Rooted and Established in Christ

The letter to the Colossians

A letter written by the Apostle Paul to Christians in Asia Minor. Written from prison, in about 60 AD.

4 chapters, 95 verses. It’s often called a “friendly” letter from Paul, because the Colossians are not in outright conflict, rebellion, or crisis— yet. But a dear friend and co-worker with Paul, Epaphras, has met with Paul to discuss the problems that are beginning to pop up. So Paul, who has never met these Christians, makes good use of his time behind bars and pens a wonderful masterpiece of encouragement, correction, direction, and inspiration.

The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon are believed to have been written by Paul from prison sometime 60 to 62 AD. At that time, Nero was the cruel and insane emperor of the Roman Empire..

From prison, Paul had heard that the Colossian Christians, who had at one time been strong in their faith, were now vulnerable to deception about the faith. He wrote to refute each of the theological errors the Colossians were tempted to embrace. The letters, however, take readers far beyond these issues of deception.

We will spend the next 9 weeks or so examining and reflecting on this great work.

Context: Colosse

100 miles east of Ephesus

Epaphras most likely helped plant the church.

MAP

Colosse was once a very important city, but now is decreasing in influence. Known for wool production and dyeing.

Lets turn now to this awesome letter, and remember, we are not just reading some ink on a page— we are reading the very words of God, you’re holding in your hands the actual translated words that Paul, a prisoner in Rome, wrote to a group of believers, a church, trying to live out a Christ-centered life together… This is powerful. These words are alive.

Written by Paul

Written to the Christians in Colosse

Written in 60 AD

Written to address heresy that was creeping into their teaching.

The primary themes of the letter are the supremacy of Christ in the universe, and the sufficiency of Christ to save us from sin and darkness.

Colossians 1:1–2 ESV

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 at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Congregation: The Colossians

Colossians 1:3–6 ESV

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 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, 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,

Three aspects of this congregation that Paul notes:

faith in Christ Jesus (vv.4)

love they have for all (vv.4)

hope laid up for them (vv.5)

Also, Paul now acknowledges Epaphras. These verses are primarily why we can believe that he first shared the gospel with them.

Lord, we pray that we too would be known for these characteristics. Faith, Love, and Hope.

Crisis: A conflict of influences

Historians and scholars speculate greatly on what exactly Epaphras was observing in these new believers, that would give him concern. The “Colossian Heresy” is still being discussed and debated, but the majority of historians believe that the Colossians were being slowly pressured to “add” to their faith in Christ.

Mystical Polytheism-

Many among them had grown up worshipping many gods. The Greek and Roman myths were full of “deities”. Some suggested that Jesus is simply another one of these gods to be worshipped right alongside all the rest!

Observance of Jewish Law-

At the same time, there were Jews who claimed that these new Christians needed to complete their full commitment to God by adopting and following the traditions and feasts, festivals, and laws of the Torah.

For Paul and Epaphras, giving in to either of these conflicting worldviews is to compromise, and actually a failure to grasp who Jesus really is!

Does that sound familiar for us today? Yes, and amen. We too live among these conflicting pressures. On the one hand, a world that is full of idols. Money, possessions, success, Sexuality, substances, media, power, control, politics, all being raised high and worshipped. But at the same time, we sometimes can feel a clinging to our traditions for security, finding solace in following a certain set of guidelines for our faith. We can sometimes retreat and find security in our traditions or our man made “laws”— a way of life, a way of dressing, worshipping, etc. Here we can loose sight of the most important things. Both sides are idolatry, placing something in addition to Jesus---and we can benefit from Paul’s letter as much as the original recipients within the Colossian church did!

So faced with this crisis of influence, Paul gives them (and us) the cure:

Cure: “Apostolic” prayer

Colossians 1:9–10 ESV

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:11–12 ESV

11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

These powerful and prayerful words on our behalf give us so much to learn and consider!

What does Paul pray for the Colossians? That they:

Be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding

Hosea 4:6 ESV

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Bear fruit in good work and increase in knowledge of God

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Be strengthened with all power, according to His might

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Have endurance and patience with joy

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Give thanks for the inheritance

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I see a Sequence and perhaps a flowchart in each of these that might help us remember them even better:

Paul prays that we might KNOW God’s will

Live our lives in a way that pleases God

Producing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Love Joy Peace Patience…)

Having strength, endurance, patience and joy from God directly

Being Thankful in all things.

Then he ends this section with a most powerful declaration:

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

That’s it, isn’t it. We were in darkness, but now we aren’t. We were blind but now we see. How did that happen? Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again. That’s it.

Do you want to see young people grow in their faith?

Paul doesn’t begin his letter here in going after the false doctrine or the attacking to correct the people who were teaching incorrectly. He doesn’t scold them— he prays for them.

He doesn’t confront the negative— He magnifies the positive. Might we be more effective in our encouragement of others by starting with a prayer for them that is modeled after these magnificent words? That they may grow in their knowledge of God’s will— live a life that pleases him, bear fruit, be strengthened to have patience and endurance and thankfulness. Amen.

“The gospel message does not center in a philosophy, a doctrine, or a religious system. It centers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

― Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Complete (Colossians): Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be

Walnut Creek Mennonite Church was founded and had our first service on November 9th, 1862. This coming November 6th, 2022, we will surpass the 160 year mark. Our church, and the Anabaptist and Mennonite history, is the story- among other issues, of a body of believers navigating the pressures and influences of culture with our commitment to Christ and growing in Him through scripture.

Lester Hostetler, a longtime leader here in our history, reflects on why Walnut Creek Mennonite was founded:

“Through more organization and more cooperation in the work would make us better laborers in the Master’s vineyard.”- History of Amish Mennonite Church at Walnut Creek, OH.

Organization and cooperation— together we are working the Master’s vineyard until he returns. What a great thought.

Think of someone you love very dearly. You want them to grow in their faith. You want to see them grow to love Jesus and serve him with their gifts and talents. I think of our youth and children first off.

Here’s how we make this real:

Study the prayer in verses 9-14 once again, evaluating if you are growing in these ways.

Pray these powerful words over that person, or group of people you love and want to see grow in faith.