A Bible study for the New Year

Our director of women's ministries let me borrow her copy of Anne Graham Lotz' study Into the Word this summer, and as I skimmed it I was quickly hooked.  Lotz is the daughter of Billy Graham and she is a wonderful Bible teacher.  This book is unique in that each month's studies are organized under a different topic.  We are going to try to tackle it in a small group setting at our church beginning in January, but it would also be a great resource for personal use.  There are a year's worth of weekly Bible studies here, but you could jump in at any time of the year.

Bringing the Sacred into the Secular

“I long to do great things for God.”  Have you ever had this thought, this longing?  I know I have, and it seems it comes to my mind most often in the midst of changing my umpteenth diaper, or fixing one of the three meals I know my whole family will eat, or completing some mindless housecleaning task.   Perhaps for you it happens when you show up at for work, again, and think, “Wasn’t I just here?  Did I ever leave?”  When days run together it becomes easy to think there must be more to life than…well, this. 

A few weeks ago we were on a mountain-top, spiritually speaking, where our view of Jesus Christ was enlarged and enriched, and we saw things about Him we never knew before, and perhaps we worshipped Him as never before.  Oh, to stay on that mountain, to never lose the wonder of the supremacy of Christ.  Yet life is lived in the valley.  It is there that we show forth our high view of Christ in daily living.  If you want to do great things for God, the place He has put you right now is the best place to start.  As we close our study on Colossians, I want to leave you with four thoughts on doing great things for God.

1.       Dress for success.  (Last week’s lesson: 3:1-17)

I say this tongue-in-cheek; of course I don’t mean a literal, worldly form of success.  Here I’m referring back to the character traits Paul told us to put on last week in 3:12-17, the adornment of our inner lives.  More important than the situation and circumstances we face in each day is the person we take into it.  Are you living out the righteousness Christ has won for you?  Sloppy inward character will mean sloppy living.  Beautiful inward character will result in a life beautifully lived for Christ, no matter what your circumstances may be.

 

2.       Bring the sacred into the secular.  (3:18-4:1)

There has been a lot of good teaching that has already covered the commands of 3:18-4:1, in other Bible studies, books, and in the pulpit, so I won’t spend time on these specifically.  However, I do want to point out that what Paul was teaching about family and work roles was revolutionary for this time and culture.  If you think about Middle Eastern families today, you get a glimpse of how radical his words were.  Men were dominating forces in the family, and had full reign on everything that took place.  Women and children did the bidding of the husband/father.  The fact that wives were addressed equally with husbands was radically elevating.  Both were given responsibilities, not just wives.  The same was true for children and fathers, with both having roles to play in the family dynamics.  

The idea of slavery in Biblical times was somewhat different from what we call to mind with American slavery.  It was different in the fact that slavery was not a based on a race, and therefore not the racial issue we have today.  But unfortunately, slaves in Biblical times were treated in much the same way as American slaves.  They were nothing more than a piece of property, to be treated as the owner saw fit.  With around half of the Roman population engaged as slaves, there was a great amount of tension over these relationships.  So you see again, the way Paul addresses both slaves and masters elevated the dignity of the slave-master relationship.

In today’s world, these verses are no less revolutionary.  If we are following God’s commands regarding family and work relationships, we are elevating the secular to God’s sacred design for relationships.  With the family crumbling around us, and lines being blurred about what a family truly is, isn’t it a “great thing” to be raising children who understand, recognize, and uphold the sanctity of marriage, or to be an example of godly marriage to others?  With corporate ethics plunging to new lows, isn’t it a “great thing” to be an example of God-honoring integrity in the workplace?

3.       Be a witness. (Col. 4:2-6)

Again, much has been taught on evangelism and there isn’t enough room to carefully unpack these verses.  But as we consider how to be used greatly by God where He has placed us, there are a couple of things to note.  First, Paul urges steadfast prayer, not that his prison doors will be opened, but that a door will be opened to the word.  God often means to use us right where we are, in our neighborhood, our daily routines and relationships, to be messengers of His truth to others.  The idea here is that we pray to become spiritually alert and ready to make use of every opportunity God gives to point a soul to Christ.  In verses 5 and 6, the believer’s example and conversation are highlighted.  We are to be wise in our conduct as well as our speech.  We use salt, directing conversations to spiritual matters.  “Making best use of the time” is literally “buying up the opportunity.“ What choices can you make about your actions and speech that will lead to opportunities to present Christ to others? 

4.       Be faithful in the little things: it sets the stage for ministry. (Col. 4:7-18)

Paul was a great apostle, but he would not have accomplished nearly so much if it hadn’t been for his ministry team.  These are the people behind the scenes, whose names we skim when we come to the end of one of Paul’s letters.  Yet the people named in Col. 4:7-18 were precious to Paul, to the Colossian church, and to God.  What can we learn from each of them?

