Jesus Lord of All #3, All Sufficient Lord - Colossians 1:29-2:10
When I was a little boy I was given a book called Sermon Stories for Children. It was a book filled with fables, stories that ended with the phrase “and the moral of the story is.” One of the stories I remembered this week as I was working on this sermon. It is the story of a man who owned a small farm. At first he was very happy on his farm, he loved to work the soil and watch his crops go and take them to market. One day a traveler passed by the farm and ask the contented farm for a drink of water from his well and if he had any extra apples or peaches from his trees or perhaps some ham from the smokehouse he would be very grateful. The farmer was a good man and had plenty and so he shared some food with the traveler and asked where he was from and where he was going. The traveler said he had come from lands far, far away and had seen amazing things in those lands while hunting for gold. Now he was on his way to even further lands because he had heard of men striking it rich, of so much gold that you could just reach down and pick it up off the ground as you walked along the road. The farmer watched the traveler with all the stories leave until he dropped out of sight down the road. He thought about all the tales of adventure and especially the gold and wealth and suddenly his little farm seemed dull and unfulfilling. He now wanted to be rich. So he sold his farm to the neighboring farmer who had told him if he ever wanted to sell it, he wanted to buy it. The now ex-farmer took all the money bought supplies and hurried down the road in search of the traveler and the gold.
Years past and the ex-farmer did see many lands, always searching for gold, but he never found any or if he did it was only enough to keep him going. Finally, after years of traveling and worthless searching he found himself on the road running by his old farm, but it had changed. His old small farmhouse now had a mansion sitting where it used to be. There was a great big barn, new stone fences, a huge carriage house and the finest carriages sitting inside. The man looked down at his dirty, faded, patched clothes and then back at the mansion. He saw the man he had sold his property to, walking toward the carriage with a servant getting ready to go somewhere. He called out to the man, and he was finally recognized. “I don’t understand the former owner, now a broken vagabond said, How did you get so rich when you stayed here?”
“Well, said the new and now rich owner, “you’ll never believe it, but you know that little creek that flowed through your old property. One day I was walking along that creek marking the boundaries and I saw something glittering in the water. I reached down and scooped up the sand and sure enough, when I took it into town to be examined it was gold. That stream was full of pure gold.”
I don’t remember the exact moral of the story, but our key verse today would fit, “In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Our passage today is a little like that story, the Colossians were being told by false teachers that they could find something more, something better, something more exciting than what they had in their relationship and salvation with Jesus Christ. They just needed to listen to the experts, buy into their philosophy and leave behind the meager spiritual possessions they had now. Paul writes to the church and tells them Jesus is where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid. Stay with your all sufficient Lord.
Let’s get a running start at this by backing up to Colossian 1v29. We covered this verse last week in Paul’s calling as a preacher of the Gospel, but it is a vital link to all of chapter two so let’s begin with the end of chapter 1.
Conflict for Christ - Colossians 1:29 - 2:1
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Paul’s Conflict For The Colossians
Paul describes a spiritual battle he is fighting on behalf of the church at Colosse and all believers who he has not yet met. He uses three synonyms to describe that battle. Laboring, striving, working.
Laboring is doing hard, fatiguing work, this word in the Greek language is often used to describe the intense work of the athlete in training.
Striving is to contend, to fight an adversary, contending like a boxer or wrestler in an arena.
The word “working” is the Greek word, ἐνέργεια energeia. Yes, that’s where we get our word for energy. The word in the NT is only used when talking about supernatural power, power beyond human ability.
That energy, that power, is working in Paul mightily. Working mightily, is the same word for energy used before, but the ending of the word shows God’s energy directed through and motivating Paul, “God’s working powerfully energizing me.”
Now we cross the bridge of vs 29 to our text in chapter 2. Here we are told what the goal of Paul’s laboring and striving is, He says in Colossians 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
He was laboring and striving in a “great conflict” for the church members in Laodicea and Colosse and other believers that he has not met. His conflict was spiritual, a battle fought here on earth but with results in the spiritual realm. His primary weapon of war in this spiritual battle is prayer.
Paul’s Prayer Power. In Paul’s writings over and over again we see that prayer is his weapon of choice. In a sense, every time Satan challenged Paul to a contest, he chooses prayer to fight to victory.
In the prison epistle of Ephesians, in chapter 6 after Paul describes the spiritual armor the Christian must put on in order to stand against the wiles of the devil. He lists each piece like a soldier dressing for battle, put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness; the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace; the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Then the last thing he says to do in preparing for battle in Ephesians 6 vs 18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Paul knew that you don’t enter into the strivings of the soul without prayer.
