“Now I say this”: What did Paul say? (v2:4)
- The mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ
- In whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden
What are some reasons for Colossians to get side tracked from faith in Christ? (v4,8)
- Persuasive speech
- Philosophy
- Vain deceit
- Tradition of men
- Elements of the world
- Not after Christ
.
What should Colossians focus on instead? (v5-8, Romans 12:2)
- Steadfast faith in Christ
- Walk in Christ
- As they have received him
- Rooted in Him
- Built up in Him
- Established in the faith
- Even as they were taught
- Abounding in it
- In thanksgiving
- By not letting anyone rob this faith
Why should the Colossians depend on Christ alone? (v9-15, Daniel 5:22-28)
- Christ and God
- All the fullness of deity dwells in Him, bodily
- We are made full in Him
- Christ and principalities and powers
- He is the head of all principality and power
- Stripped the principalities and powers
- Made a show of them openly
- Triumphing over them
- Christ and us
- Circumcised, with the circumcision of Christ
- Buried with Him in Baptism
- Raised with Him through faith
- We were all dead
- He made us alive
- Forgive our trespasses
- Wiped away the ordinances against us
- Taken it away – nailed to the cross
Conclusion:
- Christ is above all
- Built up and rooted in Christ alone
Passage Colossians 2:4-15 – World English Bible (WEB)
4 Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Notes / Cross references:
Church at Colossae was primarily made up of gentiles and perhaps a few from Jewish background
Colossae was dealing with false teachers that questioned who Christ is.
Colossians 2:1-3 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Daniel 5:22-28 “You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, or hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways. 24 Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’
26 “This is the interpretation of the thing:
MENE: God has counted your kingdom, and brought it to an end.
27 TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
28 PERES: your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
