Grow With Pastor Joe

Both the secular and Christian world views the heart of man as the center of the experience and expression of life. We use many different common phrases in the church and outside of it regarding the heart. For example, if we are speaking about good intentions, we may say that someone has a “heart of gold,” or “their heart is in the right place.” If we are describing the seriousness of learning or knowing something we say, “I know it by heart.” Other times when we think about the roller coaster of emotions that we all experience we may say phrases like, “heavy heart,” “lighthearted.” There are many other phrases that are used to describe the heart as central to thinking, feeling, deciding, and doing. Here, in our study of Colossians, we begin the study of a new chapter that is continuing a previous thought about Paul’s ministry which is focused on the hope of the gospel and hope of glory. Both of those themes are expressed in the greater theme of his letter which is the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ for all of life, from the inside out. The common phrase that we might say of Paul in this passage is that he is having, “a heart to heart” conversation.

            Col. 2:1-3 says, “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ² 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.” Today we will be focusing on Col. 2:1-2 where we will see the conflict of Paul’s heart and the concern of Paul’s heart. These verses give us an insight into the depths of Paul’s heart for the people of Colosse, but also it gives us insight into the needs of our own heart. When we say heart, what are we really talking about? The word “heart” is the word “kardia” which is used throughout the Bible as a metaphor for the center of our inner life and being. The heart is the center of our very person including our personality and is the controlling center of our intellect, emotions, and will. To put it another way, man’s heart is the place where he discerns truth from error, decides affirmations and attitudes, then does the action through applying what is now believed in the heart. Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of our heart not in the sense of whether or not it is beating correctly but believing and behaving correctly. The two are inseparably linked. Proverbs 4 deals with the need to get wisdom and understanding, but it focuses on the truth that all wisdom and understanding must be received in one’s heart. Pr. 4:20-27 says, “²⁰ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. ²¹ Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²² For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. ²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. ²⁵ Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. ²⁶ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. ²⁷ Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Smack dab in the middle of this passage we see that all of life’s issues come from our heart. The heart is more than the thing that beat in your chest and pumps blood throughout your body. Blood is life to the body. When it comes to spiritual matters and, frankly, all matter of life come to a spiritual or theological issue, our heart pumps life to our Christian practical life. The book of Proverbs has much more to say about the heart of man. Pr. 21:1-4 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. ² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. ³ To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. ⁴ An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” Jesus also demonstrated that the issues of life come from the heart. Our heart is what we really are and it will express outwardly what it is inwardly. Jesus describes this in Mt. 9:4 saying, “⁴ And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” Here we see Jesus equates thinking and feeling (belief, attitude, behavior) together in man’s heart. Furthermore, in Matthew 15:18-20, Jesus says, “¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” All of life flows from the heart. Today, in Col. 2:1-2, we will see Paul’s heart to heart with the church at Colosse. Truly, this is a heart to heart from the Lord to us and in many ways as a pastor, from myself to the people at Victory Way. We must remember in this heart to heart what the heart is. We must also remember that Christ is in the heart of the believer indwelling, enabling, and sustaining us by the Holy Spirit (Col. 1:27). Because of this, Paul addresses their heart so that their heart would be comforted and united in love and the truth of the hope of the gospel of Christ.

