“Cross Currents: It’s All Relative”
Col 2:6-15
A cartoon pictured Pastor Wilkins behind his desk, a look of utter disbelief on his face. Standing in front of him was a church member, Mrs. Trent. She had just said “According to my horoscope, this is a good week to preach against false doctrine.”(i) It raises the question, “What is truth?”
It’s an appropriate question since we live in an era when truth is proclaimed as relative. The theory is that people and organizations define truth according to their experience and belief. There is, then, no absolute truth. In fact, the Barna Research Group found in a survey that 72% of Americans do not believe there is any such thing as absolute truth – and, sadly, 40% of evangelical Christians do not believe in absolute truth. (ii) The surveys also reveal that most Americans do not rely on the Bible as their primary guide for truth but would rather figure out truth for themselves. Yet, sadly but not surprisingly, when people are in the midst of crisis and turmoil, they long for something solid, something permanent, for some sure answer – for truth.
So we begin this morning by looking at THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH. Verse 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.” Paul states that there is truth and untruth – THERE IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Absolute truth is defined as “unchanging truth from God that is applicable to all persons in all situations.” (iii) Paul warns the Colossians not to be taken captive – not to be kidnapped – not to become a hostage to untruth. Paul understood the danger. Verse 4: “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” He knew the human tendency to be caught up in fancy words and powerful speech – and that fancy words and powerful speech spewed out wrong truth, false teaching and doctrine, and worldly traditions and philosophies. Jesus knew it too (Mk. 7:6-9 NLT): “Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Then he said “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.”
It’s not surprising, then, that there is also a large group of Americans who believe there is absolute truth but that it is found in all major religions; for them, therefore, there is more than one path to God. (iv) The central assumption of many is that at their core, all religious people are striving for the same thing, and are just using different words and concepts to get there. But how true is that assumption? If we look closely at the four world religions that represent about three-quarters of the global population – Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity – and summarize their most basic belief in the idea of God, we find that God is one with creation and takes on millions of forms, God may or may not exist, God is one and absolute, and God is one but exists in three persons.(v) They simply cannot all be true because they are contradictory. As Ed Stetzer asks, “If we cannot agree on even the basic definition of God or his character, how can we say that all the major religions are on the same path toward the truth about God?” (vi)
So Paul urges the Colossians to measure all philosophies, teachings, speeches, and traditions by Jesus Christ. Why? Because JESUS CLAIMED TO BE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. As we read in John 8: 31f: “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…” Jesus said there is absolute truth – in Him. Listen again to what He said while on trial before Pilate (Jn. 18:33-38): “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Jesus said that when it comes to truth, a choice must be made. Later, in the Upper Room with His disciples on the night of his betrayal and arrest, Jesus said (Jn. 14:6) “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus said there is absolute and exclusive truth about God – and it is found in Jesus Himself. In His last prayer before His arrest Jesus prayed (Jn. 17:17 NLT), “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” Jesus said we are made holy through absorbing His truth, which is the Word of God.
The truth about truth is that WE HAVE A CHOICE. It raises the question, “What is truth?” Or more particularly, “”What is truth for you?” What is the core truth for your life? Where do you turn for security and direction? Will you let your experiences define truth or let truth define your experiences? Consider Jesus – He’s either the absolute truth or an absolute fraud. (Jn. 10:10) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” There is no middle ground.
Paul urges us to CHOOSE JESUS AS THE TRUTH. The Colossians were being offered ‘fullness of life’ through getting in harmony with ‘the elemental spirits of the universe.’ They were dabbling in the spirit world. (Does that no have a contemporary ring?) Yet they lacked fullness. We too seek for fullness and completeness in things and people that cannot deliver it. That’s why so many burn out from running on empty. So Paul says to choose the truth of Jesus (9-10): “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO FULLNESS; WE ARE COMPLETE IN JESUS. Since all the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, and since we are in union with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, then we, too, possess the fullness of God. Humankind was created in God’s image. Through the sin of Adam we distorted the image and became incomplete. In Jesus we are complete – whole – again. We need nothing more and no one else.
