The Book of Colossians Pt. 19 Magnify Jesus Christ & Remember Who God Is!

Magnify Jesus Christ for He is preeminent. 

Colossians 1:15-18  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

The apostle Paul spent quite a bit of effort to extoll the riches and glory of Jesus Christ. He worked hard to show us the treasures that we have been granted in Christ. 

The answer to false teaching and seducing spirits is to read and remember the words, works and person of Jesus Christ. Paul magnified Jesus Christ before he ever addressed the spiritual issues facing the church at Colosse. 

Notice how frequently Paul reminded the Colossians of the gospel truths that they heard and believed and were discipled in.

He insisted upon the perfection of Christ and the gospel revelation, as essential to preserve believers from the ensnaring words of those who would corrupt their minds with false teaching.

Remember the truth you were taught and cling to it. 

Colossians 1:5-7  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6)  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7)  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;  

There are four references to gospel truth that they heard at the point of their conversion to Christ. They "heard" the word of truth. They "heard" the word and "knew" the grace of God in their lives. They also "learned" truth from the faithful preaching of Epaphras. 

Colossians 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 

Paul continued to point the Colossian Christians to gospel truth that they already learned. 

They were to "continue" in this faith which references that they previously embraced  faith in Christ at some point in the past. 

They were to be grounded and settled and not moved away from gospel hope, which "was preached" to them. 

Colossians 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 

This text also pointed these believers back to the time when they heard the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Remember Jehovah and His mighty works!

Psalm 20:7  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Some people put their trust in how much wealth they accumulate, or in how much land they own. 

The word "remember" is found 148 times in the Bible and most of those have to do with believers remembering who God is.

Others put trust in how much food and supplies they have laid up to withstand future tribulation. 

Still others stock up on guns and ammunition, determined to fend off any who might encroach upon their property or harm their family.

What should believers put their trust in? Remembering the glorious name of our All Glorious God and Savior.

Psalm 22:27  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

When God brings this world to a close and purges it with fire, He will create a new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem, and establish the eternal Kingdom of God. 

At that time, all those who are blessed to be citizens of that kingdom will remember the glorious triumph of good over evil and righteousness over sin, and God over Satan. 

Remembering who God is and all that He has done will yield worldwide worship to Jehovah, the One, True God of heaven. 

Psalm 105:1-5  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2)  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3)  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4)  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5)  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 

Notice with me, that there are ten verbs, ten action words that tell us what our response should be to  what we know is true of Jehovah. We are to give thanks, call on His name, make known His works, sing to Him, and seek Him. 

Now, every one of our actions that we are exhorted to participate in are based upon one crucial fact. The act of picking up the scriptures and remembering who God is, what He has done, what He is presently doing and what He promised to do for eternity. 

Paul's pattern for dealing with Judaism, Gnosticism, or other oriental heresies is simply this. Magnify Jesus Christ in all His glory. Remember the truth that you already learned and cling to it. 

Christ magnified and truth remembered is our defense against false teaching.  

Colossians 2:4  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 

The word "beguile" means deceiving someone with false reasoning or cheating them with an inaccurate accounting.  It involves deception and duplicity. 

To "beguile" someone is to deceive by sophistry or subtle reasoning, in which all the conclusions appear to be reasonable and logical.  

Yet, the premises they are based upon are either without evidence, or false. Therefore, the unthinking or unwary, are carried away by false conclusions which are drawn from false premises.

"Enticing words" are lying words meant to be a persuasive speech, full of misleading discourse that leads others into error.

In essence what Paul says to us is that because Jesus Christ is magnified and we have been told to remember the gospel truth we were taught, no man should be able to beguile us with enticing words. 

Satan's agents aim to beguile Christians with enticing words. See the danger of enticing words in looking at how many are ruined by flattery of those who lie in wait to deceive. 

False teachers utilize false disguises and transform evil principles and wicked practices into something that sounds good and right. Using good words, and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple  (Romans 16:18).

This principle holds true for believers today, as much as in Paul's day.

2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

Paul had to warn the Corinthians about being beguiled by false teachers. His fear was that their mind and thinking would be corrupted from the beautiful simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Satan fooled Eve by changing the word of God into a lie and by attacking the character of God. False teachers do the same thing in each generation. 

Joy and gladness because the Colossians remained faithful. 

Colossians 2:5  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. 

Paul reminded the Colossians that even though he was held in a Roman prison, and not present with them, yet he was present in the Spirit. 

This reminds us that the apostles were especially filled, equipped and guided by the Holy Spirit to complete their very unique ministries. 

1 Corinthians 5:3-5  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4)  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5)  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

The church at Corinth was beset with many sins, including sexual perversion. Paul heard about a specific case of a man who was sexually involved with his stepmother and he heard how the church was not addressing the sin in their midst. 

Paul was not physically present with them, but he was joined with them "in spirit" with the power of Jesus Christ. He pronounced judgment upon this man and instructed the church about what to do. He delivered that man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh. 

Acts 5:4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 

Remember that Ananias and his wife lied to the apostle Peter about keeping back profit from land they sold, and Peter said to them "You have not lied unto men but unto God." 

This is because of the specific way that the Spirit of God guided the apostolic ministry. He filled them and did mighty miracles and wonders through these men. 

Again, Paul was not physically present at Colosse, but he was joined with those believers by the same indwelling Spirit of God. 

He was "in Spirit" joined with the church at Colosse. He wrote from a Roman prison, but he was "in spirit" and able to exercise his full range of apostolic authority and power on their behalf. 

However, unlike the church at Corinth where he had to administer discipline, the church at Colosse had a different experience with Paul.

Colossians 2:5  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 Paul beheld the church at Colosse "in spirit" he was filled with great joy and gladness. This church had remained faithful to the Word they had been taught. They remained true followers of Jesus Christ.

In his minds eye, Paul discerned the true state of this church. He observed their "order" which is a military term referring to troops maintaining formation in battle and not breaking ranks. 

The Colossians had an orderly pattern of Christian conduct that matched what they believed with how they chose to live. They were not yet being swayed by the false teachers. 

He commended them for their steadfast faith in Jesus Christ. The word "steadfast" means that which is firmly fixed and immoveable. That which is resting on the firm foundation of God's Word. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

First, let us always remember that the spiritual antidote to false teaching is found when we look into God's Word and see Jesus Christ magnified, glorified and exalted above all else. 

Second, let us always remember that God gave us His Word so that we could read and re-read what He says to us. This is so that we might remember who God is, and cling to His promises because He is faithful. 

Third, let us remember that the Spirit of God indwells us and He knows the true condition of our faith and our walk. He knows if we are pretending to be a Christian, if we are lukewarm Christians or if we have genuine passion for Christ. 

Let us pray that we will have an orderly walk with our Lord and within our church family's.

Let us pray that we will be diligent to read the scriptures so that we can remember how faithful and wonderful God truly is.

Bob