I. Paul had never visited this church, nor did he know the people.
A. He did not visit the region or the area during any of his missionary
journeys.
1. Colossians 1:4 – Since we hard of our faith…
2. Colossians 1:9 - …since the day we heard it…
3. Colossians 2:1 - …and for as many as have not seen my face in
the flesh…
4. Colossians 2:5 – For though I be absent in the flesh…
B. This teaches me these lessons:
1. I do not have to be involved in a work for it to be a good work.
2. God is well able to work with other ministers to produce the work he
wants.
3. Just because something is not done the way I would do it, doesn’t
mean it is not a good work.
4. Matthew 16:18 – Jesus said he would build his church, and he will.
I need to let him build his church and rejoice when he does build it.
a. I should not depend on my plans, programs, or other such things to
build a church – Christ can do a wonderful job without me.
b. Christ has build his church for many generations, and he will
continue to build his church after I am dead and gone.
c. I must "get used" to God not need me – I am
dispensable.
d. God is indispensable.
C. How does God build his churches?
1. I do not know all the answers, but God does not use modern gimmicks
and other worldly programs devised by men.
2. God uses the preaching of the Word of God.
a. Matt 28:18-20 – Christ commanded the early church, which command
is also for us today, to preach the gospel to every creature.
b. I Corinthians 1:17-18 – Christ did not send Paul to baptize
(that is the church’s job) but to preach the gospel. It is by the
foolishness of preaching that men are saved, then the church baptizes
them.
II. Paul is not "sticking his nose where it does not belong".
A. Paul has a love for the work of God.
B. Paul has a love for all the children of God, whether he knows them or
not.
C. Paul is not trying to take credit for the church at Colosse, but
desires to be a spiritual help to them.
1. Paul shows great interest in meeting other saved Baptists and
fellowshipping with them.
2. We should also show great interest in meeting other saved Baptists
and fellowshipping with them.
3. We might feel more comfortable around those saved Baptists we have
already met and learned to love, but we should always want to meet other
believers.
III. The obvious point of this the book of Colossians is the need of Jesus
Christ.
A. It is very interesting that no reference is made to salvation by
baptism or by works in the entire book of Colossians.
1. Salvation is presented as being a gift of God, without works on the
part of men.
2. Those denominations that believe in salvation by some type of works
will only use a certain few verses, and they will use those verses
"out of context", so the verse will say what they want it to
say.
B. In the book of Colossians, there is an indisputable link between being
saved and living for God.
1. The Bible does teach the doctrine of "once saved, always
saved", but it also teaches that saved people will work for Christ.
2. Those people who believe they can be saved, and never work for
Christ are very sadly mistaken.
3. Believers are saved by grace, through faith, without any works on
our part at all.
4. Believers work for Christ because they are already saved, not
because they are trying to be saved, or keep themselves saved.
C. Chapter 1 gives full credit to Jesus Christ for the salvation and
present love of the Colosse brethren for Christ, for one another, and for
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. 1:6 speaks of a day when the members of Colosse heard the gospel
message and believed.
2. 1:13 gives honor to God who delivers from the power of darkness and
translates believers into the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
3. 1:14 states very clearly that redemption is through the blood of
Jesus Christ.
4. 1:20 declares that it is the blood of Christ that people are
redeemed.
5. 2:3 states that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in
Christ.
a. This verse is stating that everything worthwhile is to be found in
Christ.
b. The word "hid", doesn’t mean that Christ is concealed
from the world, but that he is a secret the world cannot discover by
themselves.
c. Men are totally depraved, dead in sins, therefore, God must open
unbelievers eyes to the greatest treasure of all – Jesus Christ.
D. Chapter 2-3:17 gives full credit to Jesus Christ for the
sanctification of believers and the new life in Christ, including all areas
of life.
1. Colossians 1:21-23 declares that only in Christ will any believer be
presented before holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable.
2. Every believer knows this is so.
3. 2:4 reveals that it is possible for believers to be tricked into
believing Satanic lies.
4. 2:6 tells every believer how they can live for Jesus – the exact
same way they received him.
5. 2:12 reveals that every believer who desires to walk correctly with
Christ will be baptized.
E. Chapter 3:17-4:1 gives full credit to Jesus Christ for the practical
application of love in the home and outside the home.
1. 3:17 – The practical application of the love of Christ causes the
wife to be in submission to her husband.
2. 3:18 – The practical application of the love of Christ causes the
husband to love his wife.
3. 3:20 – The practical application of the love of Christ causes
children to obey their parents.
4. 3:21 – The practical application of the love of Christ causes
fathers to be right in their families.
5. 3:22 – The practical application of the love of Christ causes
employees to be good employees.
6. 4:1 – the practical application of the love of Christ causes
employers to be good employers.
F. Chapter 4:2-18 gives full credit to Christ for all the ministry of
Paul, which occurs through prayer.
1. These verses speak of the necessity of the prayers of God’s
children to the furtherance of the gospel message and utterance of the
ministers of God.
2. There are various people mentioned so the children of God will be
able to pray with knowledge, and see the results of their prayers in the
lives of particular people.
I. I don’t think Paul is saying that the saints and the faithful brethren
are two different groups of people, but that they are one group.
I. Christ will reconcile everything - things on earth, and things in
heaven.
Reconciled things on earth.
It is obvious from the next verse that a part of the things reconciled
on earth will be His elect.
Verse 16 - Here is a list of things that God will reconcile to Himself
through Jesus Christ.
Verse 16 - He created the earth for His own good pleasure, but Satan,
through the disobedience of mankind, has taken control of God’s
creation.
Verse 17 - He holds the creation together even when the Devil has
rule over it.
The visible and invisible things on this earth - this means every
physical thing whether we see it or not. This includes germs (living and
dead), all scientific and physiology and emotional principles.
All thrones, dominions, principalities and powers will be brought
under His control.
Every creature will realize God is God, whether that creature has an
eternal soul or not. I say this because during the millennium reign,
even the poisonous snakes won’t bite anybody. The lion will lay down
beside the ass. There will be no harm in all the kingdom of God, which
includes all the creation, both in the earth, the skies, and everywhere.
Reconciled things in heaven.
The stars, planets, and all celestial bodies. Man has polluted the
heavens by visiting them, taking their sinfulness to those far-away
planets.
Jesus Christ will also "reclaim" the throne of heaven, upon
which Satan will sit during the tribulation period.
It has been said that God will create a new heaven and a new earth
because the present heaven and earth has the stain of sin in them.