Signs of Life

The Person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who was enfleshed to become the Son of Man, is the focus of God’s revelation of Himself in Holy Scripture (Jn 1:14). It is the written Word of God that gives us the true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself (Col 2:2). Christians are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18), so as to grow in maturity, hence, conformity to the God-man (Rom 8:29).

Throughout the Bible, God’s chosen people have been opposed by unbelieving scoffers (2 Pet 3). Men, influenced by deceitful spirits (1 Tim 4:1), have been sent by Satan to counter the true teaching regarding Jesus Christ, which the Bible calls “sound doctrine.” The doctrine of demons is anything that competes with the truth as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21; 1 Tim 4:1).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, commending them on the stability of their faith (Col 2:5), handed down to them by Epaphras, a faithful servant of Christ (Col 1:7). The Colossians had heard the Word of truth, the Gospel (Col 1:5), through the preaching (Col 1:25) and teaching of God’s Word (Col 1:28).

The good minister, entrusted with the stewardship of the Gospel (1 Cor 4:1), will proclaim Jesus Christ (Col 1:28; 2 Tim 4:2), in whom all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form (Col 1:19; 2:9). Jesus is the icon, the express image of the invisible God (Col 1:15). He is the second Person of the Triune Godhead, who has emanated from the Father and come into the world. Only by the Father’s doing — His dragging us to Christ (Jn 6:44) — are we in Christ (1 Cor 1:30).

In Christ, the Christian is made complete (Col 1:28; 2:10). Everything needed by the child of God in this life and for ministry (2 Cor 9:8; Phil 4:19), along with everything pertaining to eternal life, is granted us in Him (Eph 1:3). The Lord of all (Acts 10:36) is our all and in all (Col 3:11) of His elect, redeemed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), given to us individually as a gift (Acts 2:38; 10:45).

As Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15), Jesus is Head over all rule and authority (Col 2:10), whom He triumphed over at the cross (Col 2:15). Our warfare remains against these principalities and powers, who were disarmed by Christ Jesus the Lord, but who operate through false teachers on a mission of disinformation. These false teachers wish to captivate church members with anything other than Christ (Col 2:8, 16–23).

The answer for diluted, distorted, deviant, deceitful, delusional doctrine and practice is devotion to the One who is Head over His church (Col 1:18). Everything is in Christ. No believer can add anything to alter his or her status before God. The Christian is complete or filled to the full (Gk. pleroma). In addition, all the blessings and benefits are there for the child of God (Eph 1:3). The believer’s status is secure (Phil 1:6; 1 Jn 5:11–13). It is an allure away from the truth that false teachers try to win over or seduce church members using sensate religion or the rigors of abstinence.

Satan sends his deceitful spirits to men who do his bidding; but as noted, Jesus is Head over all rule and authority (Col 2:10b), whom He disarmed at the cross (Col 2:15a). He exposed the rulers and authorities as frauds. He destroyed their falsehoods, their false light, and the false promise of life. God secured victory through Christ at the cross (Col 2:15c). God always leads us, His people, in His triumph (2 Cor 2:14).

The sign of entrance into the old covenant was the rite of circumcision, beginning with Abraham and his male offspring (c. 2000 B.C.). Later, this was incorporated into the Law of God given to Moses (1446 B.C.). The symbolism was a shadow of the substance which was the circumcision of the heart (Rom 2:29). The Israelites were to have a heart fully devoted to Yahweh, but they proved to be unfaithful covenant partners with God.

Jesus Christ was the substance of circumcision. He was faithful and true to fulfill all the obligations of the Law for righteousness (Mt 5:17). In other words, as the God-man, Jesus meritoriously secured right standing at the right hand of Majesty, the right hand of the Father upon the throne of God (Ps 110; Heb 1:3; 8:1; Rev 7:17). He was the faithful covenant partner in what is called “the new covenant.” In truth, there is only one true covenant, which is the eternal covenant of grace. What is new is the substance replacing the shadows.

Jesus was cut; and His blood was shed (1 Pet 1:19). The circumcision of the heart in the new covenant goes by various names; but it is understood that the blood shed in the circumcision of Christ was the last blood shed in His one-time final sacrifice for sins (Heb 7:27; 9:26). With His finished work on the cross (Jn 19:30), the sign of the covenant now became water baptism (Col 2:11–12).

Water baptism itself is a non-blood shadow and sign in the new covenant. It is a symbol of the substance of the new covenant promise being fulfilled, which is regeneration — the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:26). This is the circumcision of the heart, when God the Spirit takes up permanent residence in the soul of the one He has caused to be born again of God (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3).

All people are conceived in sin (Ps 51:5), born in sin with a sin nature (Eph 2:3), live in sin (Rom 3:23), and most die in sin where is appointed for men to be judged with an eternal sentence (Mt 25:41, 46; 2 Cor 5:10; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). But God, having mercy on a select remnant of elect redeemed souls — dead in sin (Eph 2:1) — made us alive together with Him (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). A spiritual heart transplant (Ezek 36:26) has given us new life (Gal 2:20), in which we walk (Rom 6:4), as forgiven sinners being set apart for God (Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:2).

God no longer remembers the sins of the new covenant saint (Jer 31:31–34). The reason is that the entirety of our debt of sin is cancelled (Col 2:14). In fact, the entire enterprise of sins, death, judgment, and punishment have been taken out of the way for the Christian. The whole system of God’s justice rightly decrees the demise of sinners. Thus, it is hostile toward humanity; and humanity is hostile toward God (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25; Rom 1:30; 5:10). Christ embodied the whole system (Heb 10:5–7); and then He was nailed to the cross (Col 2:14).

In conclusion, the Apostle Paul warns the true believer not to be lured away from simple and pure devotion to Christ — the Champion and Head over any opposition to His rule and reign. He is Lord of all; and our allegiance is to Him, alone.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 3, 2024

Colossians 2:8–15