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“Seek The Things That Are Above” Colossians 3:1-17

“The Supreme Life”

A Sermon Series in Colossians

“Seek The Things That Are Above”

Colossians 3:1-17

Introduction

My grandfather’s brother owned a hog farm and he lived less than a mile up the road from our family home. If the wind was blowing in the right direction you could smell the pig farm and man did it stink! Carlyle had a routine that when he finished his day of pig farming, he would strip down at his back door and go directly to the shower. Tootsie (his wife) would not let him come in unless he stripped down, and his clothes went right into the wash. He had to have a routine of taking off his stinky dirty clothes and taking a shower, then putting on clean clothes. Can you imagine coming in with pig stuff all over your clothes and sitting on the couch, lying in the bed, hugging his wife – we would say nope.

Today Paul is going to call Christians to take off the sin in our lives and put on righteous behavior because this is the process of living the life God has called us to. Living a godly life does not just happen – believers must make a concerted effort and be intentional about how we live our lives.

Prayer

Living the Christian Life Must be Intentional (vv. 1-4)

If (Since) then you have been raised with Christ (coresurrected), seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Up until this point in the book Paul has been warning the church about false teachers and for them not to allow themselves to be carried off with man’s traditions, teachings about elemental spirits and things that would corrupt the gospel (angel worship, works like being circumcised, etc.) Now Paul turns to what they should be doing, and he phrases it two ways, “seek the things that are above,” and “Set your minds on things that are above,” – Jesus says it this way Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness . . .”

“Believers “seek the things above” (keep on seeking, continuous) by deliberately and daily committing themselves to the values of the heavenly kingdom and living out of those values.”[1] It is an intentional orientation of the will. Also notice that there is a break between “where Christ is, (comma) and “seated at the right hand of God.” Jesus is in heaven, so we should focus our minds on where Christ is.

Paul gives four reasons why you should seek and think about the things that are above:

Because You Are “In Christ.” There are several places where Paul just a few verses earlier combines the believer with Jesus. Colossians 2:11-15 “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Here is 3:1 he says, “you have been raised with Christ” – Jesus rose from the dead overcoming sin and death, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. And in some way we go with Christ into eternity, as Paul describes as, “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” – It is hidden now because you are still alive, but when you pass from here to glory the secret will be told, you will be with Him in reality (not just in promise). If God hides you away, no thief can break in and steal you – you are well hidden by God until the proper time.

2) Because Your Previous Sin Led to Death – “you have died,” –

3) Because Christ Returns You Will Be With Him In Glory – “and your life is hidden with Christ in God,” and “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory,” –

Living the Christian Life Requires Putting Things Off (vv. 5-11)

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.[2] 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Paul has told the church that they are to have a heavenly mindset, so they should then be eager to get rid of things that don’t reflect that heavenly mindset. “Put to death,” – mortify, “to treat something like it is dead.”[3] (v. 7) describes them as once “walking in them” and “living in them.” You are either living in an action or you are treating it like its dead. (v. 9) Paul says, “now you must put them all away.”

(v. 5) Paul says to put to death “what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The word used for idolatry here points back to the previous list, and it is covetousness because you want more and more of these experiences. It is the increasing desire for more and more pleasure experiences that it then becomes an idol on their lives.

This is the progression of sin in our lives – it begins with something outside of God’s Word and plan for your life, because of this it leads to impurity in your life, then it creates within you a desire for it, which leads to wanting more and more of it, to the point to where you bow down to, it controls your life.

Seeking after earthly things leads to idolatry in your life

and judgement upon your church.

In v. 6 we have another reason (number 4) to be intentional about our walk with Jesus. 4) Just in case you think sin is not that big of a deal Paul adds, “On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” Our minds must be on the things above because the wrath of God is coming. Our lives, words, actions (within the church and without) all impact the world around us, and while we may be forgiven and have a place in eternity, those around us may not have chosen Christ yet.

“God’s true people are guaranteed deliverance from wrath (1 Thess. 5:9; Rom. 5:9), but at the same time, they are repeatedly warned that persistent sinful behavior will bring God’s judgement.”[4] And again this is given in the context of those that belong to the church. What you do in private (or maybe not even in private) affects the church as a whole. If you say, “My sin is private – it does not affect others” that is not true. And if you say, “Then I will hold on to my sin but not belong to the church because I don’t want it to affect others,” then it is idolatry and an offense to God.

(v. 8) “But now you must put them all away,” and “you have put off the old self,” – “This is a metaphor for clothing, replace the filthy rags (sexual immorality, passion, etc.) with “have put on the new self,”

(v. 8) “anger, wrath (rage), malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another,” All of these deal with speech, and what you say. These ways of using language should never be used by those who are walking a new life in Christ.[5] They are given as a group pointing to the same idea of how Christians are to communicate with other Christians. “obscene talk” – or filthy language, literally shameful words, in the context of referring to another person. The things that come out of your mouth come from your heart. Jesus explains it this way, Matthew 15:18, “ . . . what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart,”

You are not showing love and Christ likeness when you rage, in anger, and say things against someone with the intention to harm their reputation, or curse at them with vulgar words – cussing them out and then lying about it.

“which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” – At the beginning of time before the fall, humanity had a knowledge of God. Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” This knowledge of God was lost when sin came into the world. As the believer puts on a new self he will progress towards true knowledge of God.

It is through our relationship with Christ that we learn how to live in relationship with God and His creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Every human is made in the image of God, and everyone loses what that means because of sin. But when a person is saved, that knowledge is restored as they grow in their relationship with Him.

(vv. 9-10) We are not trying to put on the Greek or the Jew, it’s not about appearing circumcised or uncircumcised; we are not trying to be the ideal barbarian, or Scythian, slave or free – the image we want to put on is one of our Creator, we put on Christ. Our identity is Christ not where we are from, how much money we have, or our race. So racial distinctions disappear (no Greek or Jew), class distinctions disappear – in the church there were slaves, free, slave owners, freedmen all in the same church. It is our identity with Jesus that strips away any distinctions.

Living the Christian Life Requires Putting Things On (vv. 12-17)

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,

(v. 12) “Put on then” – In order to have a change in your life, whatever a person takes off, needs to be replaced with something else, and Paul gives that which you should put on. Also, this list are virtues that will foster community and give the church cohesion (whereas the above list of vices causes division and splinters the church). This is a list of things the Christians is to put on, but it is not a list isolated from their relationship in the church – it is a list of how to live life out as a church. Here again is the assumption by the apostle that the Christian is associated and an important part of the local church.

“chosen ones, holy and beloved,” These three terms are standard ways of describing Israel in the Old Testament. But instead of choosing or electing His people from one nation, now God chooses them from the world (Jew and Gentile). Holy means to be set apart for God’s purpose, and beloved means greatly loved. So God has chosen you, set you apart for His purposes, and He greatly loves you – in light of these things consider your sin.

1 Peter 2:19-20 puts it like this “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

1) compassionate hearts,

literally translated as bowels, the seat of emotion, be moved to the core of who you are towards people 2) kindness, goodness, gracious acts 3) humility, Philippians encourages us to show humility in that we view others value as being above our own, and looking out for the interest of others, 4) meekness, not being overly impressed with one’s sense of self-importance, 5) and patience, kindness refers to our basic approach to people, and patience refers to the kind of reaction we should display toward them.

6) 13 bearing with one another

Literally means “holding yourselves back from one another.”[6] Or “put up with one another.” This is the first step in establishing community within the church. We all have our ideocracies – so put up with the strange and annoying stuff we all do. Paul has also mentioned people from different religious backgrounds, people from different regions and socio-economic levels. These differences need to be overlooked for the bigger mission,

7) and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

One step further than just putting up with one another, we actually forgive each other. Jesus says it like this as part of the Lord’s prayer, “. . . and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors . . . For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:12, 14ff). God has forgiven our sins, so we should also (as we are in Christ), forgive others (specifically others within the church).

8) 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

If Paul is referring to putting on this list of things, around all of it is a belt. What holds it all together is love. Put on love – it is an intentional decision to choose love. When everyone puts on love, there is harmony.

9) 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

The peace that we let rule in your hearts is the same idea as an umpire – when the ball moves across the plate he has to make a decision (strike or foul, inside or outside the line). When life comes your way, and you have to decide how to react, Paul says, “let the peace of Christ” decide – choose the peace of Christ (instead of anger, wrath, slander, etc.) Paul highlights “peace” as one of the key blessings of Christian experience.

“to which indeed you were called in one body” – God calls men to serve as pastors, but He also calls people to join churches. Those at Colossae were called into one body (the body of Christ), and together with all their challenges, putting up with one another, forgiving one another, together they were to reach their area of responsibility for Jesus. If you are a believer God is calling you to join a church, to get plugged in (to follow this list of virtues) and find your place of service. We are one unit – one body (where Jesus is the head, and the gospel is our mission).

10) And be thankful. There is peace that comes from knowing that in all of life’s struggles, you are where you are supposed to be, doing what God has called you to do. And in that place – be thankful. Thankful within the body of Christ.

11) 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

(v. 16) references when they gather for worship there was to be the teaching of God’s Word (let it live within you richly), and putting God’s Word to music, adding new music or songs of praise – and as you worship let your hearts be thankful. How can those who have not experienced the salvation of Jesus, and the life change that he brings – sing the songs of the Lord? They can sing the songs, but there is no thankfulness in their soul.

The reaction that drives the worship service is thankfulness to God. We must be careful not to try and drive our worship services with worldly methods.

12) 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Everything, including what we say and what we do, should be governed by the consideration of what it means to live in the realm of the risen Christ.

Conclusion

After serving a prison sentence, prisoners are released. They are set free from bondage since their time has been served. After they come out of jail, they take off their prison clothes and put on new clothes. These clothes suit the new life they have begun. The same is true for Christians we have been set free from the bondage of sin. We are no longer prisoners to it. We have started a new life. Therefore, we should once and for all throw out the old clothes of death and put on the new clothes of life. After Jesus rose from the dead, He had no use for His grave clothes so He left them in the tomb. He now lives in the garments of righteousness and life. Since believers have been raised from the dead we too should put on the clothes of righteousness. We should practice what we are in principle.

___________________

[1] Douglas J. Moo, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eermans Publishing Company, 2008) 246.

[2] See also Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:29-31.

[3] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume IV (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1931) 501.

[4] Moo, 259. See also Hebrews 12:5-6

[5] My comments on the importance of godly speech, click here

[6] Robertson, 504.

“Jesus is Lord” Colossians 2:6-15

Drew Boswell Ministries

“Jesus is Lord” Colossians 2:6-15

00:00 / 00:40:20

“Jesus is Lord” Colossians 2:6-15

“The Supreme Life”

A Sermon Series in Colossians

“Jesus is Lord”

Colossians 2:6-15

Introduction

The Ghost Army was a United States Army tactical deception unit during World War II officially known as the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. The 1,100-man unit was given a unique mission: to deceive Hitler’s forces and mislead them as to the size and location of Allied forces, while giving the actual units elsewhere time to maneuver. Activated on January 20, 1944, the Ghost Army arrived in Europe in May shortly before D-Day and returned to the US at the end of the war in July 1945. During their tenure, the Ghost Army carried out more than 20 deception campaigns, putting on a “traveling road show” using inflatable tanks, sound trucks, fake radio transmissions, scripts and pretense. Their story was kept a secret for more than 50 years after the war, until it was declassified in 1996.[1]

The mission of this unit was to use deception to convince the enemy that they were larger in number than they actually were, that they were more powerful than they actually were, and to pull resources away from the real fight and true targets. Today we will see that the enemy we face is a defeated foe, who when compared to Christ is inferior – but the Christian’s enemy wants you to return to slavery and be deceived that Jesus just isn’t enough – don’t be fooled.

