The Apostle Paul wanted a young Colossian church to be encouraged and built up. This role of a shepherd is one Paul took seriously and in Colossians 2:1-7 we see that pastoral heart lived out.
If you polled pastors around the country concerning what concerned them about their churches, you’d probably receive answers like the following:
- I’m concerned the youth group isn’t growing.
- I’m concerned with the fact that we have a small college ministry.
- I’m concerned that gossip is a cancer in our body despite all of our efforts to root it out.
- I’m concerned our worship numbers are coming down instead of going up.
- I’m concerned about the fact that we are always running in the red, no matter what we teach or how much we communicate our need to the body.
- I’m concerned that we have a high turnover rate among our staff.
While these are viable concerns, they are secondary, not primary. Why do I say this?
From Colossians 2, verses 1 through 7, we learn about primary concerns by reading what Paul wrote these believers. Whether you are a pastor or a parishioner, what Paul states here are concepts healthy, maturing disciples of Christ are deeply committed to.
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, 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. 4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 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. 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (Col. 2)
After studying this section in depth, I have identified nine passions that should always drive church leaders. Likewise, it is up to the believers in those local bodies to demonstrate the fulfillment of these passions, as they are hallmarks of spiritual growth and help guard the body against doctrinal compromise, which is so easy to fall into if you are not paying attention.
False teachers infiltrated the Colossian church with a false view of Christ, sin, redemption, and how to maintain a holy life with God. Unity was challenged, as folks began to listen to these educated, seemingly enlightened, “well-meaning” people. Enter Paul. He stepped willingly into the fire that sought to undermine the doctrinal integrity and spiritual growth of these believers, hoping his teaching would bring levity, discernment, and stability. He was just the right man at the right time. The words he wrote in the first seven verses of chapter two introduce us to this timeless premise:
Saints in the fire for the faith need a pastor with a biblical passion to educate and motivate them to hold the line.
They need a pastor who won’t cave into cultural pressure, who won’t try to be everyone’s friend, who desires to please the Lord, not men, who is biblical, not emotional, who believes truth matters, and who believes in reason, not rhetoric. This was Paul, and God is looking for him to rise up in our day as well. Moving down through these verses, we easily see the four passions that drove the Apostle to be a leader’s leader in a tough, trying time.
Passion #1: He Showcases The Power Of Love (Col. 2:1-2)
You couldn’t get a more heady, abstract, intellectual person than Paul. Tarsus, in Cilicia on the southern coast of what is now Turkey, was a busy, buzzing seaport city that enjoyed cultural and commercial diversity, along with exposure to great philosophers of the day. Paul, no doubt, had heard many of their lectures. By his thirteenth birthday, he had mastered Jewish history, the Psalms, and the lofty writings of the prophets. He knew Greek, the lingua franca of the region, a working knowledge of Latin, and Aramaic, a derivative of Hebrew. As a teen, he traveled to Jerusalem and eventually studied at the feet of Gamaliel, the grandson of Hillel, the supreme teacher of Mosaic Law. As a Pharisee, he learned the art of diatribe, a question-and-answer style for seeking truth. He was, therefore, part eloquent teacher and part lawyer, who not only defended truth, but sought to prosecute anyone who dared defy the Law.
With this educational background and storied experience, we can safely say that Paul was somewhat intimidating even when he became saved. His sharp mind and quick thinking prompted lesser thinkers to reconsider speaking up. And as with most highly schooled people, I’m sure he seemed somewhat distant to some.
But that was not a full picture of the gifted man. He loved people, especially saints. His opening words in chapter two tell us this much:
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)
Even though he had never seen saints in this western region of what is now Turkey, he loved and cared about them. His love caused him to struggle intensely in his spirit as he thought about how the Deceiver had sent clever false teachers to undermine their vibrant, impactful faith. The word he employs for “struggle” is instructive. It is agon (ἀγών ). If it sounds like our word agony, you are right on target.
How did Paul, who was under Roman house arrest at this time (for two years, Acts 28:30), agonize over these saints? Most likely by means of prayer, because that was about all he could do. He couldn’t travel to help them, but he could travel to God’s throne and pour out his heart there, and I’m sure that is exactly what he did. Have you ever agonized, in prayer, over a saint who was being bombarded by untruths wrapped up as truth? If so, it is a sign that you love and care about them. If you don’t, then it’s a sign your love is shallow, and your care factor is low. From what Paul says in the ensuing verses, we get an idea of the content of his prayers for this particular church. Perhaps you can listen and learn a thing or two from him, Paul.
