The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia Text from Colossians 2:4-7 (we have added verse 7) Trinity IX 1. At Colossians 2:1-7 Paul counteracts the threatening false teaching at Colosse. In verses 1-3 Paul prays earnestly that his hearers abide in the Gospel which they have been taught. Verses 4-7 are our text. In verses 4-5 Paul warns: "Let no one deceive you." Even when absent Paul was convinced of the Colossians' steadfastness. In verses 6-7 he urges them to continue to abound in the faith and thanksgiving. 2. A vicious false teaching was threatening the congregation at Colosse. It was a combination of pagan philosophy and the Jewish ceremonial law. The false teachers concocted a theology which was a combination of heathenism, Judaism and Christ. 3. The Epistle to the Colossians is one of the richest storehouses of our knowledge of the person, Word and work of Jesus Christ. Paul says again and again that in Christ, true God and man, you have the full knowledge of the mystery about Christ, you have all the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge. This is still important for us today. In our Bibles and the Lutheran Confessions we have the full doctrine about the person, Word and work of Jesus Christ. Seek no farther. 4. In verses 1-3 Paul assures the Colossian Christians that, like an athlete, he has contended strenuously to establish the hearts of the Colossians in the Gospel of Jesus which gives them a wealth of understanding and the full knowledge of God, revealed in the man Jesus Christ. In Christ they know God. Nothing is hidden. And this Christ is a storehouse of the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge. In this Christ they have found the pearl of great price, Matthew 13:45-46. Once a Christian has found the Gospel he abandons all else and clings only to this. The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia Text from Colossians 2:4-7 (we have added verse 7) Trinity IX 1. At Colossians 2:1-7 Paul counteracts the threatening false teaching at Colosse. In verses 1-3 Paul prays earnestly that his hearers abide in the Gospel which they have been taught. Verses 4-7 are our text. In verses 4-5 Paul warns: "Let no one deceive you." Even when absent Paul was convinced of the Colossians' steadfastness. In verses 6-7 he urges them to continue to abound in the faith and thanksgiving. 2. A vicious false teaching was threatening the congregation at Colosse. It was a combination of pagan philosophy and the Jewish ceremonial law. The false teachers concocted a theology which was a combination of heathenism, Judaism and Christ. 3. The Epistle to the Colossians is one of the richest storehouses of our knowledge of the person, Word and work of Jesus Christ. Paul says again and again that in Christ, true God and man, you have the full knowledge of the mystery about Christ, you have all the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge. This is still important for us today. In our Bibles and the Lutheran Confessions we have the full doctrine about the person, Word and work of Jesus Christ. Seek no farther. 4. In verses 1-3 Paul assures the Colossian Christians that, like an athlete, he has contended strenuously to establish the hearts of the Colossians in the Gospel of Jesus which gives them a wealth of understanding and the full knowledge of God, revealed in the man Jesus Christ. In Christ they know God. Nothing is hidden. And this Christ is a storehouse of the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge. In this Christ they have found the pearl of great price, Matthew 13:45-46. Once a Christian has found the Gospel he abandons all else and clings only to this. 5. Now we come to a study of our text. First verses 4-5: The false teachers were saying that faith in Christ is not enough. Something needs to be added. But that spells death to true Christianity. It's like saying to a married person: "Another person must be added to your marriage." That would prove disastrous and would annihilate the marriage. Paul begins verse 4: "This is my meaning." Then he says: "Do not let anyone mislead you with fine-sounding arguments." False teaching often comes in charming and eloquent utterances. That is Satan's way. But even though Paul is warning them, he is confident that, like good soldiers, they are standing in orderly lines and are firm in their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul is saying: "I am warning you but I have great confidence in you." 6. First Paul warned, then he encouraged and now he instructs in verses 6- 7. Paul tells them to continue to walk (live) in Christ precisely as they have received Christ the Lord in the teaching of Paul. We know from Acts 19:26 that Paul's teaching was far-reaching in Asia Minor. 