Prayer

How Does the Christian “Walk in Him?” (vv. 6-7)

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

“as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,”[2] – Paul is emphasizing that they have received a person, and the danger is that what the church believed about Jesus’ deity and His personhood would be corrupted. There should be “the recognition of this historical person Jesus, and the acceptance of Him as Lord.”[3]

“Christ Jesus the Lord,” – this is a fundamental Christian belief. “He (Paul) has developed this idea earlier in the letter, it is a more succinct way of saying Jesus “the image of the invisible God,” “the firstborn over all creation,” (1:15), “the head of the body, the church” (1:18), “the mystery of God” (2:2;1:27), and the repository of “all wisdom and knowledge” (2:3).

It is this central confession, with all its varied and far-reaching implication, to which the Colossians need to return to in order to ward off the threat of false teaching.”[4]

How can we live (walk in) a life that properly places Jesus as the Lord of our lives? Paul gives four ways, “The first two, 1) “rooted” and 2) “built up” are closely related. Rooted is a horticultural metaphor, growing down, once and for all; built up is a construction metaphor for placing one thing upon another and is ongoing, hour-to-hour.

Both rooted and built up are “in him,” You can only live a life pleasing to God when you are attached, like a branch to a vine, and when you allow Jesus (as Lord) to place you like a stone into His plan. Being used amongst other stones in a structure. By being rooted and being built up, the believer will be 3) established in faith. It is an ongoing process of being established.

“Just as you were taught,” Paul is again reinforcing Epaphras’ teaching to them as their pastor. Which then leads to 4) thanksgiving. In Col. 1:24 Paul has already said, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings,” “True gratitude for God’s grace is an important “offensive” measure against the false teaching.”[5]

How Does the Christian Avoid Being “Taken Captive?” (vv. 8-15)

Cling to the Word of God – It Is Complete (v. 8)

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

In Colossians 1:13 Paul explains that, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” There was a domain of darkness that held us as slaves, but because of Jesus we have been set free. Paul is asking why would you want to go back to being a slave? Why would you want to be a slave all over again?

He warns the church to watch out so that no “one takes you captive” – Earlier in 2:4 Paul warns the church “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.” Another way of saying this is hollow or deceptive philosophy. This is the danger, and now Paul gives the means, the how, they could be carried off by this deceptive teaching.

The philosophy that Paul and Epaphras are fighting against is “according to” or based on two things, 1) human tradition. Jesus fought a similar fight with the Jewish religious leaders, Mark 7:8-13 “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God) 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” The philosophy is human speculation and not connected to God’s Word. It is an uncoupling of the Word of God and the Thoughts of Man. “They substitute the tradition or men for the truth of God.”[6]

Another way to be carried off as spoil is 2) elemental spirits, “according to the elemental spirits of the world,” – The elements of the universe in which everything in the universe was believed, in Paul’s day, to come from were air, earth, fire, and water.

In the ancient world these elements were often associated with spiritual beings, angels, or gods, and the pagan world had rules about material things and it seems the Christians at Colossae were too preoccupied with rules about the material world and treating them as if they were in control of nature. “They were, in effect, putting them in the place of Christ.”[7]

The false teachers that the church is facing probably aren’t denying Christ’s being central to God’s saving purposes. They seem instead to be arguing that certain practices must be added on in order to achieve true spiritual fulfillment. But when you add to the gospel or God’s Word it actually corrupts it and takes Jesus out of the place where He alone should be supreme over creation and the work of salvation.

An example may be astrology, “the influence of the stars and planets controlling one’s destiny, unless they had the secret knowledge that the false teachers may have claimed necessary to escape their destiny.”[8] What they think is advance spiritual knowledge is actually taking them backwards (toward demonic doctrine, 1 Tim. 4:1).

