Notes from a sermon on Colossians. www.flushingbiblechurch.com

1. Hearts Knit Together in Love
Colossians 2:1-2:3

2.  Written by Paul
 Written to believers in Colossae
 Written from Rome
 Written in 61 AD
 Written because of the Colossian heresy
 Written to show the supremacy of Christ

3.  The purpose of the Labor, Col 1:28
 The key to the Labor, Col 1:29
 How to acquire the key, Col 2:1

4.  The struggle, v 1
 The purpose of the struggle, 2:2a
 The result of the struggle, 2:2b
 The true understanding of the struggle, 2:2c-3

5.  Not against flesh and blood, Eph 6:12
 Must be equipped for the battle
 Spiritual battle – prayer
 Prayer is not easy
 Eph 6:18-20
 Prayer is to be universal
 1 Timothy 2:1-7

6.  … in order that their hearts might be ENCOURAGED…
 Aorist PASSIVE subjunctive
 Encouraged( παρακληθωσιν paraklethosin)
 Encourage, comfort, urge, implore, exhort
 Role of the Holy Spirit – John 16:7 (παρακλητος parakletos)
 Major role of encouragement in the Church
 Encouraged by the Rapture, 1 Thess 4:18
 Encouraged by our church service, Heb 10:25
 Encouraged by the Elders, Titus 1:9

7.  … in order that their hearts might be encouraged
HAVING BEEN KNIT TOGETHER in love
 Aorist PASSIVE participle
 Knit together (συμβιβαζω symbibazo)
 Come to the same conclusion, be in agreement, be convinced
as a group
 Acts 9:22
 Ephesians 4:16
 1 Corinthians 2:16

8.  … in order that their hearts may be encouraged having
been knit together IN LOVE
 Our hearts are knit together WHEN we love one
another.
 Purpose of spiritual gifts is to promote love
 Love is mainly a verb
 We love like Christ when we serve like Christ
 Love without hypocrisy Romans 12:9-13
 Love changes focus from self to others

9.  … also into all the riches of the full assurance of the
understanding, into the true knowledge of the mystery of
God, which is Christ…
 Riches of the FULL ASSURANCE– incredible treasure
trove of wealth in understanding God’s word
 Riches in Christ Eph 3:8
 Confidence in God’s promises to us, Romans 8:28-37 & 9-11
 True knowledge (ἐπιγνωσις epignosis)
 Transcendent matters, or matters of morality
 God’s knowledge (ἐπιγνωσις) vs. man’s knowledge (γνωσις)

10.  … also into all the riches of the full assurance of the
understanding, into the true knowledge of the
MYSTERY OF GOD, which is CHRIST…
 Paul preached the “mystery”, Ephesians 3:3
 Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the
body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ,
Ephesians 3:6

11.  … in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.
 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Proverbs 1:7
 He is our presupposition
 He has been revealed
 Gnostics hid their writings
 Christ makes Himself known to ALL, 1:28
 Parable of the lamp, Luke 8:16-18
 As we learn, we get more understanding
 As we slide away, we get less!

12.  We should labor in prayer like Paul
 Pray for us all to be encouraged
 Pray for us to have our hearts knit together in love
 This will come about when we have a full
understanding of the mystery of Christ