Colossians 2:1-10

The following is a Bible study originally posted on our Bible Study Group.

This week's verses are Colossians 2:1-10.

1 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.

4 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.

8 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. (NKJV)


One commentary I read stated that the Apostle Paul wrote these verses to
Christians he had never had a chance to visit in person. These were
churches where the Christians were probably isolated from other believers in
other towns.

You know, living out here on the Navajo Indian Reservation, hours from any
other church besides our tiny little church plant -- I can really relate to
these Christians. It's easy to start to feel discouraged, or to feel like
Christians really are a bunch of "odd balls." The Native Americans don't
want our witness, our fellow "anglos" aren't interested in God, and our
church has just a handful of believers, most of whom are brand-new
Christians.

Yet Paul prayed for these Christians, that they would be "encouraged" and
that they would be "knit together in love." I've been reading a book by
Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life), and he also talks about how one of
the top priorities of our lives should be to grow in love for the Body of
Christ, the Church. It is really not easy to love our fellow believers.
Sometimes they're "prickly" or downright "ornery." Yet learning to love
each other is a priority. After all, they will be our family for all of
eternity. (Jumping down to verse 5, I see that Paul commends the Colossian
believers for their "good order." I think that means that they were
succeeding in showing love to each other. I pray that we all do as well...
I certainly know I fail a lot!)

Paul also prayed that they would "attain to all riches of the full assurance
of understanding..." (v. 2) and that they would be "rooted and built up in
Him and established in the faith..." (v. 7). Another key purpose of our
lives should be to be solid in our knowledge of God and His Word. We've
talked about this in previous weeks, but let's do a check-up. Are you
faithfully reading your Bible every day? (If not, see resources at
http://www.anneshomeyplace.com/God.htm.) Are you faithfully attending an
assembly of believers where God's Word is preached without apology? (See
http://www.anneshomeyplace.com/church.htm.) Do you have a small group of
believers to whom you are accountable?

Paul gives us a stern warning in verse 8: "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"
(see also verse 4). If you feel you are especially vulnerable to being
deceived, may I suggest you memorize Psalm 1? It says,

1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

4The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (NKJV)

According to Colossians 2:10, we are only complete "in Christ." How much
are you in Christ, or do you just make claims with your words? When we are
alive only in Christ, all power flows through us. I know I deeply want to
have an impact on my generation and my world, but I will only have the power
to do so through Christ who lives in me.


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