The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 127

secured by the gospel is th~refore the simple morality of pleasing the indwelling Obrist. We mlly here follow the sainted Henry Martyn, who thus describes what the Christian walk is.. It is (1) to co~tinue to apply his ~lood for the cleansing of our consciences from guilt; ~2) to live _m ~epen~ence on lus _grace; (~) to follow his example; and (4) to walk m fellowsl11p with him. And this morahty will be pervaded constantly by the grateful 8pirit. _In truth, gratitude _is the spirit and morality is the form assumed by the gospel as 1t lays hold of the mmds of men. God having in his gospel done so much for us, we feel that we ought to do all we can for him. We conse- quently walk before him in love and strive gratefully to do the things which please him.-R. M. E. Vers. 8-15.-0hrist our .All. Having laid down the troth about the Trinity as the great want of the race, Paul proceeds to warn the Colossians aaainst the so-called philosophers. "There are certain men," it has been well observed, c;, who, because they possess somewhat more learning than others, think, when they become converts to the gospel, that they are great acquisitions to the cause; they officiously extend the shield of their learning over their more unlearned brethren, and try to prove where others believe; but, while they think they promote the cause, they generally spoil what they touch." Against such philosophers God's people in all ages require to be warned. I. THE PHILOSOPHY IS TO BE SUSPECTED WfilCH LEADS MEN AWAY FROM CHRIST. (Ver. 8.) Paul warns the Colossians against a philosophy which led men back to rudimentary forms and ceremonies instead of forward to Christ. Now, every argument which leads to a ceremony for hope instead of to Christ has some flaw in it. It may be a subtle flaw, not easily detected, but we may be quite sure it is there. '!'here is no better rule, then, than this. Christ is the embodied truth, and we have missed the road if we are not led to him (John xiv. 6). !I. As THE EMBODIMENT OF THE DIVINE FULNESS, IIE IS THE FOUNTAIN-BEAD OF ALL TRUTH ..U'D PERFECTION. (Ver. 9.) In Jesus Christ Divinity has expressed itself in human form. We can see, hear, and handle the Divine Being in the person of Christ. The Incarnation gives to men the true philosophy they long after. Christ is all and in alL Hence we are resistlessly drawn to him for the solution of our doubts and diffi- culties as well as for the salvation of our souls. No wonder that an acute writer entitled one of his volumes 'The Know ledge of Jesus the Most Excellent of the Sciencea.' Ill. CHTIIST AFFORDS us ALL PIIOVISION FOR OUR ACCEPTANCE. (Ver. 10.) The great question which man must ask is, "How can sinful man be accepted with God?" Philosophy replies, "By certain solemn ceremonies, by sacrifices, by circumcision, by baptism," etc. The gospel replies, "Acceptance is secured in Christ; we are complete in him," or, as the Revised Version has it, "In him are ye made full." Now, it has been insinuated that merit cannot in the nature of things pass from one person to another. The fact is, however, that we are constantly being kindly treated/or the sake of others. Children, for example, receive consideration for the sake of respected parents; individuals receive consideration for the sake of respected friends; and the whole array of letters of introduction, vicarious influence, and the like, is based up?n the recognition ?f the fact that the merit of others can overshadow and benefit those m whom they are mterested. The acceptance which we receive from the Father for the sake of Jesus is on the line, therefore, of natural law. It is the application of a principle upon which men are acting every day. IV. FnoM CHRIST WE RECEIVE THE TRUE CIRCUMCISION. (Ver. 11.) Circumcision was among the false teachers the initial ceremony which secured a Jewish standing for the Gentile proselyte. Their insinuation was that Gentiles who remained uncircum- cised could not possibly be saved. It was this which Paul combatted constantly. Hence he shows, in this eleventh verse, that the real circumcision is secured in Christ for all who trust in him. It is a circumcision not made with hands, a circumcision of the heart, a circumcision which secured "the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh." If the Gentile converts realized this, then they need not concern themselves about the outward circumcision. It surely teaches us that, not by mec'.oanical, but by i;piritual means we may vanquish the power of siu within us. It is said that circum- Oli, II. 1--23,) 'l'HE EPIS'l'LE 'l'O THE COLOSSIAKS. 121