INTRODUCTION AND MAJOR THEMES OF THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS
The first half of this epistle by Paul, concerns the doctrinal poisons that threatened this congregation that had never seen him in person. He explains that Christ is the head of the church and all things must focus on Him. Jesus's headship is vital.
Colossians 1:17-19, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning… that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,” (NKJV)
A clear understanding of true doctrine must begin with the acknowledging of the headship of Christ. Jesus' sacrificial stake has eliminated our guilt and brought us to safety and peace.
Colossians 1:21-22, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight,”
Paul explains to them that they are now blameless and any philosophy that states otherwise is false –– period. However, he warns believers that they must persevere.
Verse 23, “…if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
WORLDLY PHILOSOPHY IS VERY POISONOUS, SO BE ON GUARD
Paul realizes that being surrounded by Greek ideologies causes believers to be very vulnerable and thus they need to be careful of bad, outside of God's church influences.
Colossians 2:3-4, “…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.”
What is the major threat to these relatively new believers? It is not the Old Testament, as some have erroneously and ignorantly claimed. It is WORLDLY philosophies.
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Which ideas can pull some away from focusing on the headship of Jesus? What is the specific, worldly, deceptive concept being warned of by Paul? Is it Asceticism? Note what he says:
Colossians 2:19, “…and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. “
Colossians 2:20-22, “If you have died with Christ and have escaped fromthe world's rudimentary notions, why, as though your life still belonged to the world, do you submit to such precepts as 21 ‘Do not handle this;’ ‘Do not taste that;’ ‘Do not touch that other thing’ –– 22 referring to things which are all intended to be used up and perish –– in obedience to mere human injunctions and teachings?” (WNT)
Note the primary negative forces Paul is warning about are rudiments of this world –– not the only Bible that then existed, the Old Testament. Further Paul becomes even more specific.
Verse 23, “These rules have indeed an appearance of wisdom where self-imposed worship exists, and an affectation of humility and an ascetic severity. But not one of them is of any value in combating the indulgence of our lower natures.”
The number one doctrinal threat to them was Asceticism. What is asceticism? The Greeks had two major philosophies which were polar opposites in self-disciple: Epicurean hedonism, pleasure, greediness and the opposite –– Asceticism.
Asceticism states that one is closer to their versions of higher enlightenment by extreme self-denial of the body. It favored discipline based on denial of all good things, all pleasures. Near starvation, self-flagellation and denial of the body’s true needs are pushed. Paul knows that these measures will not work or bring anyone closer to God. Further note what he says:
1 Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit expressly declares that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons; 2 through the hypocrisy of men who teach falsely and have their own consciences seared as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding people to marry, and insisting on abstinence from foods which God has created to be partaken of, with thankfulness, by those who believe and have a clear knowledge of the truth.”
Note two things: One, these concepts will increase in our time as we get closer to the end of this age, and two these ideas are birthed by demons. Probably many of the teachers of Asceticism push this on others while they skirt the rules and indulge themselves. It is all about appearances to some. Also the worship of angels is encouraged by these erroneous ideas.
Colossians 2:18, “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,” (KJV)
I have heard clerics preach that we should pray to our guardian angel and or the Holy Spirit. Do not do it! Jesus said direct our prayers to the Father, He will do the rest.
Colossians 1:27-29, “… a wealth of glory for the Gentile world is implied… the truth that Christ is in you, the hope of glory… one into God's presence, made perfect through Christ. 29 To this end… I exert… my strength in reliance upon the power of Him who is mightily at work within me.” (WNT)
A SECONDARY TWO FRONT WAR WAS FACED BY GENTILE CHURCHES
Pressure from pagans on one side while Jewish extremism pressured on the other-side. Even if the Judaizing party was not that active in Galatia at this time, Paul is preventative in telling them to beware of the circumcision party pressures.
Colossians 2:11-13, “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God… 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the circumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,” (NKJV)
Therefore circumcision is NOT necessary, the exception for gentiles is working. They are in with God and no longer guilty.
Colossians 2:15, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Therefore the indictment against us by Satan has been crushed by the triumph of Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
Satan is the accuser of the brethren but Jesus' sacrifice on the stake has altered all this. Paul is saying do not let the pagan ascetic pressure get to you regarding all our feasts, but keeping our focus on Christ who is the head or real substance. Could Paul be saying do not keep God's feast days which include the weekly Sabbath, absolutely not!
1 Corinthians 5:7-8, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Paul led gentile congregations in keeping them. Note Acts 2:1-4, 20:16, I Cor. 5:6-9 among others verses, showing churches keeping the Holy Days of God. The churches had been keeping these annual Sabbaths for thirty years when this letter was penned. Why stop now?
ISSUES:
WHICH WORLDLY CONCEPTS MOST THREATEN BELIEVER TODAY?
EVOLUTION, GLOBAL WARMING , GENDER FLUIDITY, ANTI-COLONIALISM, THE RAPTURE, SOCIALISM, CRITICAL RACE THEORY