Paul tells us that it is in prayer that the Holy Spirit is called to our aid and His intercessory work is begun. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
It is in prayer that our anxiety, fear and doubt is overcome. Paul again writing from his prison cell tells the Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
So important to the Christian life and conflict is prayer that Paul tells the Thessalonians, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
He says prayer is paramount to the wellbeing of the church and tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:1, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” First of all, first in order of importance. Pray first!
Believers’ Battle
When you examine the way Paul’s spiritual battle for the church at Colosse, you are left with a clear example of how we should be fighting our own spiritual battles. To Paul and be to us, prayer is paramount.
Paul was passing on what he had learned from the Lord. In fact, it was Paul’s best friend and closest traveling companion, Luke who wrote page upon page about Jesus and prayer. In Luke’s Gospel chapter 11 the whole chapter is dedicated to how to prayer and then examples of people praying. In the 18th chapter, Luke records this, Luke 18:1-8 And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
That parable is given directly to us. Do you know how you can determine that? Because of the last statement, “When the Son of man comes shall he find faith on the earth?” That is Jesus asking us directly, “When I return will there be people faithfully praying?” That is sobering. The Lord asking us personally when I come back will you and those who follow you still be faithful? And prayer is the mark of that faithfulness.
It is through prayer, by prayer and in prayer that the spiritual battles in our life are to be fought and won. And if we are not praying then we are not laboring, not striving and we will not know the energy of the Lord working in us mightily.
Brother James Dearmore was a missionary to Brazil and to Rhodesia in his lifetime. He preached the Gospel, helped start churches, build schools, clinics and while in Rhodesia had to survive the attacks of Marxist rebel terrorists. He was once ambushed while driving and survived with hundreds of bullet holes in his Land Rover and an unexploded rocket grenade that landed in his back seat.
He was preaching for us in chapel at the independent Baptist College, talking about prayer and he brough up people who say, “Well, I guess the only thing we can do is pray about it.” His response to that I wrote down in my Bible that day. He told us, “Saying that we’re reduced only to prayer is like telling a soldier that he is reduced only to an atomic bomb.” – James Dearmore.
That’s how powerful a weapon prayer is. Paul knew it, James Dearmore knew it and if we are going to win the fight against spiritual powers in high places in our life, in our church, our community and in our nation then we better now it as well. Unleash the power of prayer, because Prayer is Paramount and must be our first weapon of choice.
A battle was going on for the hearts and minds of the church at Colosse and Paul was in prison, he could not go to them, but what he could do was pray. That was Paul’s supernatural weapon of mass intervention. He prays for the church, and what he prays for is in vss. 2-3
Comforted In Christ - Colossians 2:2-3
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Paul’s Counsel In Christ Is All
First, he prays, “That their hearts might be comforted,” This is an interesting word. In the Greek it is παρακαλέω parakaleō; a compound word from para (alongside) and kaleo (to call). The same two words that give us parakletos, the personal name of God the Holy Spirit, the comforter, one called alongside to help. Here the word comforted means, to call out and bring near in order to give, strength by exhortation or by consolation. Paul is praying for them knowing that the Holy Spirit will comfort, console and exhort them.
Second, he prayers that when those hearts are comforted, then they will “be knit together in love,” Once the error is overcome by the truth, then this conflict will be over and those strengthened hearts, those united members of the church will be knit together in the agape love they found in Christ and …
Thirdly, or perhaps 2.5 since it is part of their hearts being knit together, He prays that in that unity they move “unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;” Unity is the combination of the Christ’s love and the truth. The full understanding, the full acknowledgment of God and of Christ, Paul is praying for them to come to.
Unity in the church is always through these two evenly balanced elements, Christian truth and Christian love. If have love without truth, then you have unhinged emotionalism which can only hurt for the sinner but not heal the soul. If you have truth without love, then you have uncaring legalism. Which can only condemn the sinner and never comfort the soul.
In the Ephesian prison epistle, Paul expresses it this way, 4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The Twin Pillars of the Temple and the Church
Outside the Temple of Herod, the Temple that stood until 70 AD there were two giant pillars. One was named Boaz and the other Jachin. Boaz means “In him is strength” and Jachin means, “It will stand.” In a sense Love and Truth are the twin pillars that uphold the Lord’s church. In Him is the strength of love and He will establish in truth.