Tychicus was called a faithful minister, or servant.  Some commentators speculate he may have been the minister of the church in Ephesus, others that he was simply a humble servant, who was Paul’s errand boy among other things.  He carried this letter to the Colossian church.  What point was there in Paul writing a letter if it did not get delivered?  From Tychicus we learn there is greatness in the smallest thing done for Christ.  He risked his life at times, and other times he did the ordinary.  Yet he played a crucial part in the work of the gospel.

Onesimus was the slave who apparently robbed his master, Philemon, and ran away.  Somewhere in his flight, he was won to Christ and met Paul, who sent him back to his master with great commendation.  Onesimus teaches us the transforming power of the gospel and the equipping and usefulness of God’s servants for His work, no matter their background.  (A good follow up to the study of Colossians would be a study on the book of Philemon since these men were both Colossians. )

Aristarchus was described as Paul’s fellow prisoner, which either means he was a prisoner with Paul or his attendant while in prison.  This man knew what it was to risk his life for the gospel!  If there was drama involved, Aristarchus was a part of it—he was there for the riot in Ephesus and was also shipwrecked with Paul.  If there was something hard that needed to be done, he was ready to take the risk.  He didn’t leave when things got difficult.  We can learn a lot from his faithfulness, and appreciate and pray for those who are willing to take risks to spread the message of the gospel .

John Mark had a rocky history with Paul, deserting Paul and Barnabas on a mission and then causing dissention between them when Barnabas wished to give John Mark a second chance.  Yet we see that eventually he became indispensible to Paul, a trusted worker.  From his life we learn we sometimes need to allow for maturity in God’s workers.  John Mark went on to write the gospel of Mark, which continues to reach lives for the sake of Christ!  What a role he grew into!  Aren’t you glad both Barnabas and eventually Paul gave him another chance?

Jesus Justus is only referred to here in Colossians.  We don’t have any background, and even his name was a very common one for his time.  Common or not, he was an asset to Paul’s ministry and precious to those who knew him.  You don’t have to be well known to serve God faithfully in His work.

Epaphras is our model of intercessory prayer.  He probably came to Christ during Paul’s trip to Ephasus, then returned to the Colossians to share the gospel and start the church.  He never quit praying for his converts to reach maturity.  When it says he struggled with the Colossians in prayer, this word means agonize.  Do you pray with this intensity for those you disciple, or for those you have seen won to Christ?  He should inspire us to pray as we have never prayed before.

Luke is the beloved doctor who wrote both the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.  Though Paul himself had the gift of healing and even raised people from the dead, he was glad to be accompanied by a doctor.  Luke’s professional and people skills were essential to the work of the gospel.  Do you have such skills to offer the Lord for His use?

Demas is a sad story.  First referred to as a fellow worker in Philemon, it seems that by the time Paul wrote Colossians he was trying to make up his mind about him, as he was given no word of commendation nor correction.  In 2 Tim. we see the sad end to his story, as it seems he abandoned Paul for the things of the world.  We don’t know that he was completely away from the Lord, but his priorities were misplaced.  Be on guard, for even when we are fruitful in the work of the gospel, we are all liable to Satan’s schemes to lure us away from eternal work.

The last person Paul mentions in this letter is Archippus.  He is also mentioned in Philemon 2, and is suspected to be Philemon’s son.  Perhaps he was a budding pastor, overseeing the church that met in Philemon’s home.  If so, it makes sense the last word would be one of encouragement for him.  Was he discouraged by the Gnostic teachers?  Paul’s words would have meant a great deal to him.  He told him to fulfill the ministry he had received in the Lord.  A letter whose theme was the fullness of Christ ends with an encouragement to minister in that fullness.  If you have received a ministry from the Lord, be encouraged to stay faithful, develop that ministry in spite of obstacles, and use your gifts for the building of God’s church as you serve in the fullness of Christ.

Paul finishes his letter with a reminder of his chains.  Never has there been a man with a ministry quite like Paul’s, but it was far from glamorous.  Being used greatly by God rarely is.  There was only one Paul, yet over 100 people are mentioned in Acts and in his letters as ministry partners, each playing a vital though far less recognized part in the spread of the gospel.  Wherever God has you for this time and place, you can show forth the greatness of Christ in all you do, whether you serve up front or behind the scenes.  It amazes me that God is pleased to use transformed lives to transform lives.  To God be the glory, great things HE has done.  To borrow a thought from John Piper, may each of us leave this study with a greater desire to see and savor the supremacy of Christ in all things. 

Practical Christian Living: The Outer Life

1. How should knowing Christ and living for Him change the way you relate to others?

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

I. In the home (3:18-21)

2. Complete the following table with information from verses 18-21:

Family role addressed             Command given          How/why command is carried out             

                                               

3. Based on these verses, what advice would you give a struggling family who is willing

to go to God’s Word for help?

