Hello Friends!
Welcome
to an all-new Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on 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!”
To
begin with, the “church” at “Colosse” was founded during Paul’s 3-year
“ministry” efforts at “Ephesus”
(see Acts 19) and its founder was not
Paul. WHY? Because Paul had never
been there (2:1) himself! In fact, it
was “Epaphras” who was “saved”
during a visit to “Ephesus” (1:5–7) and thus it was likely him
who founded the “church” in “Colossae” when he returned home – True Discipleship!
An Outline of Colossians:
Paul’s Greeting (1:1-2)
Paul’s Thankfulness (1:3-8)
Paul’s Prayer (1:9-14)
Jesus Christ’s Deity (1:15-23)
Paul’s Ministry (1:24 – 2:7)
False Philosophy (2:8-23)
Christian Conduct (3:1-17)
Christian Households (3:18 – 4:1)
Christian Speech (4:2-6)
Christian Friends (4:7-18)
The
book of Colossians also contains tangible “teaching” on several KEY areas of THEOLOGY including:
Theology of Colossians:
Reconciliation (1:20–23)
Redemption (1:13-14; 2:13-14
& 3:9-11)
Church (1:18, 24-25; 2:19 & 3:11-15)
Election (3:12)
Forgiveness (3:13)
This
week we will begin our reading of verses 1-8
in chapter 1 as
we consider our Faith IN Jesus Christ…
Colossians:
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ! (Chapter 1:1-8)
Paul
writes with an undying DEVOTION
to Jesus Christ and a DIRECT
emphasis upon “sound doctrine” that does
not simply focus on theoretical head “knowledge” but rather godly
“behavior” and uncompromising
“obedience” to the – Word of God!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: This “letter”
to the “Colossians” was written by
the Apostle Paul from a prison in Rome sometime between A.D. 60–62 (see Acts 28:16–31)
and is referred to as one of the four Prison Epistles
(along with the “letters” to the Ephesians, Philippians,
and Philemon). It may have been initially composed
by Paul in unison with the “epistles”
to the Ephesians and Philemon being sent via his faithful friend “Tychicus” (see Ephesians
6:21- 22 and Colossians 4:7-8).
Paul sent this letter via “Tychicus”
of whom was also accompanying the runaway slave “Onesimus”
back to his master “Philemon,” a member of the “church” of the “Colossian”
fellowship. And “Epaphras” remained behind in
Rome (see Philemon 23) perhaps to
receive – Further instruction from Paul!
Greetings from Paul!
Let's
begin by considering the first two verses of Paul’s warm welcome:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and
faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – Colossians
1:1-2
Here
“Paul” starts with his name of which was
typical of all his letters. He had a brilliant mind, an admirable
will and yet a tender heart. He was “Jewish” by his ancestry and yet
he was also a “Roman” citizen by his birth.
Paul was NOT just simply a “messenger” of “truth”
but was THRUST into “ministry” by the “will
of God” as HIS
main source of AUTHORITY as an “apostle” of “Jesus
Christ” to the “Gentiles”
abroad. This introduction by “Paul”
is an AUTHORITATIVE utterance
of the DIVINLEY APPOINTED
mouthpiece of God's “Grace”
and “peace” through His Word and Will! In fact,
this HUMBLE man was used of God to largely
determine the FUTURE course of “Biblical” history – Especially
for Gentiles!
Also,
“Paul” includes “Timothy”
as his “faithful” companion and “brother” in “Christ”
of whom he loved very much. During the long years of toil that “Paul” endured as an “Apostle”
to the “saints” and “brethren” of God, it was “Timothy” who had been a caring comrade.
And although he was frequently sick, timid, hesitant, always in need of
encouragement and cried a lot, “Timothy”
was a TRUE friend to “Paul” and DILIGENT
as a – Man of God!
Faith IN Jesus Christ!
Next
Paul addresses this “heaven”
bound, “grace” filled and “faithful” congregation of Gentile “saints” (no doubt included a smattering of
Jewish “believers” as well) and thus
he also gives “thanks” to the “God and the Father” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” for their eternal “hope” found in Him:
We give thanks to God and the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your
faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the
hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of
the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and
bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and
knew the grace of God in truth – Colossians 1:3-6
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Our “Lord Jesus Christ” is GOD
Himself and the Jewish “saints”
in “Colossae” would have FULLY
understood the central “gospel”
message of “Christian” truth. And when “we” Gentile “believers”
share the “truth” of God’s GOOD NEWS through the “gospel” of His great “grace”
as He “saves” a LOST human “soul”
from HELL. It is the Greek word euangelion that
derives our English word to “evangelize” of which was a term originally used in a fierce BATTLE! In fact, it is God’s “elect”
who are “saved” from their “sins” and have been “delivered”
out of the BONDAGE of Satan.
Therefore, “we” have WON the GREATEST battle of them all! Beloved, when we “evangelize” the “lost” we are actually “preaching” the “gospel” of “salvation” and HOPE of HEAVEN representing a VALIANT vindication of eternal – VICTORY!
