Colossians 2

Colossians 2:1

Paul not only writes to the Colossians but agonizes for them. The Greek word translated “conflict” in verse Col_2:1 is agon, in Greek, from which we get our word “agony.” Thus, Paul was saying, “I agonize for you, that you would be knit together, based on the fact that Jesus Christ is in you.”

Colossians 2:3

All wisdom, all knowledge is innot fromJesus. Whoever desires wisdom to navigate life successfully must come to the realization that there is nothing more, nothing less, nothing else than Jesus. All treasures of wisdom are in Him. The story is told that one day William Randolph Hearst was looking through a book of famous artwork when a painting caught his eye. “I want this painting for my collection,” he said to his aides. But after making some inquiries, they reported that they were unable to locate the particular work. “If you value your jobs,” Hearst said, “do whatever it takes to find that treasure, and secure it for me immediately.” Three and a half months later, the aides returned to Hearst. “Did you find the treasure?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied. “After much searching and painstaking research, we found it.” “Did you purchase it?” he asked. “No.” “Why not?” Hearst asked. “Because we found it in your warehouse.” So, too, Paul says to the Colossians, “You already have all the wisdom and knowledge you will ever need to get through life successfully. It’s all in Christ. When you got Him, you got it all.”

Colossians 2:4

The story is told that in the days of the Roman Empire, a certain wealthy senator became estranged from his son. When he died unexpectedly, his will was opened. “Because my son does not appreciate what I’ve done, I leave all of my worldly possessions to my loyal slave, Marcellus,” the will read. “However, because I am a man of grace, I bequeath to my son one of my possessions of his choosing.” “Sorry,” said the testator to the son. “You can only take one of your dad’s possessions. Which will it be?” “I take Marcellus,” said the son. Brilliant! That’s the idea. When you take Jesus Christ, you get all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. When you open your heart to Him, you find everything you need. It’s all in Him. Why is this understanding so important? Because it is the only way to keep from being sucked into “enticing words,” cults, and other dead-end pursuits of pseudo-spirituality. That’s what was happening in Colosse. People were coming on the scene, saying, “What Paul is preaching is fine, but there’s much more.” “No,” Paul says. “Be steadfast in your faith in Christ. All of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.”

Colossians 2:6

Over and over, the Scriptures tell us to walk. We’re told to walk in light (Eph_5:8), in love (Eph_5:2), in wisdom (Col_4:5). And here we are told to walk in simplicity. The banks of certain rivers are lined with a substance called “near quicksand.” It’s almost quicksandbut not quite. If you keep walking on this near-quicksand, you don’t have a problem. But if you stop, you’ll start sinking, and you’ll eventually get sucked in completely. So, too, if we don’t keep walking in our Christian experience, we’ll start sinking. The way to keep walking is not to seek some deeper truth. The way to keep moving is to do so in simplicity, to walk in the same way we received Christ.

Colossians 2:7

The Church is truly an enigma, for we’re the only people in the world who get together regularly to acknowledge that we’re a bunch of sinnersall the while feeling wonderful about it. Because we recognize we’re sinners saved by a wonderful Savior, we leave “abounding with thanksgiving.” Every other group tries to convince itself how wonderful its members are, but they leave feeling miserable as they strive for increased sophistication and depth. “Don’t get sucked in to the quicksand of pseudo-sophistication,” says Paul. “Walk in the simplicity with which you received Christ in the first place.” And to underscore this, he goes on to enumerate four things of which to beware.

Colossians 2:8

“Beware of intellectualismof the philosophy and psychology the world values,” warns Paul. “They’re vain. They’re empty. They don’t work.” I am concerned about the increasing number of believers who are wasting their money and time on unbelieving psychologists and psychiatrists when their problems are specifically dealt with in the Bible. Folks, if your car breaks down, I wouldn’t tell you to read your Bible. I would tell you to read an automotive manual. If your arm breaks, I wouldn’t tell you to read your Bible. I would tell you to go to a doctor or read a medical manual. But for matters of the heart and soul, I would implore you to read your Bible, for it alone contains the answers you need.

Colossians 2:9

This is the key to biblical counseling and ministry. Paul says the issue is forgiveness of sin. What does man need? Forgiveness. It’s so simple. We are forgiven because of Christ’s work on the Cross. Therefore, we must forgive the person who bothers us, the parent who abused us, or the spouse who left us. We must realize that Jesus died for them, just as He died for us.

