Col

Col. 4:5-6

10/14/2007

“Walk in Wisdom”

“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (v. 5). Paul with this command focuses on our relationship with those who are outside, those who are outside of the faith. Let us not allow the term, “outsiders”, to make us indifferent to this command. For many of us, the “outsiders” are close and dear to us. They are our own fathers and mothers, our dear sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters. They are our close friends. They are our coworkers we see everyday. They are our classmates and professors. We know how difficult it is to deal with them. Often we feel at a loss as to how to interact with them. One the one hand, we deal with the “outsiders” as if they were not, as if there were nothing that distinguishes us from them, as if the gospel did not matter. On the other hand, those we can afford not to interact with, such as our coworkers and acquaintances, we keep them at a safe distance. But there are some, with whom we have no choice but to interact. In those cases we are often frustrated by our mistakes and failures, by grief and disappointments that are difficult to bear. There is no doubt that relationship is the most difficult challenge we face yet we cannot do without it!

But the God we worship and serve is a sovereign God. He makes no mistakes. He does everything according to the counsel of His will. Nothing lies beyond the purview of God’s sovereign will: his eternal decree covers all creatures and all their actions and all that happen in the natural world as well as in the spiritual realm. We are not accidents. The fact that we are what we are and have what we have is no accident. The fact that we are here at this point in time with all the people in this room is no accident. All our relationships are no accident. All the people that are in our lives, whether families, friends or acquaintances, are no accident. We are what we are, we have what we have, and the people that are in our lives are there for a purpose, which was conceived and decreed in God’s sovereign will. What an awesome and alarming thought!

We all have a pretty clearly defined circle of people that we interact with regularly. Often, the line is quite tight and thick. This is not just because we feel most comfortable with those that are inside our circle. Just keeping up with these relationships seems overwhelming at times. I and Cassie have only two little children and they keep us quite busy, of course my wife more so than me. Then there are church members to minister to, our families and friends to keep in touch with, etc. But with this command our Lord challenges us regarding the way we go about our relationships, particularly how we deal with those that are outside our faith. Our church is a spiritual refuge for us as we journey toward our heavenly home. But a church is not to be a Christian ghetto. Though we are not of the world, we are in the world. And God has placed us in this world for a purpose. And this command shows us what that divine purpose is. Let us see what it is.

But before we go on, let us remember who it is that gives this command. As Paul speaks under divine inspiration, this command comes ultimately from God. As such, it comes to us with the absolute authority of a sovereign God. We will try to see why God has given us this command to His people. But we must understand that the authority that requires our full obedience does not come from the reasonableness of the command. It comes from the sovereign authority of God and nothing else. God is to be obeyed because He is God, not because His command makes sense to us. We thank God that He has bestowed upon us the ability to think and reason. And God often appeals to our reason because He knows how He made us. But God is much greater than what our reason, or our finite and limited exercise of reason, can grasp. Because of our limitations, we may not understand even the things that are perfectly reasonable. Besides, it is not our reason that is supreme. God is. So then, we are to be mindful of our relationship with outsiders. We cannot ignore the outsiders. We cannot keep them at bay. We are to interact with them. We are to conduct ourselves in wisdom toward them. How busy we are with our circles of friends is not a legitimate excuse.

“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (v. 5). This shows that humanity is divided into two groups: those who are “in” and those who are “out”. But think about to whom these words are directed--the Colossian Christians who were Gentiles in the flesh. Think about how radical this is! This shows that the division is no longer along the ethnic lines between Jews and Gentiles. To be sure, this ethnic line of division has always been a superficial one. Not all physical descendants of Abraham belonged to the line of promise. There was a time when Elijah thought that he was the only one left in all Israel, though God informed him that there were other remnants of faith, seven thousand in number. But what was seven thousand in all of Israel? At the same time, some non-Jews, though very few in number, belonged to the line of promise, such as Rahab and Ruth and possibly Naaman, too. Even so, many ceremonial laws, such as the circumcision and dietary laws, built a dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14) between Jews and Gentiles.

This was a (superficial) reflection of the enmity that God Himself established after the fall between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Think about this: we know that Adam and Eve were created with all the genetic elements that would result in the division of humanity into different races. We don’t know when different racial distinctions began to emerge. But what we know for sure is that the ultimate division of humanity in Gen. 3:15 into two groups came long before different racial or ethnic groups came into being. The ethnic division between Jews and Gentiles, though established by God’s own covenant, was designed to be superficial, typological and temporary.

Now with the coming of Jesus Christ, the line of division has been realigned according to the original division: the division no longer revolves around one’s ethnicity or physical ancestry but around one’s faith in Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the promised Seed of the woman! Again, the Seed of the woman was promised even before racial and ethnic divisions emerged. As the promised Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ peels off all the superficial differences that divide men, all the superficial layers that define who we are. Our allegiance to Jesus Christ, or the lack thereof, is what defines us in the most ultimate sense, not our ethnicity or our education or our looks or anything else. All these other things are temporary, confined to our life in this world. We will not be forever fathers and mothers, children and siblings, doctors and professors, businessmen and employees. Only our relationship with Christ will last through eternity. Either we will be forever enemies of Christ, condemned to hell forever, or we will be God’s beloved children in Jesus Christ as coheirs with Him. So then, whether we are in or out is determined according to our relationship with Christ--whether we are in Him or outside of Him.

