THE epistle to the Colossians is the twin epistle to Ephesians. Both epistles embody the highest revelation God has given to man. In them the Word of God is completed (Col. 1:25). In Ephesians, as we have seen, the revelation concerns the body of Christ, which is His fullness. Here we have the deepest truths revealed as to that body, the church. The church is the glory of Christ, destined to be like Him and with Him. In Colossians the church is also mentioned, but the truth unfolded is the glory of Him, who is the head of Creation and the head of the Body, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most marvelous revelations concerning the Person and Glory of the Son of God is found in the great epistle. But there is a very striking contrast between these two epistles. Ephesians contains the fullest teachings concerning the Holy Spirit and His work; each chapter mentions Him. In the Colossian epistle the Holy Spirit and His work is not mentioned at all. Only once is He mentioned and then only incidentally (1:8). Nothing is said in this epistle about His indwelling, nor about the sealing, the anointing, the filling and the gifts of the Spirit. The whole subject is omitted. There is a very vital reason for this omission which carries with it an important lesson.

The Colossian believers were facing grave errors in their midst. A number of false doctrines consisting in philosophical speculations, oriental mysticism, asceticism and legalism along with other things, were advocated amongst them and threatened the complete corruption of the church. Some of these philosophical theories to which they were listening became later known by the name of Gnosticism, a system which denied the Glory of Christ, His essential and eternal Godhead and His atoning work in its all-sufficiency. Gnosticism flourishes today in that system known as "Christian Science." Russellism, called now "the International Bible Students' Association," makes the same denials. The second chapter of this epistle warns against these denials, while the first chapter unfolds in that great revelation the Person, the glory and the work of the Son of God. The Colossians had evidently already lost sight of Christ and His glory, giving ear to strange doctrines and unscriptural inventions. Their eyes were no longer fully on Christ. They tolerated in their midst teachings which dishonored the Lord of glory.

Now, where the Lord Jesus Christ is not exalted, where His glory and honor are not fully maintained, the Holy Spirit is grieved and hindered. His work is not to speak of Himself, but to glorify Christ. Because the Colossian believers were drifting away from the true estimate of the Lord Jesus Christ, and did not give Him the pre-eminent place, the Holy Spirit has nothing to say to them about Himself and His work in the believer. Instead He bears witness to the Person of Christ to lead them back to the Son of God and thus give to their hearts the right conception of His glory, His fullness and their completeness in Him. This is the reason why no teaching concerning the Holy Spirit is found in this epistle.

He always exalts Christ. Any movement in which the Holy Spirit is first of all exalted, in which the full glory of Christ is not owned, and He and His perfect work on the Cross are given a secondary place, must be looked upon with grave suspicion. To be occupied in an introspective way with experiences, with feelings and emotions, supposedly the work of the indwelling Spirit, is not according to Scripture. The child of God is to be constantly occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ, exalting and glorifying Him, and walking in His fellowship. When this is done the Holy Spirit does His gracious work, but never where Christ in any way is not fully honored and acknowledged.