LANGUAGE:
If you have your Bibles with you, please turn to Colossians, chapter 2. Colossians, chapter 2 vs 1-12.
Let me pray.
Join me as I read God's Word for us today: Cossians chapter 2 vs 1-12:
1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal 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, 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. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
A couple of years ago I was talking with a fellow worker on the field, and I was stressing the need for outreach in a certain area. He responded by saying that he was far more concerned with the transformation of people who come to faith. I said, “Well you know, I’m concerned about transformation as well. Tell me,” I asked, “how do you think transformation takes place in a believer’s life? What does a Christian need to do to become transformed?” He said, wellll, he’d think it over… he’d give it some thought and get back with me. That was over two years ago, and I still haven’t gotten an answer from him.
It’s a difficult question. Believers have struggled with this in one form or another since the inception of the church. Over the centuries, in their quest for answers, some have been led astray by their own ideas, or through others who, while not trying to deceive, are never-the-less deceived themselves.
How does a Christian become transformed? Or, to use the Biblical term, “Sanctified.” How do we become transformed ourselves; and in ministry, how do we help others in transformation?
The answer is right here if we really try to understand what God is telling us in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
The message this morning and the message of the text is simply this:
“God transforms us through His Word.” “God transforms us through His Word.”
The first point:
Paul begins this passage: 1I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
Now, the common thing about those to whom Paul is writing, is that he never visited any of them.
In Ch 1 we see that Paul did not visit Colossae (cuh-LAHS-say). The Colossian church was founded by Epaphras.
Paul did not visit Colossae nor is there a record of him making a trip to Laodicea. This letter is written to them and to “all who have not met me personally.”
This is in contrast to some cities in which Paul not only met them, but stayed and taught the believers for a year or more. In some cities he didn’t have much time so he would talk through the night, as in Troas when Eutychus fell asleep and fell out the window- as Paul was talking on and on.
You have to wonder, “What was Paul teaching these believers?” He says elsewhere that he is merely preaching the Gospel. “I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” Rom 1:15
Why would Paul preach the Gospel to those who are already in Christ? And, why does he take so long in some places to preach the Gospel.
Well, we have a clue by what he writes to the Colossians and to all those who have not met him personally. He writes, 2 My goal is that they (those who have not seen Paul personally) 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Now we read statements like this a lot in Paul’s other letters. In Ephesians 1:3…“(God)… has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”. He also writes in this passage that, vs 9…9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
What does Paul mean by the “fullness,” the “full riches,” “all the treasures?” This was, most likely what he was teaching about for so long in some of these places. Obviously, his teaching of the Gospel was far more than what we typically think of, when we refer to the Gospel today.
[Is it possible that today, we have a very limited understanding of the Gospel, an abridged version if you will, that does not include “the full riches” that Paul write about?”]
Many years ago I was at a conference and between sessions was talking with a pastor of a large church. He shared that when he’s looking to hire someone new on staff, he always asks the question, “What is the Gospel.” And he said that the answers he receives are sometimes so weak, so inadequate, it’s disheartening.
Now, I didn’t ask him what answers he got; suffice it to say I was just glad he didn’t ask me. Because, I can only assume that the answers he got were something like what I would have said, “The Gospel? Jesus died for us, paid the penalty for our sins, and we have eternal life.” At the time, that was my understanding.
But, ever since then, it caused me to think, “What is the Gospel?” What are the “full riches, of complete understanding?” Over the years I realized that The Gospel is… Everything - everything that is good and right and wonderful that God has provided through Christ.
Salvation and forgiveness yes. But, relationship with God, adopted as His child. We have direct access to God Himself; and in prayer everything is possible with God.
We have provision, security, gifts, power, wisdom, the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We have the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. We have unity.
We have freedom, sexual freedom, I am no longer in bondage to my passions, (freedom from any sexual sin). We have comfort in affliction. We have a new identity- Christ’s righteous life. We have redemption. People think that salvation and redemption are the same thing, they’re not. Salvation is being freed from condemnation whereas redemption is we have been redeemed for the purpose for which we were created—to glorify God. We’re not just snatched out of the fire. We shine like lights in the Universe.
Brothers and sisters, we have assured vengeance. I no longer have to seek revenge when wronged, settle my own scores; God assures us that his vengeance is complete. It’s final.
We have peace, and rest, and relief from all our fears, including death.
Brothers and sisters, I’m just scratching the surface. Paul himself would need a couple of years to elaborate and explain what he means by the “full riches of complete understanding.” To the believers in Colossae, and to all who have not met him… for you and me… Paul writes that he longs for us to “have the full riches of complete understanding”
Jesus echoes this when he said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
He says, “…my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” John 14:27
Paul elaborates in Philippians, that “the peace of God that we have, …surpasses all understanding”
In Hebrews chapter 4, it says that, “..we who have believed enter (God’s) rest,”
Now, I need to interject here, God created us as emotional beings. We experience sadness, being down, sorrow and grief. This is not ungodly. On the contrary, Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (Isa 53:3). The scriptures say “Jesus wept.” At one point he was “deeply distressed and troubled,” and told his disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow.” (Mk 13:33-34). But… he had the strength to carry on; and when he was crucified, he had the power to forgive his enemies. This is the strength, the power we have more and more as God transforms us into His image. In Christ, the fullness of the diety lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ.
“God transforms us through His Word.” And…In transformation we experience the fullness of the Gospel.
Now, in order to understand this, consider for a moment… Even though all these “riches” have been made available to us, often, too often we don’t experience these riches. Now, when we first come to faith in Christ, we are filled with joy. We’re excited and experience for a few days the “Joy of Salvation.” But then… life goes on, with it’s disappointments, grief, problems, sickness and suffering. We hold onto Christ, we don’t lose our salvation. But, we don’t experience ongoing joy, peace, rest and any of the other riches that go with the gospel.
We live our lives struggling to make our way in the world, sometimes we see ourselves as victims rather than victors, conquerors, more than conquerors.
Why is it, that too often we don’t experience all that has been made available to us in Christ? Why do these things prove so elusive?
Paul writes, 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. In verse 8, Paul elaborates,8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Now, what Paul is talking about, in a nutshell, were two things. First the idea that you gain all these riches directly through the things of this world, “the elemental spiritual forces of this world. ” This happens today. You want security for the future? Put money in the bank, have investments. You want provision, get that good job. When we pursue these things to where we put our faith in them, they become our idols. Jesus says as much when he’s talking about what hinders fruitfulness in our lives, in Mark Ch 4 He refers to “the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things”
You see, there are good things we have in life, things we can work for. But, when a good thing becomes THE thing I can’t live without, or something I put my faith in for security, or provision or happiness. This is an idol. As long as I hold on to this, putting my faith in this, it keeps me from whole hearted faith in Christ, from being transformed into His image… keeps us from experiencing the “full riches.”
Often times believers will say, Christianity doesn’t work. The truth is that it works all too well…. The believer needs to let go of idols…
So, this is one thing Paul is talking about. Secondly, Paul is referring to those who were saying that we change ourselves, we sanctify ourselves through our own efforts.
You see, at the time of Paul’s ministry, there was a big debate among the leaders in the church, “What does a person do, specifically what does a Gentile need to do, after they come to faith in Christ.” Some Christians said, it is necessary to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. (Acts15:5).
Now, Paul forcefully repudiates this in other letters, and he even hints at this here in Colossians when he says, in vs 11…“11In him (Christ) you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,” In other words, Christ fulfills all you need. You have been given fullness of Christ.
But, the idea that you have to do something to complete the work of God in you, that you have to do something for your sanctification as well as your salvation, this idea was being spread. This is the same idea today, when we say that once you’re a Christian, you have to… fill in the blank (for any number of things).
I ask believers, “What are the things someone needs to do to grow in faith, to become transformed or sanctified? Make a mental list, or write it out.” Be as specific as you like.
Then, once everyone has their list in mind. I say, “OK. Here is the paradox. These things might be what believers do, but if you were to give new believers this list of things to do, you might actually hinder them from maturing in their faith, from being transformed into the image of Christ. We can’t change ourselves through actions, following a list of all the things we should do once we’ve become a Christian. We can act loving, but we don’t really become loving; at best we just fall in love with our act.
