Colossians 1:24-2:5

If you were to come to the Bible with no knowledge of the Great Story, when you read the Old Testament, like reading a great novel, tons of questions keep coming up and you are looking forward to see how the author is going to bring it all together, how are all these knots going to be undone, or how are all of these loose strings going to be tied together.

They’ve been kicked out of the Garden? Away from their God? How will he get them back?

What about this devil, he says he is going to crush him, but how could that be true, how is that going to happen?

He promises a great nation that blesses the world, how is that going to be?

The Israelites keep failing even when He gives them so many signposts of where to go, how will they ever get it right?

What kind of kingdom is this, that will last forever? What a kingdom!

Who is this King that is to come? Who is this Messiah they all need? Is he a great prophet? Is he a great warrior? Priest?

Paul says THE MYSTERY HAS BEEN SOLVED! THE ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION, EVERY LOOSE END TIED UP in Christ!

How will God get them back? Christ!

Who could possibly defeat the devil? Christ!

How will the nations be blessed? Christ!

Christ is the Great King, the Great Prophet, the Great Priest, the Great Warrior!

1 Cor 2:7-8 – Hidden Wisdom, Mystery – Christ Crucified would be the answer for everything

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It is important to God and Paul that you see that this mystery comes with GREAT RICHES

1:27– “GLORIOUS RICHES of this mystery”, 2:2-3 – complete understanding of the riches

Looking into God’s Word and discovering more about Jesus is like exploring a palace that has been richly stocked with treasures in hidden places, and you keep finding more treasures, each one revealing more fully than the last the Majesty of the King.

Christ opens our eyes to see the riches of God’s glory - Rom 9:23, Eph 1:18-19, Eph 2:7

There are unimaginable riches to be found here – all treasure hunt stories are just shadows of this great treasure story, all the true treasure is found in Christ.

I’ll never be able to find the treasure alone!

Christ indwelling you is your hope of glory

HERE’S SOMETHING AWESOME - In the same way that the OT doesn’t really make sense until the mystery is solved, your life follows the same pattern. Most of the world is right now trying to solve the mystery of their life . . .

Mature in Christ

1:28 – Goal of Writing

Christ’s design is to present us, his people, holy and blameless before God.

That is the end of the story, not your salvation, but you actually being made Holy, spotless, without blemish.

Eph 5:25-27

Christ wants more than just a forgiven Bride, he wants a Sinless Cleansed Bride. The cross does more than justify, it sanctifies, purifies, makes holy. Christ didn’t give himself JUST to forgive you, but also to cleanse you.

Titus 2:14 – purify

Ephesians 1:4 – that we should be holy and blameless

Sanctified, Mature. This is the infinite and eternal desire of God.

“Everyone” repeated 3 times in 1:28 in the Greek – emphasizes the Gospels inclusiveness and the need for all to mature.

The gospel bursts through all ethnic discrimination, all sectarian exclusivism, and all intellectual hubris, denying entry into this perfection to no one who submits to Christ

Need for ALL to mature, all to eat meat and not just milk

The means is preaching and teaching and warning – not just positive

The primary reason we gather together is this one, not for evangelism, for your maturity and being built up

You MUST mature in your faith. Rest in that charge. You Must mature in your faith.

Might from Christ

1:29-2:3

One with Christ

Struggling – Athletic word, striving, giving all I’ve got for a goal

Again we see the paradoxical union between God’s sovereignty and our responsibility

Paul doesn’t go about his work half-heartedly, he strives with all that is in him, but he knows that even his energy is due to God. God desires to mature his people, and he has decided to use Paul (and you) as a means to that end.

This means Paul is free to work mightily, without anxiety that its all up to him, but confident the work cannot be in vain. This takes away both Pau’s human tendencies to pride or to fear and anxiety.

Unending humility, working hard, by Christ

Phil 4:13 – Endure it, you can endure it, you have strength for it – not really about your accomplishments, its about making it, getting through, pressing on – he promises strength for the journey

Conclusion 2:4-5

Don’t be Deluded. . . Firmness of your Faith àWhat is it that causes firm faith? Knowing about the Riches in Christ. Think about a great treasure hunter movie, there’s always the moment where many want to quit, assuming the treasure isn’t real, but theres one

If they are firmly rooted in understanding the rich mystery of their faith, the Colossians cannot be deceived or deluded by arguments no matter how persuasive or plausible

Don’t need, not persuaded by lesser riches - Our Treasure Hunt story is a little different, we have one that’s already found it

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