Head Christ
Christ And Baptism In ColossiansThe fact that baptism is necessary to getting a Christian and being saved is written on page after page in the New Testament in spite of being rejected by most who call themselves Christians. I have never understood how something so without doubt or question taught may so readily be rejected by so a heap of other than through the power that tradition and religious inheritance exerts on people. Error believed has the same faith affect upon a man or woman as truth believed and may thence provide peace and ease until the time truth exerts itself with such strength that it cannot be denied. Saul, before he became Paul the apostle, believed error and acted in all good sense of right and wrong (Acts 23:1) while persecuting Christ (Acts 26:14). He believed error and was at perfective peace with himself while sinning continually – that is until the strength of truth was exerted with power on the road to Damascus. Sincerity will never alter error into truth nor will it ever lead to a pardon for disobedience. The fact that Eve was deceived by Satan in the garden did not free her of her sin. “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being rather deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Tim. 2:14 NAS) We need to read the Bible, even more we need to study it, “a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of God.” (2 Tim. 2:15 NAS) We need to read the book of Colossians and see what it teaches regarding Christ and baptism. What Paul teaches there he teaches elsewhere as well. “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” (Col. 1:27 NAS) is a central theme of the introductory two chapters of the book of Colossians. Christ is all that is necessitated in a person’s life for in him “are concealed all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3 NAS) In him we are “made complete.” (Col. 2:10 NAS) We are not accordingly to be taken “captive through system of belief and empty deception, according to the tradition of men.” (Col. 2:8 NAS) We are not to submit ourselves to decrees “in accordance with the commandments and instructing of men.” (Col. 2:22 NAS) With Christ we have all we need and ought to thence stay far away from all impositions upon our faith not found in the word of Christ which is just another way of saying stay away from the commandments of men. “Any one who goes too far (‘Lit., goes on ahead’ – side margin note in the NAS reference edition – DS) and does not abide in the instructing of Christ, does not have God.” (2 John 9 NAS) In chapter 2 Paul lists a good deal of examples of things we ought to not concern ourselves with just because of men – food, drink, respect to festivals, new moons, and Sabbath days. (Col. 2:16) He does likewise in verses 21 and 23. In 1 Tim. 4:3 he speaks of “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods” going so far as to refer to such teachings as “doctrines of demons.” (NAS) Does this remind you of any famous religious bodies today? I do not forget when going to a state university back in the 60’s when Friday’s (I believe it was a Friday – it has been a long time ago) were particular days in the cafeteria because of what one religious body could and could not eat on that day. Their numbers were such that they had that influence on the menu. The bottom line is Christ is all a Christian needs. Christ is found in his word and not in things that cannot be found in his word. If one cannot find a book, chapter, and verse for his instructing and exercise in the New Testament then his doctrine ought to be ignored. This does away with all creed books, church councils making decisions, etc. Christ is the head of the church, “He is also head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18 NAS) “He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Col. 2:10 NAS) He says himself directly, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NAS) Paul teaches in the book of Colossians that all we need is Christ, him and him alone, him and not one thing else. Christ is found in his word and not outside it in somebody else’s ideas, thoughts, or imaginations, or as Paul says in the NAS “in self-made religion.” (Col. 2:23) If Christ in me is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27 NAS) how does Paul tell us that this is brought about? One will have to do not forget Paul is writing to people who have already heard, believed, and obeyed the gospel and therefore are already Christians. He says they had already been “delivered…from the domain of darkness, and transferred…to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14 NAS) How had that happened? The answer is found in Col. 2:11-13, “And in him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the remotion of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were likewise raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.” (NAS) The passage begins with the phrase “in him.” In him, in Christ, is life, a new creation. While Paul is speaking of a spiritual circumcision here in Colossians back in Galatians he speaks of a physical one when he says that the physical one does not matter one way or another but he says there is something that does matter – a new creation. “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Gal. 6:15 NAS) The side margin note in the New American Standard Version (reference edition) says “Or, creature.” That is what matters. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NAS) Only in Christ does this spiritual circumcision take place in which “the remotion of the body of the flesh” occurs. One is baptized into Christ. We are, Paul’s precise words, “baptized into Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:3) See also Gal. 3:27. It is “in him” where we “were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands.” (Col. 2:11 NAS) Paul in talking with regards to this circumcision in Col. 2 connects it directly with “having been buried with him in baptism.” (Col. 2:12 NAS) The body of flesh, or as Paul calls it in Romans the “old self” (Rom. 6:6 NAS), is put to death in baptism for we are baptized “into death” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) but the good news is “you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God,” (Col. 2:12 NAS) “he made you alive together with him.” (Col. 2:13 NAS) But, this one who is made alive is a new man. He is not the man that went down into the water and died. This one that comes up from the water “made… alive together with him” (Col. 2:13 NAS) was raised to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) for he is a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17 NAS). He forgave the Colossians all their transgressions. When? When upon their faith they repented and were “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38 NAS) This is what was required on the Day of Pentecost when the initial gospel sermon was preached by Peter and Paul teaches the same thing to the Colossians. Does one want to say Peter and Paul were at odds? There are a few other passages in Colossians instructing the same truth. Paul in Col. 2:20 speaking to the Colossians says, “if you have passed from physical life with Christ.” (NAS) He is not expressing doubt but emphasizing a point. He is saying, in so a heap of words, if you are a Christian “why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees?” (Col. 2:20 NAS) Question - how does one die with Christ? He says, “if you have passed from physical life with Christ.” The answer is found in inspired words, “Or do you not recognise that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3 NAS) Thus Paul teaches baptism in a verse numerous overlook without a thought. We passed from physical life with Christ in baptism. Another verse along the same line is found in Col. 3:1, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above.” (NAS) You can not be raised up with Christ unless you have introductory been buried with him may you? “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death.” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) Paul goes on in that same verse, “as Christ was raised from the dead…so we too might walk in newness of life.” (NAS) When do we do that? When we arise from the waters of baptism. Many think they have been raised up with Christ who have never been buried with him. The Bible does not instruct that may happen. Paul says to the Colossians in Col. 3:3, “you have died.” (NAS) We know how and when they passed from physical life from what we have already read and studied but the question for men today is have we passed from physical life and risen again as they did? I close this with one more passage, Col. 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another, since you laid detached the old self with it is evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a unfeigned cognition according to the effigy of the one who construct him.” (NAS) When does one lay apart the old self? Paul speaks of having “died to sin” in Rom. 6:2. When one dies to sin the old self has been laid aside. We die to sin, and therefore to the old self, in baptism. “We have been buried with him through baptism into death.” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) Death to what? To ask is to answer – death to sin. When we were baptized (if we were) “our old self was crucified with him, that our body of sin might be done away with.” (Rom. 6:6 NAS) “He who passed from physical life is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:7 NAS) The book of Colossians teaches without doubt or question that salvation is found in Christ and that Christ is all any man or woman needs for salvation. However, there are some today who are in error concerning how one enters into salvation in Christ Jesus. Remember it is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27 NAS) Why not clothe yourself with Christ which Paul says in Gal. 3:27 is done by being baptized into Christ? “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.” (Gal. 3:27 NAS) If you are clothed with Christ then certainly, if you live faithfully, you have “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Remember it was Jesus himself who said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NAS). It is man who has said, “He who has believed and has not been baptized shall be saved.” One gets to choose - Jesus or man. The book of Colossians teaches you ought to choose Jesus over man.
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