4-23-23 Sermon Notes
“The Mystery” – Colossians 1:15-29 and 2:1-5
Introduction
A quick review: Paul is writing this letter to the Colosse church that was founded through him by Epaphras, co-worker and a leader in the Colossian church. The purpose of the letter was to challenge and completely put down the false teaching that threatened the spiritual future of the church. The letter was in response to Epaphras who traveled to visit Paul in jail in Rome to inform him about the situation at Colosse. Paul’s co-worker, Tychicus, delivered the letter in person to Colosse.
Paul never describes in specific words the exact nature of the Colossian heresy (i.e., false teaching a belief that contradicts proven and established teaching) because the original readers were already aware of it. Whatever it was, it seemed to have been undermining some of the people’s dependence on Christ as the central focus of their faith and life. From Paul’s statements opposing the false teaching , it seems to have been a strange mixture of Christian teaching, Jewish traditions, humanistic philosophy (i.e., based on human ideals and values) and mysticism (i.e., a supposed means of relating to God through supernatural intuition or insight). This is similar to the belief mixture of many cults and misguided religious philosophies today. Most theologians believe that a form of Gnosticism was at play in the Colossian church. More about that later.
Read Colossians 1:15-29
New International Version
The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Paul’s Labor for the Church
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
Message
Introduction – Verses 15 through 23 reminded the church and us that Christ is the image of God. He is the incarnate God. What is the definition of incarnate? The Latin verb incarnare meant “to make flesh.” When we say that Jesus Christ is God “Incarnate,” we mean that the Son of God took on a fleshly, bodily form (John 1:14). However, when this happened in the womb of Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother, He did not stop being deity. Although Jesus became fully human (Hebrews 2:17), He retained His status as God (John 1:1, 14). How Jesus is able to be both man and God simultaneously is one of the great mysteries of Christianity but is nevertheless a test of orthodoxy (1 John 4:2; 2 John 1:7). Jesus has two distinct natures, divine and human. “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:11).
Think now how that ‘plays’ in the secular world as well as in some churches today……
Therefore, these verses that Paul wrote were a direct challenge to the thinking of the gnostics/mystics of that day.
Gnosticism was perhaps the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries. Influenced by such philosophers as Plato, Gnosticism is based on two false premises. First, it espouses a dualism regarding spirit and matter. Gnostics assert that matter is inherently evil and spirit is good. As a result of this presupposition, Gnostics believe anything done in the body, even the grossest sin, has no meaning because real life exists in the spirit realm only.
Second, Gnostics claim to possess an elevated knowledge, a “higher truth” known only to a certain few. Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis which means “to know.” Gnostics claim to possess a higher knowledge, not from the Bible, but acquired on some mystical higher plane of existence. Gnostics see themselves as a privileged class elevated above everybody else by their higher, deeper knowledge of God.
The Gnostics of Paul’s day believed that Jesus was not the Incarnate God, but rather a man who took on God-like attributes for a period of time that disappeared before the crucifixion. The Gnostics saw Jesus as a messenger bringing the special knowledge of salvation to humanity’s imprisoned soul. They believed that when Jesus came to earth He didn’t possess a body like our own; instead, the Gnostics taught that He only seemed to have a physical body (known as the heresy of “docetism,” from the Greek verb “to seem”). This was a denial of the Christian doctrine of the incarnation—the belief that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. But the Gnostics went even further: they also denied the bodily resurrection of Jesus, an event Paul argued must have taken place or our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:12–14, 16–17, 42–44). This belief then impacted what happens when we die. Gnostics believed that only our soul will be resurrected and that our body will remain in the grave because of their belief that there was no bodily resurrection of Jesus.
More about ‘modern day’ Gnosticism in the concluding remarks and application. But first a quiz:
Ready? True or False
Prayer is more important than mowing your widowed grandmother’s lawn.
Sharing the gospel is more important than taking a meal to a new mother and father just home from the hospital.
Doing “sacred” work, such as preaching or being a missionary, is more important than “secular” work, such as accounting or being a lawyer.
If you answered “true” to any of these questions, you’ve been deceived by the ancient heresy of Gnosticism.
