Introduction to Colossians (6 things)…  

• The whole counsel of God

• Our desire is to teach through the whole Bible Genesis to Revelation
• Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
• Having finished Philippians – we will now move on to Colossians…
  
• 1^st – Who wrote the book of Colossians…
  • Paul is the author of Colossians…
    • The same Paul who whose life we followed from Acts chapter 13 to 28…
• Paul wrote 13 book of the New Testament (14 if you include Hebrews)…
• The ‘epistles’ or letters of Paul can be broken up into 3 different categories…
  • 1^st – The three larger letters by Paul – Romans / I Corinthians / II Corinthians…
  • 2^nd – The 6 smaller letters written to various churches…
    • Where the larger books have 13-16 chapters / these average between 4-6 chapters…
    • Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / I and II Thessalonians…
  • 3^rd – The Pastors Epistles – I Timothy / II Timothy / Titus / Philemon
    

• 2^nd – What is the theme of Colossians…
  • The key theme of the book – Jesus is all we need…
    • Colossians 2:9-10 – “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
    • As Jesus disciples we are to be growing and learning to live by His Grace…
    • Christ’s Grace is one of the essential foundation stones of the Christian faith…
    • We are to find in Jesus all we need for a complete abundant walk with the Lord…
    • Everything God has to offer us for living here on earth is in the Lord Jesus Christ!
    • Colossians 3:4 – “When Christ who is our life appears…”
    • As we learn to depend upon the Grace of Christ – looking to Him for our life…
    • He can then increasingly become to us our ‘all in all’ – Colossians 3:1
  • In Jesus we have everything we need to be able to live a holy / righteous life!
    • II Peter 1:3 – “His divine power HAS given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
    • Maybe you are like me – you wonder many days if you can really live for Jesus…
    • With all the temptation in this world – as many times as we seem to make mistakes…
    • Is it really possible to live a holy / righteous life for the Lord – and if so HOW…
    • The answer is – YES – because Jesus has already blessed us with all we need!
      
• 3^rd – Where was Colossae…
  • The city was located in what is modern day Turkey – present day Chonae…
    • It is about 100 miles inland from the city of Ephesus in the Likus river valley…
    • It is located in the at the base of Mt. Cadmus – 3000 meters snow capped mountain…
    • There are two others cities in the valley – Laodicea and Hierapolis…
    • Revelation 3:15 –  “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!”
    • Colossians was famous for its cold-water springs – running off Mt. Cadmus…
    • Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs – bubbling out of the ground…
    • But the water from Colossians and Hierapolis ran down into Laodicea…
    • There they would mix and become lukewarm – not refreshing or relaxing – spit it out!
    • Revelation 3:16 – “Since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
    • We cannot live our lives with a divided heart – living for God and for the world…
    • On Sunday we walk and talk like a Christian – but the rest of the week live for sin…
    • We will find that we become lukewarm – and Jesus spits us out!
  • All three cities were destroyed in 60 A.D. by an earthquake…
    • The city of Colossae never fully recovered from the devastation…
    • It became a relatively small city on the edge of the Likus River valley…
      
• 4^th – When was the book written…
  • Paul is though to have written this book between 60-62 A.D….
    • Paul was in his first imprisonment in Rome – under house arrest…
    • Paul wrote 4 letters in prison – Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon…
  • Onesimus was a run away slave from Colossae that got saved in Rome…
    • Epaphras had started the church in Colossae – Colossians 1:7 / 4:12
    • The church in Colossae met in the house of Philemon – Philemon 1:2
    • Epaphras went to Rome to talk to Paul about some problems in the church…
    • Paul wrote this letter to address the issues – and sent it back with Onesimus…
      
