A Celebration of Faith Colossians 1:1-14

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Intro

Text a visitor

If you got a random text from me telling you that I have the solution to all of your problems, what would you do?

Maybe you have heard of me, but probably not

Read Col 1:1-5

Transition:

In Romans, it is justification by faith. In Ephesians, it is the mystery of Christ and his Church. In Philippians, it is the joy which Christ brings.

In Colossians, it is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the Head of all creation and of the Church.

There is no book in the New Testament, including John’s Gospel, which presents such a comprehensive picture of the fullness of Christ

Sufficiency = Jesus is Enough

The problem came from false teachers who were propagating what is called Gnosticism.

Gnostics considered themselves to be people of superior knowledge who could help “lesser” Christians attain deeper spirituality.

The very word for Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis, which means “to know.”

In Colosse, this system (gnosis) consisted of ascetic disciplines, the esoterica of astrology, and elements of Christianity

The apostle did not directly attack the Colossian problem, but rather began with an exuberant introduction which celebrated the Colossian church.

Paul’s Greeting vs. 1-2

We start off this letter with an apostolic greeting

vs. 1 Paul’s Authority

Paul often greeted the church he was writing this way

Even in the 2nd letter to the Corinthians he greets this way

Paul uses it to offer a blessing and state his authority as an Apostle

This is important because some scholars question his authorship

They think this letter is what they call Post Pauline

Their evidence for this is that there are 68 words in this epistle that he doesn’t use anywhere else in his letters

My defense of his authorship is that this one of his four prison letters, like Philippians, and is written later in life and shows the depth of his theology

The literal meaning of apostolos is ‘one sent’; but at its deepest level it denotes an authorized spokesman for God, one commissioned and empowered to act as his representative

Paul was an authorized spokesperson for Jesus

vs. 2-3 Grace & Peace to Colossae

The town of Colosse was located about eighty miles inland from the city of Ephesus, in the Lycus River Valley, in what is today the western part of Turkey.

At one time it was one of the prominent towns of the valley, but by the New Testament era it was a small town well in the shadow of its nearby neighbors, Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossae

Paul’s Missionary Journey

Biblical scholarship believes that the Colossian church came into being during Paul’s two-year ministry in Ephesus

The Scriptures reveal that as Paul was preaching in Ephesus, two visitors from Colosse came to believe—namely, Epaphras and Philemon .

Philemon later hosted the Colossian church in his home, and Epaphras served as Paul’s lieutenant in evangelizing the Lycus Valley

God used this small church in the small town to reach the region

This gives us hope that God can use any faithful church to reach its community

A Celebration of the Gospel vs. 3-8

The first part of this letter is a celebration of the faith of this small church

Paul wants to celebrate their faith & love and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

vs. 3-5 Heard of Your Faith & Love

The first part of this celebration is over the testimony of their faith and love

Paul has been continually praying for them since he has heard of the report of their faith and love

Epaphras & Philemon took the Gospel to Colosse and people recieved Christ.

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died to provide complete forgiveness of sins and rose again that those who believe might live forever

As the church began to grow their acts of love for those in Colosse and the cities of Heiropolis & Laodecia was having an impact

They were spreading hope and it was having an impact

Hebrews 6:10 ESV

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

I want our church to mirror Colosse

I want us to share the Gospel and love on the community

I want this to be a place where people find hope and that is found in the truth of the Gospel

vs. 6-8 Gospel is Bearing Fruit

The work of the church of Colosse was bearing fruit

Epaphras and Philemon had started the work and it was flourishing

The grace of God always changes people’s lives

Paul was celebrating the work the Lord was doing in that region

It shows us that size doesn’t matter

If there is a group of people who are committed to sharing the Gospel and loving on the people who God brings it will bear fruit and impact

We are to sow the seeds, grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, and bear fruit

Matthew 24:14 ESV

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Prayer for Wisdom & Understanding vs. 9-14

Part of the celebration is Paul writing out what he prays for the Colossians

vs. 9-14 is one prayer

He knows that with every good work there is going to be an attack on the church

We see three main areas of focus in this prayer

Paul wants them to grow in Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding

Ephesians 5:17 ESV

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

What does it mean to be filled with knowledge, wisdom, & understanding?

vs. 10-11 Walk in a Manner Worthy

The first major area is that they walk in a manner worthy of the Lord

Walking worthy is pleasing to the Lord

Walking worthy bears fruit in our good works

Walking worthy means increasing in knowledge

Paul repeated this phrase several times in his letters

Philippians 1:27 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

When we walk worthy we are full of the Holy Spirit and we don’t run at the first sight of trouble

So let’s break this down

Being fruitful in every good work

Increasing in the knowledge of God

Strengthened by His glorious might

Ephesians 3:16 ESV

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Equipped w/ patience & joy

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

vs. 12 Inheritance from Father

The second major area Paul wants for them is for them to partake in their inheritance

1 Peter 1:4 ESV

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

vs. 13-14 Delivered & Transferred

The final major part that Paul wants them to understand is that they have been delivered from the power of darkness

God has transferred us to into the kingdom of His Son

2 Peter 1:11 ESV

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have been redeemed

The act of buying back or rescuing something or someone that was lost, enslaved, or in a state of bondage.

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

We have been forgiven of our sins