September 25, 2022
Morning Service

We have completed chapter one of our study in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church (and to us).  He stated his goal clearly to be for the followers of Jesus to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”  In other words, that we might know God and apply what we know to our lives that we “may walk worthy of the Lord pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work.”  He wanted us to not only read and study the Word of God, but to live it out; create a change within us.  Then Paul, through the Spirit, reveals to us in a very clear way the divinity of Jesus.  He was fully a Man born of woman, but also fully God existing forever.  He revealed to us that Jesus was the Creator in the Book of Genesis and all things were created “through Him and for Him.”  He indeed is Lord of all that is seen and all the powers and principalities that exist that are unseen; nothing is above His control!  Let that sink in for a few seconds.  Even in the midst of what we perceive as chaos, He is in control!  Paul then goes on to describe how the Creator of all is also the Savior of all; how Jesus through living the perfect sinless life, shedding His blood upon the cross, and rising from the grave created a pathway for sinful mankind to be reconciled to our Holy Creator.  This was a task we could not achieve on our own but needed help and God provided it through Jesus.  Paul then revealed that this same Jesus is now the head of the church in which each of those who have chosen to accept the invitation to follow Him belong.  We who have heard the plan of salvation, received it as our own, and were baptized into Christ received eternal life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit into our lives; “Christ in you the hope of glory.”  God in Spirit form dwells within each baptized believer.  We as believers, and followers of Jesus, have those two things in common.  We possess the same Spirit and belong to the same church.  God designed it so that those who are following Him never walk alone.  We walk our journey through life with Him and with each other.  Paul addresses this as we begin chapter 2.

Col 2:1-3 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, (2) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  

Paul carries a burden for these churches that he has not ever been to and as we saw in chapter one it caused him to pray diligently for them both.  His desire for them here is that “their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love.”  I would translate like this; “may they understand that they are better together!”  God’s design for the church (us) is that we don’t go through life’s challenges alone; we are to be “knit together in love.”   He then stresses again the importance of having the knowledge and understanding of what God’s plan is for His children and then use wisdom to apply that to our lives.  The Will and Plan of God had been hidden from man up to this point, but now it has been openly revealed to us.  We not only can know and understand the plan, but we play a part in it.  We are not fans in the stands, but participants on the field of battle investing our blood, sweat, and tears.  This should inspire us to be able to fully commit our lives to following Christ knowing that we have been given all we need to succeed; through Him the mystery has been revealed.  (2 Pet. 1:3)

 

Col 2:4-7 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.  (5)  For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  (6)  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

            The Colossian church was being attacked by many false teachers who were trying to deceive the church into believing their teaching over what their church had been established upon.  He encourages us to remain steadfast together in our faith.  All we need to live a godly life has been given to us in our Bible, the very Words of God.  In today’s world with our access to television, the internet, and even social media we are bombarded with an extreme amount of information.  Much of what we are exposed to is not beneficial to us along our journey with Christ.  With this great amount of information available, our chances of being deceived now also are much greater.  Paul here encourages us to walk in the light we have been given; stick to what we know is true.  Use your Bible as a filter to run it through; if it lines up with the Word accept it but if it does not reject it and stay away.  In doing that Paul says we will be “rooted and built up in Him established in the faith.”  The NLT translates this as “Let your roots grow deep into Him and draw up nourishment from Him so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth.”  We nourish our soul and establish our lives according to Christ and His teachings accepting them as truth and live our lives accordingly.  It is just as Jesus explained in His parable of the vine in John’s gospel.

 

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

            Does that describe your walk with the Lord?  Are your roots growing deeper in Him over time and receiving the spiritual nourishment from Him the True Vine or are your roots still just spread across the surface creating a lukewarm faith?  Are you abiding fully in Him or just part time when it is convenient?  Don’t be cheated of all that God has for you by having a superficial faith conforming yourself to the principles of this world rather than to the Will of God.  Let your roots grow deep in Him and commit yourself wholly to Him.  The Spirit will change you, transform you into what He has created you to be.  Seek and you shall find.  Don’t listen to the lies that our enemy is seeking to deceive you with, but stay true to what you believe.  Remember who He is and what following Him really means for you.  Paul continues:

 

Col 2:8-10 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  (9)  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (10) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

            Complete is defined as being made whole or perfect.  We are complete in Him alone; we are lacking of nothing.  We don’t need to search the web or find a book for the secret to find “true happiness and contentment” we have it in Christ. Our works, actions, or words don’t make us perfect but He does.  In allowing the Spirt to transform us, we are not earning our salvation or perfecting ourselves; we are submitting ourselves to the only One who can perfect and complete us; our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are applying the knowledge we have of who our Savior is and now seek to live a life that pleases Him.  We are no longer in bondage to following the details of the Law of Moses, but freed to follow our heart that belongs to Christ.  We have nothing to prove, but simply seek to love our Lord and those around us like He loved us.  For those of us who are following Jesus the best that we can there is no condemnation upon us as Paul told the Roman church:

 

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

            There is no condemnation upon us when we allow the Spirt to work in our lives, growing our roots deep within Jesus.  We are covered in His Royal Robe of Righteousness, which is perfect, not our own filthy rags; clothing us in perfection, complete in Christ.  Does that mean we will never sin again?  Absolutely not!  Sin will always be a part of our lives, but it no longer defines us.  We simple follow the process John explains for us to seek forgiveness and keep moving along our journey.

 

1Jn 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

            If God forgives me, I too must follow suit and forgive myself as well; trusting His Word to be true.  It is our enemy who will hold our shortcomings against us and use them to cut us down, but remember we are complete in Christ.  As long as we continue to walk with the Lord we need nothing from anyone to justify us and are free from guilt and shame giving Him our best.  I encourage you to really take hold of that this morning.  The world around us is constantly pulling at us to drag us down.  Stand tall in your faith and know that you are a child of God and He finds you complete in Christ lacking nothing.  God loves you just as you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.  He wants you to be just like Jesus.  He sets the example for us and He is the One we are following; our Lord and Savior.

 

Heavenly Father grant us the understanding of how perfect Your plan of salvation is.  Open our eyes and hearts to walk in faith knowing that it is not my efforts but Jesus that makes me complete, whole, and perfect.