An Introduction to The Power of Christ

Introduction:

The vision of this church is to help people experience and share in an exciting relationship with Jesus and every generation of believers needs to experience fresh revelations of Jesus Christ through the study of His Word and must understand that:

Being a disciple is a costly and joyous endeavor

Many professing Christians only imaging the Christian journey to be the source of Joy. It is a source of joy but it is also a costly endeavor. Many professing Christians a willing to follow Jesus as long as it is a source of joy. But as soon as it means having to surrender your sinful lifestyle that is as far as they go. They will leave and try to find other professing Christians that will embrace or at the very least ignore their habitual sins while still treating them like they are part of the fold. Theologian pastor John MacArthur summarizes this point accurately:

The Gospel according to Jesus The Wheat and Tares

Like the Corinthian church, who arrogantly welcomed a brazen fornicator to their fellowship (1 Cor. 5:1–2), some Christians today seem to take perverse pride in never challenging the lifestyle of anyone who claims to be a believer.

Sin that was unheard of in the church only a generation ago is now commonplace. Divorce and immorality are epidemic among Christians. Churches claiming to be evangelical smugly offer the right hand of fellowship to unmarried couples openly living together. One fast-growing denomination consists almost entirely of practicing homosexuals. Many in the church believe them to be Christians because they affirm faith in Jesus.

In the next twelve weeks we will dive into the book of Colossians. A book that demonstrates the joys and cost of being a disciple of Christ through its emphatic insistence on the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the Head of all creation and of the church.

Background:

Paul is the author of this epistle

Customary signature at the beginning of his letters with the exception of Hebrews

We have the testimony of early church fathers (disciples of the apostles): Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen.

The close resemblance to Philemon Including names that appear in both letters: Timothy Aristarchus, Archippus, Mark, Luke, Onesimus, Demas

Was written AD 60-62 while a prisoner in Rome.  (4:3, 10, 18; Phm 9, 10, 13, 23)

1. Paul writes to show the deity of Christ and confront heresy

He is attempting to encourage the Colossians not to give in to the tempting tenants of erroneous philosophies and to challenge them to be more devoted to Jesus and he gives them the reasons why.

Paul finds out what is happening and their struggles through Epaphras who may very well be the actual founder of the Colossian Church.

The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here stated with greater precision and fulness than in any other of St. Paul’s epistles.’ The reason for this is that the Colossian heresy in its attack upon the Person of the Lord Jesus, made it imperative that the great Apostle meet it with such precision and fulness in doctrine regarding His Person as would successfully cope with the false teachings of the culture.

Internal evidence in the letter indicates that the heresy with which Paul is dealing, contains two elements that are fused into one system. His mention of the observance of sabbaths and new moons, his distinction between meats and drinks, and his reference to circumcision, all point to an element of Judaism in this system.

His reference to a self-imposed humility and service of angels, the hard treatment of the body, and a superior wisdom, indicates that he is dealing with a Gnostic element. The word ‘Gnostic’ comes from the Greek gnōsis which means ‘knowledge.’ It is the name designating an intellectual elitism, a few who set themselves above all others as possessing a superior knowledge”

The Scriptures reveal that as Paul was preaching in Ephesus, two visitors from Colosse came to believe—namely, Epaphras (4:12) and Philemon (Philemon 19). Philemon later hosted the Colossian church in his home (Philemon 1, 2), and Epaphras served as Paul’s lieutenant in evangelizing the Lycus Valley. Thus a new, thriving church sprouted in Colosse though Paul had never been there himself. Paul, of course, had a deep interest in the church and prayerfully advised Epaphras and Philemon as necessary. So it was quite natural that when a major problem arose in Colosse, Epaphras came to him for help.

2. Paul wants to lead these believers into spiritual maturity

In other words tell them what how a matured Christian ought to live. How does he look, think, act which is completely different from the rest of the world

3. Paul wants to inform them of how he is doing and to request their prayers on his behalf.

Colossians 1:1–14 (LSB)

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 in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints,

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel

6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and multiplying, just as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth;

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,

8 who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God;

11 being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The author identifies himself as an apostle and notice that he was not appointed by a committee or a church vote. It is by far the only church office that comes directly from the risen Saviour himself.

The instructions given within the 1 chapter of Acts established that an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ and be personally commissioned to that office. An office that was needed in order to bring the authority of God to the church through the Word of Scripture which would be written by the eyewitness that were handpicked by Jesus.

