Walking in Christ: The Core Message of Colossians (Colossians 2:6)
This study companion delves into the letter to the Colossians, often overlooked but rich in wisdom for daily living. It unpacks the apostle Paul's profound message about growing in faith and the centrality of Christ in every aspect of life.
This sermon explores Colossians as a guide for living the new life in Christ, emphasizing that believers are to continue growing in faith as they received him, in order to be a witness to the world.
Overview
The sermon begins by positioning Paul's letter to the Colossians as a "hidden gem" among the epistles, focused on what it truly means to live a new life in Christ. Dr. Greg Beale then discusses the letter's authorship by Paul, likely written in the early 50s AD from Ephesus, and how Paul's Damascus Road experience shaped his core doctrines, such as Christ as the Son of God and the church as the body of Christ.
A central theme identified is Colossians 2:6, "As you therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk in him," which the sermon argues is the core directive for believers to continue growing in Christ by faith to be a witness. Dr. Beale then provides a chapter-by-chapter overview, highlighting Paul's Thanksgiving, his struggle to proclaim Christ, the warning against false teaching, the call to seek heavenly things, and the instruction to lay aside the old self and put on the new.
A unique insight discussed is the pervasive, though often unacknowledged, theme of the temple throughout Colossians. Dr. Beale explains how Paul uses Old Testament allusions to the temple to combat false teachings that encouraged adherence to rituals, self-abasement, and the worship of angels, presenting Christ himself as the ultimate temple and the only foundation needed.
Finally, the sermon addresses the teachings about God and ourselves within Colossians, affirming God as the source of all grace and the focus of Thanksgiving. Christ is revealed as the image of the invisible God, and our life is hidden with Christ in God. The message of Christ, found richly in the Bible, especially the Psalms, is crucial for believers to be filled with knowledge and spiritual understanding, enabling them to walk worthy and bear good fruit.
Key points
- Paul's letter to the Colossians focuses on what it means to live the new life in Christ, often feeling like a "hidden gem" among epistles.
- Dr. Greg Beale argues for Pauline authorship, placing its writing in the early 50s AD, likely from Ephesus.
- Paul's Damascus Road experience significantly influenced his core doctrines, such as Christ as the Son of God and the church as Christ's body.
- The core message of Colossians is captured in 2:6: "As you therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk in him" to grow and be a witness.
- A key, undercurrent theme in Colossians is the concept of the temple, with Christ being presented as the true temple in contrast to false teachings.
- False teachers promoted unbiblical traditions, extra religious obligations, and the worship of angels, requiring "hyper-charismatic experiences."
- Colossians emphasizes that Christ is the center of all things, and believers should not be swayed by other means of fulfillment or spiritual growth.
In Rick Warren's words
“As Christians have received Christ, they are to continue to grow in him in order to be a witness to the world.”
“The only temple you need is Christ. That's it. You don't You don't You don't need this uh, hyper-charismatic experience that the false teachers are talking about, uh, of visions in the temple.”
“Christ is the image of the invisible God. You want to know what God's like? Look at Jesus Christ.”
Outline
- I. Introduction to Colossians and Paul's Ministry
- A. Colossians as a "hidden gem" among epistles
- B. Authorship and Timeline of Colossians
- C. Paul's Damascus Road experience as foundational to his doctrine
- II. Overview and Core Message of Colossians
- A. One-sentence summary: "As you therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk in him."
- B. Broad overview of the letter's flow (Colossians 1-4)
- 1. Thanksgiving (1:3-23): All by grace, God's gifts
- 2. Paul's struggle to proclaim Christ (1:24-2:5)
- 3. Living by faith in Christ (2:6-2:15)
- 4. Warning against false teaching (2:16-2:23)
- 5. Seeking heavenly things (3:1-4)
- 6. Laying aside the old self and putting on the new (3:5-11)
- 7. Fruits of being a new man (3:12-17)
- 8. Practical living (3:18-4:1)
- 9. The goal of witness (4:2-6)
- III. Major Themes in Colossians
- A. Walking in Christ as the major theme
- B. The Temple as an undercurrent theme
- 1. Allusions to temple building (Colossians 1:9-10, Exodus 31:3)
- 2. Christ as the new temple (Colossians 1:19, Psalm 68; Colossians 2:9)
- 3. Polemic against false teaching regarding a false heavenly temple (Colossians 2:8, 2:16-18)
- IV. Teachings about God and Ourselves
- A. God as central and the source of all (Colossians 1:1-3, 1:10)
- B. Christ as the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
- C. Our life hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
- D. The importance of the Word of God dwelling richly within us (Colossians 3:16)
- V. "Sticky Parts" / Difficult Verses in Colossians
- A. Colossians 2:18 (worship of angels, visions)
- B. Colossians 1:24 (filling up Christ's afflictions)
- C. Colossians 1:15 (Christ as the firstborn of all creation)
- VI. Concluding Thoughts and Prayer
- A. Don't complicate the Christian life; continue to walk in Christ through His Word.
- B. Closing prayer
Scripture references
- Colossians 1:9-10
- Colossians 1:19
- Colossians 1:24
- Colossians 1:25
- Colossians 2:6
- Colossians 2:8
- Colossians 2:9
- Colossians 2:15
- Colossians 2:16-18
- Colossians 2:23
- Colossians 3:1-4
- Colossians 3:3
- Colossians 3:5-11
- Colossians 3:6
- Colossians 3:12-17
- Colossians 3:16
- Colossians 3:18-4:1
- Colossians 4:2-6
- Exodus 31:3
- Psalm 68
- Isaiah 49:3
- Isaiah 49:6
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
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,
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Insights
Receiving Christ by faith initiates a continuous walk of growth in Him.
The way we live honors God and bears good fruit through deeper knowledge of Him.
Christ is the substance of shadows, fulfilling all that pointed to Him.
Questions & answers
What makes Colossians a "hidden gem" among Paul's letters?
Compared to more systematic epistles like Romans or Ephesians, Colossians isn't as widely discussed. However, it offers profound insights into living the new life in Christ, prompting deep reflection for those who engage with it.
What is the core message of Colossians according to this sermon?
The core message is found in Colossians 2:6: "As you therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk in him." This means believers are to continually grow in Christ by faith, which ultimately enables them to be a witness to the world.
How does the sermon explain the "temple" theme in Colossians?
The sermon identifies the temple as an undercurrent theme, arguing that Paul uses Old Testament temple allusions to emphasize that Christ is the true temple. This counters the false teachers who encouraged rituals and worship of angels in a supposed heavenly temple, asserting believers need nothing beyond Christ.
What false teachings was Paul addressing in Colossae?
Paul addressed traditions that were non-biblical and extracurricular to the gospel. These included adherence to rules about food, drink, festivals, new moons, Sabbath days, self-abasement, and the worship of angels based on visions.
What does Colossians teach about being filled with the knowledge of God's will?
Colossians 1:9-10 prays for believers to be filled with knowledge, spiritual wisdom, and understanding to live a life honoring God. The sermon links this to Colossians 3:16, stating that this knowledge comes from letting the Word of Christ, specifically the Bible, richly dwell within us.
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