In Colossians 1:13-27 Paul lists
several names for Jesus.
Verse
13: Son
Verse
15: God, Firstborn
Verse
16: Creator
Verse
18: Head of the “body” which is the church, the beginning
Verse24:
Christ
In these versus Paul teaches that
redemption comes only through Christ and his atoning sacrifice. He is the
creator of all things, head of the church, the beginning of all things and the firstborn
of our Heavenly Father. In Colossians 1:23 Paul states the things all people
must do in order to receive the blessings of forgiveness and eternal life, “If
ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am
made a minister”. This means we must be steadfast in upholding our beliefs and
standards, persevere in all things, keep our sacred covenants and endure to the
end.
Along with those things listed
above we are also required to be “rooted and built up in him” (Col. 2:7). I
think Helaman gives a beautiful explanation of what it means to be “rooted and built
upon him”. Chapter five verse 12 states,
“12 And now, my
sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is
Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil
shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when
all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power
over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the
rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon
if men build they cannot fall”.
These two scriptures plainly
state that we must build our lives upon the teachings of Christ and his gospel.
We should be firmly “rooted” in our convictions and strive to live our lives in
accordance with all the sacred commandments and covenants. If we are so “rooted” and righteously endure
to the end he adversary shall have no power over us.
Following his call to endure,
Paul then warns the saints of ways they might be misled by men “after the
tradition of men”. He warns them to beware of men who attempt to destroy their
faith by way of philosophy and deceit. In verse eighteen he also admonishes
them to beware of men who distort the worship of Christ by the worshiping of
angles and who are “puffed up” to the things of the world. In 2 Nephi 9:28-29 a similar warning is
administered.
“28 O that
cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness
of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not
unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of
themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.
And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if
they hearken unto the counsels of God”.
Colossians three states several
characteristics that Paul encourages us to “put on” or “put off”:
“PUT ON”
Mercy, kindness, humility,
meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another,
charity, allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts and the words of Christ
to dwell in you.
“PUT OFF”
Fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, idolatry, anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy and filthy communication
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