Colossians 2:1-10

Paul spent the last chapter stating that Christ is fully God in every aspect and since then, he is preeminent over everything, creation, people, angels, ALL.

He is preeminent over the Word because he is the word He is preeminent over All creation because he is the creator He is preeminent over the church because he is the head He is preeminent over Paul’s ministry

Paul concludes chapter 1 by affirming that His ministry was established by Christ and his mission as instructed by God is to revel to the world that Christ was God in the flesh who came to save the lost, both Jew & Gentile. He preached that Christ died on the cross to reconcile mankind to himself for his purposes.

Paul is working tirelessly to proclaim Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so they will be presented mature in Christ before God. This is why he toils and struggles with all his energy as the Holy Spirit works so powerfully within Paul.

Read Acts 20:25­32

So now we begin with Chapter 2 where he continues.

•these are letters, not chapters in a book.

•The original writings didn't have page numbers,

•No verse numbers

•No chapters.

But, here in verse 1, Paul says "how great a struggle I have for you".

What is paul struggling about?

Paul struggled (worked with hard with an emotional connection & desire) to bring them to maturity. Paul isn’t with them so he isn’t able thwart off trouble from the young church. Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolisans, all small towns along the the Locus River about 100 miles east of Ephesus. he fought spiritually for his flock (all of those who have received his message)

In a general sense, Paul struggled throughout his entire ministry. He was attacked, beaten, hated, ridiculed, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, exposed to the elements and almost killed. What are the goal outcomes for Paul’s struggles as identified in verse 2­3

1. reach all the riches of full assurance

2. reach full understanding

3. reach full knowledge of God's mystery which is Christ

He wants encouraged hearts & unity in the body because he knows these are necessary to grow in assurance, understanding and knowledge that he has taught that Christ is preeminent over everything and therefore he is all we need to be filled.

Why else would Paul want to stress this more than once in the same letter according to verse 4?

So that nobody may delude you with plausible arguments

Paul sounds three warnings, and these warnings are needed just as much today as in his day. Paul sees these threats as real. Wiersbe’s expository

1. Beware of Empty Philosophies (2:1­10) 2. Beware of Religious Legalism (2:11­17) 3. Beware of Man­made Disciplines (2:18­23)

Tonight we will start with the first warning ­ empty philosophies

Beware of empty philosophies

I recall many times when “christian young people” go away to school and are exposed to Man’s philosophies. They are “tricked by words" as mentioned in verse 4.

King James says ­ "beguile you owith enticing words.”

ESV Says ­ "delude you with plausible arguments”

NASB ­ "delude you with bpersuasive argument.”

NIV ­ "deceive you by fine­sounding arguments”

What famous conversation was there between the Satan and one of God’s children?

Eve and the serpent

How is the serpent is described in Genesis chapter 2?

“crafty” or “cunning” " Did God really say you would die?"

Genesis 2:15 God told Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat[ from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

Genesis 3:1 ­ The serpent said “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Listen to Eve’s response in verse 2 ……...

“We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

Eve’s response was not what God told them ­ AND in case there was any confusion of what Adam was told by God, (eve hasn’t been created yet) Adam was right there listening to the entire conversation between eve and the serpent.

What do all of these philosophies have in common?

1. They are man made 2. May sound enticing or appealing (if it feels good, do it as long as your not hurting anyone else) 3. Deny The Preeminence of Jesus Christ and His Authority 4. Twist, delude or change the Word of God to fit their desires or philosophy

Paul gives a great warning to beware so you are not taken captive in verse 8

How does verse 5 describe Pauls understanding of where the Colossian church is

Good order Firmness of your faith in Christ

If they are in good order and firm in their faith, why bother with the warning?

So they can be on guard Christians can be deceived if they are not wise in the Word Christians can be deceived if they are weak in their faith

How are believers to overcome these philosophies? (see verse 6­10)

Verse 6 ­ Walk in Christ

Just as you were saved by faith, so walk by faith. (daily living and daily faith) You were saved by the Word, so walk according to the Word (instruction) You were saved through the work of the Spirit, so walk in the spirit (for conviction, strength, peace) The Christian life continues as it began, by faith in God ­ daily…….

Verse 7 ­ Grow up in Christ

Have roots that dig down into the richness of the word Have foundations that are strong, laid upon Jesus Christ Be taught by the Word of God We will all fall to religious philosophies unless we are rooted in Christ, grounded in the Word and built up in Bible truth.

Verse 8 ­ Make Christ the test

Test every high­sounding religious system by asking, “Does it give Christ the place of preeminence?” almost every religion will give christ an eminent place but only Christianity gives Him the Preeminent place.

Verse 9­10 ­ Draw on His fullness

There is no substitute for Christ In Him we have all that we need Christians that drift into worldly living or fall prey to man­made systems do so because they feel they lack something Jesus Christ cannot supply. “You are made full in Him” ­ verse 10