            First, we see the conflict of Paul’s heart in Col. 2:1 which says, “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;” Here, Paul continues to show his heart for these believers especially in light of their struggle against the false teaching that surrounds them. Paul was zealous for truth even before his conversion on the road to Damascus, but certainly more so afterward. In Col. 1:23-29, Paul tells the readers that he is suffering afflictions for the sake of the church and the sake of the gospel. He is God’s administrator and steward of the mystery of the hope of the gospel and hope of glory which is the Lord Jesus Christ in the believer. He describes his ministry in that he is laboring and striving for them through the strength of Christ in him. Paul now continues this thought, but what is interesting is that he hasn’t been to the church at Colosse. Col. 2:1 shows us that those that he is writing to have “not seen my face in the flesh.” Although they haven’t seen his face, in these words they can see his heart. He wants them to know his heart for them, and he does so by describing the “great conflict” that is within his heart for them. The phrase “great conflict” is the word “agon” which is where we get the word agony. It was previously used in a different sense in the word “striving” in Col. 1:29. Paul is in great agony in his heart for their hearts to not give in to the outside pressure of the false teaching. This theme will be seen throughout the rest of Col. 2. He is agonizing that they would apprehend and apply the hope of the gospel and hope of glory in Christ. How can they? By realizing the riches of that same hope of glory which is that Christ is in them. Jesus is indeed supreme and sufficient for every believer and every spiritual conflict. This is Paul’s great conflict. He agonizes over the potential of them falling prey to the mortal enemy of the Christian life which is the addition or subtraction to the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. This conflict in his heart is in response to his love for them and his love for Christ. As a spiritual father and friend, he wants what is best for them and is waging a war within his own heart as he fights for the truth to be received in fulness in their life. He is conflicted for their spiritual protection against the enemies that surround and threaten them while also being conflicted for their spiritual progress. The believer’s spiritual protection and progress is found in the preeminence of Christ and presence of Christ in their life. Therefore, the conflict that is in Paul’s heart comes from a place of wanting what is best for them, but he is distant. He is writing as he suffers under his own persecution while imprisoned. As a pastor, I relate deeply to what Paul is writing here. For pastors, our conflict is not normally seen on the outside, but with each day and each step we carry a great weight of waging war on behalf of the people of God. We see many who do not heed the warnings and teaching of the word through our preaching (1:28). We see many who do not realize the riches of the hope of the gospel and hope of glory int their life (1:22, 27). We see many who struggle to see Christ as preeminent, or supreme and sufficient in their lives which often leads to discontentment, disconnection, and disunity in the local body of Christ (1:18). Many times, we are conflicted by the weight of many who are not continuing to progress into maturity because they are not grounded and settled in the hope of the gospel (1:23, 28). I say all of this, not to throw a pastoral pity party about the conflict that pastors face, but simply to show the weightiness of Paul’s conflict. It is real. It is raw. It is personal. It is loving. It is agonizing. But it is worth it. This is why Paul continues to pray, preach, and write for the good of the church and glory of Christ.

            Second, we must see the concern of Paul’s heart in Col. 2:2 which says, “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;” There are three main concerns in this verse which are tied back to his inward conflict for them. Each one of the three is connected with the rest, but the whole can be summed up in that the believers would be strengthened in understanding and unity through a fuller apprehension and application of the truth of Christ. Each of these concerns deals with the inner man. All three concerns are of Paul’s heart and concerns for the heart of the church at Colosse. The greatest concern of our life is our heart, but the greatest concern of our heart should be that our hearts are united together in Christ. Let’s look at each one of these concerns.

One, Paul is concerned that they would have comforted hearts. Paul says that he desires that “their hearts might be comforted.” We have already addressed what the heart is. This is their very being, who and what they are, which then controls what they believe and how they behave. The word “comforted” is the word “parakaleo” which has a literal meaning of to come alongside of. The word is used of one who comforts or even the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14-16). It is used of bringing cheer, encouragement, and to strengthen another. In the secular world, the word was used for encouraging others for action, even in a heroic sense bringing them from a downcast spirit. The hope of the gospel and glory that the believer has in Christ are words of life. The comforting words and work of Christ in us gives the believer courage and conviction. Encouragement often enables us to endure. Imagine a runner who is giving up or a wrestler who is tiring, but the cheers from the crowd or perhaps their family sends a jolt of strength to them leading them on to victory. This is the very idea. What could be more encouraging and comforting than the hope of glory which is Christ indwelling, enabling, and sustaining us each moment by His Spirit?

