An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 3 · Verse 11
Vers. 11.
Where is neither Graecian nor Iew, circumcision nor vncircumcision Barbarian, Scythian, bond, free, but Christ is all in all things.
This Verse may containe another reason to perswade to mortification and holy life. And the reason may be taken from the great respect God hath of true grace in Christ, and the little louelove or care he hath for any thing else, a Barbarian, a Scythian, a bond-man, if he hauehave grace shall be accepted: wheras a Graecian, a Iew, a free-man, without grace, is without respect with God, Christ is all. It may be the Apostle heere meets with the false Apostles, that so much vrged the obseruation of Iewish rites, & stand so much vponupon it to diuert the people from the sound care of reformation of life, by filling their heads with questions and vaine wranglings about the law, whereas the Apostle shewes men may be absolute and compleat in these outward obseruances, and yet their circumcision auailes them nothing before God. Heere are then euidently two things in this verse: first, what it is God stands not vponupon. 2. what it is, is▪ all in all with him.
Where there is neither Graecian nor Iew, circumcision nor vncircumcision, Barbabarian, nor Scythian, bond nor free.] Out of these words these two things may be obserued.
Nothing will auaile without Christ▪I. That nothing without Christ can make vsus truly happy. The image of God, or felicitie of man, stands not in birth, freedom, naturall parts, or outward obseruances, for he is not a Iew that is one outwardly, nor is that libertie that is onelyonly in the flesh, nor is that wisdome that is onelyonly in learned men, such as were the Graecians. Dives was a rich man, Goliah was a strong man, Achitophell was a wise man, Absolon was a faire man, Esau was circumcised, and Cain was well borne, and yet all these are in hell.
II. That in Christ there is no difference, all is one, whether thou bee poore or rich, Iew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female aGal. 3.28., with God there is no respect of persons. In the power of his ordinances (as by name) in the preaching of the Gospell, he extends his mercy both to Iewes and Gentiles bRom. 1.16.: so in the disposing of his gifts c1. Cor. 12.13, hee bestowes knowledge and other graces, vponupon people of all sorts, and for acceptation, whosoeuer feareth him and doth righteousnesse, hee is accepted, of what nation or state soeuer hee be dAct. 10.34., and all this will more fully appeare, when he shall iudge eueryevery man without respect of persons, according to his works, at the last day eRom. 1.10..
The consideration hereof may teach vsus diuers things; 1. to feare God and forsake our sinnes,Vses. since hee is a God so terrible, that will not be swayed with outward respects fDeut. 10.16.17. Acts 10.34. 1. Pet. 1.17.. 2. not to stand vponupon outward birth or greatnesse in the world, nor to pride our selues in our wits, or rest our selues vponupon our outward seruing of God: for the Lord accepts not the persons of Princes, nor regardeth the rich, more than the poor, or the learned more then the vnlearned, for they are all the worke of his hands gIohn 34:19.. 3. to be industrious in well-doing, seeing hee that doth good shall be accepted, whether he be bond or free, graecian, barbarian, one or other hR…m. 2.8.9.10.: for the same God is Lord ouer all, and rich vntounto all that call vponupon him iRom. 10.11., and endeuour by well-doing, to approoue themselues in his sight. 4. not to despise poore Christians, seeing God accepts of them, and hath made them rich in faith, and heires of a kingdome kIam. 2.1.5.. 5. not to giuegive titles to men lIob. 32.21.22., and by seruile flatterie or feares, to be so much taken vp, with their meere outward praises, or places. Lastly, Magistrates in the administration of Iustice, should resemble this absolutenesse of God, so as no respect of persons, poore or rich, freinds or foes, strangers or home-borne should carry them besides the iust regard of the cause mDeut. 1.17. 2. Chron 19.6. How Christ is all in all..
But Christ is all in all.] And so he is, 1. in respect of the vnion of the mysticall body, as it is hee in whom eueryevery one that is a new creature is considered to be and consist. EueryEvery conuert, is created in Christ Iesus nEph: 2:10.. 2. in respect of sufficiencie, a man needs no more then Christ, hee onelyonly may suffice, the whole compleatnesse of saluation is in Christ. 3. in respect of efficiencie: if wee looke vponupon the benefits conferred vponupon all Christians by Christ, he makes a meanes for all wants, he is in stead of liberty to the seruant▪ and in stead of birth and honour to the Scithian and Barbarian▪ he is the substance of all shadowes, to the vncircumcised: what shall I say, hee is righteousnesse oDan: 9:29:, and riches pCol. 1.27., and wisdome q1. Cor. 1.30., sanctification, and freedome r2. Cor. 3.17., and a rec…mpence sEsay 40.9.to Christians, yea in him all things are theirs t1. Cor. 3.21., and as the pledge of all they hauehave receiued the spirit of the sonne into their harts uGal. 4.6. Vses..
