COLOSSIANS – Part Five

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

www.godsbreathpublications.com

 

Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome. Epaphras, the pastor of the church in Colossae, came to Paul to share how well the Christians were growing in faith, but also to ask for help to address the issue of false teaching that was threatening the church. Paul responded by writing this letter of encouragement that is packed full of basic doctrine concerning Christ and the Gospel. It is unclear what the exact heresy was that was attempting to creep into the church at Colossae, but it had elements of Jewish observances of the Law as well as paganism and Gnostic beliefs. It is very relevant for us today, for we are surrounded by pagan beliefs and ascetic religious concepts, while at the same time dealing with a new resurgence of Gnostic conceptual influences. Paul in the following passage covers the doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ. The best way to confront false teachings and twisted doctrine is to proclaim scriptural truth.

 

The believer who masters this chapter is not likely to be led astray by some alluring and enticing ‘new-and-improved brand of Christianity. The better a Christian understands God’s true revelation concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ, the better he or she will be able to recognize and refute false doctrine. Therefore Paul tells us that Christ is the true source of wisdom.

 

Colossians 2:1-7

“I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

 

Here Paul shares with the followers of Christ at Colossae how much he struggles for them and their Christian brothers and sisters in Laodicea. The Greek word for struggle here is “agon” from which we get our English word agony. This word speaks of a striving in ministry similar to an athlete who competes in a difficult and strenuous athletic event. Paul shares his commitment to struggle for fellow believers so that it can serve as an example for others to follow. This also communicates his love and deep commitment to God which gives the foundation for his love and deep commitment fellow followers of Christ. When we see fellow Christians serving us with great determination, love and dedication, it motivates us to do the same for them and other people in need. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of this type of self sacrifice. He ministered to people, served them and died on the cross because of His love for mankind. A servant of Christ will be a servant of others and will struggle in agonizing ways to live out Christ’s love for people.

 

Paul next begins to share that out of his deep commitment to God and love for followers of Christ, he has specific goals for the church at Colossae. These goals should be ours today in whatever church we attend. They also apply not only to small groups of believers, but also our own personal Christian walk.

 

First he shares in verse 2 “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart…” Paul wants followers of Christ encouraged and strong in heart. The Greek word for encourage “parakaleo,” means to strengthen or to call alongside. Any follower of Christ needs to be encouraged to grow in their knowledge of the Word, so they can develop spiritual wisdom and live more effectively and lovingly for Christ. The Colossian Christians especially needed strengthening because of the false teachers that were beginning to have a threatening impact on their local church. Satan uses false teachers to influence the work of Christ in His church. Men and women greedy for power and money seek to take advantage of people and Christians are sometimes the target of these evil pursuits. When our hearts are encouraged and strong we can deal with issues requiring discernment and ward off attacks from false teachers and those who threaten our faith in God. The “heart” refers to the inner person and/or our mind. Our emotions respond to what goes into our heart and what the mind perceives. When the mind is filled with biblical truth, the emotions respond properly. (Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:19, Psalms 26:2, Psalms 139:23-24, Matthew 12:34-35)

 

Another goal Paul had for the church is also found in verse two; it is that they be “united in love.” The Greek word for united is “sumbibazo” which means to unite or bring together. This word also helps further define the previous statement about being encouraged in heart. A person is strengthened in their heart when they are deeply loved by others. Fervent love for your fellow believers provides the necessary spiritual balance to foster a strong mind set on the principles in Holy Scripture. The Christian life is based on God’s Word, not mindless emotional enthusiasm. The Christian life is also not a lifeless intellectual orthodoxy or legalism (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). It is a living, growing, loving relationship between us and God and other followers of Christ. Our foundation is set upon the Word and our relationship with Christ. When we focus on this as our foundation, we are encouraged in our heart and united in our love for each other (Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 2:19, John 17:20-23). There are numerous passages in the New Testament that speak to the necessity of followers of Christ being united in love, of being of one mind and not being divided in thought or deed. Such examples include: 1 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Corinthians13:11, Philippians 2:1-4, Ephesians 4:3-6 and Colossians 3:12-14.

