Scripture Reading: Col. 1:12-13, 15-18, 27; 2:8, 14-15; 3:4, 10-11
Ⅰ
The book of Colossians was written because the church in Colossae had been pervaded with culture, and the saints had been distracted from Christ by culture—2:8, 16-17; 3:10-11:
A
In Colossae culture had flooded the church, replaced Christ, and carried off the saints as spoil—2:8.
B
The enemy of God uses culture to replace Christ; he will try to use the good aspects of culture to replace Christ—cf. Phil. 3:4-8.
C
According to the book of Colossians, Christ is replaced by culture; Colossians indicates that the ultimate replacement for Christ is our culture.
D
In Colossians the authority of darkness refers especially to the good aspects of culture and of our natural being—1:12-13:
１
The saints in Colossae came under the authority of darkness by allowing the highest aspects of culture to invade the church—2:8.
２
The highest products of culture are nonetheless aspects of the authority of darkness by which Satan controls people—1:13.
３
Anything that is a substitute for Christ becomes the authority of darkness to control us—v. 13.
Ⅱ
Human culture arose after the fall of man—Gen. 4:16-22:
A
After leaving God’s presence, Cain constructed a city for his protection and self-existence—vv. 16-17:
１
Within this city he produced a culture without God, a godless culture.
２
In the garden God was everything to man—his protection, maintenance, supply, and amusement; when man lost God, he lost everything.
３
Man’s loss of God forced man to invent human culture, the main elements of which were cities for existence, cattle-raising for making a living, music for enjoyment, and weapons for defense—vv. 20-22.
B
Apparently, a culture without God was invented by the man who refused to go God’s way and thereby lost God; actually, the intrinsic factor of culture was the instigation and incitement of Satan, God’s enemy, within the man who departed from God—vv. 7, 16-17; Matt. 12:26:
１
Such a culture, which was without God and was united with Satan, became a model representing all human cultures throughout the ages and signifying that these cultures are without God and have followed Satan and are united with Satan—cf. Luke 4:6, footnote 1.
２
The godless culture began as a seed in Genesis 4, and it will develop throughout the history of the human race until it consummates in Babylon the Great in Revelation 18.
３
The Lord’s word in Matthew 24:37-39 indicates that the godless culture at the time of Noah will develop to its uttermost in the period of the Lord’s coming.
Ⅲ
Culture is a frustration to God’s purpose concerning Christ and the church—Eph. 3:10-11; 5:32:
A
Something very subtle stands in the way of Christ and the church; this subtle opposing element is culture—Col. 3:10-11; Eph. 2:14-15; Col. 2:14-15.
B
Culture is a great frustration to experiencing Christ; unconsciously and subconsciously, we are frustrated by culture from the experience and enjoyment of Christ—Phil. 3:7-8.
C
Our growing up into Christ in all things and arriving at a full-grown man is hindered by our subtle, hidden culture—Col. 2:19; Eph. 4:13, 15-16.
Ⅳ
Human culture stands in opposition to the kingdom of God—Matt. 10:16-25, 34-39; 12:29, 46-50:
A
Sinful things do not oppose the kingdom of God as much as human culture does.
B
Human culture has become a basic part and a great portion of the kingdom of Satan—v. 26.
C
Culture has become a stronghold of Satan; in a subtle way he maintains a hold on culture and utilizes it to oppose God’s kingdom—Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12-13.
Ⅴ
Christ as the all-inclusive, extensive One is versus culture and should replace our culture with Himself—v. 18; 3:4, 10-11:
A
The purpose of the extensive revelation of Christ in the book of Colossians is to deal with culture—2:8; 3:10-11.
B
In this book Paul presents a vision of the all-inclusive, extensive Christ to impress us with the fact that this Christ should replace our culture—1:27.
Ⅵ
The kind of Christ who replaces culture is the all-inclusive, extensive Christ, the preeminent One, the centrality and universality of God’s economy—vv. 15-18; 2:16-17; 3:4, 10-11:
A
The Christ who can replace our culture and become everything to us is the all-inclusive, extensive Christ—1:15, 18.
B
The book of Colossians was written in order to reveal the all-inclusive, extensive Christ who deals with our culture and replaces our culture with Himself—3:4, 10-11.
C
In His salvation God not only saves us from sin, judgment, the lake of fire, the world, and the self; He also saves us from everything that replaces Christ, including our culture—Heb. 7:25.
D
The all-inclusive, extensive Christ is in us, and we need to allow Him to fill our entire being and replace our culture with Himself—Eph. 3:17a; Col. 1:27; 3:11.