Sermon Tone Analysis

Colossians 1:1-8

Introduction to Passage:

Turn with me in your Bibles to Colossians Chapter 1.

It is always wise to examine the background of a letter before you jump into it.

Since this is our first Sunday in this book lets examine a few things first.

Colossians is the most profound letter Paul ever wrote.

The church today desperately needs the message of Colossians.

We live in a day when religious toleration is interpreted to mean “one religion is just as good as another.”

Some people try to take the best from various religious systems and manufacture their own private religion.

To many people, Jesus Christ is only one of several great religious teachers, with no more authority than they.

He may be prominent, but He is definitely not preeminent.

This is a letter written by Paul to the Church in Colossae.

This is a city that Paul hasn’t visited yet, while he was ministering in Ephesus for three years, a man named Epaphras heard the gospel and brought it to the city of Colossae where evidently a church started.

Colossae was once a large and glorious city but over time and by the time of this writing it had really gotten small and run down as other cities Laodicea and Hierapolis grew, the other two cities in this area in modern day Turkey.

Because of its location it was a melting pot, of religions, philosophy and ideas, all sorts of new ideas came into this area from the East and a large Jewish population had grown up in the city as well.

This city was a fertile ground for religious speculations and heresies.

So Paul heard news of this church in Colossae from Epaphrus and writes this letter to encourage and warn them of the danger of adding anything to Christ and the Gospel.

Join me as I read Colossians chapter 1 verses 1-8.

Read Col 1:1-8

(Pray)

Introduction to Sermon

Let’s imagine Paul sitting on house arrest in Rome.

He is awaiting a trial and all the while he is allowed visitors.

His friend Epaphrus comes in after traveling from Colossae.

He begins to tell Paul of the new church plant and how the men and women their are established in the faith, they are growing in Christ.

How they live the Gospel.

Yet there is a problem, some new teachings have come to them and it is creating problems, so Paul writes this letter to them to refute the false teachings that have attempted to destroy the gospel in Colossae.

Paul is Thankful for them and he begins in typical letter writing fashion.

Greeting

a. From:

In typical form Paul introduces himself in verse 1, it is not uncommon for him to introduce himself as an apostle (sent one) sent by the will of God.

Along with Timothy his partner in the work.

Paul has authority because of his status as apostle one called by Jesus Christ.

We can read these words in our Bible as authoritative as God-breathed inspired because it comes from Paul the Apostle.

b.

To:

Verse 2 tells us who this is to, the church at Colossae.

He calls them saints and faithful brothers.

Saints, that is the holy ones.

We who know Jesus are all called saints because of Christs atoning sacrifice, his death for our sins.

Transition: Paul has serious warnings for the church but he starts by telling them what he is thankful for.

One way to look at this passage is to ask are you grateful for the church?

As Paul here writes.

Or we could look at it and ask are we a church that Paul would be thankful for?

This is where I would like to go today.

When we read this passage we see a church that lives the Gospel, has a hope based on the Gospel and teaches the Gospel.

We must be a church that lives the Gospel (vs 3-5a)

Paul is thankful for how this church lives the Gospel and he gives a three ways that this church in Colossae are living out the gospel.

We should examine ourselves insight of these to see if we are in Christ ourselves.

Many people will call themselves Christians yet they don’t show the fruit of that faith.

Some may have said a prayer once and yet never again sought Jesus.

I would rather we all spent extra time today examining ourselves for saving faith then spend an eternity regretting not spending that time.

Paul is thankful for the Church at Colossae because they evidence salvation, three evidences, faith, love hope.

Start with faith.

a.

First they have Faith in Jesus Christ (vs 4)

Turn your attention to verse 4 “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,” Paul thanks God for the faith that they have, but not just any faith but faith in Christ Jesus.

To be a gospel church, it has to be comprised of Christians, men and women who trust only in Jesus Christ.

Ask ourselves is our church comprised of true believers?

How do we know if someone is a true believer in Jesus?

It will help us to define faith: “state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted, trust, confidence, faith”

So trust is a closer English word, a relying on the person of Christ.

This is more than an intellectual assent of the Gospel.

Many may believe that Jesus is Christ that He died and rose again for our sins, but many won’t trust in him.

(James 2:19).

Your trust must be in Christ alone.

Type to enter text

There is no need for us to worry about angelic mediators or spiritual emanations.

God has sent His Son to die for us!

Every person who believes on Jesus Christ is saved and is a part of His body, the church, of which He is the Head (Col.

1:18).

We are united to Christ in a wonderful living relationship!

Saving faith involves the mind, the emotions, and the will.

With the mind we understand the truth of the Gospel, and with the heart we feel conviction and the need to be saved.

But it is only when we exercise the will and commit ourselves to Christ that the process is complete.

Faith is not mental assent to a body of doctrines, no matter how true those doctrines may be.

Faith is not emotional concern.

Faith is commitment to Jesus Christ.

b.

Love For the Saints (vs 4)

Faith in Jesus Christ produces love for other believers, see 4b, “and of the love that you have for all the saints,” Paul has in mind here, not just their local church but all believers.

Ask ourselves do we love other believers?

First we have a specific, our love is toward a specific group, other saints, those who truly have faith in Christ.

What does this love entail?

It involves self sacrificial love, it involves actions thinking of others as more important than selves.

c.

Hope in Heaven (5a)

Faith, Love and finally here we have hope, Christians, true Christians have faith in Christ alone for their salvation, Christians have love for one another, not just when it is convenient, and Finally we have hope in heaven.

Our hope is not in this world,

Illustration: When missionary John G. Paton was translating the Bible in the Outer Hebrides, he searched for the exact word to translate believe.

Finally, he discovered it: the word meant “lean your whole weight upon.”

That is what saving faith is—leaning your whole weight upon Jesus Christ.

2) Hope Based on the Gospel Message (vs 5b-6)

a. It’s truth (5b)

It is the “Word of truth” (v. 5, niv).

This means that it came from God and can be trusted.

“Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17).

There are many messages and ideas that can be called true, but only God’s Word can be called truth.

Satan is the liar; to believe his lies is to be led astray into death (John 8:44).

Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6); when we trust Him, we experience life.

Men have tried to destroy God’s truth, but they have failed.