Session 1
From NewSpring at Home: A Study on Colossians
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Colossians 2 addresses specific heresies making their way through the Colossian church.
Hearing that the church was entertaining false teaching was heartbreaking. Paul had prayed for these people and cared about them deeply. He also had not met many of the believers face-to-face.
So before exposing the flaws in these new ideas, Paul takes several lines to explain the heart behind his correction. This is about more than winning an intellectual debate; this is about the church knowing and experiencing the fullness of life with Christ (Colossians 2:1-5).
Pauls warns the church against any philosophy of life that is based solely on human ideas. No matter how good it sounds or how harmless it seems, it will eventually leave us empty (Colossians 2:6-8).
In emphasizing Jesus’ divine nature and complete work on the cross, Paul is combatting two common philosophies of the day — Gnosticism and Jewish mysticism.
The church did not need to worship angels or seek out a mediator (Colossians 2:18). They had direct access to God through Jesus!
They also didn’t need to follow certain dietary laws or observances to be saved (Colossians 2:16). Belief in Jesus was enough.
Jesus set believers free from man-made rules and regulations, and Paul reminds them that’s who they used to be (Colossians 2:20-23).
Pray
Jesus, you are enough. Thank you for making a way for me to know God. Thank you for inviting me into a relationship, a family. You did so much more than pay for my sin. You gave me a new life.