7. In verse 6 Paul told them that they should live as they have been taught, as they came to faith in Christ. He mentions four items, the first two of which are metaphors: a) They are to be rooted. Here we have the picture of a tree. It reminds us of Psalm 1:3 "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season." b) They are to be built up in Christ. Here we have the picture of a building. This reminds us of Ephesians 2:20 ". . .being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." c) They are being strengthened in the faith just as they have been taught. This reminds us of 2 Corinthians 12:8 "My strength is brought to its goal in our weakness." d) They are abounding in thanksgiving. This is the believer's reaction to what God is doing for him. He does not go about with a sad and long face but with a cheerful, thankful disposition, rejoicing in the many gifts which come to him by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. 8. Paul is confident of the Colossians' stable faith but he warns them not to be deceived but to continue in what they have learned. The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia Text from Colossians 2:4-7 (we have added verse 7) Trinity IX THEME: Paul Warns, Encourages and Instructs the Colossians INTRODUCTION This letter is remarkable for several reasons. Paul had never met the people in this church but he knew the pastor. The pastor came to Paul in prison and reported to him. Secondly, a very peculiar form of false teaching was bothering them. And thirdly, Paul's antidote for this false teaching is one of the most beautiful letters on the person, Word and work of Jesus Christ. And our text gives us a beautiful outline of a pastor's work with a congregation. I. PAUL WARNS THE COLOSSIANS, verse 4. False teachers were smooth-talking the Colossians. For example they told them that there were certain foods which they should not touch, 2:21. But abstaining from foods does not make man better. Furthermore, the false teachers were teaching a form of Judaistic ceremonial law, 2:16.But, Paul says, these were only shadows, Christ fulfilled them. But, worst of all, the false teachers told the people that the knowledge andwisdom of Christ was not sufficient. To this Paul said that in Christ we find _all_ the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Paul adds at 2:10 "In Christ you are fulfilled. He is the head of all principality and power." In Christ they have been raised from the dead. He has wiped out the handwriting which was against them. He has stripped Satan of his powers and triumphed publicly over him. Satan is constantly sowing the seeds of false teaching, Matthew 11:39. There will always be false teaching. Paul says: "Let no one deceive you with smooth talk." II. PAUL ENCOURAGES THE COLOSSIANS, verse 5. Paul did not know the Colossians personally. Nor was he speaking to them here in person. But he says: "Even though I am not with you in the flesh but only in spirit I rejoice when I see the order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ." This is, indeed, a very high compliment which Paul pays to these Christians. He is using the metaphor of soldiers in an army. He pictures a well-trained and thoroughly-prepared army. Paul says that he knows of their "order." When soldiers are truly ready for battle they know how to march and stand at attention in order. And Paul mentions their steadfastness. A soldier who is well-trained stands his ground in battle. He is steadfast. It is a beautiful picture of a Christian who is armed with the panoply of Christ and carries the shield of faith, Ephesians 6. But note that Paul warned them before he encouraged them. Even though soldiers are well-trained their commanding officer does not hide danger from them. We are in constant danger of false teachers and false teaching. let us listen to Paul. III. PAUL INSTRUCTS THE COLOSSIANS, verses 6-7. "As you have received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in Him." Their instruction and faith should give evidence in their living. Faith in Christ is always a living thing. It is more than a mathematical principle or a bit of memory work. Faith is like Christ, alive and productive. Then in verse 7, which we've added to our text, Paul mentions four items in the life of the Christian: 1) They are rooted in Christ. This is the metaphor of a tree. We are reminded of thedescription of a godly man at Psalm 1:3 "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf also shall not wither And whatsoever he does shall prosper." 2)They are built up in Christ. Here we have the metaphor of a building.This reminds us of Ephesians 2:20 "You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." 3) They are being strengthened in their faith just as they were taught. "The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes," Romans 1:16. 4) They abound in thanksgiving toward God for all His blessings in soul and body. They rejoice in the Lord alway. They rejoice for great is their reward in heaven. They are people of true blessedness. They are like the hosts of heaven pictured in the book of Revelation. Salva Borgu! __________________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain by permission of Dr. Buls. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith Walther Library Concordia Theological Seminary E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ___________________________________________________________________