The Supreme Christ of the Colossians (3)
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We are getting ready to conclude our fly over of the book of Colossians before next time circling the plane back around again to land it and take the more detailed tour on foot through the book. Our endeavor in doing this “flyover” series is to give you the big picture, the good birdseye view of the book as a whole, so we can identify how the book came to be, who the major players are, the significance of the letter, etc. Occasionally, during our flight, we brought the plan a little lower to see some of the more intricate details and specifics, like the false teaching that was being spread. We looked at the specifics of that. Anyone remember what the chief problem was… starts with an S… syncretism. Merging of two once viewed opposing beliefs… religious practices/faiths (like Judaistic legalism and ascetism(being like a monk) as well as merging faith with secular thoughts (Philosophy).
Today, we are going to resume the rest of our flight by returning to that cruising altitude. From this height, we want to see the way that Paul constructed the rest of the letter to deal with that false teaching (this is the continuation of our last point which was talking about the purpose of the letter.) So as we resume, we will begin to see some of the other major reasons Paul wrote the letter and how he tackled the false teaching.
I. The Place
I. The Place
II. The People
II. The People
III. The Purpose
III. The Purpose
A. Address False Teaching
A. Address False Teaching
B. With the Sufficiency & Supremacy of Christ
B. With the Sufficiency & Supremacy of Christ
Just going back for a moment again, we need to recognize how this point and the point of false teaching are connected in Paul’s mind.
Colossians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Theme of Colossians
Although the Colossian heresy contained many different/diverse elements, at its very core was a denial of the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ for salvation and sanctification.
We could say it a different way.
Faithlife Study Bible Introduction to Colossians
People in that time were apparently saying that “Jesus was a good start, but that other beliefs and practices needed to be added.”
So how does Paul respond.
Faithlife Study Bible Introduction to Colossians
He responds by affirming that nothing needs to be added to the work of Christ. That’s what we mean by sufficient. It’s enough, it’s adequate. It’s qualified to meet all the needs of its intended purpose. Therefore to add anything to it, or take away anything from it is to disagree with whoever said that the item is sufficient.
But Paul argues back by providing a picture of Christ that proves He is indeed all in all.
A crucial place that proves this point is chapter 1 verses 15-20.
These verses are often referred to as the “Christ-hymn”. In this hymn, the supremacy of Christ is clearly on display.
Affirmations of the Christ-Hymn
holds thee place of preeminence (first place) in creation (1:15,18)
is the source of & reason for creation (1:16)
sustains/holds the universe together (1:17)
is the head/leader of the church (1:18)
is Himself God (1:15,19)
Why was the great Christ hymn presented. Well, it’s given as the antidote to poisonous alternative to the gospel itself, where Christ isn’t enough to save and sanctify. Where supposedly philosophy and other religious methods were needed to fill in the gaps.
Why would someone ever believe that there are gaps that need to be filled, especially when scripture says of itself there are no gaps? The problem is the scriptures for being lacking, it’s that our own understanding of these things is lacking. So left to our own human deceitfulness and scheming, we in our sinful nature start filling in those gaps with things that we are naturally bent on believing.
When in Sunday school class, or even in our sermon two weeks ago, or Sunday nights have identified… what is the root form of evil that is found in every false teaching. Man’s basic desire to be God. To have the gospel be more about us than God. And that’s found here in Colossians. Philosophy… where does philosophy come from… man’s “higher level” thought… or the other religions… how are they produced.… again no different than the idolatrous practices in Israel… man shaping their own golden calves and worshipping them according to what pleases them.
So how do we counter-act these false notions of God. First even identify what is false by comparing it to what is true and throw out the falsehood. Then afterwards we fill up our lives in what is true so that there is no room to believe falsehood.
That’s exactly what Paul did here.
The Colossian heresy really was a dangerous threat that demanded attention because it subtracted from Christ in at least 2 ways… it subtracts from the gospel message and subtracts from Christ’s headship over the body by giving authority to other means and systems outside of Christ.
But look carefully at Paul writings and you’ll see that at every turn of the page Paul confronts the false teaching with the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ.
Here are some more examples...
Error
Truth
Those that errored sought God through their means; But Paul says in Christ...
the fulness of Deity was pleased to dwell (manifested) to us all (2:9)
They sought the superior knowledge necessary for salvation,
but it is in Christ that are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (2:3)
They worshipped angels, thinking angelic beings could help them attain righteousness,
Paul corrected that by saying believers are complete in Christ. (2:10)
They observed Jewish ceremonies/ritual practices,
but Paul rebukes that saying that they are only a shadow of things to come/whereas Christ is the substance. (2:17)
They practiced asceticism,
but it had no power to overcome the flesh. It promises much but fails to deliver. Only Christ who is your life can. He should be the focus (3:1-4)
The Lexham Bible Dictionary (The Supremacy of Christ)
In fact, throughout the letter, Paul maintains this emphasis on the supremacy of Christ:
Emphasis on Christ’s Supremacy throughout the Book.
