Introductions

Intro:

Last week, we talked briefly about the historical and biblical context to the book of Colossians:

In the Lycus Valley, near Ephesus

Full of love for the brethren

Paul had never been

Area full of false doctrine and misguided philosophies

Reminds us of the sufficiency of Christ

To the Saints

Colossians 1:1–4 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,

Paul makes known to the Church here who is writing to them, and why they should heed his letter

Though he makes known he is an Apostle, he also makes known that he is not lording that position over anyone, as we also cites the young Timothy and calls him “brother.” Paul also makes known that he has not attained to the office of an Apostle by his own merit or desire or character; rather, he is made an apostle by the will and grace of God!

We know that Paul would have so much to boast about, if anything according to the flesh mattered. Yet, he lays aside all of that and humbly does not lord his title over other people. He would have the authority to make commands, or to do this or that, but he consistently goes out of his way to remove his own rights for the sake of the brothers whom he loves so dearly.

“To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ”

“Saints” is a word which often is misused today. Due to a certain Catholic teaching, we often think of saints as those brothers in the faith who have gone to glory before us, such as Stephen the Martyr. However, though they are saints, so are you if you are in Christ!

“Saint” means holy ones! All who are in Christ are now made holy, and we are commanded to live holy lives, as we saw in 1 Peter, “Be holy as I am holy.” All saved and true believers in Christ, then, are in fact saints.

“We give thanks to God … since we have heard of your faith in Christ and the love which you have for all the saints,”

This is only part of the sentence here, but it is important to understand Paul’s perspective.

He has not been to Colossae, and has heard that these believers are so full of love and faith! Therefore, because he has heard this from people he trusts (namely, Epaphras), he is “praying always” for them and giving thanks for them!

How often are we praying for and giving thanks for the brothers and sisters that we know, let alone those we don’t? Maybe since we have been around the Church for so long, we kind of take the Body of Christ for granted and forget that how amazing it is that we get to all be coworkers in the Gospel! If being thankful and praying without ceasing is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus, should we not be continuously thankful for the Body of Christ, and for those faithful Christians we have built wonderful relationships with?

I am very thankful for this congregation, and the opportunities I have been blessed with through your kindness and understanding — and I never want to take that for granted! Take a second, and call to mind someone here, or something about this congregation that you are particularly thankful for.

The Spreading Word

Colossians 1:5–8 LSB

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.

v. 5 could well be said to mean the Colossian Christians’ faith and love were caused by the hope “laid up for you in heaven” which they had been taught.

Is this not what separates the Christian from, say, the Nihilist or other philosophical groups? We as Christians know our hope of eternal life is waiting for us and is being guarded for us in heaven with God! Why would we ever live in any kind of way except in faith and love of the Church! We all share in unity the same hope and promise; we all should, therefore, share a common love!

“...just as in all the world...”

This same hope already been disseminated all over the known world!

Mark 16:15–16 “15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

The Gospel was being made known to all creation in every place and was bearing the same fruit in every place it went: Faith, Hope, Love.

Disseminated how? Through the work of the Church to make it known in every place, about which we sing! Do we live that song out?

Ephaphras was the one who told them the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Who told you? Who have you told? There are tons of false gospels even right in our own area — who will tell them the truth?

Conclusion

A. Are we praying for one another in the Church, even for those whom we know?

If Paul prayed regularly even for those Christians whom he had not yet met, how do you think he prayed for those he personally knew?

Do we not owe it in love to take up the privilege of praying for one another?

B. Are we making the true gospel known?

We are not all called to plant churches or be over-seas missionaries. But we are all called to shine our light and make Jesus known. Yet, we make every excuse we can conjure not to do so. Isn’t that rebellion?