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Colossians

Colossians 2

By Pastor Doug
What more do we need?

We might call these false teachers the 'yea, but' teachers.  They spoke of Jesus, sounded spiritual and spoke of knowing God but they added some burden to faith.   

  • Yea, Jesus is great, but with this 'new' philosophy you can never be complete.
  • Yea, of course you can be saved from you sins by the work of Jesus, but you must also keep the traditions of the faith. 
  • Yea, we are saved by grace through faith, but to be really spiritual you must first have a mystical experience with the spiritual world. 

 

We always want more, don't we?  Our nature is a greedy one.  This can be a good thing when we desire:

  • To know God more.
  • To have a deeper and more consistent prayer life
  • To know His word well

 

But that same desire and nature makes us susceptible to deception.  When we see offers of:

  • New secret formula
  • Enhanced technology
  • Never before seen
  • Faster than ever before

 

I went to a Christian bestseller list and found the book 'The Paradigm; the ancient blueprint that holds the mystery of our times'.  Now there may not be anything at all wrong with this book, but the know how to title it to appeal to our desires.  If the enemy can link a deception by way of our desires and curiosity and label it 'spritual' or 'godly' we seem susceptible to gobbling it up.  (i.e. think Your Best Life Now; 7 steps to living at Your full potential!)

 

While we don't want to miss out on anything, we often take on baggage we don't need or want.  That's what was going on in Colosse and its still happening today.  In Colosse, false teachers were preying on the Christians and telling them they needed something more, something new or improved.  Some were convinced they had fallen short of the ccomplete Christian package.    

 

Paul is going to show the Colossians that what they already knew and what they already had in Christ was complete.  They didn't need a new experience or a more knowledge or a batch of laws to keep.  Everything was complete in the work of Christ. 

 

We need this same message today.  We accept and trust in the work of Jesus by faith, knowing it was given by grace, completely undeserved.  If it is complete and you possess everything, what more do we need?  We can see shortcuts, enhancements and additions everywhere; while Paul preaches stability, assurance, maturity and depth that is found in Christ alone.  

 

Colossians 2:1-3

In ancient Greece the Pythian and Olympic games were held in a great assembly called the agon.  This was a gathering of the finest athletes.  In this assembly were the greatest charioteers, runners, athletes and even poets and musicians.  While the games were mostly athletic, the Pythian Games included contests in music and poetry.  In the agon these people were the best of the best and they gave all they had to win the prize or to attain the goal. 

 

The word 'conflict' in verse one (also translated agonize in NLT; struggle in ESV and NASB; contend in NIV) comes from the root word agon.  We can look back to chapter 1 verse 29 and see 'strive' comes from the same word.  Paul said I labor and agonize according to the work that God works in me.

 

In Hebrews 12:1 the 'race' that is set before us that we are to run with perseverance is the same word as conflict used here in Colossians and in Philippians describing the life of a follower of Christ.  The word is also used in Timothy when Paul encourages him to fight the good fight; the 'good fight' is the same word.  Likewise, when Paul tells Timothy he has fought that good fith, he uses the same word.  The 'agona' is the struggle, the race or the good fight of the Christian life.  The 'agon' is the arena where this event takes place; where the race is run or the fight is conducted.  The arena of the Christian life was Colosse, Rome in a prison cell and a thousand other places.  For us, it is the setting setting of your life.  You have entered into a great struggle; a great adventure and eternal race in which you've already been determed as the winner.

 

In reality, what does this look like in your life?  Back in Philippians 3, Paul said, "I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  This was Paul's calling.  It's the reason Jesus lay hold of him, to preach and teach.  For you and I, it's walking by faith in the calling of your life; doing that for which Christ laid hold of you.

