I.   Col 1:26-29

A.  V 26, what was the mystery?

1.EPH 3:1-6, 8

B.   V 27 This is the mystery which was once hid, but now has been revealed.

1.    God has chosen to make known this mystery to New Testament saints.

2.    Part of that mystery is that Christ is in you.

C.  Verse 28, Paul says, this is who we preach about, the Lord Jesus Christ, “warning every man, and teaching every man.”

1.    He’s warning every man what will happen if they don’t receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and live for Him.

2.    Now, Paul said that he warned and taught in “ALL WISDOM.”

a)    This is the Greek word “sophia” which literally means “the fullness of wisdom.”

b)    Many times this is in reference to the Wisdom of God.

(1)  Paul taught in the wisdom of God, or you could even say that he taught in the anointing of God.

c)     In the KJV it uses the phrase “the riches of the glory,” that could just as easily be translated, “glorious riches.” “of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [1]

d)    We will actually share in His glory. (Col. 3:4 ; Rom. 5:2 ; 8:18 , 30 ; 2 Cor. 4:17 ; Gal. 5:5 ; 1 Peter 5:10 ; also cf. Rom. 8:24 ).

3.    V 28, In this verse, he uses the word “PERFECT”, the Greek word τέλειος [ teleios / tel ·i·os /] actually says, “complete” or “Having reached its end.”

a)    And that is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

b)    Most of the time we refer to this as being mature in the Lord, but this is actually referring to “FULLNESS, LACKING NOTHING IN character.”

(1)  The 2nd definition of this word means “Mature.”

(2)  This is our goal. Will we ever reach it?

(a)   Not entirely, but we keep pressing toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

D.  V 29, I like it from the NIV which says, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.’

1.    The KJV says, “striving” the NIV says, “struggling” with His working or with His energy.

2.    We are constantly in a battle with the flesh, where we have to put the flesh down, but there is hope.

a)    We can do it with His strength and with His power, with His energy.

b)    Zec 4:6 Says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

3.    Paul ends with, “which worketh in me mightily.”

a)    We need to realize that His power is already at work in us, giving us the ability to do what we never thought possible.

(1)  What ever it is that is on your heart, you can do it.

(a)  Phil 4:13, says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

(2)   Not only will is power be there to give you the victory, but His power will be there flowing through you as you minister to others.

(a)   Luke 5:17 from the NIV says, “And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.”

(b)   When you’re doing the work of the Kingdom of God, His power will be there to minister to the needs of the people. Weather it is to heal the sick, feed the 5000, minister deliverance or salvation, His power will be there.

II.   Col 2:1-5

A.  1st of all in Verse 1 the KJV uses the word “conflict” and that isn’t hard to understand, but the question is, “Where is the conflict?”

1.    The Greek say that this word can mean either “Conflict” of as the NIV has it “Struggling.”

2.    So what was the struggle that Paul had?

a)    It was with the Gnostic heresy which was a threat to their faith. (Knowledge, material evil, worship of angels).

b)    In Colossians 4:16 Paul refers to this letter he's writing be read in the city of Laodicea, which He also mentions in verse one.

3.    Next Paul says in that same verse, “and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;”

a)    This gives us the indication that Paul had never been to Colosse.

B.  Col 2:2-3

1.    Paul begins to state here why he's concerned about them and what his desire is for them.

a)    Not of all, he says, "that they might be comforted."

(1)  It's interesting, but the word "comforted" in the Greek literally means, "called to one's side."

(2)  That is more of an idiom referring to "holding someone near to you to comfort them or to encourage them."

b)    He also says, “united in love.”

(1)  Sometimes, an order for us to be united, it takes communication and often correction.

(2)  However, Paul states united in love. We need to be united but it has to be done in love.

c)     He talks about, "riches of the full assurance of understanding."

(1)  Having an understanding and knowledge of the truth of God's Word is very valuable and it does give you assurance or reassurance that what you believe is the truth.

(2)  He's not talking about the truth or knowledge of the Gnostics.

(a)   Their Knowledge Produces Death. The Gnostics were actually very legalistic and the letter of the law kills.

(b)   But there is liberty in the knowledge of God and His Word when it is put together with the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit who reveals all truth to us.

d)    Next he says, "to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God."

(1)  In other words, he wants them to have a full knowledge of the mystery of God.

(a)   We already talked about what the ministry of God was.

(b)   However, Paul in dealing with the problem and the heresy that was in the Church of Colosse, saw that it was necessary to refer to this mystery often.

(c)    What was this mystery? That the Gentiles would be fully accepted in the things of God. All born-again Jews and Gentiles would be equally accepted into the Kingdom of God and of his kingdom right now.

e)     All right, verse two hands with, "and of the Father, and of Christ;"

(1)  In some of the manuscripts the words "and of the Father" are not found.

(2)  Either some of the manuscripts have added the phrase and of the Father or others have omitted it.

C.  In verse three he says, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

1.    Here again the word "Wisdom" is the Greek word "Sophia," which means the "fullness of wisdom."

2.    However, the interesting word here is "Knowledge."

a)    Knowledge is the Greek word "gnosis." This is the Word which Gnostics or Gnosticism comes from. (Gnosticism is the error that Paul was trying to correct).

b)    So, Paul was saying that it is in Christ where we can receive the true wisdom and knowledge.

(1)  There is no need to get it from anywhere else.

(2)  So what Paul was say if anybody else brings a knowledge to you that is against what I've preached to you then it is in error.

(a)   the only spiritual knowledge that is needed and considered the true knowledge of spiritual things is found all might in Christ and in His Word.

D.  Colossians 2:4-5

1.    Only this full knowledge and wisdom in Christ can keep you from being deceived.

a)    Many will come with their enticing words to try to get you off track or to error from the truth.

b)    These errors can be something as major as a false doctrine or something small like saying, "Oh, the Word is better over here." (Causing people to be bouncing from one church to another.)

(1)  It might be something like, "Oh, just have one drink, it's not going to hurt you."

(2)  One might not hurt you, but it can lead to three, four or more.

2.    Paul goes on to mention that he could not be with them in the flesh, but he is with them in the Spirit.

3.    However, word must have gotten to him, and probably through Epaphras, how orderly the people were and how orderly the church was.

a)    The Word "ORDER" in this verse literally means, "rank, order or arrangement."

b)    This gives us a little indication that the church was operating in an orderly fashion, but also there was no jealousy in the church. Everyone respected the others anointing and gift. No one try to usurp someone else's authority.

(1)  They recognized their rank, order, and arrangement.

E.  Paul then talks about their "steadfastness of their faith in Christ."

1.    The word "steadfastness" literally means, "solidness."

a)    They were strong in faith or better translated "they were solid in faith."

2.    Faith in whom? And of course it is in Christ.

That that that that that not not not not not correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct not correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that correct that

----

[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Col 1:27). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

cf. confer , compare