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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)
Colossians 3:11
11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
In the context of young believers being made holy, Paul went on to shed light upon this touchy matter in the church assembly of Colosse. The members did not all come from the same group of people, but from various ethnic groups, languages, religions and levels of the multi-cultured society in Hellenism. There existed among them considerable differences in regard to dietary regulations, modes of clothing, rights and customs. Paul went on to sweep these all away with a single, short sentence: Whoever wilfully puts on Christ is no longer the same person he once was. Rather, he has been translated into a new culture, one that can be described as being “love and truth in holiness and peace”. These characteristics do not result simply from the friendly efforts of church members living side-by-side, but much more, are the outcome of the merciful gifts of the resurrected Christ. He has united, in His name and power, all believers of various cultures and levels of education that have put their faith in Him. There remains no oppressive spiralling of expenses for worldwide organizations dedicated to the realization of ecumenical unity, for we are already “one” in Christ – through His Holy Spirit. Whoever meets born-again brown-skinned, black-skinned, yellow-skinned and white-skinned followers of Christ will encounter radiant faces. Ongoing fellowship arises when each member recognizes that we all belong to the same Saviour and live together in Him.
Question 39: Why is there often in a church, whose members come from different cultural backgrounds, so much stress and misunderstanding? How can these problems be overcome?