Hello Friends!
Welcome Back! This week we’ll continue to work our way
through the powerful book
written by the Apostle Paul to the Colossians as we consider the PERSON and WORK of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “The Supremacy of Jesus
Christ!”
This
week we will begin our reading of verses 9-18
in chapter 1 as
we consider our Faith IN Jesus Christ…
Colossians:
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ! (Chapter 1:9-18)
We
“live” in a society today where there is a
rank REJECTION of all ABSOLUTES
and consequently, human “behavior”
is therefore thought to be RELATIVE
in nature. However, from a BIBLICAL
worldview, ALL of human “behavior” is related to REVEALED eternal TRUTH
and there MUST be ABSOLUTES long before there can
be any
necessary – Call to ACTION!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The city of “Colossi”
was located in Phrygia within the “Roman”
province of Asia (within modern-day Turkey), about 100 miles east of “Ephesus” in the region of the “seven churches”
addressed by Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation
chapters 1–3. Although the “Colossae” population was mainly “Gentile” in nature, there was a large “Jewish” settlement dating from the days of
Antiochus
the Great (223–187 B.C.). Therefore, this mixed population
of both “Jews” and “Gentiles” manifested itself in the composition
of the “church” body as well as the
“heresy” that plagued it from within. This
“false teaching” contained eerie elements
of both a quasi “Jewish” Legalism mixed
with a “Pagan”
Mysticism of sorts – Evil
religious ERROR!
Without
exception, EVERYTHING in the LIFE of a true “Christian”
must be related to God’s revealed TRUTH
through His Holy WORD. Whenever “we” are “exhorted”
or “enticed” to a particular ACTION, whenever a certain kind of “behavior” is DEMANDED
from us or when we are “admonished”
to DO a certain thing, it MUST always be BASED
upon God’s “revelation” from “Scripture” itself. WHY?
Because if these directives are NOT
taken to “heart” directly FROM the “Lord
Jesus Christ” Himself, there is absolutely NO
AUTHORITY behind that “enticement”
nor the Biblical “exhortation” from which to seriously
consider. Therefore – God’s TRUTH
is the BASIS for all RIGHT living!
The Knowledge FROM Jesus Christ!
Sadly,
MUCH of “Christianity”
for MANY years has ATTEMPTED
to “live” on a high moral level
without REALLY ever “knowing” or “understanding”
the “spiritual” ABSOLUTES
and TRUTHS of the “wisdom”
and “power” found in “Jesus
Christ” through His REVEALED
Word EMPOWERED by the “Holy
Spirit” Himself. Therefore, Paul addresses this very CRITICAL issue head-on as he PRAYS for the “Colossians”
in our opening passage:
For this cause we also, since
the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might
be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience
and longsuffering with joyfulness – Colossians 1:9-11
As
“we” are “filled”
with “knowledge” and “spiritual understanding” from God’s Word,
there are FIVE
benefits that will manifest in our lives when “contending”
for God’s “wisdom” and His ABSOLUTES:
ONE ~ We will “walk” worthy of the “Lord”
in OBEDINCE!
TWO ~ We will be “fruitful” for the “Lord”
in every good WORK!
THREE ~ We will “increase” in our spiritual MATURATY!
FOUR ~ We will be “strengthened” by the “Lord’s”
mighty POWER!
FIVE ~ We will be “mighty” through a life of ENDURANCE!
Therefore,
we MUST be totally “filled”
and CONTROLLED with the – epignosis
– a DEEP thorough “knowledge
of God” by the “spirit
of wisdom and revelation” of our “Lord
Jesus Christ” Himself…
That the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in the saints – Ephesians
1:17-18
And
this “knowledge” is NOT simply a superficial “understanding” but is OBTAINED
through an “increasing” and growing “desire” to be “enlightened”
for the “knowledge” of “His will" and “hope”
for “our” lives – TOTAL
CONTROL!
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Bible ITSELF illustrates this poignant point throughout
its ETERNAL text! In fact, the Apostle Paul
had MUCH MORE to say concerning this IMPORTANT topic via his various “epistles” of “instruction”
concerning our “walk” with the Lord Jesus.
Here are a few more examples for “us”
to further consider...
I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God – Romans 12:1-2
These
two KEY verses found in the amazing book of Romans are preceded by 11 chapters of HOW–TO
practical “holy” living as “Christians” in this LOST
world – Praise the Lord!
Here
is a similar illustration from the book written to the immature and fleshly
flock of “believers” in Corinth:
So when
this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put
on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death
is swallowed up in victory… Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord – 1 Corinthians 15:54 & 58
In
other words, we have NO
flesh-filled “fear of death” because the “sting of death” is “sin”
and the “strength of sin” is the LAW of which has all been fulfilled
and conquered
by our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself –
THANKS be to GOD!
