How God Builds a Church (2)

Ronald Brown

Colossians • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago • Presented 2 years ago

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Paul acknowledges the Colossians faith and how to guard it.

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION

If you remember a few weeks ago, I preached from this Letter to the Colossian Church. At that time, considering it a stand alone message that I usually preach, I jumped headlong into the issues that were plaguing this church and how, by the urging of their Pastor, Epaphras, the wise Apostle Paul addressed these issues in this letter, with prayer and an old early Christian Hymn that they would recognize.

Now while discussing what Scriptures to preach in some future sermons, my wise, younger Pastor suggested that I develop this into a series, preaching though the entire Letter to the Colossians during my upcoming times in the pulpit. Seemed like a great idea, but that left us with problem. I had only barely skimmed over these earlier verses in this Letter. And we really need to understand these rich early verses so that we can see just how Paul progresses in his encouragement and instruction to this smaller, young church. So as odd as this may seem, to accomplish this task, we’re going to back track to the earlier verses before going forward.

So our Scripture for this morning is Colossians 1:1-14

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. 2 To the saints and faithful Brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope Laid up for you in heaven.

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

PRAY

The late Pastor and author, A.W. Tozer, of Akron, Ohio, is often quoted as saying “What comes to mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.” (REPEAT)

While I completely agree with his statement, it seems as if it’s somehow incomplete, as if there’s another, earlier starting point. We could rightly start that quote with “What God thinks about you is the greatest thing about you.” as if these two statements are intertwined, as if one prompts the other, like relationships. We can’t think rightly about God without thinking rightly about what He thinks about us. It’s foundational, it’s needed, it’s re-centering. And that’s what we see the Apostle Paul doing for this group of believers in Colosse.

Historically, we know at this time Paul is being held in custody in Rome, awaiting trial. We also know from this letter that Epaphras, the Pastor of the church, who the Lord brought to faith during Paul’s 3 year missionary stop in Ephesus, has travelled to Rome to ask for Paul’s advice and assistance with problems that have arisen within the church and are starting to take a significant toll. It seems purposeful that Paul doesn’t name these various issues until later, choosing not to start with the distractions, but start from what is foundational in the lives of these believers.

Let’s look at how Paul approaches the church in Colosse, how his manner is encouraging, almost like a gentile grandfather;

Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. 2 To the saints and faithful Brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father

These first two verses were considered the common introduction and greeting style of the day, one where the writer identifies himself and then identifies to whom he is writing. Armed with that basic knowledge, it’s easy for us to assume the words are rote or just a formality. But taking a closer look into the words Paul uses and how he employs them prove they are actually quite intentional.

Paul introduces himself as an Apostle of Christ Jesus, one who goes forth and speaks on behalf of. Although is was unlikely that the church in Colosse had ever met Paul, his name and missionary efforts would have been known to them through Epaphras. So being an Apostle afforded Paul a certain amount to authority to speak as a church father, speaking to brothers and sisters, and he acknowledges Timothy, whom they may have also heard of, was presently with him as this letter is written, and refers to him as “our brother.” This is family language, unity language. We know from a variety of Paul’s writings, that unity within the church body was a high priority. He was also indicating that, although they were a local church body, separated by distance, they had a distinct connection to him, the brothers with him, and were united to all the other churches globally. So we can see why Paul uses “family’ language. Unity, of close family and distant family. He then asked “our Father” to pour out His grace and peace on them, a peace they are lacking due to the divisive issues plaguing this church, of which Paul is going to address in this letter, which was to be read aloud in the form of a family meeting.

Let’s look further at out text, starting as verse 3;

Paul now begins the body of his letter first with words of thanksgiving and proclaiming the power of the Gospel at work in them and through them. Faith, Love and Hope.

