Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church
Anxious Striving
Talk the Walk
Serve the Lord Christ
Wear His Life
Kill the Dead
Hold Fast to the Head
Walk Rooted
Struggling With All His Energy
All the Fullness of God
by Walter Henegar
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Healthy faith involves talking to God about others—steadfastly, watchfully, and thankfully—and talking to others about God—wisely, graciously and saltily. All of these behaviors flow out of a firm grasp of the Gospel of Jesus, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Resources: - Molly Worthen on the Gospelbound podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CwAeiZm4EasJfNFJxikh5?si=-2DgXZqfQ6S1ze7iJ5Ujmw - Lectio365 app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lectio-365/id1483974820
Sometimes we follow, sometimes we lead; in every relationship, Jesus is King. United to him in his death and his life, we build up all others, and him glorify. Resources: Westminster Larger Catechism, questions 123-133 PCA Report on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Walter’s August 2022 Sermon on Ephesians 6:1-9
Paul's positive vision of Christian transformation in community is incredibly attractive—and incredibly hard. Qualities like meekness, patience and forbearance are not natural to us, nor are forgiveness, sacrificial love, peace, admonishing one another, and thankfulness. It is possible, however, to "put on" these qualities because of what Christ has done: choosing us, making us holy and beloved, forgiving us, ruling us with his peace and empowering us to give thanks.
One of Paul’s favorite metaphors for growing as a Christian pictures change like clothing: putting off the rags of our old life and putting on the robes of our new life in Christ. Verses 1-11 focus on putting off, which involves situating ourselves in God’s past-present-and-future story, agreeing on death’s address (that is, why we should put off certain behaviors and dispositions), and killing the dead: whatever belongs to our old way of life.
Spiritual elitism, or legalism, attempts to exclude Christians based on religious performance. Paul names three specific forms of it here: majoring on the external, pretending to transcend the physical, and being known by your don'ts. The true Gospel opposes all of them, training us to distinguish shadows from substance, not to fight flesh with flesh, and above all to hold fast to the Head, Jesus himself. This inevitably means leaning in to the very place where spiritual elitism often thrives: the church.
Everyone walks through life “rooted” in some core beliefs, whether explicitly religious or not. Paul argues that only the person and work of Jesus can give us the life we truly want. But in order to choose him we must understand how captivating the alternatives can be, why Jesus is superior to all of them, and what only he can do for us.
In this section of Colossians, Paul opens up about the nature of ministry; it's many challenges and joys. Paul also makes clear that anyone and everyone who desires can enter into the mystery of union with Christ because it has been completely revealed in Jesus. It is not for a select few, but for all who come with simple, humble repentance and faith.
Paul wants to expand our vision of Jesus, deepen the roots of our trust in him, and tighten our grip on his Good News. In the process, he exposes multiple ways that we tend to shrink Jesus to a manageable size. Do you think of Jesus as so darn nice that it’s hard to imagine ever being intimidated by him? Are you so cynical about the church that it’s hard to take Jesus seriously? Are you offended that Jesus calls you evil? Are you so hung up on the mechanics of how Jesus saves that you fail to celebrate your own salvation?
People who understand and believe the good news of Jesus increasingly bear good fruit in their lives. This is part of why the good news is good: Because it changes us! Paul's thanksgiving and prayers for the Colossians subtly challenge us to actively participate in our own transformation.