• He is the avenue to redemption (1:13–14, 20–22).
• He disarmed and dismantled the evil spiritual authorities and strongholds (2:15)
• He nourishes and grows the Church (2:19).
• He is seated at God’s right hand (3:1).
• He is where real life exists (3:3–4).
• He overcomes ethnic and racial divisions (3:11).
• He is the source of unity and peace in the Church (3:15).
• He provides the force or energy to do good work (3:24).
And that gives me great pause for concern in my own life. When error tries to seep into the Church, Paul confronts the error with what.... thorough knowledge of the truth.... of what.... Christ.
So should that not also again informs us as to how error they can seep in. I guess you could say it that it is not the work of Christ that has gaps that need filled but it is we who have gaps. Gaps in our thinking that need to be filled… especially filled with what truth… truth regarding Christ. So an application I want us to take away is how well do you know Christ.
Unfortunately in the world we live, it is so easy to claim knowledge of Christ and be yet far removed from Him. Scripture is abundantly clear that hell will be filled with people that died thought they were going to heaven only to hear Christ say, depart from me you workers of lawlessness, I never knew you.
We live in a world that over simplifies Christ and the gospel so much so that it has actually taken away from critical truth. Jesus loves you.… He Gets You.… accept Christ as Savior. Sure we could possibly argue that portions of the gospel might in some way be distinguished here, but if it’s not the full gospel, it only confuses people to their own destruction. Famous preachers like Joel Osteen love to tell people that God loves them, but also never mention that God’s wrath in abiding on them for their sin, and swift and sudden destruction is their ultimate end unless they believe, confess, and have faith in Jesus’ shed blood for the forgiveness of sins. Part of that gospel also demands that they recognize Christ’s Lordship in their lives. Continuing in sin like nothing changed after receiving the truth is not an option for a true child of God.
So where am I going with all of this?
How much do you know Christ. To defend against falsehood is to know truth about Christ.
Application: DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?
Just going to the Christ-hymn...
-Do you know what it means for Christ to be preeminent in all things?
-Do you understand Christ’s role in creation and His work in sustaining? Do we even know what it means to sustain. Do we understand how that work affects us today?
-Do we understand his headship over the body. Could we describe that to others? Could we share with others how that dictates our own life.
-Do we understand His divinity? Are we articulate enough in our theology to prove that Jesus is indeed God and are we skilled enough to identify groups and teachings that don’t believe and teach such things. For how many of us was it a surprise to find out that the Word of Faith charismatics have a faulty view of the Trinity. Do we understand why that is critical to the gospel to get that right.
If Christ isn’t God, then He’s not capable of being the perfect spotless sacrifice for sins. For only God is perfect and sinless. If Jesus isn’t God, then we are all lost. Gospel is broken.
Besides these things, can we explain justification, imputation, original sin, righteousness, sanctification, glorification, can we explain the hypostatic union. Leave gaps in these critical things, even small gaps can give place for the devil and the world to fill it in with falsehood therefore corrupting the whole thing.
I bet if I asked most guys here what their favorite car or tractor is many of them could rattle off a bunch of details on it. Naming off a bunch of technical jargon and specific details without even pausing to think about it much. How many of us can do the same with Christ? Most of us say we love Christ the most but then give very simplistic answers and certainly couldn’t have any dialogue when it comes to the more intricate details.
To love Christ more is to know Christ more.
Spend time learning your Savior. Read the gospels specifically to see what Christ is like and what he says. Read books about Christ. When was the last time to read a book or listened to an audio item in your spare time to simply understand Christ more. HE IS GOD THEREFORE HE IS AN UNENDING WELL OF DEPTH. Trust me there is no end to what you can learn about Him.
If you want some resources. I have greatly grown in my love for Christ reading the book entitled Gentle and Lowly. It explores what it means when Jesus said in the gospels that He is meek and lowly in heart....
The Colossian heresy was an extremely dangerous threat that demanded attention because it subtracted from Christ in the gospel message but it also subtracts from Christ’s headship over the body by giving authority to other means and systems outside of Christ.
In other words, Christ is no longer the means and method for righteous living. We must look outside of Christ. However, Paul makes it abundantly clear that Christ supremacy and sufficient are what we nee to...
