1 the colossian heresy... colossians – christ and the church lesson 4 1

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The Colossian Heresy...The Colossian Heresy...

Colossians – Christ And The ChurchColossians – Christ And The ChurchLesson 4Lesson 4

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Col. 2:1-3…Col. 2:1-3…

1 For I want you to know how great a 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, have not personally seen my face,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of Godin a true knowledge of God’’s mystery, that is, s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, Christ Himself,

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.wisdom and knowledge.

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Verses 2:1-3…Verses 2:1-3… PaulPaul’’s s ““conflictconflict”” for the Colossians and the for the Colossians and the

Laodiceans was mental rather than Laodiceans was mental rather than physical.physical.

It was not the ego of a self-appointed It was not the ego of a self-appointed crusader that had prompted this letter.crusader that had prompted this letter.


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Verses 2:1-3…Verses 2:1-3… A genuine love for one another that A genuine love for one another that

emulated the love he had for them would emulated the love he had for them would greatly strengthen their mutual desire to greatly strengthen their mutual desire to stand together against the doctrinal stand together against the doctrinal perversions with which disciples were perversions with which disciples were being confronted at Colosse, Laodicea, being confronted at Colosse, Laodicea, and, no doubt, in other churches in the and, no doubt, in other churches in the area.area.


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Verses 2:1-3…Verses 2:1-3… Not only was a sense of unity a key factor Not only was a sense of unity a key factor

in resisting error but also the possession in resisting error but also the possession of a good understanding of Godof a good understanding of God’’s s ““mystermysteryy ”” would provide a defense that deception would provide a defense that deception and falsehood could not penetrate.and falsehood could not penetrate.

The The ““mysterymystery”” of God and Christ was not of God and Christ was not beyond their understanding and beyond their understanding and commitment.commitment.


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Verses 2:1-3…Verses 2:1-3… HeavenHeaven’’s revelation was now hidden from s revelation was now hidden from

men only in the sense of being a precious men only in the sense of being a precious treasure for which men must treasure for which men must ““digdig”” diligently if they were to share in its diligently if they were to share in its inestimable riches.inestimable riches.


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Col. 2:4-7…Col. 2:4-7…

4 I say this so that no one will delude you 4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. with persuasive argument.

5 For even though I am absent in body, 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore as you have received Christ 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 having been firmly rooted and now being 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. with gratitude.

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Verses 2:4-7…Verses 2:4-7… ““Persuasive wordsPersuasive words”” can be destructive to can be destructive to

faith if they are not used to speak the faith if they are not used to speak the truth.truth.

Paul was always Paul was always ““in [the] spiritin [the] spirit”” with with disciples who were trying to do the right disciples who were trying to do the right thing in serving God.thing in serving God.


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Verses 2:4-7…Verses 2:4-7… His commitment to supporting their battle His commitment to supporting their battle

against error was strong because he knew against error was strong because he knew of their previous achievements in the of their previous achievements in the religion of Christ:religion of Christ: They had They had ““good order.good order.”” They also had displayed a They also had displayed a ““steadfastnessteadfastnes

ss”” of faith. of faith.


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Verses 2:4-7…Verses 2:4-7… Unless someone could teach them some Unless someone could teach them some

truth that would change their initial truth that would change their initial understanding of the Lordunderstanding of the Lord’’s excellency, s excellency, why should they even listen to a teacher why should they even listen to a teacher who wanted to move them away from who wanted to move them away from their original faith?their original faith?


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Verses 2:4-7…Verses 2:4-7… Their Their ““walkingwalking”” in Christ would be blessed in Christ would be blessed

by:by: Being rooted with a sound foundation of Being rooted with a sound foundation of ““first principlesfirst principles”” upon which to build a upon which to build a ““perfectperfect”” knowledge of God knowledge of God’’s s ““mysterymystery””

Being established in the faith so that Being established in the faith so that any future attacks by human wisdom any future attacks by human wisdom could be more easily and efficiently could be more easily and efficiently dispatched.dispatched.

Being abundant in the faith that had Being abundant in the faith that had been taught by apostolic authority.been taught by apostolic authority.


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Col. 2:8-10…Col. 2:8-10…

8 See to it that no one takes you captive 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. rather than according to Christ.

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, in bodily form,

10 and in Him you have been made 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;authority;

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Verses 2:8-10…Verses 2:8-10… In Christ, the Colossians could enjoy In Christ, the Colossians could enjoy

innumerable spiritual blessings:innumerable spiritual blessings: ““All wisdom and spiritual understandingAll wisdom and spiritual understanding””

that would provide strength (1:9);that would provide strength (1:9); Redemption and forgiveness of sins Redemption and forgiveness of sins

(1:14);(1:14); Spiritual peace through reconciliation to Spiritual peace through reconciliation to

God (1:20);God (1:20); All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).


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Verses 2:8-10…Verses 2:8-10… Paul and other inspired teachers had Paul and other inspired teachers had

been working hard to teach gospel truth been working hard to teach gospel truth about the rewards of about the rewards of ““Christ in [among] Christ in [among] you, the hope of gloryyou, the hope of glory”” (1:28,29). (1:28,29).

False teachers were working hard to False teachers were working hard to teach other teach other ““truthstruths”” they claimed were they claimed were superior to the gospel.superior to the gospel.


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Verses 2:8-10…Verses 2:8-10… These pretenders had three powerful These pretenders had three powerful

weapons in their arsenal of errors:weapons in their arsenal of errors: Philosophy and vain deceit.Philosophy and vain deceit. Traditions of men.Traditions of men. Basic principles of the world.Basic principles of the world.


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Verses 2:8-10…Verses 2:8-10… Not one of these things was Not one of these things was ““according according

to [the truth about] Christ.to [the truth about] Christ.”” Christians could be Christians could be ““completecomplete”” in Christ in Christ

because He possesses the because He possesses the ““fullness of fullness of the Godhead bodily.the Godhead bodily.””


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Verses 2:8-10…Verses 2:8-10… He imparts all the wisdom we need to He imparts all the wisdom we need to

guide us in our service;guide us in our service; He makes atonement for sin so that we He makes atonement for sin so that we

can be free of guilt;can be free of guilt; He is the merit by which sinners can be He is the merit by which sinners can be

justified before God;justified before God; He provides grace to sustain us in the He provides grace to sustain us in the

trials and duties of life.trials and duties of life.


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1 the colossian heresy... colossians – christ and the church lesson 4 1

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religion of christ

christ jesus

steadfastness of faith

original faith

true knowledge of gods

initial understanding

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