THE BEAT e148 Remember My Chains (living free through Christ’s Supremacy)

This is Faith to Witness 99, motivating us to hear God and share the Shepherd.  

Season 2 Episode 148 

THE BEAT | Remember My Chains (living free through Christ’s Supremacy)

Quick Take 

Hey human, today we understand a little better the power of prison chains for the apostle Paul. How the supremacy of the Son of God makes it possible for us to live in the fullness of his nature. This is true independence. Independence in Christ. Check out e148 for how our witness starts with his supremacy. Thanks for listening.

How are you following the supreme Son of God today?

I’m Kathryn Bise, your host.

If you have read the book of Acts, you likely know Paul had set his sights on visiting Rome for about two years. When he finally made that journey, via a shipwreck and 3 months in Malta, he spent his time in Rome under house arrest. During this time, he preached the gospel to all who came to visit him, and wrote several epistles known as the “prison epistles.” (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon).

It Begins with Supremacy

The text of Paul’s letter to the Colossians doesn’t indicate a prior visit. Paul received news of the Colossians’ faith and concerns through Epaphras, a likely leader of the church. The letter is believed to have been written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome. He hopes to visit in the future. In his letter to Philemon, Paul expresses hope to visit Colossae after his release from prison.

How Paul prioritizes his insights is key to understanding anything at all about Jesus. That he would establish Jesus as a divine power. All else follows.

Colossians 1:15-20

 

The Supremacy of the Son of God

 

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

 

Paul is illuminating the divine power of John 3:16. Jesus, and only Jesus could be the one to come to us. Only God’s beloved Son could do this. Because God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him.

It is through a deeper understanding of supremacy that we can live a life in his sovereignty. Let freedom ring. While those against God, those against Christ call submission weak, call living a life in Christ a surrender to the power of the individual to be self-independent, self-motivated, self-celebrated, self, self, iself.

While this is said, the truth stands, that when we live in Christ, we live independent of the world.

Independent in Christ. This from a man in chains.

We Have Been Brought to Fullness

Paul goes on to celebrate this life with a supreme Savior and how to avoid being taken captive about what this world has to offer. He also tells us we have been brought to fullness by the Son of God.

Colossians 2: 6-12

 

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

 

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

 

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

A Life That Shows Up

What happens to us when we live in Christ, begins on the inside. It always does. But how do we pursue a life that shows… no, a life that shows up for others?

It’s a heart thing. And a mind thing.

Listen up.

Colossians 3:1-4

 

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

 

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 

Paul uses the word “set” for how we approach our hearts and minds. He used two different Greek words for verse 1 and 2. While I will have to return to this in more depth another time, verse 1 offers “keep seeking” and verse 2 offers “to set one’s mind toward” in verse 2. By both definitions, it is a deliberate choice.

Our first choice was to accept the truth about our sin nature. That we are sinners. And then to accept the truth when the word became flesh. Jesus came to earth because we needed saving.

From there we are guided by God’s divine persuasion.

Our personal deliberation, our daily deliberation is in setting our heart and mind toward him.

How do we enter this daily life of deliberation? Paul tells us, while in chains.

Colossians 3:12-14

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

And how will this daily life feel, a life hidden with Christ in God?

Colossians 3:15-17

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul is describing how we live in God’s Word. And the gratitude that comes from Christ’s sovereign rule in my heart, what Paul calls “the peace of Christ.” He is telling us to live in his Word by teaching, admonishing, singing, that everything in word and deed be done in his name.

This doesn’t have to be in a fixed devotional context. It could be a quick reference to a scripture that just came to light for you and sharing it. It could be taking 10 minutes to get clear on something in scripture that has confused you forever. Maybe something you hear others getting wrong.

Or stopping and sharing a scripture in a text. I just stopped and did that with someone as I prepare this. God’s timing is epic. When I am prompted, I respond. The spiritual reward when we respond to God’s timing is always beyond measure.

We grow beyond the daily devotional mantra when we bring God’s word into the day. Throughout our day.

Consider that Paul just told us to “let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…”  Not just dwell, but dwell, richly, deeply—in a way that wraps you up in the luxurious, glorious spirit of the Lord. King David was a master of this.

I deliberate being alive in Christ with every fiber of my free will.

Proclaim Clearly. Answer Everyone.

Paul begins his letters with thanksgiving and prayer for the people he is ministering to. He also ends with a request for prayers. So, it is no surprise that in Colossians 4, verse 3 Paul asks for prayer. For what? So that God may open a door, so that he might “proclaim the mystery of Christ.” It is, as he says, why he is in chains.

And not just proclaim but pray that he proclaims it clearly. He leaves us with an affirmation that we know, right?

But living it is a daily quest.

Colossians 4:5-6

 

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

 

The origin of this podcast, Faith to Witness 99 comes from my life. I enjoyed a rewarding, successful career “doing good” in the nonprofit industry across bi-coastal urban environments. I had inspiring, productive, results-oriented conversations with donors and underserved recipients, with program officers, Board members, staff team members, my bosses, everyone. All the time. It was my job to understand, persuade and raise money.

Jesus was in those conversations, but rarely were they conversations about him, and the fullness of his grace, seasoned with salt. I did not answer everyone, I did not witness to the Son of God’s supremacy in my life, to his divine presence in my heart, in my mind. But he redeems us daily with opportunities to respond to him, to answer others.

So, what a gift this letter is: the affirmations that the supreme Son of God reigns in our hearts, that he fills us with his spiritual nature, and enables a life full of seeking things above, in mind and heart. Why? 

Because he is the mystery that saved me. Because his supremacy set me free. That is my witness.

Jesus is the mystery that saved you. His supremacy set you free. That is your witness.

This is why we share the Shepherd.