The Danger of Underestimating the Danger (Colossians 2:1-5).Sunday November 8, 2026
Intro:
Jesus was the defender of the disciples. If Jesus had always done this, meaning, He never left them, what strength to defend the truth would they have attained?
The blessing of absence: maturity and appreciation.
Col 2:5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit
Joh 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
If He doesn’t leave them, they’ll never learn strength.
You have to stand on your own two feet in faith and learn what the wisdom and knowledge of Christ really are and metabolize them for yourself.
Text:
Col 2:4-5 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
“this” – how far back in the letter does he mean? Vs. 3? Everything so far? Even if he means only vs. 3 – the mystery, Christ, in whom …
Vocab: delude / persuasive speech.
“delude” (paralogizomai): deceive, delude [only here and Jam 1:22].
“persuasive argument” (pithanologia): persuasive speech, art of persuasion.
The Danger for the believer following Christ is underestimating the danger.
One issue presented in two ways:
Way 1: Thinking you stand: 1Co 10:12.
Paul has just walked through Israel’s wilderness history (1Co 10:1–11). The point is not that they lacked knowledge [all witnessed the plagues] or biblical heritage [all knew that God had freed them from bondage in Egypt and experienced the first Passover]; it is that privilege and a sense of standing firm can breed overconfidence.
Way 2: Not being humble to all truths.
More subtle arguments are more dangerous due to their subtlety.
And if you think that you’re too discerning, grounded, or orthodox to be taken in, you are starting in a position of self-deception.
In Christianity, the solution to weakness is not to eliminate it, but to always be aware of it.
The key is humility of heart that assumes a weakness exists and so is diligent and alert.
Apprentice (disciple) to Christ in all realms of Christianity. Not all persuasive arguments are full attacks on orthodoxy.
To learn the full meaning of the preciousness of Christ is to be armed against all error.
Paul first thoroughly prepares them with the Mystery (Col 1:1-2:3).
1Pe 3:15 sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
More important that you are not led away than having the right defense in the moment.
1Pe 3:13-17 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
A living grasp of Christ will keep us from being swept away by the current of prevailing popular opinion
“A personal consciousness of his power and sweetness will give an instinctive repugnance to teaching that would lower his dignity and debase his work.”- Maclaren.
Today’s heresies are the same as yesterday’s with different names. Impossible to be expert on all. (Ask the false teacher to meet with you again.) Study and learn!
Rejoicing to see your order and stability of faith in Christ.
Colossae is not a weak church. It is not a sinking ship. The hull of a sound ship has to be cared for. Paul knows how frail a church always is.
Church order (taxis): Order would refer to having the right people in the right places [pastor, deacons, elders, secretaries, spiritual gifts – and all in obedience to authority; 1Co 14]. Organized troops.
But order alone is not sufficient. Order will stiffen into routine if there is not something deeper – steadfastness (stereoma) of faith in Christ.
Paul beholds the “steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”
This (stereoma) is also a military word for a solid front; to the Greeks – a close phalanx.
A church needs both: Colossae has them.
Every church has to be aware of both and the false ideas that may weaken them. (Paul knows how fast)
Sound doctrine, faith, love, hope all need continuous care = continuous growth with a humble, teachable heart.
Jam 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves
Paul’s care - protection from the viewpoint of the one who warns.
Watch yourself lest you also fall into error. Gal 6:1
Keep your eye on the log that is in it.
Love your students: vicarious warning of love.
All truth in Christ is the only defense. Keep the right foundation.
Conclusion: The precious acts of Christ demand faithful servants who protect the precious mind of Christ within them.
Christ’s invasion of the world of men demands that we who know Him cherish and grow what He gave us.
Constant growth and guarding what you have in Him.
It is riches and treasure, a thimble full of which is more than all the treasure on earth.
Alert to all flanks.
Be a teacher and admonisher of all others with love and gentleness. Not just those in trouble.
