Boney M ~ Rivers of Babylon

Christ,The Victor

Gustav Aulén writes in description of Christus Victor, "the work of Christ is first and foremost a victory over the powers which hold mankind in bondage: sin, death, and the devil."[3]:p.20

1 Corinthians 15:54 – 57 New American Standard Bible

54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:9-15 New American Standard Bible

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Up from the Grave he arose

1.        Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Saviour,

          waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain:

          Up from the grave he arose;

          with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

          he arose a victor from the dark domain,

          and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

          He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2.        Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Saviour,

          vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

          (Refrain)

3.        Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Saviour;

          he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

          (Refrain)

Some thoughts For Today, The Treasure of Knowing Christ

Colossians 2

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Spiritual fullness in Christ

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b] was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[e]

Freedom from human rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Footnotes:

a.      Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20

b.     Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.

c.      Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of

d.     Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us

e.     Colossians 2:15 Or them in him

IVP Bible Commentary  Colossians 2:3

Clearly, verse 3 is parallel to verse 2 in thought. The idea contained in the phrase full riches of complete understanding is virtually repeated in the following phrase, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so that the idea of mystery finds a parallel in the word hidden. Significantly, sandwiched between these two parallel phrases is their focal point: Christ, in whom all these mysterious riches and hidden treasures of God's mystery are disclosed by the preaching of Paul's gospel. Remember that for Paul the biblical Jew, the mysteries of God's treasured salvation lie hidden within Scripture and are mined by exegesis; and for Paul the Christian missionary, the proclaimed faith is a christological monotheism, and so the wonderful riches of our faith are both deposited and drawn through Christ.

Simply put, spiritual maturity results from knowing Christ. The distinctive emphasis in this letter on wisdom (1:9, 28; 2:3, 23; 3:16; 4:5), knowledge (1:9-10, 27; 2:2-3; 3:10; 4:7-9) and knowing (1:6; 2:1; 3:24; 4:1, 6, 8), especially linked to Paul's proclamation of Christ, is no doubt made with Paul's Colossian opponents in mind. They too are concerned with ideas, but their "philosophy" is not centered by the teaching of and about Christ (2:8) and therefore is "hollow and deceptive," incapable of forming the spiritual life of the Christian congregation (2:6-7).

IVP New Testament Commentaries are made available by the generosity of InterVarsity Press.

The Bible Panorama

Colossians 2

V 1–5: ENCOURAGED Paul wants to encourage the hearts both of the Colossians and the Laodiceans so that each fellowship of Christians will increase in love to one another, with assurance and understanding of God’s message. That assurance concerns what God has done in Christ, and is the basis of all our wisdom and knowledge. His ‘great conflict’ is his concern that they should not be deceived by anybody. He encourages them by rejoicing at their good order and their steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus.

 V 6–7: ESTABLISHED His desire is to see them established like a well-rooted tree or a building with good foundations. As they have received Christ, so they must walk in Him with faith and thanksgiving.

V 8–10: EMPTINESS People seeking to persuade them through worldly philosophy and deceit are empty and have nothing to offer from this world. It is only in Jesus Christ that all the Godhead dwells bodily and therefore it is only in Him that each Christian is complete. Jesus is over all and more powerful than all.

 V 11–19: EMANCIPATED Christ has put off the sins of those who trust in Him, by spiritual circumcision. Baptism reminds them of a new life through death to the old sinful life and benefiting from the eternal life given by the resurrected Christ. There is no power in claiming that they must now keep to man-made ordinances. They have been emancipated from that by the risen Christ. Thus man-made laws are not to enslave them, whether in the form of dietary laws, man-made festivals, or additional sabbath days. Any man-made system of worship, including angel worship, comes from false humility and a proud mind. Our freedom depends upon being under the headship of Christ, over the body of the church. Each Christian is part of that body and takes his directions from Christ.

 V 20–23: EXHORTED Paul now exhorts the Colossians to avoid legalistic man-made rules which will perish along with every other man-made commandment and teaching. They may have an attraction of organised religion, false humility, and abstaining from things, but can do nothing to forgive sins or combat the inward pull of the old nature. Only Christ can do that.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street

Vocal group The Neales are keeping it in the family | Britain's Got Tale...

Abba - Waterloo

The Indepth Series, Hebrews 2 NASB, So Great a Salvation

 

 Hebrews 2New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Give Heed

2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to [a]what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved [b]unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just [c]penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? [d]After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various [e]miracles and by [f]gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

5 For He did not subject to angels [g]the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,

“What is man, that You remember him?

Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?

7

“You have made him [h]for a little while lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honour,

[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;

8

You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

9 But we do see Him who was made [j]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the [k]author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are [l]sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,

“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,

In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put My trust in Him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Therefore, since the children share in [m]flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not [n]give help to angels, but He gives help to the [o]descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He [p]had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to [a]what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved [b]unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just [c]penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? [d]After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various [e]miracles and by [f]gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

5 For He did not subject to angels [g]the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,

“What is man, that You remember him?

Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?

7

“You have made him [h]for a little while lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honour,

[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;

8

You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

9 But we do see Him who was made [j]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the [k]author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are [l]sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,

“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,

In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put My trust in Him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Therefore, since the children share in [m]flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not [n]give help to angels, but He gives help to the [o]descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He [p]had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Verses 1-4

The apostle proceeds in the plain profitable method of doctrine, reason, and use, through this epistle. Here we have the application of the truths before asserted and proved; this is brought in by the illative particle therefore, with which this chapter begins, and which shows its connection with the former, where the apostle having proved Christ to be superior to the angels by whose ministry the law was given, and therefore that the gospel dispensation must be more excellent than the legal, he now comes to apply this doctrine both by way of exhortation and argument.

I. By way of exhortation: Therefore we ought to give the more diligent heed to the things which we have heard, Heb. 2:1. This is the first way by which we are to show our esteem of Christ and of the gospel. It is the great concern of every one under the gospel to give the most earnest heed to all gospel discoveries and directions, to prize them highly in his judgment as matters of the greatest importance, to hearken to them diligently in all the opportunities he has for that purpose, to read them frequently, to meditate on them closely, and to mix faith with them. We must embrace them in our hearts and affections, retain them in our memories, and finally regulate our words and actions according to them.

II. By way of argument, he adds strong motives to enforce the exhortation.

1.      From the great loss we shall sustain if we do not take this earnest heed to the things which we have heard: We shall let them slip. They will leak, and run out of our heads, lips, and lives, and we shall be great losers by our neglect. Learn, (1.) When we have received gospel truths into our minds, we are in danger of letting them slip. Our minds and memories are like a leaky vessel, they do not without much care retain what is poured into them; this proceeds from the corruption of our natures, the enmity and subtlety of Satan (he steals away the word), from the entanglements and snares of the world, the thorns that choke the good seed. (2.) Those meet with an inconceivable loss who let gospel truths, which they had received, slip out of their minds; they have lost a treasure far better than thousands of gold and silver; the seed is lost, their time and pains in hearing lost, and their hopes of a good harvest lost; all is lost, if the gospel be lost. (3.) This consideration should be a strong motive both to our attention to the gospel and our retention of it; and indeed, if we do not well attend, we shall not long retain the word of God; inattentive hearers will soon be forgetful hearers.

Verses 5-9

The apostle, having made this serious application of the doctrine of the personal excellency of Christ above the angels, now returns to that pleasant subject again, and pursues it further (Heb. 2:5): For to the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

I. Here the apostle lays down a negative proposition, including a positive one—That the state of the gospel-church, which is here called the world to come, is not subjected to the angels, but under the special care and direction of the Redeemer himself. Neither the state in which the church is at present, nor that more completely restored state at which it shall arrive when the prince of this world is cast out and the kingdoms of the earth shall become the kingdom of Christ, is left to the government of the angels; but Jesus Christ will take to him his great power, and will reign. He does not make that use of the ministration of angels to give the gospel as he did to give the law, which was the state of the old or antiquated world. This new world is committed to Christ, and put in absolute subjection to him only, in all spiritual and eternal concerns. Christ has the administration of the gospel church, which at once bespeaks Christ’s honour and the church’s happiness and safety. It is certain that neither the first creation of the gospel church, nor its after-edification or administration, nor its final judgment and perfection, is committed to the angels, but to Christ. God would not put so great a trust in his holy ones; his angels were too weak for such a charge.

II. We have a scripture—account of that blessed Jesus to whom the gospel world is put into subjection. It is taken from Ps. 8:4-6, But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the Son of man, that thou visitest him? etc. There words are to be considered both as applicable to mankind in general, and as applied here to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 10-13

Having mentioned the death of Christ, the apostle here proceeds to prevent and remove the scandal of the cross; and this he does by showing both how it became God that Christ should suffer and how much man should be benefited by those sufferings.

I. How it became God that Christ should suffer: For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings, Heb. 2:10. Here,

1. God is described as the final end and first cause of all things, and as such it became him to secure his own glory in all that he did, not only to act so that he might in nothing dishonour himself, but so that he might from every thing have a revenue of glory.

2. He is declared to have acted up to this glorious character in the work of redemption, as to the choice both of the end and of the means.

(1.)          In the choice of the end; and that was to bring many sons to glory in enjoying the glorious privileges of the gospel, and to future glory in heaven, which will be glory indeed, an exceeding eternal weight of glory. Here observe, [1.] We must be the sons of God both by adoption and regeneration, before we can be brought to the glory of heaven. Heaven is the inheritance; and only those that are the children are heirs of that inheritance. [2.] All true believers are the children of God: to those that receive Christ he has granted the power and privilege of being the children of God, even to as many as believe on his name, John 1:12. [3.] Though the sons of God are but a few in one place and at one time, yet when they shall be all brought together it will appear that they are many. Christ is the first-born among many brethren. [4.] All the sons of God, now many so ever they are, or however dispersed and divided, shall at length be brought together to glory.