4. How would your family relationships be changed by obeying these commands?

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

II. In the workplace (3:22-4:1)        

5. a. With what attitude were slaves to obey their masters?  Why?

b. With what attitude are we to serve in our place of employment or service?

c. What are some practical ways to implement verse 23 into your work day?

6. What hope do we have when we are treated unfairly in our work?          

7. How are Christians to treat those who work for them?  How does this behavior reflect

their heavenly Master?

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

III. In our witness (4:2-6)

8.According to verses 2-6, what are three or four key ingredients in living as an     

effective witness for Christ?

9. a. How does Paul ask the Colossians to pray for him specifically?  Does his request seem unusual?  Explain.

b. Have you ever made a similar prayer request for yourself or others?  Explain.

10. How can you live a life that attracts others to Christ, according to verses 5-6? 

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

IV. As we minister for Christ

11. This list of names takes on new life when you see the story behind each person listed!  Please take the time to fill out the following table and get to know Paul’s ministry team!

Who:   Paul’s description of person,  Background (see verses),  Lesson from person's life

7-Tychicus

(Acts 20:4,

Titus 3:12,

2 Tim. 4:12)

9-Onesimus

Philemon 10-20

10-Aristarchus

Acts 19:28-41, 20:4,

27:2 and following

events

10-John Mark

Acts 12:12,

13:13 (referred to

here as John), 15:36-39

2 Tim. 4:11

11-Jesus Justus

12-Epaphras

Col. 1:7,

Philemon 23

14-Luke

Acts 16:10, 20:5, 27:1

(The “we” in Acts includes

Luke, the author of the book)

2 Tim. 4:11

14-Demas

Philemon 24,

2 Tim. 4:10

12. a. Based on the example of Paul’s ongoing relationships within his ministry team, how does living for Christ affect our ministry relationships or relationships with other believers?

b. How do you think these relationships were affected by living out the commands Paul had given in 3:1-17?  Similarly, how is our outer life related to our inner life in Christ?

Spiritual Closet Cleaning

I am not a big TV watcher, but every time I go to the dentist, the TV there is on.  I’ve had a lot of dental work done in my life, and watching TV is a good way to be distracted from the task at hand, usually involving my mouth and several sharp instruments.  Reading Colossians this week, with its commands to “put off the old and put on the new,” reminded me of a TV show I watched during a recent appointment.  The show was called What Not to Wear.  Have you seen this?  A person is nominated to be on the show by a “loving” friend who notes them as a walking fashion disaster.  In order to participate, they have to agree to pitch everything in their closet.  The show hosts go through each article of clothing and remove them, one by one, often in the midst of giggling over how disastrous and out of fashion is this wardrobe.  Then, they bring in a few choice outfits to show the person how to choose their clothes with more wisdom, including colors and fashions that will look particularly good on them.  Then they are given $5000 to hit the boutiques of New York City in search of a new wardrobe.

This show came to my mind this week as I thought through Colossians 3, and it is quite fitting to this passage as we see a list of sins to avoid and character traits to exhibit. As women I think we can identify with the clothing illustration.  Every morning we stand in front of our closets, making decisions about what to wear and what not to wear!  Spiritually speaking, we must stand in front of the closet of our inner lives and take inventory.  Are you ready for some spiritual closet-cleaning?  In Colossians 3:1-17, we learn the life of Christ in us grants us power to adorn our inner lives.   We’ll take this in two sections today.  Verses 1-4 are the power of the Christian life, and 5-17 are the adornment of the Christian life.

Colossians 3:1-4: The power of the Christian life

“If then, you have been raised with Christ,” is how Paul begins Ch. 3.  It is easy to quickly read past these words, but this is the hinge on which the second half of the book swings.  We have been raised with Christ.  Paul is picking up where he left off in Col 2:12 when he says believers are “buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Have you taken time to ponder the implications of being raised with Christ?  Upon receiving Christ, the Christian dies to the sin nature (verse 3 reads: you died) and is raised to new life in Christ.   While the sin nature continues to be a part of us, the power of that nature has been broken.   We are not to go on living as though we are still alive to sin when in reality, we are not.   Now, we are empowered for godly living by the resurrected, ascended, glorified  Christ.   With new life comes a new focus: our thoughts are to be on Him.

How are we to fix our thought on Christ and things above?  When Paul tells the Colossians to “seek the things that are above” and to “set your minds on things that are above,” these are really two different phrases.  In the first verse, “seek” means to” strive for earnestly” much as an Olympic athlete will seek a gold medal.   In verse 2, “set” means to “concentrate”.  I think the NIV has a good sense of this when it says to “set your heart” and then “set your mind” on things above.   It is parallel to the command to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  When Paul says to “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things,” this does not mean we are to ignore our earthly responsibilities.  Instead, we are to bring a heavenly, Christ-centered perspective to everything we do on earth.  Think of a submarine, which must navigate through the water.  Yet the eye of the captain is constantly trained to the periscope, because the well-being of those inside depends on his knowledge of what is above.  How will you train your mind and heart to be preoccupied with the risen Christ who is your life? 