Keep order and stability of your faith in Christ. Know that both of these must go together. Sunday November 8, 2026
Intro:
Jesus was the defender of the disciples. If Jesus had always done this, meaning, He never left them, what strength to defend the truth would they have attained?
The blessing of absence: maturity and appreciation.
Col 2:5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit
Joh 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
If He doesn’t leave them, they’ll never learn strength.
You have to stand on your own two feet in faith and learn what the wisdom and knowledge of Christ really are and metabolize them for yourself.
Text:
Col 2:4-5 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
“this” – how far back in the letter does he mean? Vs. 3? Everything so far? Even if he means only vs. 3 – the mystery, Christ, in whom …
Vocab: delude / persuasive speech.
“delude” (paralogizomai): deceive, delude [only here and Jam 1:22].
“persuasive argument” (pithanologia): persuasive speech, art of persuasion.
The Danger for the believer following Christ is underestimating the danger.
One issue presented in two ways:
Way 1: Thinking you stand: 1Co 10:12.
Paul has just walked through Israel’s wilderness history (1Co 10:1–11). The point is not that they lacked knowledge [all witnessed the plagues] or biblical heritage [all knew that God had freed them from bondage in Egypt and experienced the first Passover]; it is that privilege and a sense of standing firm can breed overconfidence.
Way 2: Not being humble to all truths.
More subtle arguments are more dangerous due to their subtlety.
And if you think that you’re too discerning, grounded, or orthodox to be taken in, you are starting in a position of self-deception.
In Christianity, the solution to weakness is not to eliminate it, but to always be aware of it.
The key is humility of heart that assumes a weakness exists and so is diligent and alert.
Apprentice (disciple) to Christ in all realms of Christianity. Not all persuasive arguments are full attacks on orthodoxy.
To learn the full meaning of the preciousness of Christ is to be armed against all error.
Paul first thoroughly prepares them with the Mystery (Col 1:1-2:3).
1Pe 3:15 sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
More important that you are not led away than having the right defense in the moment.
1Pe 3:13-17 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
A living grasp of Christ will keep us from being swept away by the current of prevailing popular opinion
“A personal consciousness of his power and sweetness will give an instinctive repugnance to teaching that would lower his dignity and debase his work.”- Maclaren.
Today’s heresies are the same as yesterday’s with different names. Impossible to be expert on all. (Ask the false teacher to meet with you again.) Study and learn!
Rejoicing to see your order and stability of faith in Christ.
Colossae is not a weak church. It is not a sinking ship. The hull of a sound ship has to be cared for. Paul knows how frail a church always is.
Church order (taxis): Order would refer to having the right people in the right places [pastor, deacons, elders, secretaries, spiritual gifts – and all in obedience to authority; 1Co 14]. Organized troops.
But order alone is not sufficient. Order will stiffen into routine if there is not something deeper – steadfastness (stereoma) of faith in Christ.
Paul beholds the “steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”
This (stereoma) is also a military word for a solid front; to the Greeks – a close phalanx.
A church needs both: Colossae has them.
Every church has to be aware of both and the false ideas that may weaken them. (Paul knows how fast)
Sound doctrine, faith, love, hope all need continuous care = continuous growth with a humble, teachable heart.
Jam 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves
Paul’s care - protection from the viewpoint of the one who warns.
Watch yourself lest you also fall into error. Gal 6:1
Keep your eye on the log that is in it.
Love your students: vicarious warning of love.
All truth in Christ is the only defense. Keep the right foundation.
Conclusion: The precious acts of Christ demand faithful servants who protect the precious mind of Christ within them.
Christ’s invasion of the world of men demands that we who know Him cherish and grow what He gave us.
Constant growth and guarding what you have in Him.
It is riches and treasure, a thimble full of which is more than all the treasure on earth.
Alert to all flanks.
Be a teacher and admonisher of all others with love and gentleness. Not just those in trouble.
Keep order and stability of your faith in Christ. Know that both of these must go together. |