The Body of  Christ Taught--Colossians 2:9-15

     The church is a living body; and as such, it has a Living Head, Jesus Christ.  This web site considered the Person and Work of  our Living Head on two web pages.  On the last web page was pondered "The Body of  Christ Warned." Continuing the consideration of  the church, examine with this writer Colossians 2:9-15, The Body of  Christ Taught.  The Apostle Paul presented to the Colossians and thus to all:

I. THE BELIEVER'S POSITION IN CHRIST--vv. 9, 10
     A. The Fullness of  Jesus Christ--vv. 9-10b
          1. By the use of  the word for, the apostle sets forth another reason to abandon philosophy, namely, the believer's
               position in Christ.
          2. The believer's position in Christ is bound to the fact that Jesus Christ is the fullness of  God, that is, the All in All.
               a. The words all the fulness
                    (I) Sets forth the totality of  God's power and attributes
                    (II) Of  the Godhead
                         (A) The word here is Deity, looking at the essence of  God.
                         (B) Not divinity, as in Romans 1:20, which looks at the quality of  God
                    (III) Everything that can be and is attributed to God is included in this phrase.
               b. Dwells in Him
                    (I) Not the simple word for dwells, but the intensified form which suggests permanent dwelling
                    (II) ". . . the presence of  God dwelt between the cherubim, in a cloud which covered the mercy-seat; but
                         now it dwell in the person of  our Redeemer, who partakes of  our nature, and is bone of  our bone and
                         flesh of  our flesh, and has more clearly declared the Father to us." (Henry, VI:758)
                    (III) The verb suggests permanent and continual abode.
                    (IV) What stronger proof of  the deity of  Christ is required?
               c. Bodily
                    (I) Only occurs here in the New Testament
                    (II) Meaning--It is a "late and rare adverb" which shows that the Godhead "dwells now in Christ in his
                         glorified humanity." (Robertson, IV:491)
          3. His headship further emphasizes this truth.
               a. Verse 10b
               b. This headship is over angelic host.
     B. The Believer's Fullness in Him--v. 10c
          1. Speaks of  the believer's union with Christ
          2. Because He is the fullness of  God, believers are full or complete in Him.
               a. He is sufficient for all believers' needs.
               b. You and I, as believers, are filled out of   the fullness of  Christ.
               c. The verb here is of the same root as the noun fulness in verse 9.
               d. "Christ is our fullness of which we all partake (. . .) and our goal is to be made full of  God in
                    Christ (. . .)." (Ibid.)
          3. O, that every believer might grasp this glorious fact!
               a. Each believer is identified with Christ.
               b. He is the fullness of  God.
               c. Therefore, in having Jesus Christ you have everything.

II. THE BELIEVER'S BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION IN CHRIST--vv. 11-13a
     A. Identified with Him in Death--v. 11
          1. Given under the figure of  circumcision
               a. A spiritual circumcision took place at their conversion.
                    (II) It took place in Him.
                         (A) In His circumcision is possible.
                         (B) But undoubtedly a reference to the cross.
               b. Its meaning
                    (I) In the Old Testament it signified separation from sin and the flesh and consecration to God.
                    (II) In the New Testament signifies the righteousness of  faith; as here the putting off  of  the seat of  sin.
          2. The plain teaching of  the New Testament.
               a. Romans 6:5, 6
               b. Galatians 2:20
               c. Seven major passages in all and several minor ones
     B. Identified with Him in Burial--v. 12a
          1. Given under the figure of  baptism
               a. Water baptism is the outward picture of  the inward work.
               b. No rite can produce what is done here; therefore, Spirit baptism is in view.
               c. Nevertheless, water baptism pictures this glorious truth.
          2. Burial presupposes death--thus, the believer's death with Him is reemphasized.
          3. Accomplished by the Holy Spirit
               a. "Through the operation of  God the Holy Spirit."
               b. This would show that the baptising work of  the Holy Spirit is in view.
          4. "Buried with Christ and raised with Him too.  What is there left for me to do?  Simply to cease from struggling
               and strife, Simply to walk in newness of life. Buried with Christ and dead unto sin; Dying but living, Jesus within;
               Ruling and reigning day after day, Guiding and keeping all of  the way." (Favorite Hymns of Praise.  Chicago,
               IL:  Tabernacle Publishing Company, 1967; 318, stanza 1 and chorus)
     C. Identified with Him in Resurrection--vv. 12b, 13a
          1. Raised in Him
               a. Through the faith of  the operation of  God
                    (I) It is through faith in God's operation of  raising Jesus Christ.
                    (II) Not by some outward rite
               b. "It is faith which achieves this spiritual resurrection--belief in the Divine testimony is the vehicle which the
                    Divine resurrectionary power employs." (Eadie, 155)
          2. Dead in sins--raised in Christ
               a. The contrast is startling indeed!
               b. Ephesians 2:1-7
               c. "The Colossians had been really and spiritually dead, they were now as really and spiritually alive.  They had
                    been not only exposed to death on account of  sin, but had been dead in sin.  Now they are not simply gifted
                    with the charter of  a life yet to be reached, but they are actually living in faith and holiness." (op. cit., 158)

