The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 45

God not only accepts what is in any measure good (Luke i. 76), but highly esteems what is good in t.Jie saints (Luke i. 25; 2 Tim. ii. 2, 3; v. 4). IV. AN EXHORTATION TO PERSEVERANOE JN COID.'EOTION WITH THE PROVISION FOR THEIR RECONCILIATION. "If at 1811st ye continne in the faith !rl'Oundcd and steadfast and are not constantly shifting from the hope of the gospel, which ye heard which wa~ preached in all creation under heaven." I. The1·e is nothing strictly liypothetical in this passage, as the tense clearly indicates; yet warning is needed ns the divinely ordered means of averting failure. There were risks to faith in the presence of Judreo- Gnostic teachers. We need to be reminded that "he that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matt. xxiv. 13); but God himself provides for us the grace of continuance. 2. The mode of this conti'nuanc.e. "Grounded and steadfast." (1) Marking its positive side. (a) We must be built on the true Foundation (Eph. ii. 20). We must be grounded in the doctrines of grace as well as "built as living stones" on "the precious Corner-stone" laid in Zion (1 Pet. ii. 6). Otherwise we shall be swept away in the rising floods of judgment (Luke vi. 48, 49). (b) We must be steadfast as the result of this grounding. An ungrounded Christian cannot be a growing Christian. It is well to be settled in the faith if we would make progress in Christian life. Suffering has its influence in increasing our stability. Therefore our apostle prays that the God of grace, "after tha.t ye have suffered a while," may "make you perfect, sta.blish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Pet. v. 10). (2) Marking its negative side. "And are not constantly shifting from the hope of the gospel, which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven." (a) The apostle points to the danger of drifting. When the anchors are lifted, it is impossible to know where the ship may go on a dangerous ~bore. The false teachers were subtle and plausible and speculative. It may have been hard to resist their logic. But the end of their speculations was death-the sacrifice of the hope of the gospel (b) He points to a sure anchorage-" the hope of the gospel, which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven." (a) 'l'his hope may have been tba.t of the resurrection, of which the false teachers said it "was past already" (2 Tim. ii. 18), and thus cut up by the roots the true expecta- tions of the Christian. (fJ) It was more probably the "hope of the gospel" generally, wliich is described in Eph. i. 18 as " the hope of our calling," including a.II the blessings of redemption with re.surrection itself. ('y) It was a hope (i.) ma.de known by the gospel; (ii.) imparted to them by Epaphras, the delegate of the apostle-" which ye heard ; " (iii.) and proclaimed as the uni verral hope of man to all creation. It was not, therefore, reserved for a select coterie of men. "Its universal tendency was already realized," and its wide publicity was not to be called in question. (3) Consider the importance of religious steadfastness. " We must hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of hope unto the end" (Heb. iii. G). Let us, therefore, bless God that "he has begotten us to a lively hope" (1 Pet. i. 3). (4) Seek wisdom from on high "to know what is the hope of our calling" (Eph. i. 18). (5) Let us read the Scriptures prayer- fully, that "throuah patience and comfort of the Scriptures we may have hope" (Rom. xv. 4). (6)°Let u.s acknowledge that "truth that is acco1·ding to godliness" (Titus i. 1, 2).-'l'. C. Vers. 24-27.-.77.e mission, sufferings, gospel, and :preaching of the apostle. Re introduces here a somewhat abrupt reference to himself, not to vi_ndic~te ~is _authority as an apostle, which was not challenged at Colossre, but to emphasize his m1ss1on as the apostle of the Gentiles, and to draw the Colossians into closer relations of sympathy with himself. L THE .APOSTLE'S euFFEBINGS FOR THE CHURCH. " Who now rejoice in my suffer- ings for you, and fill up that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the Church." L The nature of his sufferings. 'l'hese are to be WJderatood by his frequent reference to the afflictions of Christ. (I) The afil.ictions of Christ are not (a) afflictions home on account of Christ; (b) nor afflictions impostd by CL.rist; (c) nor afflictions which resemble those of Christ; (d) nor the aflLctions which the apostle endures instead of Christ, as supplementing his afilictions; b11t the afilictions which Christ endures in his suffering Church. 'l'hc Messiah was "to be afllicted iu all their afil.ictions" (Isa. h:iii. ~). (2) How the apostle filled up that wLicL wa;, bocking of Chrui's afflictionij, Not as if Christ did not suffer all that on. 1. 1-29.] 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 30