Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

1. The definition of everything 

Vss 1-5 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 attainingto 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. 

• Paul desired the following from the church at Colossae
  • that their hearts may be encouraged
  • being knit together in love
  • the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ

The Scofield Bible explains —“The mystery of God is Christ, as incarnating the fullness of the Godhead, and all the divine wisdom and knowledge for the redemption and reconciliation of man.”

• Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words
• We would continue to grow!

2. The Christian’s response

Vss 6-7 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.

• “rooted” – rhizoō = to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded[1]
• “built up” – epoikodomeō = to build up
• “in Him and established in the faith”

Max Anders says, “Step by step, day by day, we are to conduct our affairs in conscious submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Life is a journey, and we are not expected to sprint through it. We are just to make steady progress.”[2]

3. Don’t get sidetracked

Vss 8-15 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. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Himthrough faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

• Just as Paul desired things for Colossae, he also wanted to warn them
  • 8a Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit
  • 8b according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
  • We have been raised in new life (verse 12)
  • We are forgiven (verse 13)
  • 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross

R.C. Lucas states, “…the believer already shares Christ’s victory, for is not Christ now head of all rule and authority (verse 10)? Of this supreme authority over all spiritual powers, the church is the beneficiary, enjoying in Christ perfect freedom from all his enemies. Christians are freed from the dominion of darkness…”[3]

4. For we’ve been set free

Vss 16-23 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

• 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as thoughliving in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations

Warren Weirsbe says, “This, then, is the main theme of Colossians: all the believer needs is Jesus Christ. Man-made systems and regulations seem very spiritual, but they are merely worldly principles (rudiments, v. 20). This is “kindergarten” living; we must graduate into a higher level of Christianity.”[4]

So, what does this mean for me?

1. Don’t miss the promise of tomorrow by being distracted by today

…in whom (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Vs 3) 

2. Don’t let the joy of following Christ be clouded by the task of following rules

…(rituals) which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (Vs 17) 

3. Don’t miss the hope of tomorrow for the temptations of today

…Let no one cheat you of your reward (Vs 18)

… and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. (Vs 19)

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4492/kjv/tr/0-1/

[2] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 304.

[3] R. C. Lucas, Fullness & Freedom: The Message of Colossians & Philemon, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 100.

[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 581.