COLOSSIANS
Chapter 2, Verses 1-6
Walking Out the Christian Walk!
(10–2-16)
Review: “Doing What God Calls Us To Do!”
Colossians 1:25-29) [KJV] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
NOTE: He was suffering persecution as a result of his calling to preach the Gospel message that when we come to Christ He begins to live in us. That results in the promise that we will go to Heaven.
28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
QUESTION: What made it possible for Paul to succeed, in the face of persecution, at his mission?
ANSWER: The energizing power of the Holy Spirit was at work in him.
NOTE: God offers us His mighty strength to enable us to do what He calls us to do, but it doesn’t get done until we avail ourselves of His strength and get up out of our chair and do it!
This Week’s Lesson: “Walking Out the Christian Walk!”
Colossians 2:1-6) [KJV] For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
(CEV) I want you to know what a struggle I am going through for you, for God’s people at Laodicea, and for all of those followers who have never met me.
“Apparently, Paul had never visited Colosse himself. Most of them had never seen his face in the flesh. Even as Paul’s authority extended to those he had never met – to those who had never seen his face – so it also extends to us” [Guzik].
2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Regarding “in order that they may be filled with courage,”
“Like all other Christians in the times of the apostles, they were doubtless exposed to trials and persecutions” [Barnes].
QUESTION: What is Paul expressing in vs. 1-2?
ANSWER: Paul strived through prayer and activity to strengthen believers everywhere, even those he had never personally met, which includes us.
“knit together” – “In the Septuagint it means to instruct, as Exo_18:16; Deu_4:9; Isa_40:13 (compare 1Co_2:16); Psa_31:8. Used of putting together in one’s mind, and so to conclude by comparison. Thus Act_16:10, assuredly gathering, Rev., concluding [Vincent].
QUESTION: What did Paul desire for those he was referring to in vs. 2?
- He wanted their hearts to experience comfort even though it was a time of persecution.
- He wanted them to lovingly come to the same Spiritual conclusions.
- He wanted them to fully understand the “mystery of God” regarding the Church consisting of all believers, whether Jew or Gentile.
3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
(GNB) He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge.
QUESTION: Who is the “Whom” of verse 3?
ANSWER: The end of verse 2 gives us the answer; the answer is Christ.
QUESTION: What is this verse telling us about Christ Jesus?
ANSWER: Everything of eternal importance can be discovered by examining the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and by studying what the Apostles teach about Christ.
4) And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Galatians 1:6-8) [KJV] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
QUESTION: What are these Galatian verses telling us?
ANSWER: There will always be someone come along with a doctrine that, they claim, adds clarity to the Gospel story. Paul tells the Colossians not to be deceived by them. He tells the Galatians that he desires that these false teachers be “condemned to hell.”
NOTE: Paul’s desire that the Gospel message be presented in its true form is so strong that he says that anyone perverting that message should be “condemned to hell,” even if that someone was an angel, or Paul, himself.
5) For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
“He was either present in spirit by having them in mind, being fully informed of their state by Epaphras, which I think is more in harmony with the whole tenor of the New Testament, or he was enabled by divine power to look upon them and behold them” [PNT].
“order” – “A military metaphor, quite possibly suggested by Paul’s intercourse with the soldiers in his confinement [Vincent].
“steadfastness” – “probably the same military metaphor as before. The solid part of the line which can and does stand the attack of the Gnostics” [RWP].
QUESTION: What is verse 5 telling us?
- Paul rejoiced in their “order” as he saw them as Christian soldiers each standing in the place they should be.
- He also rejoiced in “the steadfastness” of their faith as he saw them as forming a military line that could withstand the attack of the Gnostic teachers trying to infiltrate the church with error.
6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
QUESTION: What is verse 6 telling us?
ANSWER: Most commentators tell us that Paul is simply stating to his readers that since they have placed their trust in Christ they should walk out their new faith.
NOTE: I see more to it than that. Notice the following passage:
Galatians 3:2-3) [KJV] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
QUESTION: How is vs. 2 related to vs. 3 in the above passage from Galatians?
- The “works of the law” of vs. 2 is connected to “by the flesh” of vs. 3.
- The “hearing of faith” of vs. 2 is connected to “in the Spirit” of vs. 3.
QUESTION: What does that mean?
ANSWER: We grow in our Christian experience the same way we become Christians; we grow by the “hearing of faith,” in other words, believing His promises. We don’t grow by trying harder to keep “the works of the law.
1 John 2:6) [KJV] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
NOTE: We find ourselves living the Christian life/walking as Jesus walked when we believe the amazing things the N.T. tells us about ourselves as believers.
QUESTION: What does the N.T. tell us about ourselves?
- We are new creatures in Christ [2 Cor. 5:17].
- Sin shall not have dominion over us because we are under the power of God’s grace [Romans 6:14].
- We are partakers of God’s nature [2 Peter 1:4].
- God destroyed the power of sin in my flesh [Romans 8:3] {Amplified}.