Colossians 2
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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Paul’s Love for the Church (2:1-7)
Q: What is the most important qualification for a minister?
1 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, 2 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,
Some say Some might say: Intelligence, Holiness, Education, Leadership Ability, Speaking Ability
Love — It is love for the church
— Jesus loved the church so much that he gave His life for it (Acts 20:28)
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
We love We are to love our wives just like Christ loved the church (Eph 5:25)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Paul’s Example Paul loved the church
— Writing to the Corinthians he said that you are our letter written in our hearts known and read by all men (2 Cor 3:2)
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
— 2 Cor 6:11; 2 Cor 2:15
Could Endure Because of his love for the church Paul could endure assaults on his character
— Defections, false teachers, personal abuse (2 Tim 2:10)
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
(2:1) For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea
Conflict ἀγών (agōn), struggle; fight, conflict
— Agon from which we get “agony”
5 Goals Paul had five (5) goals for the church
(1) Strong in heart
(2) United in love
(3) Settled in understanding
(4) Walking in Christ
(5) Overflowing with gratitude
Strong Heart (2:2a)
(2:2a) that their hearts may be encouraged
Encouraged παρακαλέω (parakaleō) encouraged, to call alongside
— It could mean many things
— A wide range of meanings: entreat, appeal to, summon, comfort, exalt or encourage
— Here it means strengthen
Strengthen The Colossians needs straightening because of false teachers, not comfort
Heart (mind) that their hearts not emotions but the inner man
Bowels The KJV would translated this as bowels not heart
— Biblical writers associated emotions not with the heart but with the stomach, bowels
— cf. Ps 22:14; Lam 2:11; John 3:17
— A formal equivalence translation (ESV, NASB, KJV) will show this but it has been replaced in dynamic equivalence versions (NIV, NLT)
— I think you loose something without using the original languages or a formal equivalence bible
— These dynamic equivalence goes in the direction of the reader, they are reader sensitive, altering words to accommodate what the reader’s understanding might be. You keep changing it to chase the reader. The only correct way is to go back to the writer, the source, the authorial intent. it is the job of the pastor to bridge the gap ( MacArthur, The State of the Church )
Response Our emotions respond to biblical truth (Prov 4:23; Ps 26:2; Ps 139:23-24)
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
— Guide your heart so that you are pleasing to God
— What fills your heart will display in your behaviour
— Good man, good treasure; evil man, evil treasure (Matt 12:34-35)
Q: How do we get a strong mind?
Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit strengthens those who yield their lives to His control (Eph 3:16)
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
— He is our helper, parakaleo (cf. John 14:16; 26, 15:26, 16:7)
Strong Heart (2:2a) > United in Love (2:2b)
(2:2b) being knit together in love
Knit Together συμβιβάζω (symbibazō), unite; hold together; advise, bring together
Unity A common life with love as its basis
— We all posses the same eternal life
— We all come to Christ the same way
— We were all sinners, separated from God
— We are all placed in the same body of Christ by the same spirit
Unity Paul wanted the church to display unity in practice (Phil 1:27)
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
The Key The key to practical unity is to be a peace-maker (Eph 4:3)
— Peace Makers love each other
— “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Col 3:12-13)
— That kind of love is the perfect bond of unity
— “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col 3:14)
— Humility opens the door to love and unity (Phil 2:2, 3:8)
— Our political leaders lack that; they are full of hubris and that results in the opposite of unity
— Christ’s humility, emptied himself
— Christ offered himself, emptied himself, supreme example of love (1 John 3:16)
— Most christians will not have an opportunity to die for someone else
— John gives us a practical test of our love (1 John 3:17-18)
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Love is Not having warm feelings toward someone
But, by meeting their needs
Application The last time you made a significant sacrifice for someone was the last time you loved someone
Goals for the Church: Strong Heart (2:2a) > United in Love (2:2b) > A settled understanding (2:2c-5)
(2:2c-5) 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,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5 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
Q: Do you have full assurance that you are going to heaven?
