Colossians 2:1-7 → Reaching the Riches of Full Assurance
- Steve Schott
- Jan 15
- 6 min read
Theme
► The main theme of Colossians, in my opinion, is the deity of Jesus Christ - His fullness as God, and His complete sufficiency as having done all that is necessary to save us from our sins.
► Colossians 2:9-10a → "9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete,..."
→ Who Jesus is, is complete - the supremacy of the Person of Jesus
→ What Jesus has done, is complete - the sufficiency of the work of Jesus
• There is nothing that we can add to this to effect, improve, or add value to, our salvation.
► Paul will spend the rest of this letter, both carefully elaborating on the divine character of Jesus, and also being very specific about the completeness of what Jesus did on the cross to obtain our salvation.
► Attacks, if you will, from outside the church (and perhaps some from inside the church), that suggest that more is needed, specifically within the framework of our human efforts, to fully obtain salvation, will be shot down like enemy missiles, the intent of which is to destroy our faith.
Outline
► An outline of the Book of Colossians
→ (This is the outline used by the group of teachers I participate with at our church. All of my blog postings for Colossians are following this outline)
Theological
• Pretty much everything in this section (chapters 1 and 2), including Paul’s greeting, is dialoguing about the truth of Jesus, and how it has impacted our lives, and will continue to do so in the future.
• Even when Paul is dealing with the false teaching, he’s dealing with the false teaching in light of the truth about Jesus he’s already dealt with up to that point.
1 → Introduction to the Book of Colossians
2 → 1:1-12 Greeting and Prayer for the Colossians
3 → 1:13-18 The Preeminence of Christ
4 → 1:19-23 Reconciliation Through Christ
5 → 1:24-29 Paul's Ministry to the Church
6 → 2:1-7 Reaching the Riches of Full Assurance
7 → 2:8-15 Made Alive Together With Christ
8 → 2:16-23 Let No One Disqualify You
Practical
• Once we get into chapter 3, and through chapter 4, Paul’s approach will be much more centered on how to live out this true gospel in our everyday lives, in the community of the body of Christ.
9 → 3:1-8 Seek the Heavenly, Put to Death the Earthly
10 → 3:9-17 Put on the New Self
11 → 3:18-4:1 Rules for Christian Households
12 → 4:2-6 Steadfast Praying, Wise Walking, Gracious Speaking
13 → 4:7-18 Final Greetings
Intro to today's passage
► In today's passage, while it is still dealing with the basic truths of, 1st - Jesus' supremacy, i.e., that He is God incarnate, and 2nd - Jesus' sufficiency, meaning that we can add nothing to what Jesus has already done to gain our salvation, we will see Paul begin to deal with false teaching, in the form of outsiders trying to manipulate the Colossians into believing that something "extra" is needed for salvation.
► We will see it subtly dealt with in this passage, and the next one, culminating with a detailed exposé in the last passage we will cover in chapter 2.
Passage
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,
→ Paul emphasizes his "struggle" which has on behalf of the Colossians, and the Laodiceans. I can only assume by this is that he has this burden, to guide these believers in a way that protects them from being distracted from the truth. He can't be there with them, due to his imprisonment in Rome, so for now, the best he can do is to write them this letter.
→ Paul will mention at the end of this letter, in 4:16 that this letter be read to the Laodiceans, and a letter written directly to them, which we do not have in the bible, be read to the Colossians as well.
→ Both churches having apparently never been visited by Paul.
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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
→ Paul is basically reiterating what he has already mentioned, that they would have "the full assurance of understanding", and understanding that in Jesus are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
→ Again, restating that everything they need as it pertains to their salvation is found in Jesus, and in Jesus alone.
→ Here is where the subtle mention of false teaching comes.
→ Paul is warning the Colossians about those who would attempt to twist the truth they have already received from Epaphras, and have received again in this letter from Paul.
→ He doesn't elaborate at this point, but will revert for now back to things he's already stated earlier in this letter.
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.
→ Here Paul is repeating what he first said in his greeting, talking about their "discipline" and their "stability of your faith in Christ."
→ But are they disciplined? Are they stable?
→ Paul will again remind them in the next verses.
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
→ Paul tells them to "walk in Him", that is, Jesus, just as they have "received" Him.
→ And that is by "faith". By faith they have been "firmly rooted", the beginning of their spiritual walk, and are still being "built up" and "established" as they continue walking the path set before them.
→ And Paul also reminds them to be "overflowing with gratitude", remembering that because their salvation was totally a work of Jesus, with nothing they could and/or should attempt to add to, they can have full assurance of their salvation.
So What?
► Paul’s struggle
• For Paul it’s like carrying a bag full of eggs. He needs to carry them with great care to keep them intact. Paul is trying to be careful to guide the Colossians into the truth amidst the clamoring of the false teachers.
► Paul wants them to have encouraged, loving hearts, with full assurance of Christ
• Paul wants both the Colossians and the Laodiceans to have true knowledge and understanding that can only come from Christ Jesus.
► Not deluded, but rather with good discipline with stability
• In verse 4 Paul begins to suggest that there are some who want to disrupt the belief of the Colossians with false teaching.
• He’s opening the arguments coming up in 2:16-23 about the false teaching creeping into the church, telling them that with discipline and stability, not allowing themselves to be misled, they can stay on the path of truth.
► Walk in Christ as you have received Him – by faith
• Paul reminds them of the simplicity with which they received Jesus – by faith alone – in Christ alone.
• And he’s also saying that this simplicity is applicable to our daily walk – by faith alone – in Christ alone.
► And for us it's the same. We need not add ANYTHING to who Jesus is, or to what He has done.
Photo • 02/15/2025 - Two trains passing at the Tehachapi Loop, near Tehachapi, CA
“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”
All linked verses are from the YouVersion at www.Bible.com
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