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COLOSSIANS - Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians

Part 3 - What Does Your Resurrection Life Look like? (Colossians 3:1-17)

17. How Can the Unity of a Church Grow? (Colossians 3:11-15)

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This group of blessed and favoured saints had not yet, however, become perfected in their lives, but were still in need of urgent admonitions:

Colossians 3:12-13
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

Born-again believers need to recognize that the joy of eternal life in them is not the only goal of their salvation. Their newly gained life, manner, friendliness, mercy and love still need practical realization in the church. There were still many misunderstandings and vexations in the mixed-culture church of Colosse, as well as excessive sensitivities and annoyances that needed overcoming. There were, to be sure, reasons for true complaint and cases of legitimate need. Each church member needed to learn, however, that he was called to become the least in the assembly and a servant to all. Jesus had said: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). With these words he set aim at the sickness in our hearts, so that our pride can be broken and our self-will can be delivered up to the Father of mercy.

The church of Christ is no fellowship of those without fault, but encompasses believers that learn to bear with one another without complaining, ever ready to forgive one another, just as God forgave us. The Lord´s Prayer is the most precise teacher for an all-encompassing forgiveness in the church. Therein, we pray to our Father in heaven: “Forgive us so much as we forgive our adversaries – not more!” (Matt. 6:12, 14-15). Whoever has totally and gladly understood the depth of this petition forgives everyone and exercises love for the one he has forgiven - lest he himself be catapulted out of the realm of grace!

There is no place for revenge in the church of Jesus Christ, neither retribution nor hatred. Such judicial demands of the Old Testament and the Koran have been stilled and overcome through the atoning death of Christ. Jews and Muslims, who live without Jesus, have to again and again, in accordance with their law, revenge themselves: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Ex. 21:24; Sura al-Mai ´da 5:45). Jesus, however, commands us: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:44-45). No man is able to fulfil this command in and of himself; much more, he needs the help of God day and night.

Question 41: What problems do church members need to especially overcome among themselves?

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