And
all throughout
the New Testament we find the following SIX
excellent PRINCIPLES concerning
the POWERFUL eternal “gospel”
message of Jesus Christ:
ONE ~ We are to ENJOY the FELLOWSHIP
of the “gospel” message:
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every
prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that
he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you
in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation
of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace – Philippians 1:3-7
TWO ~ We are to ENGAGE in CONVERSATION
through the “gospel” message:
Only
let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I
come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand
fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
– Philippians 1:27
THREE ~ We are to ENDURE our AFFLICTIONS
for the “gospel” message:
Be not
thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of
God – 2 Timothy 1:8
FOUR ~ We are EMPOWERED to PREACH
the “gospel” message:
For our
gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you
for your sake – 1
Thessalonians 1:5
FIVE ~ We are ENLIGHTENED by RECIEVING
the “gospel” message:
For I delivered unto you first
of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according
to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
SIX ~ We are EDIFIED through our OUTREACH
of the “gospel” message:
Then
had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were
edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy
Ghost, were multiplied – Acts
9:31
And
as a result of God’s “gospel”
message of “salvation” POWER through Jesus Christ alone, “we” learn that the “faithful
minister” and “dear”
brother “Epaphras” had “declared” of the “Colossians”
their deep “love in the Spirit” spent FOR each other:
As ye also learned of Epaphras
our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also
declared unto us your love in the Spirit – Colossians 1:7-8
Another
one of the CHIEF characteristics of
a true “Christian” and “fellow servant” of God is LOVE for his spiritual “brother” in Jesus Christ – Love one another!
However,
there was also a BIG spiritual PROBLEM looming over the “theological” horizon… An evil “heresy” had began to CREEP
into the fist-century “Colossian”
congregation and the “faithful”
pastor “Epaphras” was VERY concerned! As a result, this “minister” of “Christ”
would make a journey of OVER 1000 MILES
to Rome as he pours out his “loving”
heart to the Apostle Paul – WHY?
POINTS TO PONDER: Paul wrote this particular
“epistle” in an effort to WARN the “Colossians”
about the “heresy” they faced
first-hand. And as was true for the “church”
in “Laodicea,” it is very
likely that the “false doctrine”
of which plagued this fine “fellowship”
found its way to “Colossae” as
well. Although there’s no record concerning the founding of the “church” in “Colossae,”
when we study the book of Colossians
we read that “Epaphras”
evangelized the Lycus Valley region. We also learn that Paul writes the Colossian epistle to specifically
address the wicked Gnostic
thinking of the “false teachers”
of his day who were DENYING
the DEITY of Jesus Christ.
This classic Christological vein
of rampant “heresy” had so INFILTRATED and POISIONED the “brethren”
in “Colossae” they had
particularly REDUCED Jesus
Christ to a created being and mystical-angel
of sorts. Incidentally, by comparing Paul’s epistle to the Colossians with John’s book of Revelation, we can connect some deadly “doctrinal” dots! These two “churches” had both
been INFECTED by this – DEVISTATING DOCTRINE!
And
in stern OPPOSITION to all “false doctrine” within the “church” body, the POWERFUL
little book of Jude also admonishes
us to CONTEND for the FAITH found within the “gospel” message:
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
We
will begin to investigate the heinous “heresy”
found within the “church” at “Colossae” in greater detail throughout our
future “Colossian” studies – Lord willing!
In closing:
In
viewing this wicked “world”
system from every SPIRITUAL point of
reference, we’ll find that the book of Colossians
is indeed an IMPORTANT and CRITICAL epistle for today. WHY? Because it presents “our” One and Only ETERNAL
God “Jesus Christ” in all of His DEITY by providing SIX essential ANSWERS to important QUESTIONS
that have been pondered throughout the “ages”
of human history…
ONE ~ Let the “age” of science know that
“Jesus Christ” is the Architect,
Creator and Sustainer
of the – Entire universe!
TWO ~ Let the “age” of ecumenism know
that “Jesus Christ” is the ETERNAL Head of His true CHURCH and HE
is the – All-sufficient Savior!
THREE ~ Let the “age” of no-authority know
that “Jesus Christ” is the PREEMINENT One and is the very IMAGE of the INVISIBLE
God possessing – All knowledge and wisdom!
FOUR ~ Let the “age” of pragmatism know
that “Jesus Christ” can completely
CHANGE a life miraculously. He ALONE gives LOVE,
JOY, PEACE,
FORGIVNESS and every GOOD
thing – Life to the fullest!
FIVE ~ Let the “age” of relationships know
that “Jesus Christ” is the SOURCE of true UNDERSTANDING
as He builds strong – Families and
friendships!
SIX ~ Let the “age” of eschatology know
that “Jesus Christ” is the HOPE of the END
and the COMING KING of glory – Eternal God!
REAL REFLECTIONS: When “we” get to know our ETERNAL
Lord and God “Jesus Christ” in INCREASING measure… The magnificent “message” of Colossians
makes “sanctifying” sense – Praise the Lord!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 1-8 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 <><
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