J.B. Phillips phrase it this way;

I want you to know by this letter that we here are constantly praying for you, and whenever we do we thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ because you believe in Christ Jesus and because you are showing true Christian love towards other Christians. We know that you are showing these qualities because you have grasped the hope reserved for you in Heaven

Just as it was God’s plan and purpose, a plan He foretold Abraham, to rescue His people from the bondage of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians, with the ultimate purpose of taking them into the land of His Promise, that was just a foreshadowing of His plan and purpose, through the work of Christ Jesus on the cross, freeing His people from the slavery to sin, the bondage under Satan, and delivering them to a Promised land prepared for them in eternity.

Paul is expressing their constant thanksgiving to God Our Father, and the Father of our Savior, Christ Jesus, that He has granted the gift of faith to these saints in the church family at Colosse, that this gift of faith not only includes freedom from sins power, but that they have grasped that Heaven awaits them and that all of that has produced the fruit of a Christ-like love for not only the saints within their local church family, but a love for all the family of God. For this, they, Paul writes, that he and his missionary companions, have been in constant prayer since the first day they heard that the Father has granted them this same faith, love and hope.

Take your eyes back to verse 5;

Paul here is prompting the Colossians believers to look at themselves, and see just how this came about and how this has been the Lord God’s plan. Paul makes a plain statement about his in Romans 10, where he states” Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” They heard this Gospel through Epaphras and God used that to bring them to this faith, just like Epaphras heard this Gospel from Paul and the brothers in Ephesus and the same Father brought him to faith. And now they are bearing the same type of fruit, the same as is happening throughout the world. Sharing this Gospel message, this Good News to all that can hear in their corner of the world.

Can we see how this was God’s intention since the beginning?

Look all the way back to the Garden before the fall. In Genesis 1:28 God commands Adam and Eve “to be fruitful and multiply and ill the earth.”

do we think God was just commanding them to have children? It’s more than that. Adam and Eve had this close, intimate relationship with God, and He was commanding them, through “being fruitful” to multiply the same relationships through their offspring, filling the whole earth with His children, waking with Him in the same love. It’s not just having babies.

Look at the command God gave Noah (the only righteous man of his day) once the flood subsided.

Genesis 9:1 “

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

Same thing.

Let’s now take that same thought and compare it with two more Scriptures.

Matthew 28:18 (Know to us as the Great Commission)

8 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Be Fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth....with my Children. Do you hear it here as well?

One more Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth.

Share this Gospel truth as my witnesses.

And Faith comes through hearing.

Paul is thanking God that this has happened to them. And not only that, but expressing gratefulness at how the power of this Gospel message is being spread throughout the whole world, producing this same fruitfulness, a natural outgrowth of this powerful Gospel, that is happening in and through these Colossian believers, following the same pattern set out since the beginning “since the day you heard.”

Paul turns from message to messenger. Not only is the gospel they have heard an authentic and life-transforming reality, but it has also been brought to them by one who is a dear fellow servant and a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf. Epaphras

So, in light of Paul’s encouraging words, he continues;

Just as Paul indicated earlier, that this Gospel is life-transforming. But their transformation process if far from complete. Paul and the brothers are praying for a continued growth as he writes;

‘asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding’

His words indicate a continual filling by the Spirit, a continual growing in spiritual wisdom and understanding. Their lives have been transformed and Paul prays that this transforming continues as they seek the spiritual wisdom that the Spirit can provide.

We know this growing by the term sanctification. Paul explains it in Romans 8:28-30

Romans 8:28–30 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Do you hear “be fruitful and multiply in these words?) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

That’s what Paul prays for these believers and is encouraging them to continually seek. Being transform into the likeness of Christ one moment at a time, for their entire earthly lives.