The vse of all this may be diuers; 1. VntoUnto vsus therefore there should bee one Lord, euen the Lord Iesus Christ *1 Cor 8.6. The Vses.. 2. All sorts of men should striue by all meanes to set out and shew Christ only. Ministers should teach Christ onelyonly. Magistrates should chiefly intend the glory of Christ: nay all sorts of men should seeke Christ, in choosing callings, wiues, seruants, places of abode▪ &c. Christ should be all in all with vsus, yea in those we hauehave to deale withall, wee should beare with many wants and weaknesses, so they hauehave Christ, for that is all in all. 3. We should learne to bee satisfied with Christ, though wee want health, or libertie, or wealth, or worldly freinds, or great wits, or strong memories, &c. Christ makes amends for all, he is enough: if the Lord hauehave giuen vsus Christ, he hath done enough for vsus, though it be sure that with him he wil giuegive vsus all things also. 4. This may greatly reprooue the wonderfull stupiditie of men, that are so taken vp with admiration of these outward priuiledges, when as we see how all is vaine without Christ, what shall it profit a man if hee had all honour and riches, and countenance of friends, and the pleasures of life, if when he came into Gods sight hee might hauehave no acceptance for his soule?Excellent consolation in Christ. If Christ bee all things, then without Christ, all things else are nothing, but especially this doctrine serues for singular comfort to Gods children in all their distresses, and that will better appeare if wee consider the particulars. For first, are they afflicted in conscience, vnderunder the sence of Gods anger, and their owne sinnes? Why, he is the propitiation for their sinnes, xRom. 3.25.he is the end of the Law for them, yRom. 10.4.yea all that the Law can require of them: he will bee their witnesse and their testimony zEsay 55.6. 1. Cor. 1.6.. Hee giues them promises and faith to beleeue them aGal. 3.22., and it is his bloud that perfectly cures and clenseth them from all their wounds and sinnes b1. Ioh. 1.7.. Secondly, are they distressed vnderunder the power of Sathans temptations, or accusations: why, he sitteth at the right hand of God, to see that nothing be laid to their charge, hee maketh intercession for them, cZac. 3.1.2.3. Rom. 8.33.and for the stings of this ould serpent, hee is a continuall brasen serpent, dIohn 3.they may but looke vponupon him and be healed. Yea hee was tempted himselfe that hee might succour them that are tempted, eHeb. 2.18.and his power dwelleth in them, to be manifested in their weakenesse, f2. Cor. 12.9.and he came into the world of purpose, to dissolue the worke of the Deuill. g1 Iohn 3.7.Thirdly, are they dismayed with the sence of their owne weakenesses and ignorance? why, they hauehave such an high Priest as is touched with their infirmities, hHeb. 4.15.and knowes how to hauehave compassion on the ignorant, iHeb. 5.1.hee will not breake the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flaxe kEsay 42.2.3.. Fourthly, are they pressed with outward troubles? Why, Christ is the merit of their deliuerance from this present euill world, lGal. 1.4.hee is the sanctification of their crosses, so as all shall worke together for the best to them that louelove God mRom. 8.28., yea hee will be their consolation, so that as their sufferings abounds, his comforts shall abound also, n2. Cor. 1.5.or if he doe not deliuer, then hee makes a supply, by giuing them better things, out of the riches of his glory. He is a husband to the widow, and a father to the fatherlesse, and as the shadow of the rocke in a weary land, oEsay. 33.2.to them that are persecuted and driuen to and fro, by the hot rage of euill men. Lastly, are they in the feare, or in the danger of death? Why, Christ is all in all heere also, for he hath ouercome death for them, pH…s…. 13.14.hee hath opened the way to heauen, qHeb. 10.19he hath destroyed him that had power ouer death, rHeb. 2.14., he hath freed them from the wrath to come, s1. Thes. 1. Ila.he hath begotten in them a liuely hope t1. Pet. 1.3.of a happy issue from the passage of death, he is the first borne of the dead, uColos. 1.17.and hee will be the resurrection and the life vntounto them *Iohn 11.. What shall I say, but conclude with the Apostle, Christ is in life and death aduantage xPhil. 1., onelyonly that Christ may be all in all to vsus, we must heare him, we must beleeue in him, we must deny ourselues, and take vp our crosse and follow him, and finally we must liue to him, and die in him.
And thus of this eleuenth verse, and so of the second part of the generall exhortation.