Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at mysticism and asceticism. This concludes our study of Colossians 2.

5. Mysticism (18-19)

¹⁸ Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,  ¹⁹ And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Verse 18: Beguile means to rob you of your prize. The heretics, if their doctrine were accepted, would rob the Colossians of their spiritual blessings. These false teachers displayed false humility and advocated a gospel of worshiping angels that is paying homage to angelic beings. They also claimed to have witnessed numerous revelations and visions.

Verse 19: “Not holding the head” reveals that the local heretics possessed no relationship with Christ: they were therefore not Christians. From Christ (the Head), then, the church (body) derives spiritual growth as it is supported and united by the various ministering believers (joints, bands) in the assembly.

6. Asceticism (20-23)

²⁰ Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  ²¹ (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  ²² Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  ²³ Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Verse 20: Asceticism is the religious doctrine that one can reach a higher spiritual state by rigorous self-discipline and self denial. Paul’s expression “to die” figuratively means to be free from something. That from which the Colossians had been freed is the rudiments of the world, that is, from the elementary religious teachings espousing salvation by merit and good works. Since the gospel has freed the believer from attempting to gain heaven by self-effort, he should never subject himself to such legalistic ordinances.

Verse 21: These three prohibitions are examples of the heretical teachings to which the Colossians were about to submit. They were to abstain from certain food and drinks.

Verse 22: Inasmuch as all these foods are to perish with the using, it is foolish to base one’s eternal salvation on abstinence from temporary things like food.

Verse 23: Will-worship means self imposed religion. The apostle concedes that legalism is outwardly impressive, but he denies asceticism’s ability to harness the sensual appetite of man’s sinful nature (flesh).

CONCLUSION

• IN CHRIST IS ALL WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE
• BELIEVERS WALK IN CHRIST
• BELIEVERS ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST
• BELIEVERS SINS ARE ALL FORGIVEN
• BELIEVERS SINS WERE NAILED TO HIS CROSS
• BELIEVERS WORSHIP JESUS AND ONLY JESUS
• BELIEVERS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MAN-MADE ORDINANCES

Paul’s message to the Colossians must be seen in today’s present context. Each of these five errors are playing out in churches all across the United States. We must confront these errors, as Paul did, through a thorough knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what He did for us, and his triumph over Satan.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at legality. Verses 14-15 explain to us why Satan is a defeated foe.

4. Legality (14-17)

¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;  ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  ¹⁶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  ¹⁷ Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Verse 14 refers to the Mosaic Law, which the Jews had contracted to obey, and to which the gentiles by conscience were obligated. Owing to man’s inability to fulfill this obligation of obedience, he was therefore indebted to God. But through Christ this debt was graciously blotted out. Our sins were nailed to HIS cross.

Verse 15, by the cross God disarmed or deprived Satan and all his demonic horde of the power and sway with which they formally gripped the Colossians. By this statement Paul might well have asked the Colossians, How can you give ear to any doctrine advocating angel worship (v18), when they are all subject to God?

Verse 16, since Christ had annulled the law (v14), the Colossians are to let no man…judge you regarding dietary matters or religious calendar observations. A believer is not to observe ordinances that are only ritual and liturgical, as they have no present value.

Verse 17, “Shadow” is picture: photograph. All of the rituals of the law were pictures of Christ. Now that Christ has come, we have the reality, the person of Christ, we no longer need pictures. We worship Christ not ritual!

These verses confirm that we do indeed have VICTORY in Jesus. Satan has been defeated; Christ has come and blotted out our sin, and the pictures of Christ have become reality. What a blessing.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), Legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at philosophy. This is a powerful group of verses and should be a tremendous encouragement to each of us.

3. Philosophy (8-13)

⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  ⁹ For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  ¹⁰ And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:  ¹¹ In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  ¹² Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.  ¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Beware means to lookout. Spoil you means to carry away from the truth with false teaching. Philosophy and vain deceit means it is empty and void of real truth. It is empty of vital power, for the dynamic of the gospel is absent. It is empty of hope, for it leads away from the light of God’s presence into the midst of man’s speculation. It is deceitful because of its attractive presentation which seduces the minds of those who are drawn away by it, and which conceals its utter barrenness. Some false philosophies include tongues, laying of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, worshipping anything but Christ, child baptism, and lack of separation.

If in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, then HE is the source of all truth, and any teaching which does not accord with Him is at once to be declared false. This refutes the Colossian heresy denying the Son’s full deity and that He possessed a body that could die and make atonement for sin. The Bible then is the truth that we must stand on.

Believers have been filled by Jesus with all the spiritual blessings they need; hence, they are “complete” and lacking nothing. This, too, refutes the heresy that denied the sufficiency of Christ and encouraged Christians to look to other spiritual beings for help.