In verse two, we see how this lover of saints wanted them to understand the importance of love as well. He, therefore, agonized in prayer that God would protect and deepen their love for Him and for each other. Here is how he put it:
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)
Please, stop with the first clause and ask yourself: What is the key ingredient in holding false teaching and false teachers at bay? Love for each other. Here is how this works. When believers really love each other, it is very difficult for false teachers to infiltrate and destroy the church because the believers are, as Paul says, tightly knit together. Did you get that? I hope so. But don’t just get it, apply it.
False teachers, as we shall see later in this chapter, always espouse a legalistic approach to God and others. They stress rules and regulations that they devise as the means to garner favor with God, and to deviate is to court God’s disfavor. This methodology, by definition, destroys love between saints because it quickly creates a divide between the spiritual elites and the supposedly less enlightened, gifted, and rigorously obedient.
Many things make our church strong, but at its core is a love for the people by the leaders, and a love of each other, no matter who you are or where you are from. May God continue to help us safeguard ourselves from doctrinal deviation, which is a constant danger in our woke, compromise-prone culture, by means of the depth of love we have for each other.
Another priceless passion emerges from verse 2b through 3.
Passion #2: He Knows The Source Of True Wisdom & Knowledge (Col. 2:2b-3)
When you understand who Christ really was and is, you are not only equipped to identify false teaching, but you possess an assurance that nothing can penetrate. Paul develops this concept in the latter clauses of verse 2 and in verse 3:
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. (Col. 2)
The Gnostics taught that they had the corner on Christ’s identity and that he wasn’t fully God, but only partially God. They also taught that their mysterious teachings about how to know God were accessible only through the esoteric, secret means they devised.
Paul taught otherwise as a leader. He taught that God’s real mystery involved Christ being fully the God-man. Only the God-man, not “a-god” man, could possibly fulfill God’s demands for His wrath against sin. Only the God-an, not “a-god” man, could be our viable representative and mediator before the holy Father. Only the God-man, not “a-god” man, could possibly fulfill the descriptions of Him from the Old Testament. Only the God-man, not “a-god” man, could possibly bear the sin of sinners and thereby defeat sin and death by His crucifixion and resurrection. Only the God-man, not “a-god” man, could possibly fulfill the requirements of all of the Levitical sacrifices.
Think of what the Old Testament foretold after mankind fell in the Garden of Eden:
- After man’s sin, God provided animal skins to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. Obviously, these slain animals represented the means by which the sin of sinners was covered. It would take a blood sacrifice.
- Abraham and Isaac give us a typological picture of the loving heavenly Father being willing to sacrifice His only Son, Jesus. It also pictures the Son in full compliance with the will of the Father (Gen. 22).
- The Levitical sacrifices, as detailed in Leviticus 1 through 7, rightly start with blood sacrifice because there is no other way for sinners to secure coverage for their sin than by this means. Of course, this sacrifices all point to the God-man, Jesus, who was equipped to fulfill them to the letter (Heb. 9-10).
- The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16), where the sins of the nation were laid on one lone sacrificial animal, represented the ultimate Day of Atonement where the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus, would put an end to this method of securing reconciliation with a holy God (Heb. 9:1-10:18). Christ was and is THE atoning sacrifice (Rom. 3:23-26).
- Isaiah 53: The motif and prophecy stated that one day one would die for mankind’s sin. That would be the Messiah. Philipp explained to the Ethiopian eunuch that these verses applied specifically to Jesus. (Acts 8:32-33, Isa. 53:7-8. Peter states that Jesus was the sinless servant who bore humanity’s sins and healed them (1 Peter 2:22-25, Isa. 53:5, 9, 12). Jesus applied this prophecy of being numbered with the transgressors to Himself, and He was never wrong (John 12:38; Isa. 53:1; Luke 22:37; Isa. 53:12). Jesus healed diseases and thereby fulfilled the prophecy that said that when He came, He would bear our infirmities. All of this foretold that atonement for mankind’s sin would come through one, lone sacrifice (Matt. 8:17, referencing Isa. 53:4). Sinners would be reconciled to God through the sacrificial act of this one man, and that man became Jesus, who died in our place as prophesied (Isa. 53:4, 5, 12;2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Gal. 3:13. As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
- And who was this coming Suffering Servant? None other than God in the flesh (Isa. 7:14; Mic. 5:1-3).
