Col 1:21-23 (NIV) Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
- Paul focuses a little more deeply on the reconciling work of Christ. One of the heresies in the early church was Docetism, which taught that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body. This view is based on the incorrect notion that the physical flesh is inherently evil. But the flesh was not evil in the garden, our flesh became sinful as a result of the fall. Also, other Gnostic tendencies were to question the reality of Christ' death. Very clearly, Christ had a physical body and he literally died
- Why the "if?"
- The "if" could also be translated "since." It carries the argument forward from the previous verses. It is not implying a works based continuation of salvation
- The assumption is that it is normal to continue in your faith
Col 1:24-29 (NIV) Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
- This is a very difficult passage to understand. There are at least four views. I prefer Constable's view on this passage
- A fourth view, the one I prefer, regards the afflictions of Christ as Christ's actual sufferings now, not on the cross but in and through Paul whom He indwelt (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23-28) (Johnson, Bibliotheca Sacra, 475:230-31). When believers suffer, Christ also suffers because He indwells us (cf. Acts 9:4)
- A contrary view is how the Catholics developed a doctrine of indulgences
- Also many world religions have the idea of suffering to pay for sins -- this is antithetical to the message of Christianity. Many verses say the opposite (that Jesus paid the full price for our sin on the cross), so we have to understand this passage in light of the entire New Testament, and not on the basis of one verse. Constable and Johnson's view satisfies all the scriptures
- What is a mystery?
- It is a truth, previously unknown, or vaguely hinted at in the OT, but now revealed in the NT
- What is the mystery?
- That Christ dwells in the Gentiles
- Eph 3:3-9 expands on it even more. Gentiles are now fellow-heirs, on the same level with Jews, with no dividing wall of partition between them (Constable, 2010, p. 22)
- It is not a mystery that God would save Gentiles. Those who reject this, believe that a Gentile must become a Jew in order to become Christians
- Paul describes the goals of his ministry, what are some of those goals?
- It is to proclaim Jesus
- To admonish (correct false teaching)
- Teach with wisdom (sound doctrine with application)
- So that we all reach perfection (maturity) in Christ
- Gnosticism would later teach that only privileged few would attain full maturity in Christ
- APPLICATION: We have an incredible future and a hope. Every believer can attain fullness in Christ. We just need to seek God, listen to God, and obey God (live up to what we have attained)
Col 2:1-5 (NIV) 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. 2 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 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.
- Why is Paul struggling?
- There as so many false ideas and false teaching
- Pagan philosophies from other religions
- Judaizers' emphasis on following OT ritual
- Worldly philosophies
- Influence of sex in cultic worship and culture
- Those who have not met him personally are people that he has not been able to teach in proper doctrine, so they probably cause him even more concern
- What does Paul desire?
- Believers be encouraged. Why? Because we have such a wonderful salvation. We are adopted in the family of God. The price has all been paid. We have a wonderful inheritance and future
- United in love. Why? One of the most important teachings of the church is the importance of love. It is the single defining characteristic of a Christian. When others do not see love in our life, we are not carrying the family name
- Complete understanding
- Know the mystery -- Christ -- all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are "hidden" in Christ
- What is Paul's concern?
- That they might be deceived by fine-sounding arguments. What are some examples of fine-sounding arguments which are deceptive?
- You need to do obey the OT law to please God (Judaizers)
- There is a secret knowledge to obtain maturity (Gnostics)
- We can be like God (Mormonism)
- The flesh is evil which is why Jesus did not have a physical body (Docetism)
- There is a blessing to those who deny the body and suffer for Christ (aestheticism)
Col 2:6-7 (NIV) So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
- Where does Paul point the believers?
- Back to the beginning -- the things they learned when they first came to Christ are still the important things later on
- What are some of the first things we are taught as believers, i.e., the basics?
- Get in the word
- Pray
- Share your faith
- Meet with other believers
- Be obedient (apply God's word to your life)
- What is the result of continuing in the basics?
- Rooted -- we develop a strong foundation
- Built up -- we grow
- Strengthened in faith -- our faith grows as we grow
- Overflowing in thankfulness -- as we continue in the basics, the result is an overflowing of joy for what we begin to realize God has done for us. It is not secret knowledge, but rather knowledge that our heart understands
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