Colossians 2 1 7 1 I want you

Colossians 2: 1 -7 1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not me personally.

Colossians 2: 1 -7 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Colossians 2: 1 -7 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Colossians 2: 1 -7 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Colossians 2: 1 -7 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Marks of A True Church Colossians 2: 1 -7 Paul’s Struggle for Colossae

The words striving (Col. 1: 29) and conflict (Col. 2: 1) are athletic terms. They refer to the strenuous effort put forth by the runner to win the race. Our English word agony comes from this Greek word. It came to mean to take pains, to wrestle as in an award contest, running a race straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal.

Paul’s Wishes for These Two Churches (2: 1– 7) • That they be encouraged and knit together by • • strong ties of love (vs 1 -2 a) That they understand God’s plan for them (vs 2 b-3) That they guard against theological deception (vs 4 -5) That they continue growing in Christ (vs 6 -7) That they rejoice and remain thankful (vs 7 b)

I wish you to understand the magnitude of the struggle, which my anxiety for you costs me - for you and for your neighbours of Laodicea, and for all who, like yourselves, have never met me face to face in the flesh. I am constantly wrestling in spirit, that the hearts of all such may be confirmed and strengthened in the faith; that they may be united in love; that they may attain to all the unspeakable wealth which comes from the firm conviction of an understanding mind, may be brought to the perfect knowledge of God’s mystery, which is nothing else than Christ – Christ containing in Himself all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away. (1886) Lightfoot, J. B.

Marks of a True Church (1) Courageous hearts παρακληθῶσιν, παρακαλέω, παράκλητος Courage, also known as bravery and fortitude. It is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation.

(2) Members are knit together in love • Psalm 139: 13 -14, “For you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ” • Judges 20: 11, “So all the men of Israel, knit together as one man, were gathered against the city. ” • Eph. 4: 16, “ …from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in due measure of each several part, makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love. ”

• All of us have been made one man in Christ. Now I see myself as a thread which has been so intricately interwoven with so many other threads to create a beautiful masterpiece. “…for we are God’s masterpiece created in Christ Jesus…” Eph. 2: 10 • Jesus fervently prayed that this unity might characterize His followers. • When love dies, a church dies.

(3) Equipped with every kind of wisdom • This wisdom is hidden in Christ • Gnostic heresy taught a great mass of elaborate knowledge was necessary before one could be saved. • The truth of Christianity is not a secret which is hidden but a secret which has been revealed.

(4) Must have the power to resist seductive teaching (5) Must have the discipline of a soldier (6) The life of that church must be in Christ

(7) The true church holds fast to the faith it has received Three participles describe how we relate to Christ to draw on His riches: (a) Rooted (b) Built up (c) Strengthened

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. The Message

(8) This church has an abounding and overflowing gratitude Gratitude is an emotion, which involves a feeling of emotional indebtedness towards another person; often accompanied by a desire to thank them, or to reciprocate for a favor they have done for you.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ” Melody Beattie