A sense of belonging is very important to all of us. No man is an island. No man is supposed to be an island. No man can survive as an island. And our sense of who we are and our sense of worth are deeply affected by what group we belong to, whether we are in or out. Wherever there is a larger social gathering, there seems to be always the “in-group”. Many of us grow up looking in from outside. I myself remember what it was like when I first came to the States at the age of fifteen. Not knowing the language, the whole student body was the “in-group” that I could not be a part of. How utterly lonely, how utterly embarrassing and humiliating it was!

The “in-groups” can be anything from the group of “cool kids” at school and “cool guys” at work to an exclusive country club. And it seems like that the moment one gets into the in-group, he realizes that there is another, more exclusive in-group to look up to. I wonder how many of us are in that inner-most circle, looking outside. And I wonder whether being “in” in that inner-most circle makes that much difference in our life--whether it helps us to be a happier person, a better husband or wife, a better parent, a better person. Even more importantly, what difference does it make in the most important of all our relationships--our relationship with our Maker, the Judge of the living and the dead? Having been made in the image of God, we can never truly feel “in” unless we are in the circle of fellowship with our Maker and God. What is our membership in the most exclusive, elite club to God? Will it impress God? Then what does it profit a man to belong to the inner-most circle of the smarted and most influential men and find himself cast out of the gates of heaven into the utter darkness of hell? What is in view here in our passage is none other than being in or outside of the inner circle of God.

What is the nature of this division? It is of enmity (Gen. 3:15). This is an eternal enmity. What God has divided, no one can unite.

But what is the present state of this enmity? Now, the line, which divides who belongs to Christ and who does not, is not a hard and fast one, at least from our point of view. The kingdom, which Jesus Christ has ushered in, is His kingdom of grace and His grace is being extended to all the nations through the proclamation of the gospel. This is to bring even those, who may be outside of the faith at the present, into the kingdom of His grace. That is why Paul was so eager to declare the mystery of Christ, particularly to the Gentiles who had never heard of the gospel. For a time is appointed when Christ shall return and His kingdom of grace will be transformed into the kingdom of glory. Then the age of grace, in which sinners can be brought into God’s kingdom by grace through faith, will come to an end. And the line of division, which was set unalterably in the eternal decree of God, will finally come to its historical fruition. So then, now is the time to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ unto the salvation of sinners.

Paul’s command reminds us that we must be mindful of our relationship with those who are outside of our faith, not just with our family and our fellow saints. And as long as Christ’s kingdom of grace continues, our interaction with those who are outside cannot ignore this evangelistic (witnessing) focus. Notice that the command at hand follows Paul’s plea for the prayers of the Colossians for his gospel ministry, that he might make clear the mystery of Christ, speaking as he ought to speak. Not only does this command immediately follow the previous verses, there are also many similar themes:

In v. 3, Paul desires to speak forth the mystery of Christ. In v. 5, Paul calls on the Colossians to conduct themselves in wisdom toward outsiders. Wisdom and the mystery of Christ are closely related. So we read in Col. 1:27, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” We also read in 2:2-3, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” There is a close connection, then, between Paul’s speaking forth the mystery of Christ to the Gentiles and the Colossians’ walking in wisdom toward outsiders.

In v. 4, Paul solicits God’s help so that he may speak as he ought to speak, thereby making the mystery of Christ clear. In v. 6, Paul exhorts the Colossians to make their speech always gracious, seasoned with salt, so that they may know how to answer the outsiders.

Why such similarities between the mode of Paul’s ministry and the mode of Christian living? What Paul is trying to communicate through them seems obvious: Paul is reminding the Colossians that the work of Christian witness is not limited to him and his fellow laborers in the gospel ministry; the work of Christian witness is for all believers. As Paul was concerned with his ministry to outsiders, particularly to the Gentiles who had not yet heard the mystery of Christ declared to them (“to declare the mystery of Christ” refers to the Paul’s evangelistic ministry to the Gentiles?), we too are to be concerned with our witness toward outsiders. Of course, Paul was an Apostle, set apart by the Lord personally as an apostle to the Gentiles, and we are not. But surely we are not exempt from the mission of bearing witness to those around us! The same precious blood of Jesus Christ binds Paul and us together: the blood of Jesus Christ, which enabled and motivated Paul to serve the Lord as he did--so passionately, so sacrificially, so unreservedly, so completely--is the same blood by which we too have been saved. And is it not true that Paul and we possess the same gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation for all those who believe? How can we keep it to ourselves?

