Paul's Burden for the Church

Colossians 2:2-7

REVIEW

I. PAUL'S AGONY FOR THE CHURCH (v. 1)

II. PAUL'S BURDEN FOR THE CHURCH (vv. 2-7)

In our last lesson, we began a look at five things that Paul wanted the Colossian church to experience. As we continue this study, we'll see that these items are not just for the Colossian church, but are for every church...and for every Christian. Last time we saw that Paul wanted the church to be...

A. Strong In Heart (v. 2a)

"That their hearts might be comforted [strengthened]..."

The word parakaleo means "to comfort, to console, to strengthen, to grant endurance." In this verse, I think the best translation is "to strengthen" rather than "to comfort" because of the particular emphasis that the Apostle is making. Paul's desire is that the Colossians' hearts become strengthened so that they would not fall into the false doctrine that was being handed to them.

Now, the second desire that the Apostle had for the Colossian church (and for us as well), is that they be...

B. United In Love (v. 2b)

"...being knit together in love..."

This is the beautiful balance to being strong in heart. We don't want to get carried away with the intellect and turn Christianity into something that is coldly academic. Love is the great, pulsing heart of Christianity. So Paul says, "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love...." Love should be the balance to doctrine.

1. Unity Defined

The phrase "knit together" simply means "to unite," but it is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ. All of us are being knit together into an indivisible kind of oneness. The human body is a combination of billions of cells all knit together. The individual cells, however, aren't distinguishable because they're blended together to form a whole. So, just as the cells of the human body are indistinguishable as they are lost in the overall unity of the body, Christians should be indistinguishable as they are lost in the unity of love that exists among the brethren. The sense of the word that is translated "knit together" here (and also later on in 2:19) is the idea of all the parts being put together in a way that leaves them almost without any personal identity. Love is the thing that ties believers together.

2. Unity Distinguished

a. Positional Unity

All Christians are connected by a common life. In a sense, we are like beads strung on a string, where the string that runs through every one of us is the common eternal life.

1) 1 Corinthians 6:17--"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."

2) 1 Corinthians 12:13--"For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." There's a basic, positional unity. We all came to Christ in the same way. We all were saved by the same method, by the same God. We were all placed into one body by the same Spirit in the same way, and indwelt by the same divine life in the same fullness as every other Christian. So there's a basic positional unity that ties us all together--a common eternal life.

We are knit together by that fact of life. It's as if all of us existed in a special place where we were the only ones able to breath the air. That would give us a certain commonness, wouldn't it? Well, as Christians we have a similar kind on commonness. There are absolutely no differences in the basic identity of our common life.

3) Galatians 3:26-28--"For ye are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." So there you see the positional unity. There is a oneness that is a part of every Christian's identity.

4) Romans 10:12-13--"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." In other words, you'll be saved, you'll receive the same benefits, you'll receive the same riches, you'll receive the same Spirit, and you'll receive the same life. You'll receive the same everything!

So Paul says, "I pray that you would be knit together." You say, "But we are already knit together. You just proved it to us." That's true. We are knit together...positionally. And in a primary sense, I think our positional unity answers the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21. Jesus prayed, "Father, I pray that they may be one." I believe, primarily, that that prayer has been answered in the identity of the church as the body of Christ and in the unity of the Spirit. But there is still an aspect of Jesus' prayer that is still unanswered. This unanswered aspect is the part that Paul is dealing with here in Colossians 2:2.

b. Practical Unity

When Paul says, "...being knit together in love...," he's not talking about our common eternal life, he's talking about being practically united in love. Paul says, "I want you to be practically united in the same way that you are positionally united." In other words, make your life match your position. You are one, now act like it. Live out your oneness that's inside.

1) 1 Corinthians 1:10--Paul says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." In other words, "You are one, now act like it in practice. Behave as one."

2) 2 Corinthians 13:11--"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind...." Unity is something that we have to work on. Positionally we are one, but practically speaking there is a lot to be desired. And because we don't properly manifest unity, the world becomes confused. Jesus prayed that the church would be one so that the world would know the Father sent the Son (Jn. 17:21). Part of the world's confusion comes because of our failure to practically live out our unity.

