Mysteries 2 - Colossians 2:1-5

2:1 – At the end of chapter 1, Paul talks about what he wanted the Colossians to know about the “riches of the glory” and the “mystery” that comes with accepting the gospel. He wants them to know that he works for them to be able to know and understand these concepts, and as we get into chapter 2, that he also has “great conflict” for them. The word “conflict” is cross referenced with the word “anguish” which makes better sense in this context. He worries about them, he prays for them, he desperately wants them to be righteous, and this begs the question as to why, why does he want them to be faithful to the gospel? As he writes this letter to them, he is sitting in a Roman prison and had been for 2 years. He clearly doesn’t have enough money or power to bribe his way out of it, and if he goal was to extort wealth and prominence out of the people then his letters and personal situation would have been very different. This indicates that he clearly believed in what he taught and that he was doing all this work and suffering all those hardships to bring the same belief and benefits that he got from the gospel to others. He also mentions another place “Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.” To me, this indicated that perhaps Paul had not personally been in these places that he was writing to, but the article on this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com says, “Some seven years earlier (Paul) had started his third mission by taking the land route from Antioch to Ephesus, visiting central Asia minor (Acts 18:23) and going west from there through the ‘upper regions.’ This is clearly the east-west route through the Lycus River valley and the three cities under discussion (Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis). Paul expressed his intense concern for the Colossians ‘and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.’ To some people that means that he had never seen the Colossians and Laodiceans, but his earlier journey through their area suggests the opposite- that he was worried about those from each city that he had met and also about those later converted who had never seen him.” I really need to get a book that documents Paul’s journeys in chronological order or something because I read that and had no idea what he was talking about. 2:2-3 - For the Laodiceans and Colossians, Paul desires “that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love.” I really struggle to understand the concept of unity and “hearts knit together,” like what does that even mean? Maybe I just haven’t had much unity in my life. If I look at my ward and if was the goal of every person in the ward to make everyone feel welcome and supported, then I guess that would make it nice, I guess I just don’t have very much to contribute to that because I am already so constantly maxed out with work and my kids that I don’t have a lot left to give to anyone else. I’m going to have to think about what unity in the church means. Does it mean us all being one with Jesus and his goals? One in purpose with each other? The article quotes Joseph B. Wirthlin as teaching, “We need to pray for the gift of love so that those whom we serve will feel our love. Just as Christ’s followers were bound one to another by his life.” So maybe it isn’t just being bound together in purpose but also viewing each other as Christ does. That Christ like love for ourselves and each other might be the who point behind this concept and treating each other the way Christ would. Paul also wants the people to have “all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The IM says, “Mysteries of God are spiritual truths known only by revelation. God reveals his mysteries to those who are obedient to the gospel. Therefore, Jesus Christ remains a mystery to all who are unbelieving and unrepentant. The truths of the gospel can be understood only through the Spirit.” The article quotes Orson Hyde as teaching, “Obtain the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. Startle not at the idea of prophecy and prophets; for I would to God that all the Lord’s people were prophets.” I don’t know if it’s because personal revelation can’t be replicated or experimented with or be anything other than one person’s beliefs and understandings that makes other people so wary of it. Maybe it’s because people don’t think that they are capable of experiencing personal revelation themselves. Maybe it’s because personal revelation doesn’t come on our terms but because it comes on the Lord’s terms that makes it hard for people to accept. The article goes on to quote Neal A. Maxwell as teaching, “the doctrine of revelation is intrinsically offensive to others who exclude from credibility any knowledge which is spiritually acquired… Yet revelation is the only way of knowing certain transcendent things… The Lord does reveal Himself, truths, and elements of the future, but He does so on His terms!” I had friend once who was asking me about my relationship with God and how I know about God stuff and it basically came to “God teaches me what I’m ready to know.” And she asked me if God had ever taught me anything that just totally threw me for a loop, that just totally rocked my world and I honestly told her “no.” I have absolutely had my life changed by much of what I’ve learned spiritually, but it’s never been so much or so abstract or so obscure that it didn’t take me to just the next step. Everything that I ever learned, I was ready for and made complete sense to me. I’ve found that to be the case with all of God’s teachings, we learn what we are ready for that will take us to the next step. 2:4-5 - Paul is teaching them that “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” come from God and area accessible to them “lest any man should beguile you with enticing words,” because even though Paul’s not with them, “yet am I with you in the spirit,” rejoicing over their righteousness. One thing that I’ve noticed that happens with smooth talkers is that what they say makes sense. I’ve had many times in my life where I hear something that makes sense but seemingly contradicts gospel teachings. Now if I didn’t know how to find out the truth for myself from the Spirit, then I could absolutely understand how these people’s word could make me rethink my whole belief system. But because I do, so many times I’ve taken the issue to the Lord and been like “this is what they are saying and this is what I think you are saying, both make sense, please help me figure it out.” Sometimes I have great spiritual impressions where I learn so much about the universe and the how and the why and the what of a part of the gospel. And sometimes it’s just a gentle forgetting about it or not feeling like it is super important to worry about at that time. Then the lesson comes years later and suddenly I understand. Sometimes it’s just a calming of my agitated feelings, sometimes it’s just a “I’ve got this,” and even when I scream back, “it sure doesn’t seem like it,” I don’t feel like Jesus gets mad, and I appreciate that about him. The answer doesn’t always come loudly and immediately, sometimes it comes later or quietly or not yet, but when our main commitment is to the gospel, we have the opportunity to ask those questions and gain that knowledge. If we ask questions or hear things with the firm belief that the gospel is true, then we can approach new information in a way that lets us understand the world through the perspective of the gospel. It’s when we are constantly second guessing our commitment to the gospel, that our growth is stalled because we can’t gain knowledge if there’s a chance that we will abandon it the second something else sounds more logical or reasonable or profitable. Nothing is guaranteed and that’s not to say that we can’t have questions and all that, but if we approach everything from the lens of “how does this fit into the gospel,” then we have a firm foundation on which to build a testimony, otherwise, it’s always going to be “is this the thing that proves that the gospel isn’t true and that I should give it up.” Because there is not perfect knowledge in this life. If God wanted, he could tell us all everything that we needed to know to have all our questions answered forever, because those answers are out there. He could clear up any doubt or misunderstanding for us in complete clarity at any moment that he chooses. But this life isn’t about having it all figured out and getting all the answers, it’s about building a strong testimony and being tested and having compassion on each other and being kind. This life isn’t about perfection in spirit or knowledge, it’s about building the foundation upon which we can become perfect. If we are always second guessing the truthfulness of the gospel and our need to participate in it, we will never get passed the building phase of the foundation and get onto the perfecting stage.