Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all… There are two worlds, the old and the new. These are peopled by two sorts of manhood, the old man, and the new man, concerning whom see verses 9, 10. I. WHAT THERE IS NOT IS THE NEW. When we come to be renewed after the image of Him that created us, we find an Obliteration of — 1. National distinctions: "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew." Jesus is The Man. In the broadest sense He is neither Jew nor Gentile. Jesus furnishes us with a new patriotism, loyalty, and clanship, which we may safely indulge to the utmost. 2. Ceremonial distinctions: "There is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision." The separating rite is abolished, and the peculiar privilege of a nation born after the flesh is gone with it. 3. Social distinctions: "There is neither bond nor free." We are enabled through Divine grade to see that these distinctions are — (1) Transient. (2) Superficial. (3) Of small value. (4) Nonexistent in the spiritual realm.What a blessed blending of all men in one body is brought about by our Lord Jesus! Let us all work in the direction of unity. II. WHAT THERE IS IN THE NEW. "Christ is all and in all." 1. All our culture. In Him we emulate and excel the "Greek." 2. All our revelation. We glory in Him even as the "Jew" gloried in receiving the oracles of God. 3. All our ritual. We have no "circumcision." All Scriptural ordinances are of Him. 4. All our simplicity. 5. All our natural traditions. He is more to us than the freshest ideas which cross the mind of the "Barbarian." 6. All our unconquerableness and liberty. The "Scythian "had not such boundless independence as we find in Him. 7. All as our Master, if we be "bond." Happy servitude of which He is the head! 8. Our Magna Charta: yea, our liberty itself if we be "free."Conclusion: "Christ all and in all" furnishes a test question for us. 1. Is Christ so great with us that He is our all? 2. Is Christ so broadly and fully with us that He is all in our all? 3. Is He, then, all in our trust, our hope, our assurance, our joy, our aim, our strength, our wisdom — in a word, "all in all"? 4. If so, are we living in all for Him? 5. Are we doing all for Him, because He is all to us? (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. |
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