20-10-21 PM, Colossians, The Preeminence of Christ- Spiritual Fruit Colossians 1.1-8
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20-10-7 PM, Colossians, The Preeminence of Christ- Spiritual Fruit Colossians 1.1-8
INTRO
Constant question for believers-
Is Jesus sufficient for salvation and godliness?
How does Jesus and the Word of God measure up against the ideas we run across in the world?
Does the Bible and the gospel hold its own against ideas like naturalistic evolution or postmodern relativism or political philosophy?
Should we be fearful that some atheist is going to point out something which unravels the whole Christian faith?
If Christians are not confident that the doctrine of Christ can stand on its own, should they modify it? Should they weave into the fabric of Christianity some threads from these ideologies, to make it sound better?
Human beings are a thinking group. We are an innovative group. This is all fine and good except when we try to innovate regarding what God has said.
Liberal Christianity in the 18th020th centuries is an example of this: so-called Christians who rejected the face value meaning of Scripture and attempted to replace the miracles of the OT with liberal teachings like “Christ only as moral teacher” and the “intrinsic goodness of humanity.”
Nowadays most of liberal theology is liberation theology which believes salvation is only in terms of social liberation of the oppressed.
So what do we do?
The Christians in Colossae faced this temptation just as we do. In Colossae, they had two groups of innovators.
Pre-Gnostics- In the church, they started to have people who loved Greek Philosophy, particularly those which made a radical difference between the spiritual and material things.
They wanted to teach that material things were evil, spiritual was good, and that our souls were trapped in the body, trying to get out. They argued you needed special knowledge (gnosis), beyond Scripture, in order to see your spirit free. These folks argued Jesus was simply a spiritual emanation of God and that He did not really come in the flesh.
To them, Jesus and the Word of God were not sufficient. Today you still see this whenever someone tries to tell you that you need a special knowledge or condition to really benefit as a Christian- special anointing of the Spirit or special knowledge of prophecy. There is always some kind of idea that a special person has the inside track that’s only available through him. You see the same trick in the world of stock investing and health and wellness.
The other group of innovators were those of Jewish folklore- This was a blend of two things:
legalism- which taught you had to be a Jew first, including circumcision, ceremonial rituals of the OT law and asceticism, in order to be saved.
myths- This heresy also had some strange elements mixed in like worship of angels and high mysticism.
To both of these sets of innovators, Jesus and the apostles teachings were lacking.
Each of these taught a Jesus+ type theology. To each of these, the main instruction of the letter relates:
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.
These innovations were not the things the Colossians received from Paul.
During his three year stay in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey, the church was formed in Colossae about 100 miles away probably by Epaphras.
Epaphras was probably saved when he visited Ephesus and witnessed Paul’s teaching at the Hall of Tyrannus.
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.
This young church started very well, but soon got into trouble with heresy, so much so that Epaphras traveled from Colossae to Rome to talk to Paul about the issues. Paul was a prisoner in Rome, waiting for his appeal to Caesar to be heard.
The church in Colossae was not a hobby for Epaphras, or for Paul. These leaders sacrificed much for these small local churches of believers. They saw them as precious to God, central to the mission of God.
This makes me think, “What would I do for the sake of First Baptist Church, Harrah? Or the church in the EOC?
So, Paul wrote the Colossians a letter. Another servant named Tychicus (Tich-i-kus) delivered it to the church.
Three things you are going to hear from Paul in this letter.
1. Christ is preeminent, sufficient, and the gospel is without parallel. Paul doesn’t flinch one bit as he states that Jesus is infinitely greater than any manmade ideology, additive, and deception.
2. Christians should have unflinching confidence in this belief. We must work to make sure we are not accommodating the Word of God to culture. Translation is acceptable, but not accommodation.
3. Someday soon these claims will be known to all.
So we should live like Noah who looked foolish building that boat, until it started to rain.
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1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul is the author. He calls himself an apostle. This word means “sent one”. It was a tactful way to articulate his authority in Christ and his humility.
Paul’s life was defined by His calling by the Lord God. His life as an Apostle was not one he would have chosen. Rather, it is one dictated to him by God’s will. That calling was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.
Remember, Paul persecuted the church, but he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. He witnessed the risen Christ and heard His voice. From that moment on, Paul was a transformed man- given whole-heartedly to the advancement of the gospel- to the Jews and to the Gentiles.
He had the privilege to see Christ. He also had the privilege of real and special revelation to bolster his faith.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
He believed because he saw. This raises the question? What do we do that Paul is claiming special knowledge and saying these others do not have real special knowledge? Who do we believe, if we believe any of them?
Faith, Paul offers evidence that he has indeed received the special revelation. God has performed in Paul signs and wonders, Paul’s lack of personal gain, Paul’s suffering, the general good of the message.
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In the greeting, Paul cites Timothy as well. Timothy is Paul’s child in the faith who accompanied Paul on the most incredible missionary journeys. Timothy also was unswerving in his convictions about the supremacy of Christ because he too had seen God advance His kingdom in incredible ways.
A question for all Christians to ask is, “What have you seen that makes you believe?” Who do you trust and why? Christians should revisit these stories often.
As you are a witness of the gospel, what evidences to you offer which give proof that your words are legit?
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
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Saints- “Holy Ones”, faithful brothers in Christ. Faithful is only used in Paul’s writing to refer to believers.
Note also it is written to a church family, several churches meeting in the city of Colossae (This was probably to be read aloud to churches in nearby Laodicea and Hierapolis).
Grace to you- an appeal for further grace beyond that by which they were saved; continuing unmerited kindness which the Father lavishes upon His children. God the Father- Source of grace
General Grace
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Special Grace
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
As much as God is a source of grace, He is also the source of peace.
