Greetings,
Together with the desire to encourage, the Apostle Paul had a God-given ability to address doctrinal areas that often required difficult life changes. Modifying our entrenched behaviors and thinking processes is difficult and encouragement goes a long way in assisting those changes.
This combination is expressed in Paul’s approach to the church in Colossae. The members were in need of refocusing because some amongst them had been influenced by the ideas and practices of “the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world” (Colossians 2:8). These practices were being presented as “spiritual” – as ways to gain a greater spirituality. In this they were deceived because the focus on Christ was lost or diminished. Paul wrote to address and correct this situation.
He sought to direct their attention away from false understanding and back to the Head of the body. Christ needed to be central to their spiritual growth. They had lost focus of the central trunk of the tree so to speak. Let’s notice his approach in the first three verses of chapter two.
“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh” (Colossians 2:1). In the previous verse Paul said he was laboring and striving on their behalf. He wanted them to know how important his teaching was and how much he struggled to communicate this to them. This is reinforced by his use of the word “conflict” in verse one. The word expresses the strength of his feeling for them – almost like an anxiety. Verses two and three give substance to his concerns.
Verse 2: “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3). Paul wanted to exhort and comfort them – a concept conveyed well by the English word encourage. The word heart is best understood as both the intellectual and emotional aspects of the mind. He wanted them to be exhorted and comforted both intellectually and emotionally by what he was writing to them about.
To this Paul adds the necessity of their being knit together in love – brought together and united. This is part of the mystery Paul is addressing – the centrality of Christ. If Christ is in us, then Christ governs the way we live. As He is perfectly united with the Father, those who have Christ in them will similarly be united together in love. God’s Spirit recognizes God’s Spirit, overriding human personality differences. Members who were bringing in divergent teachings were causing disharmony by moving the focus away from Christ to man devised practices.
Knowing who the Father and Son are with clarity is something of great value. True understanding is to be treasured. The knowledge of the Father and of Christ is absolutely central to the reconciliation process. In reconciliation it is man who needs to move – not God. Therefore it is vital that we “see” the Father and Son in real spiritual terms. The Holy Spirit gives us that sight. In Them is all wisdom and knowledge (v3). We are not to let that clarity be clouded by man’s concepts and ideas. The churches in Colossae and Laodicea were suffering from individuals who were bringing in elements of the world to diminish the clarity of wisdom and knowledge that comes through the Father and Son. Paul was refocusing the Church onto Christ – the Head of the body, the Church (Colossians 1:18). This is because if we see Christ, we see the Father. Christ in us is the formula for true spiritual growth.
The headship of the Church is critical to our spiritual strength, to our unity as brethren and to our encouraged state of mind. Like the Colossians, we live with many distractions contrived by the god of this world. Let’s be diligent to keep our personal lives focused on the one true head of the Church – Jesus Christ – so that we, “Set your mind on things above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4).
Warm Regards,
Brian Orchard
