24 May 2014 by Adeline Lum CM-
On 17 of May, Rev Dr T Jeyakumar shared in Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) about the complete work of Jesus on the Cross (Col 2:6-23).
Why Jesus is sufficient for us?
Like the analogy of adding sugar to tea, we add sugar to the tea to mask its bitter taste. In other words, we are saying that the tea is lacking something.
Likewise, if we add anything to Christ, we are saying that Christ is lacking something.
Yet, what does the Scripture say?
In Col 2:9-10, it is written, ‘For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.”
Because Christ lives in us, we are therefore full or complete. In other words, we lack nothing and need nothing extra to perfect our relationship with God.
This concept of fullness is indeed complete in itself, supported by Scripture.
Col 2:11 says, ‘your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ.’
Col 2:13 says, ‘God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all of our sins.’
And finally, because Christ is ‘the head over every power and authority’ (Col 2:10) and ‘having disarmed the powers and authorities,’ the completion of Jesus’ work on the Cross for us is complete, perfect, and final.
To put it simply, we cannot or do not need to add or take out anything that Christ has already done for us on the cross.
Formula of Faith
Jesus = Complete Salvation
Jesus + X = False Teaching
What is ‘X’?
The false teachings are:
- World philosophies and human traditions apart from God (Col 2:8)
- Man-made rules (circumcision, abstinence from food, Sabbath day, religious celebration, New Moon Festival) (Col 2:11, 16, 21-23)
- Mysticism (worshipping angels) (Col 2:18-19)
Rev Dr Jeyakumar shared that Paul is not against wisdom, but he is against wisdom that is apart from God, which is empty, deceptive and leads us astray.
While visions and dreams are good, we must test its validity with the Word of God.
In other words, visions and dreams do not necessarily show that we are close to God.
Likewise, outward religious practices also do not show we are close to God either.
That is why Paul said in Col 2:23, “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.”
What is a genuine experience with God?
Apart from outward religious practices, genuine experience with God can be seen from a transformation of the person’s entire life.
That is why Jesus said in Matt 7:15-17, “Watch out for false prophets…By their fruits you will recognise them…every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
Hence, if we have a genuine experience with God, we should show the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)
Note what follows after this verse: ‘Against such thing there is no law.’ (Gal 5:23)
Why is there no law? This is because ‘those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.’ (Gal 5:24)
Rev Dr Jeyakumar shared that Jack Eckerd would be a good example of transformed person who believed in Christ.
Although Jack did not see any powerful visions or dreams when he accepted Christ, he proceeded to call his president to take off all pornographic materials from his 1700 chain-pharmacies, despite the loss of three million dollars of income that year.
Jack had a genuine experience with God. And it is plain to see from the fruit of his spirit, which perpetuate not only his spiritual activities but his work as well.
Conclusion
Rev Dr Jeyakumar closed by saying Christian freedom comes not from abstaining or even achieving, but submitting wholly under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
“Religion says attain. Gospel says obtain.”
“Religion says attempt. Gospel says accept”
“Religion says try. Gospel says trust.”
“Religion says do this. Gospel says it is done.”
Nothing we do can take away or add to the work on the cross that Christ has already completed for our salvation.
Christ’s work on the Cross is already complete, perfect, and final.
This is what you call: true freedom.
For more information, please visit http://dumc.my/
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Note: This article is written from the perspective and interpretation of the writer, to condense and accentuate the ideas of the pastor in a more understandable and readable way.
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