Explore the Bible: October 31
The Gospel’s Forgiveness • Colossians 2:4-15
By Don Hicks
LifeWay’s Leaders Guide entry for this Sunday’s lesson summarizes the focal passage in this way:
— The Apostle Paul outlines a defense to counter the ongoing false teaching in the Colossaechurch.
— Paul teaches tactics to face down the false teachers who were trying to lead believers astray.
In the verse before our focal passage for this week, Paul writes: “In him (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 CSB).
Looking for those hidden treasures will also lead us to the key doctrine called, “God the Son – Christ is the eternal Son of God.” The lesson writer points to the beginning of the Gospel of John which also teaches this key doctrine: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been create,” (John 1:1-3 CSB).
Paul didn’t want the members of this church to be deceived by any of the false teachings or theories floating around Colossae. He warned of the dangers of these false teachings: “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ” ( Colossians 2:8 CSB).
Paul challenged the Colossians to remember, “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ” (Colossians 2:9 CSB). In 21st Century America, there is great resistance to the fact the entire fullness of God could be grounded totally and only in Christ. Human reasoning andscience as understood today are often false but reasonable sounding arguments used to deceive the 21st century American.
Paul wanted the Colossian church to realize that even though he was not with them in person, he was with them in spirit. Paul is absent in body from us, too, but he can be present with us in spirit. Paul told the Colossians, “but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:5b-c CSB).
That raises the questions: Would Paul be pleased with the strength of your faith in Christ? Could Paul say of your church, “I am rejoicing to see how well-ordered you are?” Well-ordered here references a military unit following orders and accomplishing their mission because they are disciplined and committed to their task.
That kind of discipline and commitment comes from rigorous training and practice of the needed skills.
For soldiers in Christ’s army (that’s us), Paul says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:6-7 CSB).
I believe being “established in the faith” means knowing the teachings of Jesus Christ and His church. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy where to find the teaching of Christ for us: “All Scripture is given by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17 CSB).
The beginning point for the new Christian after accepting Christ as Lord and Savior is baptism. Paul tells us clearly in verse 12 the meaning of baptism. It is a picture of being buried with Christ. Complete immersion emphasizes the death, burial, and arising of Jesus from the tomb. Paul writes: “with him in baptism you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12 CSB). Notice the emphasis on “through faith in the working of God.”
Paul stresses that salvation is the work of God when he tells the Ephesians: “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB).
Paul tells the Colossians: “he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him” (Colossians 2:13-15 CSB).
Hicks is missions director for Jasper Association in Bay Springs. He may be contacted at donaldwhicks@gmail.com.