Colossians:

“The Invincible Sufficiency Of Christ Alone”

Scriptural References

(All References Are From The English Standard Version, (ESV))

Part 18: Colossians 4:7-18: “Loyal Allies”

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Colossians 4:7-18

[7]  Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 

[8]  I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 

[9]  and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

[10]  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 

[11]  and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 

[12]  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

[13]  For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 

[14]  Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 

[15]  Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 

[16]  And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 

[17]  And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

[18]  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Colossians:

“The Invincible Sufficiency Of Christ Alone”

Scriptural References

(All References Are From The English Standard Version, (ESV))

Colossians 4:2-6: “The Believer’s Prayer Life & Public Life”

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Colossians 4:2-6

[2]  Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 

[3]  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

[4]  that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

[5]  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 

[6]  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Relating to Colossians 4:2

Ephesians 6:18

Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

1 Thessalonians 5:17

pray without ceasing

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer

Acts 1:14

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers

Luke 18:1-8 

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying,

Colossians 2:11-15: “Complete in Christ”

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023

RECAP: So, last week we went back through the WHOLE LETTER and caught ourselves up on where we’re at up to this point. So we probably won’t do that again until we reach Chapter 3 but suffice it to say that where Chapter 1, among other things, was Paul’s “defense” against the false teachings the Colossians were hearing, a sort of “Apologetic” focus – here in Chapter 2 Paul takes a different tack – he actually goes on the offensive, he takes a more “Polemic” stance in his argument here. A more “direct address” of the false teaching. And he carefully outlines his counter-attack against the heresy that’s come against the Colossian believers. He’s taking these false teachers head-on in this part of the letter. If you were to distill THIS Chapter down, in essence, Chapter 2 is Paul’s comparison of Christ’s complete and total SUfficiency against the philosophical and religious DEficiency in the errant beliefs that these false teachers were trying to sway the Colossians with. 

So if you have brought your Bibles this evening (and you haven’t already done so) turn with me to the book of Colossians. Of course, if you were here last week, we looked specifically at Verses 8-10 – BUT those 3 verses are all really part of 1 larger argument that Paul’s making over the rest of Chapter 2. So just like we did last week, let’s read the whole argument so that we can keep everything in context and within the understanding of Paul’s point here. So if last week was a Part-1-of-3, then tonight will be our “Part 2 of 3” study, since we’ll break up the rest of Chapter 2 into 1 final piece which we’ll look at next Wednesday. But for the Part 2 tonight, we’ll just focus our attention on Verses 11-15.

But let’s read the entire chunk of text together, again this is Colossians, Chapter 2, starting at verse 8 (again, even though we’re only going to focus on verses 11-15) and we’ll read all the way through verse 23. I’m reading from the ESV, the English Standard Version:  

[8]  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

[9]  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 

[10]  and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

[11]  In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 

[12]  having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

[13]  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 

[14]  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

[15]  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

[16] Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 

[17] These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 

[18] Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,

[19] and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

[20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 

[21] “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 

[22] (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 

[23] These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians:

“The Invincible Sufficiency Of Christ Alone”

Scriptural References

(All References Are From The English Standard Version, (ESV))

Colossians: 3:18 – :1: “The New Man’s Relationships”

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

Colossians 3:18 – 4:1

CH.3

[18]  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 

[19]  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 

[20]  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 

[21]  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 

[22]  Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 

[23]  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

[24]  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 

[25]  For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

CH.4

[1]  Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Relating to Colossians 3:18 – 4:1 

A Word For Our Relationships In General

Matthew 5:13-16

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under

Colossians:

“The Invincible Sufficiency Of Christ Alone”

Scriptural References

(All References Are From The English Standard Version, (ESV))

Colossians:3:9b-17: “Put On The NEW Self”

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

Colossians 3:9(b)-17

[9]  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 

[10]  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 

[11]  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

[12]  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 

[13]  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 

[14]  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

[15]  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 

[16]  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

[17]  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians:

“The Invincible Sufficiency Of Christ Alone”

Scriptural References

(All References Are From The English Standard Version, (ESV))

Colossians:3:5-9a: “Be Killing Sin”

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

Ok, so we’re continuing our study tonight of the letter that Paul wrote to the Colossian church, and we’ll begin Chapter 3 this evening. Specifically we’ll be in Verses 5-9(a). Now last week, we spent our time looking at Paul’s exhortation to use to KEEP OUR HEARTS AND MINDS ON THE THINGS ABOVE. And so, having done THAT, tonight we’re going to look at what Paul has to say about “KILLING THE SIN IN OUR LIFE”. So let’s open our Bibles to the book of Colossians (if you haven’t already done so). And as I say, we’re in Chapter 3 and we’ll be looking at Verses 5-9(a) tonight. So let’s read the text together. And I’m reading from the ESV, the English Standard Version: 

[5]  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

[6]  On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 

[7]  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 

[8]  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 

[9a]  Do not lie to one another…

Intro:

Now, having spent some time LAST week looking at how we’ve died to sin, it might seem strange to learn that living the “risen life” involves putting the sin in our lives to death. I mean didn’t Paul say earlier that that’s already happened? He told the Romans that when we’re saved, “…that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” And that’s TRUE. But that positional reality STILL HAS TO BE WORKED OUT in our lives as believers. It still has to be worked out in how we live PRACTICALLY. Because there can’t be any growth in holiness or any growth in terms of our maturity when the sin in our lives is left unchecked and unchallenged. 