- Obviously, this was a mystery that Satan didn’t even fully understand. Had he understood this, he surely wouldn’t have motivated the spiritual and political leaders of the day to crucify Christ. Paul tells us this much: “7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2).
This is the greatest mystery that is now known to the world. How could sinners secure a relationship with God? Only through a divinely appointed mediator and sacrifice that would satisfy God’s holy demands. And since sin was against God, God had to come and deal with man’s sin. That God who came was the God-man, Jesus Christ.
In light of all of this, Dr. Erwin Lutzer makes an excellent point in his book Ten Lies About God,
“Why do we need to follow the rules [God’s rules for obtaining coverage for sin]? First, because the moral distance between God and us is infinite. When it comes to matters of purity, God and man share no common ground… Then there is the gap between us and God’s majesty and greatness. His purposes are beyond us; his intentions are hidden, except in so far as he reveals them. Our first question is not whether he agrees with us, but whether we can come to him in a way that agrees with him. It is not we who must be pleased; it is he. How, then, do we reach him? The consistent teaching of the Bible is that we cannot reach up to him if he does not first reach down to us. The Old Testament prescribed a ritual by which man was supposed to approach God. The ritual’s purpose was to teach the people about God’s holiness and the need to approach him as specified. In the New Testament that mediator has come. All entrance into the presence of God is mediated; that is, we need someone who can represent our interest as well as those of the offended party, who in this case is God”[1]
False teachers always offer you a watered-down version of how you should go about gaining God’s favor. The Gnostics, with their emphasis on their secret, mysterious teachings and low view of Jesus, were and are no exception. False teachers in our day follow suit with what they say about Jesus, and it always diminishes His redemptive work and His person.
Paul says, “Don’t fall for lesser versions of the redemptive work and identity of Jesus as the God-man.” Why? Because He was, and is, the only one equipped to save sinners and make them into saints instantly at the moment of conversion. And when you know Him, you know the One who has at His disposal as God the keys to all real wisdom and knowledge about everything.
In my library, I have a collection of original writings from various cults and world religions. What do they have in common? A low view of Jesus. Anything else? Yes. They all possess writings designed to get you to question sound biblical doctrine while embracing their true doctrine. This Jehovah’s Witness book, You Can Live Forever in Paradise, sounds nice. Still, it is a clever tome that not only destroys the person of Jesus but also espouses false teaching about how a person is saved and whether hell is a real place or not. Page after esoteric page is designed to move you away from Christ and sound biblical doctrine.
Paul’s counsel is, therefore, most timely. If you understand who the Christ is as the God-man, you need look no further for spiritual truth. You have what you need to be saved and to lead others to salvation. So, let this truth give you a passion to stand strong and true when the winds of falsity blow through your life.
Passion #3: He Challenges Saints To Resist Falsity (Col. 2:4-6)
A godly leader, like Paul, will be so committed to biblical truth that he will waste no time calling you to stand your ground when facing false teaching.
4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 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. 6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (Col. 2).
Why did Paul say all that he just said in verses one through three? Verse 4 gives you the answer. He didn’t want believers to be duped into false belief by a smooth, fast-talking Gnostic teacher.
One evening during an apologetic series I did at my last church, an old man showed up all dressed in black. His dress caught everyone’s attention as he entered the room, and the fact that he pulled a small suitcase full of books behind him aroused much curiosity. Instantly, my people began to engage him, and not long thereafter, some came up to me and said, “Pastor, I think that man just might be an angel sent from God. He’s so interesting. You must talk with him.” So I did.
Within a few minutes, he informed me that he was a linguist with an expertise in Egyptian Hieroglyphic Hebrew. Of course, he was privy to a special translation of the Old Testament that none of us could read. When I told him about my linguistic background in Hebrew and that in all my academic language studies, I had never heard of this version of Hebrew, he quickly backed away from the conversation. Was this man an angel? No, he was a theological charlatan dressed up like a Jewish rabbi. I wasted no time warning my church and telling them not to be duped by whatever theological garbage he uttered.