III. THE RESULTS OF  BEING IN CHRIST--vv. 13b-15
     A. The Gift of  Life--v. 13b
          1. The result of  being raised in Him.
          2. The blessed result of  redemption
               a. Cf. Romans 4:25
               b. Cf. 1 John 5:11
     B. The Forgiveness of  Sins--v. 13b
          1. The word forgiven
               a. Same root as word grace
               b. Sets forth "the free and gracious action of  God in forgiveness."
          2. Forgiveness of  sins is always connected with our relationship to Jesus Christ--cf. Ephesians 1:7.
     C. The Freedom from the Law--v. 14
          1. A blotting out--illus:  receiving a bill marked paid
          2. A blotting out of  the handwriting of  ordinances
               a. This refers to more than just the ceremonial law; the whole law is in view.
               b. We are no longer under the ten commandments as such.
                    (I) All ten commandments but one are reiterated in one form or another in the New Testament.
                    (II) The one commandment not reiterated under grace is the Sabbath.
               c. "'When Christ was crucified, God nailed the Law to His cross' (Peake).  Hence the 'bond' is
                    cancelled for us." (Robertson, IV:495)
          3. Accomplished by the cross
               a. Took it out of  the way--the it refers to the handwriting of  ordinances.
               b. Nailed it to the cross
                    (I) Again, the it refers to the handwriting of  ordinances.
                    (II) But Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross--1 Peter 2:24
                    (III) Therefore, in nailing Him to the cross, the crucifiers nailed the law with Him--Cf. Galatians 3:13.
          4. "Free from the law, O happy condition, Jesus hath bled, and there is remission; Cursed by the law and bruised by
               the fall, Grace hath redeemed us once for all." (Worship and Service Hymnal.  Chicago,IL:  Hope Publishing
               Company, 1957; 187, stanza 1)
     D. The Frustration of  Satanic Hosts--v. 15
          1. "We should have expected" and "to be placed between the two clauses; but its absence indicates the close
               connection, nay, the identity of  the two acts; or, perhaps, of  the process in which the two acts were completed.
               In blotting out the handwriting.  God at the same time vanquished Satan." (Eadie, 171)
          2. The open show was at the cross.
               a. Satan thought he had defeated Jesus.
               b. Satan was actually defeated.
               c. This writer repeats; Satan is a defeated foe; he doesn't want you to know it.
          3. Jesus Christ triumphed over them in it--the cross.

     O believer in Jesus Christ, behold your glorious position in Christ; because He is the fullness of  God, you are made full in Him!  O believer, reckon upon your death, burial, and resurrection in Christ.
     O Christian, realize the wonderful results of  being in Christ:  The gift of  life, The forgiveness of sins, The freedom from the law, The frustration of  Satanic hosts.
     
     Unbeliever, none of  these things are yours; in fact the reverse is true.  You are under the penalty of  death.  You are yet in your sins.  You are frustrated by the law.  You are defeated by Satan and are his child.  Only Jesus Christ can give you life.  Believe on Him now!