Salvation is Here

 Psalms 85, Colossians 2:6-19

 In Psalms 85, the Psalmist is assured that salvation is at hand for those who fear – honor the Lord. It will bring steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace. In Colossians, the people have already received Christ, so salvation is here. Paul stresses that they be rooted and built up, established in the faith.

We talked last week about the heresy going on about how angels as spiritual beings were to be worshipped over Christ who was a man. Again, Paul rebukes this philosophy and tells us how Christ is fully a spiritual being – with the whole fulness of deity dwelling in him. He tells about their salvation being a spiritual circumcision, of how they were made alive together with him when he erased their sins by nailing them to the cross. Thus, our sins have been forgiven.

Paul goes on to tell them not to let anyone condemn them by saying they’re doing it wrong – that they need to observe the Jewish festivals. He tells how these a just a shadow of what is to come. The true substance belongs to Christ. This substance comes from holding fast to Christ the head this being the only way to a growth from God.

So many advertisements today promise happiness and even peace, but by being rooted in Christ, we seek the things above (a preview of next week’s talk). These are the thinks that will bring what the Psalmist spoke of. “The Lord will give what is good,” not shadow things advertising, and world philosophies may promise. The substance of salvation, however, will include steadfast love, forgiveness, righteousness, and peace. Thanks be to God for God’s wonderful gift.

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