Introduction:
A. One of the scariest things about young children is the fact that they are naïve and uninhibited.
1. These pictures I am showing on the screen make every parent gasp because of the danger.
B. I am going to date myself with this illustration: How many of you remember the old Popeye the Sailor Man cartoons?
1. The Popeye comic strip first appeared in 1929 (contrary to what you might think - I don’t go back that far).
2. Over the years, Popeye has appeared in comic books, television cartoons, video games, and advertisements.
a. Pictured here are Popeye, Olive Oyl, Sweet Pea, Bluto, Wimpy, and Eugene the Jeep.
3. Do you remember Popeye’s theme song?
a. “I'm Popeye the Sailor Man. I'm Popeye the Sailor Man. I'm strong to the finich, cause I eats me spinach. I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.”
4. Anyhow, the reason I am bringing up the Popeye cartoon is the little baby named Sweet Pea was always getting into dangerous situations because of the baby’s naiveté.
5. In one episode, baby Sweet Pea got loose in a factory and crawled among the gears, saws and crushers.
6. In another episode, baby Sweet Pea got loose at the zoo and was playing around the allegator, elephant and hippopotamus.
7 Do you see the pattern…young children don’t know how to protect themselves from dangers.
8. Those were some pretty scary moments for Popeye as he had to come to the rescue of Sweet Pea in all of those situation.
9. Perhaps Popeye and Olive Oyl should have kept a closer eye on Sweet Pea, just sayin’.
C. One of the primary reasons that Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians was to protect the young Christians at Colossae from the spiritual dangers that faced them.
1. The Colossian Christians were spiritually young and naïve.
2. They were unaware of the danger that the false teachers posed.
3. So, Paul wrote to warn them and to give them the information and instruction they needed to avoid and overcome the dangers they faced.
4. The world today still contains spiritual dangers that we need to protect ourselves and especially young Christians from, whether those dangers are heresy, bad influences, or temptation.
5. Let’s take a look at what Paul shared with the Colossians, because what was helpful for them will be helpful for us as well.
I. Paul’s First Instruction: Keep Making Spiritual Progress (2:4-7)
A. Paul wrote: 4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. 6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. (Col. 2:4-7)
1. In many respects, if a person is not growing in Christ, then they are dying in Christ.
2. Although it might be possible to stand still in Christ, it is not advisable.
3. In reality, we are either going forward in Christ, or we are gradually slipping backward.
4. That is the nature of life and the nature of living things.
5. Plants are either growing and adding new branches and leaves, or they are regressing and are in the process of dying.
B. In verses 6 & 7, Paul used several word pictures that describe what spiritual progress looks like.
1. Our spiritual progress began when we first “received Christ Jesus as Lord” and that occurred when we put our faith in Jesus, repented of our sins and were immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins – that’s when our spiritual life began – when we were born again.
2. The first picture of making spiritual progress after receiving Christ Jesus as Lord is to continue in to “live in Him” or “walk in Him.”
a. Being born again and beginning a saving relationship with Jesus is crucial, but it is something that has to continue…it isn’t a one and done type of a thing.
b. We must continue to live in Him and walk with Him.
c. This is the picture of someone walking on a journey with God.
d. The concept of walking with God in relationship is not a new concept with Christianity, but is seen throughout biblical history.
1. Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:22).
2. Noah was a righteous man who walked with God (Gen. 6:9).
3. Moses instructed God’s people to “walk in all the ways that the Lord your God has commanded you” (Dt. 5:33).
4. The Psalmist said, “I will walk continually in your truth” (Ps. 26:3).
5. In Col. 1:10, Paul instructed the Colossians to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
e. So, continuing to walk in Christ helps us to make spiritual progress.
4. The second picture of making spiritual progress employed by Paul is being “rooted in Him.”
a. This is an agricultural illustration that speaks to the importance of deep roots.
b. In Jesus’ parable of the sower, we see that the seed that fell on the rocky soil produced a plant, but the plant quickly died because it didn’t have deep roots.
c. To have deep roots in Christ, we must focus on spiritual disciplines like daily prayer and Scripture reading, study and meditation in order to know Jeus better and be nourished in Him.
d. So, in our spiritual progress, we must develop deep, deep roots.
5. The third picture of making spiritual progress employed by Paul is being “built up in Him.”
a. This is an architectural picture of a building being constructed on a firm foundation.
b. Jesus said that everyone who hears His words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on the rock (Mt. 7:24).
c. As our spiritual process continues, we must move forward to completion, maturity.
6. The fourth picture of making spiritual progress employed by Paul is being “established in the faith as you were taught.”
a. This is the picture of school and the power that comes through learning.
b. Our spiritual progress will move forward as we grow in our wisdom and knowledge.
7. The final picture of making spiritual progress is “overflowing with gratitude.”
a. This is the picture of the river overflowing its banks.
b. The more we are living in Him, being rooted and built up in Him and established in Jesus’ teachings, the more we will be filled with thanksgiving and overflow with gratitude.
c. The more connected to Jesus we are the more thankful we will be.
C. I hope and pray that all of us will be making that kind of spiritual progress in Christ.
1. I pray that we will walk with Jesus on the journey of a lifetime.
2. I pray that we will put down deep roots into Christ that will give us stability and sustenance.
3. I pray that we will be built up in Christ on a firm foundation of God’s Word.
4. I pray that we will be like a student in school eagerly learning and powerfully applying what we learn.
5. And the result of all of this will be a river of gratitude that overflows from within us.
6. All of this takes desire, determination, devotion and discipline.
7. So, Paul’s first instruction to the Colossian Christians is: Keep Making Spiritual Progress, because Paul knew that a grounded, growing and grateful believer would not be easily lead astray.
II. Paul’s Second Instruction: Watch Out for Spiritual Perils (2:8-10)
A. Paul wrote: 8 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. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. (Col. 2:8-10)
1. The primary peril that was threatening the Colossians was the influence of the false teachers.
2. Paul warned them in verse 8 to beware that “no one takes you captive.”
a. False teachers don’t evangelize, they kidnap and imprison.
b. Most people who are involved with anti-Christian cults were once a part of churches, but they were kidnaped and taken away.
c. During my ministry, I have seen and heard of situations in churches where a person will come into a congregation and begin promoting their own ideas and then end up pulling a group of people away with them – they take them captive.
B. How is it possible for false teachers to capture people?
1. People are pulled in and drawn away when they become fascinated by the philosophies and delusions of the false teachers.
2. Because of a lack of knowledge of God’s Word, people can be easily fooled and taken in.
a. If you don’t really know God’s Word, it is easy for a charismatic, fast talking, persuasive person to convince you of anything.
b. And that is especially true if that person is promising you the kinds of things you want.
3. The best defense we have against false teachers and false teaching is to be grounded in the basics of our faith in Christ and the truths of God’s Word.
4. Paul made it clear that the false teachers were using hollow and deceptive philosophy which depended on human tradition and on the basic elements of the world.
a. Human philosophies and human traditions abound – some of them are ancient and some of them are new, but they are all empty because they are humanistic and worldly.
b. Paul mentions that they are based on the “basic elements of the world” or some translations read “rudiments” or “elemental principles or spirits of the universe.”
c. These terms were a part of the vocabulary of the religious astrology of that day.
5. Although we may not be sure what these “basic elements” were, the point that Paul was making is clear: the false teachers and their teachings were focused on the wrong things.
a. They weren’t focused on Christ.
b. Rather than focusing on all that was wrong with the false teachings, Paul stressed the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ.
c. Paul declared: For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. (2:9-10)
6. Paul’s point was: Jesus Christ is the One.
a. The fullness of God is in Him.
b. Everything needed for salvation is in Him.
c. And that fullness is in you, if you are in Christ.
C. The opponents of Christianity today try to tear down our trust in Jesus and His sufficiency.
1. They encourage people to look elsewhere for novel approaches and trendy strategies to cope with life and find fulfillment.
2. Sadly, when people reject the fullness that is offered in Christ and search for other ways to fill themselves, they usually get sucked into “selfism.”
a. This approach makes self god and makes life’s ultimate purpose reaching the self’s fullest potential and satisfying its utmost desires.
b. But those who fill themselves only with themselves, remain empty.
3. To counter all this and to find real fullness and life, we must remain focused on Christ and fully invested in Him.
a. The fullness of God is in Him and in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
b. Jesus is the Lord and is Head over every ruler and authority.
c. Jesus is our hope of glory and in Him is abundant life and eternal life.
d. Ultimately, Jesus is the way (not a way), Jesus is the truth (not a truth), Jesus is the life (not a life). (Jn. 14:6)
D. Paul’s instructions to the Colossians so far are:
1. Keep making spiritual progress – keep walking with Jesus, being rooted and built up in Him.
2. Watch out for spiritual perils by keeping your focus on Jesus.
III. Paul’s Third Instruction: Draw Upon Your Spiritual Provisions (2:11-15)
A. Paul wrote: 11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 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. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him. (Col. 2:11-15)
1. The bottom line is this: we are helpless without God.
a. We cannot save ourselves.
b. We cannot grow spiritually ourselves.
c. We cannot overcome the spiritual perils ourselves.
2. Without God, we would be in an awful and depressing state.
B. But the great news is this: God has provided everything that we need through Jesus Christ.
1. Jesus provided the solution to every problem that we faced.
2. Our first problem was: we were dead in our sin.
a. Our sin separated us from our Holy and Just God, but God made us alive by providing forgiveness through Jesus.
b. We were like a person on death row, but then at the last minute we received a pardon.
c. That pardon comes to us when we receive the spiritual circumcision in Christ which is our baptism into Christ – just like the physical circumcision was the thing that included people in the old covenant, baptism is the thing that includes people in the new covenant.
3. Our second problem was: we had the written code that stood against us.
a. The Old Testament Law was impossible for us to follow and it stood against us, but Jesus, the God/Man perfectly followed the Law and became the perfect and final sacrifice based on that Law.
b. Therefore, He took it away by nailing it to the cross.
4. Our third problem was: we had a dreaded foe that had power over us.
a. Thankfully, Jesus has also dealt with Satan and the forces of evil.
b. Paul tells us that Jesus disarmed Satan and made a public spectacle of him, triumphing over him by the cross.
c. Paul employed an illustration that was very familiar to the people of that day – the picture of a triumphant Roman general.
1. When a Roman general won a notable victory, he marched his victorious army through the streets of Rome.
2. And that victorious parade included the defeated and humiliated kings, armies and peoples that the general had conquered – they were at the end of the parade.
d. Paul wants us to see that Jesus had won the victory over Satan and the powers of evil.
e. But even though Satan has been ultimately defeated, he is still very active in the world and his desire is to inhibit the purposes of God and lead people astray.
f. Thankfully, through Jesus, we have the power to win the victory every time, but we must take advantage of our God-given resources in order to win the victory.
C. So, what was Paul trying to tell the Colossians? He was trying to get them to take advantage of the resources that God had provided for them.
1. Through Christ, our sin problem has been dealt with, so there is no need to depend on something else to deal with sin.
2. Through Christ, our problem with fulfilling the Law has been taken care of, so there is no need to follow some legalistic code to deal with the Law.
3. Through Christ, our problem with Satan has been taken care of, so we don’t need any other power or secret to deal with Satan.
D. The question for each one of us is are we drawing upon our spiritual provisions in Christ?
1. Are we experiencing the forgiveness of our sins, being made continually alive in Christ?
2. Are we experiencing the joy of our salvation based on God’s grace, rather than trying to experience salvation by keeping the Law?
3. Are we experiencing victory over Satan and the temptations he brings our way, or are we feeling defeated and unable to win against him?
4. Everything that we need for life and godliness is given to us in Jesus.
5. Let’s be sure we are drawing upon God’s provisions for our forgiveness, joy and victory.
Conclusion:
A. So, in summary, these were the instructions Paul gave the Colossians to help them stay alive and alert:
1. He told them to keep making spiritual progress.
2. He told them to watch out for the spiritual perils.
3. He told them to draw upon your spiritual provisions.
4. These were vital instructions for them and are vital instructions for us.
B. So, what is your need today?
1. Do you need to receive the salvation that is offered through Jesus?
a. That salvation is accessed through faith, repentance, confession and baptism.
2. If you are already a Christian, do you need to begin making spiritual progress again?
a. Do you need to get your focus back on Jesus and on Him alone?
b. Do you need to draw on some of God’s provisions, like forgiveness, grace, or power?
3. Everything we need is found in Jesus.
4. There’s an African song that includes these words:
Jesus Christ is the conqueror;
By His resurrection he overcame death itself,
By His resurrection he overcame all things…
When we are with him, we also conquer.
5. Sometimes we are like Sweet Pea, the naïve, weak and foolish child of God who gets into all kinds of danger and trouble, but thank God that Jesus is our strong man who saves us, not because he eats his spinach, but because He is the fullness of God and is the Lord and Savior of the world.
6. Trust and follow Jesus.
7. Stay alive and alert in Christ.
Resources:
Colossians, by Warren Wiersbe, in The Bible Exposition Commentary, Victory Books, 1989
Colossians, by David E. Garland, in the NIV Application Commentary, Zondervan, 1998
Colossians, by Owen D. Olbricht, in the Truth for Today Commentary, Resource Publications, 2005
His Word is Enough, Don’t Be Fooled, Sermon by Steve Malone, SermonCentral.com
