Continue Looking to Christ Colossians 2:1-8 Chris Patton All the wisdom, all the knowledge we truly need to live fruitful Christian lives is not found outside of Christ; rather, all treasures of wisdom we truly need are found in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. In the midst of the storms, the trouble, the sorrow, the discouragement, the fear in life we all experience— all we need to not only cope, but to thrive spiritually, glorifying God with our souls at peace— can be found in our Savior Jesus. Apply Beware of the Enemy’s Tactics *The elemental spirits are a reality, just as they were in the first century. Our Enemy would seek to keep us from looking to Christ by faith as the source of all wisdom and to meet our spiritual needs and instead to get us to look elsewhere for stability and strength. *Biblically, spiritual maturity, spiritual thriving and stability always flows from an increasing awareness of the all glorious Christ — who He is, what He is done, what He promises to one day do! Beholding Christ as He is revealed in the Bible, as He is revealed in the gospel, we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor 3:17-18). *Daily growth in true wisdom always causes a person to abound in thanksgiving (vs.6) because beholding Christ — HIs goodness His mercy, His love, His wisdom, His sovereignty, His justice as revealed in the Cross produces incredible gratitude to God! *A chief mark of a mature, stable Christian — its this — even in the fires of affliction, they are grateful. They are grateful because they know their Savior. They know Jesus. They are grateful because by faith, they have beheld the beauty, the wonder, the glory, the majesty of Jesus and their hearts are settled in Him, treasuring Him, trusting Him. *In Pilgrims Progress, this is the point of the character named Worldly Wiseman. He gave Christian advice that sounded plausible and very spiritual and religious — it tickled the ear, but ultimately it drew Christian away from the road of following Jesus for a time. May we heed the important lesson of Pilgrims Progress and our passage. *God is reminding us through this passage of the total and complete sufficiency of Christ for all of life and that all true maturity and stability, comes from continuing look to Christ and Christ alone to meet our every spiritual need. ‌ Contemplate Christ *May God by His Holy Spirit help us to give ourselves more fully as individuals and as a church to meditating on, and contemplating the person and work of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospel. *The trials, the pain, the difficulty in our personal lives is real. Yet We also know as we have been instructed through our passage just where all treasures of wisdom are found to deal with it all and not just deal with it, but thrive spiritually. Questions for Discussion/Application: *Consider taking time to read Colossians 2:1-8 out loud. What initial insights or observations of the text do you have? *The Apostle’s main point to the Colossian believers was: As they have begun, so they must continue, looking to Christ, and Christ alone, for all their spiritual needs. — Douglas Moo *What is the practical application of this to our own lives? What does it mean practically for us to look to Christ and Christ alone for all our spiritual needs? *As Christians, when we face trials of various kinds, where are we tempted to look, outside of Christ for strength and stability? What things can we do practically in order to foster looking to Christ at all times in our own lives? What things have you found helpful in your own life in helping you to keep your eyes on Jesus? *Re-read verse 8. What alternative sources of wisdom should we be aware of in the culture that can have the effect of taking our eyes off of Jesus? *Consider taking time to pray, asking God to help us to see Christ as the One “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Consider praying that God by His Holy Spirit would continue to help us to look to Christ and Christ alone to meet all our spiritual needs.