3) Philippians 1:27--Paul says, "...stand fast in one spirit, with one mind...."

4) Jude 3--"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you...." Even though there was a common salvation, there were some believers turning away from what should have been a unified kind of life-style within a common kind of salvation. So, it is very important that we live out our unity.

3. Unity Defended

You say, "John, how do we live out our unity?" Well, the key is in Ephesians 4:3. It says this: "Endeavoring to keep [or `guard'] the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Notice that we do not have to create unity. Since the Spirit has already created it, we just have to guard it. You say, "How do we guard our unity?" By being a peacemaker. It is the unity of the Spirit that is guarded by "the bond of peace." What's the bond of peace? It's a covenant that Christians are to have with one another so they will be at peace. We're to agree that we will not argue or fight with one another. We will be at peace. In other words, we're to be peacemakers--guarding the unity the Spirit has already given us positionally.

a. The Importance of Love to Unity

You say, "John, what's at the heart of being a peacemaker? How can I be a peacemaker?" Well, that takes us to Colossians 3:12, which says, "Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing [or `tolerating'] one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness." What is the bond of peace, then? The bond of peace is love. Love is what binds everything together. It is love that keeps "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

So, the Spirit has already created a basic unity in the life of every believer. We don't have to create this unity, we simply have to guard it. And how do we do that? By being at peace with one another, which occurs only when we love one another.

b. The Importance of Humility to Love

1) The Maintenance of Love (Phil. 2:1-8)

You say, "I still don't understand how all of this works out." Let's go to Philippians 2:1-8, and we'll take it a step further. In this passage, Paul gives a great illustration of how love works. Beginning in verse 1 Paul says, "If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

Now, let me show you something. What does it mean to be like-minded? It refers to unity, doesn't it? How is unity possible? Well, Paul says, "...be like-minded, having the same love...." Being like-minded is based on having the same love. In other words, unity is based on loving everybody the same. You say, "That's impossible! How can I love everybody the same? Some people are much more lovable than others, and some are more deserving of my love. How can I love them all the same?" Well the answer comes in the next verses. Verse 2 tells us that unity is built on love. But in verses 3-8, we find out that love is built on humility.

Paul says, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." If you believe that every person in the church of Jesus Christ is better than you, you're on the ground that you have to be on to love them. Positionally, the Spirit gave us unity; but we're to maintain it by being at peace with one another. We will be at peace with one another when we love each other. And we will love each other when we get down on the bottom shelf and see everybody else better than ourselves. Now that's getting pretty low, isn't it? But that is what it's all about.

Verse 4 continues: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." In other words, we're to be more concerned about somebody else than ourselves. You say, "Who can ever live like that?" Well look at verses 5-8: "Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Jesus is the perfect illustration of humility. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul says, "...though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." Jesus, who was far beyond any of us, considered it not something to hang on to in order to be equal with God. Instead, He made Himself of no reputation, took on the form of a servant, and died for us. That's the mind of humility--the mind that says, "I will spend myself in total self-sacrifice if it benefits you...whoever you are."

So, when you begin to be humble, then you'll begin to love. And when you begin to love, then there will be unity, the bond of peace will exist, and you will be guarding that which the Spirit of God desires.

2) The Manifestation of Love (1 Jn. 3:11-17)

You say, "I'd like to be humble and love folks, but how does love manifest itself? Am I supposed to get spiritual Goosebumps every time I think about them? Do I have to hug everybody all the time? How do I love people?" Well, let's look at 1 John 3:11-17 for a definition of how love manifests itself. Beginning in verse 11 John writes, "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." What beginning? The beginning when they first heard the gospel. The tradition of the gospel as long as they had heard it was to love one another. That's not just a duty, that's a proof of being a Christian. The Holy Spirit energizes love in the believer, so it must be exercised.

In verse 12, John makes a comparison: "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one [Satan], and killed his brother. And why killed he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." Cain killed his brother for one reason--jealousy. Jealousy (which stems from pride) was behind Cain's act, and is characteristic of the lives of the children of the devil. Satan first created the rebellion in heaven because he was jealous. Jealousy is a thing of Satan, so if it exists in your life, stop and consider where it comes from.

