Chuck Larsen

My sister was the oldest of the three of us. She was good at getting us to do “her thing.” She even got my brother and I to play “dress up” with her. We’d all put on dresses, (yes! dresses) and go show mom and dad. It’s pretty silly, I know! I have a picture of the three of us from 1956. My Dad thought it was so funny, he laughed and laughed and made us stand there until he got his flash bulbs out and his camera ready which took forever so he could take pictures of us. He would use them later to humiliate my brother and I.  

In Colossians 3:11 Paul explains that all our differences are undone! I couldn’t help but think of how each of these titles would be recognizable in society by the way they were dressed. He includes, Greek, Jew, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free men. You’d know by looking at them which they were. But Paul goes on to say that in Christ these difference don’t exist. He says in verse 12 of Chapter 3, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” All good Christians should learn how to play dress up! I’m not always compassionate. I’m not always kind. I’m not always humble, meek or patient. But Paul insists that I put them on! You should be able to tell a child of God by what they wear! View full article »

There are two things that will rob us of our freedom in Christ. One is legalism. If we insist on writing laws for ourselves, or submitting to the manmade laws of others we end up focusing on the “have to’s” of life rather than the “want to’s.” We build another man made system of do’s and don’t’s which simply rob us of our freedom. That’s how Paul ended Chapter 2. In chapter 3 he encourages us to avoid the enslavement of the second thing; licentiousness. Sin is another great task master. When we surrender ourselves to sin we become its slave and we lose our freedom.

Paul attacks such vices in verse 5. He says, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Idolatry is putting something in God’s place in our lives, or serving the wrong master. We are to be servants (slaves) of Christ. Paul refers to himself that way many times in his writings. When Jesus sat his apostles down he once informed them, who argued about greatness, that the greatest was the one who would be the “servant of all.” View full article »

The attractions of the siren songs in this life as well as the shadows of legalistic spirituality often cause believers to stumble along their way. Therefore, Paul calls us to focus! In verse 2 of Chapter 3, Paul urges us to “set our minds” on things above and not on the things of this earth. The Greek verb for “setting the mind” implies the intentional direction of all mental energies on a particular object. In this case it’s Christ in the heavenly realms. I guess we’d call that concentration. View full article »

Once Christ has set us free from sin we are indeed free! But many false religions in Paul’s day, and in ours, will attempt to diminish the merits of Christ and force into our lives a system of performance based on rituals and man-made standards.  There are many religious sounding siren songs that lure us away from the sufficiency of Christ.  We should not let any of them distract us. Paul warns us all “let no one…” rob us of our freedom in Christ. Verse 16 says, “Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” Verse 18 begins, “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism…” View full article »

Colossians 2:14 tells us that all our trespasses, sins and debts have been paid for. As a Matter of fact, Paul says, everything “that stood against us with its legal demands” has been cancelled. Our debts have all been paid! They were “nailed to the cross.”

I read that in Africa witch doctors often made wooden fetishes shape like people. They are thought to possess supernatural healing powers. When sickness overcame a village, the priest would nail something belonging to the sick person to the fetish. It would tell the spirit what was wrong and call on its power to heal. Christians don’t need fetishes to nail our problems to. When flesh just like ours was nailed to the cross, God healed us of our greatest problems: sin and death. By his wounds, we are healed. View full article »

As we learn the Bible, we grow in our appreciation of the endless immensity of God’s love for us.  As we grow in our appreciation of God’s love for us expressed in His Son, Jesus, we won’t be deceived by siren songs in the world that attempt to draw us away from our singular devotion to Christ. Paul explains in verse 5, “I say this in order than no one may delude you with plausible arguments.” The KJV replaces the word “delude” with “beguile.” It’s better because it expresses intent. There is a personal agenda behind the brands of so called religion that dilute the message of Christ.  The agenda is anything but peaceful. View full article »

In Colossians 2:1, Paul expresses his concern for the Colossians and the Laodiceans. He has never met them, but is deeply concerned about their spiritual welfare. He actually says he’s concerned for all those he has not met. He had never met you and me either.  But, being driven along by the Holy Spirit as he wrote, I see God addressing us in 2011, in Paul’s words as well. We are part of the believing Community that Paul was anxious about or concerned for. We face the same struggles and temptations every generation of Christians have faced. View full article »

One of the most important verses on the deity of Christ is found in Colossians 1:16. It says, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” You cannot overlook the fact that the writer is referring to Jesus!

Paul makes perfectly clear Christ’s relationship with the universe.  He created it all! It’s interesting that the Old Testament pictures “wisdom” as the basic source of creation. Greek philosophy used the “Logos” to define the creative energy of the universe. The New Testament makes it clear that Jesus is the full “wisdom” of God as well as the divine “Logos” that became flesh and dwelled amongst us. View full article »