Hidden Treasures In Christ

I. EXORDIUM:

Is CHRIST our hidden treasure?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that CHRIST is our Hidden treasure.

IV. TEXT:

Colossians 2:3 (Amplified Bible)

In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.

V. THESIS:

CHRIST is our Hidden treasure.

VI. TITLE:

Hidden treasures in CHRIST

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: Between 60 to 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: To exhort and edify believers

D. To whom written: Church in Colosse, a city of Asia Minor

E. Main themes: Church, as body of CHRIST. CHRIST as Head of the Church. Warnings against trusting worldly wisdom

F. Keywords: CHRIST - the Head of all

Colossians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

G. Key verses:

Colossians 2:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

Treasures came from the Greek word: "thesauros" meaning "deposit", "wealth"

Matthew 6:21 (Amplified Bible)

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

If CHRIST is our treasure, we are the earthen vessels that contain Him.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (Amplified Bible)

However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Hidden treasures of wisdom

"In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God)"

1. CHRIST is our treasure of wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:24 (Amplified Bible)

But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.

Romans 11:33 (Amplified Bible)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!

Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)

[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.

Wisdom is like a diamond-like treasure because it has many sides to it.

CHRIST is our wisdom much different from the worldly wisdom. If you use worldly wisdom you can't know CHRIST. It requires that you know CHRIST thru His wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:21-24 (Amplified Bible)

For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him).

For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom,

We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense.

But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.

B. Hidden treasures of knowledge

"and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden."

Knowledge came from the Greek word "gnosis" meaning knowledge, or science.

2 Peter 3:18 (Amplified Bible)

But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!

Philippians 3:8 (Amplified Bible)

Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),