Full Assurance full assurance
— Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;” (cf. 2 Pet 1:10)
— God knows who are His elect but sometimes we aren’t sure
— When we pursue the virtues Peter talks about (2 Pet 1:5-9) we give evidence of fruit
(2:2) of understanding
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
“Understanding” of the fullness of the gospel, along with inner encouragement and shared love, mark mature believers who, thereby, enjoy the “assurance” of salvation
— Apply biblical principles to everyday life (in other words, live it like you believe it)
— Then, when you experience biblical truth by living it, you experience assurance of your salvation
— Knowing the truth and acting on it leads to full assurance of understanding
(2:2) to the knowledge of the mystery of God
— The “mystery of godliness” in 1 Tim 3:16 refers to Christ
(2:3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
— In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
— He is sufficient and doubts about His sufficiency leads to doubts that He can do what he promised
(2:4) Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words
Basic Attack This was a basic attack of the false teachers that had infiltrated Colossae
— They denied Christ’s sufficiency or His deity to save and sanctify or both
Colossian Heresy (Review)
— (1) Christ was not divine; he was an angel (1:16)
— (2) Christ was not the creator of the universe (1:16-17)
— (3) Christ is not head of the church (1:18)
— (4) Denied the humanity of Christ (1:22)
— (5) Christ alone is not adequate for salvation (1:28); their visions told them they needed superior knowledge (2:18)
— (6) We need Christ + secret knowledge (2:3; cf. 1:27; 3:1-4)
— (7) Denied the deity of Christ (2:9)
— (8) Worship of angels (2:18)
Goals for the Church: Strong Heart (2:2a) > United in Love (2:2b) > A settled Understanding (2:2c-5) > Walk with Christ (2:6-7a)
(2:6-7a) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught
Q: Whenever we see the word “therefore” we should ask ourselves what is “therefore” there for?
Sums up It sums up everything
— A settled conviction about Christ’s deity
— His sufficiency
— Standing firm against attacks from false teachers, so continue to walk in Him
Walk (2:6) so walk in Him
— Refers to our daily conduct
— Continue to believe (as shown by our conduct)
— Christ is the source of our spiritual nourishment; we are rooted and planted in Him
— The result is that we are Established in the faith
Goals for the Church: Strong Heart (2:2a) > United in Love (2:2b) > A settled Understanding (2:2c-5) > Walk with Christ (2:6-7a) > Overflowing with Gratitude (2:7b)
(2:7b) abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Our Response This is our response to being rooted in Christ
— Built up with Him and established
— We overflow with an attitude of Thanksgiving
MacArthur
Praise completes the circle in which the blessings that from to us from God return to Him in the form of our praise and adoration. By taking in the truth of the Word, believers get a strong mind
By living out those truths, they receive full assurance that Christ is who He claimed to be. Assured of that, they can appropriate the riches that are His legacy to believers, and walk in Him.
As they walk in Him, they grow in Him and become established in their faith. As a result, they will give praise to God
Philosophy or Christ ? (2:8-10)
( 2:8-10 ) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Philosophy 2 Greek Words: Phileo (to love); Sophia (wisdom)
Most Deny God Most philosophers deny the existence of God
— I remember a college European philosophy class
— I was a new Christian
— They either deny or hold an unbiblical view of God
— Ultimate truth is not discoverable by empiricism or rationalism (1 Cor 2:9); may sound shocking!
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Francis Schafer “Man’s rebellion against God has driven him beneath the line of despair” (Rom 1:21-22)
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Colossian Heresy (cont)
Unknown Heresy We’ve already looked at the various Heresies of the church Colossae
— This next one is hard to label
— Elements of Philosophy (2:8-15) - the study of the nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
— Legalism (2:16-17) - dependence on moral law rather than personal religious faith
— Mysticism (2:18-19) - self-delusion or dreamy confusion of thought especially when based on the assumption
of occult qualities or mysterious agencies
— Asceticism (2:20-23) - severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence
Essenes The first century Jewish sect Essenes held these beliefs
— But this heresy at the church of Colossae is a little different
— It also had an early form of Gnosticism
— Transcendent knowledge which only the elite had; and Jesus was not God not truth
(2:8) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ
Always in Danger Christ is always in danger of false teachers (Matt 7:15)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
— Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt 16:6; Acts 20:29-31; Phil 3:2; 2 Pet 3:1)
(2:8b) according to the tradition of men,
Tradition παράδοσις (paradosis), tradition
— Just because it was handed down through the year does not make it true
— Tradition usually serves to perpetuate an error
— Many examples of this in the Roman Catholic church - adoration of the saints, Mary worship, assumption of Mary, etc.
— Catholics believe that no where in the bible does it state we should only believe what is written in the bible; rather include traditions (2 Thess 2:15; 2 Tim 2:2)
— Reformers rejected this idea during the reformation (1517) and expressed it as “sola scriptura”
(2:8c) according to the basic principles of the world
— and the elemental spiritual forces of this world (NIV)
— after the rudiments of the world (ASV)
— according to the elemental spirits of the world (ESV)
Elemental “Things in a row”, elemental, rudimentary
— silly and childish thoughts
— Paul expressed the same idea in Gal 4:3 ; in bondage of the elemental things of the world
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
— Gentile and Jewish religions were “elemental” never rising to the level of the divine (centered on works, ceremonies)
Philosophy or Christ? (2:8-10)
(2:8b -10) and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
(2:9) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily
Fullness πλήρωμα (plērōma) fulness
— Same word used in 1:19
— The heresy taught that divine plērōma was divided among appearances or emanations of God.