The real circumcision for today is the new birth.

Identification with Christ is the meaning of being “buried with Him in baptism”. We identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul gives the Colossians a personal application. God gave them a new spiritual life. It is NOT the improvement of the OLD nature, but the impartation of a NEW nature.

To sum up this lesson, avoid ANYTHING that does not agree with God’s word.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), Legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at enticing words.

Where are the answers to life’s question to be found?  Christ Jesus.  There are five errors that endangered the Colossian church:

 Paul begins by bearing his heart and giving encouragement to the church’s at Colossae and Laodicea in verses 1-3.

1.All treasure of wisdom and knowledge (1-3)

 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ² That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; ³ In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2. Enticing words (4-7)

 ⁴ And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.  ⁵ For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  ⁶ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:  ⁷ Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Beguile means to deceive. Thus Paul emphasizes the fact that he speaks to guard them against false teaching. He has spoken of Christ as being the only real source of wisdom and knowledge in order to show the utter contrast between the truth of God and the erroneous speculations of the false teachers. Their theories mislead because they spring from faulty reasoning, the fallacy of which is clouded by the persuasive arguments with which they are advocated.

Steadfastness is a solid front: immovable. Paul is commending them for their faithfulness in the face of overwhelming odds against them.

They are to walk in dependence upon Him. Walking speaks of the normal pattern of living. It suggests the steady progress of the one who is patiently going on in the face of temptation to turn aside or to be discouraged.

Today our televisions, computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones, have beguiled us. Satan is attempting to deceive us to follow false teachers. They tell us to worship anything but Jesus.

We must resist these temptations. Worship Jesus only.  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We live in a busy world. We have families, jobs, and ministries that help us prioritize our days. But what do the people we interact with each day see in us? The challenging questions are all within the text. As you read this, please think about how others see you.

Here is a sermon which none can dispute!

(George Everard, “Up High!” 1884)

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

We are to let the beauty of Jesus be seen upon us, that some rays of His glorious holiness may be manifested to the eyes of the world around. We are to go forth clothed in . . .
  His meekness,
His purity,
His love,
His heavenliness,
His unselfishness–
that sinners about us may gain some faint idea of His grace, through His likeness seen in us.

When, from beneath the humble garb of some lowly disciple, there shines forth something of Christ, something of what He was when on earth–here is a sermon which none can dispute, here is an appeal to the human conscience, more eloquent than the most powerful address ever made from the pulpit!

Christian, do you thus glorify Christ day by day?

Does your life speak so distinctly and plainly for Christ that men cannot fail to hear?

Does your temper, your tone of thought and speech, bear witness that you walk continually before God?

Do men take knowledge of you, that you have been with Him–and that He is with you?

Is there transparent sincerity in what you say, and unsullied integrity in all your actions?

Is there the spirit of self-sacrifice–trampling SELF under foot, and spending time and money for the welfare of others?

Is there a deep hatred of sin as sin, and a desire to do the will of God under all circumstances?

Is there a fixed determination rather to die, than willfully to break a single command, or cast a shadow of dishonor on the name of Him who so loved you?

Do you “long to be like Jesus,” and every moment to live devotedly and wholly in His service?

Then for this purpose, plead with Him this prayer, “Lord Jesus, glorify Yourself in me! Help me to show forth by my daily life, that I have been with You. May Your image be formed in me, and may Your life on earth be the pattern which I ever strive to follow.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Paul concludes Chapter 1 by telling the Colossians’ his position, his purpose, his outreach, and what he hopes to accomplish.  He reveals a hidden mystery. He makes clear that God gives him the power to minister.

3. Paul’s service for Christ (24-29)

 ²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church:  ²⁵ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;  ²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:  ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  ²⁸ Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  ²⁹ Where-unto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.

CHALLENGES

• Know Christ
• Be reconciled to Christ
• Be willing to suffer for Christ
• Be willing to serve Christ
• Be willing to share Christ with others

Think about how a personal relationship with Christ has changed your life. What has He taught you? What has He challenged you to do? Are you doing it? This was what Paul was challenging the Colossians to do.

Go and do likewise.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Today Paul tells the Colossians about the person of Jesus and reconciliation with Jesus.   This is the solution to the theological problems that the Colossians was facing.

