Colossians, #1 Probably written in prison in Rome 2 Tim 4:13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come; and the books, especially the parchments. Colossians is one of the Prison Epistles. The others are Ephesians, Philemon, and Philippians. Laodicea / Colossae connection Col 2:1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, Col 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. Col 4:13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Colosse was prominent during the Greek period. By Paul's day it had lost much of its importance, perhaps due to the growth of the neighboring cities. Extremely detrimental to all of the cities of the region were the earthquakes which occasionally did Colossians, the entire Lycus Valley was severe damage. Shortly after Paul wrote devastated by an earthquake (about A.D. 61) which probably ended occupation of the city. The region included a mixture of people native to the area, Greeks, Romans, and transplanted Jews. The church probably reflected the same diversity. As far as we know, Paul never visited Colosse. His influence was felt, however, during his ministry in Ephesus. (Acts 19:10 records that all Asia heard the gospel.) The letters to Philemon and to the Colossians indicate that many of Paul's fellow workers (if not Paul himself) had worked among the churches of the Lycus Valley. As a result, the relationship between the apostle to the Gentiles and the Colossian church was close enough that when trouble arose some of the church turned to Paul for instruction. Book Outline Part 1: The Supremacy of Christ in the Church I. Introduction II. Preeminence of Christ III. Freedom in Christ Part 2: The Submission to Christ in the Church I. The Position of the Believer II. The Practice of the Believer Put off old, put on new man Commands for holiness in family, work, and public life III. Conclusion Outline for Tonight Paul's introduction. How Paul Prayed for Colossians Thanksgiving "Always" Reason for Paul's thanksgiving. Colossians had -faith in Godhead -love for the saints -hope in heaven -believed the truth of the gospel -the gospel is bringing forth fruit in them -They continued learning. -They were empowered with the Holy Spirit Mood of the Times 1. Heresy in the air. John, and Peter wrote of the same heresy. Gnosticism, mix of Jewish and Greek religious error threatening the church. 2. Different ideas competing in the church. Indicates unrest in society as a whole. No anchor. Today: Koresh, Jones, Ben Laden, Humanism, New Age, Wicca, Buddhism, All claiming to be truth. 3. Church was already brushing Christ aside. RELEVANT FOR TODAY!! The Church in Colossae 1. Founded by ministry of Epaphras 2. He evidently ministered in Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae (which was the least important city) 3. Colossae reached out to other cities to set up churches in them. 4. By the time Paul wrote his letter, Colossae seemed to be in a decline in it's influence. 5. Colossae was one of 2 churches that Paul wrote without having first visited there. The other was Rome. Paul is not known to have ever visited Colossae. Colossians 1:1-8 Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 1. On what basis did Paul call himself an apostle? ANS: 1 Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2. How does Paul address the Colossians? ANS: Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: 3. How many saints are in this room tonight? 4. What very typical Pauline greeting is given to the church members? ANS: Col 1:2 _... Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 5. What was Paul's reason for rejoicing over the Colossians? ANS: Col 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. 6. Faith, Hope, Love. The Colossians had come from hopelessness to hope through faith. That gave them Love that can only come through Christ. What other passages does Paul deal with the same three virtues? ANS: 1 Cor 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Thess 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 7. In this passage where does love come from? ANS: Col 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints. 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 8. Where does faith come from? ANS: Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Gal 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 9. Paul calls the Colossians holy. What picture do you get when someone is called holy? ANS:_______________ 10. What is the real meaning of "holy?" ANS: First meaning of "holy" is to be set apart. 11. Are you called to be holy? 12. How are you made holy? 13. Since hope leads go faith and love, where does hope come from? ANS: Acts 24:15 "I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 26:6 "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. Romans 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, be- cause the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Note: Hope is awakened by the gospel. That is the good news. The gospel addresses itself to losers. Not to the successful, but to the failures, the weak, the empty, the lost among us---and it gives them hope. When nothing else can give them hope, the gospel will. But how does hearing the story of Jesus: his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection and his coming by the Spirit, give hope that awakens faith and stimulates love for others? The answer is in this one phrase, "the hope stored up for you in heaven." To most, that immediately suggests a hope of life after death. When the Lord comes, all the glory of eternity will then be ours. That is a wonderful hope, but that is not what this phrase means. The singular word "heaven" is what misleads us. What the Greek text actually says is, "hope is available to you in the heavens"---plural. This term "the heavens" (or, as it appears in the letter to the Ephesians, "the heavenlies"), is a reference not to heaven after death, but to the invisible spiritual kingdom that surrounds us on all sides right now. Thus, what this is saying here is that the gospel reveals there is hope for us immediately coming from that invisible spiritual kingdom which surrounds us right at this very moment. There is hope for us because Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, and in him, we are there too. There is hope throughout New Testament. Jesus himself said, "Let not your hearts be troubled for I am with you." "I will never leave you or forsake you." That is the hope that is awakened by the gospel. It is the good news that right now, whatever you are facing, in your moment of weakness peril, or hopelessness, Jesus is available to you. His strength can be imparted to you, his wisdom granted to you to steady you, strengthen you and make you to stand. That is the hope of the gospel. That is what awakens faith. Faith means to act upon that hope. Faith means you believe that Jesus is there. At once you feel your spirit steadied and strengthened and you are able to go on and take whatever is coming. We have all known what it means to have some dear friend come along in a time of trouble to stand by and steady and encourage us. If that friend is the Lord of Glory himself, what tremendous hope there is in that fact. That is what this means here: the hope that is in the gospel. Hebrews 11 says of Moses that "he endured because he saw him who was invisible." That is what Paul writes to the Colossians about: an invisible reality that is available right now in Jesus. He is there, ready to help and encourage. The great thing about the gospel is that it is true. It really works. It does deliver people. When you lack hope, feel defeated, cast down, or betrayed, Jesus stands there, available to you. That is the word of the gospel. He offers to go with you to face the drug pusher. He offers his love and his acceptance when you have loneliness or temptation to wrongful sexual activity. He offers to steady you in times of pressure and stress. And he offers forgiveness and restoration if there is any failure. That is what the apostle now affirms, saying to the Colossians in verse 6: "All over the world this gospel is producing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." 14. What is the proof of faith? ANS: Col 1:7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. 15. What practical application do you see in these verses? May I suggest: Perhaps some of you may be thinking that if you only knew the Bible like a minister, then you could be of use to God. But don't you see that you already are the important people, the true evangelists? You are out there, rubbing shoulders with people who have no hope, hearing their sad stories, meeting them in the streets and in the stores, having lunch with them. You are the ones who can spread the word of hope. That is how the gospel spread throughout the Roman province of Asia, and hundreds of churches came into being. The gospel has power to change, power to awaken, power to give hope, and out of hope springs faith and love. What a remarkable thing it is! This area is our corner of the world. We too can see these very things happening here. What excitement will come into your life when you reach out with the good news, the only source of hope in the world, to the hopeless ones around. ___________________________________ I choose to be active member of God's family because I can now share the Gospel knowing the hope that it gives now!