06 Complete in Christ

The apostle Paul begins chapter two by expressing his desire to strengthen the Colossian church, which was beginning to experience the dangers of heretical teaching.

And throughout the chapter (and the letter on the whole) we the relevance to the twenty-first century church as well.

1 Paul’s Agony

Rather than agonizing over his own present imprisonment, Paul was concerned about the condition and welfare of believers whom he had never seen:

Colossians 2:1-5

In the original Greek, Paul stated he was agōna from which we get our words agony and agonize. It literally meant that he was experience an intense internal struggle. It pictures his great identification with believers with whom he’d never met face-to-face.

This recalls, how in the previous chapter, Paul alluded to how Jesus so identifies with us, in all that we go through in our life’s journey.

In the case of Paul, even though he’d never met either the Colossians or Laodiceans, he was identifying with them, because they were brethren in the faith.

But we also see that Paul was not only concerned about believers in the Lycus Valley area:

Colossians 2:1b

With that statement, Paul was expressing an equal concern for all believers, which shows that his concern was from the Lord, and is an example of how all believers should feel and behave.

Next, the apostle spoke of his desire to encourage these believers, since he understood that the outside pressures they were experiencing, could cause their discouragement.

The Greek word which Paul used for “encouragement” is the word <paraklein> which of providing both comfort and exhortation.

But Paul went even further, as he desired that the church would also be “knit together in love”.

Paul was concerned that the pressures they were facing, would cause fractures in that unity, which again speaks to the relevance of this letter for the modern church.

Paul spoke of how their unity emanated from “love” which recalls what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, and how true love manifests in the life of the believer:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Paul, then showed that the “full assurance of understanding” had to do with the understanding of God’s Word, which is what should unite believers.

When God’s Word is not the standard, then all that’s left is man’s thoughts and opinions, which then brings about the possibilities of disagreements, disputes, and the lack of love.

The importance of our understanding points to understanding the “mystery of God” which was discussed in chapter one.

The biblical rendering of a “mystery” speaks of something which had been previously not revealed, or only partially revealed.

Here, Paul is speaking of the Old Covenant mystery, in which the Father would one day work only through His Son (Christ) alone.

And as was seen in chapter one, it was certainly a mystery under the Old Covenant, that eternal life (man’s hope of glory) would be found in Christ, the Son:

Colossians 1:27

Paul extended the thought to show that all “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Christ.

These strengths and safeguards are all necessary to combat the tactics of heresy.

The first century Colossian church faced a great deal of pressure, not only from the pagan Roman and Greek cultures, but from the Judaizers who insisted they must incorporate the Mosaic Law into the teachings of Christ, in essence, to become “complete” believers.

Sadly, there are segments of the modern church which follow those unbiblical principals.

In verse 4, Paul warned the Colossians about such false teachers:

Colossians 2:1

The way for any believer to avoid the pitfalls of heresy, is to be so familiar with that which is genuine.

This points to the need to be a discipline follower of Christ:

John 8:31

Paul then spoke of his connection with the believers in Colossae and Laodicea, even though he wasn’t physically present.

The reason he (and any believer) could make that statement, is because the unity is in Christ (His body) and He draws us all together.

Next, Paul spoke of how he rejoiced to see their “good order and steadfastness of faith in Christ”. He was alluding to the fact, that this young church hadn’t succumbed to the heresies they were confronted with.

2 Complete in Christ

Much like a parent might both commend, exhort, and even warn their child at the same time, that’s what Paul did next:

Colossians 2:6-10

Paul began, by encouraging them to continuing walking in Christ, the same way they’d began, in sincere, humble faith.

The only way anyone comes to faith in Christ, is to first recognize and admit that they’re a sinner in need of salvation, which is found only through the belief that Jesus’ finished work at Calvary paid the price for their sin. That’s the necessary sincere, humble faith.

The other thing we must understand, is that God has given us all that we need to live our Christian life. And He gives it to us at the moment of salvation.

In other words, we cannot “add to” what God has already perfectly done.

That’s not to preclude the need for spiritual growth, or re-filling of the Spirit, each those also are completely provided for by the Lord.

The part the believer must play, is to abide in Christ.

In verse 6, Paul speaks of the believer’s walk. Whenever the word is used in reference to the Christians manner of living, it’s speaking of continual forward motion.

Just as a plant must have a solid root system, to receive proper nutrients for growth, so must the believer, who’s rooted and built up in Christ.

The believer’s faith must rest in and be built upon God’s Word alone.

Next Paul then warned the church about falling prey to the deceitful philosophies of men:

Colossians 2:8

Paul clearly showed that the words of these heretical teachers, were filled with empty deceit.

Paul’s words bring to mind the words of Jude, who in his epistle referred to the apostates as being “clouds without water” in essence speaking “empty words”.

Here in Colossians 2, Paul speaks of the heretics’ words as being based upon the basic (base) principles of the world.

Paul mentions how their words are only of the world, and therefore, “not according to Christ”.

In verses 9 and 10, he issued a major doctrinal statement, showing that Jesus is “completely” God, and that believers are “complete” in Christ:

Colossians 2:9-10

Paul used the Greek word <plērōma> which speaks of “absolute completeness”.

This means that Jesus isn’t lacking in any attribute or aspect of Deity. This points to what was shown in chapter one, where it was seen that the Father determined that Jesus would be the physical representative of the Godhead on earth.

Then, in verse 10, Paul shows that those who are in Christ (believers) are “complete” therefore having everything necessary to live a successful day-to-day life, and then, to have eternal life.

Because Jesus is Creator of everything, He therefore reigns as sovereign over all.