Living a Life Worthy of the Lord
Jason Hill
The Gospel in Colossians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:01
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· 53 viewsDelivered 8/18/2024 @ Formosa Baptist Church.
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Introduction
Introduction
Turn with me in your Bibles to Colossians chapter 1.
It’s great to be with you all! It’s been quite a roller coaster over the past few months for our family, but today is the answer to many prayers we have prayed over the past few months, and we’re really excited to see what all God is going to do through Formosa Baptist in the years to come as we work together to reach the lost and further God’s kingdom.
Today we’re going to start a series on Paul’s letter to the Colossians. So, before we dive in deep into the first passage, I want to give you a bit of background on the letter to help you understand the context in which Paul was writing this letter.
Background
Background
Date: ~A.D. 62, around the same time as Philemon and Ephesians; following his his journey to Rome (Acts 27-28) during his imprisonment in Rome.
Provenance: Coauthored by Paul and Timothy (Timothy may be his amanuensis)
About Colossae:
(Map of Colossae and Asia Minor)
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Location and Archaeology
Colossae was a city in the province of Phrygia located in the Lycus Valley within Anatolia, or Asia Minor, about 120 miles east of the major port city of Ephesus (Arnold, Colossians, 73). Today this is part of southwestern Turkey. In the first century AD, Colossae was a small agrarian town. However, in the 5th century BC, Colossae was a thriving economy, known especially for its unique textiles and wool (Moo, Colossians, 26).
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Location and Archaeology
the eventual demise of Colossae was linked to the construction of a trade route in the third century that went west of Colossae to Laodicea (Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 194). Eventually Laodicea became a prominent city, and Colossae turned into a rural community. Thus, in the first century Colossae was a rather insignificant city in the Roman world (Arnold, Colossian Syncretism, 4).
Colossae remains an unexcavated tell (or mound), although a few stone steps from a small theater are visible on the eastern side (Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 195).
(Modern day picture of the unexcavated tell of Colossae)
(Contrasted with the modern day excavations of the Theater of Ephesus...
...and the Temple of Artemis…)
At the time of the Apostle Paul, the city of Ephesus was home to the Temple of the goddess Artemis. Today, very little remains of the Great Temple of Artemis. Once, it was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and a major destination for pilgrims and tourists. At 450 feet in length and 225 feet in width, the roof was supported by more than 120 columns.
Ben Gregoire
Copyright 2015 Faithlife / Logos Bible Software
The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Biblical Relevance)
Colossae was a small town overshadowed by two nearby cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis...Colossae was located 11 miles southeast from Laodicea, which explains why Paul could end his letter to the Colossians by asking them to greet brothers and sisters from Laodicea (Col 4:15).
God loves small towns, too!
God loves small towns, too!
Paul’s interaction with the church at Colossae:
Church was started by Epaphras, probably during Paul’s 3-year stay in Ephesus (A.D. 52-55)
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Epaphras likely traveled back to Colossae and shared the gospel there, leading to the planting of a church
At the time of authorship, Epaphras is in Rome with Paul
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
Apparently, Epaphras informed Paul of a threat to the church during his visit. It seems likely that a false teaching was threatening the church at Colossae.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
It’s difficult to tell the precise nature of this false teaching, but it seems to be rooted in Judaism (references to festivals, new moons, and Sabbath observances). But, it also involved an unhealthy obsession with asceticism and worship of angels.
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
So, Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians to encourage the church, to strengthen it against any false teachings, and to remind them that Christ and the gospel were enough.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at Colossians 1:1-14.
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.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
6 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, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 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.
Prayer for Illumination
Main Idea: In this passage, Paul gives us an insight into his prayers for the church at Colossae. As he does, he reveals to us some key ingredients for a church that is pleasing to God.
In Colossians 1:10 Paul encourages the Colossians “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him...” But what does that look like? What does it mean to live in a way that is “worthy” of Christ? Paul actually answers that question for us in verses 10-12. Paul says that when a believers’ actions, beliefs, strength, and attitude proceed from the gospel, God is pleased.
Gospel-based actions please God. (v. 10a)
Gospel-based actions please God. (v. 10a)
Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work...
