As we go
through this study of Becoming a Woman of Godliness, our key verses are:
Philippians 2:12-13
12 So then, my beloved, just as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God
who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6
6 For
I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good
work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
In this first
session, we will see the purpose of this study unfold, and we will also see a
warning to believers. This warning is
directed at us, and it is one that we need to take seriously.
Our text for
today comes from Colossians 2:1-8:
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your
behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have
not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be
encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to
all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of
understanding, resulting in a true knowledge
of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are
hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so
that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though
I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit,
rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of
your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore as
you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,7 having been
firmly rooted and now being built up in Him
and established in your faith, just as you were
instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 See to it that
no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according
to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the
world, rather than according to Christ.
New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman
Foundation
Paul is the
writer of this letter to the church at Colossi.
He tells us that he words hard and struggles greatly. Why does he do this? 1) for the Colossians,
2) for those at Laodicea, and 3) for those who have not met him. Sisters, this is us! So all that Paul is
writing by God’s hand is meant for us. This
is such an important thing for us to realize. The Bible is meant, not just for
the people of the times that is was written, but for us in present day.
All three of
the people groups that Paul is writing to are knit together in love. This shows the unity of believers. Why is he writing this letter? 1) so that
their hearts may be encouraged. We can
all use some encouragement! And 2) so they will have all of the wealth that
comes from the full assurance of understanding.
The word wealth here literally means money possessions and figuratively
means riches and abundance. The words
full assurance mean entire confidence.
Ephesians 1:7
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His
grace
Ephesians 1:18-19
18 I pray
that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what
is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working
of the strength of His might
Ephesians 3:16
16 that He would grant
you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
power through His Spirit in the inner man,
God’s grace
is rich. God’s inheritance is rich. God’s glory is rich. Paul wants us to have
the riches of the full assurance of understanding all of these things about
God. The result of understanding is a
true knowledge of God’s mystery that Christ is available to the Gentiles. In Christ hides all of the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.
Isaiah 11:2
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Romans
11:33
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Paul is
writing this, through the power of God, so there will be no doubt in our minds
about ourselves as believers in God. The
riches we have in God are enough to keep us fully satisfied. If we have the understanding of this, we will
have treasures of wisdom and knowledge. These
treasures are in Christ Himself.
Everything listed in Isaiah is our treasure. It is essential that we know God’s Word so
that we can attain to the full assurance of understanding. This is our purpose! This is why we are living our lives, working
out our salvation. God wants us to be rich,
and He has given us the path to full assurance of understanding. God does not save us and immediately take us
to heaven, although He could. He allows
us to live, and one reason is so we can work to become rich in Him and His wisdom
and knowledge.
And now for
our warning. In verse four, Paul says that he does not want the Colossians, the
Laodiceans, or us to be deluded with any kind of false gospel or enticing
words.
Romans 16:17-18
17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your
eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the
teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such
men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites;
and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the
unsuspecting.
Paul is with the church at Colossi in
spirit. He rejoices to see their good
discipline. He rejoices to see the
stability of their faith. Do you have
good discipline in the Lord?
1 Timothy
4:7
7 But have nothing to do
with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline
yourself for the purpose of godliness;
There is a book entitled Spiritual
Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney. In his book, he discusses eleven different
spiritual disciples: Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving,
stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, learning, and
perseverance. I highly recommend this book to you. In order to know what the
Word of God says, so that we are not deluded with false gospels and enticing
words, we must be disciplined to study the Word of God.
How stable is your faith in Jesus Christ? In verse six, Paul goes into this. Now that
you have received Jesus Christ as Lord, walk in Him! You are firmly rooted in
God. This happens at the moment of
salvation.
1
Corinthians 3:6
6 I planted, Apollos watered,
but God was causing the growth.
Now, since you have firm solid roots, you are being built up
in Him. Now you are being established in
your faith. Jesus will confirm you to the
end.
1
Corinthians 1:7-8
7 so that you are not lacking in any
gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will
also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our warning here is clear.
Know the truth of God’s Word so that you will not be poorly
persuaded. You are Christians – you have
received the Lord as your Savior. Act
like it! Walk in Him. Paul says that the Colossians have good
discipline and are stable in their faith.
How about you? Part of working out our salvation is being strong in our
disciplines in the Lord. We are firmly
rooted in God – we cannot be pulled up from Him. But, we now have to grow up. Now, we have to come established in our
faith. We have to do as we are
instructed in Scripture, with a thankful hear.
Look at verse 8. Paul says to be careful that no one takes us
captive: 1) through philosophy, 2) through empty deception, 3) according to the
traditions of men, 4) according to the elementary principles of the world, 5)
not according to Christ. Let us be secure
and stable in our faith. Let us know the
truth of God’s Word so that we know when something is deceptive. Let us walk in Christ, being built up in Him
and being established in our faith. Let us
work out our salvation with fear and trembling, as God is at work in us.
