#26 Christ Replacing Culture in the Book of Colossians (1)
Brother Chris Wilde starts off our new series on Christ Replacing Culture in the Book of Colossians.
Scripture Reading: Col. 1:15-18, 27; 2:9-10, 16-18; 3:4, 10-11
I. If we get into the depths of the book of Colossians, we will see that in this book Paul is dealing with the hidden matter of human culture:
A. Paul’s use of the word barbarian in Colossians 3:11 is a strong indication that this Epistle deals with culture.
B. Culture is the systematic method that we have developed to exist and to maintain our being— Gen. 4:16-22:
1. Culture is the unconscious living of every human being—Eph. 2:2-3; 4:17.
2. People throughout the world are under the influence of their culture.
C. Just as culture exerted a strong influence on the believers in Colossae, culture today exerts a strong influence on us—Col. 2:8-10, 16-18:
1. Unconsciously, we are under the influence of the culture into which we were born; the elements of this culture are part of our being—Gal. 4:3, 9; Col. 2:8, 20.
2. When we came into the church life, we brought our culture with us, and this culture undermines our enjoyment of Christ and the church life.
3. To a large extent, Christ as the unique element in the church life has been replaced by culture—v. 8; 3:11:
a. Subconsciously and unconsciously, we all treasure our culture and place a high value on our particular cultural background.
b. In the church life Christ is replaced by culture more than by anything else—v. 11.
II. The book of Colossians reveals that the all-inclusive, extensive Christ is everything in God’s economy—1:15-18, 27:
A. We need a clear vision of this wonderful Christ being everything to us.
B. Such a vision will terminate the influence of culture on the experience of Christ and on the church life, and instead of being cultured people, we will be people occupied with, possessed by, and saturated with Christ—3:11b.
