Dying with Christ

Colossians 2:20-23 (KJV) “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Such a PROFOUND statement “…if ye be dead with CHRIST…” Oh, that all “born again” people would be “DEAD WITH CHRIST FROM THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD”. So!! What does that statement mean? I think that when we see the first word in verse 20 of our text it sets the meaning of the rest of chapter.

Wherefore: In the Greek language this word “wherefore” is an adverb used as a conjunction. It connects the statements following it to the previous subject or subjects, or to be more directly, in this verse, it is to explain about the “BODY OF CHRIST” and our duties and reasons, and why we are not in heaven, but why we “THE BODY OF CHRIST” have been left here on earth. It explains why and what we should be doing here on earth, and why we were left behind as witnesses of JESUS THE CHRIST. It explains why the MYSTERY, as Paul called it, was kept secret for thousands of years. If you remember the JEWISH people, the HEBREWS mostly believed that when the CHRIST came, that HE would at that time set up HIS KINGDOM with power and force. But, that belief was not entirely correct, or understood correctly. CHRIST came to establish a people that would include, JEWS and GENTILES together as the CHURCH, the BRIDE of CHRIST, and they were to PREACH and TEACH the GOSPEL so all would have the opportunity to become part of that LIVING ORGANISM, THAT LIVING CHURCH, THAT WOULD PORTRAY to all of the WORLD, WHO CHRIST WAS, and WHAT HE WAS ALL ABOUT. That ONLY THROUGH HIM could SALVATION be obtained, as GOD’s WORD records in the sermon that Peter brought to those people in the TEMPLE on the days after PENTACOST when he healed a known cripple as he went into the temple at JERUSALEM, in the book of Acts, so please look with me in the book of Acts, in the 4th chapter, to that account:

 Acts 4:10-13 (KJV) “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” 

So what does it mean to be as the Apostle Paul said: “…if ye be dead with CHRIST…”

The Greek word that is translated to die or to be dead in the present tense is θνήσκω, and means probably exactly what you think it means, to be dead in a present sense! The word Paul used here is a compound word where the Greek word “APO” which renders the original word more vivid and intense, which changes the meaning to, you are to surely be quite dead! Which mens no longer living, or living in, when it is added to “NAY-SKO” the common Greek word that is used for “being dead to”. So the actual meaning of this compound Greek word means “since you or dead to the things of “life” then you no longer have feelings for those particular life styles because your senses have been deadened to them. Then the two Greek words used together intensifies the normal word for dead and magnifies it, so to stress, that you litereally can’t live in those thing any more since you are dead to them.

Now then listen to what Paul says that you are dead to, or to what your senses have been deadened to, so that power of those things no longer have an allure to you or draws you to them. The “RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD” which means the fundamental, principle, basics of our senses of the FLESH. Paul then describes what he is talking about so that it is clear to his readers what he is meaning. Listen to what he says in verse 21 to help them and us to understand his point of being “DEAD WITH CHRIST” Paul uses the word IF to get them and us to begin to search our hearts so that we can really know if we have “DIED WITH CHRIST”. So he says these things:

1: Touch not: The Greek word here (touch); properly means to attach oneself to, that is, to touch (in all kinds of implied relations) it is a primary verb; properly to fasten yourself to, or (especially) to set on fire or to kindle, to light up, and to apply one’s self to,  so in the sense of to eat or devour or consume. To completely mesh yourself with.

2: Handle not: The Greek word that is used here by Paul and is translated as HANDLE is a prolonged form of an obsolete word that means (to finger); to manipulate, that is to have to do with; by implication to injure or to handle to the point of roughly examining an object. To take it into your hands and manipulate it to help you decide if you really like it or not, or to determine what the object really may be.

3: Taste not: The first Greek word here (TASTE) is a primary verb; to taste; by implication to eat; figuratively to experience (good or bad) that is to eat, or to taste; and of course metaphorically, it means to experience, to partake of, or to live in. The second Greek word that is used here and the preceding two statements is the word (NOT), and as an “adverb” here, it modifies and describes the verbs TOUCH, HANDLE and  TASTE and is an absolute NEGATION or DENIAL. Not just a suggestion, but shows the degree of how we are to TASTE, to TOUCH or to HANDLE, which is “NEVER”, flatly meaning to NEVER TOUCH, NEVER HANDLE, NEVER TASTE. When you really get down to the NITTY GRITTY of it, it makes sense, because before we were saved we did these things and already know the results of the EXAMINATIONS that Paul is talking about.  So in contradistinction to these commands that Paul gives; David the psalmist gives us the ALTERNATIVE examinations and tells us what we should be doing. Please read along with me;

Psalms 34:8 (KJV) “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Leave it up to the Psalmist to say it so eloquently, with meaning of continuely tasting at all times. I hope the CHURCH, the BODY OF CHRIST, never loses their taste for the LORD. We need to whet our appetites for the LORD everyday by reading HIS WORD, by praising HIS name, by worshipping HIM every day of our lives.

Let us now look at this next word, I realize that the (KJV) seperates it into two words but it is actually a compound word “Will Worship”: Now this word is a self-devised, external form of ceremonial service, a mode of ceremonial worship chosen for one’s self, this compound Greek word is used only once in the whole Bible. and it is made up of the Greek words (thelo) and (threskeia) which mean voluntary or (arbitrary and unwarranted) piety, that is sanctimony or a little more familiar word that we might recognize is “SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. A type of “worship based on a random choice or personal whim, rather than on any reason or on any system. Here, the Apostle Paul warns Christians not to be fooled or beguiled, we have seen that word before in this chapter of Colossians, haven’t we, means by the deceptive arguments of MEN or WOMEN. Usually these types of arguments are very pleasing to the flesly side of our life as we JOURNEY along down here on earth. But, most of the time these types of things sound true enough, but are NOT, and are only ploys of the devil. They argue for such things as LEGALISM, VISIONS, SELF-DENIAL, and other types of outward displays and actions that look good to others that are WATCHING but are not WORSHIP that is directed towards pleasing the Father but are more arbitrary so that others will think that we are religeous or in the spirit. Now, let me be quick to EXPLAIN that Paul is not talking about involuntary praises like amens, thank you JESUS, and other bursts of praises to GOD that are led by the SPIRIT OF GOD. But, voluntary utterences that magnify the person and are really saying “LOOK AT ME” and not an involuntary “knee jerk” caused by the movement of the “SPIRIT OF GOD” as we WORSHIP. These voluntary outbursts are similiar to what the Pharisees did as they sometimes would grimace and make faces and other actions to be seen as PIOUS in the sight of men, to make them seem religeous or spiritual in other’s eyes and minds. Read with me or listen attentively to Matthew 6:16-18 (KJV) where I SAVIOR JESUS says: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” I want to be very careful here because I would never want to say or imply that you, I or anyone else should “quench the spirit”. The Apostle Paul in his letter to those Christians at Thessalonica gave these practical precepts for them while they were on their JOURNEY and we can use these encouraging words while on our JOURNEY:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (KJV) “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 

So let us Christians, who are the “BODY OF CHRIST”, be “DEAD IN CHRIST” and not just say we are “DEAD IN CHRIST” but die daily to the allure of fleshly tendancies while on our JOURNEY here on earth, let us be truly “IN THE WORLD” “BUT NOT OF THE WORLD” if we are not, how in the world will the unsaved come to know to follow us to the SAVIOR, to JESUS OF NAZARETH? I will put this sermon on our Facebook page. This Wednesday’s sermon blog will be along this same line, and next Sunday’s  sermon will be instructing us how to be RISEN WITH CHRIST since we are indeed “DEAD IN CHRIST”.