Cling to Jesus – He is Sufficient (vv. 9-15)

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses[9] and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

It is in Jesus, and Him alone, that God has decisively and exhaustedly revealed himself. All that we can know about God is found on our relationship with him. It may have been that there were false teachers demanding circumcision or some other act or belief to something – Paul says Jesus has already removed what was necessary (your sin) to have a relationship with God.

Your outward expression of this salvation relationship is your baptism. It is faith in Jesus that saves you, and you express this relationship with Jesus in baptism – Jesus pays the debt that was owed, nailing your sin to the cross.

Throughout these verses you see “in him (Christ)” or “with him (Jesus).” Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” When Adam (as the head of mankind) sinned all of the world who followed were then “in Adam.” He represents all of mankind, and sin was spread from generation to generation.

So when Jesus died on the cross He became a second Adam which represented all of mankind. Sin entered the world through one man, and one man would pay the debt to get rid of it forever. Those who place their faith in Jesus are “in him” and no longer “in Adam.” Romans 5:17 “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

The false teachers believed that all of matter was evil, and therefore Jesus either wasn’t God or wasn’t a real man (only spiritual). And that in between man and God were angels and demons (emanations) and if you worship the angels and learned the secret knowledge you could break through and make it to God.[10] So when Paul says in verse 9, “in him (Jesus) the whole fullness of deity (God) dwells bodily (human man),” Paul is attacking this false teaching.

The false teaching attacked Jesus being God, or they denied Jesus being a man, or they denied that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient for salvation – you need to do something like having celebrating holy days, new moon festivals, having to be circumcised, secret or superior knowledge. Works of any kind, lead to a false gospel and they do not lead to salvation.

Remember earlier Paul says, In Colossians 1:13, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” Believers are described as sharing in Jesus’ victory as the Savior of humanity. Then believers are filled in him (v. 10), we then share in the victory over the rebellious cosmic powers. Believers are included in the Savior’s act of reconciling the cosmos to God (we share the gospel and tell out story of redemption to others).

The Colossians were apart of the group who were formerly alienated and enemies of God, and because of Jesus they ten have peace with God. We share in Christ’s supremacy (in his resurrection and we are heavenly raised with Him).”[11] (v. 15) “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame,” and as the church where Jesus is the head, those that once had us as their slaves and held us captives in sin, have been freed and now stand victorious over the domain of darkness – they stand in shame because they lost. They are inferior to the Preeminent one – Jesus Christ the Lord.

Hebrews 2:14 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” The imagery is of a triumphant Roman general, parading his defeated captives trough the streets of Rome. When Jesus died on the cross and then rose again from the dead, Satan’s authority was stripped, and as an enemy he was defeated.

Don’t Return to the Losing Side.

Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We still wrestle with the forces of evil, and the domain of darkness is still the enemy, but they cannot be victorious because Jesus has already won the war.

Author Peter Kreeft tells the story of a poor European family who saved for years to buy tickets to sail to America. Once at sea, they carefully rationed the cheese and bread they had brought for the journey. After 3 days, the boy complained to his father, “I hate cheese sandwiches. If I don’t eat anything else before we get to America, I’m going to die.” Giving the boy his last nickel, the father told him to go to the ship’s galley and buy an ice-cream cone. When the boy returned a long time later with a wide smile, his worried dad asked, “Where were you?” “In the galley, eating three ice-cream cones and a steak dinner!” “All that for a nickel?”

“Oh, no, the food is free,” the boy replied. “It comes with the ticket.”

The apostle Paul warned his readers about false teachers who were offering them “bread and cheese” instead of “steak.” They were in danger of forgetting Christ’s sufficiency and relying on their own self-effort (Col 2:8-note, Col 2:20, 21, 22, 23-note). We who have trusted Christ for salvation have been assured not only of safe passage to heaven but also of everything we need to live for Him here and now. Christ has all we need. It comes with the “ticket.”

