Colossians: The Fullness of Christ
Colossians: It's All About Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 22 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
One of the greatest scams that is happening today is a remote PC repair scam. Someone calls an unsuspecting person and tells them that they have detected some problems on that persons computer. They proceed to tell them they need access to the compute. Then the scammers go in and infect the computer remotely then charge an incredible amount to repair it. It is incredible deception. This kind of thing had been happening through out history and it was even happening in the local church. It was happening so much, that Paul wrote the Colossians to warn them of deceptive practices.
Our text today as we continue to study the book of Colossians, we will see the deceptive captivity, the deductive conclusions, the Deity of Christ and look at dependable criteria in which we can test if a teaching is of God.
Look with me at Colossians 2:8-10:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Deceptive Captivity
Deceptive Captivity
The word “captive” means to carry off as another’s spoil. It is the notion of slavery. Paul found it horrific that people who had be set free in Christ were allowing themselves to be held bondage to some false teachings. They were being snatched away spiritually as a prey from the flock of Christ. This captivity was from what the Bible calls “hollow and deceptive philosophy.”
Hollow means empty, vain, and empty-handed. Deceptive means trickery, fraud or craftiness. Philosophy is the love of knowledge based on human wisdom. These teachers were making claims that were empty, misleading and untrue. Paul wrote on a similar occasion “Let no deceive you with empty words.”
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Ephesians
Deductive Conclusions
Deductive Conclusions
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,
This hollow, deceptive philosophy set up man in competition with the wisdom of God. Paul calls it here human tradition. The Jews governed themselves by the traditions of their elders, the elements of the world, rites and observances which alienated from the teachings of Christ.
They taught that Jesus Christ Himself is not sufficient, that he was not unique. These philosophers would say that Jesus was just one of many manifestations of God. Human tradition, that is spoken of in this passage, was a human creation and has no basis in scripture. In fact, those follow another person’s secular teaching have turned away from following Christ.
Just to be fair, there is a proper use of tradition in Christianity. Christian tradition is revealed in several places in scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
Paul speaks of the importance of passing along what he has received.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians 3:
He warns Christians to stay away from those that will try to sway you.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
What is taught needs be taught and passed along to others.
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
In the passing along of that which was taught in the early church, one truth became prevalent more than any other. That was the Deity of Christ.
Deity of Christ
Deity of Christ
Colossians
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Listen to this verse in other translations:
NKJV: “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
CSB: “For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ.”
Kingdom New Testament: “The full measure of Divinity has taken up bodily residence.”
No matter how you translate it, this verse is perhaps the fullest affirmation of Christ’s Deity in all of Scripture. This verse gives them main reason not to give in to hollow and deceptive philosophy. It is an expansion of .
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Both are referencing the glorified man Christ Jesus. “Bodily form” means that Christ was a solid reality. The incarnation, the taking of bodily form by God, was and is the solid reality in which all the ancient promises saying God would dwell with His people has been fulfilled.
Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.
E
And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
“For in Christ, the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form...”
The word FULLNESS means that all God can be and is for us is summed up in Jesus.
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:16
The very nature of God is fully present in Christ Jesus. Jesus is called and declared to be EMMANUEL which means God with us.
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
The Bible is very clear that Jesus came and existed on this earth in bodily form. After His resurrection, Jesus assured His disciples that He was the same person and in the same body in which He lived and dwelt among them. He was not a ghost or spirit. We learn in Paul’s writing that he was seen in bodily form by many people.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
When He ascended into heaven, He was in bodily form.
and both indicate that Jesus was among the disciples and He was glorified and still very real.
Not only did the fullness of God live in the bodily form of Jesus, the fullness of Christ lives in those that have accepted Jesus as Lord. What a beautiful promise!
The tense of the Greek verb indicates that this fullness is a permanent experience. When a person is born again into the family of God, that person is complete in Christ. That means when you and I accepted Jesus into our lives, we received absolutely all of Him. We don’t need anything else because He is the fullness of God.
No words can better describe the place Christ has
Ephesians
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
The words, “fullness of Christ,” describe the place Christ has in the purpose of our salvation. We have been given everything we need and there is no void when Christ is invited into our lives.
This helps me understand even more a verse like
The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Because of the fullness of Christ in me which is the fullness of God in Him, I have all I need. And not only to I have the fullness of Christ in me which is the fullness of God in Him, I have the ONE WHO is the head over every power and authority. Since the power of God has rested in Jesus Christ, Christ overcomes all other powers. That’s why I can boast in .
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Do you see why this matters? The admonition that Paul gives his readers is of utmost importance. We need to learn and practice the things of Christ as He has the fullness of God and we are given fullness in Him.
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
So how do you test other teachings are of God?
Dependable Criteria
Dependable Criteria
There are several questions you can ask of any teaching to see if it is of God.
Does not the ear test words
as the tongue tastes food?
Job
First and foremost, is it scripturally sound.
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Matthew
It is of great benefit to spend time studying the scriptures.
Secondly, what does the teaching put the person and work of Jesus Christ?
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Thirdly , does the teaching rob Jesus of His fullness?
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Colossians 2:9
Fifth, does the teaching deny Him of His Deity?
I and the Father are one.”
Lastly, does the teaching require that the believer must have anything in addition to Jesus Christ?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, the teaching is wrong and very dangerous.
Allow God to direct in these precepts and principles and your Christian walk will be stronger.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Grace be with you all.
Hebrews
Hebr
Hebrews
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”