Colossians 2:1-5 | The Best Defence

Hello - Baptism next week

Catechism:

Q: What do we beleive about the Holy Spirit

A: That he is God, Coeternal with the Father and the Son.

Read Text

Here Paul continues his description of the ministry that he has received from God that he started back in 1:23.

In which he has shared his role in making known the mystery of God, how Christ is the hope of glory for both Jew and gentile alike. He describes his ministry as proclaiming Jesus with the goal of presenting all who hear and receive the Jesus as king, mature before his glorious throne.

Now in our text this morning, the apostle is going to continue to elaborate on this struggle which aims at the maturity of the saints.

In doing so he gives us the reason for why he has shared so much about the nature of his ministry.

Look at Colossians 2:4 (ESV)

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

One of the goals of maturity in Christ is that believers would have a strong defence against all that opposes thier faith.

Specifically they they wouldnt be deluded or decieved, led astray by plausible arguments.

arguments that sound reasonble.

that are even enticing.

NOt becuase they are true, but becuase they play on our desires, or doubt, using partial truths to bring God into question

Arguments that attempt to discredit the truth and try to strip it of meaning, drawing people away from Christ and Christ alone.

In a world where many are against Christ and therefore are against Christians - ‘arguments’ for anything other than the goodness and teh glory of Jesus abound.

Examples of Plausible arguments

Scientific arguments - much of our modern thought presents faith in Christ as anti-intellectual. With this mindset, faith is seen as something for primative man who couldnt explain where rain comes from or what a rainbow is, and so what did they do, they filled the gaps of understanding, with God. But now we know, so we don’t need God anymore.

“Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.”

— Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (2006)

In doing so, modern intellectualism creates a conflict between faith and science. Therefore there is a great deal of pressure, especially in certain institutions and university to conclude that faith must be free from any real understanding. A pressure that has and does lead people away from Christ.

Social arguments - Clearly, there is a disparity between a Biblical faith and present day values, especially on things such as gender, sex, marriage. So though faith may have been good for a different culture, it isnt good for ours. Supporters of such views don’t mind if you hold religious beleifs about loving all people and all lifestyles equally, but certainly will oppose the proclaimation of Christ as king who calls us to live according to his standards.

Self-centred - arguments that most clearly speak to the sinful nature of humanity …

Reel-sized arguments - Arguments that arent necessarily plausible in and of themselves but becuase of how we have been trained to receive information today, they are perceived as plausible. For those who don’t know, a REEL or a Short, is a form of video content today popularised by social media platforms. Content that has become a space for many things, but as it relates to this discussion it has become a space quick confident critiques and opinions attempting to deconstruct faith. Short form content that we willingly consume and can easily lead astray because we have given them unmerited value - irrespective of whether any thoughtful theological insight is provided.

These and many moreprovide some reasonable argument, but they all demote Jesus from his rightful place. And they all, mimic the first great deceiver.

Satan’s deception.

Genesis 3:1–6 (ESV)

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” [QUESTIONING THE TRUTH] 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [PARTIAL TRUTH, PLAUSIBLE]

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

We as believers, need to be prepared to fend off arguments that questions the truth of God’s word and lead us away from Christ, in whatever form they come.

Offense is the best defense.

When I was 7, my grandfather taught me how to play chess. I would spend an afternoon and evening a week with my grandparents and grandpa and I would play chess. This happened for years and years until I finally started winning.

One of the principles that my granfather taught me, was that the best defence is a good offence.

Its a classical military theory that has been popularised through modern politics and sport.

The best defence is to ensure that your enemy is always on gaurd, wary of your next attack. Your strength, your offence, distracts the opponent or at least gives them pause when coming after you.

If you are constantly on the back foot trying to fend off attacks your opponent will eventuly find a hole in your defences, unless you take the initiative.

When paul speaks of the ministry of the gospel as a struggle - he is using a term with roots in athletic competition - th struggle between two opponents.

Pauls struggle in ministry that ‘procalims Christ, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that they may present everyone mature in Christ’ is a struggle against opponents to the faith. Opponents to Christ and the gospel of grace.

For the Christian, the best defence against such opponents, is not simply standing back and sheilding oneself from bad doctrines. or cacooning ourselves and living under a rock so that we are never exposed to such arguments (though there is certainly an appropriate way to do that) — Instead, the primary form of defense for the Christian, it is to actively know and proclaim the truth.

To not be deceived requires that we be full of something else, something greater.

1. Filled in Christ

Whats the something greater? its not just an idea or a set of principals or more compelling arguments… it is a person:

Colossians 2:2–3 (ESV)

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

It’s Jesus.

God who has came and taken on flesh so that we might know him fully.

This is why, Pual has laid out the preeminence of Jesus, becuase the greatest defence of the faith is that believers be filled with Christ!

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge because: look up at

Colossians 1:15–19 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

Is Jesus Preeminent in your life? Preeminent means to hold the highest position. To be first, highest ranking.

He is in Creation, he is in the new creation by his resurrection from the dead.