In our relationship with Him and with others
In the midst of or circumstances.
General well- being
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3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
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Paul gives thanks for several reasons. First, because of their salvation.
It is a big deal for people to become spiritually alive. We should never forget how impossible this is without God. When we see other people become Christians, regenerate, spiritually animated, it is appropriate to thank God because He made life to happen through redemption. We get to see the Mission Dei at work! Paul and Timothy certainly did.
They probably remembered the day they found out that a church had started in Colossae. What a happy day that was to see it happen, especially when they were not directly involved. It must have been exciting and a boost of confidence that indeed the gospel is powerful to transform people.
Given that they are still indirectly involved in the life of the church (with the exception of this letter), they utilized prayer for the Colossians, asking God that they will hold true to the faith.
Yesterday we went visiting several of our senior adults. One common lament was that they wanted to be a part, directly, of worship and serving. I tried to encourage them that in this season, while they are unable to attend, one of the most powerful things they can “do” is pray. Prayer turns you from indirect involvement to direct involvement.
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4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
People made alive in Christ are different people as they walk in the Spirit of Truth. They live differently. They have some new characteristics.
Paul and Timothy knew this to be true about the Colossians, because they heard about the behavior from Epaphras.
They gave thanks and prayed for the Colossians because of their spiritual fruit of the Colossians-
Faith- Saving belief in Christ Jesus
They believed in the person and work of Jesus Christ-
His identity as the Son of God
His vicarious sacrifice on the Cross
His resurrection
His ascension
His resurrection
Daily faith for living
Along with the point of the letter comes this question- Is faith in Jesus Christ enough for salvation and life?
How do you see your faith in Christ manifested in your life? What is your salvation testimony? What are your benchmark God stories? How did your faith in Christ manifest today?
Love- for all the saints; Christian love is the natural product of faith in Christ
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The Colossians had a reputation of caring for one another. It appears they had a network which helped these Christians to take care of these groups of Christians in and around Colossae, Laodicea, and Heirapolis.
The point of the book raises another question-
Is the Holy Spirit adequate to elevate us from hatred and indifference to compassion and love?
How do you see love (spiritual genetic) from God manifested in your life toward the saints? How do you share what you have with others? In what ways do you need to extend grace and forgiveness to others as God has extended it towards you?
and...
Another fruit...
Hope
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,
Something else about the Colossians was that they reflected a lot on their hope of heaven and the New Creation. This anticipation of future glory and the stage for worship and relationship with God affected the way they lived their lives in the present. They lived for today in the reality of the future.
They studied the apostles teachings on the eschaton and talked about it hopefully with one another.
Is hope in the new creation enough to get Christians through earthly life?
Have you ever noticed the division that exists when we talk about the eschaton? It is often a theological debate rather than a source of fellowship and comfort.
How do you manifest this hope in your life? Do you do a regular, “if my life were to end today...” reality check? These are good practice in perspective for the day that when we get that sobering news that our end us upon us. If we are unsure about the New Creation, then we leave it to desperate days to become students of it, instead of being comforted by it.
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In v. 5, Paul completes his accolade of their spiritual fruit and starts to remind them of the source of it…the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ, which they heard from him through Epaphras.
How they came to have Faith, Love, and Hope? It came by the Gospel, Word of Truth- the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus christ.
The gospel is powerful and effective
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
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Of the gospel, Paul says
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,
The gospel message, when accepted, has some predictable effects:
it bears fruit and increases in the whole world- Faith, Love, and Hope
believers grow as a new people group who believe in Jesus Christ and form churches all around the globe.
The increase is both qualitative and numerical. Both are oriented toward the addition of praise to the glory of God.
This increase was seen in the world generally and it was seen in Colossae specifically.
As it is here in FBC Harrah and the church of believers in Harrah, America
There should be increase both in quality and quantity. individually ans in us as a people.
Is it bearing fruit and increasing in you?
From the day you heard it, understood it and accepted it, it should have been growing in quality and quantity.
Has it? It is a strange thing to see “Christians” who’ve trusted in the Lord earlier in life, who’ve not grown, or have digressed in the faith. The Bible will make a strong argument that their lives have not evidenced a true conversion from the start. Our growing faith is proof of original conversion.
Is the Gospel sufficient to provide such a change/regeneration?
One of the things which is necessary for the gospel to take effect is for the it to be heard, understood, and accepted.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Understood it
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
and...
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Learned it
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Purpose of preaching and teaching; growth groups; Going in evangelism and missions.
How did you hear, understand, and accept? Have you reviewed that story of late? How have you gone?
The longer I do this I think going actually means going.
Epaphras- Their spiritual advocate
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.
Epaphras the preacher/teacher, servant, messenger to Colossae. He sacrificed greatly that these people might know the apostles teachings and mature in their faith in Christ.
Who is your spiritual advocate? Who are you advocating for? Who’s faith are you vouching for?
Now, this introduction is not without purpose. Paul’s purpose in writing is to press them to draw a line in the sand regarding the sound doctrine of Christ which they received from him. With this letter, he’s laying the groundwork to get them to shake things up and kick to the curb those heretics who are promoting a compromised version of Christ in the church.
For this reason, he reminds them about their testimony and their present spiritual fruit. The gospel has made a change in them that these new teachings could never even come close of.
The application of this is the simple theme of the questions we’ve been asking.
Is Christ and His Word enough in your heart and mind? Or do you have these little bastions where you compromise what you believe because of external wisdom?
Is there any fruit missing from your cornucopia? Why, if Christ is enough?
What is a knowledge blindspot about God’s word that you would like to grow in?
How are we as a body growing?