 

Paul was in chains in Rome, and his trial before Caesar was drawing close.  Paul would defend the gospel and he knew it might cost him his life.  Yet, with that before him, he still struggled for the church there in Colosse and Laodicea.  Even though he'd never been to either place, there was a unity among these believers.  Paul wanted them to be encouraged and knit together in love; in Christian fellowship.  This is the bond of those who struggle (agon) in the same contest; taking part in very similar struggles.  Paul wanted them to be encouraged by the words he was writing.  When Paul writes this to Colosse and Laodicea he also writes it to us for our encouragement. 

 

He wanted us and them to be prepared, equipped and enabled to walk on to keep on in a difficult circumstance; to be encouraged in finding our confidence and assurance not in ourselves but in the Hope of Jesus Christ.  And as we walked in the encouragement we would be knit together in love, bound together as a church and we would attain all the riches and understanding; that in Christ we would acquire the knowledge of the mystery of God.  Then he adds in verse 3, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Paul was striving spiritually, giving all he had so they could find that the hidden treasures they desired in Jesus Christ.

 

It's interesting to note that unity was important for the church as they grew and matured as believers.  Satan knows this also; false teachers were coming to their church, right among the fellowship and causing confusion and division. 

 

In unity, as the church, we find spiritual direction and fulfillment in Christ alone, not in some mystical experience.  All our wisdom and understanding comes from Christ.  In Him are all the answers we seek and need.  Even when we face situations we don't understand we can be assured that God does understand and that he is working all circumstances to His glory.  We don't need horoscopes, fortune tellers, Ouija boards or even luck.  Paul speaks of God the father and Jesus, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  That doesn't sound like our life and fortunes lie in the hands of fate, or luck or men.  My fate is in the hands of the God who redeemed me.

 

In verse 3 when Paul used a specific word for 'hidden'.  That word is apokryphos.  This word meant "hidden" or "Secret."  This word was used by the Gnostics to describe the valuable and vast knowledge that was hidden and had to be discovered for salvation.  The Gnostics believed you had to study and learn all the vast knowledge from all the secret and hidden places and sources throughout the eons of time in order to be saved.  They saw this vast collection of knowledge as not being readily available to normal men.  Salvation was a very small and elite status reserved for the most educated according to the Gnostics.

 

Paul used the Gnostic's word, claiming that the treasure house of knowledge and wisdom is found in one place, Jesus Christ.  The treasure wasn't hidden at all; it was right before them.  The treasure wasn't reserved for the elite and well educated either, it was for every man to grasp by apprehending Christ and trusting in Him.

 

It's interesting, over time, the meaning of the word apokryphos changed.  As it was applied to the Gnostic teachings, instead of hidden and of great value, the word came to mean unreliable, spurios or even heretical.  We have the apocryphal books or writings, these are writings that were circulated and categorized with the books of the bible but were later disregarded because they were not inspired writings.  Some of these apocryphal books originated with Gnostics.  Paul wouldn't use that word today to describe all that was hidden in Christ because the Gnostics use of it had changed the meaning.

 

Colossians 2:4-5

The 'persuasive words' words of verse four describe the persuasive arguments of a slick lawyer making a case or great orator making an argument.  We can't be deceived by a packaging and presentation.  Surely these things can't defeat us in the arena of our faith!  Can men with persuasive words change your mind or cause you to doubt what Christ gave you? 

 

So, Paul was encouraging the Colossians and wanted them to know he rejoiced in their direction of growth and their steadfastness.  Their faith is what kept them.  It wasn't about Paul being present or not, it was the assurance that came from spiritual growth that came from a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 

A full assurance implies it is complete and doesn't need added to.  No one should be able to shake your full assurance.  In Colosse these teachers came among them and told them their assurance wasn't complete.  They tried to convince them something was missing, they needed more.  Part of what these guys offered was their own presence while Paul was absent.