Final Request In Paul’s Prayer
Paul’s prayer continues and now brings us once again to the central theme of the epistle, the Lordship of Christ and specifically the all sufficiency of the Lord, Jesus Christ
Colossians 2:2-3 …and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
that they would come to the riches of the full assurance of understanding (compete spiritual apprehension) to the acknowledgment (the realization) of the mystery of God and of the Father and Christ. The mystery, in the Father and in the Son are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.
The words he uses here, mystery, knowledge, wisdom and even hidden were words taken from the Gnostics toolbox. Words they used to try beguile the believers. These words the false teachers were using to try and seduce the churches away from the Lord by appealing to that part of human nature that is always looking for something more, wanting something else, something better. A deeper wisdom, a greater knowledge, a revealed mystery, but Paul says in God and in Christ is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. There is no knowledge about spirituality, no wisdom that fulfills soul, no revelation of mysterious things that is not fully and completely in them. They are all that is needed.
Paul confronts these pretentious intellectuals (Gnostics) with the bold claim that Christ sums up all wisdom and knowledge. These treasures are hidden whether the Gnostics have discovered them or not. They are there (in Christ) as every believer knows by fresh and repeated discovery. - A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament,
In Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. -- I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “I can do all the things I need to do for Christ because Christ is all I need.”
Wiersbe said, “The message of this letter is greatly needed today. I hear too many voices telling me that I need something more than Jesus Christ—some exciting experience, some new doctrine, some addition to my Christian experience. But Paul affirms that what I need is appropriation of what I already have in Christ.” – Warren Wiersbe
Believers’ Bastion – Christ
The believer’s bastion, his stronghold, his treasure house is the riches of Jesus Christ. There is nothing this world or its myriad, alternative philosophies can offer us, that are richer than what we have in Jesus Christ. Nothing in the world has can make us richer than Jesus. Nothing the world has can make us wiser, can give us greater knowledge or offer a more sure hope than our Lord.
As Paul wrote to the Philippians, in Philippians 4:18-19 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The world tells us that what we have is insufficient, there is something more. But God’s Word tells us that in Christ we are all-sufficient. The world tells us we always need more but in Christ we know we are full to the point of abounding in the riches of Christ Jesus.
I’m drinking from the Saucer
I’ve never made a fortune,
And it’s probably too late now.
But I don’t worry about that much,
I’m happy anyhow.
As I go along life’s journey,
Reaping better than I have sowed,
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
Ain’t got a lot of riches,
And sometime the going’s rough.
But I’ve got a family that loves
me.
That makes me rich enough.
I just thank God for His blessings,
And the mercy He’s bestowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went
wrong,
And my faith got a little thin.
Then all at once the dark clouds
broke,
And the old sun broke through
again.
So, Lord, help me not to gripe
About the tough rows I have hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
And if God gives me strength and
courage
When the way gets steep and rough,
I won’t ask for other blessings–
I’m already blessed enough.
So I’ll just keep on drinking from
my saucer,
‘Cause now I’ve come to know
God fills me with every blessing…
And now my saucer overflows!
Now Paul comes to the heart of this letter and we are just going to give his introduction, his caution of what is at stake in vss. 4-7, his …
Caution About Christ - Colossians 2:4-7
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Paul’s Counterpoint
Paul’s counterpoint to the false philosophy of the Gnostic, of this thinking they need more or of this feeling of spiritual insufficiency is this, The Lord Jesus Christ is All Sufficient
He tells them that in Christ is all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge to counteract anyone who would “beguile” you. This is another “para” word. παραλογίζομαι, paralogizomai; it means to misreckon, to delude. AT Robertson says it is to count aside and so wrong someone, to cheat by false reckoning, to deceive by false reasoning. - A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament,
These false teachers would use enticing words acting as though they have something wonderful to share. They would use flattering words to befriend but then like a merchant with a false balance they would cheat the Colossians of what they already had, the riches of the Lordship of Christ.
Paul goes on saying, “I am with you in spirit. I find such joy to see your order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” Isn’t Paul always so positive and gentle in dealing with such errors? He is always loving, before resort to a negative reprimand.
I see your “order” Paul writes, this word is taken from the military and it is used to describe a line of soldiers, a shield wall, standing firm in the face of an enemy charge. Yes, some may have cut and run to the Gnostic side, but the church as a whole, stood solid, steadfast and had not been breached.
Then he gives them the counterpoints to contend with the false teaching that threatened the riches that have in Christ.
Here is what they must practice, as a rule of life, if they were to keep uncovering the mystery of Jesus. Look in vss 6-7 Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus (and he pointedly adds) the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Here is the way to finding the full acknowledgment, the method to unlocking the mystery, the means of revealing of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Jesus who is the Christ, and the Lord.