Think about how we came to be “in” in the inner circle of fellowship with God. Do we realize just how radical Paul’s words are from the redemptive historical point of view? Paul is calling the Colossians “in”--those who were Gentiles in the flesh, those who were outside of the commonwealth of Israel, those who were aliens to the covenants of promise. Such was our condition. Then how could we end up in the inner circle of God? Because we have been raised together with Christ (3:1). No one can enter into the inner circle of God apart from Christ, without being united to Christ through faith. Those who are outside of Christ have no fellowship with God.

But what is it really about Christ that can bring about such an amazing feat, such a radical reversal of bringing fallen sinners, even us Gentiles in the flesh, into the inner circle of fellowship with the holy God? This is possible only because He came to seek and save the lost. Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Of course, no fallen sinner can be well and righteous before God! But these words of Christ show us that Christ came for the sick, the sinful. Therefore, all those who acknowledge their sinfulness and recognize their utter need for a Savior can find salvation in Him and find entrance into the inner circle of God for eternal fellowship with Him.

Oh, how we should thank Him for His amazing grace, that He should come for sinners and outsiders and not for the powerful and influential! And while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Let not the simplicity of this expression take away from its profound significance! He came to love the most unlovable. He came to touch the most disgusting. He came to embrace the least attractive. He came to lay down His life for the rebels. Has this become something too familiar, somewhat of a cliché? Then think about the people you don’t like. Think about the people you avoid at all cost. Think about the people, the mere mention of whose name evokes in you all kinds of unpleasant and even violent emotions. We as sinners were far worse and far more despicable to Him. But it is for such sinners as us that He came! So He was accused as a friend of sinners, yet He was not ashamed to stand by us. For He was indeed a Friend, the truest Friend a sinner can have. His eyes were always on a look out for the lost, the insignificant, the despised, the helpless, the sick and the marginalized. He touched the unclean, the lepers and even the dead to heal them, to restore them, to raise them to life. In the end, He went all the way to the cross to bear their punishment in their place!

If we have found a place in the inner circle of God, it is because and only because of such a Savior, Jesus Christ! For His work of redemption drove Him all the way to the outside of the land of the living, outside of the inner-most circle of fellowship with His heavenly Father! There was no cry of sorrow bitterer than His “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” It was because He was taken out of His fellowship with God that we have been brought into the inner circle of God. For the punishment we deserved was to be cast out of the loving presence of God into eternal damnation!

We have been brought into the inner circle of God because someone came to tell the good news, because someone did not despise and ignore us when we were outsiders. And that someone came to us because someone else came to him to tell the good news, because that someone else did not despise and ignore that someone. And all these bearers of the good news came to us because the eternal Son of God, the promised Seed of the woman, yea the promised Seed of Abraham, came to bless all the families of the earth!

Remember what the four lepers did in 2 Kings 7? At that time the Syrians under Ben-hadad invaded the city of Samaria and this capital city of Israel (the northern kingdom) was under siege. But God graciously and miraculous intervened and all the Syrians left in panic in the middle of the night. There were four Jewish lepers at the gate. That night, out of desperation, they decided to go into the camp of the Syrians to look for food. Because of the siege there was not much food in the city and, since they were lepers, banned from the society, food was harder to come by. They were sure to die in the city so they set out to look for food in the enemy camp. To their utter surprise, they found the Syrian camp to be completely empty of the soldiers but full of the supplies. They ate the food and took treasures from a few tents. Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household” (2 Kings 7:9). Were we not like the lepers as aliens to the covenants of promise? Yet we were brought into the richness of God’s kingdom through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Paul’s command tells us that we cannot, and we must not, ignore those who are outside the faith, who have no idea how rich and abundant the kingdom of God is. We have been brought into the inner-circle of God as His dear children. God has made Himself and all the riches of His kingdom available to us. We have found in Him a place of true refuge and eternal security. But we must remember that our union with Christ affects all our relationships, even our relationship with “outsiders”. Having tasted the goodness of the Lord, how can we keep it to ourselves, especially when without it no one can be delivered from their sin and their judgment? Jesus Christ, who came for the salvation of His people, sent those blessed messengers of the gospel to us. Now He sends us out--in fact, He has placed us in the midst of outsiders--that we may testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring His chosen ones into the fold of God.

Is there anyone that God is bringing to your mind as you listen to this message--an outsider or two? Do not ignore it. Today, talk to him. Pick up the phone, if you cannot be there, and speak to her as Christ has spoken to you with His love and His grace. Yes, there may be many outsiders in your life. But let us start with one or two. As we do, the muscles of our faith will be strengthened and we will be able to walk in greater wisdom toward outsiders. May the Lord bless your efforts and be pleased to use you to save the lost! Paul spoke of the Philippians and others, who were converted through his ministry, his “joy and crown” (Phil. 4:1). All of God’s elect will be saved without fail. What glory and joy will be ours when we stand before the glory of our God on that blessed day and claim some precious souls as our joy and crown! What greater privilege and joy can there be than to take part in the eternal salvation of God’s people! Let us plead with God for His wisdom that we may indeed walk in wisdom toward outsiders.