Colossians chapter 1 (2)

“Jesus Above All”

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Series Introduction:

Today, we begin our new series that I have entitled, “Jesus Above All.” We will be studying the book of Colossians one chapter per week.

To get us started:

Apostle Paul writing to the church in Colossae, and is writing from a Roman prison.

He is addressing the issue of false teaching which has attempted to gain access to the church.

The false teaching was placing emphasis on adding to the grace of Christ through keeping religious requirements.

No other writing in the New Testament places as strong of an emphasis on Christ alone as our Savior.

Transition:

Although we may not be faced with the specific threat that the church in Colossae was experiencing, yet the attempt of adding to God’s grace still prevails.

A modern day threat that I believe we face comes in the form of complexity.

I believe you would agree with me when I say that our world is increasingly becoming more complex.

Complexity occurs over time as various things become added.

Organizations become complex as additional policies and procedures are put into place. What was intended to bring a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness results in the organization become bogged down in red tape.

Families become complex as schedules become more and more filled with the addition of places to go, and activities to participate in. Each member of the family contributes to the ever increasing demands of the daily calendar which quickly becomes strained.

Our individual lives become complex as we continually add expectations, comparisons, and life pursuits to our already overwhelmed emotions.

Transition . . .

I believe there is a spiritual side to our complexity.

The false teaching that was attempting to finds its footing in the Colossian church was for the purpose of “adding” religious requirements to faith in Christ.

Spiritual complexity consists of “Jesus and” rather than “Jesus alone.”

These teachers were emphasizing that Christ alone was insufficient to gain our forgiveness, and that they needed to conduct various works in addition to Christ in order to be assured of entering heaven.

When we attempt to approach our faith with “Jesus and” we encounter the consequences of spiritual complexity.

The answer to spiritual complexity is re-establishing a central focus on Christ. He alone is our hope and salvation.

Colossians 1

English Standard Version

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Prayer . . .

Opening Observations:

Paul focuses on the preeminence of Christ.

Preeminence: surpass all others; to be supreme

“The firstborn of all creation”

“By Him all things were created”

“He is before all things”

“In Him all things hold together”

Paul clearly presents Christ as our sole provider of redemption.

“He has now reconciled in His body by His death.”

“Presents us holy and blameless”

Paul emphasizes the need for us to remain “stable and steadfast.”

The preeminence of Christ:

The primary threat of the false teaching coming into the Colossian church was the removal of Christ from His sovereign position of Redeemer.

To suggest and accept that works are required to purchase our salvation diminishes the accomplished work of Jesus on His cross.

If/when we believe that we can purchase our salvation through our own efforts, we buy into the concept that was being presented to this First Century church.

Our attempts typically do not contain the observance of Jewish festivals, but tend to take of the form of legalism and judgmentalism.

When we compile a list of do’s and don’ts for the sake of gaining acceptance by God, we have just stepped into a religious legalism.

The extension of this approach then proceeds to be required of others. “If I need to do this to be saved, then you do as well.”

Listen to the words of Jesus:

English Standard Version (Matthew 7:21-23)

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Not even the addition of prophesy, casting out demons, or the working of miracles will place us in right standing with God.

Only when we have an intimate relationship with God by being “in” Christ will we gain access to heaven.

Bringing life in Christ requires 3 transitions:

Transition 1: (vs. 12) “The Father has qualified you.”

It is the work of the Father which accomplishes our qualification.

The term qualification would bring to mind achieving a certification through the means of passing a test.

In order to pass the test, we study and prepare.

When it is test time, we display our knowledge of the material through passing the test.

Once passed, the qualification is granted and we are recognized as suitable for the task.

Many approach their salvation in the same manner.

For the believers in Colossae, they were being encouraged to seek a “hidden knowledge.”

This “knowledge” would gain them an advantage in performing the needed requirements for their qualification.

If they didn’t have this knowledge, and they failed the test, then they will not be qualified to enter heaven.

Our qualification is solely through Christ.

English Standard Version (Colossians 1:9-11)

“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”

The “knowledge of God’s will is always centered fully on “knowing” Christ.

Our ability to walk pleasing before the Lord comes as a result of “being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might.”

Transition 2: (vs. 13) “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Son.”

Darkness no longer has a hold on us.

Our deliverance is solely realized through Christ.

As we learn to accept and live in Christ’s victory on the cross, we will experience the reality of being delivered from darkness.

We experience this reality as we continually join ourselves intimately with Christ Himself.

Jesus has transitioned us into His Kingdom.

The transition into God’s Kingdom positions us as co-heirs with Jesus.

English Standard Version (Romans 8:16-17)

16 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Transition 3: (vs. 17) “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

He is before all things.

This statement aligns with John’s proclamation about Christ.

English Standard Version (John 1:1-5)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Because Christ is our Creator, He alone has the power to transition us from death to life.

2. In Him all things hold together

The addition of secret knowledge was not the answer for the Colossians.

Mysticism was not the answer.

Maintaining a strict regimen of rules and regulations was not the answer.

What is the answer?

“In Him all things hold together.”

This is a fascinating thought to me.

All things hold together “in Christ.”

I believe the opposite is equally true; all things fall apart separate from Christ.

Where is your life not holding together?

Could it be that this area of your life is not currently “in Him?”

Where is your life not holding together?

If the Colossae church had chosen to accept the false teaching being presented, they would have forfeited the sustaining presence of God’s grace for spiritual complexity.

Spiritual complexity removes us from living in Christ.

The result is a life filled with an inability to meet the demands of salvation based on “Jesus and” rather than “Jesus alone.”

Prayer . . .

Jesus, we believe that You alone are the sufficient One to bring into a relationship with God the Father.

We believe that You created us to live in relationship with You.

In You, everything holds together; apart from you, our lives fall apart.

I pray that each of us today can say with absolute assurance, I am Christ’s and He is mine.

Jesus, we turn to You alone.

We fully recognize that nothing else can be added to Your accomplished work on the cross.

Help us to keep our hearts fully devoted to You as we navigate the complexities of life.

We ask these things in Jesus name. Amen!