Reading: Colossians chapter 2 verses 4-15.
Ill:
A reporter was interviewing an old man on his 100th birthday.
• “What are you most proud of?” he asked.
• “Well, “ said the man, “I don’t have an enemy in the world.”
• “What a beautiful thought! How inspirational!” said the reporter.
• “Yep,” added the centenarian, “outlived every last one of them.”
Ill:
• There was a pastor of a local Church,
• Who was concerned about some unsavoury business outside his local school:
• His protests finally led to a court case,
• And the opposing barrister tried to do everything he could to discredit the pastor.
• “Are you a pastor?” the lawyer asked.
• “Yes” came the reply.
• The lawyer continued, “Does the word pastor mean shepherd?”
• The minister replied “Yes it does”.
• The lawyer then said;
• “If you are a shepherd , why are you not out taking care of your sheep?”
• The pastor replied;
• “I am caring for the sheep by fighting the wolves”.
Paul was very aware that enemies were attacking the Church at Colosse:
• And so Paul offered them some encouragement and advice,
• If they heeded his warning the Colossians could overcome their enemies.
• Ill: Now a sheep would never be able to scare off a wolf,
• But a sheep protected by and in the company of the Good Shepherd can!
Let no-one deceive you (verse 4&8).
Verse 4:
4”I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments”.
Verse 8:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ”.
• Every Christian has an enemy called Satan;
• His plan is always the same, to deceive and to lead believers astray,
• And one of the ways he does this;
• Is by using deceptive words.
Ill:
The Greek term used here in verse 4:
• Describes the persuasive arguments of a lawyer.
• Who is doing his best to defend his client, even though he knows his client is guilty!
• Satan is a liar,
• And by his lies he wants to lead believers away from Christ
In warning the Christians at Colossae of the evil ones strategy:
• Paul used several vivid word picture;
• Grasping hold of these truths will help us overcome the enemy.
(1). The army (verse 5):
5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Ill:
• Dwight L. Moody did not want his song leader Ira Sankey;
• To use the hymn ‘Onward Christian soldiers’
• Why? Well, Mr Moody thought that the Church as he knew it;
• Did not look or act like an army of Christian soldiers.
Quote: C.T. Studd powerful writing ‘The Chocolate Soldier’.
• THE OTHERWISE CHRISTIAN IS A Chocolate Christian,
• Dissolving in water and melting at the smell of fire.
• Sweeties they are! Bonbons, lollipops!
• Living their lives in a glass dish or in a cardboard box,
• Each clad in his soft clothing,
• A little frilled white paper to preserve his dear little delicate constitution.
• Too many of us as Christians want an easy life.
• What we do is often a show, looking good to please others!
• When actually each Christian is called to enlist in a war.
• We are in a battle and expected to fight hard!
In verse 5 a soldier is pictured:
• The words “Order” and “Firm” or “Stead fastness” are military terms.
• They describe an army that is solidly united against the enemy.
Ill:
• “Order “describes the arrangement of the army in ranks,
• With each soldier in his proper place.
• Not everybody can be a five-star general,
• But •the general could never fight the battle alone.
Ill:
• “Standing firm” or “Steadfastness” pictures the soldiers in battle formation,
• Presenting a solid front to the enemy.
• Christians ought to make progress in discipline and obedience,
• Just as soldiers on the battlefield.
(2). The pilgrim (verse 6):
ill:
• Late last century,
• An American tourist paid a visit to a renowned Polish rabbi, Hofetz Chaim.
• He was astonished to see that the rabbi’s home was only a simple room filled with books,
• Plus a table and a cot.
• The tourist asked, "Rabbi, where is your furniture?"
• Hofetz Chaim replied, "Where is yours?"
• The puzzled American asked, "Mine? But I’m only a visitor here. I’m only passing through."
• The rabbi replied, "So am I."
• We might not be as literal as the Rabbi, but don’t miss the point!
• That should be true for all of us.
• Because all Christians know that on this earth and in this body;
• They are but pilgrims passing through on the way to eternal glory.
Verse 6:
”So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him”.
“……..so walk ye in him” (KJ).
• The Christian life is compared to a pilgrimage,
• And believers must learn to walk.
• Paul had already encouraged his readers to “walk worthy of the Lord” (ch 1 verse 10),
• And later he used this image again (chapter 3 verse 7; chapter 4 verse 5).
Note:
• We are to walk in Christ the same way we originally received Christ;
• i.e. By faith.
• The false teachers (the Gnostic );
• Wanted to introduce some “new truths” to improve us.
• So Paul denounced them.
• “You started with Christ and you must continue with Christ,”
• “You started with faith and you must continue with faith.
• This is the only way to make spiritual progress.”
(3). The tree (verse 7a).
“Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness”.
• Rooted is an agricultural word.
• The tense of the Greek word means; “once and for all having been rooted.”
Ill:
• Christians are not to be tumbleweeds that have no roots;
• And are blown about by “every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians chapter 4 verse 14).
Ill:
• Nor are they to be “transplants” that are repeatedly moved from soil to soil.
• Once we are rooted by faith in Christ, there is no need to change the soil!
Instead they should have good roots:
• These roots can draw up the nourishment and the tree can then grow.
• These roots will also give the tree strength and stability.
Ill:
Jeremiah chapter 17 verses 7-8:
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
8They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.”
(4). The building (verse 7b):
“Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”.
• Built up is an architectural term.
• It is in the present tense: “being built up.”
• When we trust Christ to save us, we are put on the foundation;
• From then on, we grow in grace.
Quote:
“Foundations are unseen but essential”.