 

Even though we might think we are firm in our faith, we should never think we've arrived at some spiritual plateau where we can rest and wait out the arrival of Jesus.  We can spend our entire lives searching the knowledge and wisdom of God and living it out in our lives and never run out of places to grow.  And no matter how much we grow, there will always be people in the world with 'fine sounding' arguments to test you.  These arguments will come from the most unsuspecting places and they will sound very reasonable and sound at times.  And if you pay attention, you will find that they come to you when you are the weakest in your faith.  When you are down, befuddled, hurting or asking questions in your relationship with God, Satan will offer you an alternative that will look comforting and right.  That's why our relationship with the Lord is important because it will be tested.  It won't be tested when you feel the Lord is right there by you and leading your life.  It will be tested when you are convinced your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and you can't find God.

 

Even though he wasn't in Colosse, Paul assured the Colossian Christians that he was standing with them in good order and the steadfastness.  "Good order and steadfastness" are military terms.  The order describes an army organized in ranks and each person knowing their job.  Paul knew his job.  The steadfastness is the picture of this army in battle formation.  Paul was engaged in the battle.  In our lives as a Christian, we each need to know our job (our struggle) and place in the battle (arena) as the church presents a unified front in the face of the enemy.

 

Barclay notes the great marks found in this passage which distinquish a living and faithful church:

  • They should be a church of courageous hearts.
  • The members should be united together.
  • They should be equipped with every kind of wisdom.

 

 

Colossians 2:6-7

The Lord is unchanging.  He's the same as He was when you named Him as your Lord.  He was complete then; He's no less complete now.  What more could you need?   Because He is lord, he is the authority over all your life.  He is your worldview, your thought process, your morality, your demeanor, your compassion and your personality.  Every aspect of you is affected by His Lordship.  That's how we received Him, by faith, knowing His grace was sufficient to deal with us in every way.  Paul is calling for believers to walk in Him that same way they always have.  You can't receive Christ as Lord, make Him Lord and then look for something more.  It makes no sense.

 

As we walk in the Lord we are matured, rooted and built up and established in faith.  Just as we've been taught, just as we know to be true.  That's the way we are to continue and we are to do this with thanksgiving.

 

I like Paul's mixed metaphors here in verse 6 and 7.  He said walk and be rooted.  We see this in other places, take a stand and walk; stand fast and run with perseverance.  On the surface, these things don't sound possible.  How can you be rooted and also walk?  Our walk is our relationship with the Lord; this walk started by faith in the gospel truth.  We don't graduate from that or outgrow it, we keep on in the same way started.  We mature as a Christian, never letting go of the truth in which we were born.  To do so is to be 'rooted'; like a plant that sets its roots in the rich soil to maintain the flow of life-giving nutrition.    We are 'built up' on a firm foundation.

 

 

Colossians 2:8-10

The traditions of men will cheat you and rob you of the tradition you have in Christ.  You received Him and know Him and the world will try to take that away through deception and philosophy.  The fine sounding philosophies were all traditions born of men.  We were born in Christ; supernatural, beyond this world.  We don't need to add to Christ anything; He is God, completely (Plaroma; as discussed last chapter).  There's nothing missing that has to be discovered or recovered.  He is fully God in the flesh.  When we are born again in Him, we too are complete in Him. 

 

Isn't it interesting that so much of the false teaching was aimed at Christians?  Why didn't the Gnostics and Ascetics and legalists and angel worshipers go preach their message to the nonbelievers?  Why do these traditions always try to hijack the traditions of Christianity?  We know the answer.  These false teachings weren't designed to lead people to anything.  They were always about leading Christians away from Christ.  Paul says stick to what you were taught.  Hold fast to your roots. 

 

The Gnostics used religious language and they spoke of Jesus.  Just like the legalists and the mystics, they sounded just Christian enough to get in the door unnoticed.  Then they began to promote the false teachings among the saints.  They were drawing believers away to seek after more knowledge in other spiritualities and religion and experiences.  Paul's message is the same for us.  There is no new truth, hold onto the same truth that's always been there.  Truth is unchanging, God is unchanging. 

