Jesus the Jew / Jesus in You

…that in everything he might be preeminent.
(Colossians 1:18 – ESV)

Christ is to be first and foremost, the scriptures plainly declare that truth. However, this can be subtle when we speak of Christ as preeminent; in what way did the Apostle Paul mean this? What about Him is preeminent, everything He is, or does that also include everything He did, or does it even include everything tangent to Him, such as the temporal circumstances of His life, where He lived, His job as a carpenter, and all that? Well, we know that we aren’t becoming more “Christlike” by becoming a carpenter, don’t we? So it isn’t everything about Him and His life, the question is valid. So what then?

What the bible is teaching us is that Christ is to be preeminent as to His person, who He is, and what He has done for us, not in the particulars of when and where He was. It is about Him, not His surroundings. To help get a grasp on this realize that any religion, movement or ministry whose primary focus is not on the person of Christ (His divinity and sinless humanity), His atoning work (and our justification by faith), our becoming like Him (in His character) is not of God. No matter how much “good” they are doing or how “right” it may seem, it is only a distraction, which leads to diversion, then deception, where we believe we are doing right when we are not.

Often we see believers discovering the Jewish roots of the faith. Getting excited about doing something “deeper” with God, and misunderstanding Christian maturity, many then want to add the feasts or ceremonial customs to their worship or personal devotions. Now as a matter of preference and conscience these things can be fine, but we cannot bind the consciences of other people with our preferences. Some go as far as to claim that doing these things makes one more spiritual or a better Christian. Instead of growing in grace they are trapped in world of thinking they have found the “key” to Christianity or Christian living.

It isn’t true. Including or insisting on these things does not constitute a superior brand of Christianity or a more spiritual strand of Christianity. They can be a sign of wanting to keep your pride AND Christianity. They can inform your faith, and give you an appreciation and understanding of the meaning of some of the types and shadows leading to Christ, but we shouldn’t attach a higher level of spirituality to them.

Some become confused and want to do what He has done in every way, thinking that THIS is what it means to be Christlike, to practice the culture and customs of the day. However, our sanctification is about focusing on Him, not using means to get closer to Him, which at best are not New Testament Christianity, are heretical at times, and can border on blasphemous as well.

Some movements have as their main focus keeping Christian things in a Jewish context. The focus may be on becoming like Christ, but becoming like Him in His Jewish-ness, more than His character or spirituality. They will say, “Jesus was a Jew”, to which I say, so what? Jesus was a man also. Are we all to become men? The Jews are special because God chose them as His vehicle, not because of something inherently good in them. Yes we are to honor God’s people, but God also chose Mary for special revelation as the “mother of God”. How many of these same believers would agree that it is okay to indulge in Mariolatry, as do some within the Catholic Church? Hopefully none. Again, the focus is wrong. Mary is to be honored because of her faithfulness, but not to be overdone so as to take the focus and glory from God.

We are to be conformed to the image of Christ not the lineage of Christ. The fruit the Holy Spirit produces is the timeless character of Jesus not the temporal culture of Jesus. We are to pursue spiritual holiness not cultural heritage. The Apostle Paul got it right, of course. He placed the emphasis on the divinity of Jesus not the nationality of Jesus. Paul doesn’t say Christ the Jew, the hope of Glory but Christ in you the hope of glory.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©