Moment With The Master
“Christ is All”
Categories: Moment With The Masterwhere there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:11)
There must have been quite a “melting pot” of disciples in the church at Colosse. Among those named were Greeks, Jews, circumcised, uncircumcised, Scythian, slave, and free. Just who are these people? What is the essence of the message in this text?
The various classes of people named in the text represent the various, national, ritualistic, cultural, and social classes found in this ancient church. Each of these classes marked sharp distinctions among them. But in Christ all such divisions are obliterated. Thus, those of Abraham’s seed could not boast of superiority over the Greeks. There was no advantage for the Gentile to conform to Judaism in the ritual of circumcision. The gospel lifts both the barbarian and the Scythian (considered to be a worse type of barbarian) into the dignity of Christian fellowship. Christ has placed both the bondman and free on the same level. Christ is all and in all!
Christ gave them a common access to God. In fact he is the only way to God. He is the common redeemer and intercessor. There is no need for additional grace or supplement of the law.
Christ gave them common requirements. Their entire focus was to be on imitating Him and being His disciple. Christ was to be the whole of their lives, ruling every facet from their homes, to school, to the market place.
Christ gave them a common motive. The operative word is love marked by a spirit of gentleness, forbearance, and meekness. It is manifested by a humble and forgiving disposition. There was no room for self-pride that promoted the social distinctions of the day.
The message of Paul to the Colossians must reach our hearts today. We must remember who we are- God’s children. Remember how we arrived at such a status – by God’s grace. And remember to treat our fellow Christians in the same way God treated us – with mercy. It may be challenging, but it must be done for the cause of Christ.
By George Slover
