Maturity in Christ

INTRODUCTION MATURITY IS FOUND IN RIGHT THINKING -

Right thinking recognizes Christ as the summation of all Divine wisdom - vs. 2By “right thinking” we are referring to an understanding of who Christ is and what He makes possible for us.The result of this understanding is the recognition that Christ is the summation of all Divine wisdomFellowship with God is found through HimBut also fulfillment and confidence is found in HimThis understanding should produce a desire for fellowship with likeminded people, but also an affection for those who in ChristWe should notice that verse two speaks to the corporate result of individual faithThis understanding should empress on us that what we need as members of Christ is found in Him and His people rather than in the world around usIf my “felt needs” drive me to look outside of those relationships alarms should soundRight thinking inoculates us against “persuasive arguments” - vs. 4Whatever the issue we have before us there are those that can offer persuasive arguments that would lead us away from ChristEx. - God wants me to be happy, Follow your passion, Live your truthHowever, when we realize that Divine wisdom, the wisdom that saves and produces life, is found in Christ we see through the thin veil of these arguments and we can recognize the emptiness that they truly lead toRight thinking requires discipline and a stable faith - vs. 5To truly experience the benefits of such understanding we must develop the discipline to utilize what we know to be true to push against what we know to be false - Gal 3:1-5This seems to be the point of the phrase “seen my face” in verse 1It was not that there was some great value in personally meeting PaulThere was value in his ability to teach and confirm the message of the Gospel in a manner that could build unwavering conviction in the mind of the hearer.We must be ever developing and shoring up our conviction through evaluation of the evidence that Jesus is truly God, that as such He is the creator, and thus He has the right to rule and the power to give us life eternal.RIGHT THINKING CONSIDERS JESUS AND FINDS CONFIDENCE IN THE SALVATION HE PROVIDESAll Blessings are Found in Him - Col 2:9Chapter 1 makes clear that Jesus is God in the fullest sense and that He is the head of the body, the church, and the one who gives life through His victory over all things - Col 1:18Furthermore, He was able to reconcile us to God through His “fleshly body through death in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” - Col 1:22In Col 2:9, Paul compresses these concepts into a single statement, “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” when we consider vs. 10-13 we can see that it is the full blessings of fellowship with God that are under considerationSalvation is given by Him and accessed by faith in God’s life giving powervs. 10 - “in Him you have been made complete”vs. 11 - “in Him you were circumcised… the removal of the body of the fleshvs. 12 - “buried with Him in baptism”vs. 13 - “He made you alive…with Him”As a result, no one can exclude you from fellowship with God if you are complete in Christ - Col 2:16-23This section is similar to Romans 8:31-39 where we find that false accusations, trials and tribulations cannot separate us from the love of GodColossians deals with O.T. regulations and the traditions attached to themVerse 20 points out that what is essential is dying with Christ to the elementary principles of the world.HOLY LIVING IS FOUND THROUGH FOCUSSING ON CHRIST RATHER THAN THE WORLDHoliness is not found through pride in earthly rituals - Col 2:23The point Paul makes should be taken seriously, while such rituals appear valuable and wise they have not value against fleshly indulgenceThe reason for this is their source - human prideWe must take care in our religious practice that we practice from love and reverence toward God and not pride of place or positionWe must turn our attention toward Christ - Col 3:1-17Because He has given us life and is currently reigning in heaven - Col 3:1Because He “is our life” - Col 3:4This is one of the key signs of maturity, when we can gain perspective that allows us to focus on what is true and essentialThen we can orient our life in a manner that brings about consistency (Hunter’s talk about hypocrisy)It is this mature and consistent approach that allows us to die to immorality, etc. - vs. 5-9With this focus we are able to be renewed (transformed) from one dead in our sins to one alive in ChristThe reference to “true knowledge” in verse 10 reminds us of Paul’s prayer in Col 1:9-12 - the knowledge of Christ that leads us away from the worldThis knowledge, when applied, drives us to walk worthy, bear fruit, and continue increasing in knowledgeThis explains what he means by “according to the image of the One who created him”The creation is referenced in Col 1:15-20, and God’s goal in the creation was redemption and thus new creation - we are remade in Christ to be like ChristThis leads to a renewed heart - Col 3:12-17The list in vs 12-13 sounds like a recounting of the character Christ demonstrated here on earth, because it is the character of Christ that must be manifested in usWe might note that this character is very much “other” focussed, seeking to serve and to do what is good for “one another” the group that shares in ChristThus this renewed man seeks maturity by serving the body and seeking the approval of Christ in all things that he might be consistent with his head the Lord Jesus - Col 3:17