And
one more passage from Paul to consider:
Wherefore, come out from among
them and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will
receive you and be a Father unto you and you shall be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty – 2 Corinthians 6:17
Here
the “Lord Almighty” says there's an
all-important BOTTOM LINE principle
for His “sons and daughters” to heed:
We MUST remain “separate”
and “come out” from “among”
the LOST to “be”
completely – CLEAN
before Him!
The Thankful Christian!
Now
that Paul has offered his PRAYERS
on behalf of the “Colossian” brethren, he now transitions
to a REMINDER of “Giving
thanks” unto God:
Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins – Colossians 1:12-14
We
certainly DON’T seem to forget
to ASK God for the “things”
we WANT from Him. But sadly, we DO often forget to THANK Him for EVRYTHING
He “gives” to us! Therefore, we MUST learn to make it a PRIORITY in our “Christian”
lives to “give thanks” unto our “Father” and Lord. WHY?
Because we have an ETERNAL life of “redemption” through His shed “blood” and we have been “forgiven” of all “sins”
within our FALLEN flesh. Beloved,
we are to “thank” God when we sing
and when we pray in ALL
things– Thanks BE unto GOD!
Here
are just a few more passages from God’s Word regarding our THANKFULNESS
to Him:
Be
careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God – Philippians 4:6
Sing unto the Lord, 0 ye saints
of His; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness – Psalm
30:4
Rejoice in the Lord, you
righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness – Psalm
97:12
I thank my God always on your
behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ – 1
Corinthians 1:4
And I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord who hath enabled me in that He counted me faithful, putting me into the
ministry – 1 Timothy 1:12
Beloved,
our heavenly “Father” has “delivered” us all from the “power of darkness” and thus we have been “translated” into the glorious “kingdom” of His “dear
Son” Jesus Christ – THANK YOU, LORD
JESUS!
The Preeminence OF Jesus Christ!
Next
Paul addresses the very CORE
of Biblical Christianity itself… Namely – The DEITY of Jesus Christ!
Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all
things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence – Colossians 1:15-18
The
“invisible God” and “firstborn”
is HEAD and CREATOR
of EVERYTHING being found IN the PERSON
and WORK of JESUS
CHRIST! All growth
and nourishment
of “all things” is related to the ALL-SUFFICIENT and Holy “preeminence” of “Jesus
Christ” Who was “before all
things” and “by”
Whom “all things consist” (held together) in life. He ALONE is the “head
of the body, the church” itself and therefore – NOTHING and NO ONE
else is NEEDED!
POINGNANT POINTS: God is indeed “invisible” unto man. However, He BECAME physically “visible”
in the God-man “Jesus Christ” and He is the
expressed IMAGE of the “invisible God” eternal! In fact, here in
this passage we find “Jesus Christ”
in relation to FIVE “things”
concerning His “creation” mandate:
ONE ~ God
TWO ~ The Universe
THREE ~ The Unseen World
FOUR ~ The Church
FIVE ~ Everything
Else!
QUIZZING QUESTION: What does “firstborn”
mean here? The Greek term Prōtotokos refers to POSITION and RANK.
It refers to AUTHORITY and PRIMACY but not simply chronology.
The “firstborn” has all rights of INHERITENCE and in the “Jewish” context here, everyone knew
that! There was NO question within the “Colossians” mindset as to what Paul was referring
to in this passage. In fact, “Jesus Christ”
is indeed the HONORED and PRIVILEDGED and PRESTIGIOUS
Only “Begotten Son of God” of Whom is – The Father’s Heir!
This
is a very VITAL passage to the
Apostle Paul’s ARGUMENT presented in
this epistle, not to mention for the WHOLE
of “Christianity” itself! In fact, the ENTIRE bible is ALL
about “Jesus Christ” the “only begotten” SON
of GOD and THIS
passage is the very ESSENSE of what we “believe” about Him. This “doctrine” is the very FOUNDATION
of our “faith” in His REDEMPTIVE work on the cross. In fact,
this TRUTH is the Biblical BATTLEGROUND over which we “war” with the religious cults
and isms
that would seek to DESTROY the DEITY of our “Lord
and Savior” the God-man “Jesus Christ”
Himself – Paul’s MAIN defense!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Several years after
the “Colossian” church was founded, a very
dangerous “heresy”
arose to threaten it! Although this “wickedness”
was not identified with any particular “doctrinal”
system, it contained elements of what later became
known as Gnosticism. This is the “false doctrine” that states GOD is good and MATTER is evil and that JESUS CHRIST was merely one
of a series
of “heresies” descending from God but being
less
than God Himself. This demonic dictation eventually
had led to a denial of His true HUMANITY
and that a secret or higher “knowledge”
far ABOVE Scripture was necessary for “salvation” of the soul. This “wickedness” eventually expressed itself
centuries later through another ungodly “heresy”
known as Arianism and
began INFECTING the “Colossian” fellowship. This “evil” emanation also embraced aspects of “Jewish”
LEGALISM
of which espoused the NECESSITY
of circumcision,
observance of the ceremonial rituals of the Old Testament
(dietary laws, festivals & Sabbaths) and rigid asceticism was REQUIRED to be “saved”
by God. It also called for the WORSHIP
of “angels” and manic MYSTICAL
ascetic “experiences” were as a
result, tantamount to this rank “religious”
expression – Pure EVIL!
