Chapter 2: Since We Are Free Indeed
What is necessary for Christ to have preeminence in all things in the local church:
* First and foremost: Members with faith in Christ. A church must be comprised of born again believers; if not it is not a church.
** Second: Must cultivate love for all the saints,
*** Third: Be fruitful
**** Fourth: Walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
***** Fifth: Being steadfast and faithful in our faith in Christ
****** Sixth: Being faithful stewards of the mysteries of God
******* Seventh: Walking in Christ watching for the beguilers.
V2:5 Paul wrote that he was with the saints in colossee in the spirit, joying and beholding their order, and the stedfastness of their faith in Christ.
· V7 Paul found joy in knowing the church in Colosse was steadfast in the things they had been taught.
· Acts 2:42 The church continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine
V2:8 There were Jewish leaders who wanted to force Gentile Christians to keep aspects of the law to be truly saved. Salvation by grace through faith and not of works in the simplicity that is in Christ (2Cor 11:3) that Satan wants to corrupt. Remember Paul’s continual prayer the saints in Colosse in V1:9 that they be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; he wanted them to be able to watch and avoid those who wanted to corrupt the church.
· Today there non-Jewish groups that attempt to do the same by tying certain beliefs they want to enforce to complete salvation.
V2:8b, 9-15 There is nothing to be gained from that which is not of Christ. Col 3:11 . . . Christ is all, and in all
Christ is the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Christ is the head of all principality and power:
· David wrote in Ps 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Phil 4:19
· V2:10a We are complete in Him
· V2:12-13b We are quickened together with him
· V13c We have been forgiven of all trespasses
· V12 through the faith of the operation of God
Ø Christ’s birth, death, resurrection and our being risen with Him is all God doing. Our salvation is through the faith given by God. Remember Romans 12:3 the measure of faith given to all men.
V14- 15 Because of Christ’s finished work upon the cross there is absolutely no ordinance that can he charged against us.
· Mt 5:17 Jesus declared, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil”.
· John 8:36 We have been made free indeed.
· Rom 8:2 free from the law of sin and death. 1Cor 15:52
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
V2:16-17 Paul to the saints in Colosse: Because of what V9-15 teaches do not allow someone to judge your salvation based upon weather you keep their traditions or not.
· Note: Rom 14:22-3, 5-7 If a Christian chooses to keep certain aspects the law to worship the Lord we who may choose not to keep the same must not condemn them. There is nothing wrong is one chooses to worship the Lord by things as long as salvation is not tied to their actions.
· In Colossians Paul wrote against those who wanted to demand that they keep the law to be saved.
V2:8 Paul warned them to beware of things of this world and of men because they are not of Christ: beware: be on the look out for and know them when they are confronted with it. Recognize heresy because you know it what is.
· V2:16-17 The ordinances of the law were in the shadow of what Christ fulfilled through the operation of God.
· Vs 2:18-19, 21-22 with Rom 14:2-5 Paul gave the examples of philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world.
· 1John 2:18, 22; 2John1:7 Steadfastness is based upon what you believe and teach about the man Jesus Christ.
V2:18 Paul told this church to be ware and not be beguiled to corrupt their church.Why would Paul warn a church he knew was doing right (beholding your order), and was steadfast of their faith in Christ?
· V1:23 Any church may be only one generation away from being moved away from the hope of the gospel. Beguiled into accepting philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world.
V2:19 If a church is not steadfast in their faith in Christ and moved away from the hope of the gospel, then, the church is not holding the Head above all. Christ will not have the place of preeminence in the church.
· This is the outcome when philosophy, vain deceit, the traditions of men, and rudiments of the world take place over the true Word of God. (Vs2:8,20)
· These things are described in Vs2:18,21
We are free indeed to worship the Lord God and hold Christ in preeminence in all things.
V2:22-23 Spurgeon: “The precepts of men as to regarding different days, and rejecting certain kinds of food, appear to be wise and to foster humility, but it is only so in mere appearance, and Christians, being under the law of liberty, should refuse to bring themselves into bondage. One is our Master, even Christ; it is enough for us to obey his will and abide in the liberty which he has so dearly purchased for us, and so graciously given to us.”