Now, as you know, jealousy isn't a final step. In verses 13-15 John says, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." Jealousy progresses to hatred, and hatred progresses to murder. So, one form of not loving people is jealousy. And that can proceed to hatred and murder.

Let me show you another form of not loving somebody: indifference. Look at verse 16: "By this perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" In other words, it isn't just murder that results from a lack of love, indifference results from a lack of love as well. For example, if you saw someone with a need that you had the ability to meet, but you didn't bother with it because you didn't care, that would be indifference. On the other hand, to love someone is to meet his needs or even to lay down your life for him. Love is an act of self-sacrifice.

Paul wanted to see love in the Colossian church. He wanted to see them knit together in a bond of love by maintaining the unity given to them by the Spirit. The manifestation of that unity, which is based on humility, is self-sacrifice. Now, let me ask you a question: When was the last time you sacrificed anything to meet somebody's need? When was the last time you made any kind of sacrifice for somebody? Well, whenever you did, that's the last time you loved.

Paul, then, is saying in Colossians 2:2, "My burden for the church is that they be strong in heart and united in love." The third desire that he had for the church is that they be...

C. Settled In Understanding (vv. 2c-5)

1. The Source of Assurance

Notice Paul's sequence: When you know the truth in your head, and you act it out in deeds of love, you will experience a tremendous sense of confidence and assurance. Why? Because you're not only hearing and seeing Christianity intellectually, you're watching it operate. And that builds confidence. If somebody comes to me and tries to deny Christianity with an assortment of intellectual arguments, it has no effect on me because I have seen it operate in my life. I've seen the power of God within me. I've seen things happen that I know only God could have energized. I've seen God at work.

I've heard many people say, "I have such doubts about my salvation. I know all the verses and I've read all the books, but I have doubts." Well, do you know why? All the information that they have received has never been lived out. They've never convinced themselves that Christianity is credible because they've never lived it out and seen it work. This is the subjective side of Christianity. When we live in love, then we will become settled in our understanding. Then we will become people of conviction. This is what Paul is saying in verse 2: "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding...."

When Paul uses the term assurance here in verse 2, he's talking about confidence. He's saying, "I want you to have confidence. I want you to be secure in your minds." Unfortunately, a lot of Christians aren't confident and mentally secure. They are "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14b). And why are they in this state? Because they've never been built up by love. People might have the knowledge of the truth, but they also need to have the operation of the truth. So Paul says, "I want you to have a thorough, gratifying, insight into spiritual truth which includes living your life in a loving way so that you will become solidly entrenched in the knowledge of truth-- settled, confident, and having `the full assurance of understanding.'"

Assurance doesn't just come from reading books about assurance; it comes from living it out. Assurance comes from having your life so given over to the pattern of being strong in heart and united in love, that the Spirit of God will demonstrate Himself to you over and over again. That's what will give you confidence. Truth finds solid footing in a strong heart, is worked out in love for other believers, and then results in deep conviction. Once you receive the truth in your mind and it is manifested in obedient love to others, the result will be a settled conviction that what you believe is true. So, behavior has a great deal to do with nailing down assurance. Every good deed and every act of love will drive in another nail. Once doctrine is in the mind, and love is being worked out, settled assurance will occur.

2. The Riches of Assurance

The phrase in verse 2, "...unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding...," is a little tangled up in English. Literally, it says, "...the full riches of settled understanding." In other words, he says, "I want you to experience all of the riches that are available to you when you're assured of what you have."