Colossians 2:14

The sins that have plagued you are written on a list. Santa Claus makes a list and checks it twice in order to find out who’s naughty and nice. Our Father, on the other hand, makes a list and checks it once. Then He nails it to the Cross, where the blood of His Son covers it completely. The list of our sins, shortcomings, and stupidity is blotted out in totality by the blood of the Son of God. Many Christians aren’t healthy because they fail to understand this foundational and profoundly simple truth. They know they’re forgivenbut they can’t believe the one who hurt them is. “You can’t ignore the abuse, the trauma, and the anxiety that have been inflicted upon you,” they are told. “It must be dealt with.” Wait a minute! It has been dealt with by Jesus’ blood on the Cross. He hung on the Cross of Calvary dying for the very sin that bugs us in others. Therefore, for us to say, “We must dig it up and talk it through,” makes a mockery of what Christ did on Calvary. “It is finished,” He cried. It’s done. It’s paid for. So be forgiven and forgive one another.

Colossians 2:15

When a Roman general conquered an enemy, he would return to Rome in a triumphal procession. The general would ride in the lead chariot, followed by his soldiers. Behind the soldiers walked the conquered men, chained and often naked, to the derisive jeers of the crowds lining the streets. Paul borrows from this image in this verse. The only toehold or handgrip a demon has on someone is his sin. But if the sin has been washed away by the blood of the Son, the demon has nothing upon which to cling. Once forgiveness is understood and blood is appropriated, the powers of darkness are rendered as powerless as a troop of chained and conquered soldiers. That’s why Peter tells us that when Jesus died, He went into the lower parts of the earth and told the demonic spirits they no longer had authority over us (1Pe_3:19). If I understand and rejoice in the blood of Christ, demonic powers are nakedly impotent. But the funny thing about demonic powers is that they are squatters. They won’t leave until I say, “I’m not going to listen to this depression you’re whispering in my ear this morning. I’m not going to buy it because of the blood of Jesus Christ.” That’s what is meant by pleading the blood. It’s not a phrase you use; it’s an understanding you have. Wherever I plead the blood of Christ, Satan doesn’t have influence over me. Let this sink in, gang, and you will really be set free.

Colossians 2:16

Paul’s second warning regards legalism. There were those in Colosse saying that the way to be more spiritual was to keep the Sabbath and festivals and to refrain from eating or drinking certain things.

Colossians 2:17

On occasion, people come to our churches and tell us that because we’re worshiping on Sunday, we’re worshiping the sun, not the Son. “Don’t let anyone put those kinds of trips on you,” says Paul, “because Sabbath days, festivals, eating and drinking are nothing more than shadows.” If I returned from a trip and Tammy fell to her knees and started kissing and hugging my shadow, I would say, “There’s something shady about this, honey. Get up! I’m the reality. Hug me!” That’s what Paul is saying. These things people are hugging and kissing and founding movements upon are just shadows. The reality is Christ. He is the fulfillment of all Old Testament rules, regulations, and ordinances. Once you have the Reality, why kiss the shadows of legalism?

Colossians 2:18

Third, Paul says to watch out for mysticism. According to this passage, those who claim to be caught up in heavenly visions possess a cultlike mentality as they intrude into things they have not seen, puffed up by their fleshly mind.

Colossians 2:19

Keep your focus on the Head, on Jesus, and beware of phony mysticism. How do you know when you’re involved in a mystical group? You’ll know when people get together at Bible studies or group sessions and say, “Well, what does this passage mean to you?” the supposition being that whatever the Bible means to you is valid. The question is not “What does the Bible mean to you?” but “What does the Bible mean?“period. That’s why Paul instructed Timothy to study in order that he might rightly divide the Word of truth (2Ti_2:15). In questions of theology, people often say, “Let’s agree to disagree.” And we must tell them that the final word is the Living Word, Jesus Christ, for He is the Head.

Colossians 2:20

Finally, Paul says to watch out for asceticism. A fourth group in Colosse was saying, “Discipline yourself in such a way that you deny your body, your family, your marriage partner. Deny. Deny. Deny. And in so doing, you will be showing true spirituality.”

Colossians 2:23

Denial appears to be wise, says Paul, but it’s really will worship. What is will worship? It’s saying, “Don’t you wish you were strong and had will power like me?” Who else had incredible will power? The one who said, “I will ascend into heaven. I will sit above the stars. I will be like God"Lucifer himself (see Isaiah 14). Don’t let people put trips on you. “If you’re really serious about Christ, you’ll eat lima beans,” they’ll say. Now, if you like lima beans, great. But don’t make it a point of spirituality, for it’s nothing more than will worship. Those who are focused on their flesh end up becoming obsessed with their flesh. “Be careful,” Paul says. “Intellectualism, legalism, mysticism, and asceticism are all snares that can rob you of your simple, joyful walk in Jesus Christ.” It’s in Jesus that we have all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, keep everything focused on Him.