Paul continues by saying that choosing the truth of Jesus results in the assurance that WE ARE ACCEPTED BY GOD. (11-12) “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, 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.” For the Jews the fundamental sign of acceptance into God’s covenant community was circumcision. Paul points out that through His death on the cross Jesus circumcised our hearts; He changed us. Everything that the Old Testament circumcision promised – God’s acceptance, love, and faithfulness – is ours through faith in Jesus. (vii)
On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds hit his 756th Home Run – that broke Hank Aaron’s record. But since Bonds was alleged to have used steroids, most of the talk centered on whether or not the record should count. Many people believe that in the record books Bond’s name should have an asterisk – to denote that the record is tainted, not fully accepted by Major League Baseball. Mark Ecko, who bought the ball Bonds hit in setting the record, asked fans via an internet poll what he should do with it. Their vote was for him to brand the baseball with an asterisk and donate it to the Hall of Fame. In 2008 that’s what Mark Ecko did. The Bible talks about the Lamb’s Book of Life, in which are listed the names of all who are saved through the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. The reality is all our names should have an asterisk; for our lives are tainted – unworthy of being fully accepted. But because Jesus died on the cross, the asterisks have been removed; we are accepted. (viii) The cross proves God’s acceptance, love, and faithfulness. We belong fully and legitimately in God’s Kingdom. We need nothing more and no one else.
Choosing the truth of Jesus also assures us WE ARE FORGIVEN AND ALIVE. (13-14) “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” The truth is, we were once dead in sin – dead people have no power to change anything. But through His death on the cross Jesus gave us new life. To help grasp what Jesus did Paul uses some vivid images. He says our indebtedness, caused by our SIN, WAS CANCELLED. It’s like the bank, mortgage company, or loan agency calling you up and telling you your debts have all been paid. There is no longer anything on record against you. Using a second image Jesus has, says Paul, ‘taken it away’ – which literally means Jesus has WIPED THE SLATE CLEAN. He hit the delete button and the information is gone forever! Then, to be sure the message is clear Paul goes back to the image of the crucifixion and states that all the charges against us, the indictments that we are unworthy and condemned, were NAILED TO THE CROSS AND PUT TO DEATH with Jesus. All the ways we fail to measure up, all the things that disqualify us, all the wrongdoings and short-comings are dead – they have no power over us. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)
Martin Luther experienced the reality of this truth in a dream in which he was visited at night by Satan, who brought to him a record of his life, written with Luther’s own hand. The Tempter said, “Is that true, did you write it?’ Terrified, Luther had to confess that it was true. Scroll after scroll was unrolled, and the same confession was wrung form him again and again. At length, having brought Luther down to the lowest depths of misery, the evil one prepared to make his departure. Suddenly Luther turned to the Tempter and said: “It is true, every word of it, but write across it all: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.’” (ix) We are forgiven and alive.
Think of the impact of believing this truth: we can spend less time regretting the past and more time living in the present; we can justify ourselves less and confess more; we can spend less time licking our wounds and more time counting our blessings; we’ll find it easier to forgive others; we increase our love for Jesus. (x) We need nothing more and no one else.
Yet there still is more. Choosing the truth of Jesus enables us to LIVE WITH VICTORIOUS FREEDOM. Before heading to the upper room with His disciples on the night of His betrayal, Jesus said (Jn. 12:31-32), “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Paul tells the Colossians that this is precisely what happened. (15) “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Notice again the graphic terms and images. Jesus DISARMED, STRIPPED, THE ENEMY of all his power. These powers and authorities are the ones Paul wrote about in his Ephesian letter (6:12) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” They no longer have power and authority over us. Jesus also, through His death and resurrection, MADE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THEM. He exposed Satan’s deceit and powerlessness. Remember the story of Samson? The Philistines blinded him and brought him into the temple in full view of the public to mock him and God. All Samson did was put each arm around a pillar and pull the temple down upon them. The public now knew the truth of God. So at Calvary, in full view of all, God brought Satan and his armies to ruin.