a. Experiencing Our Riches

You can't really enjoy the richness of what you've been given in Christ unless you're totally assured that they're yours, can you? Have you ever contemplated what heaven's going to be like? I've done that. Just thinking about heaven and the fact that it's mine, gets me excited and makes me feel rich. The promise that someday I'm going to possess the whole universe with Christ is exceedingly rich. But if I had doubts, and said, "Oh, I don't know if I'm going to get there. I know what the Bible says, but I don't have the assurance," I couldn't enjoy it. If I thought that I might miss heaven, the promise of heaven would cease to be one of my riches. Experientially, I would become poor. Once you have the confidence that comes with a settled understanding, you know you're rich. In 2 Peter 1:5-7, Peter says, "...add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self-control, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." Then in verse 10 he says, "...give diligence to make your calling and election sure...." Sure to God? No, it's already sure to Him. Sure to you! As your life becomes holy and your behavior manifests what's inside, you will get a settled understanding of what's yours and you will able to enjoy how rich you are.

b. Understanding God's Will

The word "understanding" in verse 2 (Gk. sunesis) refers to facts connected to conduct. True understanding doesn't belong to anybody but Christians. First Corinthians 2:14 says, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God...and he cannot understand them..." (NASB). Ephesians 4:18 says that the pagans have their "understanding darkened." Romans 1:31 says that men are "without understanding." And Romans 3:11 says, "There is none that understandeth...." My point is this: Unregenerate man does not have truth connected to conduct. His mind is a blank. But to the Colossians (and to us as well) Paul says, "I want you to have a settled understanding. I want you to understand."

You say, "What does Paul want us to understand?" He wants us to understand the will of God in our lives. In Ephesians 5:17 Paul says, "Wherefore, be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is." God wants you to understand the revelation of His will. You say, "How do we do that?" Well, the more you study Scripture, the more your mind will be filled with God's principles. As those principles in your mind begin to control your behavior, you will understand how rich you are, and you will be able to enjoy the Christian life. The things of the world will mean less and less, and you will let go of the things you initially couldn't let go of. You will know where the true riches are, and you will be able to confidently obey Jesus' command to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Mt. 6:20a, 21). Until you have a heart that is settled, assured, and confident in God, you're going to hang on to some things in the world. But when your mind is confident and your behavior solidifies that confidence, you're going to have the kind of assurance that let's you let go and trust the true riches.

3. The Steps to Assurance

You say, "How can I get that kind of assurance and confidence in God?" Well, you need to pray for it. Praying keeps you acknowledging its source. In Colossians 1:9 Paul says, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." So, we are to pray that God would clearly show us His will. In 2 Timothy 2:7 Paul says, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

We have to recognize that our understanding, our settled assurance, our confidence comes from God through prayer, through the Word, and through our behavior. Paul's burden in verse 2 is simple: that the believer would have God's revealed truth in his brain, that this truth would be lovingly manifested in his conduct, which would result in a settled, solid position of confident assurance in the truth. Then he will be able to enjoy the riches that are his.

4. The Content of Assurance

You say, "What does Paul want us to have assurance in?" Look at verses 2c-3: "...the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ [lit. `the mystery of God, Christ'], in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." In other words, Paul says, "I want you to have a basic, settled, assured conviction--starting with the fact that the mystery of God is Christ. You have to be convinced of the deity and all-sufficiency of Christ. You have to be convinced that the hidden God has manifested Himself in the revealed Christ."

Do you see what Paul is saying? We're to have an absolute, unwavering assurance that Christ is God and that He is sufficient to save. Now, why does he say that? Because those are the two truths that the false teachers in Colosse were attacking--the deity of Christ and His sufficiency to save. They were saying that Jesus was just a good emanation--sort of an angelic being or spirit--and that it wasn't enough to come to Christ for salvation. They believed that Jesus was just one step on the ladder--along with super wisdom and mysterious knowledge. Paul is saying, "Look, I don't want you to fuss with all of that; I want you to have an absolute, settled assurance about the riches that you have. The first thing that you have to be sure of is that Christ is none other than the hidden God revealed. And second, that He is sufficient to save." If you're wavering on those two points, you're in trouble. When Jehovah's Witnesses come to your door denying the deity of Christ, you must have an unwavering assurance that Jesus is God. It's imperative that you be settled on that issue!

a. The Mystery of God

Notice the phrase here in Colossians 2:2, "the mystery of God...Christ." What is the mystery of God? Well, 1 Timothy 3:16 explains what this mystery is: "And without controversy [i.e., You can't argue with this!] great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory." So what is "the mystery of godliness"? What is "the mystery of God"? Jesus Christ! Every one of those statements describes Him: Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, His ministry was ordained and justified by the Holy Spirit at His baptism, He was seen by the angels who attended and watched Him, He was preached to the nations, He was believed on in the world, and He ascended into glory. The mystery of godliness, the hidden God now revealed is none other than Christ.

