Lessons From Colossians – Lesson 1
Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
We know what is going on. A man who cared enough about his church and the work of God traveled all the way from Colossae to Rome to find Paul. It was already established that Paul would be willing to write letters to help local churches, even small churches.
And we know the type of false teaching that had entered into Colossae and it was really bad. Men cannot be saved by going thru an angel as intermediary. And men cannot be saved clinging to works and Jewish rituals.
Paul hears what is going on and God worked to have Paul pen this letter. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. Paul starts out by stating his authority to pen this letter. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. And notice it is Timotheus our brother. So Paul is an apostle and Timotheus is not. And Paul is not an apostle by desire or choice. Paul did not seek this position out. There were no try outs. No interviews first. God did not find a man who was the best. Quite to the contrary. Paul admits that he was the chiefest of sinners. The job of apostle was given by the will of God. God sought Paul out on that Damascus road.
To correct these errors in the church at Colossi there has to be authority involved. If it is all just a matter of opinion nothing changes. The false teachers will just say, well Paul that is just your opinion. We like our opinion better. So the first sentence Paul establishes that what he is writing them has the authority of God behind it. I am writing you the truth. Facts as revealed by God.
We live in a day where the truth that God’s Word is the authority that settles Spiritual matters is only adhered to by very few. Instead of having one pure Bible and using it as the authority what we have today is the Bible of the month club. If you don’t like what one says just find a different one that says something different. And it has now gotten even worse than that, it is just believe what you want and mostly just ignore the Word of God.
Not having a standard of truth leads to all kinds of false teaching and errors and hurt. It is the truth that heals; it is the truth that sets you free. After stating that he has the authority by the will of God to write this letter, Paul quickly moves on. Now you might think that because of the purpose behind writing this letter that it will now get tough and hard. But that is not the case.
The bible is clear about this, the truth always needs to be given in love.
Eph_4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:15 tells us in just a few words that we are to speak the truth in love. What does that look like? You are about to find out. The Bible gives truths in short statements and then somewhere else that truth will be lived out before you so you can see what that should look like. The Bible really is the more remarkable book there is.
Col 1:2 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.
He starts off yelling? No! He starts off asking for Grace and peace from God and Jesus for them. That is a wonderful thing to want for others.
Next he gives thanks for them.
Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Paul had been praying for them all the time. Thanking God for them and states two reasons why. One they had faith in Christ Jesus. And two they had love for other believers. Before Paul gets into correcting the issues, he first recognized and is thankful for the good that they have. We saw a similar thing in the letters from Jesus to the 7 churches. Jesus would first commend the good before the bad was corrected. That is the way Jesus did it and here we see God the Spirit inspiring Paul to do the same thing.
Next Paul gives some encouragement.
Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,
He is reminding them that you have rewards laid up for you in heaven. The greatest of course is that you will be there. Saved from an eternity in hell. You will get to be with the creator. You will be with the one who saved your soul for all eternity. And anything you do for Him in this life that is precious stones, you will be rewarded for that in heaven. You have hope laid up for you in heaven. It is laid up in heaven. Where it cannot be corrupted and where it can’t be stolen. It is guaranteed. Your hope is secure.
This is a great way to start a letter. Yes there is authority behind it but it is done in love and with encouragement. And then Paul reminds them of how they know about this hope laid up for them in heaven. whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; 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:
The reason you know about this hope is because it came to you in the word of truth of the gospel. You know this great truth not because of opinion or tradition or anything else. It is only known because it came to you thru the Word of God. And Paul reminds them that since the day they heard it they knew the grace of God in truth.
Paul is causing them to think back on how great it was to hear the Word of God and know that it is true. Once you are saved the Holy Spirit inside you is going to bear witness to you that the Bible is true. The Word of God will bring forth fruit in your life if you let it. If you are willing to listen. This is another great truth to be reminded of and before the correction comes.
And Paul now reminds them of how this was taught to them of Epaphras. This is the man that came to Paul from Colossae.
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Here we learn that Epaphras was one of their pastors. Paul reminds them that he is a dear fellowservant. He writes our dear fellowservant. So this man was dear to Paul and also to the people at Colossae. And we learn that he was a faithful minister of Christ. Faithful! Day after day he kept with it. Held to the truth day after day. Not as lord over the flock but as a servant.
Next Paul tells them that Epaphras told him of their love in the Spirit.
Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:9 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;
Again is mentioned that Paul is praying for them. And for what is best for them. Praying that they might be filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding. But that is not all. He gives a list.
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Paul wants them to become more knowledgeable of God, and Paul wants them to have God’s strength, and that they would get patience and longsuffering and joyfulness all according to God’s glorious power. So not just a little bit of all of those things. But powerfully according to the power of God.
And Paul desires that they are thankful.
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father,
It should be clear by the start of this letter that Paul is on their side. He wants what is best for them. This is an important principal. You start off saying you no good people, your wrong on this and this and this and…. It that is all someone hears, then they will think why listen to you. You don’t care about me. You do not have my best in mind. Paul’s heart is not like that. I know that there are times to just be stern. Scoffers for example. False teachers, ministers of the devil and such. Paul is not writing this letter to them. Paul is writing this letter to those who are being influenced by the false teachers. Paul is writing to believers who are beginning to be led astray. Duped, tricked, confused.
So Paul is carefully laying the groundwork. He is laying down a strong foundation before the correction comes. And part of that foundation is what Jesus has done for them. which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
We have an eternal inheritance only because of Jesus. Jesus has delivered us from the power of darkness. He has. Past tense. It is a done deal. It cannot be undone. God has translated us into His kingdom. Paul is telling them you are children of the most high now. And not because you are great and not because of works that you have done. You did not translate yourselves into this kingdom.
It was all done for you. Out of mercy and grace. Only because of the love of God and what Jesus did on the cross.
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Paul reminds them that they have redemption. They have it. Yes they are being influenced by false teaching. They are getting some things wrong.
But that does not remove your salvation. They still have redemption. They have this redemption only through his blood.
Jesus went to the cross for you. He did it willingly. He could have called 10 thousand angels to get Him off the cross that day. But He did not.
Joh_10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
No man took His life. Jesus laid it down of His own free will. It has been well said it was not nails that held Him there, it was love that nailed Christ to that tree.
It is thru His shed blood that we have redemption. Why is that?
In the beginning God set the rules. The wages of sin is death. Adam you eat of that tree you will surely die. The payment of sin is death.
So for that payment to be paid someone must die. God also tells us that life is in the blood. Jesus gave that life away. He shed His blood and died for sinners.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
This is a hallelujah type of start to this letter.
You are saved, saved, saved!
Jesus loves you so much that He went to the cross and shed His blood so you would have redemption. Even the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians you have been redeemed. You are saved. Out of love, because of what Jesus did on the cross. You have forgiveness for every rotten thing you ever done or thought.
This is not how many would start a serious letter of correction. But this is how God does it. This letter is an example of truth given in love.
They are told they are being prayed for and that Paul wants them to have joy and knowledge and strength all according to the power of God. That means a whole lot of it in a very powerful way.
Time is taken to lay the foundation that they are cared for both by Paul and by God. They are reminded that the word of God is truth and they are reminded of what it has done for them. And time is taken to give them assurance of their salvation. Instead of casting doubt on their salvation they are given assurance of it.
They are reminded of God’s great love and of what Jesus did for them on Calvary, and they are even reminded of what is laid up for them in Heaven. It is laid up and can’t be lost.
The Colossians could not read the opening of this letter with an open honest heart and not come to the conclusion that the man writing it loves them and wants what is best for them.
The opening of the book of Colossians is an example of what giving the truth in love looks like.