How we live is important.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
We all know people who claim to have been “saved” or call themselves Christians but whose lives don’t even remotely reflect that. The Bible has a category for those who claim to know Christ but live like the world—Unbelievers. See, the gospel isn’t just “fire insurance.” It’s not just a transaction you make with God and then go about your business. It’s an eternal relationship. It’s less like choosing an insurance provider and more like getting married! It has lifelong, eternal ramifications for how we live our lives.
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.” James says in James 2:19 “ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” John says in 1 John 1:6 “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” So, God is pleased when his people bear fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We don’t have to be perfect, but our lives ought to demonstrate what we say we believe.
Gospel-based belief pleases God. (v. 10b)
Gospel-based belief pleases God. (v. 10b)
Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
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;
Many people like to emphasize practice over belief, or belief over practice.
But Scripture views our beliefs as the source of our actions, and our actions are the evidence of our true beliefs. The two can’t be separated from one another—that’s the entire point of James’ letter!
And, it’s also part of the reason that Paul is writing to the church at Colossae—he’s trying to fortify them against false teachings.
The best way to do that is to “increase in the knowledge of God.”
This doesn’t mean just “knowing more about God,” though that’s certainly part of it. But it’s more than just learning facts. It means “knowing God” in the sense of a personal relationship with him. In the way that you “know” your spouse, your family members, and your close friends. You “know” their character, their likes, dislikes, and you come to trust them.
That comes through learning more about God (by reading your Bible, studying with other believers, etc.) and also by learning to trust him more.
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Let this be the mark of FBC! That we know God and make him known!
Gospel-based strength pleases God. (v. 11)
Gospel-based strength pleases God. (v. 11)
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
It’s important to recognize here that what pleases God is not just strength, endurance, and patience in themselves, but rather, when a believer taps into GOD’S strength.
There’s a popular notion floating around that “God will never give you more than you can handle,” which comes from a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
The point of that passage is that GOD WILL PROVIDE the way of escape, and that in HIS strength, you can stand up against temptation.
In fact, I can guarantee you that if you’re a believer, God WILL give you trials that YOU are not strong enough to endure, in order to FORCE you to depend upon HIS strength. Just look at what the same author (Paul) had to say in 2 Corinthians!
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
What pleases God is not when Christians muster up their strength and “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” during trials, but when they despair of trusting in their own strength and tap into HIS strength!
Enduring trials in your own strength only glorifies you. Enduring trials that are BEYOND your strength in the power of God glorifies God.
Our independence doesn’t please God. Our dependence upon him does! The strength that pleases God looks like weakness to the world.
Colossians 1:11 (ESV)
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
Gospel-based humility pleases God. (vv. 12-14)
Gospel-based humility pleases God. (vv. 12-14)
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.
Notice what it says: “…the Father…has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints...”
Or in other words, “God has made you worthy”
You remember verse 10? Paul prays for the Colossians to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him...”
The irony is that what is fully pleasing to God, what makes us “worthy of the Lord,” is God himself!
The great irony is that the harder you try to “be worthy” of God, the less worthy you will become, because what makes us “worthy” of God is recognizing our unworthiness and then throwing ourselves upon the grace and mercy of God!
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
My first point earlier was that Gospel-based actions please God, and that is true! But they must be “Gospel-based.” That is, they must proceed from an awareness that “There is NOTHING I can do to please God outside of the grace that he has given me. Anything good in me comes from him, and the rest is all me!”
Doing good works in order to gain God’s favor and approval does not please him. Doing good works because God has already given you his approval through the work of Christ on the cross DOES please God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
My hope and prayer is that Formosa Baptist Church will continue to be a church that pleases our Father, a church that lives in light of the gospel by bearing fruit, growing in our knowledge of God, being strengthened by his power, and maintaining an attitude of gratitude.
If you’re here today and you realize that you’ve been going about it all wrong, that you’ve been trying to earn God’s favor, I want to invite you today to give up! Stop trying to prove yourself worthy and place your faith in Christ, "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Maybe you’re a believer, but in the midst of the trials you’ve forgotten where your strength comes from. Maybe you’re not really living out the gospel in your life. Or maybe you’ve slipped into the trap of trying to prove yourself worthy after the fact. I want to invite you to let go of that burden of trying to make your life right and ask God for his strength.
