Keep Your Focus on Jesus

Jesus made a tremendous claim about Himself in John 14:6 when He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

Who is the One who makes such a claim about Himself? How does this claim impact a person's faith? If a person truly believes this claim made by Jesus, how does their belief change the way they live? Those are important questions for every Christian to answer.

Countless people in our world refute this claim made by Jesus, saying, “There are many paths to God. There are many religions, but as long as they all point in the same direction, they are to a great extent equal.”

Others are indignant at His claim, saying in effect, “How dare He think He is the only way to the Father.”  Still others try to discredit the claim of the Lord Jesus, saying that He didn't really mean what is written or that He didn't really say what John wrote.

Genuine Christian believers through the ages; however, have staked their lives on this claim that Jesus made about Himself.

PAUL ATTACKED THE FALSE IDEAS ABOUT CHRIST HEAD ON!

Col. 2:8, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

First Century Attacks on Christ’s Deity and All Sufficiency.

The Book of Colossians is Paul’s Answer. The apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians to counter the arguments that were being circulated by a number of false teachers who claimed that Jesus was a good man but that belief in Him was not required or sufficient for salvation.

The Cults and False Teachings Were Not Necessary.  These were teachers who advocated that other doctrines and cults had their place as equals to Christianity.

False Teachers Perverted Teachings on Christ’s Person and Sacrificial Death.

Col. 2:4-5, And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

In response to these false teachers, Paul began declaring that they should not let anyone delude them. Don't be misled by these false teachers! As you read these verses of warning from Paul, consider what it means to be deceived or “cheated” by those who give false instruction.

Paul Fought The False Teachers By Declaring the Facts About Christ.

Col. 2:2-4,  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; [3] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Paul further responded to these false teachers by presenting two main arguments, both of which will be examined in closer detail in the first portion of this study:

Paul Proclaimed the Truth about Christ’s Deity. The false teachers have a wrong understanding about the deity of Jesus Christ. They do not understand that He truly was God incarnate, or God “in flesh.”

Paul Proclaimed the Truth about Christ’s Death. The false teachers have a wrong understanding about the blood of Jesus Christ and what His death on the cross really meant. They do not understand the atonement that was made by Jesus Christ for the sins of all mankind.

According to Col 1:14, We Have Some Beautiful Benefits Through Jesus Christ.  Paul lists five benefits God gives all believers through Christ:

1.  He made us qualified to share in his inheritance.

2.  He rescued us from Satan's dominion of darkness and made us his children.

3.  He brought us into his eternal kingdom.

4.  He redeemed us -- bought our freedom from sin and judgment.

5.  He forgave us for all our sins.

Thank God for what you have received in Christ.(Stanley & MacArthur)

PAUL PROCLAIMED THE FACTS ABOUT WHO JESUS CHRIST REALLY IS.

It is Impossible To Fully Understand God.

Remember God is Incomprehensible. Certainly it is not fully possible for any of us, in our finite human state, to comprehend the fullness of our infinite God. None of us are fully capable of comprehending the glory of the Trinity or the majesty of Jesus Christ.

Job 11:7, Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Isaiah 40:18, To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

Remember God Can Be Known.

John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 John 5:20,  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true [God our Heavenly Father], and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

To a certain extent, all that we know about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are things that we know in part. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12).

It is Possible to Understand God through Christ’s Revelation of Him!

John 14:7, If ye had known me [Jesus Christ], ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Even so, there are some truths that we can know with certainty about God because Jesus Christ made those things very plain to us and explained them not only in words but by the actions of his life.

Commitment to Christ-Centered Insight Leads to More Understanding (Col. 2:2-3).

Christ Centered Insight into God’s Ways Enables Believers to Know Truth More Fully. Paul did not want any believers to stop at knowing the glorious riches of his mystery (Col.1:27), he wanted them to have the full riches of complete understanding.

Christ Is the True Mystery of God (Vs. 2). Christ is the revealer of God to man.  There is no understanding of God apart from Christ. There is no complete understanding of God apart from a personal relationship with his Son.

A Mystery is Understandable by Believers. A Mystery is a truth concealed in the OT period and now reveal in the NT period.Christ in effect has unveiled God for us to know Him. Christ is the mystery, yet he is a mystery revealed to those who believe -- as is the mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col.1:27), and the mystery that Gentiles and Jews can be united in one body (Col.1:26).

