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

Part 5 - A Summary of the Letter and Words of Personal Greeting (Colossians 4:2-18)

24. Life with Unbelievers (Colossians 4:5-6)


Colossians 4:5-6
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Paul was not willing to enter into compromise with the world view and philosophy of Hellenism. Through the gift of spiritual discernment, he both recognized as well as testified to the truth that there are two categories of people: Those dead in sin and those alive in Christ! All other analysis, religious persuasion and educational aims amount to humbug. He wrote the following to the central church in Western Anatolia, the assembly in Ephesus, where a high level of Greek-Roman education prevailed: “1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Eph. 2:1-3) He further expounded this fundamental difference when he later wrote: “17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness…22 Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:17-24).

The apostle to the nations pragmatically described to the church in Galatia (in the vicinity of modern Ankara) the difference between the two types of man: “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ´s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:19-24).

We need to once again confess that there are only two types of man: those born-again in Christ, and those dead in sin, believers in whom Jesus dwells, and those without the Spirit of God. The assertion of this has nothing to do with arrogance, but the contrary, for those justified in Christ have truly recognized their sin and confessed it with tears. They know that by nature they are not one bit better than any other person. By grace alone they have received the power of the Holy Spirit, through their faith in the crucified and risen Son of God. They live today already in eternal life. Paul witnessed to them: “Christ in you is the hope of glory”.

Those who live without the triune-God, however, can at the most try and gain hold of His salvation and righteousness by their “good works” and an exemplary life style. They fail to notice that, measured against the holiness of God, they are hopelessly lost. No person is good in himself, while only requiring a proper upbringing. Man resembles, much more, a tiger in excellent garb. He, nevertheless, remains a tiger, and as soon as he sees a slice of meat he avariciously devours it.

Paul impressed upon the Colossians that the majority of mankind lives “outside”. We, however, need to be working amongst them. We have not been commanded to withdraw into holy circles; much more, we should conscientiously be living among non-Christians. Among them there are still those who have never heard anything about Jesus and who do not know His salvation. We should not attempt to convert these spiritually uninformed or even antagonists by using a long stream of words. In fact, this would probably work the opposite. In and of themselves they can neither see nor understand the kingdom of God. Therefore, we need to pray for them and live among them with wisdom, tact and sensitivity. Jesus said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Those seeking truth should recognize in our life-walk that Christians do not lie, steal or practice fornication. They need to sense that followers of Christ have something that people of the world do not recognize. Continuous intercession, help in time of need and opportune times for friendly words are invisible bridges to the discovery of reality in Christ.

Paul could not constrain himself from challenging the Colossians to have their words seasoned with “salt”. To be sure, they were to speak friendly at all times to outsiders and not to condemn or despise anyone. At the same time, they were to be Spirit led and have the courage to ask the one they were speaking to where he or she would go after death – whether heaven or hell was waiting. The question: “What do you think about Christ?” has been the cause of many good conversations. Above all, we need to listen to the person Jesus has shown us, that we might understand what he thinks and suffers! Whoever sends in his heart a lightning-quick prayer to heaven, asking Jesus for the right words for this person, will get a precise and inspired answer in seconds. Blessed is the man or the woman who is then prepared to tell this word of God to the person spoken to. The one who can´t speak much but is ready with an appropriate tract or pamphlet also helps the person, who may not be immediately prepared to give an answer to something so foreign to him.

Paul impressed upon the church in Colosse to “redeem the time” and do all that is possible to see the kingdom of God in Christ expanded. It is not a nice management, loud activity or psychological tricks that give wings to the working of God´s Spirit. Rather, it is reverent silence in the presence of God and the meekness of Christ that lead us into the field of the Holy Spirit´s forceful working. It is He who uses our weakness and our deficiencies to cause the fire of love and of truth to be spread, and not we ourselves. Whoever dares enter the row of Christ´s witnesses will experience the marvel of grace, even when he, like Paul, lands in prison for it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of all mankind, we worship you, for Your heavenly Father has given unto You all power in heaven and on earth. You have commanded Your followers to go into all the nations of the earth and to offer all people the gospel of Your completed salvation, that they might allow themselves to be baptized into God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Help us not to be lazy, but to rise up and hasten to the people whom Your Holy Spirit wants to lead us to, and then to do or say what You expect of us. Amen.

Question 51: What do verses five and six mean in the fourth chapter of the letter to the Colossians?

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