God freely gives His grace to all

Who on His Word rely,

For they have learned the secret of

His infinite supply.[12]

_______________________

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Army

[2] Ephesians 3:11-12 “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”

[3] J.B. Lightfoot, St Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (Lynn, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers, 1982) 176.

[4] Douglas J. Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eermans Publishing Company, 2008) 179.

[5] Moo, 183.

[6] Lightfoot, 177.

[7] Moo, 192.

[8] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Colossians and Philemon (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishing, 1992) 102.

[9] See sermon on “dead in your trespasses and sin.” https://drewboswell.com/sola-gratia-grace-alone-ephesians-21-10/

[10] MacArthur, 7.

[11] Joshua W. Jipp, The Messianic Theology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2020) 253.

[12] https://www.preceptaustin.org/colossians_illustrations_2

“The Christian’s Extension of the Gospel” Colossians 1:24-2:5

Drew Boswell Ministries

“The Christian’s Extension of the Gospel” Colossians 1:24-2:5

00:00 / 00:46:35

“The Christian’s Extension of the Gospel” Colossians 1:24-2:5

“The Supreme Life”

A Sermon Series in Colossians

“The Christian’s Extension of the Gospel”

Colossians 1:24-2:5

Introduction

A pastor named Epaphras was leading a church in Colossae and there was something so troubling to him that was going on in the church that it drove him to travel to Paul in Rome (about 1,000 miles) to seek his help and to have an authoritative address (Paul as an apostle) to the issue.

In the part that we will look at today we begin to get an idea of what the problem was. The ancient society was influenced by Greek philosophy, specifically Plato. Plato believed that in the heavens there was an ideal for everything here on earth. A perfect ideal tree, and what we see here are shadows, copies, reflections of that ideal (so there is variety and differences).

So when Jesus comes along, they try to blend their worldly philosophy with Christianity. There was also the belief that anything of matter was evil. So, if Jesus was God he couldn’t be material, He had to be spiritual. According to them, Jesus was not physically here, He only appeared to be real, but was really a spirit only (in fact they believed that His feet never really touched the ground).

So in chapter 1 we see Jesus as (v. 15) “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Jesus was fully God who became fully man and made the relationship between God and man right again by his dying a cross. What is at stake is the gospel that the church had correctly received from Epaphras being corrupted by the philosophies of the world.

Prayer

The Extension of the Gospel Involves Suffering (vv. 1:24-25)

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

Paul is in prison and with a chain on his wrist he writes, “I rejoice in my sufferings,” “Now when I contemplate the lavish wealth of God’s mercy, now when I see all the glory of bearing a part in this magnificent work, my sorrow is turned into joy.”[1]

When Paul says, “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions,” he does not mean that Christ’s crucifixion and death were not enough, be has already made it plain here and in other books that Christ’s death alone is what is needed for salvation (not works, family lineage, following the law, etc.)

2 Corinthians 1:5 “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings,” but instead Paul is an extension of Christ’s ministry, and he is suffering on prison, while he writes this book. “The Church is built up by repeated acts of self-denial in successive individuals and successive generations.”[2] They continue the work that Christ began.

In the ancient world if you were the minister of a pagan religion, it was very common to have a slow revealing of secret information, and special knowledge. Once you get to a higher level, shown your loyalty or dedication, then new information would be revealed, and then the person was to keep these things secret in their closed circle. The Christian mystery is revealed to all, and the information is complete from the beginning.

Paul is a minister and he understands his job is to “make the word of God fully known.” We as believers are to follow Jesus’ and Paul’s example to make the word of God fully known, and because we live in a world hostile to the truth of the gospel it may also involve suffering.