Verses 24 through 29 and chapter 2, verses 1 through 5 mention the ‘mystery’ of Christ – in particular, verses 26-27 and verses 2- 3 in chapter 2.
Read Colossians 2:1-5
New International Version
2 “I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.”
“Mystery” was a popular concept in certain pagan religions with which some of the Colossians may have been familiar. It was secret information available only to a particular group of people. True Christianity is not about secret knowledge for only a few. God does not hide His plan from anyone who is sincerely searching.
Christ living in us by His Holy Spirit is our assurance of future glory and eternal life. To have Christ is to have life.
Note: Perhaps there is two fold mystery. On the one hand, Paul makes it clear that salvation is also available for Gentiles as well as Jews. And on the other hand, Paul makes it clear that belief in Christ is the one and only key to unlocking wisdom, knowledge and eternal life. Plus, by addressing “The Mystery,” Paul was challenging the ‘super apostles’ and their promotion of their mysteries reserved for ‘the smartest people in the room.’
Concluding Remarks and Application
So, what does this ‘mystery’ business have to do with us today. When you stop and think about it, it has a lot to do with our churches and our society as well.
Let’s begin with “New Age.” The expression “New Age” came into existence in the 1970s and 1980s. Sadly, this thinking has crept into the minds of some Christians.
Copied from: “New Age Beliefs Are Common in America—and in Our Churches”
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 | JOE CARTER
The Story: According to a new survey, New Age beliefs are common in America, even among people who are highly religious in traditional ways.
The Background: A new Pew Research analysis looks at beliefs and behaviors that cut across many denominations producing a new and revealing classification, or typology, of religion in America. The new typology sorts Americans into seven groups based on the religious and spiritual beliefs they share, how actively they practice their faith, the value they place on their religion, and the other sources of meaning and fulfillment in their lives.
Included in the survey was a question about whether people held certain New Age beliefs, such as a belief that spiritual energy is located in physical things, such as mountains, trees, or crystals; reincarnation (people will be reborn again and again in this world); astrology (the position of stars and planets can affect people’s lives); and psychics (that some people perceive or are sensitive to supernatural forces).
The groupings, from most to least religious, are:
Sunday Stalwarts — This is the most religious of the seven typology groups. Sunday Stalwarts attend religious services weekly (82 percent), pray daily (84 percent), and participate in church groups (100 percent). They are also the most likely to believe in God as described in the Bible (94 percent) and believe in heaven and hell (97 percent and 91 percent, respectively).
About one in three persons in this group believes in psychics (32 percent) and that spiritual energy can be located in physical objects (29 percent). About one in five believes in reincarnation (19 percent) and in astrology (16 percent).
God-and-Country — This group comprises believers who are less active in church groups or other religious organizations, but still hold many traditional religious beliefs and tilt right on social and political issues. About a quarter attend religious service (27 percent) but almost none participates in church groups (less than 1 percent). They mostly believe in God as described in the Bible (91 percent) and say that believing in God is necessary to be moral.
None of this group believes spiritual energy can be located in physical objects (0 percent) but almost one in three believes in psychics (28 percent). About one in five believes in reincarnation (21 percent) and in astrology (16 percent).
Diversely Devout — This group is diverse both in demographics (a relatively large share are racial and ethnic minorities) and also in their beliefs. Only 12 percent of this group attends religious services weekly.
This is the only group in which almost all people say they believe in God as described in the Bible (87 percent) and that they believe in psychics, reincarnation, and that spiritual energy can be located in physical things like mountains, trees, or crystals (95 percent). A majority of this group believes in psychics (68 percent), reincarnation (63 percent), and astrology (57 percent).
Relaxed Religious — This group says they believe in the God of the Bible (68 percent), and almost four-in-ten (39 percent) pray daily. But relatively few attend religious services (17 percent) or participate in church groups (2 percent).
None of this group believes spiritual energy can be located in physical objects (0 percent) but more than one in four believe in psychics (28 percent). About one in five believes in reincarnation (22 percent) and in astrology (16 percent).
Spiritually Awake — Only half (50 percent) of this group believes in God as described in the Bible and relatively few attend religious services on a weekly basis (8 percent).