Verses 14-18

Here the apostle proceeds to assert the incarnation of Christ, as taking upon him not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; and he shows the reason and design of his so doing.

I.                   The incarnation of Christ is asserted (Heb. 2:16): Verily he took not upon him the nature of angels, but he took upon him the seed of Abraham. He took part of flesh and blood. Though as God he pre-existed from all eternity, yet in the fullness of time he took our nature into union with his divine nature, and became really and truly man. He did not lay hold of angels, but he laid hold of the seed of Abraham. The angels fell, and he let them go, and lie under the desert, defilement, and dominion of their sin, without hope or help. Christ never designed to be the Saviour of the fallen angels; as their tree fell, so it lies, and must lie to eternity, and therefore he did not assume their nature. The nature of angels could not be an atoning sacrifice for the sin of man. Now Christ resolving to recover the seed of Abraham and raise them up from their fallen state, he took upon him the human nature from one descended from the loins of Abraham, that the same nature that had sinned might suffer, to restore human nature to a state of hope and trial, and all that accepted of mercy to a state of special favour and salvation. Now there is hope and help for the chief of sinners in and through Christ. Here is a price paid sufficient for all, and suitable to all, for it was in our nature. Let us all then know the day of our gracious visitation, and improve that distinguishing mercy which has been shown to fallen men, not to the fallen angels.

The Bible Panorama

Hebrews 2

V 1–4: SALVATION The Hebrew readers are told that they must give careful consideration to what they hear lest they ‘neglect so great a salvation’. God has confirmed that great salvation historically with signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit. The danger of neglecting His salvation and facing judgement applies to all.

 V 5–9: SON The quotation from Psalm 8 refers to mankind being made ‘a little lower than the angels’. The eternal Son of God, in appearing in flesh as the Son of Man, also was made lower than the angels for the task He had to do on earth. Having died on the cross for our sins and risen again, He is now crowned with glory and honour. By God’s grace, He did this that He ‘might taste death for everyone’.

V 10–16: SONS Because Jesus completed His work through the suffering of the cross, He can bring ‘many sons to glory’. This includes all who trust in Him and become children of God. Because Jesus came to take on flesh to save us and to die for us, He has defeated the devil and takes away the fear of death from those who put their trust in the living Saviour.

 V 17–18: SACRIFICE Jesus is the ‘faithful High Priest’ who offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross. Despite being tempted, He suffered there, taking the punishment of our sins to make propitiation for them. Today He is not only able to save, but also able to help those who are tempted.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

6512 salvation, necessity and basis of

Scripture stresses that fallen human beings are cut off from God on account of their sin. All need to be saved, if they are to enter into a new relationship with God as their Creator and Redeemer. Salvation is not the result of human achievement, privilege or wisdom, but depends totally upon the graciousness of a loving God, supremely expressed in the cross of Jesus Christ. People must respond in repentance and faith if they are to benefit from God’s offer of salvation in Christ.

The necessity of salvation

The universal rule of sin in human nature Isa 64:6; Ro 3:19-23; Ro 5:12-18; Ro 7:24; Eph 2:3

Sin cuts humanity off from God Isa 59:1-2 See also Ge 3:22-24; Eph 2:1-5; Eph 4:18

Sin enslaves humanity to evil Jer 13:23; Hos 5:4; Zec 7:11-12; Ro 7:14-20; 2Pe 2:13-19

Salvation is grounded in the love of God

Salvation is not based on human achievement Ro 3:28; Eph 2:8-9 See also Ac 15:7-11; Ro 4:1-3; Ro 5:1-2; Gal 2:16,21; 2Ti 1:9

Salvation is grounded in God’s love for his people Eph 2:4-5 See also Dt 7:1-8; Jn 3:16-17; Ro 5:8; 2Th 2:16; 1Jn 4:9-19

Salvation is grounded in God’s grace Ro 3:22-24 See also Jn 1:16; Ac 15:11; Ro 5:15-17; 2Co 6:1-2; Eph 1:5-8; Eph 2:4-10; 1Ti 1:14-15; Tit 2:11; Tit 3:4-7; Heb 2:9

Salvation and the work of Jesus Christ

Salvation is grounded in the work of Jesus Christ Ac 5:30-31; 1Ti 1:15 See also Jn 4:42; Ac 4:10-12; Ro 5:9-10; Php 3:20-21; 2Ti 1:9-10; Tit 3:5-7; Heb 7:24-25; 1Jn 4:14

Jesus Christ’s death was totally sufficient for salvation 1Pe 3:18 See also Jn 17:1-4; Ac 4:10-12; Gal 1:3-4; Eph 1:5-10; 1Ti 2:5-6; 2Ti 1:9-10; Heb 10:10; 1Jn 4:9-10; Rev 7:9-10

Salvation demands a human decision

Jn 3:36; Ac 3:19 See also Mk 1:15; Lk 8:50; Jn 3:17-18; Ac 2:37-39; Heb 12:25; 1Pe 2:4-8; 1Jn 5:10