I enjoy learning facts about Creationism. Learning how scientific facts about origins and geology fit the biblical creation and flood model far better than they do the evolution theory strengthens my faith. It gives me confidence when talking to those who promote evolution. A clear understanding of God’s Word on the subject is a fantastic help.

In Colossians 2:1, Paul said he was in a conflict. This conflict was a great struggle in his heart. He was burdened that the Colossian and Laodicean Christians might be fully informed about Christ so that they could withstand the arguments of the false teachers.

Thomas Constable summed up Pauls conflict well when he wrote, “The better a Christian understands God’s true revelation concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ the better he or she will be able to recognize and refute false doctrine.”

Transition

This evening I want us to note several things that Paul desired for the Colossian believers to help them refute false doctrine.

He desired that they be…

Strengthened

  1. He wanted their hearts to be comforted or strengthened. When our hearts are troubled our whole being is troubled. Out of our hearts come all the issues of life.
  2. The word “comforted” comes from the frequent Greek word that means to call to one’s side to admonish, exhort, comfort, encourage, strengthen or teach.
  3. Paul wanted the Christians to be strengthened so they would remain true when false teachers were undermining the preeminence of Christ. False teachers were claiming that they needed more than just Christ.
  4. Praise God, we are saved by Jesus + nothing. As we learned in James 2 this morning, we are not saved by faith plus works but by a faith that works. Works are the heartbeat of faith. We must be strengthened or encouraged by this fact.
  5. The writer of the hymn “Jesus Paid It All” wrote, I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.” Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

He desired that they be…

Unified

  1. He desired that they be knit together in love. The word translated “knit together” means to join together, to unite, to cause a person to unite with another in a conclusion or come to the same opinion. They needed unity.
  2. Paul did not want the believers to be fractured or split apart or divided as to the preeminence of Christ. He wanted them to be united on the fact that Christ was superior to all others and sufficient for all our needs. The truth of God’s Word was able to unite them.
  3. Paul did not want their unity to be forced or out of duty but a bond formed because of their love for Christ and for each other. There is strength in working together in unity.
  4. Solomon emphasized this fact in (Ecclesiastes 4:12) “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
  5. Perhaps the well-known motto, “United we shall stand, divided we shall fall” was the thought in Paul’s mind.

He desired that they be…

Confident

  1. The comfort or encouragement of biblical truth accompanied by a unified spirit would lead to a further result. Next we read, “unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding”.
  2. The words “full assurance of understanding” speak of a complete confidence that understanding brings. When we fully understand something we can defend it with confidence.
  3. If I asked you to teach me how to lay bricks, you probably could not confidently teach me. But if you were a brickie tradesman, you would be very confident. The same is true as we gain a solid understanding of God’s Word. That understanding will give us confidence.
  4. Paul calls this confident understanding the riches. The most valuable wealth you may gain in this world is a thorough knowledge of the Bible. We must not underestimate the value of the Bible.

He desired that they be…

Knowledgeable

  1. A confident understanding of the Bible leads to the next result. We read “to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;” The word “acknowledgement” speaks of a full knowledge, discernment, or recognition of something.
  2. The Gnostic false teachers were trying to limit knowledge to their narrow view of Christ. Paul desired that the Christians might have a full knowledge, a wise discernment, and a clear recognition of God’s mystery. Eadie adds, “He desires that his readers should not only distinctly recognize it, and highly value it, but specially, that they should fully comprehend its contents and lessons.”
  3. We need a full knowledge about the mystery of God. Paul is still speaking about the mystery of the gospel that he introduced us to in Col 1:26. It is the previously hidden truth that God would invite the Gentiles to be saved and to become one with the believing Jews.
  4. This mystery did not just belong to God the Father but also to Christ. Here again, Paul is emphasizing the deity of Christ as co-equal with the Father.

He desired that they be…

Enlightened

  1. I believe the word “whom” in verse 3 refers to Christ. He is the one who has the preeminence. In Christ are stored up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
    1. Wisdom belongs to Christ who is God. Isaiah described the Messiah in similar terms. (Isaiah 11:2) “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;”
    2. Solomon stated, (Proverbs 3:19) “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.”
    3. Paul used similar words in, (Ephesians 1:8) “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;”
  2. Christ has all wisdom. He knows the best choice for every situation because He can see the beginning and the end of every situation. All wisdom is stored up in Christ. He has revealed some of His wisdom in the Bible, but the rest is hidden in Him and available to those who intimately get to know Him.
  3. Christ is all knowledge. He knows all things. The better we get to know Christ, the more of His knowledge He will share with us. As Christians, we hold the key to the treasures of Christ. (2 Peter 1:3) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
  4. You may enjoy the treasures of Christ’s wisdom and knowledge if you will spend quality time with Him every day. Solomon tells us that discovering these treasures takes time and commitment. (Proverbs 2:1-6) “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

Conclusion

Paul desired that the Colossian Christians be strengthened, united, confident, knowledgeable and enlightened so that the false teachers would not deceive them. We need the same thing today. While these treasures are available to every Christian, only those who spend quality time with Christ will benefit from them. If your time with the Lord is hit and miss or shallow and dull determine to change. If you will make it a #1 priority to dig in the Bible, study and pray, you will begin to enjoy God’s treasures and His doctrinal protection.

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337
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Paul’s Great Conflict
23 October 2016 PM – Colossians 2:1-3 – Col16 – Scott Childs