Colossians 3:5-17: The adornment of the Christian life

Verses 5- 11 give us a list of “what not to wear” as Christians.  Paul first says to “put to death therefore what is earthly within you”.   The Greek tense here suggests a decisive action in which you are to destroy the strength, vitality, and functioning of the earthly nature and to do it now, with resolution.  This is not something to be done in our own strength, for that is the asceticism Paul warned about at the end of Ch. 2.  This is done by understanding the old nature is dead in Christ, and by denying sin its power to rule us.  There is power in our union with Christ, and power in His word, so in these things we find the power to overcome sin. 

Paul lists some things that should not adorn the inner life of a believer, including sexual sins and sin of covetousness.  Isn’t it interesting that as much as we may blush (and rush) over the list of sexual sins, right alongside them is placed this sin of coveting, which is said to be idolatry?  We live in a land that is very blessed materially, and it is vital that we consider the sin of covetousness with more than a passing glance.  Do we blush in shame over our greed, and understand how it takes the place of God in our lives?   Then Paul lists the sins of anger and deceit.  One thing I notice about this list is that Paul was specific about naming sin, and even named nuances for the sins of anger.  What specific sins are stashed away in the closet of your heart?   How do you plan to deal with these sins? 

So what should adorn the inner life of a Christian?  This is listed in verses 12-14.  Here are some things we should start putting in our closet!  In our lesson today we considered each one: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, long-suffering, forgiveness, and the virtue that ties all the others together: love.  These are the characteristics that make for a beautiful inner life, and reveal our pursuit of Christ.  They involve conscious choices and effort, a godly focus rather than self-focus, and a response rather than a reaction.  As you consider this list, which of these spiritual garments will you choose to begin putting on this week, and how can you do so?

If you are wondering how to go about this putting off and putting on, I can give you some ideas to get started.  Romans 6:1-14 goes into more detail about being dead to sin, and alive to Christ.  Memorize and meditate on passages like this!  You can look up scripture that specifically deals with sin or with a Christian characteristic you want to see displayed in your life, arming yourself with God’s Word.  Pray and ask God for help to apply these things to your life, and to grant the power for change.

Verses 15-17 list the results of a beautiful, well-adorned inner life.  We know this because though they are commands, Paul uses the word “let.”  Christ’s peace will rule, or “umpire” (the literal meaning) your heart, showing what is right and good.  Christ’s word will dwell, or live in us, and be poured out in teaching and praise of God to others.  Thankfulness is mentioned three times, another byproduct of Christ-centered living.  And best of all, all of our actions and words will be done in the name of Christ, showing forth His reputation to others. 

How does your life reflect the power of the risen Christ?  Do you have some closet cleaning to do?  I know I do!  Paul is very practical, so much so that it is uncomfortable.  Mark Twain expressed this well when he said,  “Most people are bothered by the Scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed that the passages in Scripture which trouble me the most are those which I do understand.”  What Paul instructs us to do here is not hard to understand.  Yet it will not be easy to do—it takes a diligent, concentrated effort as we focus on the risen Christ.  It is His power that makes it possible to live a life that shows forth His supremacy.

Practical Christian Living: The Inner Life

Colossians 3:1-17

1.Consider your life now as compared to when you first trusted in Christ for salvation, then answer the following questions.

a. How do your attitudes and actions reveal the life of Christ is at work in you?

b.In what areas do you long to see maturity?

 3:1-4: Heavenly thinking

2. What does Paul mean when he says believers have been “raised with Christ”  (Col. 2:13, Rom. 6:8, Eph. 2:6)?  By whose power are we to live the Christian life?

3. “Seek the things that are above.”  The word set here means “seek.”  As you look at your schedule, your checkbook, how you are using your gifts, your goals, etc., what do these things reflect about what you are seeking?

4. Believers are to set their minds on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  As you meditate on these words, use the following verses to list the benefits to believers because of Jesus’ position at God’s right hand. 

Acts 2:23

Romans 8:34

Heb. 1:13

Heb. 2:14-15

b. How can you obey the command of verse 2?

5. Read verse 3.  What does it mean to have your life hidden with Christ in God?

6. What is the future promise given in verse 4?  How does this promise give you hope and motivation for godly living?

3:5-11: the old nature

7. What drastic action does Paul command believers to take against their earthly nature?  How is this accomplished?

8. a. Into what categories would you place the sins listed in verses 5, 8, and 9?

b. Which of these sinful practices/attitudes do you especially struggle with?  How can you put that area to death, as Paul commands?  (See end of study for a definition of these words.)