Colossians:3:1-4: “Walking Out Our Risen Life”

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

RECAP: So going back to the beginning of this letter, at the time he wrote it, Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He’s in the worst and most infamous prison in the whole city. It’s an awful place: diseased, rat-infested, sewage and waste everywhere, locked up with the worst of the worst as far as criminals go, very little light, only foul air to breathe, hotter than you can imagine, chained up and laying on stone day after day, and awaiting execution. And he’s visited by a man named Epaphras who oversees the church in Colossae which was relatively  close to Ephesus. And Epahras explains what’s been happening with the believers there, how they’ve grown, how they’ve shown their love for one another, and how much work the Lord has done in them. And then he tells Paul the reason for his visit. That a number of false teachers have made their way into the church and they were teaching things that threatened to undo all of the great work that’s been done in these people’s lives through Christ. And though there were a number of important issues that needed to be dealt with, at the heart of this false teaching were these attacks on both the Deity of Christ and His complete sufficiency in salvation. And the arguments that these false teachers were making were not only persuasive. To the point that the believers in Colossae were all twisted up and confused about WHAT to believe. And the gospel hung in the balance. It needed to be addressed and Epaphras desperately needed help and he found it in Paul. 

So here’s Paul in the very worst of circumstances, in the worst conditions, and he doesn’t just wave Epaphras off and say “Look where I’m at dude”. I’m so sorry that the believers in your church are confused. Be a better teacher. Tell them to grow up. No. Paul doesn’t say any of that. Just the opposite. He cares so much for these people – people by the way that he’s never even met – that he writes this very loving, very encouraging letter to them in order that they be built up and that they hold fast to the truths that they’ve been taught. 

And if you were here when we began, back in Chapter 1 of this letter, Paul starts out immediately with thanks to God for the faith and love that the Colossians were showing one another, and he noted that they were able to do that because of the living hope that was laid up for them. The PRESENT living hope they have in Christ. Not JUST the future hope. But the Hope that is available to them NOW.

Colossians 2:16-23: “Spiritual Bullies”

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

So, when we began this section that I referred to as a 3-part study, back in Verse 8, we looked at a number of things that Paul addresses head on. 

• In Verses 8-10, we looked at Christ’s total sufficiency in salvation. That He is not only willing to save, but that He is actually ABLE to save, and that most importantly, it is HE ALONE Who saves. He isn’t deficient in any way. You can’t ADD to His finished work. 
• Then, last week, in Verses 11-15, we looked at our COMPLETION in Christ. That His SALVATION is complete. That His FORGIVENESS is complete. And that His VICTORY is complete. 
• And tonight, we’ll be looking at how Paul fights back against what I can only describe as “spiritual bullies” by going on the offense against 3 things:
  • 1. LEGALISM, which is the belief that by doing good works, or performing religious rituals, or by following spiritual formulas, a person can merit or earn salvation
  • 2. MYSTICISM, which is the belief that a person can access and enjoy communion with God by way of secret knowledge or philosophy or biblical codes or through some other, quote-unquote “spiritual” means. Or through “sensual” means – those things that are merely “felt”. “You don’t need a bible – just FEEL God. He’s in nature, He’s in the trees, He’s in crystals. “I don’t NEED to discern whether or not something is “true” because instead, I FEEL God”. But that’s not Christianity. Our walk with Christ isn’t based on how we FEEL. It’s based on Truth. HIS truth; not ours. And then (Number 3), Paul addresses something called, 
  • 3. ASCETICISM. Asceticism is just the belief that a person can merit and earn salvation through very strict, physical means of self-denial and through abstaining from any indulgences or pleasure. You might have heard of people engaging in a process called “self-flagellation” – which is the beating of one’s own body with sticks or whips. And within the context that Paul is looking at here, Asceticism is just the belief that one can gain access to salvation through these kinds of means. 

And sadly, these issues weren’t just problems that were relegated to the Colossians – we see this stuff to this very day. And we’ll look at that more deeply as we continue. 

Colossians 2:8-10: “The Philosophy of Men Or The Sufficiency of Christ?”