Now, out of the settled confidence that Jesus is God, and that in Him are all sufficiencies, comes every other confidence. If He's who He said, then we can believe all of His promises to us in His Word, right? When we have a solid and settled conviction about who He is and about His sufficiency, then we can believe His legacy. He says to me, "Heaven's yours, MacArthur. The angels are taking care of you and nothing will ever come upon you that I don't plan. I'll supply all your needs according to my riches. You don't have to fear anything because your life is in my hands and everything is going to be taken care of. Take no thought for this, that, and the other thing because I've got it all under control." Well, I believe those promises. I have confidence in them. I accept those riches because I know God well enough to know that what He says is true. So Paul's point is this: When you have a settled conviction about who God is, then you can enjoy your riches. However, if you have problems believing who Jesus is, then you'll have problems believing what He's going to give you.

b. The Hidden Treasures

Notice verse 3. Paul says, "In whom [Christ]are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." You say, "What does it mean that those things are hidden? Do we have to poke around trying to find the treasures of wisdom and knowledge?" Well, those things are hidden, but they're hidden from everybody who is not a Christian. Those treasures are readily available to those of us who are Christians. It's as if somebody blasted the lid off of a diamond mine, enabling us to just walk in and pick up the diamonds. They're all there. All you have to do is "Study to show thyself approved unto God..." (2 Tim. 2:15a). All you have to do is "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." (Col. 3:16a). All you have to do is apply yourself a little bit, and you can walk into the mine and pick up all the treasure you want.

The word "hidden" in verse 3 is the Greek word apokruphos, from which we get the word apocryphal. The heretics and false teachers in Colosse believed that there was a great mass of divine knowledge necessary for salvation. They believed that that knowledge was hidden in secret books called apokruphos, which could only be opened by those who had super intellects. So Paul says, "Baloney! The only apokruphos where all of that knowledge is hidden is Jesus Christ." The day you opened your heart to Christ, God took the lid off of the diamond mine, and said, "Go ahead, take what you need." It's all there. We don't need the special books of the super intellect. We don't need the Bible plus anyone or anything. Why? Because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. The revelation of Him is all we need. God's Word contains more than enough wealth.

In Ephesians 1:17-18, Paul prays "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." In other words, he prays that we might get a grip on what God has for us. It's all there.

So Paul says to the Colossians in 2:2-3, "I want you to be settled on these two issues: First of all, Jesus is God. And second, He is all-sufficient. In Him is everything that man needs."

5. The Enemies of Assurance

You say, "Paul, why are you so hot about that? Why are you so concerned?" Well, look at verse 4. Paul says, "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." Lightfoot translates this verse, "I wish to warn you against anyone who would lead you astray by specious arguments and persuasive rhetoric." Paul is saying, "I don't want you to exchange proven riches for speculation." It's sad when a Christian comes to a place where he would even listen to some of the garbage that people teach about Christ. Paul is saying, "I want you to have a settled conviction about Christ so that no one can trick you with clever words and clever arguments."

The basic attack of all false systems is to deny the deity of Christ or His sufficiency to save. They say, "Oh yes, Christ saves...plus works," or "Christ isn't God." All false systems revolve around the denial of one or both of those two truths. That is where all cults are brought to the bar of God and condemned. Any system of religion that reduces Christ to less than deity or adds anything to His saving sufficiency belongs to the beguiling activity of Satan. So, Paul desires the Colossians, and all Christians, to resist the seductive teaching of Satan. And that can only be accomplished by having settled convictions--a deep-down confidence.