9. How is our new self (new nature) renewed?

10. a. What words in verse 11 describe:

national distinctions:

religious distinctions:

cultural distinctions:

economic/social distinctions:

b. Which of these distinctions are you using to judge others (including yourself) within the body of Christ, and how do you need to change to see other believers through the eyes of Jesus?

3:12-17: The new nature

11. Do you ever feel stuck in your attitudes and thinking as you try to overcome sin and your old nature?  How is “putting on” something new related to the act of first “putting off” the old?

12. Read verses 12-17.  What phrases describe our motivation to put on the attributes of godly character?  What in particular is motivating about each phrase?

13. Consider the list of godly attributes in verses 12-14.  Which of these will you ask God to enable you to put on?  (Be as specific as possible.)  What kind of cooperation will He require from you for this to be possible?  (Again, these words are defined at the end of this study.)

14. What are the characteristics of a person who is being renewed in the image of Christ?  (15-17)

Conclusion

15. How will you apply the lessons from this passage (3:1-17) to grow in your walk with Christ?

Christ Alone

Christians desire maturity….spiritual progress… Just a closer walk with Thee.   Once a man or woman has accepted Christ, it is natural and right to desire spiritual growth.  Just as a baby is born with a desire to learn to walk, Christians long to know what it is to walk by faith in the ways of their Savior, fully pleasing and giving glory to Him.  However, on the path to growth there are no shortcuts.  A baby must first learn to support his head, then sit up, and then finally balance his weight on his legs, before taking that first tentative step.  Believers must walk with Christ, step by step, leaning on Him, learning His ways.  In such a manner we grow in Christ and bear fruit.

The Colossian believers were in danger.  False teachers were tempting church members with heresies that seemed to promise a fast track, or some better way, to spiritual growth.  That sounds so tempting!  Paul reminds the church to walk in Christ just as they had received Him, by faith, dependence, and by hearing and understanding the teaching of the word of God.  Paul’s message to the church is God’s message to us.  He wanted them to know that in Christ alone, believers have all they need to live the Christian life.  Believers are to grow in knowledge and application of what they already have been given in Christ. 

I’d like to briefly share the “Reader’s Digest condensed version” of the Colossian heresy, give a few examples from both the NT and modern times, and tell how Christ is the antidote we need to combat each of these false teachings.  Paul presents Christ as the standard, and explains why everything else falls short!  Keep in mind as we look at these passages we are dealing with a combination of many beliefs presented in the false teaching.  Though we have them lumped into nice, neat categories there will be a lot of cross-over between beliefs, and you will see some that are contradictory.  Paul presents them all as something to be on guard against.

First, in verses 8-10, we see the false teaching of human philosophy.  “Philosophy” simply means “to love wisdom,” and that in itself is not wrong, as there is a Christian philosophy of life built on the wisdom of God.  The problem here is the philosophy is “human” and therefore leaves God out of the equation (see “not according to Christ” in verse 8).  The false teachers promoted a wisdom based on human traditions and basic principles of the world.  Basic principles meant “the elemental spirits of the universe, the angels that influenced the heavenly bodies.”  Early Gnostics believed in angels and promoted the idea that Christ had the body of an angel and it was only “apparent,” not real.  They also believed that angels and the heavenly bodies influenced people’s lives.  This is a warning to believers against the occult, horoscopes, astrology, mediums, and the like.

Another modern form of this sort of philosophy could be humanism.  If “humanities” includes the study of the academic disciplines such as literature, philosophy, arts, and sciences, humanism goes the next step in saying that in this knowledge are the answers to the problems of man.  We see people today looking for answers in science, technology, government, medicine.  However, in man’s quest for knowledge we will never find the answers for the deepest need of man: the problem of sin.

The antidote to human philosophy is the deity of Christ (verse 9- For in him the whole fullnss of deity dwells”).  We cannot find the answers to our most perplexing questions by leaving God out of the equation.  In Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.  Only in the God/man union of Christ can we find the answers to man’s problems, especially the answer to the sin problem.  The highest wisdom given to man is found in Christ.  It is amazing God has made the wisdom of Christ available to man, as in verse 10 we read, “you have been filled (or made complete) in Him”.  The way to Christian maturity is to grow in knowledge of Christ, His person, His work, and application of that knowledge to our lives by the power of the His Spirit at work in us.   If you study, apply, and grow in these things, you will have greater wisdom than the most respected and highly regarded intellectual in any field found on earth. 

Next, in verses 11-17, we see the false teaching of Jewish legalism.  Warren Wiersbe points out that Gnostic legalism was a bit different than the Jewish legalism Paul countered in the book of Galatians.  Gnostic legalism said that following the Jewish law would help make believers more spiritual.  They taught believers should be circumcised, watch their diets, and observe holy days to become part of the spiritual “elite.”  We see modern-day counterparts in some legalistic fads that are introduced into the church.  It may be a teaching that you must wear your hair a certain way, that you should avoid wearing makeup, going to parties, watching movies, etc., etc.  If you do (or don’t do!) these things, you show your spirituality.  There may also be some confusion among some Christians about whether or not to observe parts of the Jewish law such as the celebration of festivals or of the Sabbath.