Again, it’s not that as Christians we don’t do these things, but the impression is that this is what sanctifies us. This is what transforms us. It doesn’t.
[You can no more sanctify yourself than save yourself from sin.]
So, if…“Full Riches” and transformation are not obtained through the world or our effort… how do we become transformed? Point number 3…
Paul writes…6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
How did you receive Christ? You merely responded to what God had already done, as revealed in His Word. When you prayed to receive Christ, you responded in faith to what is written in the scriptures, and by grace God saved you. “Salvation by grace through faith.” Well, Paul writes, “As you received, continue to live.” You could say, “Sanctification is by grace through faith”—responding in faith to what is written in scripture. This is how we’re to live. Living this way does not transform us; God transforms us by grace, as we respond in faith to what is written in the scriptures.
Now, a difference between salvation and sanctification is this. When you were saved, it was act of God in the blink of an eye. But transformation is not instantaneous. It is still an act of God, but he does this as we learn to walk by faith in His Word.
You see, the vehicle, the port hole through which we are saved and sanctified is the same, it’s the Word of God.
Salvation is by faith. And… “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:17)
Sanctification is also through God’s Word. When Jesus prays for his disciples, he says to the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) You see, a believer is only transformed by God through His word. This is in accord with what Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” More specifically he says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you.” (John 15:5,7)
“God transforms us through His Word.”
1. In transformation we experience the fullness of the Gospel.
2. “Full Riches” and transformation are not obtained through the world or our efforts
3. God transforms us by grace, as we respond in faith to His Word.
Now, by way of application let me ask you…How do we respond in faith to God’s Word, if we don’t really take it in? What I mean is this. Have you ever read a passage or chapter from the Bible, and at the end of it you had no idea what you read? To some degree, this happens to everyone; we read it, but we don’t really take it in.
Well, in order to take it in, so you CAN respond in faith, there are many things you can do. You can memorize scripture, you can do in depth studies, you can prepare a sermon.
Well, we want to give you something you can do everyday, incorporate in your own personal quiet times.
Whenever you read a passage, just remember: Read, Recall, Check, Ask, Pray & Share
You Read the passage. Then, put it down and Recall from memory what you read as best you can. Don’t try to remember the exact words, just describe what you read. Then, look at it again and reading carefully Check to see what you didn’t see before.
Then, you Ask yourself some simple questions, in order to just process and think about what you read.
Then, Pray. Just lift up to God what you’ve read, any questions about what you don’t understand, and grace to live out what you do understand.
And finally, Share with someone what you learned.
To help you remember these steps, they are written on this sheet, for Personal Devotions. You can pick one up on the table in the foyer.
[But remember: Read, Recall, Check, Ask, Pray & Share]
Is this just another thing I have to do in life? No. This is your life… the porthole through which we gain the fullness of life in Christ.
As God transforms you, you will start to let go of the things of this world, the things of man, and take hold of the things of God. That which may have really bothered you in the past, will no longer pull you down, “the cares, worries of this world,” Jesus says. It’s not that you cease to have problems, or pain or suffering. But we’re transformed in that we have peace, rest, contentment and even joy in the midst of difficulties and problems, and comfort in our suffering. It is a work of God in us, changing us, transforming us into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another. (2 Cor 3:18)
Now, I want to close by asking you… “What does this have to do with missions?” Everything.
Brothers and Sisters, I could give you a sermon that would get you excited and fired up about mission work. But, that excitement would last all of 30 minutes or maybe an hour. The only way to really be excited about missions is to be excited about Jesus. The only way to have an ongoing, unchanging commitment to missions is by experiencing yourself the fullness of Christ in you, the riches, the spiritual blessings in Christ. This will only happen when God transforms you by grace through faith- as you respond in faith to His word. When you experience this, the world will know. They will see it in you.
One might say, “Well, I’ll experience this in heaven.” Yes, you will. But, the world won’t see you in heaven. They can only see it in you now. And, the more and more you experience the fullness of Christ, the more you can’t keep from telling others. You can’t keep from sending missionaries. You want the world to know.
Let’s Pray.