As
a result of such “wicked” scenarios, this “faithful” pastor “Epaphras” was so concerned about
this “heresy” infiltrating his “flock” that he made the long
journey of OVER 1000 MILES
from “Colossae” to “Rome” (see chapter
4 verses 12 & 13) where the Apostle Paul was a prisoner for the
“Gospel” of Jesus Christ. And because of
the TERRIBLE things taking place as a result
of the PROPAGATION of this “heresy” at large, “Epaphras” had thus CONVENED
with the Apostle Paul to pour out his “loving”
heart of concern for his “brethren”
within the “Colossian”
congregation – A loving shepherd!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give
us the courage and boldness to “contend earnestly for the faith” that was signed,
sealed
and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints –
Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
In closing:
Our
“faith” in “Jesus Christ” for the “forgiveness” of “sins”
is a free GIFT from GOD!
Without His saving “grace” we would be no better
than the human philosophies and other speculative religions
of our day – Humanistic Heresies!
Similar
to our modern-day heinous “heresies”
of the Jehovah’s Wittiness’s Watchtower Society
concerning the PERSON and WORKS of Jesus Christ, these licentious LIES ferociously found their way from the
“church” in “Colossae” to the “church” in the neighboring city of “Laodicea.” And sadly, if one has a HERETICAL view of Jesus Christ, it will
lead to HORRENDOUS eternal
SPIRITUAL consequences – UNCONVERTED religious CLAIMS!
In
fact, throughout the past 2,000 years, various newspapers, secular
media outlets and non-Christian sects publish articles that cast DOUBT on “Jesus
Christ’s” literal, physical and bodily “resurrection” along with many
other wicked DENIALS
of His DEITY. Sadly, today’s APOSTATE Protestant Evangelical “churches” espouse the heinous “heresy” known as Arianism – Not to be confused
with the Aryanism “master-race”
ideology of Hitler’s Nazi regime...
Here
is a brief outline concerning the ARIAN
“heresy” and its deadly religious “doctrines of demons” of which were forged
in HELL and propagated by the “devil” himself:
Arianism developed around 320 in Alexandria
Egypt and concerning the person of Jesus Christ and is named after Arius of
Alexandar. As a result of his dark doctrinal teaching he was exiled to Illyria
in 325 after the first ecumenical council at Nicaea condemned his teaching as
heresy. It was the greatest of heresies within the early church that developed
a significant following. Some scholars believe it almost took over the
Christian church!
Arius taught that only God the Father was
eternal and thus much too pure and infinite to appear on the earth. Therefore,
God created Christ the Son out of nothing as the first and
greatest creation. The Son is then the one who created the
universe. Because the relationship of the Son to the Father is not one of
nature, it is therefore – adoptive. God adopted Christ as the Son. This
is the heresy known as Adoptionism of
which taught though Christ was a creation and because of his great
position and authority, he was to be worshipped and even looked upon as God.
Some Arians even held that the Holy Spirit was the first and greatest creation of the Son – FOOLISHNESS!
At Jesus’ incarnation, the Arians asserted
that the divine quality of the Son – the Logos – took the place of the
human and spiritual aspect of Jesus Christ. Thereby denying the full and
complete incarnation of God the Son – Second Person of the Trinity – both FULLY
God and FULLY man. In asserting that Jesus Christ the Son, as a created thing to be worshipped.
Thus, the Arians were advocating IDOLATRY!
This false doctrine is the foundational core of today’s Jehovah’s
Witness cult system.
With
all of this “heresy” rightly EXPOSED, an ETRERNALLY
impactful question remains… How IMPORTANT
is the PROPER Biblical “understanding” and “belief” in the PERSON
and WORK of “Jesus
Christ” to our “Christian”
FAITH? – It is absolutely CENTRAL
to the SAVING Gospel!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 9-18 in the first chapter of
the excellent book to the Colossians.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