But our sinful nature would like to make him secondary. TO our desires, to our standards. To us achieving our goals.

Now look, Paul uses this phrase, that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

What does this mean? well it means that Jesus is the most wise and most knowledgable man who has ever lived, (thats a reasonable conclusion), although the text is saying more than that.

Proverbs 2:3–6 (ESV)

3 , if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

there are only 2 places where the tri-fold terms of treasures, wisdom and knowledge are found (Pro 2 and Col 2)

In the Old Testament epoch, wisdom and understanding was epitomised and found in the Torah. The way and instruction of God that he graciously gave to his people through his servant Moses.

So to live the wise life was to FEAR God (hold him as preeminent), and seek him in his word, the TORAH, and receive wisdom and knowledge by faith.

Paul - the former pharisee, (he knows the scriptures), wants us to see, that Israels law(Torah) pointed to Christ. Jesus is the fullest expression of the law’s revelation and wisdom.

So to live the wise life is to FEAR GOD in Christ the King (holding him preeminent) seek in the WORD Jesus Christ and receive wisdom and Knowledge by faith.

This is certainly true when it comes to following the way of Jesus.

the only way to live the truly wise life is to follow the him. The one in whom are hidden

True wisdom doesnt come through following the way of:

Dawkins and the new atheists - who want to cast off the cords of God from all of life.

Some form of Stocism - that promotes personal virtue as the highest good irrespective of outcomes

those who promoste a self-authored life - where you find meaning deep inside and then live the authentic life.

the religion respecting conservatives of our day - who affirm the benefits of religion but don’t bend the knee to the king.

The only true was of wisdom is to follow the way of Jesus.

to follow him in humility and self-sacrificial love.

to submit to him as preeminent, trying his word and his way.

to follow him, as we die to ourself, and trust in his grace for sinners like us.

All the accumulated wisdom of the present day may help improve life in minor or temporary ways, but when they arent subject to Jesus they have no lasting impact and certainly no eternal significance.

2. It’s in Jesus that we gain all spiritual riches.

Paul here names 2.

a) full assurance in understanding

b) the riches of the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ.

This might sound a bit clunky, it does in the original as much as it does in english. But the compounding of ideas or the piling up of ideas here is Pauls way of hammering home the truth that Christ and Christ alone is the source of all spiritual knowledge worth having.

a) in Christ as the riches of the fullness of understanding

The study of Jesus, his nature, his name, his words and teachings, his grace, his actions, his creation - they are a study that we will never exhaust, that we will never get to the end of.

I don’t beleive that anyone has or ever will graduate studying Christ. Because he is infinite and eternal and all glorious.

I understand there are many things that draw your attention, many good things to give your time to… Is Christ preeminent in your life. Does he garner the attention and the affection he deserves.

Or do you give preeminence to whatever other interests you have or your algorithm stuff down your throat.

Only in Christ can we find the fullness of understanding.

Not only this

b) But in Christ are the riches of the knowledge of the mystery of God,

Paul has identified this mystery, as the redemption that God has brought for all people, Jew and gentile, man and woman, slave and free, alike, through Jesus Christ.

That is to say, the only way we receive the grace of God, and access into the the new covenant community that is made up of the people of God - is through faith in Jesus.

No other avenue leads to life everlasting.

No other wisdom or teaching or person or power can forgive us of our sins, and save us from final destruction.

ONLY Jesus, only the man who hung upon the cross and died the death of a slave.

Only Jesus.

Therefore Christ must be the sole object of our faith. He is the only one we look to for salvation, and we ought not be distracted by any other teaching that would take sole focus away from Him.

Becuase none other deserves it.

The defence of our faith is foundin fixing it upon Jesus Christ!

Finally,

3. It’s in Christ that our hearts are Encouraged and we are Knit together in Love

Pauls struggle against opposition, the Christian fight to stand steadfast and faithful in the face of arguments that seem reasonable, is mutual encouragement, and unity.

Which we have, in Jesus.

The outcome of the gospel of grace should be love for one-another.

Ephesians 4:1–7 (ESV)

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

We all have preferences:

I prefer, meat over salad, basketball over soccer, my wife over all of you…

well all have preferences, and naturally, they divide us.

Thankfully, they also don’t save us, or give life. Only Jesus does that, and it is Christ that unites us, and knits us together in love.

Mutual love for God in Christ is the basis of our unity. Becuase of his grace, we walk with humility and gentleness and patience, bearing with one-another in love.

APPLY:

Why do we keep forgiving? becuase Christ first forgave us

Why ought we to bear with others who arent like us, beucase God bears with us!

Why should we seek the welcome the forgotten or the missed, beucase that we deserved to be before Christ loved us.

Now its this unity in Jesus, that creates a wall of defence

Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)

11 And [CHRIST] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Following Jesus is a mutual activity.

We fight together, we support one-another.

Alone we will be

tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

But together we

speak the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ

Together we take the initiative of knowing the truth and proclaiming the truth!