The Impact of Faith

The Setting

The Impact of Rome - Rome ruled or was a major player in the world political scene for over 1500 years. At their pinnacle, the Roman empire stretched over 2 million miles, from England to India. The success of Rome was centered around three major distinctions: Roman road, the Roman peace, and Roman law.

The Roman road system was amazing. At the pinnacle, there were over 250,00 miles of roads that stretched throughout the Roman empire all leading back to Rome. In Ancient time, travel was something that you did at your own risk. There were great perils in travelling so most people did it very little. The Roman roads made travel more possible for the everyday people and especially made commerce more accessible from one area of the world to another. The Roman road system introduce multiple cultures to one another. This had a dramatic impact on the religious world. Syncretism began to become common place.

Simply put, syncretism is the integration of aspects of other beliefs into your belief system to create a new belief system. This kind of syncretism would lead to a watering down of the faith and to the door being open for false teachings to hold ground in the church. Paul knew that this new church in Colosse would face these concerns as they prepared to face tomorrow.

Colossians is written to a church of new Christians in the town of Colosse. Paul had never travelled to Colosse, but in Ephesus, Epaphras heard the gospel spoken by Paul and he shared the truth of Christ with his brothers and sisters in Colosse. As a result of Epaphras love for his neighbors and his sharing of the good news, the church in Colosse was birthed. Epaphras has come to visit Paul in prison and shares with him the news of the church in Colosse. In hearing of the faithfulness of the church and the obstacles that await them on the horizon, Paul writes the letter to the Colossians to encourage them and warn them.

Colossians is written to a church of new Christians in the town of Colosse. Paul had never travelled to Colosse, but in Ephesus, Epaphras heard the gospel spoken by Paul and he shared the truth of Christ with his brothers and sisters in Colosse. As a result of Epaphras love for his neighbors and his sharing of the good news, the church in Colosse was birthed. Epaphras has come to visit Paul in prison and shares with him the news of the church in Colosse. In hearing of the faithfulness of the church and the obstacles that await them on the horizon, Paul writes the letter to the Colossians to encourage them and warn them.

Pax Romana - Roman Peace - Rome had created a semblance of peace within the walls of the empire with relative efficiency throughout their rule. There were local skirmishes at times, but the level of order and peace that the Roman governing system was able to achieve was unmatched in this time in history. As a result of this peace, people began to be able to pursue their hopes and desires. People began to dream because their daily lives were being set free from much of the overwhelming daily pressures.

Roman Rule - Roman Law - Roman law put in place a system of rule that could be relied on. Rome developed a system of laws that judged on action and not on intent. As a result, people felt like justice would be served and that their cries could be heard.

All of this led to people placing their faith in Rome. Rome was their salvation. Roman rule was superior to the mess that they had endured before and now under Roman rule, they could see hope for a future. Their hope lied in Rome.

All for the Lord

Colossians 1:1-8

Colossians 1:1–8 NIV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Paul begins his letter by introducing himself and the authority by which he writes. The authority that Paul has is not his own. It is not based on anything that he has done, achieved, or accomplished. He is an apostle because of and by the Lord alone.

Paul further identifies those that he is writing to in the same manner, they are holy people because of God. It is because of God that they are faithful brothers and sisters.

Paul gives his standard greeting of grace and peace, but look even at that, grace and peace does not come from Paul, but rather comes from the Lord and is assured to occur because of the Lord.

There is praise to be had for the faith and love of the Colossians as they have embraced the hope of the gospel, but that praise, Paul gives to the Lord. This is fundamental in our faith is the understanding that all of our good, all of our love, all of our hope lies not in our own strength but is a direct result of God in our lives. Apart from Him, we could do nothing, but in Him, all things are possible.

Because of God

Paul praises God for shifting the hearts of the Colossians to see and taste the hope of heaven and as a result, they learned to love one another well because they saw one another in light of heaven. In light of heaven, we can be generous people of love. We can love abundantly because we know that great is the storehouse awaiting us. God’s abundance will never run out so we can be generous. In light of heaven, we can love through forgiveness because God has forgiven us. Even the most trying and damaged of relationships can be mended with love for God has mended our relationship with Him with love.