1. The person of Christ (15-19)

 ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  ¹⁶ For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.  ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.  ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell;

 Firstborn indicates His priority before all creation. Verse 16 provides the reason Christ is called the firstborn in verse 15. Paul’s rationale is this. Since by Him were all things created, the (1) Christ must have existed before the universe, and (2) He must be greater than all He made. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers all refer to angelic beings (cf. Ephesians 1:21, 3:10). “Thrones” refer to angels who sit on thrones as rulers, “dominions” refer to domains or kingdoms over which these heavenly beings reign, “principalities” refer to rulers, and “powers” refer to angelic monarchs who yield regal power. Since Christ created these various ranks of angels, He is supreme over them. Striking a blow to the Colossian heresy advocating angel worship (2:18), this text forbids Christians to pay homage to angels or other heavenly beings created by God.

2. Reconciliation (20-23)

 ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled ²² In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight:  ²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Reconciliation is the act whereby God, through Christ’s atonement, brings men who are at odds with Him back into a peaceful, proper relationship with Himself.

Paul uses the person of Christ to refute the heresies of the Colossian church.

The heresies at Colossae are still in play today. This is why it is vital for us to know who Christ is, what He has done, and to be willing to tell others.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Yesterday we read that the Colossian church had several problems. Instead of Paul stating the problem and then giving the solution, he begins with the solution. He tells them about the person of Jesus, reconciliation with Jesus, and how he has served Jesus. Verses 1-14 form the introduction to the letter.

WRITER

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

RECIPIENTS

² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

SALUTATION

³ We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  ⁴ Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,  ⁵ For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;  ⁶ Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

MINISTER IN COLOSSAE

 ⁷ As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;  ⁸ Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE COLOSSIANS

 ⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  ¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  ¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  ¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:  ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Paul wants the Colossians to follow Christ. This will be important as we move forward. Tomorrow we will look at the person of Christ and reconciliation with Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Colossians has a wealth of truths. Paul had to correct false doctrine being presented to the Colossian’s. Here is outline of the book.

BOOK OF COLOSSIANS INTRODUCTION

OUTLINE

DOCTRINAL CHAPTERS 1-2

PRACTICAL CHAPTERS 3-4

CHAPTER 1 THE PERSON OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 2 THE ANSWERS OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 3 THE STANDARDS OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 4 THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST

HISTORY

The Epistle to the Colossians is one of the four prison epistles. It was written by the apostle Paul while he was a prisoner in Rome. Evidence suggests that Paul himself had never visited Colossae but that Timothy and Epaphras probably evangelized the city and founded the church during Paul’s three year stay in Ephesus while on his third missionary journey. Colossae was a town in Asia Minor about one hundred miles east of Ephesus and 12 miles south of Laodicea and Heirapolis.

OCCASION FOR WRITING

Epaphras either visited Paul in Rome or was imprisoned there with him. ln either case, he informed Paul of the dangerous theological error circulating in the churches of Colossae and Laodicea, in response to Epaphras’ plea for help, Paul writes the epistle to the Colossians, which is also to be read in the church of Laodicea, in an attempt to check the heresy’s influence. The heresy was syncretistic, that is, it was composed of elements drawn from paganism’, Judaism. and Christianity. The pagan element espoused a false philosophy that appears to have been an early form of Gnosticism. This movement viewed matter as evil, denied the divine creation of the universe, held to many angelic beings or spiritual intermediaries existing between God and men, advocated the worship of these angelic beings, and stressed secret “knowledge” (received when initiated into their cult) as the means of attaining salvation. The Jewish element was legalistic in nature, retained the Mosaic Law, imposed circumcision, followed dietary restrictions and calendar observations, and advocated asceticism. The heresy’s Christian component did not deny Christ, but dethroned Him. He was not regarded as divine or as Creator of the universe, and His death was thus deprived of any saving merit. The letter’s aim was to refute the Colossian heresy, to demonstrate the preeminence of Christ, and to confirm the addressees in the Christian faith.

Tomorrow we will look at chapter 1.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Delight in the fact that you are a child of God’s. Meditate on some of these great promises.

This one thought is a fountain of unfailing happiness!

(George Everard, “Up High!” 1884)

“He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ” Ephesians 1:5

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus!” Galatians 3:26

Here is one of the sweetest privileges of the Christian life. The Christian is a beloved child, and shares all the love and tenderness of the Father’s heart!

This one thought is a fountain of unfailing happiness! 
“I am at home with God!
Once I was far off–but now I am near.
Once I was a stranger–but now His beloved child!
Once the thought of His presence was fear and dread–but now it is life, and joy, and peace.
 He is my Father, and in this Name all heart-joys meet.
He knows me by name, and cares for me in all my cares.
 He pities me, and in tender compassion marks each tear I shed, and each sorrow that weighs upon my heart.
 He opens His hand, and each day gives me all that I need.
He bows down His ear and hearkens to each prayer I offer.
I have boldness and liberty to go at all times into His presence-chamber, and may tell Him every desire and ask of Him whatever is for my good.”

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001