Two, Paul is concerned that they would have united loving hearts. He continues in saying, “being knit together in love.” The phrase “being knit together” is the word “subibazo” which means to be brought into intimate union or harmony. How perfect considering he spent so much time explaining the significance of the fulness of our reconciliation in Christ. Furthermore, this word is in the aorist tense which signifies that it was a past action with continued effect, but it is also in the passive voice meaning the action of being knit together was not their work, but Christ’s work. Therefore, we who are in Christ and Christ in us were knit together with and in Christ through His redeeming reconciling work at the cross, but we experience it the moment of conversion. Paul has emphasized practical importance of the doctrine of our union with and in Christ and His headship over the church (See Col. 1:1-8). What is it that brings us together? It is not just love, but it is truth. Truth and love are not enemies but are conjoined twins in the Christian life. The response of faith to the truth of the gospel is a deeper love for Christ and His church. Paul wrote extensively about unity and harmony in the church in Eph. 4 saying in Eph. 4:1-6, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” By the end of Eph. 4, Paul shows that true Christian harmony and unity involve both truth and love. Because we love the truth we love one another. Because the truth of the gospel has knit us together we love one another and are indeed united together in intimate union and harmony through the love of Christ. The word “love” is “agape” which is the love of God which is sacrificial. It is a deliberate decision of declaration through demonstration. It is not mere words. It is more than emotion or impulse. It is the heart’s desire to sacrifice one’s love for another without the desire of any good in return. This love of Christ experienced and expressed through the gospel and indwelling presence of Christ is what unites us together enabling us to love one another in unity in Him.

Three, Paul is concerned that they would have assured hearts as he continues to say, “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.” The word “riches” here has been used throughout Paul’s writings, but it is in reference to the believer’s infinite incorruptible abundance of possessions and resources in Christ. The believer’s position, possession, and privileges in Christ is the very power to live out the practical Christian life. His desire is that they would have a “full assurance” which is a firm and confident conviction. This is not only that they would be assured of their salvation, but a confident conviction of their riches in Christ. Believers, as they grow into maturity, (Col. 1:21-29) should grow in a fulness of assurance or confident conviction of what they believe; however, the goal is to grow in a confident conviction of not just what we believe, but in what we actually have in Christ. What does this really look like? A full assurance by faith enjoys the riches of one’s position, possessions, and privileges in Christ in a personal and practical way. Meaning, because I am in Christ and He is in me, I am confident of who I am and what I have in Him. It means I know what I believe and it impacts how I behave. It means that Christ consumes and controls my heart. All of this is done through and to an “understanding” and “acknowledgment” of the previous truths that have been explained, expressed, and experienced in Christ. This is a connection of the head and heart. Our head and heart are able to apprehend and apply the truth of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ by faith and His indwelling presence and power in us. Assured hearts apply the truth and love of Christ by faith in their daily walk.

            As we bring this to a close, I want to reiterate Paul’s heart. It is the heart of every pastor that loves the Lord and the church. He is willing to agonize so that they are comforted and grow in their communion and conviction of truth and love with one another. Every Christian and every church need these truths. Every local church needs to grow together in the truth and love of Christ. Jesus is the answer and antidote for all of our spiritual struggles. Do you hear Paul’s heart? More importantly, do you see Christ’s heart? The Lord Jesus wants you to live with a full assurance of the riches of your redemption and reconciliation in Christ. He wants you to live in a community of unity and harmony through love and truth. His desire for us is that we would be comforted in these days so that we may endure the spiritual onslaught from our enemy that we fight each day. Furthermore, these verses serve as a challenge for each of us. Are we in the conflict? Are we fighting our enemy or each other? How are our hearts? In this heart to heart, we must examine our hearts to see if we are in Christ and if He is in us. We must examine our hearts to see if we are growing in maturity, assurance, strength, and unity. May we see Christ supreme and sufficient so that we may grow in these areas of life for the good of the church and the glory of Christ.