Ⅱ
We need to know and experience the all-inclusive, extensive Christ as the constituent of the new man:
Ａ
In the new man there is room only for Christ; He is all the members of the new man and in all the members; He is everything in the new man—vv. 10-11.
Ｂ
In the new man Christ is the centrality and universality; He is the constituent of the new man, and He is all and in all in the new man.
Ｃ
If we would live Christ as the constituent of the new man, we need to be ruled by the peace of Christ (vv. 12-15) and inhabited by the word of Christ (vv. 16-17):
１
We need to allow the peace of Christ to arbitrate in our hearts—vv. 12-15; Eph. 2:14-18; Rom. 5:1; Matt. 18:21-35:
ａ
The Greek term for arbitrate can also be rendered “umpire, preside,” or “be enthroned as a ruler and decider of everything”; the arbitrating peace of Christ dissolves our complaint against anyone—Col. 3:13.
ｂ
Often we are conscious of three parties within us: a positive party, a negative party, and a neutral party; hence, there is the need for inward arbitration to settle the dispute within us:
⑴
Whenever we sense that different parties within our being are arguing or quarreling, we need to give place to the presiding peace of Christ and allow this peace, which is the oneness of the new man, to rule within us and have the final word.
⑵
We need to set aside our opinion, our concept, and listen to the word of the indwelling Referee.
ｃ
If we allow the peace of Christ to arbitrate in our hearts, this peace will settle all the disputes among us; we shall have peace with God vertically and with the saints horizontally:
⑴
Through the arbitration of the peace of Christ, our problems are solved, and the friction between the saints disappears; then the church life is preserved in sweetness, and the new man is maintained in a practical way.
⑵
The arbitrating of the peace of Christ is Christ working within us to exercise His rule over us, to speak the last word, and to make the final decision—cf. Isa. 9:6-7.
⑶
If we stay under the ruling of the enthroned peace of Christ, we shall not offend others or damage them; rather, by the Lord’s grace and with His peace, we shall minister life to others.
⑷
This peace should bind all the believers together and become their uniting bond—Eph. 4:3.
Morning Nourishment
Col. 3:15 And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts...Eph. 2:15 Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace.
4:3 Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.
The Greek term for arbitrate [in Colossians 3:15] can also be rendered “umpire, preside,” or “be enthroned as a ruler and decider of everything.” The arbitrating peace of Christ in our hearts dissolves the complaint mentioned in verse 13.... For the proper Body life we need the peace of Christ to arbitrate, to adjust, to decide all things in our heart in the relationships between the members of His Body. (Life-study of Colossians, p. 242)
Today’s Reading
If we consider our experience, we shall realize that as Christians,...often we are conscious of three parties within us: a positive party, a negative party, and a neutral party. As Christians, we are more complicated than unsaved people are. Before we were saved, we were under the control of the satanic party. We could indulge in worldly amusements and entertainments without any sense of controversy within. But now that we are saved, one party may encourage us to do one thing, but another party may encourage us to do something else. Hence, there is the need for inward arbitration to settle the dispute within us.... According to Colossians 3:15, this presiding one, this arbitrator, is the peace of Christ.After Paul wrote concerning the all-inclusive Christ and concerning the new man in whom Christ is all and in all and where there is no room for Greek, Jew, or other cultural distinctions, he charged the saints to care for the peace of Christ....This is the peace about which Paul speaks in Ephesians 2:15, where we are told that in Himself Christ created one new man out of two peoples. By creating the Jews and the Gentiles into one new man, Christ has made peace.
Whenever we sense that different parties within our being are arguing or quarreling, we need to give place to the presiding peace of Christ and allow this peace, which is the oneness of the new man, to rule within us. Let this peace, this oneness, have the final word. We need to set aside our opinion, our concept, and listen to the word of the indwelling referee.
The arbitrating of the peace of Christ is Christ working within us to exercise His rule over us, to speak the last word, and to make the final decision. [For example], in the case of [a] brother offended by [an] elder, Christ’s word is to love that elder, to seek him out for fellowship, and to enjoy the Lord with him.
When the peace of Christ is enthroned in our hearts to be the unique umpire within us, we shall have peace with God vertically and with the saints horizontally. We praise the Lord that we are enjoying peace, and in this peace the church life as the new man is preserved! As the peace of Christ presides in our hearts, the renewing of the new man takes place continually. If we stay under the ruling of the enthroned peace of Christ, we shall not offend others or damage them. Rather, by the Lord’s grace and with His peace, we shall minister life to others. The oneness in a local church and among the churches is not maintained by human endeavoring. It is maintained only by the arbitrating peace of Christ. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 242-245, 265, 564-565)
Christ abolished on the cross all the differences that were due to ordinances. In so doing He made peace for His Body. This peace should bind all believers together and should thus become the uniting bond. The uniting bond of peace is the issue of the working of the cross. When we remain on the cross, we have peace with others. This peace becomes the uniting bond in which we keep the oneness of the Spirit. (Eph. 4:3, footnote 3)
Further Reading: Life-study of Colossians, msgs. 28-30,32,63