Paul teaches the antidote to legalism is the reality of Christ.  The law was a “shadow of the things to come, but the substance (or the reality) belongs to Christ.”  Are you a proud mom or grandma?  Do you like to show off pictures of your grandchildren to your friends?  Well, imagine what would happen if you ran into a friend at the store, pushing one of those precious grandchildren in the stroller.  Would you pull out your pictures?  No!  You gladly unbuckle the child from the stroller and place that child in your arms, and together you and your friend delight in this little life.  Forget the pictures, you’ve got the real deal in your arms!  We have Christ, and can let go of the pictures that pointed to Him.  With the examples of circumcision and baptism, Paul is teaching that Christ has done for us what the law never could: He has separated us from sin by the death of our old nature and resurrected us to a new life that will please God.  We learn by His Spirit how to please God in ways the law could never touch—what it truly means to love God (the intent of the first 4 commandments) and love our neighbor (the intent of the last 6.)  We don’t need to follow a set of man-made rules to become more spiritual, we have already been made truly spiritual by God.  We need only to grow in what He has given us--Christ. 

Third, we see the false teaching of mysticism in verses 18-19.  The mystics taught that God is too high and lofty to be approached directly, so you have to come to Him through various emanations, or lesser gods.  Visions were promoted as a way to quickly come in contact with the divine.  We can see mysticism in the modern church where believers are encouraged to pray to saints, or the Virgin Mother, rather than to Christ Himself.  The thought is that man is too sinful to approach a holy God, thus the “false humility” Paul speaks about in verse 18 (NIV.)  However, this is actually a subtle form of pride because it assumes greater wisdom about approaching God that God Himself has given.  In Hebrews 10:19 God commands believers to “have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.”

The antidote to mysticism is found in the headship of Christ (verse 19).  He is our head, and by being in fellowship with Him we are nourished and grow “in a growth that is from God.” (verse 19)  As our Head, Jesus grants us direct access to the throne of God.  There is not even any reason to drag our feet or hang our head, as Christ Himself ushers us in to the throne room of the Most High God.

Finally, in verses 20-23, we see the false teaching of asceticism.  An ascetic is a person who practices strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline.  It is clear that the false teachers in Colossae taught that matter was evil, therefore they made rules about what to handle, taste, and touch.  We may be apt to think of the monks and monestaries of the Middle Ages when considering a form of this practice.  I had a hard time thinking of extreme examples of asceticism in the church today (we tend more toward comfort these days), but there are subtle forms in those who beat themselves up continually over the guilt of past and present sin, perhaps in hope that arousing guilt will one day be enough deterrent to help them overcome the sins that plague them.

Asceticism is legalism turned to harsh discipline.  While spiritual discipline has its place, pure asceticism does nothing to sanctify the soul.  In fact, the practice of asceticism serves to arouse the desires of the flesh to an even greater degree.  If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know exactly what I’m talking about!  The antidote to asceticism is the power of Christ over sin.  God condemned the carnal nature as too vile for improvement, and we cannot conquer our sin nature in our own strength.  In Christ that nature has been put to death, and the believer has been given a new nature which is spiritual, and is able to walk in obedience to God’s commands.  This is why Paul tells us in Col 3:5 to “put to death what is earthly within you” and to “put on” the new nature.  We’ll talk more about how that really works in next week’s lesson. 

In conclusion, if you have a clear understanding of the false teaching in Colossians 2, you will be able to discern and discredit false teaching in your walk with Christ.  Don’t be deceived: everything you need for life and growth is found in Christ!  Where are you looking for the answers to your most pressing questions?  You have the wisdom of God available to you in Christ.  What are you doing to become more “spiritual?”  You have the righteousness of Christ!   That’s as spiritual as you can ever get in God’s eyes!  How are you pursuing fellowship with God?  You have access to Him in Christ.  What is your strategy for overcoming habitual sin?  You have power in Christ.  His life and resources are yours.  Walk in Him.  There is no other way.

Fulness in Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

1.a. How did the Colossians receive Christ Jesus as Lord? (For review see 1:3-6)

b.How does one walk in Christ, just as they have received Him?

c. Can you think of reasons why you or another believer may stop growing in Christ?

Christ the Antidote to Human Philosophy (8-10)

2. a. Contrast the words Paul uses to describe human wisdom (8) with what Christians have been given in Christ (9-10).

b. What are some current examples of human wisdom, and how does it fall short of providing the answers people need today? 

