colossians 2

God’s Hidden Treasure—-King Jesus

Background

EPISTLES TO THE CHURCHES

Paul’s letters are another way he continued his care for his churches. They were written in his stead and delivered by people commissioned not only to read the letter aloud but to explain its contents. The letters deal with pastoral issues including:

1. False teaching: Over half of Paul’s letters deal with the problem of false teachers. The whole of Galatians is devoted to the problem of Judaizers.. Colossians 2 speaks of a heresy, and Paul deals with it directly and indirectly. Philippians 3 deals with Judaizers Behind the three Pastoral Letters, false teaching is the major issue.

2. Disunity: 1 Corinthians and Philippians deal with divisions and their causes. In Corinth, this is a major problem, whereas Philippians is intended to stop another Corinth from happening. Romans and Galatians also deal with disunity between Jew and gentile. Romans 14–15 particularly deals with matters concerning eating and holy days.

3. Specific concerns: Other matters punctuate the letters, for example, the death of Christians (1 Thess 4–5), ethics (Rom 12–15; Gal 4–6; Col 3; Eph 4–5), travel plans (e.g., Rom 1, 15; 1 Thess 3; Phil 2), and the return of the runaway slave, Onesimus (Philemon).

Paul’s letter to the Colossians promotes the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ in order to combat a heresy that had divided the church and distracted them from serving Christ.

At this stage, Paul is most likely in prison in Ephesus, on the sea-coast of modern Turkey; he’s writing to the new church in Colossae, about a hundred miles inland. It’s probable that the short letter to Philemon was on its way to Colossae at the same time the present letter includes a mention of Philemon’s slave, Onesimus (4:9).

Colossians 4:9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening

Onesimus is going back to Colossae, and to Philemon’s household, along with Tychicus, who was carrying the letter we are now reading.

The opening section (1:3–2:5) centers on the supremacy and lordship of Christ as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. This is followed by

1] identifying the serious errors of the false teachers (2:6–23) and then 2] addressing the needs of the Colossian believers to grow in their Christian walk (3:1–4:1). Finally, Paul looks outward (4:2–6), to his and the church’s mission to the world.

Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters (God’s Hidden Treasure—King Jesus! (Colossians 2:1–7))

In Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous Treasure Island, the plot hinges on the discovery of an ancient map. The people who have found it realize that, if only they could understand and follow it, it would lead them to buried treasure that had been hidden for many years,

There are always problems. Some people think the map is fake. Inevitably, there are dangers to be faced, both in the journey to the far-off island and in the threat from other people who want to stop them getting there first. But we know how the story should end. We want the hero to overcome the dangers and difficulties, find the treasure and get it safe back home.

Towards the end of Colossians chapter 1 (verses 26–27) Paul speaks of God’s secret plan, a hidden plan, like a map in a locked and dusty cupboard, for ages and generations (the old testament). Now, it has come to light in the events concerning Jesus, the Messiah. Paul is in possession of the map, and is inviting as many people as possible to come with him to find the treasure.

let’s read through the passage verse by verse and answer some discussion questions

Colossians 2:1 (NLT)

1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

1] who has Paul agonized about?

you, the church at laodicea, and many other believers

2}where is Laodicea?

Show it on the map

Colossians 2:2 NLT

2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

3] Who does Paul want to be encouraged?

4] can someone tell me what knit together by strong ties of love might mean?

I believe the strong ties of love is the fact that Jesus is in them, and His light of love shines in and through believers and has a pulling together effect with His love

5] What does Paul want the Laodiceans to understand?

6] Can someone describe what God’s mysterious plan might be?

Jesus came to the earth from heaven to earth as a baby to show us the way. When he grew up, he taught people His ways…some people loved what He taught, and some hate it and Him as well….the haters had Him killed on a cross. From there he went into a tomb for three days and there He rose from the grave and later went back to heaven. then people could get saved.

7] how can a person get saved?

Acts 16:29–31 (NLT)

29The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Does anyone remember when we talked about this story several weeks ago? In Philippians? When Paul cast a demon out of a fortune telling girl

Colossians 2:3 NLT

3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

8] TREASURE FOUND !! All wisdom and knowledge is in——not from—-Jesus. Whoever desires the wisdom to navigate life by, must come to the realization that there is nothing more or less, nothing else than Jesus. All treasures of wisdom are in Him.

There is a story about a wealthy man who saw a painting in a catalog and fell in love with it. He demanded his aides find, and buy the painting quickly. They researched the item and found it wasn’t for sale anymore. He angrily told the aides to find the painting or lose their jobs! After three more months of searching the aides returned again. “Did you find the painting? “ “Yes after painstaking research, we found it.” well—did you purchase it?” “no we couldn’t” “why not!!!?” “BECAUSE WE FOUND IT IN YOUR WAREHOUSE”

So Paul said to the Laodiceans, “You already have all the wisdom you need to navigate liFe’s challenges!! It is all in Jesus. When you have Him you Have it all!

Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters (God’s Hidden Treasure—King Jesus! (Colossians 2:1–7))

Christianity, is Christ. Put Him in the middle of your wild spinning world, and the world will stop spinning and begin to make sense. Find him, and you’ve got the treasure. It may take you a while to get it all out of the treasure chest to see it, but when you do you’ll find—Paul is saying in verse 3—all the wisdom and knowledge finds its full meaning in Him. He is, quite simply, what it’s all about.

Colossians 2:4 (NLT)

4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments.

9] what are people deceived by?

a a Historic Jesus that has nothing to do with todays world

b people taking “pity on” a Christian for beliieving in God. (surely you can’t be serious!)

Colossians 2:5 (NLT)

5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

10] Does anyone remember where paul wrote this letter from?

prison in Ephesus

CONCLUSION: WHO IS THE PRIZE? Jesus!! Living as a believer with Jesus in our hearts and minds, focused on Him and seeing the world through the eyes of faith. He is the treasure that takes a lifetime to examine and utilize. He is the prize: eternity with Him is something so wonderful, money can’t buy it.

Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ

Colossians 2:6 (NLT)

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:8 (NLT)

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Colossians 2:9–10 (NLT)

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Colossians 2:10 (NLT)

10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Colossians 2:11 (NLT)

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Colossians 2:12 (NLT)

12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Colossians 2:13 (NLT)

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

Colossians 2:14 (NLT)

14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Colossians 2:16 (NLT)

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

Colossians 2:17 (NLT)

17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

Colossians 2:18 (NLT)

18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,

Colossians 2:19 (NLT)

19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

Colossians 2:20–21 (NLT)

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,

Colossians 2:21 NLT

21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?

Colossians 2:22 (NLT)

22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.

Colossians 2:23 (NLT)

23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.