Study of Colossians Part 2

The following will be the notes I took while studying Colossians with my Missional Community (Coram Deo small groups).

Chapter 2

Paul's struggle is that the Colossian church reach the full assurance that comes from understanding the Gospel.  He describes this knowledge as riches and treasure.  Do I treasure knowing Christ and his work?  Do I encourage others and am I myself encouraged by gathering the riches of the gospel?

Interestingly, Paul mentions "plausible arguments" as a threat to this assurance.  This is strange since I welcome plausible arguments against my faith.  But this is why Paul encourages the believers to rest themselves in Christ, because the answer to plausible arguments is not avoiding the question, but from rootedness in the knowledge of God's word, the gospel.  This sounds a lot like 1 Peter 3:15 "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,"  The readiness starts with honoring Christ as holy from the heart.  We honor him in truth from the heart, we receive hope, and growing in knowledge we are prepared to answer arguments.  A firm faith helps to identify counterfeit saviors, and "good advice" can be seen as a phony when we understand what Christ has done for his church.

Good and Bad Philosophy Defined:  verse 8.  Philosophy which is "according to", or based on, or rooted in Christ (i.e. the Gospel) is good philosophy.  If not, perhaps if it is rooted in human tradition or natural order, then it is bad philosophy, even if it is "christian".

Good philosophy: verses 9-15, the basis of all good philosophy is: the deity of Christ, the indwelling of the Spirit in the believer, the reign of Christ as sovereign Lord, the present reality of the mortified flesh, the present reality of the resurrected body, faith in the completed work of God on the cross as the means of resurrection, dead in our sins, made alive to Christ, and cancellation of our debt on the cross.

Bad philosophy: verses 16-19 More specifically, this is bad "christian" philosophy because it it is spoken of using Christian categories.  They are, nevertheless not based on the gospel and have gone astray, being based on the "fleshly" or sensuous mind.  The righteousness attained in this philosophy is attained with observances of days and rules and earning favors from creaturely spirits.  Interestingly, these people become puffed up in their own eyes because they "disqualify" others who haven't achieved their spiritual rank.

But Paul disqualifies them with the hard, cold facts: bad philosophy isn't even good at being bad because the flesh simply will NOT submit to rules.  Though the rules are followed the indulgence endures and the celibate flesh caries on in adultery.  Nevertheless, not doing this or that is always wisdom to the legalist and appears achievable despite the severity to the body, and sickly faith is hid under an impressive pile of adherence to rules.  NOTE:  Don't forget, this is bad CHRISTIAN philosophy, and as such you will encounter it often among the brethren   It is nevertheless a different gospel, and must be rejected as such in such a manner as the faith and grace which God has given to you would make appropriate.  

But you have died to the natural order, pursuing the desires of the natural man, so LIVE LIKE IT!  Believe the gospel and repent of your self-made religion.  Don't sacrifice to feel-good gods that don't demand complete perfection.  You have died with Christ, now put to death the natural desires.  Put it to death with daily beatings of prayer and Christ-ward glances found in God's word.  Arm yourself with the gospel so you can stand as the body fights back.  Are you ready?