United In Christ

Don Vickers

Colossians • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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Paul’s Concern

Colossians 2:1 NKJV

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

In , Paul begins with his great concern for the church in Colassae and for those in Laodocia, and others that he had never been face to face with. He fully understood that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ was much bigger than Paul or his efforts. He was a part of the work, but there was work going on that Paul had not been a part of.

This did not excuse him from being concerned with those that he had never met before! Paul states that he is had a great conflict for them. His great desire was that they would be encouraged and presented “complete in Christ”. He was serious about the task that God had given to him and Paul wanted to make sure he did all he could to help the people grow in their relationship with Christ.

We have a similar task. We are to make disciples - as we are going. Every person that we will meet today - we have the opportunity to either encourage them in a relationship with Jesus that they have already established, or encourage them towards a relationship with Jesus - by loving them, planting seed and sharing the hope that He has given to us.

Our task is not complete until we see the Lord face to face. We are praying for our circles - those that God has brought into our lives, and my prayer is that we will have a great conflict within us for them and their relationship with God.

The Purpose Of Paul’s Concern

Colossians 2:2–3 NKJV

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

First, Paul tells them he desires:

That their hearts may be encouraged

This could also be translated exhorted. Paul wanted to encourage the people to continue to follow Jesus in relationship with one another. It is not a knowledge issue, but a heart issue.

John 13:35 NKJV

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Johns 13:35

Our hearts must be encouraged in our relationship with the Lord and with each other. We know we should love one another, but if our hearts are not convinced it will not be long until some sandpaper comes between us and we begin to rub one another the wrong way. We begin to magnify the things that divide us and minimize the Christ who brings us into His Kingdom!

Our hearts must be encouraged in our relationship with the Lord.

It is Jesus who brings us together and forms a common bond between us. We do not have an option but to be in community with one another and Paul desired to share that directly with the church in Colassae and with us here today.

That they may fully understand

Paul wanted them to fully understand what they had received in Christ. Ephesians is a great book that describes all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. We need to be aware of all that He has done for us.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.

https://www.snopes.com/religion/graphics/bible.gif

young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold.

Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said “with all your money, you give me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family. He received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father’s house, he began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the Bible, He opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, , “And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?”

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

The boy had lived years with disappointment and anger not knowing the love that his father had shown to him in the gift. We sometimes get weary in the journey as trials and circumstances rise up against us - and we need to be reminded about all that God has given to us in Jesus Christ!

Then he want to make sure:

That they may know the mystery of God

That they would know God - and we do this in Jesus Himself. In him are the resources of God - wisdom and knowledge are found in Jesus.

There was a warning there for the Colossians and for us today as well. They wanted to seek knowledge but the temptation to find that knowledge in other places is great! We need to know that our treasure is in Christ. We do not come to Him and then go to other things for our meaning and purpose in life. They are all found in Him!

The Reason For Paul’s Concern

Colossians 2:4–5 NKJV

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul was concerned because there are those teaching things other than the Gospel. There were, and there are those who are teaching things contrary to the word of God and Paul’s concern was that they would be drawn away from the truth.

Don’t be impressed with a smooth talker, check what is being said with the Word of God. If it does not line up - be wise enough to challenge and reject it. Do not fall into the traps of this world. God’s Word is strong! Don’t be afraid - it will stand up to honest inspection!

The Application

Paul desired that they would continue to grow in Christ!

Colossians 2:6–7 NKJV

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

First, that they would walk in Jesus. They had received Him by faith and they were to walk in faith. We are never saved by faith to walk in approval by God by our works. We are fully loved in Jesus today.

But He is also Lord and Jesus ought to reign in our lives today.

Second, that they would be rooted and built up in Him that they would be strengthened in their faith. Again we are challenged to center our life on Him.

Third, that they would be abounding with thanksgiving. The test of how we are doing is not how much we can accumulate, how much we can accomplish, but how thankful we are - in the good and int the hard days. We remember whose we are and we are able to be thankful.