Paul is an extension of Jesus’ ministry and he is in prison, Epaphras is an extension of Jesus’ ministry and he traveled 1000 miles for the sake the health of this church, and the church at Colossae is an extension of Jesus’ ministry – and there is a danger that the word of God may not be fully known, but instead corrupted.

The Extension of the Gospel Includes Everyone (vv. 1:26-27)

26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

“Christ in you,” – “God and his plan for salvation that had remained hidden in the past but that had now been revealed.” When the Jewish leadership of Jesus’ day should crucify him! Crucify Him! And the demons of hell rejoiced as they saw Christ on the cross, they had no idea that this was the plan the entire time for the redemption of humanity. This plan for salvation now includes not just the Jewish people, but the entire world. By faith, anyone could be “in Christ,” and as Paul says here, “Christ in you.” Because Jesus is our head, our representative, and we are his people – we have a hope of glory.

The Extension of the Gospel is Difficult Work (vv. 1:28-29)

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

It is “Him,” Jesus we proclaim – we don’t proclaim our preferences, our agendas, our wants, our opinions – we proclaim Jesus. With that proclamation are two things 1) warnings (to stimulate repentance), and 2) teachings (to enhance faith). Warnings are what the Bible says about the sin of this world and its affects upon our lives (we warn people of the danger of sin, we don’t placate to it), and we teach what the Bible says and how our lives need to be changed and how we profit from applying to our lives, by doing what it says.

This warning and teaching has to be done “with all wisdom,” Jesus said to “speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15)” What you say matters, and how you say it matters as well. What you say may be true, but if you say it in an unwise manner, it will not be received.

When we use wisdom to properly warn and teach people, they then mature in their faith. Paul says that this is a toil and struggle and it takes all his energy. The proclamation of Jesus and the warning and teaching to others is hard (even for an apostle). And when Paul says, “For this I toil,” is a word picture of an athlete in his training, and then contending.

It is an exhausting work – that we all share a part. This is the wonder of the church – each using their gifts, talents, life experience, doing their part (as Paul describes a body or feet, hands, etc.) to expand the work of Christ, the gospel. But what makes it exhausting is . . .

People don’t like to be told what they are doing is wrong (unrepentant),

and they believe they know everything (unteachable).

Paul is in prison for his dealing with one heretical teaching in Ephesus (mixing the law with faith), and now he has received a pastor from Colossae with another false teaching -church work is tiring. There is an “Intellectual exclusiveness taught by the Gnosticizers”[3] Plato and Aristotle both taught a form of higher philosophy, it relates to those who have transcended the bounds of the material. The common everyday believers had faith in Christ, but there was a secret mystery of Christ that could be achieved.

The Extension of the Gospel Leads Us to Encourage Others (vv. 2:2-3)

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Paul talks about his struggle (continuing the image of an athlete in an arena) and how hard the gospel ministry is (for their church and he mentions another church in Laodicea), and for those believers he has never met and he wants, “their hearts may be encouraged,” – The word used for “encouraged in heart” or “to have hearts encouraged” is therefore a way of referring to an encouragement that touches the deepest part of our being and that affects every aspect of our persons.”[4] The word encourage means to pull someone next to you, beside you – by being next to you they are lifted up.

What should encourage us is not secrets or false promises

but that we are struggling, like Paul, for the continuance of the gospel.

He also wants his ministry to unite them, to “knit them together,” and the context that surrounds all of this is love. What unites us, and those who proclaim Jesus, is our knowledge and proper understanding of the gospel, and who Jesus is, and what He has done for humanity. We should not be knit together by anything but our love for Jesus and his crucifixion. The church is where we gather to talk about Jesus, to sing about Jesus, to study Jesus’ teachings, — we are knit together by our knowledge and love for Him.

Let me insert here the importance of church membership – when a person joins a church they are saying, “I agree with this church’s beliefs and how they are proclaiming the truth of the gospel, and what they teach about Jesus and His Word. I therefore am going to live out the Christian life in fellowship with these other believers in love.”

