraham and his seed for ever. St. Paul furnishes the reply: affirming that they had a circumcision superior to that of which the Jews were fond of boasting. That circumcision is made by the operation of men. They had the circumcision of the Spirit. They were consecrated to God as Abraham was, though not by outward but by inward means. That is the true circumcision, which puts off the body of the sins of the flesh. And this they possessed, who were "in Christ Jesus." 11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses ; 14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Here, in few words, the apostle points out to the Colossians the blessings of their redemption through the sacrifice of the cross. Your natural state, he says, was a state of death: for sin is death; and ye were in your sins. Receiving the faith of Christ, and committing yourselves to him in baptism, your first nature is as it were buried with him: and ye are risen with him to a new and better nature through the faith of the operation of God: who first raised Him from actual death, and now raises his followers from spiritual death, quickening them to a new life of righteousness and holiness. So he hath dealt with you Gentiles, having forgiven you all your trespasses. But this is not all that has been done. There was a handwriting of ordinances that was against us;--equally against us Jews and you Gentiles;-which must bring all under condemnation. The ordinance said, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all the things that are written in the book of the law to do them." "3 This doom was against us: contrary to us for it made all men guilty before God. This handwriting Christ hath blotted out: hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to his cross: so that it can never be brought against us, any more than a bond can be brought against a debtor which has been cancelled, pierced through, and torn. So that the principalities and powers which had long held mankind under their dominion, are spoiled of their captives: Christ has led them captive in their turn, and made a show of them openly, like vanquished kings in the procession of their conqueror, triumphing over them by his Cross which he lifts up, as the warrior lifts up his banner and "draws all men after him.” 5 See, then, in review, the benefits of which St. Paul here speaks, when the handwriting of ordinances is cancelled. The law was laid down before the Israelites; and they bound themselves by a promise, saying to Moses, "All that the Lord our God shall speak unto us, we I will hear it and do it." 6 The law was not thus plainly revealed to the Gentiles; but still there was a law of nature and of conscience, distinguishing between good and evil: so that they who followed their conscience and reason, might do by nature the things contained in the law, "fearing God and working righteousness." 7 3 Gal. iii. 10. 6 Deut. v. 27. 4 See Rom. iii. 9-31. |