I WENT long with my introduction last time; this time I’m going to keep it short so as to get right to the text, reserving my observations for next time. However, I am going to open with just one scripture reference, Isa 26:3,
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
THINK on this as you prayerfully read the closing paragraphs of the chapter under consideration.
One more point before we start. If it appears that this chapter’s closing read is somewhat open ended. But, there are two more remaining chapters to round things out.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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Chapter 51—Reckoning in Colossians Three – Part 3, conclusion.
When we learn to fix our mind upon Christ and rest in Him in the heavenlies, we will not be oppressed by self, circumstances, and situations here on earth. Our spiritual position is not down here, praying and pleading for help from Him up there. Just the opposite! We do not go to Him for help, but we rest in Him as the All-sufficient One. We do not bring Him down to our level for our use; we abide in Him at His level, for His use.
“When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory.” Christ is our Christian life; therefore, as we grow spiritually we become more like Him. At His second coming, we shall even have a glorious body like His. Our Father has already glorified us in Christ; our Lord’s return will bring the manifestation of that finished work. “And whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). Count and rest upon it. “For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory” (Phil. 3:21, ASV).
“Ye have put off the old man” (Col. 3:9). When was this accomplished? At Calvary! There we were separated from the old by our death in Christ. Now, experientially, we are cut off from the doings of the old man by reckoning upon his crucifixion.
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col. 3:10). The new man was put on when we were re-created in the Lord Jesus. This new nature is the very life of the One who is the express image of God. Therefore, our growth in the knowledge of Him results in the manifestation of His life.
For years we try to handle the problem of sin and self directly. On the negative side, we seek to suppress self, or crucify the old nature. On the positive side, we plead with God to change us for the better, and we try to be more Christ-like. But in it all, we never seem to emerge from Romans Seven—total defeat.
