Bible Study Snacks - Colossians 2:1-23

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me again as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we will continue our study of the Book of Colossians. These studies are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) See the relation between understanding the "mystery of God" and having a strong assurance of our salvation.
2) Appreciate how baptism serves as our spiritual circumcision, and that it is a work of God which is performed, not a work of man.
3) Understand how Christ brought an end to the Old Law by His death on the cross.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically Colossians 2:1-23:

Paul reveals his great concern for those at Colosse and others he has not seen, expressing his desire that their hearts be knit together in love, and that they may have the assurance that comes from an understanding of the mystery of God as revealed through Christ. He rejoices in their good order and steadfastness, and encourages them to be firmly established in Christ, abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:1-7).

The word "Beware" in verse eight summarizes the rest of the chapter, in which Paul warns them of the dangers of "The Colossian Heresy." These  dangers include being cheated through philosophy and vain deceit, and defrauded of their reward by those who appeal to false humility, the worship of angels, false visions, and strict regulations according to the commandments and doctrines of men which really have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

In Christ they are made complete, having undergone a circumcision not made with hands, in which God made them alive together with Christ. Since Christ has also nailed to the cross the "handwriting of requirements" that was against them and taken it out of the way, none can judge them regarding religious observances that were only a shadow pointing to the true substance of Christ
(Colossians 2:8-23).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) What was Paul's strong desire for those he had not seen? (Colossians 2:1-2)
2) What is "hidden" in Christ? (Colossians 2:3)
3) What had Paul seen in the Colossians that caused him to rejoice? (Colossians 2:5)
4) How were the Colossians to walk in Christ? (Colossians 2:6-7)
5) What three things might be used to "cheat" us? (Colossians 2:8)
6) What is said about Jesus in relation to the Godhead? (Colossians 2:9)
7) What is our condition in Christ? (Colossians 2:10)
8) What sort of "circumcision" have we had in Christ? (Colossians 2:11)
9) What takes place in baptism?  Who is the one at work in baptism? (Colossians 2:12-13)
10) What did Christ take out of the way, having nailed it to the cross? (Colossians 2:14)
11) In what things should we not let others judge us? (Colossians 2:16-17)
12) In what ways might people seek to defraud us? (Colossians 2:18)
13) What sort of "basic principles of the world" might others try to regulate upon us? (Colossians 2:21)
14) What is the truth about such traditions of men? (Colossians 2:22-23)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri