Colossians 2:1-15
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Introduction:
Over the years I developed a pet peeve about something that preachers tend to do. Maybe you have your own. Maybe I sometimes strike your pet peeve! My apologies if I do, it’s not intentional.
My pet peeve is the tendency for preachers to title their messages something like this: “The Three Things You Need to Do for Spiritual Growth.” – Or – “The Secret to Living a Godly Life” – Or – “The One Thing You Need to Add to Overcome Fear.” “The Secret to Peaceful Living.”
What’s the problem with that? Why would I develop a pet peeve about that? Strange thing to have a pet peeve about. A lot of people would say that’s a good practice. It helps you to know where they are going with the message.
Well, I don’t have a problem with sermon titles. Here’s what ended up frustrating me about that. I would sincerely try to incorporate into my life what the preacher was saying, but I wasn’t getting the results promised.
I’d try to do those three things for spiritual growth. I’d try out that secret for a godly life. I’d do the thing to overcome fear. I’d incorporate the secret to peaceful living. A lot of times it would help! But what I ended up discovering was that living a godly life in Christ Jesus is not so simple as one secret, or one thing to add, or three things to do.
As I’ve grown as a Christian, I’ve discovered that it turns out that fear is not overcome by just one secret. For starters, fear is an emotion and we are supposed to fear God. So it is debatable if fear is something you are even supposed to overcome entirely. We are supposed to not fear man. We are supposed to have courage – and courage is brave action in frightening circumstances, not necessarily the absence of fear.
And if we want to fear man less we need to fear God more. And if we want to fear tomorrow less we need to trust God more. And it certainly helps if we put into practice Philippians 4:6-7 which state “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
So it turns out the Christian’s attitude toward fear is a good bit more complicated than just one secret. Hence my frustration when preachers say that it is solved with one secret or three things.
All that so that you can know that the theme of my sermon this morning was not chosen lightly. It’s not done merely for flair or for rhetorical purposes. I actually mean what I’m saying:
Theme: Spiritual Growth Occurs through a Faith-Filled Relationship with God through Jesus Christ. X2
And – I’ll go one further – Efforts to Grow Spiritually that are not Focused Upon a Faith-Filled Relationship with God through Jesus Christ will always Disappoint. X2
Link: I mean it, and Colossians 2:1-15 is why. Let’s read.
Text: Colossians 2:1-15
Verses 1-5
Review:
It’s been awhile since we were in Colossians so we need some reminders of what was written before this.
In the first chapter of Colossians, Paul had a lot to say about three things in particular: first – he wanted to let the Colossians know that he was praying for them. Specifically, (Colossians 1:9) Paul was praying that the church would be filled with the “knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” What that means in simpler terms is that Paul was praying they would know God’s will so they could do God’s will. You have to know what it is He wants you to do if you are to do it. And so Paul prays for that.
A second major thing that Paul had to say in the first chapter of Colossians was to remind them of the Gospel. You can see this in verses 13 and 14 and verses 20-23. *Read these verses*
And the third big point that Paul communicated was the pre-eminency of Jesus Christ – that Jesus is first in everything. He is the incarnate God – in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. He has the firstborn stewardship right over all of creation – he oversees and manages it. All angels, humans, and all things created were made through and for Him. Everything is held together by Him. He is the head of the church. He is the firstborn from the dead.
Exposition:
Now here we are in Colossians 2, and Paul tells them the reason that he is writing this letter to them. And as we see the reason that Paul writes the letter, we understand better why he said what he did in the first chapter.
The reason that Paul is writing to the church in Colossae is that he is burdened for them. Something is causing Paul to have a struggle over this church. Something is wrong. And that something is that there are people who are trying to delude the church with plausible arguments (verse 4).
We can infer some things about these false teachers in this chapter.
One thing we can see is that these teachers were offering alternative paths to wisdom and knowledge. Specifically, they were suggesting someone or something other than Jesus Christ as the way into knowing about God and having wisdom and knowledge.
Paul has already said a little to refute this teaching. One, he said earlier in chapter one that all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell bodily in Jesus and that Jesus is the “image” or incarnate God. There can therefore be no fuller representation of the person of God, or more sure and sound path into the knowledge of God, than the path through Jesus Christ. And here he also adds that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge of God are found in Jesus. So there is no lack in what Jesus is able to reveal to us. There’s no need for additional supplementation.
To have a healthy physical diet you need a lot of variety – your carbs, protein, fats, innumerable vitamins and minerals, many we don’t even know about. But for spiritual growth in wisdom and knowledge it is much simpler – get to know Jesus as revealed in God’s holy Word, and there will be no deficiencies.
And I hope that is an encouraging truth to you! It’s good for us that it is this way as we all have the same access by faith into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You know, not everyone can have a perfectly complete diet – eating organic all the time, a broad selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and all of that. That can be expensive and time consuming.
But you and I and everyone else have equal access to the one the most complete and rich source of the revelation of God and His wisdom and knowledge – and that is Jesus. Pastors and missionaries and Bible teachers don’t have any different or additional or more complete path to knowledge than you do. Jesus has all the wisdom and knowledge and we all have Jesus.
The Colossians evidently had some people trying to lead them away from this, offering fake spiritual supplements. Like selling snake oil for your spiritual growth or something. It sounded plausible, but it was delusional and Paul wants to warn them about it.
Link: Another problem can be inferred from this verse and the two that follow: These false teachers were detracting – in some way – from the message of faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. You can see this concern of Paul’s in his telling them the Gospel in chapter one, in him drawing attention to the importance of firm faith in Christ in verse 5, and in the next two verses.
Verses 6-7
“as you received Christ Jesus the Lord” – how does one receive Christ Jesus the Lord? He is received by faith in Him. If this is how a person receives Christ Jesus the Lord, then how are they to walk in Him? The same way – they walk through faith in Jesus Christ.
To be rooted in Him – that means dug down deep and have your stability and firmest convictions in Him – to be rooted in Him is a faith thing. Being built up is in faith. And being established is in the faith.
This is how they were taught. But evidently that is not what the false teachers are bringing now.
These false teachers were promoting something different. They were saying – in your walk, you need something different from faith in Jesus. To be rooted and built up, you need something different.
Walk, rooted, built up – these are growth words. Paul says – spiritual growth happens through your faith based relationship with Jesus. Christianity begins with a faith based relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christian walk is maintained by a faith based relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Being deeply rooted and firm happens by a faith based relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And being built up – growing in godliness and spiritual fruit – this happens by a faith based relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It begins by faith and whether we’re talking growth at the roots or moving forward or growing upward, in all these directions of growth and progress, it still happens by faith in Jesus Christ.
Link: That the false teachers had a different opinion on the importance of a faith based relationship with Jesus Christ becomes all the more clear in the next two verses.
Verses 8-9
Here in more specific terms is what these false teachers were bringing that Paul was concerned might delude them with plausible arguments, or take them captive. They are offering philosophy, empty deceit, human traditions, and elemental spirits. That term was used by Jewish people – of whom Paul was one – to refer to supernatural beings such as angels and demons.
What philosophy specifically? What empty deceit? What human traditions? What elemental spirits?
Well, a lot of Bible interpreters think it was the gnostics, and that is who I think too. I’ve told you about them before – they thought that salvation comes through gaining knowledge; they did not believe that Jesus was divine; and they were fascinated with angels.
But, it really doesn’t matter for our present application what philosophy or what deceit or what specifically. Paul says that in Christ all the fullness of deity dwells bodily. So whether we are talking about Gnosticism, hedonism, stoicism, or whatever other ism – the answer doesn’t change. It stays the same:
“In Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
That word “filled” means – to make full, to fill up a deficiency, to complete, to influence fully, to fulfill.
Everything that God has, Jesus has. You have Jesus in you. Therefore, you are complete. You are fulfilled. The deficiencies are filled up.
So, if someone comes up to you and says “hey, you know what you need – you need to try practicing what those monks do. Go by yourself somewhere for a few months and just pray and get in touch with God. It helps if you say aauuum while you do it.” Then you can say, well, vacations are nice for sure but – I have my relationship with Jesus and the whole fullness of deity dwells in Him and He completes me. So, I don’t need to go anywhere or do anything special to get in touch with God.
Or someone says “Hey, you know what would really help you to grow in your Christian life? You need to try to adopt some of the principles of stoicism. Emotion is irrational so you have to make war against your emotions and kill them so you don’t have them. Then you can always be perfectly rational and make the best decisions.”
You can say – in Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and I have been filled by Him. Furthermore, in Jesus are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So, the more I’m walking by faith in Jesus the better my decision making will be. It’s not about presence or lack of feelings, it’s about Jesus.
Or someone says – “hey, here is a book written by the angel Mormon. It will help complete your understanding of Christianity so that you can live godlier.”
You can say – in Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and I have been filled by Him. Furthermore, I have the book written by Jesus – the Word of God. So, I’m going to just keep walking by faith in Jesus and learning about Him and His will from His word and I’m sure it is enough.
Go on a pilgrimage. Do the Daniel fast. Submit to the Mosaic Law. Pray to this saint. Get slain in the spirit. Get recommitted. Go to this conference. Get a degree. Send us your money.
In Jesus all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell bodily and I have been filled by Him.
Now, this is not to say that a pilgrimage is bad, or a conference is bad, or a fast is bad, or a decision of recommitance is bad. I went to a conference a few weeks ago and had a wonderful time.
But please never pursue any of those things under the delusion that they are what you need to live godly. A pilgrimage or a conference is only helpful for growth in the Christian life to the degree that it helps you continue your faith filled relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Getting recommitted isn’t going to work if you think it depends upon your works instead of your faith filled walk with Jesus.
Altar calls have been used throughout Christian history for great growth in godliness in people’s lives – but it is not the act of going to the front of a church that makes one grow. It is the establishment or strengthening of a faith filled relationship with Jesus Christ that does it.
The conference that I went to was a wonderful time because it was spent in ways that helped to keep me going in my faith filled relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We sang godly songs of the good works God has done, who He is, and of the Gospel. And we grew in the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding as the Bible was opened to us.
You can find words and inspiration and instruction at conferences to help aid with growth – but it’s not the conference that you need – it’s Jesus. And a decision to recommit to God is an excellent decision – but it isn’t going to work unless what recommit means is that you intend to grow in your faith-filled walk with Jesus.
So, be careful that you don’t waste your time, money, and energy pursuing something outside of Jesus that can only be found in Jesus. Many people, both well intentioned and with ill intention, will try to sell you on something as if it will make you grow as a Christian: something that you have to do or pay or somewhere to go, something to eat or not to eat, or a thing to say. Books and movies with “the secret to” or “five things you need to.” A snazzy sermon title with “The Secret” or “Three Things.”
But we walk in Jesus the same way we received Him – by faith. And we are rooted and built up in faith too. And there is no mystery or knowledge or wisdom that Jesus doesn’t know.
So, if the thing helps you grow in your faith in Jesus and in the knowledge of His will – Great! If it does not help you grow in your faith in Jesus and in the knowledge of His will – then it will not help achieve the desired results of growth in godliness. It won’t. You began by faith in Jesus, you grow that way too.
And if it decreases your faith-filled dependence upon Jesus, decreases the intimacy of your relationship with Him, and teaches things that are not in accordance with His will – then not only will it not help you to grow in godliness, but it will have the opposite effect. You will grow less godly. Because it has steered you away from the source of our growth, God.
Link: and this is why Paul was so concerned for them. False teachers were coming in saying things that sounded plausible, or sounded beneficial, as they so often do, but ultimately were detracting from the Colossians faith-filled relationship and walk with Jesus Christ. In verses 10-15 Paul lists several things that are theirs in Christ to support why chasing after other things is vain.
Verses 10-15
Christians have been filled, or made complete, by Jesus in whom all deity dwells.
Circumcision was a symbol of being in a covenant relationship with God. In this verse Paul is saying that our slavery to sin – represented by the term “flesh” – has been removed as our hearts have been set apart for God. In other words, our hearts have been directed toward God and our sin no longer has dominion over us, because of Jesus.
We now have new resurrection life and that new life is powered by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
All of our sins have been forgiven, along with the debt we could not pay.
And we are united in victory with the One who triumphed over every ruler and authority.
The point is this: If all your sins have been forgiven. And if you owe no debt to God. And He has no legal demands against you. And if your heart has been freed from sin and set apart for God. And you have been raised to new life and are empowered by the same power that resurrected Jesus. And Jesus dwells in you and all the fullness of deity is in Jesus. And Jesus triumphed over every ruler and authority on heaven and on earth.
Then, what in the world and all of creation can another philosophy or human tradition or elemental spirit offer to you that Jesus cannot? You are already forgiven by God – there is nothing you can do to earn forgiveness and have no need to, it is yours. What can angels and false prophets and teachers have to instruct you in that Jesus doesn’t? He triumphed over them – He is far superior. Why do you think you need special meditation practices or philosophies to grow in godliness? You have new life in resurrection power. Why try to beat yourself and moan and cry to put sin to death when Jesus has already circumcised your heart?
You were saved by the One in whom the fullness of deity dwells, Jesus Christ. Trust in Him, grow closer to Him, follow Him, and you will find yourself growing through the One in Whom there is no lack.
I want to give one final warning about this because I know how easy it is to misapply a teaching. I’ve encountered people before who say things like “I don’t need church, I have Jesus.” Or, “I don’t need to read the Bible; I’ve got my faith in Jesus.” And I’ve heard a lot of people claim Jesus for all kinds of strange positions. Recently I read of college students getting mad at Mike Pence because Mike Pence doesn’t support homosexuality. They said, “that’s not my Jesus.”
So here is my warning – If your faith-filled relationship with Jesus is leading you to not go to church – which Jesus told you to do. And to not read God’s Word – which Jesus told you to do. And to support homosexuality – which Jesus told you not to do. Or hold to any other sin or unbiblical position. Then you need to reevaluate your faith-filled relationship with Jesus. Because it sounds to me like your Jesus is just your imaginary friend.
The real Jesus wrote an auto-biography called the Bible. Read it to learn of the real Jesus. Trust in Him, grow closer to Him, follow Him, and you will find yourself growing through the One in Whom there is no lack.