Colossians Chapter 2
If there ever was a cheerleader for the faith, it was Paul. He spoke so passionately in his letters to the churches about standing firm in their faith. He was the type of cheerleader that not only offered encouragement to the believers, but he told them how to stand in their faith. He gave them the tools needed to protect themselves from outside influences. These same tools are the tools that we can use today to stand firm in our faith and to not allow outside influencers to destroy our faith.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul knew that it would have been really encouraging for the believers at Colosse to see him face to face and hear him speak about the truths of God. Paul knew that it would be important for the church to have unity. The unity would be strong (knit together) in the church if what was present?
2. Paul knew that outside influences might entice them to seek knowledge and wisdom which was a love of the Greek people. Where did he say they should get all of their wisdom and knowledge from? Paul called this wisdom and
knowledge – treasures.
3. What does Paul say about the spiritual condition of the church at Colosse in this letter? See verse 5.
4. There is always more to learn about the truths of God’s Word. When we get into the Bible and dig and learn it will cause us to grow in Him. But it also does something for us that is very important to our faith, what is that?
5. We will also be able to recognize those outside influencers who are teaching a different philosophy, empty deceit, and things that are just human religious traditions rather than principles from God’s Word. These types of teachings Paul labels as _______________ ________________ of the world and not of Christ.
6. Paul says that when you place your faith in Jesus Christ, your faith is placed in the whole deity of God - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit because Jesus is God. And because you placed your faith in Jesus, you have placed your faith in the one who has what position over the church?
7. When Paul talks about the believers being “circumcised” he is referring to them being separated from the world. We know that the Gentiles were not circumcised as the Jews were, but in faith in Jesus Christ they were separated from the world just as the Jews would be separated from the world when they placed their faith in Christ. The circumcision of the Jews was merely an outward sign that they were of the Jewish faith under the old covenant. What makes us to be separated as believers and identified as a Christian? See verses 12-14.
8. The Savior that we follow is one who triumphed over the grave and death. Christ also triumphs over all and will disarm who?
9. Paul tells the believers at Colosse not to let anyone try to persuade them that their faith is not genuine unless they do certain man-made things. Those who try to teach such things to the church are not part of the body of Christ. It’s as if Paul is saying, “stand up for yourself, for your faith, be strong, don’t let other people tell you how to be a Christian. This is why Christ died so that you do not have to submit to human ideologies!” Do you hear Paul cheering the believers on? He tells them, “Do not submit to regulations that say what you cannot eat or cannot touch, to be a Christian.” These rules of dos and don’ts really do nothing for the body. Where does Paul’s strength in his faith come from? Where does your strength of faith come from? The answer is in verse 19 and 20a.
