A Full Assurance of Understanding
A Sermon on Full Assurance of Understanding from Colossians 2:1-3
Originally preached Sept. 23, 1962
Scripture
1For 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; 2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Colossians 2:1–3 titled “A Full Assurance of Understanding,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focused on Paul encouraging and advising the church in Colossae. He explains that the church in Colossae was early in its development, and many of the members had not even met the apostle. And like many new believers, they were susceptible to corruption. Paul writes to the church that they may have the full riches of understanding Christ. Part of the reason new believers are so corruptible is because they don’t understand the full power of Christ. A common cult at the time was Gnosticism. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the cult’s teaching required multiple intermediaries between individuals and God. A fully-grown Christian knows this to be false, for Christ is the sole high priest who speaks on their behalf. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also points out that understanding Christ means to also understand His purpose for the world. Christ came to redeem the world and to bring His church to Himself. Without Christ at the center of one’s worldview, Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes, the world is hopelessly unredeemable. However, in Christ, there is hope for the coming everlasting rule and love of the Lord.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul expresses grave concern for the Colossians in Colossians 2:1-3. He wants their hearts to be comforted and strengthened.
- Paul's concern stems from false teachers threatening the church with a false gospel. These false teachers claimed special knowledge and propagated asceticism, philosophy, and astrology.
- Many Christians are prone to listen to false gospels because they are unhappy or have an incomplete view of Christian salvation. The solution is gaining full assurance of understanding through knowing Christ.
- Full assurance of understanding means having a deep knowledge of the truth and ability to distinguish truth from falsehood. This comes from studying Scripture and Christ.
- Christ is the only way to truly know God. No one has seen God, but Christ has revealed Him. Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
- Christ is the only way to understand God's purpose and plan for the world. He created and sustains all things. He defeated sin and the devil through His death and resurrection.
- God's plan of redemption was promised in Genesis 3:15, worked out through Israel, and accomplished through Christ. Christ builds His church of Jews and Gentiles. Christ will restore all things.
- We can only understand God's ways towards us through Christ. We are disciplined because God loves us and wants us to be holy. We share in Christ's sufferings.
- Christ is the only source of enjoyment and certainty. All riches and treasures are found in Him. He meets all our needs.
- We must know Christ in all His fullness. We are complete in Him. He is all we need.
Sermon Q&A
What is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Main Concern for the Colossians in His Sermon?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Colossians 2:1-3, his main concern for the Colossians was that they might be strengthened and united in their faith, rather than being led astray by false teachings. He specifically mentions his "great conflict" for them, which indicates his deep concern about their spiritual welfare.
In his words: "He says that he has great conflict for them, which means that he was troubled and almost in a kind of agony in his concern for them. What is his concern for them? Well, he tells them it is that their hearts might be comforted, and that word there translated, comforted, means more than that they should have consolation and comfort. It carries with it the idea of being encouraged, and still more the idea of being strengthened."
What False Teachings Were Threatening the Colossian Church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several false teachings that were threatening the Colossian church:
- A mixture of human philosophy and speculation
- Elements of asceticism (avoiding certain foods, observing special days)
- Jewish morality and detailed aspects of Jewish law
- A form of astrology (consulting stars for knowledge)
- The teaching that intermediaries were needed between humans and God
He explains: "They were telling the people that they mustn't believe that simple gospel that was preached by Paul and Epaphras and others, that that was patently wrong. It was too easy. It was too simple... God is so great and eternal and man is so small. You need a whole series of intermediaries between."
Why Were Christians Vulnerable to These False Teachings According to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides two main reasons why Christians were vulnerable to false teachings:
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Some Christians are not truly happy or satisfied in their faith: "It's obvious that there are certain christian people who are not really happy. They feel that they need something further. They've believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet they're not really happy."
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More importantly, Christians often fail to realize the fullness of what they have in Christ: "The real trouble is the failure to realize the full truth about our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and what he has for us. That's the trouble. The real trouble is too small a view of christian salvation, a failure to enter into the richness and the fullness of all that is provided for us in our blessed Lord and savior."
What is the "Full Assurance of Understanding" That Lloyd-Jones Emphasizes?
The "full assurance of understanding" that Lloyd-Jones emphasizes is a deeper knowledge and comprehension of Christ and all that He provides. This includes:
- Positive knowledge of Christ and the truth
- The ability to distinguish between true and false teaching
He explains: "This is an interesting word that he uses here, full assurance of understanding. What does it mean? Well, it's got two elements in it. One of them, of course, is the obvious positive element that we apply our minds to the truth, that we study it, that we pray about it, that we appropriate it, take it in. It becomes a part of us. Yes, but it's got a negative element. The word used by Paul includes the capacity to distinguish true from false."
According to Lloyd-Jones, What is the Solution to Christians' Problems and Perplexities?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists that the solution to all our problems and perplexities is not found in comfort or psychological treatments but in a deeper knowledge of Christ. He states:
"What do you need if you're unhappy as a Christian this morning? Well, you know, it isn't comfort. It isn't comfort. I feel the christian church today is administering far too much comfort to people, and there are many in the ministry who seem to me to think that their business is to comfort people. It isn't. It's to take people to the truth, to give them this full assurance of understanding. It's knowledge we need."
He emphasizes that everything believers need is already found in Christ: "In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. There's nothing further. In verse nine he says, in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. Why turn to anybody else? Why listen to some fresh teaching? Haven't you got all that you need in Christ and the doctrine concerning him?"
Sermons on Knowledge
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.