I think these verse are very important to our Christian life and joy, so let’s break it down carefully.
1st, As you received – They received Jesus by believing in Him and repenting of their sin. In simple faith and repentance, they accepted the gift of grace in Jesus.
2nd So walk in Him. They received Jesus in faith and repentance now they must continue in the same way. Trusting him daily and acknowledging their sin, weakness, faults and failure and by doing this they will constantly be walking in Christ, having faith in His power and having humility in our weakness.
3rd, Rooted, built up and stablished in the faith - That seed of faith, planted in your heart, life and soul at salvation grows deeper and deeper down, while at the same time your life, like a tree grows ever upward, being established in “the faith” Not saving faith, but a way of faith they have been taught. This is the truth, the doctrine, practice of being a child of God, of living the Christian way of life itself.
This is the same faith to faith living that Paul told the church at Rome about in Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
You can tell how much this was on his heart while in prison because he writes the same, to the Ephesians at the same time. In Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
4th and finally abounding in that Christian life of faith with thanksgiving. How could they be anything but thankful? They would have the All Sufficient riches of the Lord and never ceasing supply, a never diminishing, ever expanding revelation of more and more of Jesus as Lord.
Believers’ Battle Station
Today, How do we fight back against not just one false belief system, or one empty philosophy but against thousands? Where do we take our stand, where is our battle station? Paul could have taken Gnosticism apart piece by piece, but another form would just rise and take its place as we plainly see today, with everything from relativism, to modernism, to Taoism, to a return to neo-paganism and yes very much neo-Gnosticism.
Anytime you hear someone who is trying to tell you that there is a different way, a better way, a deeper way of salvation or a spiritual life, you are encountering a new form of Gnosticism. And in truth the false lies of Gnosticism go all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Satan told Eve, Genesis 3:4-5 Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Here, Satan said then, and here the world says today, is a better way than God’s way. Here is a better word than the word of God. You won’t die, you will see things you’ve never seen. You will be like a god. You will know, you will decide what is good and what is evil because you are a god.
Don’t like the truth, then make your own truth. Don’t like God’s design for marriage then ignore it. Don’t think God knew what he was doing when He put your DNA together and made you a man or a woman, then ignore your masculinity or your femininity and be whatever gender you choose or don’t be a gender at all, just a thing. Wow, talk about being beguiled, deceived, robbed and wronged. Nothing is more devastating than after years of living a lie, realizing how much that lie has destroyed any hope of joy, fulfillment you ever had. How terrible to trade the treasures of Jesus Christ for a false philosophy from the Father of Lies.
Here is how we fight back by “Being In Christ” Look at what Paul said broken down by Be commands. These are the be alls, in order to be able to beat the beguilement of this broken, beaten and bad world… (Man, I love alliteration, it is the poetry of pastors)
Be steadfast; in Christ
Be mindful; of your beginning in Christ.
Be humble: As you received him in repentance and faith
Be Consistent: So continue to walk in Him in repentance and faith
Be rooted: Steadfast, anchored and holding fast to Him
Be built up: Growing, learning, maturing
Be established: firmly founded in “the faith” the doctrine, discipline of
what it means to be a true Christian.
Be Abounding: Overflowing in your relationship in Christ and in the
Christian faith, he teaches us.
And finally, always Be Thankful: with thanksgiving for all He is and all
He has given us.
Conclusion
Recently a man I know turned his back on the Lord. He claims to be an atheist now and his betrayal has hurt a lot of people, but the one he hurt the most is himself. I spoke with him and asked him to think about all he had walked away from. I told him, “Everything that was good in your life, came from believe in the Lord. Your friends, people who considered and loved you like a brother, you wife, you met in church, your clothes, your food, your purpose in life all come because you were serving the Lord. And now you’ve lost it all.” His case is very dramatic as he was someone who fell very visibly and very far from grace.
I don’t know whether he is and always was lost and just a deceiver or if he has been deceived, beguiled by the philosophy of atheism, to him something better than Christ. Can you imagine trading the riches, the treasure of all that is the Lord Jesus for the emptiness of atheism? Turning from the promise of eternal life to the nothingness of a cold dark grave? Any of us can make the same trade in less dramatic ways, but the result is the same you are trading treasure for trash, wisdom for foolishness, knowledge for ignorance, the Lord of Heaven for the lies of this world.
Hold to Jesus. He is our All Sufficient Savior and in Him you will discover all the riches of eternity.
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