Paul has thanked God for granting these believers the gift of faith that has transformed their lives and continues to transform them by the Spirit, but he is also proclaiming that all of this is for a purpose, for God’s intended purpose;

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

Paul is affirming these believers in so much as their lives indicate that they are living this purpose out, by the love they show for the saints; They have started to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,” that they are “bearing fruit’ in their lives. But he is encouraging them to press forward in this “walk,” to stay the course, to press forward toward the knowledge of God. It is the Spirit that has stimulated this love, and it is the Spirit who gladly provides increasing the wisdom, so that the developing manner of your walk, your lifestyle, so to speak, your lives being empowered, would be “fully pleasing to Him.” That through this pressing on they would be “strengthened” by the Spirit’s power, so that their endurance would increase and they would be filled with joy more and more. The Colossian believers had made a good start and genuine progress and that shouldn’t lead them to complacency, but to renewed effort. Because, as Paul prays, and they should as well;

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Douglas Moo, a respected theologian, teacher and author writes;

It might seem a bit surprising that Paul would include thanksgiving in a short list of activities that comprise the life that is “worthy of the Lord” (v. 10). But the giving of thanks plays a prominent role, not only in the recognition of their spiritual experience in Christ, but the giving of thanks implies that what has been received has not been earned but is a gift. Thanksgiving is therefore a key Pauline theological claim: that Christians are saved by and live in grace.

Paul, since the beginning of his prayer is vs. 9, has been steadily moving forward to encourage their growing in knowing God more and more, which leads to the purpose of that knowledge, which is living lives that are pleasing to God and bearing fruit for His kingdom.

And now, in vs. 12-14, Paul take a step back to remind the Colossians that the foundation for their new life is in the redemptive work of the Father through the Son, this forgiveness provided by Christ’ atoning death on the cross, that the Lord God has granted the gift of faith, making known to them their deliverance from the bondage to sin, and by these actions on their behalf, qualified them and has placed their feet on the solid ground of His kingdom, which extend past this earthly life right into His glorious eternal kingdom.

Paul, as he began in vs 3 with thanking God for what He has done in the believers in Colosse, and now clearly explaining the Gospel and how it’s power has worked for them, in them and through them, has essentially framed for the Colossians the foundation of their faith, Just as Christ spoke of He himself being the vine and believers the branches, Paul is pointing theses believers to the fountain of truth available that provides their life giving food from Him as they remain connected to Him, keeping themselves firmly attached to His truth of the Gospel and the power it provides. Paul continues reminding them with the following prayer and Hymn that we looked at last time I was in the pulpit, which spoke to the preeminence of Christ in all things, not only as the author and perfecter of this faith, but to whom we look to as the example of servanthood to our Heavenly Father and to whom we keep returning for the riches He provides.

Now we, some two thousand years removed from the events transpiring in this Colossian church, we can benefit from understanding what was afflicting these believers, the false teaching that is gaining a foothold in this group of young believers and how Paul is pointing them to the truth. T

he late pastor/theologian Francis Shaeffer coined the phrase “True Truth.” He spoke that there are many truths being presented in our world, just as there was in the Colossian church, but there is only one “True Truth,” one foundational truth we are to come under, submit ourselves to, and that’s what Paul is pointing these believers to. And the only way to recognize and battle false teaching is with that “True Truth.” The only way we can lives lives according to the purposes God created us for, and Jesus saved us to is to continue to cling to what we know and continue to seek His truth more and more, gaining the wisdom He provides, passing that along to others, be it our children, other believers, or not yet believers. This is the”bearing fruit” the Lord laid out from the beginning and Jesus spoke to His disciples about.

As we move forward we’ll look more intently at what these false teachings were, and how they were actually intended to make the lives of believers ineffective for the Lord. C.S. Lewis wrote a fictional account of this in his book The Screwtape Letters, where he chronicles a behind the scenes look at how Satan and his minions were to afflict believers in various ways for the sole purpose of rendering believers ineffective for the Kingdom work the Lord created us for.

So I’ll finish with some questions to ponder as we look at this Letter to the Colossians.

How intently or continually do you seek the Lord’s wisdom?

How are you submitting to the wisdom, His guidance?

What truth’s may you have embraced that differ from God’s “TRUE TRUTH”?

Let’s pray.

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