3. How do the following verses aid your understanding of what it means to have been given fullness in Christ? 

John 1:16

Eph. 1:22-23

Eph. 3:17b-19

Eph. 4:11-13

Col. 1:19

Col. 1:25

Christ the Antidote to Jewish Legality (11-17)

4. a.What does circumcision symbolize for the believer?  (See also Rom. 2:29, Phil. 3:3)

b. What is the baptism Paul is referring to in this passage?  (See 1 Cor. 12:13.)  Explain your answer if possible.

c.  What was Paul trying teach the Colossians with this example about baptism and circumcision?

5. In verses 13-15, what verbs describe the actions God initiated on our behalf? 

b. Why were these actions necessary, and what did they accomplish?

6.a. What regulations were false teachers using to judge Colossian believers? (16)

b. By what “legalistic” standards can believers wrongly judge others today?

c. Why are human standards a poor judge of a person’s relationship with Christ?

Christ the Antidote to Oriental Mysticism (18-19)

7.a. In verses 18-19 Paul is countering mysticism taught by false teachers.  What did these false teachers claim?

b. What examples of mysticism do you see in the church today?  (Or in cults sometimes affiliated with the church?)

c. How does Paul describe such people in verses 18-19?

Christ the Antidote to Carnal Asceticism (20-23)

8. a. What other kinds of rules are being promoted, according to verses 20-21?

b. Why are these really not helpful but actually harmful?

c. Can you think of modern-day examples of such rules?

Conclusion

9. How many times can you find the phrases “in Christ” or “with Christ” used in this passage?  What do you learn from this?

10. How does this passage equip you to defend against false teaching?  Please indicate if something has specifically helped you.

*The divisions for this study were taken from H.A. Ironside’s commentary on Colossians.

Loving Christ's Church: Colossians 1:24-2:5

How would you fill in this blank?   “Love me, love my _______________.”

When my husband and I began dating, there were certain things we had to know and appreciate about each other for our relationship to continue to grow.  For my husband, it was “love me, love my computer.”  For me, it was “love me, love my cat.”  Both took some life adjustments on our part (I knew nothing about computers and had little interest beyond word processing, and my yet-to-be-husband was allergic to cats.)  However, our love for each other was deepened as we shared in each other’s interests.  I still don’t know much about computers, but as I have watched and learned some things from my husband over the years, I have come to appreciate more about how God has made him and how his mind works. 

This is a shallow example of a more profound analogy regarding Christ.  Last week we studied the magnificence of Jesus’ supremacy and caught a sense of Paul’s adoration for Jesus as Lord of all.  As we grow in love for Him and submit to His authority over our lives, we begin to love what Jesus loves.  And what Jesus loves, the very reason He came, was to glorify God by paying the price for His church.  If we love Jesus, we will love His church.  From Paul’s example in Col. 1:24-2:5, we learn that those who love Christ will endeavor to see His church built.

I want to talk in Col. 1:24-27 about the mystery of the church (to love Christ is to love His church), and talk about Paul’s desire to present everyone mature (to love His church is to desire maturity in its members).

In Col 1:27, Paul proclaims the mystery of Christ.  What is the mystery Paul is proclaiming?  What indeed!  Every commentary I looked at came at it from a different angle. There are a couple of ways to think about that.  I could say, “well, I have to find out who is right!”  Or, perhaps, this mystery is something so immense, so beyond something you could define in just a few words, that it can’t be summed up in one definition.  I think that is more the sense I get here.  This mystery is more like a diamond that can be viewed in its many facets.  Since verse 27 states the mystery is “Christ in you”, let’s begin there and see what we can learn.  I’m going to highlight each of these words and see what light they can shed on this mystery.

First, the mystery is Christ Himself.  That is essentially what Paul was saying in 2:2 as well “the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.”  Though the OT foretold the coming of a Messiah, much about God’s plan was shrouded in mystery.  Perhaps the hardest to understand and the most mysterious part of Messiah was that He had to suffer.  Even the disciples who followed Jesus and proclaimed Him as Messiah during His earthly ministry seemed rather clueless about His suffering.  Jesus warned the disciples several times that He would suffer many things, be rejected by the leaders, be killed, and three days later rise again.  Mark 8:32 even says he explained these things plainly.  Yet Peter rebuked Jesus for saying these very words.  The disciples were completely unprepared for His betrayal, and did not even begin to comprehend a Messiah who must suffer, be killed, and rise again to pay for the sins of mankind.  Twice at the end of Luke it says that as Jesus talked with His disciples about these things, He had to open their minds to understand everything written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms as fulfilled in Him.