 

The steadfastness in Christ calls for two things:

  1.      The walk (advancement & maturity) while being rooted in Christ.
  2.      The warning of all that would stunt your growth and damage your roots.

 

Colossians 2:11-13

The Judaizers said, you can't be saved and be in good graces with God because you haven't kept the law.  They would accuse the gentiles and say you can't be a Christians because you weren't circumcised in the flesh.  They said you need something more.

 

This is a little bit of a mystery.  There really is no indication the Gnostics and Judaizers were tied together in any way, other than they were both being used to draw Christians away.  While there is some connection between the Gnostics and mystics and Ascetics, the Judaizers were in a different category.  So, it's a bit of a mystery because Paul letter mixes his defense against them as if they were related.  But, as discussed, it's really not important to know all the details of all these false teachings.  We just need to grow in knowledge of Christ and deepen our relationship with Him.

 

So, Paul's answer for the Colossians as they considered the legalist who required circumcision is that we are circumcised by Christ.  In our dying to the old nature of sin and casting away the old man, believers experience the circumcision of the heart.  That happens spiritually in Christ and is more important than physical circumcision.  These things, of themselves, do nothing; they are a physical representation of a spiritual change.

 

To the Jews, circumcision was representative of being set apart by God by His work in us.  But circumcision never saved anyone or made them more spiritual or holy.  And its the same with baptism, it is a physical representation of what happened on the inside of us.  We were dead in our sins going into the grave but he made us alive forgiving our sins.  The old man is dead and buried, the new person in Christ is raised by faith in the power of God. 

 

We are alive in Christ.  He forgave all our trespasses and the 'handwriting of requirements' that was against us.   This 'handwriting' is the documentation of our sins.  It's the list of sins that we committed, the documentation of our sin debt.  Remember Satan was our old owner and he would have presented us before the just judge as we were.  He would have unrolled a big long scroll listing all the ways that we would have fallen short of God's perfect standard.  But now that we are in Christ, that list is wiped out.  We no longer have a list of charges against us.  Jesus paid all that was required. 

 

When someone was crucified, the charges were nailed to the cross.  Pilate put a sign on the Cross of Christ that said "King of the Jews."  But when Jesus was nailed to the cross, He took all our sins there with him.  In Him was our list of crimes against God, all the ways we fell short.  The entire list was nailed to the cross in Jesus Christ.  In doing so the blood that was shed on that cross was shed on our behalf.  Then all the principalities and powers, all the demons and Satan himself who would point their accusing finger at us were all made a public spectacle.  Jesus disarmed our accusers.  They are powerless to accuse because it's all wiped away.  God, the just judge, demands payment for sin.  The penalty of sin is death.  The accusers say, "Aha, we got you."  Jesus said, not so fast.  I died for that sin and all the others also."

 

When Paul speaks of Jesus triumphing over them, these people would picture the Roman Triumph.  It was a great parade, a great event, it was the return of the conquering King.  Satan and all his demons may have thought they had won when Jesus died on the cross.  But He rose again and He leads the parade declaring victory over death and we follow Him in celebrating victory over sin.

 

 

Colossians 2:16-17

The legalists or Judaizers, were pushing the law.  They found righteousness in the dietary restrictions and the keeping of the festivals and Sabbaths.  But all those things of the law were just a foreshadow of Jesus Christ.  In all the details of the Old Testament law given to the Jews, you find a shadows and types of Jesus.  Jesus is the sacrifice, He is the passover, He is the bread of life, in Him we find our rest, he is our Sabbath.  The entire law pointed to the messiah that would come.

 

For these guys to ignore the substance of the law that had come in Christ was to ignore what He did.  He was the fulfillment of all they saw as righteous.  His work was complete and they missed it.  They were selling shadows while the Saints held onto the real thing of substance.  If you have the substance, what more do you need?