6. The Results of Assurance

In verse 5 Paul says, "For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." He says, "I'm glad that you're hanging in there. Even though I can't be physically present with you, I certainly am supportive of you in my spirit." Paul was thrilled to know that they were hanging in there. He had a happy confidence because of their "order" and "steadfastness." Both of those words are military terms.

a. "...order..."The word "order" (Gk. taxin) means "rank," and refers to a single file line of soldiers. In other words, they were still holding rank. He's saying, "You may be being attacked, but nobody has broken rank. Everybody is still in single file, and nobody has been shot down yet. That's good and I'm happy." You say, "What's he so excited about?" Well, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?

Paul also used another military term to describe why he was so happy for the Colossians:

b. "...steadfastness..."The word "steadfastness" (Gk. stereoma) speaks of a solid front of soldiers, ready to stand the shock of attack. Not only were their ranks unbroken, but they were standing firm. So, when the shock of battle hit, they would be able to stop it. Paul says, "I rejoice because you're obedient, disciplined, holding rank, and able to stand the attack. That makes me happy."

What, then, does Paul desire for the church? He wants it to be strong in heart, united in love, and settled in understanding. Fourth, he wants the church to be...

D. Walking In Christ (vv. 6-7a)

"As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught..."

1. The Explanation

Paul says, "Since you're now settled in Christ, confident about Christ, and firm in Christ, then keep on walking in Christ. Don't waver. Don't change. Since you have received Christ as Lord and declared Him as Lord, and since you have a settled confident assurance, keep walking in Him. Don't waver."

Do you know what the word "walk" refers to? It refers to our daily life-style and conduct. We are to keep walking in Him. The primary impetus of that point is this: "Don't change in your view of Christ. Don't let your Christology flounder. Keep walking in Christ." But walking in Christ means more than just walking along believing something. It also means walking in union with Christ, following Jesus, doing what He would do.

When I was a little boy, my dad would say to me, "Do you think that's what Jesus would have done?" Most of the time I'd have to say, no, but that was always the standard at my house. We are not only to maintain continuing faith in Him, and a continuing settled conviction, but we're also to maintain a continuing life-style patterned after Him. Paul says, "This is what I pray for you. If you've received Him, don't forsake Him; walk as He walked."

First John 2:6 says, "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." How did He walk? He walked in love, in wisdom, in truth, in the Spirit, and in holiness. All of those characteristics that describe the walk of the Christian in Ephesians 4 and 5 were characteristic of Christ. So if you're a Christian, pattern your life after Him. I'm to learn the truth in my head, live it out in my life, get a settled conviction that Jesus is who He claimed, and then set my life goal to be like Him--to walk as He walked...to make my life-style like His life-style.

2. The Elements

In verse 7, Paul adds four participles to sum up what he has said. And incidentally, the tenses of the verbs here are critically important.

a. "Rooted..."This is a perfect passive participle in the Greek which literally says, "having been rooted." In other words, "Since you have already been rooted in Him, you ought to walk in Him." Like a tree with deep roots in rich soil drawing its nourishment, so the Christian is deep-rooted in Christ. He is the source of life, nourishment, growth, and fruit.

b. "...built up..."This is a present passive participle which is literally translated, "being built up." In other words, "You have been rooted in Him, and you're being built up as you walk in Him." It is only when you do what Christ would do that you grow. Did you know that? You are being built up as you walk in Him. Whenever you do the deeds of the flesh, you tear yourself down. But you are built up when you walk in Him-- when you obey Him.

The source of being built up is the Word of God. In Acts 20:32 Paul said, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up...." The Word builds us up. Jude 20 says, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith...." How do you build yourself up? By knowing the Word of God and the will of God, and then obeying it. Then it will result in being...

c. "...established in the faith..."This, too, is a present passive participle. What Paul is saying is this: "Walk in Christ because you're rooted in Him. And as you walk in Him, He will be building you up and establishing you solidly in the things that you have been taught." God wants established Christians--solid, deep- rooted, and strong--who don't get pushed around by false information. And here's how: Get the Word in your mind.

Paul has come full circle, hasn't he? You're to start out by feeding on the Word, then you're to let it produce activity. That activity will give you a settled conviction that Christ is who He claimed to be, so that you will be able to claim all of His promises. Once you begin to walk step by step in Him, you'll be built up and established in the faith.