Wednesday, July 26th, 2023

RECAP: So going back to the beginning of things here. At the time he wrote this letter, Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He’s in the worst and most infamous prison in the whole city. It’s an awful place: diseased, rat-infested, sewage and waste everywhere, locked up with the worst of the worst as far as criminals go, very little light, only foul air to breathe, hotter than you can imagine, chained up and laying on stone day after day, and awaiting execution. And he’s visited by a man named Epaphras who oversees the church in a city close to Ephesus, called Colossae. And Epahras explains what’s been happening with the believers there, how they’ve grown, how they’ve shown their love for one another, and how much work the Lord has done in them. And then he tells Paul the reason for his visit. That some false teachers have crept into the church and began teaching things that threaten to undo all of the great work that’s been done in these people’s lives through Christ. And at the heart of this false teaching were these attacks on both the Deity of Christ and His sufficiency in salvation. And it wasn’t like these false teachers went in there and said “Jesus isn’t Deity. The end” and then all the people were wowed by the depth and sophistication of their argument. I mean it’s like someone on television says “God is a myth”, we aren’t all going to say “Oh wow – good point”, and then just walk away and burn our Bibles. No, the arguments and explanations that these false teachers were making were both plausible and confusing. And the gospel hung in the balance. It needed to be corrected and Epaphras needed help and he found it in Paul. 

So here’s Paul in the very worst of circumstances, in the worst conditions, and he doesn’t just wave Epaphras off and say “Look where I’m at dude”. I’m so sorry that the believers in your church are confused. Be a better teacher. Tell them to grow up. No. Paul doesn’t say any of that. Just the opposite. He cares so much for these people – people by the way that he’s never even met – that he pens this very loving, very encouraging letter to them in order that they be built up and that they hold fast to the truths that they’ve been taught. 

And in Chapter 1 of his letter, Paul starts out immediately with thanks to God for the faith and love that the Colossians were showing one another, noting that they were able to do that because of the living hope that’s laid up for them. Not just the future hope that awaits them in heaven, but the living hope they have presently in Christ. 

Paul goes on to tell them that he prayed for them regularly – he said that he prayed for them without ceasing. And that was such a great reminder for US in our own prayer life; that we persist in our prayers for others. And that by doing that, by staying in prayer for others, we find OURSELVES in constant communication with our heavenly Father. And I think prayer is something we should spend some time understanding. It’s literally the most powerful thing a believer can possibly do. And yet, it’s so easy to say things like, “Welp, I guess all I can do is pray…”. As though prayer is somehow both powerless and only to be used as the last resort in a situation where we’ve exhausted our own energy. I catch myself saying that sometimes, “All I can do now is pray”. As though prayer is like a “wild card” in the game of life where you want to make sure you save it until you REALLY need it. No. Prayer is never described like that anywhere in Scripture. Never. Jesus Himself was a man of prayer. He was CONSTANTLY going off to pray. In fact, prayer was such a marker of His ministry that it was the ONLY thing that the Disciples ever asked Him to teach them how to do. And it was because they saw how powerful it was to the Lord’s earthly ministry. So… good reminder for us to engage in prayer FREQUENTLY. ANd by the way, it doesn’t have to be the kind of formal prayer that we often think of when we think of prayer. It’s the kind of prayer that you SPEND TIME with the Lord in your thoughts, the kind of prayer where you’re talking to Him while you’re on a drive, when you’re getting ready in the morning, when you’re winding down in the evening, when you’re working, or whatever. But constant communication is so vital to us as God’s children. Actually, it’s one of the reasons that He commands us to pray. 

Colossians 2:1-7: “Love For The Church of Christ”

Wednesday, July 19th, 2023

And as I say, we’re beginning Chapter 2 and we’re going to be looking at verses 1-7 this evening. So let’s read the text together, Colossians: Chapter 2, starting at verse 1 and going through verse 7. I’m reading from the ESV, the English Standard Version:  

[1]  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 

[2]  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,

[3]  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

[4]  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 

[5]  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ

[6] Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 

[7]  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Verse 1:

I’m struck, once again, by the unbelievable love that Paul shows the Church in his letters (and certainly this one). And as someone who is now walking into Pastor Dale’s role, at least in an official capacity, I’m finding that this particular section (really, these last few actually) have been TIMELY. When you think of what a minister of Christ should look like, in terms of traits, most people would probably say things like “he should be well-educated”, or “he should be a skilled teacher”, or that “he should be demonstrating a measure of holiness”, or “should be a great speaker” or that “he should be ravishingly handsome” – which I already am, so that’s good (lol). Just kidding. No, but those things are all reasonable, they’re all probably good elements to possess I suppose, (though I fit none of them very well). But probably the MOST important, most NECESSARY ingredient to possess as a minister of Christ is a love for His Church. What I see in Paul’s love for the church here, MUST flavor and MUST inform my own motivation for serving God in His Church. It’s not my ONLY motivation of course, nor was it Paul’s. But it must FLAVOR my service.