He addresses the congregation of Colossae which is a part of modern day Turkey as saints. This is an important term because of its meaning… hagios (holy ones). Those separated from sin and set apart by God and for God. These are believers, they are those who are the called according to his purposes. The elected ones. These are members of Christ’s church

Colossians 1:3–5 (LSB)

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints,

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel

Paul gives thanks to God for the opportunity of hearing about other faithful servants and followers of Christ and he concludes that they are faithful based on the sequence of reasoning:

The Gospel + Hope of Heaven = Faith in Jesus + Love for God’s People

Their commitment to Christ prompts Paul to continually pray for them.  This is an inclusive act of worship which includes intercession.  The devil does not come for his own but comes after the people of God.  People that are growing well in their faith need much prayer for they are prime targets for the adversary (1 Peter 5:8).

Notice Paul’s trifecta.

4 since we heard of your FAITH in Christ Jesus and the LOVE which you have for all the saints,

5 because of the HOPE laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel.

Faith rests on the past work of Christ on the cross; love works in the present as the saints relate to one another and hope anticipates the future. Without faith (Heb 11:6); hope does not disappoint (Rom 5:5). But the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:13).

Colossians 1:6–8 (LSB)

6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and multiplying, just as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth;

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,

8 who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

The gospel was never meant to be an isolated thing reserved for a particular group of people. Many have criticized the gospel as a white man’s religion which is completely bogus the world here is kosmos which is all creation under heaven.

Matthew 24:14 (LSB)

14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in the whole world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 28:19 (LSB)

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Romans 1:8 (LSB)

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Romans 1:14 (LSB)

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Paul stresses here not only the universality of the gospel but its practicality at producing fruit and growing. This growth does not denote numeric growth because whats being counted here is the fruit thats being produced. That fruit is righteousness which is impossible to produce when a different gospel is being preached and believed. The heresies which Paul will address lated in this later are local and harmful but the truth is both universal and helpful.

A different gospel is not even a gospel at all because it based on grace plus works, or faith plus works. But the true gospel is one of grace alone (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5–7).

But they knew all of this. they learned it from Epaphras.

Colossians 1:9 (LSB)

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

This is all good news that the Colossian church was growing in their faith this way and that thy had good sound teaching by its pastors but Paul understood that this made them a target for vicious attacks (philosophical attacks) from the enemy.

He would come with ideas, innuendos that would be a way for the this church to compromise the truth they had heard and believed. What was clearly happening at the Galatian church was making its way to the Colossians and that had Paul praying hard for them

The nature of his prayer was that God would fill them (pleroo) means to fill completely until nothing else can fit. Fill then with knowledge (epignosis) which is not just knowledge but full deep understanding which cannot come from a fleshly mind

1 Corinthians 2:5–6 (LSB)

5 so that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are being abolished.

1 Corinthians 2:13 (LSB)

13 of which depths we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual depths with spiritual words.

These are the deep truth of God as expressed in the Word of God. God’s will revealed in the Bible is made known to believers by the Holy Spirit.

And he prays for this all this full knowledge of His will to be given in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. This speaks of clear analysis and decision-making in applying this knowledge to various problems.

Then the apostle tells the Colossians why he is praying that way:

Colossians 1:10–14 (LSB)

10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God;

Walking worthy is a NT concepts which calls the believer to live in a way that is consistent with his identification with the Lord who saved him.

Those who are called saints cannot live like those who are aints.

bearing the fruit of righteousness because Jesus himself said that any branch that is not bearing fruit is cut off.

The evidences of spiritual growth include a deeper love for God’s Word (Ps 119:97), a more perfect obedience (1Jn 2:3–5), a strong doctrinal foundation (1Jn 2:12–14), an expanding faith (2Th 1:3; cf. 2Co 10:5), and a greater love for others (Php 1:9).

11 being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

Also so that you may have the power of God in steadfastness (hypomoné) which has to do with enduring adversity and trials…

Patience (makrothymia) which is forbearance when dealing with difficult people.

the power of God on you from this spiritual wisdom applied makes you be steadfast and patient…(read)

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love,

The word rendered here is used in the sense of removing a people from one country to another. It means, that they who are Christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another, as if a people were thus removed. They become subjects of a new kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and joy. No change, therefore, in a man’s life is so important as this; and no words can suitably express the gratitude which they should feel who are thus transferred from the empire of darkness to that of light”

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.