— Each emanation was less and decreasing from good to bad
— Paul says that all fullness, deity abides in Christ not just part of the deity
— Colossian false teachers also taught a form of dualism (spirt =good; body = bad) so unthinkable that Christ was God in bodily form
(2:10) who is the head of all principality and power
— Christ is not one of a series of emanations, as false teachers taught
— But God Himself
Man is incomplete Because of the Fall, man is incomplete
— We are out of fellowship with God
— Morally incomplete
— Outside of God’s will
— We don’t know the truth
In Christ But in Christ we are complete
— Spiritually, morally, mentally (2 Pet 1:4)
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Complete in Christ (2:11-15)
Q: We’ve looked at Philosophy. But what is Legalism and what does Paul say about it (2:121-12)
Not Legalism
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Legalism (Earlier defined as) dependence on moral law rather than personal religious faith
— Conformity to man-made rules
— The religion of human achievement
— Christ + Works
Jews Every Jewish boy was circumcised on the 8th Day (Lev 12:2-3)
— And automatically belonged to the covenant nation (Gen 17:10-14)
— Today every Catholic child is baptized and belongs to the church and is saved (also legalism)
2 Schools Two schools of thought about legalism
(1) Circumcision was enough to save
— It granted membership into the covenant
— Catholics believe the same thing about baptism
— Paul says that this view is wrong (Rom 9:6; 2:25)
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
(2) Circumcision was an outward demonstration that man was sinful and needs cleansing
— Cutting man’s foreskin, graphic, cleaning at the deepest level
— Produces life, all that he produces is sinful
— Moses commanded Israel (Deut 10:16) “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer”
NT Stephen in the NT accused the Sanhedrin of being men who are stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart (Acts 7:51)
Abraham Abraham was circumcised after he believed
— His circumcision was an outward sign of a righteous heart (Rom 4:11; Gen 15:6)
Free We have been freed from sin’s dominance but not sin’s presence (Phil 3:3)
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Q: What has Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished in you? List everything you observe in 2:13-14
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
(2:13) And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh
Dead in sin We were dead in our sins (trespasses)
— We were unable to respond to spiritual stimuli, unable to respond to God
— So much for free will!
— We were outside the promises and “having no hope and without God in the world”
—Worse than the unbelieving Jew who at least was part of the covenant community that had the law of God (Eph 2:11-12)
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Not the end of the story! (2:13b) He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses
— Eph 2:4 “ But God, who is rich in mercy”
— God moved in us
— God initiated our salvation and Paul makes it clear that we were dead, unable to save ourselves
— God forgave all trespasses (Ps 32:1; Ps 130-3-4; Is 1:18)
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
NT — Important part of the NT (Matt 26:28; Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7; Heb 8:12)
God’s Forgiveness
God’s Forgiveness is Gracious
Not earned, but a free gift
— Justification is a gift by His grace through redemption which is in Christ Jesus
— (Ro 3:24) “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”
— Paul said the same thing in Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
God’s Forgiveness is Gracious > Complete
— Complete forgiveness
— (Eph 1:7; Rom 5:20; 1 John 2:12)
— Eph 1:7 says “according to the riches of His grace”
— Ro 5:20 says, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more”
— 1 John 2:12 says, “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.”
God’s Forgiveness is Gracious > Complete > is Eager
God is anxious to give to us forgiveness
— God is not begrudging but anxious
— (Ezek 18:23; cf. 33:11; Ps 86:5)
23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
God’s Forgiveness is Gracious > Complete > is Eager > is Certain
— It is certain because it is baed on God’s promises
— God sent Paul to open the eyes of the Gentiles and turn them to God (Acts 26:18)
18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
God’s Forgiveness is Gracious > Complete > is Eager > is Certain > Unequalled
— There is no God in any false religion that offers forgiveness
— Who is like you God said Micah (Micah 7:18)
18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
God’s Forgiveness is Gracious > Complete > is Eager > is Certain > Unequalled > is Motivating
— We are motivated to forgive others because we have been forgiven (Eph 4:32)
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
— He forgave us an unpayable debt; how can we do less ( Matt 18:23-35)
The Illustration
(2:14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
— Paul illustrates what that forgiveness looks like
— having wiped out the handwriting of requirements
— having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness (NIV)
— God wiped out, canceled, erased the certificate that was hostile to us and he nailed it to the cross
— Our forgiveness is complete
(2:15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
— We have complete victory
— God cancelled our debt and defeated Satan and his fallen angels
— We are now united with Christ and free from Satan’s domain and control (Ro 8:37-39)
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Spiritual Intimidation (2:16-23)
(2:16-17) So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Legalism Conforming to man-made rules as the measure of spirituality
— A religion of human achievement
— It looks like: Faith + Works