There's a final desire that Paul has for the church. He wants it to be strong in heart, united in love, settled in understanding, walking in Christ, and last...

E. Abounding with Thanksgiving (v. 7b)

This is the response to all of it. The end of verse 7 contains the last of the four participles. I've separated it out because it's the only one of the four that is in the active voice. The phrase "abounding with thanksgiving" is a response to the others. What should the life attitude of every Christian be? Thanksgiving! We should be constantly saying thanks to God for the riches that we're enjoying, for the life that we're living, and for the walk that we're walking. We should be "abounding with thanksgiving."

Focusing on the Facts

1. Why is the Greek word parakaleo in Colossians 2:2 better translated "to strengthen" rather than "to comfort"? 

2. What is positional unity? What is practical unity? What kind of unity is Paul referring to when he talks about "being knit together in love" in Colossians 2:2? 

3. According to Ephesians 4:3, what is our responsibility toward unity? 

4. The key to guarding our unity is being a peacemaker. What's at the heart of being a peacemaker? 

5. Philippians 2:2 tells us that unity (like-mindedness) is built on love. What is love built on, according to verses 3-4? 

6. What lesson can we learn from Jesus' example, as recorded in Philippians 2:5-8? 

7. What are the practical implications of living a life of humility? 

8. What comparisons does the Apostle John make in 1 John 3:11-17? What conclusions does he make in that same passage? 

9. What is a practical way of knowing when you last loved somebody? 

10. According to Paul's sequence in Colossians 2:2, what will occur once you know the truth and then act it out in deeds of love? 

11. Why is it so important to not only know spiritual truth but to live it out? 

12. Good deeds and acts of love produce what essential effect in the life of a Christian? 

13. How does the lack of assurance hinder Christians from experiencing all of the riches that are available to them? 

14. Do all men have the capability of understanding God's will? Explain. 

15. How do we fulfill Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 5:17? 

16. What clue does Paul give us in Colossians 1:9 to know the will of God? 

17. In Colossians 2:2c-3, Paul tells the Colossians that they are to have an unwavering assurance in what two essential truths? Why these two truths in particular? 

18. What is "the mystery of God" (Col. 2:2c)? 

19. Once we have the confidence that Jesus is God and that He is sufficient to save, what else do we become confident in? 

20. Why does Paul say that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ? 

21. All false systems of religion basically deny one or both of what two truths? Why is it important for Christians to be aware of this? 

22. How was the Colossian church holding up under the attack of the false teachers and heretics? Support your answer. 

23. What does it mean to walk in Christ? 

24. According to Colossians 2:7, what are three reasons we should walk in Him? 

25. The life attitude of every Christian should be ____________. 

Pondering the Principles

1. Read each of the following passages and decide which ones refer to positional unity and which ones refer to practical unity: Romans 10:12-13; 12:16; 14:19; 15:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 6:17; 12:13; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 2:13-16; Philippians 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8. Why is our positional unity so vital to our practical unity? Why is our practical unity so important, according to Jesus' words in John 17:20-23? Are you one in practice with all those with whom you are positionally one? If not, what must you do, according to Matthew 5:23-24? Commit yourself to be "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3 NASB; cf. Col. 3:12-14).

2. In our study of Colossians 2:2-3, we discussed the fact that most cults deny the deity of Christ or His sufficiency to save. What verses would you use to show that Jesus claimed to be God? (see Mk. 2:5-11; 14:61-64; Lk. 4:12; Jn. 5:17-18, 23-24; 8:58-59; 10:30-33; 14:9; 20:28-29) What verses would you use to show that the New Testament writers believed Him to be God? (see Jn. 1:1; Col. 1:15-17; 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1; 1 Jn. 5:20) What verses would you use to show that Jesus is the only way to God? (see Jn. 3:36; 14:6; Ac. 4:12; 1 Jn. 5:11-12) What verses would you use to show that Jesus alone is sufficient to save...without works? (see Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 3:5) Become familiar with those verses and memorize at least one from each category so that you will stand firm against those who will try to "beguile you with enticing words" (Col. 2:4).