Paradigm 28 "Discipleship and Christological Anchors" (17/7/20)
Edmund Chan says that modern-day discipleship must be re-grounded in Christ-centredness. Christ is not merely to be a figurehead monarch or symbol, but truly the Lord - the one who makes the decisions. Christ must have authority and give Him full ownership over our individual lives.
Paul's Christocentricity is seen in Colossians: Christ is
Why is a true view of Christ important in discipleship?
1. Our faith is 'in Christ" (1:4) - He is the one we trust. Knowing Him truly helps us to trust Him fully. Truth is an essential component of the gospel ("the word of truth" in 1:5b and "the grace of God in truth in 1:6b). We are called to increase in "the knowledge of God" (1:10b). This is a stable foundation (1:23) for growth.
2. We must know what His will is (1:9) - what is "fully pleasing" to Him (1:10a). This is something that can be done only in "all spiritual wisdom and understanding" - not in our own human perception and understanding.
3. We must know His power - "His glorious might" so that we can have "endurance and patience with joy" (1:11) and thanksgiving (1:12). So the journey of discipleship willbe difficult and long. We need spiritual power to complete it.
4. He has saved us - we have been "transferred to (His) kingdom" (1:13b) and we have "redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (1:14) in Him.He reconciled all hings to himself through the Cross (1:20-21).
5. He is our 'head' (1:18) - our leader (c.f. 2:10). There is a sense in which the church is the 'body of Christ' (1 Co 12:27), but in this image (c.f. Eph 1:22-23) Christ is the head of the body.
Paul's statement that he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (1:24) does not point to the insufficiency of Christ. The preceding phrase "I rejoice in my sufferings" and the qualifier "for the sake of His body, that is the church" indicates that Paul sees the significance of his suffering as part of the suffering of Christ's body for the sake of the gospel. This is a clear reminder to us that our discipleship involves suffering (Phil 3:10). We would not have to demonstrate 'endurance' and 'patience' otherwise.
Paul's Christocentricity is seen in Colossians: Christ is
- the prototokos (firstborn, 1:15). Not a created being, but the One through whom all things are created (1:16), who has all the privileges and rights of a firstborn son ("I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth" Ps 89:27). Christ is also the eikon (image, 1:15) of the Father, just as we are called to be in His image (1 Co 15:49, 2 Co 3:18, Col 3:10). All things were created by Him (1:16), through Him, and for Him (1:16). He existed before all things, and he sustains the universe 'by the word of His power'
- the pleroma (fullness/completeness, 1:19). He is the One in whom all the fullness of Deity dwells.
- the musterian (the hidden mystery now revealed, Col 1:26-27, 2:2, c.f.1 Pe 1:12). This mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (1:27) - God will be directly and personally present in the lives of His people, and His presence assures them of full salvation/glorification. This happens not only to His chosen Jewish people, but to Gentiles as well (1:27). Jer 31:31-34 is the clearest picture in the OT of the mystery of God indwelling us.
Why is a true view of Christ important in discipleship?
1. Our faith is 'in Christ" (1:4) - He is the one we trust. Knowing Him truly helps us to trust Him fully. Truth is an essential component of the gospel ("the word of truth" in 1:5b and "the grace of God in truth in 1:6b). We are called to increase in "the knowledge of God" (1:10b). This is a stable foundation (1:23) for growth.
2. We must know what His will is (1:9) - what is "fully pleasing" to Him (1:10a). This is something that can be done only in "all spiritual wisdom and understanding" - not in our own human perception and understanding.
3. We must know His power - "His glorious might" so that we can have "endurance and patience with joy" (1:11) and thanksgiving (1:12). So the journey of discipleship willbe difficult and long. We need spiritual power to complete it.
4. He has saved us - we have been "transferred to (His) kingdom" (1:13b) and we have "redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (1:14) in Him.He reconciled all hings to himself through the Cross (1:20-21).
5. He is our 'head' (1:18) - our leader (c.f. 2:10). There is a sense in which the church is the 'body of Christ' (1 Co 12:27), but in this image (c.f. Eph 1:22-23) Christ is the head of the body.
Paul's statement that he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (1:24) does not point to the insufficiency of Christ. The preceding phrase "I rejoice in my sufferings" and the qualifier "for the sake of His body, that is the church" indicates that Paul sees the significance of his suffering as part of the suffering of Christ's body for the sake of the gospel. This is a clear reminder to us that our discipleship involves suffering (Phil 3:10). We would not have to demonstrate 'endurance' and 'patience' otherwise.
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