Walking in Christ: Colossians 2 (2)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 1.1, 2
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

Sing Psalm 1.1, 2
(St. Thomas: I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord)
How blessed are they that shun sin’s vain and wicked ways.
For them has Christ salvation won; He loves them all their days.

God’s Word is their delight; they prosper in its truth.
In it they dwell both day and night to flourish and bear fruit.

Read Colossians 2.4-7

Preparation
1. What danger were the Colossians facing?

2. How did Paul encourage them to prepare for this?

Meditation
Verse 4 reads like an alarm: Watch out! En garde! That’s precisely what it is, but we won’t get to the substance of the warning until verse 8. Until then, a hint of the danger, and a few things to review.

The threat is in “persuasive words” (v. 4). To persuade someone is to bring them over to your view. All kinds of ill winds of doctrine blow against believers every day, and some of them can be very persuasive, causing us to drift off course from our great salvation (cf. Heb. 2.1-3). We need to recognize and be ready to struggle against them.

How do we guard against such threats? Begin with good order, steadfastness of faith (v. 5), growing in the Lord (v. 6), and walking obediently in Christ (vv. 6, 7). These things firmly in place, we’ll be able to withstand whatever the world or the enemy of our soul may throw against us. Since we have received Christ and are established in Him, we need to continue daily in those disciplines that allow us to abound in the life of Christ, being careful always to give thanks in all things (v. 7).

Walk the path of Christ and not of sin, and you’ll be ready to do battle with whatever comes your way.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“As we therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith…” (vs. 6, 7)

I received a new book, but I’m not going to read it.
I received a new appliance, but I’m not going to use it.
I received some new walking shoes, but I’m not going to wear them.

We have received Christ, but we’re not going to learn from Him?
We have received Christ, but we’re not going to grow in Him?
We have received Christ, but we’re not going to walk with Him?

What are we thinking?
What were the Colossians thinking and doing?
Or not doing, as the case may be?

We are told in Psalm 1 exactly how to learn from and grow in Him:

1. Don’t follow the counsel of the ungodly.
2. Don’t hang around with people who don’t love God.
3. Don’t fellowship with those who are scornful of the Word of God.
4. Do find delight in the law of the LORD.
5. Do read and think about that law day and night.

The key to being rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith is found in the consumption and extensive use of God’s Word: “Your words were found, and I did eat them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jer. 15.16).

When we know these things, blessed and happy are we if we do them (Jn. 13.17).

“Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!” (Ps. 144.15)

Reflection
1. What are some examples of “persuasive words” that might distract us from the Gospel?

2. How would you advise a new believer to be “rooted and built up” in the Lord Jesus?

3. In what ways is the Christian life like a warfare? Like doing battle?

Having completed his definition, he turns now to give a warning. He tells them to beware of those who corrupt Christian doctrine. It is like a doctor who first gives the cure, and then deals with the cause of the disease. Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), Notes on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians 2.4

Help me to walk the path of Jesus today, Lord, so that I…

Closing Prayer: Psalm 1.3-6
Pray that the Lord will help you to see every temptation that threatens to dislodge you from the path of Jesus. Call on Him to sustain and bless your every endeavor this day.

Sing Psalm 1.3-6
(St. Thomas: I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord)
Firm planted on the banks of God’s great stream of grace,
they raise unending praise and thanks to His great glorious face.

The wicked are not so, but, driven by the winds,
they fall and perish, weighed with woe, when once God’s wrath begins.

In Jesus’ righteousness, though sinners fail and fall,
His flock He will preserve and bless, who on His favor call.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Listen to our summary of last week’s study by clicking here.

Ill Winds of Doctrine
We need to recognize the ill winds of doctrine that can blow us off course with the Lord. That’s the subject of our recent ReVision series, “Winds of Doctrine.” You can download the five installments of that study by clicking here.

Such a Great Salvation!
Want to learn more about the greatness of our salvation? Order your free copy of our book, Such a Great Salvation, by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scripture are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.