August 21, 2011
Morning Service

Colossians 1

 

Intro:

1. This will be the last of the prison epistles of the Apostle Paul.  Being in prison, and not able to move about and do, and go a lot of places, gives you plenty of time to think.  There have been a lot of people used this time to cultivate a relationship with God.  Plenty of time to read, and to pray.  The Apostle uses this time to write, and win people to Jesus Christ.
2. It is said, if Ephesians can be labeled the epistle portraying the “Church of Christ”, then Colossians must surely be the “Christ of the Church”.
3. Ephesians focuses on the Body, Colossians focuses on the Head.
4. Colossians shows that Christ is preeminent, first, and foremost in everything.
5. Colosse is located about 100 miles east of Ephesus.  This is the region of the 7 churches of Revelations.
6. We will see that Paul is addressing the false teachings that are trying to overthrow Christianity.  It combined Greek speculation, Jewish legalism, and Oriental mysticism.  Circumcision, dietary regulations, and ritual observances were included in these teachings.
7. Again it was Epaphroditus’s visit that prompted the writing of this letter.

 

Let’s begin:

Paul’s greeting to the Colossians:

Col 1:1-29 KJVR  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,  (2)  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (3)  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  (4)  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. 

• Paul is a prayer warrior.  He teaches us to pray without ceasing.
• Epaphras brought Paul this information, and it was a good report.
• Love never fails.  It’s what Jesus said to do, “love one another, as I have loved you.”

 

(5)  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;  (6)  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world;

• The hope.  “let not your hearts be troubled, ----------------------------------.” St.Jn. 14:1-3.
• Listen to Paul;  Tit 1:2 KJVR  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

 

and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 

• You see, this is the way it is supposed to work.  BRINGING FORTH FRUIT.  The fruit of the Spirit;  Gal 5:22-24 KJVR  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 

(7)  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;  (8)  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 

• This is the kind of report you want to hear.  Positive, uplifting, and encouraging.  It was not so in some of the reports he received, such as Corinth.  Paul had to address several issues that was happening.

 

Paul prays for the Colossians:

 

(9)  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

• In the Philippian letter it was TO KNOW HIM.
• The knowledge of His will.  1Th 4:3 KJVR  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 
• It is the will of God that Christians be set apart for His glory.  Producing the fruit of theSpirit.

 

 

(10)  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  (11)  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 

• That describes it very well.

(12)  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  (13)  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

• Do you feel that this is where you are this morning?  Do you understand Christian, that this is where you are in Christ this morning?
• Listen to Paul;  Rom 8:17 KJVR  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
• Delivered us from the power of darkness, or this present evil world.  If you have decided to live for Christ, you will not be involved with all the things of this world that will bring you trouble, and heart aches.
• Translated into the kingdom of His dear Son, this is present tense.  This is your position in Christ this morning.  In His kingdom.
• In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

Christ is preeminent in creation:

(15)  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

• Jesus told Philip one time;  Joh 14:9 KJVR  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
• John says this;  Joh 1:1-3 KJVR  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• And since Jesus is alive, and well, He still is the Head of His church, and always will be.
• First born from the dead;  He has risen bodily.  Everyone else is waiting on the resurrection.  Except Enoch, and Elijah.  Read the resurrection chapter ICor. 15.

Christ is preeminent in Redemption:

(19)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;  (20)  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  (21)  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  (22)  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight:  (23)  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

·     Notice;  if you continue in the faith.

Christ is preeminent in the church:

(24)  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:  (25)  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;  (26)  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  (27)  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

·     Just think, God has chosen to reveal to us a mystery that no one had known before.  “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

(28)  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  (29)  Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

 

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD, AND HELP YOUR CHURCH RETURN TO THE PURITY OF IT.