Colossians 3: The Ideal Christian Life
Sunday, June 1, 2025
This Favorite reminds us that because Jesus is The Life, Christ guides us to live in him.
This is an interesting citation which follows upon yesterday’s recounting of the old covenant with Yahweh where we heard a description of what it meant to be a Jew. Today’s Noontime is about the New Covenant: What does it mean to be Christian?
Of course, we must remind ourselves that St. Paul writes from an ancient perspective regarding women and slaves, but the essence of the message of this letter is valid. To be Christian, one must not only turn away from vice, but turn to the qualities Christ exemplified. Verse 8: We are to stay away from anger, fury, malice, slander and obscene language. Verse 12: We are to turn to compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. Do we need more guidelines? Turn to verses 15 and 16: Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another . . . with gratitude in your hearts to God.
The Old Covenant, as Jeremiah predicted in 31:31, has been re-written and this time it is in our hearts rather than on stone. The New Covenant is universal, open to all, not just a select group. And to be in community we are to be with one another in Christ. We are to be thankful and demonstrate the qualities listed in verse 12. We are to caution one another in peace and prudence. We are to be loving, just and wise. God no longer dwells in the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem temple; rather he now lives in each of us in as much as we are Christ to one another.
In the opening chapter of this letter, Paul tells us that the invisible God is made visible in Christ. And this Christ is in us, and we in him, just as the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father. What a wonderful gift we have been given . . . to share in the reward Christ has gained for us.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank you for your gifts of life and light which you give to all of us. Help us to be more inclusive and less exclusive. Teach us to me more loving and less judging. Guide us in your wisdom and grace, and grant us your peace. Amen.
A Favorite from August 26, 2007.
Tomorrow, remaining in Christ as we live through the joys and miseries of life.
Image from: http://thomastaylorministries.org/blog/bible-covenants/
The Noontimes 