Paul’s counterpoint to the false philosophy of the Gnostic, of this thinking they need more or of this feeling of spiritual insufficiency is this, The Lord Jesus Christ is All Sufficient
He tells them that in Christ is all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge to counteract anyone who would “beguile” you. This is another “para” word. παραλογίζομαι, paralogizomai; it means to misreckon, to delude. AT Robertson says it is to count aside and so wrong someone, to cheat by false reckoning, to deceive by false reasoning. - A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament,
These false teachers would use enticing words acting as though they have something wonderful to share. They would use flattering words to befriend but then like a merchant with a false balance they would cheat the Colossians of what they already had, the riches of the Lordship of Christ.
Paul goes on saying, “I am with you in spirit. I find such joy to see your order and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” Isn’t Paul always so positive and gentle in dealing with such errors? He is always loving, before resort to a negative reprimand.
I see your “order” Paul writes, this word is taken from the military and it is used to describe a line of soldiers, a shield wall, standing firm in the face of an enemy charge. Yes, some may have cut and run to the Gnostic side, but the church as a whole, stood solid, steadfast and had not been breached.
Then he gives them the counterpoints to contend with the false teaching that threatened the riches that have in Christ.
Here is what they must practice, as a rule of life, if they were to keep uncovering the mystery of Jesus. Look in vss 6-7 Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus (and he pointedly adds) the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Here is the way to finding the full acknowledgment, the method to unlocking the mystery, the means of revealing of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Jesus who is the Christ, and the Lord.
I think these verse are very important to our Christian life and joy, so let’s break it down carefully.
1st, As you received – They received Jesus by believing in Him and repenting of their sin. In simple faith and repentance, they accepted the gift of grace in Jesus.
2nd So walk in Him. They received Jesus in faith and repentance now they must continue in the same way. Trusting him daily and acknowledging their sin, weakness, faults and failure and by doing this they will constantly be walking in Christ, having faith in His power and having humility in our weakness.
3rd, Rooted, built up and stablished in the faith - That seed of faith, planted in your heart, life and soul at salvation grows deeper and deeper down, while at the same time your life, like a tree grows ever upward, being established in “the faith” Not saving faith, but a way of faith they have been taught. This is the truth, the doctrine, practice of being a child of God, of living the Christian way of life itself.
This is the same faith to faith living that Paul told the church at Rome about in Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
You can tell how much this was on his heart while in prison because he writes the same, to the Ephesians at the same time. In Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
4th and finally abounding in that Christian life of faith with thanksgiving. How could they be anything but thankful? They would have the All Sufficient riches of the Lord and never ceasing supply, a never diminishing, ever expanding revelation of more and more of Jesus as Lord.
