What Is True Of Him Is True Of Us - Colossians 3.1 - 14 Fr. Michael Flowers 08.07.22

St. Aidan's Anglican Church, Kansas City - weekly talks

Throughout the letter to the Colossians, Paul is stating the most radical thing that could happen to a human being. He challenges our modern, materialistic, scientific conditioning with the claims of Christ and his rescue plan for the cosmos. Just a few statements to provide context. 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14). 1:16 For by him [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (1:16-20). What could read like an epic fantasy, through faith becomes the power of God unto salvation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ addresses our deepest needs and longings and speaks to the disorder of creation and our passions, the problem of evil in the world, and the mystery of origins. And Paul is saying to the church at Colossae and to us this morning that what is true of Christ IS true of us. HOW IS THIS SO? If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Fellow risen ones, last week we looked back in 2:11-12 to understand Paul’s bold statement, since you have been raised with Christ… What resurrection is he referring to? 2:11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. What is true of him is true of us. “You may not feel like it. Learning to believe what doesn’t at the moment feel true is an essential part of being a Christian… This is what the life of faith is all about.” N.T. Wright, Paul, for Everyone, the Prison Letters, p. 175.