In doing these things, says Paul, JESUS TRIUMPHED. The cross was a consummation of a life of triumph of Christ over Satan. In Genesis 3:15, God had promised that a conqueror would come and crush the head of the serpent. When Jesus was born, Satan tried to kill him through Herod, but he lost. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness, but he lost. He tried to deter Jesus in Gethsemane, but he lost. Sin was Satan’s trump card. But Jesus defeated Satan by paying the price for our sin. (xi) The world’s last word about the truth of Christ was the cross - God’s last word was the resurrection; the world saw an impostor – God saw His Beloved Son; the world rejected Jesus – God exalted Him; the people said “He will not reign over us”; God said “Behold your King!”
What is defeating you? What power overwhelms you? What situation discourages you? What binds you? What needs disarming in your life??
As pastor Matt Woodley has written; Perhaps you’re experiencing evil; “someone has wounded your heart. Or you’re in dangerous temptation, and you’re weary of the fight. Perhaps the evil was your choice, and now you regret it. It doesn’t matter: God’s power, as displayed so powerfully at the cross, is greater than your personal, or our corporate stories of evil and sadness. How do we know this is true? Because Jesus told us this, and Jesus lived this story. He faced the most potent concentration of pure evil that this world has ever seen; it even killed him; he even descended into hell; but ultimately, Jesus rose again to new life. The grave couldn’t hold him. The evil powers couldn’t hold him. The jaws of hell couldn’t hold him. And, ultimately, my friends, although these forces can scare you and wound you, they cannot and never will be able to destroy you or God’s good creation. In and through and with Christ, you too will share in God’s great power over evil.” (xii)
Brothers and sisters - Never forget – YOU HAVE VICTORY IN JESUS! As the wonderful hymn proclaims: “O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.”(XIII) We need nothing more and no one else.
I invite – I exhort you - to choose Jesus as the truth. This is more than just an intellectual agreement with Jesus – it means to live in Jesus. (6-7) “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Put your roots down deep into Jesus – drink from and live in Him. Bishop Richard Reins told a story about a small boy who lived in a very poor family in the Appalachia mountains. His family was so poor that they could only afford a single glass of milk for all the children at mealtime. Each child got to sip just a bit from the glass, and then had to pass it on to the next person -- and that person to the next. This they did, night after night, as they gathered for dinner. Then a tornado struck the area and the little boy wound up being separated from his parents. On the first night at dinnertime, the Red Cross nurse came by and gave him a tall, cold glass of milk to drink. The boy took the glass in his hands, and looked around the room at the hundreds of others in the shelter. He just sat there a minute, seemingly confused, not knowing what to do. Then he looked at the nurse and said, "Ma’m, how deeply can I drink?" The nurse understood where the little fellow was coming from. She smiled at him dearly, and with a lump in her throat said, "Son, you can drink just as deeply as you want to. It's all yours!" Drink deeply from Jesus Christ – completeness, acceptance, forgiveness, life, victory and freedom are all yours in abundance and never-ending supply.
The Apostle Peter has given us an invitation (2 Pt. 1:3-11 MSG): “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.” We need nothing more and no one else. And that’s the truth!
(i) Adapted from an original cartoon by Jonny Hawkins, The Best Cartoons from Leadership Journal, Vol. 1
(ii) From What Is Truth? By Bill Bouknight, Magazine, March/April 2015, p. 43
(iii) Ibid
(iv) Ibid
(v) Ed Stetzer, "Proselytizing in a Multi-Faith World: Why mutual respect and tolerance require us to witness for Christ, "Christianity Today (April, 2011), from www.preachingtoday.com
(vi) Ibid
(vii) Matt Woodley, Jesus, Lord of the Cross, © Christianity Today International, from www.preachingtoday.com , p. 6
(viii) Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: “Bonds’ 765th HR ball lands in Hall’, USA Today (7-2-08)
(ix) Hughes, R. K. (1989), Colossians and Philemon: The supremacy of Christ, Preaching the Word (78), Westchester, Ill: Crossway Books – as quoted in The Supremacy Defended: Totally Complete in Christ, by Robin Koshy, p. 6
(x) Koshy, p. 6
(xi) Ibid, p. 7
(xii) Woodley, p. 9(xiii) Victory in Jesus, Eugene Bartlett, Sr., © 1967 by Mrs. E. M. Bartlett – assigned to Albert E. Brumley & Sons
