Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
Scripture: Col. 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
Col. 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
Col. 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col. 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
Col. 2:5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
Teaching: After crystallizing who Christ is, Paul, in chapter 2 of Colossians turns his attention to a new topic: encouraging the Colossians, and the Laodiceans as he mentions in verse 1, in Christ so that they would have the rich blessings of understanding of Christ, for the purpose of knowing Christ. Colossians summed up is a letter so that they would know Christ and not be deceived by false teachers, and for this cause, Paul is struggling mightily (as any can see in the book of Acts).
With Paul not being able to be personally present with the Colossians, he is urging them towards unity amongst themselves as a church family. However, he is careful to delineate the commonality they are to share: Christ. Paul both commends the Colossians for their “good discipline” and “stability of...faith” and encourages them to continue this “in Christ” so that they would not be deceived by “persuasive arguments” to the contrary, as all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are so appealing from persuasive and dazzling speakers, are actually found in Christ.
Takeaway: Skill in speaking can attract a crowd and persuasive arguments can convince even the sharpest minds of new things. But while these qualities are not sinful in and of themselves, they are not required for preaching the Gospel nor hearing of God’s Word. Paul admitted that he was not a skilled speaker (2 Cor. 11:6), and boasted in his own weakness so that the power of Christ would be seen in him (2 Cor. 12:9). He says in 1 Cor. 2:3-5, “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” This is what we as a Church are to look for in preaching, not simply what sounds the best or captures our attention. Paul’s message is that one must know Christ, and in Christ, he will be able to discern what is true verses what are simply persuasive arguments. All the knowledge and wisdom we need are in Christ, so we are to pursue Him and join community that seeks to glorify Him, know Him, and serve Him together.
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