DEC 12

Colossians 2:1-10

Memorise Colossians 2:9-10

“That in all things he might have the preeminence…”

WHAT IS THE MAIN THEME OF COLOSSIANS?

It was while Paul was in prison that he received a visitor from the church at Colosse. False teaching and heresy had crept into the church and the leaders of the Colossian church were unable to deal with it so they sent Epaphras to Rome to consult with Paul. He informed Paul of this threat and Paul wrote this epistle and sent it to the church through Tychicus and Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9). There was a denial of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Many of these false teachers taught that Christ was a created being, perhaps the highest being that God created. This was an attack upon the Trinity and upon the eternal, sovereign deity of Jesus Christ. This led to the worship of angels (Colossians 2:18) and many other errors of asceticism and legalism. The dangers that affected the church were quite obvious to Paul. Thus, Paul stressed the sovereign headship of Christ over creation and the Church (Colossians 1:13-29) and warned them against the moral and doctrinal errors of Gnosticism (Colossians 2:1-23). Gnosticism (Greek gnosis means “knowledge”) deprecated the value of the material world and exalted the mind and advocated the abusing of the body through licentious living). In this system, salvation was gained through knowledge by an elite few with no attention given to sin, guilt, and faith. In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul sought to strengthen the believers and to release them from the bondage of ritualistic, legalistic obligations of the false teachings of Gnosticism. As believers, they come under the headship of Christ who is equal in power and essence with God Himself for “all the fullness of the Godhead” is in Him. How then can they worship angels who were created by Him? They were also “complete in Christ” or positionally perfect in Christ and thus not bound by man-made rules.

Dearest teen, are you aware of the errors that false teachers seek to propagate? In modern times, the error of the health and wealth gospel has crept in and many have succumbed to it. Can you see through their error and deception? Always measure all teachings against the Word of God. If God does not instruct us to seek wealth, then how can it be true? Instead the Bible teaches clearly that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6: 10) and that “godliness with contentment is grea t gain” (1 Timothy 6: 6). So do search the Scriptures and find out what God says in any matter before you believe what men tell you.

Thought: In Christ are “hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”(Colossians 2:3).
Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, increase my zeal in the study of Your Word that I may learn more of Thee, O Thou fount of every blessing.