Colossians 2:1-5
Paul's concern of the church in Colossae is that they would be fully mature in Christ and know the mystery of God - namely Christ. This passage flows right from the previous verses where Paul talks about contending with all Christ's energy to present everyone fully mature in Christ. In this passage he reveals who, specifically, he is contending for: the church in Colossae, the church in Laodicea and everyone who has not personally met Paul.
The idea of the mystery of God also connects these two passages. Previously the mystery was Christ in you, the hope of glory and in this section Christ reveals the mystery of God. I know that Paul wrote to combat an early form of Gnosticism (spelling?) which taught that there was a secret knowledge that was only revealed through certain rituals and observing rules. I think Gnosticism also taught that the physical was evil and the spiritual was good (a form of dualism). While not directly contradicting Gnosticism, Paul emphasizes in his letters the physical body of Christ and continually reminds the believer that the "secrets" (or in Paul's words, "mysteries") have all been revealed in Christ: the secret of contentment? trust in God who will meet all your needs according to his glory; the mystery of the gospel? Christ in you, the hope of glory; the mystery of God? Christ - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Don't be deceived - you don't have to spend increasing amounts of money in order to learn the deep secrets of God and the universe like the Scientologists would have you believe. The fullness of God is revealed in Christ for all to discover if they would earnestly seek him. So, the question is, have I been seeking to know and understand the mysteries? Maybe that's not even the right question because Paul is writing to the local group of believers so maybe the question is: am I contributing to the environment where we can attain the full riches of complete understanding. In other words, am I helping the believers in my sphere of influence to be "encouraged in heart and united in love so that they can have the full riches of complete understanding in order to know the mystery of God, namely, Christ?" Or are my actions and attituded helping to conceal the mystery?
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Another great point Jeremy. I hope that we all can allow Christ to work through us and reveal the mystery. I hear you though, often we fight it and we end up hiding it and showing who we are instead, we need to reveal Christ in us. May we always reveal the mystery of Christ, and may God work in us so that we will not conceal his beautiful mystery.
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