Second, the mystery is Christ in you.   In the Old Testament, God came to dwell with the nation of Israel.  Yet His dwelling place was quite separated from man by many barriers and His holy presence could only be entered once a year by the Most High Priest by the blood of a sacrifice, ceremonial washings, and God-given rituals that dealt with sin.  It was quite clear to any knowledgeable Jew:  man’s sin separated him from God.  Yet Jesus came and lived a perfect life, and provided a blood sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of God for sin.   Now, the man who trusted in the righteous sacrifice of Jesus became a temple in which God Himself was pleased to dwell.  That Christ could dwell in His people and that He chooses to do so is a wonderful, amazing mystery!  With that gift we have been given His righteousness, access to the God of Heaven, and all His storehouse of wisdom and knowledge in Christ.

Third, the mystery is Christ in you.  The “you” refers to church members in Colossae.  This church was made up of believing Jews as well as Gentiles.  The message that Christ had come for the Gentiles was not only foreign to the Jews, it infuriated them.   When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem on false charges, the Jews listened patiently to Paul’s testimony and defense until he used the word Gentile (Acts 22:21).  In Acts 22:22 it says “Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth!”  They began to shout death threats, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust in the air, dragging Paul away.  From this time forth Paul became a Roman prisoner, and it was during this imprisonment most scholars believe he wrote the letter of Colossians.  It may be easy to dismiss ourselves from this Jew/Gentile conflict since this has ceased to be a daily issue for our time and culture.  Yet think of this: as far as I know, every person in this room is a Gentile.  Do we realize now, two thousand years later, how much we owe to Paul for his willingness to suffer to fully proclaim the mystery of Christ to Gentiles?  Have you marveled over the privilege God has given us Gentiles in His offer of salvation?

Put these three words together, and we have “Christ in you.”  One facet of the mystery of Christ is the church.  What a love Paul had for the church, because he loved Christ, and knew He had given Himself as a sacrifice for her sake!  As your love for Christ grows, have you noticed a growing love for His church, of which you were made a part?  How will you demonstrate your love for Christ’s church?

II. How did Paul demonstrate his love for the church?  That is what we will look at next.  Let’s  move from mystery to maturity.  In verse 28 we see that Paul’s love for the church fueled in him a desire to present everyone mature in Christ.  And for each believer, maturity of believers is our goal.  Whether you are engaged in an area of ministry, building a strong family, raising godly children, or encouraging a fellow believer, you are a part of this process of maturity.  We get a glimpse of what maturity looks like from 2:2-4: encouraged hearts, love, enriched understanding and knowledge of Christ, and protection from the deception of false teaching.  (We’ll talk more about marks of maturity in Ch. 3-4)

Maturity does not come easily.  When a new baby is born, we rejoice over the gift of a new life.  How absurd (and potentially life-threatening) would it be to neglect that new life, thinking the child will somehow reach maturity of its own accord?  No, as any parent knows, the road to maturity is costly, demanding, and full of challenges as well as joys.  As I considered how easy it is to get sidetracked, whether in parenting a child to maturity or helping myself or another member of the church to grow in Christ, I saw some weaknesses.  I tend to get caught up in temporal problems, I get self-focused, and can be terribly task-oriented.  I noticed Paul was quite different!  So how did Paul purpose to move God’s people to maturity, and how can we do the same?

First, Paul had an eternal perspective.  His willingness to minister on behalf of Christ’s church cost him his comfort, his freedom, and eventually even his life.  Yet he was able to rejoice in his sufferings because he saw the bigger picture.  He saw “the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  When he saw the church, he saw what God intended for their future, a blessed future in Christ.

Next, Paul was Christ-focused.  In verse 28 it reads, “Him we proclaim.”  Paul didn’t promote a program, a method, spiritual attainments, or lofty ideas (as the Gnostic teachers did.)  He simply proclaimed a person: Christ.  How many times in the passage, even in this letter, do you see the word Christ?  Paul also does not attempt to carry this task out alone, but in the midst of his struggle and toil he is “struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works in me.” 

Finally, Paul was people-oriented.  He loved the church, but he was concerned for every individual.  This becomes quite clear in verse 28 with the repetition of the word “everyone.”  Paul  was “warning everyone, teaching everyone, so we may present everyone mature in Christ.”  The body is strengthened one soul at a time.  That is why every one of us can play a part, whether in pursuing maturity in our own walk with Christ or in leading others.

Here’s something I am going to do this next week, and I’ll challenge you to do the same.  Each morning, pray for at least one person you would like to see grow in Christ.  Perhaps it is a friend, a child, a Sunday school class, or maybe you need to strive for maturity in your own life!  As you pray, ask God the following questions:

1.       Would you help me to see your eternal purpose for this person/situation?

2.       How would you have me bring Christ into my conversation/interactions/thoughts regarding this person?  Will you empower me as I interact with them to move them toward maturity?

3.       How do I need to warn or teach this person?

It is in union with Christ, loving and building His church, where we will really begin to know Him.  While suffering for the church Paul wrote in Phi. 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.”  When it comes to Christ and the church, you cannot really separate the two.  Love Christ, love His church.  Let’s leave this section of Colossians ready to build His church, person by person, soul by soul!