Paul’s Great Concern Expressed:
That all would be Confident and Rooted in Christ
Colossians 2:1-7
October 18, 2009
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Introduction and Review:
In Chapter 1:24-29, Paul showed us how to glorify Christ in our lives, by being fruitful stewards of the gospel message.
We have been entrusted with the Gospel to honor/glorify God by preaching His message unchanged to the world!
We closed last week with the reminder that ministry is never done out of our Strength, but out of the power of Christ indwelling us.
Colossians 1:29 – “ For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. ”
Paul has just laid out His ministry for the church, and now He gets personal with the Colossians and begins to lay out His deep concern for the church and all believers!
Paul expresses His concern
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
Paul describes His concern for these believers as a great struggle(from the greek word agona, where we get our word agony).
The report of the presence of heresy at Colossae caused the apostle to have abundant inner distress about the local church.
He was agonizing over imminent danger to their spiritual health!
Paul’s concern expressed in His desires for the Colossians
Paul’s concern for these believers leads to desires He has for their lives.
Desire 1 – Hearts to be comforted!
2:2a that their hearts may be encouraged
The greek word for Hearts(2588 καρδία) suggest the idea of the center of our spiritual lives
The greek word for encouraged(3870 παρακαλέω) suggest coming alongside and comforting
Paul’s desire is that the thoughts and passions of the Colossian believers would be comforted.
Desire 2- The local body would be united together in love!
2:2b having been knit together in love
There was fragmentation of the body in the evaluation of the new teaching of the gnostic heretics.
Paul knew that for the church to stand against this heresy, there would need to be unity among the spiritual body in submission to the head, Jesus Christ.
Unity however must me accompanied by love.
“Love for God and for one another is the blood stream of the body, the Church. It is the bond of perfection that holds everything in place(Col. 3:14).”
Author Robert Gromacki
Desire 3- Attain to the wealth of confidence in God’s word!
2:2c and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding
Paul wanted them to be confident they were in the truth!
The substance of spiritual understanding is our ability to mentally grasp God’s redemptive plan and live our lives based on the application of that truth through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The present heretical teaching was forcing them to reexamine their understanding of the person and work of Christ!
Desire 4- A true knowledge of Jesus Christ
2:2d resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself
Knowledge(1922 ἐπίγνωσις) is the discernment of what God is presently doing which helps in determining moral conduct.
It is a knowledge that comes from a Christ-centered theology, and results in a Christ-centered life!
Why do we need a Christ-centered theology and life?
2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Knowledge(attaining) and wisdom(application)of truth is hid in Christ!
Christ resides in believers, providing full access to the treasure!
Why does Paul have such great concern?
2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument
The gnostic teachers are presenting false logic and interpretations of correct truth through deceptive arguments!
Paul finds encouragement in the midst of concern
2:5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
Discipline is a military term referring to order, the Colossian believers were honoring the God ordained chain of command in the church
The focus of the word stability is corporate strength, it is not a focus on each individual but on the stability of the local church as a whole.
The Amplified Bible on the word Faith
“that leaning of the entire Human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.”
The desirable result of Paul’s concern: Walk in Christ
In Colossians 1:9-10 Paul prayed the would have a worthy walk and now He issues the command to walk in Christ.
As we saw then walking implies both direction and progress.
The verb walk is present tense emphasizing a day to day growth and maturity in Christ!
How do we get daily growth?
1. Walk by faith
2:6a Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord
A life of sight depends on self and circumstances!
A life of faith depends on God and His certain word!
Mike Sullivan – New Tribes Teacher
2. Walk in Christ
2:6b So walk in Him
“... he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” John 15:5
3. Rooted in Christ
2:7a having been firmly rooted
At conversion we were firmly grounded in Christ. Just as roots draw life and sustenance from the ground, we draw life from Christ!
4. Built up in Christ
2:7b and now being built up in Him
“... but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household having been built on the foundation...... Christ Jesus Himself.......”
Ephesians 2:19-20
5. Established in faith
2:7c and established in your faith
Being built on the foundation of Christ, will lead to being established in the whole of doctrinal truth
6. Overflowing in Thanksgiving
2:7d and overflowing with gratitude
Growth and maturity should lead to outward worship of God!
In closing Paul’s concern leads to a command
2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ
We saw earlier that Paul’s concern was that they would be moved away from living in truth by the heretical teaching that was present!
We are commanded to be alert to heresy by being confident of who Christ is fully rooted in Him for spiritual growth!
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God.....” Galatians 2:20