John 1:18, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Hebrews 1:2-3, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory [All Divine Perfections], and the express image of his person [Exact Representative of God], and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

All spiritual knowledge, understanding, and wisdom is in Christ! The force of this passage, Col. 2:2-3, is that all, and not merely some of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are contained in Christ; therefore, to search for them outside of Him is doomed to failure. But not only are they in Christ, but they are contained in a hidden way.  Thus complete understanding obtained through a personal relationship with Christ himself assures believers of the truth and helps them recognize and avoid heresy. Everything anyone wants to know about God and his purposes in the world are answered in the person of Christ. The mystery is revealed because it is Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (MacDonald)

We can secure these deep riches through the discipline of meditation.  These “hid” “treasures” do not lie on the surface, but must be sought for earnestly, as men seek for hidden treasure.  Dig then beloved, into the richest vein in the universe, dig even deeper to find what you are longing for! These are not matters of external observances, such as the false teachers believed, but they can be secured only by deep and serious meditation on the truths of Christ.

Hidden does not mean concealed, but rather that they were laid up or stored away to be made available to those who desire a deepening relationship with Christ.  Fellowship with through meditation is one key to open the door to access these hid treasures.  Certainly these words are a great comfort to us who do not have to look any farther for wisdom and knowledge than to our Savior, Jesus Christ. As believers we are already possessed of all wisdom and knowledge, yet we have a long way to go to attain maturity and complete understanding.  Meditation upon specific truths about Christ is the key to securing these treasures and faith in application of the truth to our need is the key to enjoying the treasure. (MacArthur)

Psalm 1:2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

1 Tim. 4:15, Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Christ is the Only Rich Gold Mine of Spiritual Insights (Vs. 3). For in Him are hidden (Col. 1:26) “all the treasures of wisdom (Col. 1:9) and knowledge.”

Knowledge Is the Apprehension of Truth. (What We Need to Know)

Knowledge is prudent judgment. Knowledge is often described as good judgment. True knowledge is found only in Christ.

Wisdom Is Truths Application to Life. (How We Need to Live)

Wisdom is prudent action.  Wisdom is application of good judgment in the form of good actions. True wisdom is found only in Christ.

Faithfully look to Christ for the answers and solutions you yearn for.  Both “knowledge” (what I need to Know) and “wisdom” (what I need to do) are found in Christ (Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 12:8) whose wisdom is foolishness to the world (1 Cor. 1:21-25), but who is the power of God by which a believer receives “righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).  Certainly this encompasses all areas of life and nothing is left wanting or unsatisfied.  It is imperative that we faithfully look to Christ with every need, concern, or cry for help.

Commit yourself to the truth in Jesus Christ the Lord. As believers, we all need to grow to maturity in the faith we have received. Paul reaffirmed this to them in 2:1-3 so that we would not be deceived by any arguments from false teachers. The false teachers had their fascinating philosophies, but in Christ we have “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v. 3). Any man-made philosophy that has no place for Christ is unworthy of our consideration. We are rich in Him; why lower ourselves to follow man-made doctrines? Let religious teachers come along with their “hidden doctrines”; we have all wisdom hidden in Christ, and we are “hid with Christ in God” (3:3).  At first, lies don't sound like lies. The false teachers did a good job of making their teachings sound plausible and of using persuasive tactics to cause the believers to question their faith. When believers are fully committed to the truth in Jesus, they will not be easily deluded when others offer "treasures of wisdom" not found in Christ. (Stanley & MacArthur)

If we have a more complete understanding of who Jesus Christ is then we can appreciate His complete ability to provide for us– his all sufficiency is rooted in His divine nature and power. This then is the solid foundation on which we grow and develop in every area of our lives.

The fact is, if we do not fully know Christ Jesus, we cannot know his sufficiency. And if we do not believe that He is sufficient, and have an ability to access His sufficiency, we are vulnerable to arguments that can lead us astray—away from Christ and away from the perfection to which Christ calls us. (Anders)

On the other hand, if we have a deep understanding of all that Christ has provided for us and all that He makes available to us, we have a solid foundation on which to grow and develop in every area of our lives. A solid foundation, one established on the eternal principles of God's Word, must become our desire if we truly are to live meaningful, satisfying, and victorious lives!