Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul in about 62 AD during his time in the Roman prison. He wrote Colossians about the same time as Ephesians and they share many similarities.

The theme of the book is the preeminence of Christ. That word “preeminence” describes a high status importance because of one’s superiority. It simply means that Christ is superior to all other beings because He is God. The book exalts Christ. The emphasis on Christ’s preeminence in this book is an indication that false teachers were undermining this truth.

By way of introducing this book, let me read a quote from Constable’s Notes. “Epaphras seems to have been the founder or one of the founders of the Colossian church (1:7; 4:12-13). He was a Colossian and had instructed the Christians there (1:7) and probably in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Perhaps Paul led him to Christ, maybe at Ephesus (cf. Acts 19:10).

Epaphras may have traveled to Rome to meet with Paul to secure his help in combating the influence of false teachers that were preaching in Colosse. Archippus may have stood in for Epaphras during his absence (4:17; Phile. 2).

The only information available to help us reconstruct the heresy threatening the church comes from indirect allusions and the emphases in this epistle. We conclude that the false teachers were not giving the person and work of Christ proper interpretation or emphasis. They were distorting and minimizing these doctrines. The false teaching also contained a philosophic appeal, whether Oriental or Hellenistic we cannot be sure (2:8). Notwithstanding there was an emphasis on higher knowledge of the cosmic order. There were also elements of Judaistic ritualism and traditionalism present (2:8, 11, 16; 3:11). However, contrary to orthodox Judaism, the false teachers were encouraging the veneration of angels who they believed controlled the operations of nature to some degree (2:18-19). There was an emphasis on ascetic self-denial (2:20-23) and apparently the idea that only those with full knowledge of the truth as taught by the false teachers could understand and experience spiritual maturity (1:20, 28; 3:11).” Constable’s Notes

Here is Warren Wiersbe’s helpful outline for this book.

  1. Doctrine: Christ’s Preeminence Declared, Col 1
  2. Danger: Christ’s Preeminence Defended, Col 2
  3. Duty: Christ’s Preeminence Demonstrated, Col 3-4

Paul begins the book by teaching about some of the great things Christ has done. Then he moves on to warn about false teachings that undermine the greatness of Christ. Finally, he tells us how Christ’s greatness ought to change our daily lives.

If I were to ask you make a list of all the things that make Christ great, how long would your list be? Here are a few of the things on Paul’s list in Colossians chapter one. Christ redeems, He forgives, He is the image of God, He created all things, He created them for Himself, He is before all things, by Him all things consist, He is the head of the body, He is the firstborn from the dead, God’s fullness dwells in Him, He made peace through His blood, and He works in believers.

Truly, Christ is all we need. He deserves our honour. After all He’s done for us, how dare we do less than give Him our best?

Transition

With the remainder of our time this evening, I want us to take a look at the first two verses and find some principles for our lives.

God Has a Will for Your Life

  1. Paul is the human author of the book
    1. Though Paul did not start the church at Colosse, he had a burden for their spiritual wellbeing. It appears that Epaphras started the church (v.7). As Paul wrote, Epaphras was in Rome where Paul was in prison (Col 4:12). Whether he was in Rome as a prisoner, on business or simply to visit Paul, we do not know.
    2. When Paul heard from Epaphras about the Colosse church and the problems they were having with false teachers, the Lord stirred his heart to write this letter to exalt Christ and to strengthen the believers against false teachers.
    3. Paul mentions that Timotheus or Timothy was also with him. Whether Timothy helped write the letter, we cannot say. However, he must have had a part more significant than all those who sent greetings at the end of the letter.
  2. God had a will for Paul’s life
    1. Paul identified himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. This is a frequent statement in Paul’s introductions. The Holy Spirit wanted people to know that Paul was an apostle even though he was not one of the original 12 disciples. God had a specific plan for his life.
    2. Paul states that his apostleship was “by the will of God”. After Paul was saved, note what God said to Ananias. (Acts 9:15) “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” God appointed Paul to be an apostle. He saw Christ on the road to Damascus and was commissioned directly by Christ to preach to the Gentiles. God told Paul “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)
      ☆ God has a plan or will for your life too. To discover God’s will for your life, you must surrender all to Him and ask Him to reveal it to you. He will not show you His will until you give Him FULL control of your life.

Every Christian is a Saint

  1. Salvation is the prerequisite of being a saint
    1. A saint is not a hero that is exalted by a church.
    2. The word “saint” simply means a holy one. No one can be holy without Christ’s salvation. Christ died to make men holy. (Colossians 1:22) “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
  2. Every saved person is a saint
    1. At the moment of salvation, Christ washes the sinner clean and makes him holy. (1 Corinthians 6:11) “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
    2. Being a saint, means being set apart from the wicked world to be clean for God’s service and glory.
      ☆ No Christian is sinless, but every true Christian is a new creature in Christ, set apart and made holy. Evidence of being a saint is seen in spiritual fruit. Every true Christian will bear fruit (e.g. obedience to God’s commands [1Jn 2:3], hunger for the Bible [Jn 8:31], understanding of God’s word [1Co 2:14], love for other Christians [1Jn 3:14], chastening for sin [Heb 12:5-8]). If your life lacks spiritual fruit, you need to examine your soul and make sure you are truly saved. Lack of fruit is very serious!

Every Christian Ought to be Faithful

  1. Faithfulness is a step beyond being a saint
    1. A “faithful” person is one who is trustworthy. He is one who remains true. He is one who is consistent. He is one who can be depended on. He knows what the Bible teaches and stands firmly on it. He is unswerving.
    2. Every true Christian is a saint, but not every saint is a faithful brother or sister in Christ. Some people in the Colosse church were truly saved, yet they were not faithful brethren in Christ. False teachers were confusing their thoughts about Christ.
  2. We are to be faithful brethren in Christ
    1. Many Christians today know very little about the Bible and about the doctrine of Christ.
    2. We must know what the Bible teaches about Christ. Then we must be faithful in our stand on the doctrine of Christ.
      ☆ Let me give you a challenge for this week. Read through the book of Colossians. Reading slowly it takes about 15 minutes. As you read, make a list of everything it teaches about Christ. Watch carefully and make a thorough list. You will be amazed at how much you will learn about Christ by doing this exercise.

Conclusion

God has a will for your life. Do you know God’s will for your life? Are you positive that you are walking in God’s will? Are you one of God’s saints? Is their spiritual fruit in your life to show that you truly are a saint? If spiritual fruit is lacking in your life, either you are not right with God or you are not truly saved. Both are serious problems that you must address. Would God say that you were a faithful brother or sister in Christ? How much do you know about Christ? Do you exalt Him by your attitudes and in the way that you live at home?

If God has spoken to your heart about a need this evening, please do not ignore God. Deal with the need and make the changes necessary.

Song: Have I Done My Best – 368
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Colossians: Exalting Christ
17 July 2016 PM – Colossians 1:1-2 – Col2016 – Scott Childs