 

Paul continues and shares another goal for the church, when he says, “so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

 

When we are encouraged in our heart and mind as well as united in love as believers we can then be assured we will comprehend and experience the great riches which come from fully understanding all God has to teach us through His Word with the help of His Holy Spirit. The Greek word “sunesis” which means understanding refers to applying biblical principles to everyday life. It is the exclusive property of Christians because a “natural man” does not accept the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14). When the believer experiences spiritual truth by living it, it becomes truly understood and leads to assurance of his or her salvation. The New Testament as a whole tells us that knowing the truth and acting on it leads to “full assurance of understanding.” The primary problem in our Christian walk is not a lack of knowledge, but a failure to apply the truths that we know. Truth that finds solid footing in a strong heart and works itself out in love for fellow believers results in deep conviction. That is one indicator for our assurance that we are standing in Christ.

 

Paul stresses the need for the Colossians to know “true knowledge of God’s mystery, Christ Himself.” For in Christ is hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” At the heart of this understanding is they need to have a strong conviction in Christ’s deity and sufficiency. This mystery is spoken of in 1 Timothy 3:16, “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” Paul is emphasizing the necessity of knowing Christ personally and of seeking to know what He taught. But he also wants them to move beyond just knowledge into godly wisdom so that they would continue to walk in obedience to the Word of God. When this knowledge and wisdom of Christ and His teachings is well established, false teachers find it hard to sway followers of Christ from the truth in God’s word. Paul shares these same thoughts in 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

In verses 4 Paul verifies his concerns about false teachers leading the Christians in Colossae away from the gospel, “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” The false teachers were attacking the deity of Christ and saying that He was not capable of saving and sanctifying the followers of Christ in Colossae so Paul includes warnings in his letter to the Colossae Christians about this threat. He continues in verse 5 by saying, “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.” While Paul warns them of the spiritual threats to their faith, he is also aware of their firm stand in the faith. The words used for orderly, “taxis,” and firm, “stereoma,” are military terms related to how soldiers stand in array ready for battle dressed in their armor. This is reflective of not only a unit of soldiers being ready for battle, but also each soldier individually being prepared as well. This applies to us today. As a body of believers we should stand together, supporting each other as we fight spiritual battles and deal with hardships that come into our lives. But we should also individually be firm in our faith and personal relationship with the Lord to be able to live victoriously for Christ as well. When we have knowledge of Christ, which is the apprehension of godly truth, and prudent judgment of how to live, we can gain wisdom in how to apply our spiritual knowledge to life and can take wise prudent action in all we do.

 

Paul moves once again from warning and encouragement to instruction. He states in verses 6 and 7. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,” The phrase “Christ Jesus as Lord” is used no where else in the Holy Scriptures by Paul. This stresses the importance that the followers of Christ in Colossae understand that Christ is not just their Savior, but also their Lord and Master. This short statement counteracts three false concepts of Christ being spread by false teachers. First they were saying that Christ was not God. Secondly they were denying that Christ was human and thirdly they were rebelling against the authority and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus was not just a Savior but “Lord” meant that He was God in the flesh, He was both divine and human, and because He was God He had divine sovereign authority over those who had committed their lives to Him. Paul knows the Colossians had been taught the basics of the gospel and were living accordingly. They had each received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. They understood His deity and sufficiency to save them from their sins. Because of their continuing walk in obedience, love for one another and firm stand to the teachings of Christ, they were stable and secure against the attacks of the false teachers.

 

Like a tree with deep roots in rich soil, the believers at Colossae were firmly rooted in Christ. As they walked “in Christ” in obedience, they were built up in Him. “Being built up,” “epoikodomoumenoi” in the Greek, implies continuous action! As a Christian, we live our faith every second, minute, hour of every day. As we live this faith we are continually being built up in our faith, unless we are rebelling, disobeying and failing to walk in the way Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 tells us, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

 

Finally in the end of verse 7 Paul reveals the result of living the Christian life as one should. It says, “and overflowing with thankfulness.” When we are firmly rooted in the knowledge of who Christ is and are built up as well as encouraged in our faith we will seek to praise our Heavenly Father. Blessings that flow from God to us return to Him in the form of praise and adoration.

 

Hebrews 13:15 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name.”

 

In the next part we discuss the importance of knowing that in Christ the fullness of God dwells. That Jesus was both God and man.