Col. 1:1-2

Long ago we used to write letters.  Back before everything was instant including communication.  We’d write letters to provide important information for people and to express our feelings  toward our friends and loved ones.  When I started in ministry I usually had a roll of postage stamps in my desk drawer so that I could send letters and postcards to people.

Some letters we’d read and set aside without a second thought.  Other letters got more than one reading.  We’d read and reread looking for certain phrases and hidden meanings.  Does he like me a lot or does he love me?   I’ve even seen letters that are framed.

Can you remember the last time you lingered over a letter?  Or wrote one? 

God has given us a book about Himself that has letters.  He spoke through these letters when they were written.  And He speaks through them now.  In the next several weeks I want to unpack a NT letter.  I hope and pray we all hear God speak through this letter. 

When Paul wrote a letter he used an established structure.  He followed the structure but would adapt it to meet his purpose for each letter.  The letter was written to a specific people in a particular place with certain issues he needed to address.

Ancient letters were structured with an opening greeting.  Paul used the greeting to set the tone for his letter.

In the greeting…

· He identifies himself.

· He identifies the recipients.

· He offers a prayerful wish.

Four words to capture the substance of these two verses…

Truth, Transform, Team and Theme.

Starting with truth…

Of all the ways he could describe himself, Paul chose apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wanted his readers to know that this letter carried “weight.”  The weight of his authority….derived authority.  Not from a school or other institution.  His credibility to address their issues came directly from Christ in a life-changing encounter.  He became an authorized agent of the Lord.  Called by God as a steward of the truth. 

The danger of lies.  Compromising the truth.

An “apostle” can be anyone who is sent.  But there were special apostles appointed by Jesus. Paul was not just any messenger but a messenger by the will of God.  Not authorized by man but by God. 

Galatians 1:11-24.

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.[a] 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born,[b] and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to[c] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;[d] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

In this letter he gently asserts his authority.  His purpose is not to frustrate but to serve them.  Some were chasing lies and Paul is reminding them of the truth.  They were drifting into darkness and so he shines the light of the Gospel he received directly from Christ. 

Paul met his enemy and everything changed.

His sense of reality changed.  His identity changed.  His everyday agenda changed when he embraced a whole new set of values.

Transform…reality as I’ve come to see it, and grasp it in Christ has changed my life.

An all-time about face.

Acts 22:3-20

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel[a] according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand[b] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

Philippians 3:4-8

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[a] blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Lessons

· Jesus can turn anyone’s life around.  Edit anyone’s story.  Redirect anyone’s path.  Correct anyone’s mistakes.  Jesus has transforming power.  He can make us new. 

· The once I was, but now I am story. 

What I would be and what He made me story.

The disaster that might have been and glory that is now and coming.

· Jesus gives our lives meaning and a purpose worth passionately pursuing.   And even suffering and dying is a privilege.  Paul is an example of someone being totally convinced and all in.

The transformation of the Colossians

Saints are holy ones.  Not a class of dead Christians but chosen and set apart.  Separated from the world.  Not perfect.  Not complete.  But belonging to God to be used as He wills.  Increasingly taking on the family likeness. 

To be holy is to be in relationship with God with the privileges and obligations arising from that relationship. 

Faithfulness is our goal.

One of the main reasons Paul wrote this letter is because in Colosse a philosophy was spreading that diminished the supremacy of Christ.  Calling them faithful was a subtle reminder to them to stay faithful.  To follow through on their faith commitment.

From estranged and hostile to saints and family.

Team…

Now they’re on Christ’s team and that’s Paul’s team.

The Gospel impacts how we see and identify and treat people.  Paul valued people.

Look at what Paul says about the Colossians.  This is how he sees them and how they should see themselves.  And how we should see ourselves.

· That’s why he mentions Timothy.  Timothy is a brother, Paul’s child and a faithful co-worker. Consider how he describes other fellow workers in this letter.

· Paul’s credibility comes not just from his authority as an apostle but from his commitment to team play. 

· And though he hasn’t personally met them he’s opening relational channels with the Colossians.

They actually have two locations…in Colosse and in Christ. 

We’re not in Colosse we take up our own space in the world.  We have our own sphere of existence and influence.

They’re in Christ and so are we.

Our spatial location is _______and our spiritual location is in Christ. 

What does it mean to be in Christ?

Joined with Him.  Connected to Him.  United with Him.  Identified with Him.

·   He’s the vine and I’m the branch.  He’s the Head and we’re the body. 

· We share in Christ’s experience – I died with Him and rose with Him.

· He determines our behavior.  I can’t be into sin and in Christ.

· All humanity is either in Christ or in Adam.

Theme

The cherished words Paul uses to encourage the Colossians. 

Grace and peace

Grace describes the way God moves toward us.  The fact that He moves toward us at all is an act of grace.  He moved toward Adam and Eve and clothed them.  He moved toward Cain and offered him a way through the angry rage he was about to act on.  Noah found favor with God.   

Loving intentions.  His incredible generosity.  Unmerited favor freely given.  Ephesians 2:8-9.

Peace – John 20.  The resurrected Christ makes peace a reality. 

I couldn’t pray for and wish anything better for all of you.