C. Motivate the Life of the Church
C. Motivate the Life of the Church
Faithlife Study Bible Introduction to Colossians
Nothing else is needed but Christ, who reorganizes the way people live life (3:1–17)
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Life of the Church
Paul wants the believers at Colossae to live in the reality of Christ’s supremacy. Christ’s work enables believers to set their minds on godly matters (3:1–2), so that they will be empowered to conquer impure, earthly behaviors (3:5–9). New life in Christ—putting “off the old self with its practices” and putting “on the new self” (3:9b–10a ESV)—brings about a new dimension of godly living (3:12–13) and stands in contrast to the surrounding world. In addition, new life in Christ overcomes human social barriers and finds its ultimate expression in love (3:11; 3:14). The “peace of Christ” (3:15) and the “word of Christ” (3:16) lead the church to unity and thankfulness.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Life of the Church
The believers’ ability to live according to Paul’s instructions comes from Christ but Christ is also the reason we serve.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Life of the Church
• “as is fitting in the Lord” (3:18 ESV);
• “for this pleases the Lord” (3:20);
• “fearing the Lord” (3:22);
• “as for the Lord” (3:23);
• “You are serving the Lord Christ” (3:24);
• “you have a Master in heaven” (4:1).
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon Introduction to Colossians
Christianity cannot be just an element in some form of composite/combined religion. We may press that further and say: we cannot take Christ as just one element of influence in our lives, rather He is the centrality, the core, the dynamic around which and by which our lives move and are motivated and empowered.
The application that is extremely evident to me here is this. If Paul says that Christ is the core, the center piece to our empowerment and motivation to live out our new life. He’s critical for the motivation we need to fulfill our commands in the body of Christ, the very simply question I have for you to think about is this?
Application: DOES CHRIST FILL YOUR SPEECH?
When we speak of anything we have done, doing, or are going to do… does Christ get brought up in those conversations? And if not, we need to ask ourselves why?
Can you imagine this letter and all the verse’s that we looked at today. What if we just took out Christ from all of it. What would be left of Paul’s letter. Absolutely nothing?
I read through the entirety of colossians, I counted at least 80 references to Christ.... words like Lord, Jesus, He (referring to Christ and so on). This isn’t a large book at all, with only 95 verses in all… with 80 references to Christ, that you would almost see a reference to him in almost every single verse.
And yet daily, we live and speak without one single word about Christ in our activities… and we expect God to do something with it. There’s a major problem.
I want to go back again and examine some of the verses we just mentioned a bit ago. Looking in chapter 3 with me a brief second… where does the motivation, empowerment, and will come from to have....
-Biblical forgiveness even when its hard
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
-submission from wives even when he’s not worthy
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
-children that obey their parents even when they don’t understand you
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
-employees to work diligently for their employers even if they are indeed jerks
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
-in fact, in everything we do.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
We simply cannot do any of these things without the Lord. By the way, what purpose would it accomplish to fill our speech with Christ towards our actions and thoughts. I can see at least 4.
-It gives credit where credit is due.
-It reminds us why we serve.
-It empowers us to keep pushing on knowing whom is with us. (Low I am with you always until the end of the age)
-It helps us to fall more in love with Him.
If we don’t acknowledge Christ then the opposite becomes true.
-We get the credit (thinking more of ourselves then we ought)
-We become unmotivated because it’s too exhausting, and not worth our time.
-We give up because we are relying on a strength that we don’t have.
-If we do succeed (in our eyes), to accomplish anything good, we end up loving ourselves more.
I read this in my devotions, reading through the book of Romans. Its a good reminder in thinking about sanctification… how to live out my faith… chapters 6-8.
“True spiritual growth must be produced by the Spirit of God from within. It cannot come from what we do. It must come first from we we are. Transformation must begin on the inside and work its way out.”
To understand that fully, go read Romans. Chapters 1-5 dealt with man’s sin and God righteousness that can be applied to us by faith (justification). Paul begins chapter 6 and talking about sanctification, how man might live apart from sin and obey God. You know what he doesn’t do, a list of do and don’t. But what he does do is this....
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
He says in order to obey Christ you MUST CONSIDER… change begins with a right identification of who Christ is, and what Christ has do in you… that’s where change occurs. When we love Christ and who He is more than anything else, which comes from really knowing what He is like and what He has done, then change will happen.
That’s what Paul shared in one of the most critical parts of the letter…
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We will look at this more fully when we get there but when Paul said set your minds… he means to describe not just our brains and our thoughts, but our emotions, feelings, our desires, wills, all need to be deliberately focused on Christ, and then you will see God do much great things in your life.
