_ALL PLEASING_ ‘That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.’ Colossians 1:10 It is not quite easy to determine whether the ‘all pleasing’ means, ‘to please all persons,’ or to ‘please God in everything.’ In this, as in most similar cases, the right way is to take the passage comprehe... [ Continue Reading ]
_A THREEFOLD APPEAL_ ‘That ye might walk worthy or the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.’ Colossians 1:10 St. Paul is speaking of that which pertains to ourselves—our walk. The walk is made up of short steps. I. WALKING.—So we are... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST AND CREATION_ ‘For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.’ Colossians 1:16 A very narrow notion of the functions of... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST THE CENTRE OF ALL_ ‘By Him all things consist.’ Colossians 1:17 A remarkable expression which contains a great truth. I. CHRIST IS THE CENTRE OF ALL. (_a_) _ Of the visible world_. Christ is the central point of everything, and the whole circle of the universe is united and ruled and b... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH_ ‘And He is the Head of the Body, the Church.’ Colossians 1:18 To St. Paul the Church was the Body of Christ. The Father, he says, ‘gave Christ to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.’ St. Paul loved to conte... [ Continue Reading ]
_CONTINUANCE_ ‘Continue in the faith.’ Colossians 1:23 Will he stand? That is almost the first question asked about young converts. Asked sometimes by friends anxiously, sometimes by foes sneeringly; and no wonder. I. CONTINUANCE IS THE TEST OF REALITY.—‘Time will show,’ says the proverb, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_STEADFASTNESS_ ‘Grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.’ Colossians 1:23 The steadfastness of the Christian! It is compared to— I. THE STABILITY OF A BUILDING which rests not upon a sandy, insecure foundation, but rather like a fortress built upon some Gibralta... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘THAT WHICH IS BEHIND OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST’_ ‘Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the Church.’ Colossians 1:24 St. Paul was accustomed to urge upon his converts that they should... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE_ ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ Colossians 1:27 The Apostle speaks of a mystery—what is it? In a single sentence, it is ‘Christ in you.’ Looking carefully at the passage, we see that he makes certain statements respecting this mysterious union betwixt Christ and His p... [ Continue Reading ]
_PERFECTION IN CHRIST_ ‘That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.’ Colossians 1:28 ‘Present!’ To whom? To the world? To the Church? To Christ, when He comes, in the assembly of the universe? Was this part of the Apostolic office? Will it be an Apostolic office at the last day? Can it... [ Continue Reading ]