Christ is All
Christ is All
Having discussed Christ's full reign and headship over his church, we now move into the theme of the Church's full unity. In the Church, "Christ is all, and in all" (Col 3:11). There are no divisions and distinctions. Each person is equally chosen, holy, and beloved.
There was a solid unity in the church at Colossae, so long as Christ was all, and nothing was added to his rule and his word. This is true in any Christian congregation. We must "hold fast to the Head from whom all the body is nourished and knit together." Paul was concerned that some were not doing this (Col 2:19). There was a real danger that they would place themselves in opposition to Christ.
By claiming to be the repository of all wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:1-3), Jesus Christ opposes himself to all other religions. Jesus instructs his followers neither to persecute other religions, nor to embrace them.
The ground of our unity in Christ is "the word of truth, the gospel" (Col 1:5), which Christ has supplied from his "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3). This word is "the faith" by which we are to be "rooted and built up in him" (Col 2:7). Paul wants the Colossians to realize that they should keep to this word so he adds "just as you were instructed".
This word is contrasted with "philosophy and empty deceit" based upon "principles of the world" (Col 2:8). Worldly wisdom is drawn from earthly elements (usually earth, air, fire, water) and their elemental spirits (real or imagined). True wisdom comes from Christ the Creator of all things (Col 1:15,16,17). He is the "substance" and all else is "shadow" (Col 2:17). Obviously you cannot ground yourself in a shadow.
There is no celestial library of wisdom and knowledge to which many spiritual sages have contributed over aeons. As we have emphasized already, all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Col 2:3). Anything else is not a treasure of truth but deception, and it will not bring unity to the church but division.
False religion is "hostile to us" so Christ has "wiped out" all "self imposed religion" based on "the doctrines and commandments of men" (Col 2:14,22-23). Note that this even includes the law of Moses which cannot be validly practised today, because it foreshadowed the death of Christ on the cross, who established his own covenant. The old one was "nailed to his cross" and ought to be left there (Col 2:14).
The gospel of Christ offers true hope of a heavenly inheritance (Col 1:5-6,12,23). We are warned, "Don't let anybody cheat you of your reward" (Col 2:18). Christ is opposed to false religion because that's what it does —cheats people of their inheritance. Cling to Christ’s word alone and you will hold on to your hope and not be moved away from it (Col 1:23).
Series outline