Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (Colossians 3:11 NIV)
In Colossians 3:5-18, Paul gives us instructions concerning our new life in Christ. And much of what he has to say relates to life within the body. How we should be treating each other in the body and our attitudes toward other believers. We need to eliminate from our lives anything that would cause division or strife.
There are many ways that we are divided in this world. The color of our skin, our ethnic background, our education, financial status, gender, and many more. But Jesus came and died to tear down those walls that separate us. Those differences are merely external and ultimately insignificant.
What is significant is where we stand with Jesus. Are we in Christ? Or on the outside. For those outside of Christ, those external differences often provide us with our identity. But for those in Christ, the external differences should not matter at all. Regardless of our external differences, we should be able to come together and embrace as brothers and sisters in Christ.
And we can do that because Christ is in all, and is all. We are in Christ. But he is also in us. And it is his presence within us that enables us to see beyond the external and be united as one in him.
We may have differences in how we understand some points of doctrine, or how we should organize and worship. But those differences should never divide us. Let Christ be in all we are and do. And let us come together as one body in him.