This is what a passionate pastor should do, and it is what you should do with any saint who a false teacher is influencing. You are called to tell those under your care to stand their ground and resist what they are hearing. This is exactly what Paul did:
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. (Col. 2)
Interestingly enough, he employed two military terms to describe how these saints had held the false teachers at bay. “Good discipline” comes from the Greek word taxin (the root: τάξις). It denotes a well-ordered group of disciplined soldiers. Think of the Marine Corps silent drill team, and you have an idea of taxin. These soldiers move as a single unit. “Stability” is from the Greek stereoma. Here is its definition according to BAG:
στερέωμα, ατος, τό (στερεόω; in var. senses of someth. solid: Aristot. et al.; Herm. Wr. 514, 12 Sc.; PGM 4, 1210; IDefixWünsch 4, 22; LXX, En; TestSol 20:12, 17; TestAbr B 12 p. 116, 12 [Stone p. 80]; TestJob 8:1; ApcMos; Mel. 82, 615; Ath. 24, 5) prim. ‘the solid part’.
① the sky as a supporting structure, the firmament (Gen 1:6ff; En 18:2; Philo, Op. M. 36; TestNapht 3:4; IDefixAudollent 242, 8 [III a.d.]) 1 Cl 27:7 (Ps 18:2).
② state or condition of firm commitment, firmness, steadfastness τῆς πίστεως Col 2:5 (cp. 1 Macc 9:14 [military sense]).—DELG s.v. στεῖρα, B στερεός. M-M. TW.[2]
From a military perspective, it denotes those who stand shoulder to shoulder in battle and won’t give an inch to the enemy. Along these lines, think of the Grecian Phalanx. Comprised of ranks between eight and 16 deep, the shield (known as a hoplon) of one hoplite soldier was pushed up tight against the shield of the soldier next to him. A long, sharp sword protruded from their ranks, making them a formidable force to reckon with on a flat fighting surface. By keeping a tight formation, the army made it very difficult for the enemy to penetrate and defeat it.
Paul, no doubt, used this familiar language of the day to describe how he thought these believers in Colossae fought with false teachers who sought to penetrate the lines. According to Paul, he was proud of these saints because they stood with one another for protection and advancement, and no one had broken ranks or compromised the church.
The same applies to us. Like Paul, I commend you for standing side by side with other believers in our body to shield us from doctrinal intrusion. May each of us never forget the importance of standing with each other with the sword of the Word of God, especially as the world around us calls us to compromise doctrine and to shape and mold the Bible so it is more palatable to the modern man. Yes, let us stand sure-footed on the doctrine of Christ above all things, and never give an inch to anyone who’d dare seek to diminish His person and redemptive work. Are you standing with us? Is your shield of faith up? Is the sword of the Word in your hand? Do you know how to use it? I, like Paul, passionately challenge you to join us in resisting falsity in our culture and calling people to embrace, by faith, the truth about Jesus, the Christ.
Lastly, Paul introduces his fourth passion in verses 6-7.
Passion #4: He Grounds Saints In Sound Doctrine (Col. 2:6-7)
Listen to his challenge and learn from it:
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. (Col. 2)
Two metaphors are presented here.
One involves how your initial faith has permanently planted you, like a tree, with deep roots into the concept of Jesus as the Messiah and the divine Lord. Translated, what you learned about Christ’s identity when you became a believer is what causes you to stand strong against false teaching concerning Him. So, go forth and live for Him in light of what you know is true about Him.
The second metaphor speaks of how your faith, like a mighty building, is constantly growing and flourishing. Every time you read the Word, another stone is added to your building of faith. Every time you sit in a sermon, another stone is added to your building of faith. Every time you read a sound theological book, another stone is added to your building of faith. Indeed, our initial faith in Jesus plants us forever in Him, but that faith grows and flourishes as we exercise the disciplines of a disciple. So, go ahead and relish in the strength your initial faith in Jesus gives you, but also remember that your faith grows, and should grow, as you engage in a lifetime of studying Jesus.
And finally, don’t forget to do everything with a heavy dose of thanksgiving.
- Lord, thank you for saving me.
- Lord, thank you for dying and rising for me.
- Lord, thank you for being the God-man.
- Lord, thank you for showering your grace and mercy on me.
- Lord, thank you for giving me great Christian friends.
Why does Paul passionately talk about the art of thanksgiving? I think the answer is simple. A saint, like you, who possesses a mature sense of thankfulness to Christ, will not be easy pickings for false teachers who seek to dupe them. On the contrary, a saint who isn’t thankful demonstrates they are no longer consumed with the greatness and superiority of Jesus, thereby making them easy prey for the Adversary. So, as you give your lives passionately to these pivotal areas of the Christian life, don’t forget to showcase a thankful spirit. The demons and false teachers don’t know how to get at you when you live like this.
[1] Erwin Lutzer, Ten Lies About God (Nashville: Word Publishing, 2000), 32.
[2] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 943.
