Colossians 2
Notes
Transcript
Chapter 2 continues from Chapter 1...
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Paul is finishing his purpose statement from chapter 1 by telling them his heart longs for them and for the church at Laodicea, and the rest that he hasn’t been able to visit yet.
He’s writing, preaching, and praying hard so their hearts will be comforted in the fact they not only have been saved, bu they understand the deep doctrine and theology of what it means to be saved, and of the Father, and of truly WHO Christ is!
Colossians 2:3 “3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Jesus Christ is the answer to every question! Not just in salvation and religion
How do I send a rocket into space? Jesus Christ?
The creator of the heavens and the earth has put things together in a way that things like gravity and force and machines work the same ways throughout time and for all people. Because of this as we gain the knowledge of physics and technology as God gives, then we can build and send a rocket into space. Then just as we did it in the 60’s we can do it now and even cheaper easier and better ways like the booster landing itself back on earth or catching the middle section with a tower, etc.
Colossians 2:4–5 “4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”
This is the pattern they follow, they come with tempting words. And even though Paul can’t be with them in body, He’s praising the Lord and praying for them believing they are still holding fast to Jesus
Nothing new under the sun, today we have to be careful of slick salesmen, politicians, and even some slick preachers
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Summary of the whole letter:
Receiving Christ and being saved is not the end of life but the beginning!
All growth in our faith and walk with Jesus has to continue the same as it started...with Him!
6: Since you’ve been saved by Jesus, live like you’ve been saved by Jesus.
7: Living for His glory because it was Him you were planted in and in Him you’ll grow and do so in thanksgiving!
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Warning 1: Christ not philosophy
Colossians 2:8–10 “8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
Philosophy is the study of big questions about life, truth, and how we know things.
reason 1: after the tradition of men
reason 2: after the rudiments (elements) of the world
reason 3: not after Christ
11-17 Warning 2: Christ not legalism
Colossians 2:11–17 “11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
legalism is the idea that following specific religious rules and regulations exactly as they’re written, believing that strict obedience to these laws is the primary way to please God
Colossians 2:11–12 “11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:13–14 “13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
When you were dead in you sin, all the charges were hanging against you with no hope for pardon
When you put your faith in Jesus your charges were nailed to the cross and took the guilt off you and placed it squarely on Jesus so you would be pardoned and forgiven!
Colossians 2:15 “15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
The evil spirits and powers of wickedness, even the devil himself Christ has disarmed and by you being saved, has made a public spectacle of all of them!
Colossians 2:16–17 “16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
So then, don’t let just some men condemn you for what you eat, drink, or days of worship
All these are just a shadow of what’s to come when, through Christ, we live and worship fully!
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
18-19 Warning 3: Christ not mysticism
Colossians 2:18–19 “18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”
Mysticism is the belief that people can directly connect with or experience something divine or spiritual
18: Don’t let them cheat you out of your reward by:
insisting on some kind of “holier-than-thou” self denial
worshiping angels
dwelling on their dreams or visions you haven’t had
Because their dreams or visions are probably just pretend made up by their fleshly minds
19: And when they focus so much on that junk, they aren’t focused on the Head which is Christ!
Paul has already spoken of Christ as the head back in Colossians 1:18 “18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Now he’s reminding them what he told them earlier in 1:17-18, it’s Christ that feeds and holds together creation, the individual believer, and the body of the church. All that’s put together and held together by God grows as He grows it!
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
20-23 Warning 4: Christ not asceticism
Colossians 2:20–22 “20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?”
Asceticism thinks if people give up the things the body needs on purpose it will make them spiritually stronger or help them understand deeper truths.
Denying the self isn’t always bad. In fact Jesus said we are supposed to to follow him:
Matthew 16:24 “24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Paul says we have done it in overcoming the sin of the flesh:
Galatians 5:24 “24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
But the philosophy they are offering is the religion of the world
The religion of the world is one of law, rules, and works that can’t free you but makes you a slave
Colossians 2:23 “23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
These rules and practices and focusing on these things look special and holy and important, but they don’t help with with overcoming the Adam nature of the flesh.
“Do not touch, wet paint” or “You can’t have that doughnut, it’s bad for you”. On the surface, we see what people are trying to do with the laws and rules of men, but in my life more often than not, the rules have only stirred up the rebellion of the flesh and made me want it more!
Paul’s reminding them again:
If you died with Christ then you were also raised with Christ and you are now a slave to Christ and not slaves to the laws and rules of men
Conclusion
Conclusion
In Colossians 2:20-23 Paul asks the real question: if the best the world’s philosophy’s and ideas have to offer is the traditions and laws and rituals of men, worshiping angels, imaginary dreams and visions, and not touching or eating or having whatever just so you can think your holier than you are or closer to God than you are… Then why, if you have been saved do you go on living as if you are still of the world and not of Christ?
Are we any different today?
You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and it’s Him that saved you and it’s Him that created all things and in Him all things have their being!
So why do you go on living life thinking having the most money or the most things is most important?
Why do you keep on coming to church every Sunday morning just because you’re supposed to or somebody wants you to.
Why do you keep on thinking that following the rules and the do’s and the don’ts are more important than Jesus himself?
Why do you keep on searching for that same “feeling” or rush of emotion every Sunday morning you had when you got saved and if you don’t feel it or feel something then service was a failure or you aren’t saved?
All these are parts of the religion of the world!
What did Jesus say about them:
Matthew 15:7–9 “7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Paul’s response to us that are saved:
Ephesians 4:20–24 “20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