 

Colossians 2:18-19

These teachers that worshiped angels claimed a false humility.  They were so humble that they said you couldn't go to God or Jesus.  They weren't worthy, so in their mock humility they claimed to approach God through the angels.  They justified their heretical teaching by claiming they were just being humble.  If you tell someone how humble you are and explain it, you're not humble.  These men didn't even hold onto Jesus as the head of the church.  And if Jesus isn't the head of the church, it isn't a church.

 

Their philosophy was a body without a head. 

 

 

Colossians 2:20-23

Paul speaks out about the legalism we all fall subject to.  All these things are based on human commands and teachings.  He's talking specifically about those practicing asceticism.  They established their rules and decided that by keeping them it made them holy.  They may have had an appearance of wisdom but this did nothing to restrain the sinful nature.  These men beat themselves, starved themselves, didn't speak, went into seclusion for long periods of time, wore uncomfortable clothes, slept on uncomfortable beds and so on.  These men did all this publicly so all the world could see how righteous they were.  They were filled with pride and didn't even realize it.

 

These same type of things show up in our culture today.  Our life as a Christian shouldn't be a list of things we can't do;.don't do this, don't say that, don't go there and on and on.  God gave us moral guidelines and boundaries.  This isn't saying that we can or should ignore those things.  But the restrictions shouldn't define our life.  Our life should be defined by what Jesus did, not by what we feel we can't do.  Everyone can tell the difference between a life lived in the joy and contentment of the Lord and a life of legalism.  The world can see the difference.

 

We've probably all experienced these both sides of this.  You don't have to look very fare to see the man or woman who were saved and spend their whole life trying to remember all that they can't do.  They come to church, not to worship and be among God's people but because their list says, thou shalt not miss church.  They come and sing hymns, droning their praise with no energy.  With great pride, they'll tell you:

  • They've never had a drop of alcohol;
  •    Not because they choose not to drink, but because they think it makes them holy. 
  • They've would never use tobacco. 
  •    Not because they think it's bad for his health but because they think it makes him holy. 
  • They hate gossip. 
  •    And if they hear of someone gossiping, they'll call everyone they know and let them know what they heard. 
  • They would never wear jeans to church. 
  •    Not because they prefer dress clothes but because they think jeans are evil and dress clothes make them more righteous. 

These folks forgot how to smile years ago.  Their attitudes are sour, they're demeanor is puckered up.  In their legalisms and self-righteousness they hold to:

  • Thou shalt not have fun. 
  • Thou shalt not smile.
  • Thou shalt not experience grace
  • Thou shalt not find joy in the Lord
  • Thou shalt not be full of zeal for the Lord
  • Thou shalt not (think about it, you know many more). 

Thou shalt not defines the life of these folks.  The ascetics took away some comfort, made sure everyone saw it so they understood how righteous they were.  These attitudes are found in nearly every church. 

 

Paul encourages the Colossians and us to be men or women who are saved by grace.  Instead of thou shalt not, those in Christ are defined by these attributes:

  • They understand the sin debt they once owed.
  •    They celebrate Christ, knowing the debt was paid in full
  • They understand they were once dead and didn't know it.
  •    They rejoice in life and endeavor to enjoy and explore it.    
  • They remember the old man.
  •    And give thanks to Christ for new creature he's created in them.
  • They realize the master they used to serve as they ruled their life.
  •    They praise the King of kings, and gladly serve the Lord of their life.
  • They were once rebels to any authority; taking pride in disobedience.
  •    They humbly desire to be obedient to their creator. 
  • They once looked for happiness anywhere they could and never found anything lasting.
  •    They now find joy in every step of their adventure, no matter where they find themselves.
  • God was once understood in a small, confined and restricting way.
  •    Now, we see the vastness, the fullness of His wisdom and knowledge.
  • The Christian life is characterized by love and grace and compassion and mercy. 

That's the person I want to be.  That's the church I want to belong to.

 

©2017 Doug Ford