2022-2-27
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Willingness to lose freedom to announce Christ
Demas vs. John Mark
Archippus
Aristarchus was from Thessalonica. Along with Tychicus, he was part of the trustworthy transport to bring the money from the Gentile churches to the Jewish church in Jerusalem.
4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
We all know that Paul was in prison for the cause of Christ. He tells the Colossians to “Remember my chains.” (Colossians 4:18). We speculate that Paul was released from this imprisonment, and was later arrested under harsher conditions at the Mamertine prison. Tradition says that he was beheaded under Roman persecution.
In this context of Paul’s house arrest, which is the case in this letter to the Colossians, some of the names of those mentioned in this letter are fellow prisoners. Others are simply acting as his supporters in Rome, but they are not in prison with him.
It is almost certainly because Rome frowns on Christianity at this time that they are in chains.
This passage tells us that Aristarchus is a fellow prisoner.
Epaphras, the likely founder of the church at Colossae, was also a prisoner with Paul (Philemon 23).
We know Timothy is with Paul (1:1), he spent some time in Jail (Hebrews 13:23).
The point to recognize is that Paul and his companions were willing to be arrested for the cause of Christ.
This means that they were committed to preaching and teaching about Jesus. They were committed to sowing the gospel in the marketplace and among networks of people.
When the Roman authorities didn’t like it, they told them to stop or else. These Christians kept on speaking about Christ. They lived by the words of the apostles in Acts who were arrested by the Sanhedrin.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Illustration
Illustration
Application
Application
So, commitment to the cause of Christ is not only measured by how much of your time, treasure, and talents are applied toward it. Your commitment to the cause of Christ is expressed in our willingness suffer while being obedient.
God has told us to be witnesses for Jesus.
Government, employers, neighbors, and family tell you not to speak about Jesus.
What do you do?
But what if it will hurt you?
So be it.
Now, it is important that should you suffer, it is is not for doing something unrelated to the speaking the gospel.
Company policies that say “do not talk about matters of faith with others.”
Don’t be muzzled in your witness by policy or ordinance.
Don’t let your witness be gagged by etiquette or mores. Think about things on an eternal level.
Speaking Christ to others involves tact and wisdom.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Paul also had with him John Mark, a Jewish Christian named Jesus (Justus).
Paul explained that Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus were all, like Paul, Jewish Christians.
He said that they were
14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Men and women played critical roles in the Great Commission.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
The proof of our salvation is found in our daily faithfulness and in the way we finish.
Mark and Demas
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Aristarchus was from Thessalonica. Along with Tychicus, he was part of the trustworthy transport to bring the money from the Gentile churches to the Jewish church in Jerusalem.
4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
We all know that Paul was in prison for the cause of Christ. He tells the Colossians to “Remember my chains.” (Colossians 4:18). We speculate that Paul was released from this imprisonment, and was later arrested under harsher conditions at the Mamertine prison. Tradition says that he was beheaded under Roman persecution.
In this context of Paul’s house arrest, which is the case in this letter to the Colossians, some of the names of those mentioned in this letter are fellow prisoners. Others are simply acting as his supporters in Rome, but they are not in prison with him.
It is almost certainly because Rome frowns on Christianity at this time that they are in chains.
This passage tells us that Aristarchus is a fellow prisoner.
Epaphras, the likely founder of the church at Colossae, was also a prisoner with Paul (Philemon 23).
We know Timothy is with Paul (1:1), he spent some time in Jail (Hebrews 13:23).
The point to recognize is that Paul and his companions were willing to be arrested for the cause of Christ.
This means that they were committed to preaching and teaching about Jesus. They were committed to sowing the gospel in the marketplace and among networks of people.
When the Roman authorities didn’t like it, they told them to stop or else. These Christians kept on speaking about Christ. They lived by the words of the apostles in Acts who were arrested by the Sanhedrin.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Illustration
Illustration
Application
Application
So, commitment to the cause of Christ is not only measured by how much of your time, treasure, and talents are applied toward it. Your commitment to the cause of Christ is expressed in our willingness suffer while being obedient.
God has told us to be witnesses for Jesus.
Government, employers, neighbors, and family tell you not to speak about Jesus.
What do you do?
But what if it will hurt you?
So be it.
Now, it is important that should you suffer, it is is not for doing something unrelated to the speaking the gospel.
Company policies that say “do not talk about matters of faith with others.”
Don’t be muzzled in your witness by policy or ordinance.
Don’t let your witness be gagged by etiquette or mores. Think about things on an eternal level.
Speaking Christ to others involves tact and wisdom.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Paul also had with him John Mark, a Jewish Christian named Jesus (Justus).
Paul explained that Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus were all, like Paul, Jewish Christians.
He said that they were
14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Men and women played critical roles in the Great Commission.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
The proof of our salvation is found in our daily faithfulness and in the way we finish.
Mark and Demas
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
