One World in Christ The Book of Colossians Foundations Session VI: The “Real Thing” The 2nd Chapter of Colossians

Colossians 1:15-29 A Succinct Summary 1:15-19 – The Cosmic and Universal Christ Recognized as an early Hymn 1:20-23 – The Reconciliation of the World 1:24-29 – The Role of “us”.

Colossians 2:1 Paul’s Ministry “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, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Paul’s labor of love. ajgw'na Paul’s goal Encourage the heart Knit together in love Attain “wealth” which comes from Full assurance of understanding The “Wealth” True knowledge of God’s mystery – Christ himself From where does the wealth come of which Paul speaks? What does Paul mean “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” in Christ?

Colossians 2:4,5 Don’t be Deluded “I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument. 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.” I say this, in order that… What is the defense against “persuasive arguments” Why is this so relevant for today? Why would Paul call attention to their “discipline” and “stability” of faith? Is there a correlation between discipline and stability?

Colossians 2:6,7 In Context “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” Now, the Topic Sentence in context. The terms “firmly rooted” and “established” and “built up”, have special significance in defending the faith, from….. The “natural” result of being held firm is thankfulness. In the context of the onslaught of “persuasive arguments”, why is it so important to heed Paul’s call?

Colossians 2:8 A Power Statement “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.” Note “captive” to…. “Philo-sophia” “lover of Wisdom” Theo-logia – God’s Word. “tradition of men” Scripture-Tradition “Elementary Principles” Irreducable minimum How can we retain our focus on pursuing God rather than the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom? What do you think Paul means by “tradition of men”

Colossians 2:8 A Power Statement “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.” According to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” Colossians 2:3 “Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Are we susceptible to these today? How can we safeguard against these?

Colossians 2:9,10 Completeness “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; In contrast to philosophy and Wisdom, In Christ,…all the fullness of deity dwells. The completeness of Christ is to our benefit. Being “in Him” places us in our rightful position. How can we build upon the connection between Christ’s fullness and our being made complete in Him? What does Christ’s “headship” pertain to?

Colossians 2:11,12 Buried with Him “and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Building on the contrast God/Spirit – Man/Physical The Old Self Buried The New Self Raised with Christ, through faith The “means” of faith. Co-burial, Co-resurrection pictured in baptism. God the Author of Salvation. Why is Paul bringing up the matter of circumcision?

Colossians 2:13 When you were dead “And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,” “In” your transgressions “captive” to philosophy “uncircumcision” Notice the subject and object, the cause and effect. “In Christ” a contrast to “in transgression” How does Paul refer to the “old self”, the condition prior to Jesus?

Colossians 2:14,15 Action..for us “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” He Has… Cancelled the debt Taken it away Disarmed the rulers and authorities Triumphed through Him Paul again uses technical language. The central importance of the cross. Why would Paul consider the “decrees” hostile to us? Why is it necessary for the rulers and authorities to be disarmed?

Colossians 2:16,17 – The Paradox “Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Let No One judge You The Diversity within the Body of Christ relative to days, feasts, food, drinks. The Parodox What we think we can touch, is really the “mere” shadow of what is to come The REAL substance is Christ. How does this statement build on Paul’s message of contrasting philosophy and wisdom, with the reality of Christ?

Colossians 2:18,19 Watch out! What not to do---- “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” What not to do---- Self-abasement Worship of angels (created) Stand on Visions Inflated by fleshly minds Not holding fast to Christ The Function of Christ to the Church Supplying Holding together What is the prize? What is the result of a perspective that sees Christ as holding together the very joints and ligaments of the church?

Colossians 2:20,21 – Walk by the Spirit “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” If……Then Freedom in Christ. Galatians 5:25, “If we live by the Spirit, then walk by the Spirit” Galatians 5:15 “Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” We are no longer “held captive” by the elementary principles. Gal 4:2 “We were held in Bondage” What does Paul caution against “submitting” to decrees? Why would Jesus before Pilate speak of his Kingdom being “not of this world”? (cf. John 6:33-36)

Colossians 2:22,23 – True Religion “(which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.” The Real Thing. Compare Paul’s teaching with Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Paul grants that these things have the “appearance”. Paul is careful to point out that such methods have neither an eternal nor a temporal benefit! How can we best safeguard against adhering merely to the “commandments and teaching” of men? How can we guard against the mere “appearance” wisdom?