A church should not tolerate any teaching or beliefs within its fellowship that teach a corrupted Jesus, or twists the Bible to mean something it does not. But it is also the unity in the expression of the gospel that is a witness to the world, “The late Francis Schaeffer called the unity of the church “the final apologetic” to the watching world.”

(v. 3) “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” – “Christ is the one in whom is to be found all that you need in order to understand spiritual reality and to lead a life pleasing to God.”[5] When you place your faith in Jesus – you get Jesus (you don’t fly, move things with your mind, or project to other places, you don’t get special powers, you don’t learn hand gestures to enter other dimensions, or secret knowledge or spells. You get Jesus in the beginning of your journey, and He is with you all the way to the end – Paul wants us to understand Jesus is enough (He is preeminent). The work of the gospel is the work.

(v. 3) In verse three we see the word apocryphal – this word was applied to esoteric writings, where sectarians claimed a secret authority and they carefully guarded their publications or secret books. Jesus is the revelation of all true wisdom and knowledge.

People want an easy access to spiritual growth.

Your Journey to Find Spiritual Truth and Fulfillment

Begins with Jesus and Ends With Jesus.

“The basic attack of all false systems throughout history has been to deny either Christ’s deity, His sufficiency to save and sanctify, or both. Any group or person doing so is guilty of teaching “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). As purveyors of another gospel, they are accursed (Gal. 1:8). Believers need to have a settled conviction about Christ’s deity and sufficiency to be able to withstand the onslaught of such false teaching.”[6]

The Importance of Extending the Correct Gospel (vv. 2:4-5)

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

(v. 4) “delude you with plausible arguments,” – Mankind has always asked the question, “Why am I here?” or “Where am I going?” “The word philosophy comes from two Greek words, phileo, “to love” and sophia, “wisdom.” Philosophy is a love and pursuit of wisdom. Since the ancients there have been many who seek to explain the universe.

Any time we seek to explain the universe and leave God out of it our thoughts become dark and we realize we are without hope. Romans 1:21-22 describes it this way, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,”

Paul does not give us the specific danger the church at Colossae faced, but he reminds them of Christ’s role in the universe. He is calling the church to be aware, “to watch out,” to a constant awareness because danger is near. The church constantly faces the danger of false teachers. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

These false teachers “delude” them. Is a compound word made up of “booty” – captured materials form war, and “to carry off.” It means to kidnap, or to carry off spoils of war. We must be careful not to allow ourselves to become pray of a false teacher who will carry us off as captives of war.

These false teachers carry off church members “with plausible arguments,” – the root of these words means deceit, fraud, or trick.” Whatever the false teaching was that drive this pastor to seek Paul’s help was not what it appeared to be. No matter how religious and profound it may have sounded and appeared to them, it was false and hollow.

In the following verses (that we will get to next time) Paul is going to give two specific examples of these arguments that seem plausible at the outset, but ultimately show themselves to be false and dangerous. But ultimately, we like Adam and Eve, stand at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

God said you can eat from any tree in the garden except this one tress, but look what happens in Genesis 3:6 “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,2 she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Satan promised them hidden knowledge that God was keeping from them. Paul is telling us that we have the full knowledge of wisdom and understanding in Christ – God has held nothing back.

Whenever we, as human beings, take God out of the equation, when we place ourselves as god of the universe, we allow ourselves to be carried off into lies. Adam and Eve thought they knew better than God what was good for them. This is the fall of mankind. When I put myself over God’s Word, then I am doing the same thing and Adam and Eve in the garden.

It’s all about Jesus.

_________________

[1] T.K. Abbott, The International Critical Commentary, The Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians (Edinburgh, Scotland; T&T Clark Publishing) 228.

[2] J. B. Lightfoot, St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (Lynn, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishing, 1982) 166.

[3] Lightfoot, 170.

[4] Douglas Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008) 165.

[5] Moo, 169.

[6] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Colossians and Philemon (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishing, 1992) 90.