This blog is the second in a four part series on the book of Colossians.
At the end of chapter 1 we saw how Paul looked at how ‘it’s all about Him’, how Christ is the Lord of all, yet how He reached down and made a way for us to come to know Him. Chapter 2 is very much a lead on from what has been established in chapter 1.
You are to walk in Him (2:6-7)
These verses are almost a summary of all that Paul wants to say over the next couple of chapters, encouraging the believers to continue to walk in Him just as they received Him. Obviously he isn’t talking about the physical way that we walk here, but the way we live our lives, our conduct, and encouraging us to make sure it is appropriate and glorifying to God.
Are you walking in Him? I’m guessing that most reading this are Christians, that there was a time when you turned from your sin and trusted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour—but what about now? Has the academic and business race taken over as your priority? Is the banter with your friends more important than spending time with God? How is your walk? We are told here to walk in Him and this is the first clue as to how we can do it: in Him. The power to live this life is dependant upon daily communion with Him. It’s like your mobile phone. You can use it all of the time, use it to be a good friend, to encourage others—whatever. But unless you set it aside and connect it to the power source and charge it, it’s useless to everyone. Is that your walk in Him? Is it centred around spending time with Him? You are to walk in Him, but as you do you need to remember some important things:
You are complete in Him (2:8-15)
After encouraging the believers in the way to walk, Paul addresses head-on some of the false teachings that were being brought into the church. But he doesn’t just do it to be criticising, he encourages the church to see the treasures of the gospel and what Christ brings.
One of the key arguments which the false teachers had introduced was their offering of fullness (pleroma). In other words, if you did the things they were suggesting, or followed the additional teaching, then you would achieve fullness. Fullness was a term used by Gnostics as the highest point of religious experience—being in a closeness to God where nothing keeps us apart.
In verses nine and ten, Paul points out that this fullness is already found in the Lord Jesus. He wasn’t just a random deity or power as they were suggesting. He wasn’t just similar to God, or showing some likeness to God, He is God! This fullness that is being offered is found completely in the Lord Jesus, and when we come to Him, we are placed ‘in Him’. Every believer shares in this fullness because we are complete in Him.
You are free in Him (2:16-23)
As a result of being complete in Christ, of being given everything by Him, we can live free. Yet some don’t want us to live as free people. In the church at Colossae there were people trying to enslave the believers with different ideas and rules:
Idea: Legalism (vv16-17)
‘To be a close follower, a good Christian, you need Jesus plus these rules and observances.’
Answer: The basis of our freedom is in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone—it is nothing to do with us! You and I did nothing to add to the cross of the Lord Jesus. The only thing that we contributed to it all was our sin for which He died. We are totally dependant upon the grace of God in Salvation, so how can we entertain trying to add some good works to reach a higher level?
Idea: Mysticism (vv18-19)
‘We can have an immediate experience with the spiritual world, separate from the Word of God or from the Holy Spirit.’
Answer: Verse nineteen sums it all up—they weren’t holding onto the Head of the church, who is Jesus Christ; they were seeking after additional teaching. By not holding onto the head of the church they were actually losing out and being undernourished. What is your spiritual life is based on? The majority of you are not being drawn into mysticism, but perhaps you base a lot of your faith on experiences, events, emotions? I know there are times in our lives when we are really aware of God’s presence, but be careful that you don’t base your spiritual walk with God on emotions and experiences. Base it on what God has revealed in Jesus, what He has revealed in His Word. It will keep you firm through the difficult times.
Idea: Asceticism (vv20-23)
‘Rigorous self-denial and even self-mortification to become more spiritual.’
Answer: Paul highlights here how it is good to discipline our bodies and look after ourselves, but when it is taken too far it is promoting reliance on self as opposed to the Lord Jesus.
In Conclusion
In all of these things Paul is stressing the need to remember that you are free in Him. The story is told of a gentleman visiting a slave market, who was deeply touched by the mental agony of a slave-girl who feared that she should fall into the hands of a rough master. The gentleman inquired her price, paid it to the slave-trader, then placed the bill of sale in her own hands, telling her that she was free and could now go home. The slave-girl could not realise the change at first, but, running after her redeemer, cried, “He has redeemed me! he has redeemed me! Will you let me be your servant?” How much more should we serve Him. It really is all about Him.
