My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3, NIV)
I want to encourage you as we study the book of Colossians. Chapter 2 verse 1 begins with Paul saying, “I would have you know what great conflict I have for you, for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face – I want you to know how much I am struggling for you!” Right throughout this letter, Paul is expressing a great love for the people of God. Many he knew because he had met them and, in many cases, had pioneered the churches – but not in every case. Here Paul is expressing his love and concern even for those he had not met in person and who had never seen him.
The depth of this love resulted in a conflict, a struggle on the part of Paul that those who were to hear this letter might be comforted, knit together in love, and that in this love, they might experience all the riches of complete understanding and might know the ‘mystery’ of God the Father and of Christ. Paul is saying that it’s ONLY when we are knit together in love, in fellowship together, ONLY united in love, can we receive the full revelation and understanding of who Christ is – in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, vv2-3.
Paul is saying, the treasures of God are hidden in Christ. ONLY when we understand the person of Christ can we begin to understand fully what the blessings of God are. The blessings of God come to us, not from the Father alone, but through Christ. This is the importance of Jesus Christ to us! Yes, Scripture tells us, Jesus tells us to ask God the Father, but He said this: Whatsoever you ask God the Father IN MY NAME, I – Jesus – will do it. John 14:13,14. It is He who has the ability, the right to mediate and pass on the blessings of God to us. Although God is our Father, we still come in the Name of His Son in order to receive the blessing.
Paul says very beautifully in v2 that it is the unity we have together that enables us to see more explicitly the hidden treasures of wisdom and love that are in Christ and that He wants to pass on to us. But, to fully understand who Christ is, the fullness of Christ, all that He is, all that He has, we need to have that same affinity, that same fellowship and that same love one for another! But, Paul warns in v4, “I say this, lest any should beguile you, deceive you, with enticing words.”
In v5ff he says, “Although I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” So often the phrase ‘being present in the spirit’ is twisted out of context, an easy excuse, as when people say, “I can’t be present in the meeting, but I will be with you in spirit.” Paul is saying something stronger: Although I am absent in the flesh, yet we have such a sense of unity in the Spirit that everything is revealed to me – about your love and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Paul continues in v6ff, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Walk in Him! To fulfil our Christian experience and calling, it’s not just a matter of the moment we receive Christ, which is the beginning of our salvation, but it’s the ‘going on’! Walking in fellowship with Christ. This is a daily walk! Not something that happens when you go to church on a Sunday, a prayer meeting or a Bible study. This is a daily experience of fellowship with Christ. I can see the depth of what Paul is saying here, that although he’s not present in the flesh with the believers in Laodicea and others whom he has never met personally, yet the link in the Holy Spirit, in the fellowship of love, makes him one with them! Just as, in our relationship with Christ – whom we have never seen in the flesh – it is our love and our unity in love in Him and with one another, that enables us to receive Christ’s blessings.
This is why Paul says, “As you have received Christ, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith, as you have been taught.” Our faith and our spiritual experience are built up by the relationship we have with Christ! This comes through reading the Word, but not ONLY. You can put too much emphasis on reading the Word, as opposed to the personal relationship we have with Christ, and our daily walk with Him.
All my life I have had a very close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I talk to Him all the time – this is not formal prayer – I’m asking Him questions, I’m listening to Him and He’s explaining things to me. It’s an on-going relationship. This is what creates us and develops us, brings us to the place where we are. I think the reason I have a very special experience in ministry is because of the very close personal relationship that I have developed with Jesus as a person.
But then in v8ff, Paul goes on, “Beware lest any spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men…not after Christ.” The danger is that we can be tied down by traditions. It is a problem that established churches and religions become based more on tradition than on a direct relationship. They begin to teach philosophy, ritual, a worldly experience instead of Christ. ONLY in Christ dwells all the fulness, all the completeness of God. You will not find the completeness of what God wants to give you, to share with you and teach you, through anything other than your personal relationship with Christ. ONLY in Christ are you complete.