• 5^th – Why did Paul write the book of Colossians…
  • 1^st – There were some false teachings that had snuck into the church…
    • The first false teaching was ‘eastern philosophy’…
      • The eastern philosophy in the church taught fear and superstition…
      • Teaching that everything you could see around you – was evil…
      • But Paul argued that God created all things – Colossians 1:16 – and it was good!
    • The eastern philosophy also taught angels / spirits were in control…
      • But Paul argued that God had Jesus had conquered all spirits – Colossians 2:15
      • Horoscopes / faith healers / superstitions / palm reading / witchcraft…
      • It is playing with the demonic – opens you up to the powers of darkness…
      • They put our trust in ‘spirits’ – circumstances – rather than in God…
      • As if the sun / moon / stars / native eggs / black cats / or lines on your hand…
      • Are somehow more powerful than the God who created them all!
  • 2^nd – The second false teaching was ‘self righteousness’…
    • The idea was you had to follow rules / and ceremonies to be accepted by God…
      • Rules are a fence that tries to keep people safe from temptations/sin…
      • They seem to be a good idea – and most people (and churches) take this approach…
      • Here is the danger – they can only control your actions – not change your heart…
      • Colossians 2:21-23 – “Rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them.  These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires.”
      • In the end people might think their rules make them strong in the Lord…
      • When in reality their rules make them weak – taking their eyes off of Jesus… 
      • They trust in their rules – rather than looking to and depending on the Lord!
    • The only way to exact lasting change is a relationship with Jesus…
      • When you got married – you likely changed a lot of your life ‘habits’…
      • Not because there was a rule – but for the love of your wife you wanted to!
      • Rules do not make the difference – it is the relationship that changes the heart…
      • It is God that changes our hearts so we no longer want go the wrong way!
  • 3^rd – The third false teaching was the Word of God was not enough…
    • The idea being there is some deeper truth ‘beyond what the Bible teaches’…
      • There are many people who still say the same thing today – the Bible is not relevant
      • It was written 2000 years ago – and has nothing to offer to us today…
      • But they miss the Word of God – and the Power of God…
      • God does not change – and His Word is just as relevant today as then…
      • And the power of God is just as able to change and transform lives today!
    • The book was written to protect us from these false teachings…
      • Colossians 2:8 – “Do not let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking…”
      • The Lord has given us many warnings and exhortations in the Word to protect us…
      • We must be alert that no one lead us astray by such false teachings!
        
• 6^th – The outline of Colossians…
  • 1^st – Paul’s greeting to the church – Colossians 1:1-14…
  • 2^nd – Paul addresses the false teachings in the church – Colossians 1:15 – 2:23
  • 3^rd – Paul gives practical teachings on how to live for Jesus – Colossians 3-4

Greetings to the chruch… vs. 1-2 (3 things)

You cannot have true peace – rest in the knowledge we are forgiven – without grace…

1^st – Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ…

The word ‘apostle’ simply means someone who is ‘sent out’ to preach the Gospel…

The picture is that of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world…

Sent out to share the Good News – the hope of salvation through Jesus!

We call them missionaries – those who are ‘sent out’ to tell others about Jesus!

Not just to other countries (the Apostles went to their own people)…

Certainly Paul was ‘sent out’ from the church in Antioch – Acts 13:1-5

The calling of an Apostle is still alive in the church today – Ephesians 4:11…

God ‘sends us out’ to tell others – our family – friends at work/school about Jesus!

Paul was not appointed by men – but by Jesus Himself – Acts 9…

Jesus came to Paul on the road – as he was going to imprison and kill believers!

Chosen by Jesus to be the Apostle to the Gentiles – I Timothy 1:11

Chosen to be an example of the power of the Grace of God!

I Timothy 1:16 – “But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Paul was used by God as a personal example of how Grace works!

If God can choose to save a sinner as bad as Paul – murdered Christians…

Then no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace – God can save/use anyone!

Paul boldly refers to himself as an apostle by the will of God…

As Paul seeks to correct the problems in the church – he 1^st emphasizes his authority…

Often we feel like ‘who are we’ to be able to tell others about Jesus…

We think we don’t have enough knowledge – or are not good enough – no authority…

Yet we are also called to be an apostle – not an ‘Apostle’ – one of the 12…

But one who is sent out – with authority – to preach the Gospel of Jesus…

2^nd – Written to the saints and faithful in Colossae…

This letter was not just for the church – it is for everyone!

It is written to us because we are saints / faithful in Jesus Christ…

We get the wrong idea about ‘saints’  (the word means holy – or set apart)

We think people become saints because of what they did – good works/miracles…

In fact it is not what we do – it is what God did that makes us saints…

We are saints – ‘holy’ / set apart – because of what Jesus did on the cross for us!

Hebrews 10:10 – “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

We are not to look like the world – we are to be and example to the world…

We are constantly bombarded by the influence of this world…

Friends – family – neighbors – adds – try to get us to follow the world’s example…

II Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.”

We are called to live in this world – but we are not to be apart of this world…

We are called to be a light – example – to those who are around us!

Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world….”

If we look and act just like the world around us – if we conform to the world…

Then how can we be a light or example to the world of Jesus Christ…

Therefore live in the world – but do not be a part of the world – live for Jesus!

3^rd – Grace and Peace to you…

The same greeting Paul gives in every one of his epistles…

Judgment is getting what I deserve – mercy is not getting what I deserve…

But Grace is getting what I do not deserve – a free gift from God…

We earned the right to go to hell through our sin and rebellion – judgment…

Instead God gave us the incredible gift of righteousness and heaven – through Jesus!

Peace with God…

Before we were saved – we lived in certain expectation of God’s wrath and judgment

There was no peace in our lives – only the fear of death – and punishment…

Hebrews 10:27 – “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”

When we have the Grace of God – the free gift of salvation – we have peace with God!