Almost all believe spiritual energy can be located in physical objects (99 percent), and about three out of four believe in psychics (72 percent). A clear majority also believes in reincarnation (61 percent) and in astrology (63 percent).
Religion Resisters — This group largely considers itself spiritual (68 percent) but not religious (3 percent). They don’t go to church (only 2 percent attend weekly) or participate in religious groups (2 percent).
Almost all believe spiritual energy can be located in physical objects (98 percent) and a majority believes in psychics (68 percent). About half believe in reincarnation (49 percent) and just over four in ten believe in astrology (44 percent).
This group is also the most likely to say they find meaning and fulfillment in being outdoors and experiencing nature (64 percent).
Solidly Secular — This is the least religious of the seven groups. These relatively affluent, highly educated U.S. adults—almost all white (79 percent) and male (65 percent)—tend to describe themselves as neither religious (3 percent) nor spiritual (22 percent). They don’t believe in God as described in the Bible (1 percent).
Almost none of this group believes spiritual energy can be located in physical objects (less than 1 percent) but about one in ten believes in psychics (11 percent). About one in ten also believes in reincarnation (11 percent) and one in twenty believes in astrology (5 percent).
What It Means: Despite the tireless efforts by historians to dispel the misunderstanding, many people still believe the United States was (and remains) a “Christian nation.” The reality is that America has always been (and remains) a nation of religious syncretism.
Religious syncretism is blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions. In the era of American’s founding, a dominant strain—especially popular among the Founding Fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson—was “Christian deism.” In our own day, syncretism often mixes Christian beliefs with secular philosophy, such as in the form of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. But the Pew Research survey shows an unexpected form of syncretism has crept into our culture and into our churches.
We tend to assume people intuitively understand why a belief the God who revealed himself in the Bible and in Christ is incompatible with a belief in reincarnation or the healing power of crystals. Because of this assumption, we spend almost no time explaining to our fellow churchgoers why New Age and Christian beliefs are incompatible. The result is that many people in our churches have a malfunctioning plausibility structure.
Everything we believe is filtered through our plausibility structures—a belief-forming apparatus that acts as a gatekeeper, letting in evidence matched against what we already consider to be possible. Plausibility structures filter out claims that we believe cannot be reasonable or potentially true. They don’t necessarily tell us if a claim is true, only that the truth of the claim appears plausible enough for us to accept and that we are not wholly unwarranted in thinking it could be true. Whether we are gullible or skeptical, the beliefs we accumulate have been filtered through plausibility structures at the individual and cultural level. These eventually form our worldview, which itself becomes a broad strainer that filters out beliefs that we won’t even consider to be possibly true.
For example, if I were to find a box of cookies in my kitchen cabinet I would assume that my wife had bought them at the store and placed them there herself. If someone were to argue that tree-dwelling elves baked the cookies, packaged them for their corporate employer, and stashed them in my pantry, I would have a difficult time believing the claim; the existence of unionized tree-dwelling elves is simply not a part of my plausibility structure.
Plausibility structures can prevent people from forming beliefs inconsistent with experience, evidence, and a Christian worldview. But these structures have to be built upon solid biblical teaching, rather than just assumed to have been acquired through church culture.
Obviously, pastors will need to play a role in shoring up the plausibility structures of those they are called to shepherd. But there is another group that can help take some of the weight off our already overly burdened ministers: lay apologists.
Lay apologists are Christians not already in full-time or paid ministry, but have the interest and equipping to carry out the task of apologetics. They are the type of believers who already know what “plausibility structures” are and why they are important. As a former lay apologist myself, I know how capable they are of carrying out this task. Unfortunately, too many of them are wasting their talents in endless debates with internet-based atheists.
If you’re a lay apologist, please heed this call: This church needs your skills and training. We need you to set aside the interminable and fruitless discussions with hardened nonbelievers and take up the task of helping to argue your fellow Americans out of believing in New Age nonsense. We need you to help repair the plausibility structures of our people in the pews.
One added note if you have read this far. When trying to make sense of what is going on around us in our society. It seems that a form of Gnosticism is at work. Namely, the perception that the people promoting some, if not all, of the social engineering that they are the ‘smartest ones in the room’ therefore imbued with special knowledge on how they would play god and re-engineer our society and the world.