ILL:
• It is visited each year by thousands of people,
• It is one of the great tourist attractions in the world,
• It stands 179 feet tall and is a work of beauty,
• The problem is the architect built it on 10 feet of foundations.
• The leaning tower of Pisa,
• Is externally impressive but was a disaster waiting to happen!
• And it has only survived to this day,
• Thanks to the knowledge and skill of many different experts.
Question:
• Are we growing up?
• Or are we just growing older?
(5). The school (verse 7c).
“Strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”.
Ill:
• A Chinese boy who wanted to learn about jade went to study with a talented old teacher.
• This gentleman put a piece of the stone into the youth’s hand & told him to hold it tight.
• Then he began to talk of philosophy, men, women, the sun,
• And almost everything under it.
• After an hour he took back the stone and sent the boy home.
• The procedure was repeated for weeks.
• The boy became frustrated—when would he be told about jade?
• But he was too polite to interrupt his venerable teacher.
• Then one day when the old man put a stone into his hands,
• Instantly, the boy cried out, “That’s not jade!”
• God wants us to become so familiar with his truth,
• That when error comes along we can instantly recognise it!
We know of course that it is the Word of God that builds up & strengthens Christians:
Ill:
• Chapter 1 verse 7:
• Epaphras had taught the Colossian believers the truth of the Word.
• But now the false teachers were undermining that doctrine:
• Undoing the good work that Epaphras had done.
• They did this by offering Christians an easier, more exiting alternative.
• Ill: Telling a student they need not study to pass their exams!
• The Christian walk is a daily walk, a daily discipline;
• No experience can ever replace the daily walk, a daily discipline.
• And when we are doing the daily walk, we become familiar with his truth,
• And when error comes along we can instantly recognise it!
(6). The river (verse 7d).
“And overflowing with thankfulness”.
• The word “Overflowing” or “Abounding” is often used by Paul:
• It suggests the picture of a river overflowing its banks.
Ill:
• Jesus in John’s gospel spoke about “Living water”. (John chapter 4 verse 10-14).
• Jesus in John’s gospel spoke about “Spring of water”. (John chapter 4 verse 15).
• Jesus in John’s gospel spoke about “River of living water” (John chapter 7 verse 37-39)
• The challenge is are we making progress?
• Are our lives a shallow trickle or mighty rivers?
THESE SIX PICTURES ARE OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESS:
• They show to us how the growing Christian,
• Can easily defeat the enemy and not be led astray.
• If his or her spiritual roots are deep in Christ,
• They will not want any other soil.
• If Christ is his or her sure foundation,
• They have no need to move.
• If he or she is studying and growing in the Word,
• They will recognise and reject false doctrine.
• And if his or her heart is overflowing with thanksgiving,
• They will not even consider turning from the fullness he has in Christ.
• A grounded, growing, grateful Christian,
• Will not be led astray.
(Two more pictures to note):
(7). A Prisoner (verse 8):
• Paul continued his argument against the Gnostics by using another military picture:
• “Beware lest any man carry you off as a captive” (literal translation).
• Ill: An army that had been defeated,
• Had its soldiers and leaders taken off as prisoners and slaves.
The Gnostics were crafty:
• They did not go out into the cities & villages and win their converts,
• Instead they “kidnapped” converts from the Christian churches!
Ill:
• Bang up to date problem.
• Mormons were doing this in recent years;
• Infiltrating Church of England meetings.
Question: How is it possible for false teachers to capture people?
Answer:
• The answer is simple: they pick on those Christians;
• Who are ignorant of their Bibles.
• When a person does not know the doctrines of the Christian faith,
• They can easily be captured by false religions.
Ill:
• Jehovah’s witness great ploy,
• They believe they can out argue most Christians on Biblical doctrines.
The important thing about any teaching is its origin:
• Where did it come from?
• Did it come from God or from man?
• The Gnostic teaching was the ideas of men, and therefore it was hollow & empty.
• The gospel is a revelation from God, and therefore it is solid and reliable.
These false teachers in Colosse:
• Were extremely crafty and dangerous;
• Because they did not ask the believers to forsake Christ:
• They asked them to make Christ a part of the new system.
• Christ plus a bit of Judaism, Christ plus a bit of eastern religion (i.e. very New Age!)
• But this teaching removes Jesus Christ from His rightful place of pre-eminence.
• He is not one of many manifestations of God. He is God alone!
(8). A Gift (verse 9).
Paul gives the antidote to false teaching (Verse 9):
9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been GIVEN fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
• When a person becomes a Christian, born again into God’s family,
• He or she is born complete in Christ.
• They grow spiritually not by addition,
• i.e. Adding to the gospel message i.e. Mr Mormon, Mrs J.W. etc
• But by nutrition.
• i.e. feeding on Christ and his word the Bible.
• The Christian grows from the inside out.
• And not by outward deeds of religion or by supernatural experiences.
Paul explains to the Colossians 5 areas of Christian Teaching:
• We are complete in him (vs 10)
• We are circumcised in him (vs 11)
• We are alive in him (vs 12-13)
• We are free in him (vs14)
• We are victorious in him (vs 15)
Ill:
• If you want a little Bible study this week;
• Dwell on those 5 points!
Paul attacks the false teaching head on:
• By showing that these false teachers are not actually adding anything to their faith,
• But instead they are cheating them and stealing away what they actually have in Christ!
• After all if all those five truths are ours,
• What else can be added?
Remember:
• The key verse in the whole book,
• Which summarises the whole of Paul’s teaching says:
• Chapter 3 verse 11: “Christ is all in all”.
• J.B. Philips translates it: “Christ is all that matters”.
• Every saint is alive in Christ.
• May every saint here tonight also be alert in Christ.