Heresy The false teachers at Colossae were saying that Christ is not sufficient, you need more
— Paul says “let no one judge you”
— We are complete in Christ; forgiveness, salvation and victory (Ro 10:4; Gal 5:1)
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Useless Legalism is useless because it cannot restrain the flesh (Matt 19:16-22)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
— Deceptive because even non-christians can conform to rules
(2:16) food or in drink
— Dietary laws
— No longer in effect (Mark 7:14-19; Acts 10:9-16)
— Refined by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:28-29)
OT They were an OT sign to Israel (Ex 31:16-17; Neh 9:14; Ezek 20:12)
(2:16) new moon or sabbaths
We are no longer required to keep the Sabbath
(1) Now under the New Covenant; The Sabbath was an Old Covenant sign (Heb 8)
(2) Not commanded in the NT
(3) Early church worshipped on Sunday, first day of the week (Acts 20:7)
(4) God does not expect Gentiles to observe the Sabbath
(5) OT no evidence of keeping the Sabbath before the law (Ex 20)
(6) Jerusalem council did not impose the Sabbath on Gentiles (Acts 15)
(7) Paul never spoke about breaking the Sabbath
(8) Paul rebuked Galatians for thinking they were obligated to observe special days (Gal 4:10-11)
(9) Paul keeping the Sabbath was a Christian liberty
(10) Ignatius to Augustine taught OT Sabbath was abolished
(2:18) shadow of things to come
Shadow Not reality
— Christ is the reality that makes the Shadow
— Regarding food regulations: He is the bread that came down from heaven (John 6:41)
— Regarding the Passover: Christ our Passover has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7)
— In Christ we have been granted eternal rest (Heb 4:1-11)
Application Paul’s point is that true spirituality does not consist in keeping external rules
— It is a relationship with Jesus
Mysticism
Q: What is mysticism? Paul describes it in 2:18-19
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Defined Having a spiritual meaning or reality that is neither apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intellect. The pursuit of a deeper
or higher subjective religious experience. Belief spiritual reality is perceived apart from human intellect and natural senses.
Self-actualized, self-authenticated
Antithesis It is the antithesis of Christian theology
— Irrational, anti-intellectual approach
— Looks for truth from feelings, intuition, internal sensations not observable external data
Paul warns (2:18) Let no one cheat you of your reward
— Don’t let these false teachers cheat, defraud you of your prize, reward
Angels (2:18) worship of angels
— Serious problem and denying the truth that there is only one mediator
— “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” (1 Tim 2:5)
Forbidden Angle worship is forbidden
— Matt 4:10 you shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only
— John was rebuked for “venerating” an angel in his vision of Revelation (Rev 19:10)
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Problem This was a problem for a long time in the city of Colossae for centuries
— Early church Father Theodoret on commenting on this verse “The disease which Paul denounced continued for a long time
in Phrygia and Pisdia”
— The archangel Micheal was worshipped unit AD 739 in Asia Minor
Catholic Today the Catholic church has substituted Mary for angels and direct their worship toward her as mediator
— Official teaching is to worship Mary, the “holy family”, saints both biblical ad newly ordained, religious objects
— Worship and pray to these people and objects
— They use the word “venerate” rather than worship
(2:18) vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind
False False spiritual leaders who were not spiritual, but inflated, puffed up by their fleshly minds
— Don’t be intimidated by them
Instead (2:19) holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
— Instead, hold fast to Christ
— Spiritual growth comes from union with Christ
— Christ said the same thing (John 15:4-5)
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
We must not not be intimidated by those who make knowing something other than Christ through His Word a priority
— Today it is the charismatic movement
— Martin Luther dealt with something similar in his day, the Anabaptist movement lead by Thomas Müntzer
—Müntzer elevated the Holy Spirit and the works of and the gifts of the spirit
— He would cry “the Spirit, the Spirit”
— One day he was granted an interview with Martin Luther; Luther was not impressed
— He said, “I slap your spirit on the snout!”
— Luther clung to the biblical revelation and sufficiency of Christ
Legalism > Mysticism > Asceticism
Asceticism (2:20-23)
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Defined A lifestyle characterized by few possessions or luxuries. It is an attempt to focus one’s life on spiritual matters and not be distracted by the world.
Religious self-denial (monasteries, celibacy)
(2:22) all concern things which perish with the using
Useless It is useless because it focuses attention on things destined to perish with the using
— Food for the stomach, stomach for the food. God will do away with both (1 Cor 6:13)
(2:23) have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body,
but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh
Appearance There is the appearance of being holy
— Giving everything up, living in poverty
— Emphasis on humility, but there is no value
Warning Jesus warns against it (Matt 6:16-18)
— “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matt 6:16-18)
Additional Resources
Gnosticism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism
Catholics and authority of scripture: http://www.sttheresechurchalhambra.org/?DivisionID=19576&DepartmentID=25255
Thomas Müntzer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_M%C3%BCntzer
The State of the Church: An Interview with John MacArthur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeplRwavGUs