COLOSSIANS 1
11 Outlines
COLOSSIANS 1:1-8
THANKFUL FOR OTHERS
As we begin a series on the Book of Colossians, it is none other
than the Apostle Paul will teach us gratitude. He will show us how to be
thankful to God for others.
We can find our attitude towards other Christians not always
what it should be because:
· Other Christians do
things to hurt us.
· Other Christians do
things that mess up our plans.
· Other Christians are
sometimes people we don’t care for.
· Other Christians
sometimes hold varying doctrinal positions.
When Paul wrote to the Colossians, he was writing to a people
that he had for the most part never met. He’d never been to
And yet, Paul was able to share that he was giving thanks for
those people on a regular basis.
We will learn from Paul how to give thanks to God for others, as
we realize that we can give thanks for:
(Please note that I gave background to the Book of Colossians
and comments on Vss. 1-2 before preaching the outline. You will probably want
to do the same if you are doing a series.)
THE MARKS OF SALVATION
Vs. 3 – Notice that there is no separation between prayer and
thanksgiving. Paul says, “When I pray for you I thank God for you.”
Philippians 4:6 makes it obvious that prayer should always be
accompanied with thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.
Paul says in Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
It should be our personal policy not to talk to God about anyone
until we have thanks God for them!
There are certain marks or characteristics that generally
accompany believers which we can thank God for.
· FAITH – Vs. 4
No one is going to heaven without saving faith. We mean faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
We can be thankful when another person, no matter how cantankerous in
our eyes, has made a decision to trust Christ for everlasting life.
1 John 5:12 - He that hath the Son
hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Rejoice when you can be thankful to God that someone else is
going to join you in Heaven.
· LOVE – Vs. 4
When we are saved we learn to love and appreciate other
believers. We should have a reciprocal love agreement with other Christians. I
am to love other Christians, and they are to love me. I should be thankful for other believers
because I love them.
John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I
give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another.
As I am thankful for my physical brothers and sister, I should
also be thankful for my spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ.
· HOPE – Vs. 5
Faith started it all in the past.
Love is what I operate with right now.
Hope looks forward to the future coming of our Lord and Savior.
We can be thankful that others besides ourselves have that
precious hope we are looking forward to.
You and I aren’t the only ones looking forward to the glorious
coming of the Lord Jesus. All Christians have this hope.
Titus 2:13 - Looking for
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ;
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 - For
this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain
unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.
The Christian who is sick, the Christian who is hurting, and the
Christian that might not agree without your theology also has the same “blessed
hope”.
THE MULTIPLICATION OF SALVATION – Vs. 6
When the Gospel is preached the Gospel bears fruit.
Not only is their fruit of souls saved, but there are the
“fruits of righteousness.” People start
living Godly changed lives and we can be thankful for that.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the
There is also the fruit of the Spirit that will be evident when
folks are truly saved.
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23]
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Be thankful when you hear of believers in other parts of the
world. The Gospel is still bearing fruit
all over, although it is more evident in some areas than in others.
THE MESSENGER OF SALVATION – Vss. 7-8
Why did the Colossians have the salvation message?
It was because of a fellow servant in Jesus Christ by the name of
Epaphras.
He ministered the Gospel faithfully to the Colossians.
Christians are saved because of faithful ministers.
People are growing in Christ because of faithful ministers.
1 Timothy 5:17 - Let the
elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour,
especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Make sure that you give thanks for the “faithful ministers of
Christ” whom you know.
Let’s be thankful for other Christians this week:
THE MARKS OF SALVATION
Faith
Love
Hope
THE MULTIPLICATION OF SALVATION
THE MESSENGER OF SALVATION – Vss. 7-8
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Colossians
1:1-8
BREAKING THE
ICE
Paul was
writing to a church he did not know personally.
Notice how he “breaks the ice” to make these people feel comfortable in
reading his letter.
FRIENDLY
GREETING – Vss. 1-2
Paul wishes
them God’s best, which includes grace and peace.
FRUITFUL
MINISTRY – Vss. 3-6
They were
thankful to God for the fruitful ministry that had been produced among the
Colossians.
FAITHFUL
SERVANT- Vss. 7-8
Paul had
heard from Epaphras, evidently a pastor of that church, concerning the ministry
in Colosae.
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COLOSSIANS 1:9-14
PRAYER LIST FOR OTHERS
In these verses I find a prayer list for others, meaning other
Christians.
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FILLED - Vs. 9
Colossians 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;
When someone is filled, they are just that, full!
God wants us to be filled with the knowledge of God's Will.
This knowledge of God's will be "in all wisdom and Spiritual
understanding."
There is only one place that you are going to get that kind of
knowledge and that's from the Word of God. We should be more excited about
being full of the Word of God than we are excited about being full of food.
Read Psalm 119:97-100
When a person is in the Word
of God:
· He will be wiser than his enemies – Vs. 98
· He will have more personal understanding of how the word applies to him
than all his teachers. Vs. 99
· He will understand more than the “ancients” which were before Him. –
Vs. 100
Of course when one studies,
reads, and meditates on the Word of God, he will be filled with the knowledge
of His will.
Another way a person will be
filled with the knowledge of His will is to be under the teaching and preaching
of the word. 2 Timothy 4:2
A true preacher of the word
will help you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding because:
· He will preach the Word to you.
· He will reprove (refute) your errors.
· He will rebuke you.
· He will teach you.
· He will encourage you
We can pray that others will
get into the Word and under the teaching of the Word, and that they would
understand the Word.
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FAITHFUL - Vs. 10
That ye might walk worthy of
the Lord unto all pleasing...and increasing in the knowledge of God;
What do you think it means to walk worthy of the Lord?
It is to conduct ourselves in such a way that we glorify the Lord and
bring no reproach to his name.
Pleasing the Lord is the most important thing in the world.
Pleasing the Lord should be our daily goal.
The Bible talks much about the Christian's walk. As we practice these
"walking" verses we will walk worthy of Him unto all pleasing.
Galatians 5:16, 22-26, Ephesians 5:2, Colossians 4:5, 1 John 1:6-7
As we are faithful as we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, we
will increase in the knowledge of God.
It should be our goal to know God better. It was Paul's goal. Philippians 3:10, 2Peter 1:2-3, 3:18
Let us pray for others and ourselves that we will be faithful in our
walk.
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FRUITFUL - Vs. 10
...being fruitful in every
good work...
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.
Matthew 5:14-16 - Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven.
Galatians 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FORTIFIED -Vs. 11
Strengthened
with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and
longsuffering with joyfulness;
In order for the things mentioned here to
be true in our lives we must be strengthened by the Spirit of God. Zechariah 4:6
Zechariah 4:6 - Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Remember God’s power is awesome. Revelation
1:8
As God fortifies us, we will be able to
have the following:
·
Patience or endurance
Perhaps Paul's challenge to Timothy is good
here. 2 Timothy 2:3, Psalms 3:6
·
Longsuffering
When we are long suffering we put up with a
lot from the hands of others.
·
With Joyfulness
This is the kicker.
It's easier to be patient and longsuffering
and to grouse about it, than it is to be patient and longsuffering and to be
joyful about it!
People will take notice when you are joyful
through trials.
Nehemiah 8:10 …for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
·
Giving Thanks - Vss. 12-14 – We’ll talk
about this next week.
Pray that others will be fortified by God’s
spirit to endure.
So here is a prayer list for others and yourselves this week.
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FILLED
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FAITHFUL
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FRUITFUL
PRAY THAT OTHERS WILL BE FORTIFIED
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Colossians 1:9-14
A PRAYER LIST FOR OTHER BELIEVERS
PRAY FOR:
GOD’S WILL – Vs. 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;
GOD’S WALK – Vs. 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;
GOD’S WORK – Vs. 11
Strengthened with all might, according
to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
GOD’S WORSHIP – Vss. 12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
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Colossians 1:12-14
WHY GIVE THANKS? or NO
NEED FOR
Some people associate
the giving of thanks with turkey! That's because they eat turkey on
If you are a Christian,
our text gives you three reasons for being thankful.
WE HAVE A RESIDENCE -
Vs. 12
We have an inheritance
with the saints in light.
WE HAVE BEEN RELEASED -
Vs. 13
We have been released
from Satan's kingdom and have been translated into the
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED -
Vs. 14
We have been redeemed by
the blood of the lamb.
Our sins have been
forgiven.
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Colossians 1:12-19
THE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE
This is a worship
service.
Well, did you? Did you
worship?
This is a worship
service. Well, are you? Are you worshipping?
We sang contemporary
choruses and traditional hymns. Did you worship?
We listened to special
music. Did you worship?
We read Scripture. Did
you worship?
We gave an offering. Did
you worship?
We are sharing a message
from God's Word. Are you worshipping?
Psalm 111:1 says, Praise ye the Lord.
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and
in the congregation.
Have you praised the
Lord with your whole heart?
Psalm 100:2 says, Serve the Lord
with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
This morning have you
served the Lord with gladness? Did you
come before His presence with singing that was on your lips and in your hearts?
John 4:23 says, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the
Father seeketh such to worship him.
Have you worshipped God in spirit and in truth
this morning?
Let's face it, there
have been many times in our lives when we have come to church, but have not had
a true worship experience.
Perhaps that is true for
you this very morning.
I have found in Colossians
1:12-19 some verses that remind me how to go about having a true worship
experience.
BE THANKFUL - Vss. 12-14
You will not have a true
worship experience unless you are thankful to God. These verses give us several reasons for
being thankful.
Vs. 12 - The word "meet" in this verse means to qualify
or make fit.
We can thank God who has
made us qualified to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light.
Our inheritance as Christians
is one of being in the light of God's glory for all eternity. Heaven will be a
place of glorious light. Revelation 21:23
Now think for a moment.
You and I were not qualified to be part of the inheritance of light any more
than I was qualified to attend Harvard or Yale!
It is our sin that keeps
us from being qualified to go to Heaven.
It is our God who has
provided forgiveness in Christ so we can be qualified or fit for Heaven.
Vs. 13 - In this verse we are told that God has moved us. And just as Dottie and I were thankful about
the change in housing, we should be thankful about our change in kingdoms.
Before being saved you
were in the kingdom of darkness. Ephesians 2:1-3
It is from this kingdom,
this domain we have been delivered and translated us into Christ's Kingdom. God
has moved us from the realm of Satan to the realm of his dear, or beloved Son.
Vs. 14 - This verse tells us how God made us qualified to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
This verse also tells us
why we have been moved from Satan's kingdom to the
The reason for these
things is the redemption that comes through Christ's shed blood.
When we were unsaved, in
the kingdom of darkness, the
But the Lord Jesus came
to earth and took care of the problem that kept us slaves. He died for our sins. His blood was shed for
our sins. Because his blood was shed for
our sins, He has paid the price that is sufficient for God to be
satisfied. And because God is satisfied
with the payment for our sins, we are set free! 1 Peter 1:18-19
Not only have we been
redeemed, or set free, we have been forgiven.
When we place our faith in Christ as our Savior, God forgives us, based on Christ's shed blood. When He forgives us, He sends our sins
packing!
Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us.
If you are a Christian,
you have every reason to be thankful as you worship.
God has qualified you to
be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.
God has delivered you
from Satan's Kingdom and moved you into the Kingdom of His dear Son.
Christ has redeemed you,
set you free and forgiven you.
BE THOUGHTFUL - Vss.
15-18
One of our problems in
worship is we don't think as we worship. As you worship, think or reflect on
Christ. In these verses are some things to consider about Him that should help
you to worship.
Vs. 15 - Christ is the image of the invisible God.
Jesus is the exact likeness of
God.
Jesus is the manifestation of
God.
It is Jesus who shows
who God is, and what God is like.
Jesus shows us a God who is compassionate, righteous,
holy, merciful, loving and a host of other things! Study Jesus Christ and you study
God. Know Jesus Christ, and you know God.
Not only is Jesus the
image of the invisible God, but He is the
firstborn of every creature.
Some people believe that this verse teaches that Jesus
is a created being because it calls him "firstborn".
That just isn't so!
Charles Erdman said - "'Firstborn' here means two
things: priority in time and supremacy in place or position. Christ existed
before the Creation, but He held the rank commonly assigned to the 'firstborn',
the rank of eminence and dominion." Charles R. Erdman, The Epistles of
Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon, © 1966 by W. L. Jenkins, Baker Book
House,
Now think! The Lord
Jesus is worthy of your worship because He was preexistent to, and preeminent
over everything that was created, including you.
Vs. 16 - Jesus is the creator!
God the Father placed the creation of the worlds in His hands. He
created everything.
This verse is telling
us:
If it's in Heaven Jesus
created it.
If it's on earth Jesus
created it.
If you can see it, Jesus
created it.
If you can't see it,
Jesus created it.
If it's an angel of any
kind Jesus created it.
If it's a man or woman,
Jesus created them.
John sums it up
beautifully John 1:3.
Of course, the whole
Trinity was involved in creation. But don't forget that your Savior is also
your creator.
And don't miss the last
phrase of this verse: all things were
created by him, and for him:
Now think!
You were created for
Him! You were created so you would
please God. You were created for His purposes. Are you fulfilling the reason
for which you were created?
And if He hadn't created
you, you wouldn't be here.
If He hadn't saved you,
you wouldn't have the hope of eternal life.
Vs. 17 - Notice first of all, that he is before all things.
Right away, we think of
preexistence. We already saw that Jesus is eternal. So Jesus existed before anything else
existed.
But Jesus is before all
things in another sense.
Jesus is before all
things in rank. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus is before all
things in power. He has all the power in the universe.
Jesus is before all
things in importance. He is God.
No wonder we should
worship Him!
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
He holds everything
together!
Now think!
Jesus is the one who is
before all things, around for all eternity.
He is the one is before
all things as God!
And He is the one that
holds things together.
Not only does He hold
the universe together.
But He holds this church
together.
He holds your family
together.
He holds your life
together.
Even when you think
things are falling apart, He is holding things together. Isaiah 41:10
Vs. 18 - What happens when a person is decapitated? A person who
is decapitated is dead! Why? Because the body needs the head in order to
function. You can function without legs or arms but not without the head.
The head is necessary
because it gives direction to the body.
The head contains the control center.
Christ is the head of the
church, which is His body. He is the one who gives direction. He is the one who
is the control center. He is the source of the church's power. Without Christ in control, the church, for
all practical purposes is dead, useless.
Each Christian is part
of the body of Christ, the church.
Christ is your head. Christ is the one who should give you direction.
Christ is the source of your power. Without Christ in control in your life, for
all practical purposes, you life is dead, useless.
And notice Christ's rank
again. He is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead
He is the first person
to raise from the dead never to die again.
He is superior to all
those that will rise from the dead.
He is first in rank over
all those who will rise from the dead.
And notice God's
purpose, that in all things he might have
the preeminence. Philippians 2:9-11
Now think!
The Christian should
already be bowing his knee in submission and confessing Christ as Lord.
As you worship, Christ
is to be preeminent in your thoughts.
As you do anything,
Christ is to be preeminent in your life.
BE THOROUGH - Vs. 19
All fullness is found in
the Lord Jesus.
All that is God is found
in Jesus.
And it has pleased God
that this fullness should reside in us. John 1:16
If the fullness of God though Christ is
already in your life, should you not allow the fullness of Christ to control
your life?
I mean, what is better,
you controlling your life, or God controlling your life?
We should be thorough in
worship, allowing Christ to have full control.
Paul's prayer for the
Ephesians (Ephesians
You will be filled with
the fullness of God if you are thorough.
Thorough in yielding to
His will - Romans 12:1
Thorough in confessing
your sin - 1 John 1:9
Thorough in requesting
the filling of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
Worship isn't complete
unless it is total or thorough.
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COLOSSIANS 1:12-20
A COMPARISON
It is all too easy for us to
forget just how wonderful our Lord and Savior is! So, using Colossians 1:12-20, I want
us to make a comparison between Him and us!
Hopefully this will help us
to appreciate the Lord Jesus
WE'RE SINNERS. HE'S SAVIOR Vss. 12-14
Paul was explaining to the
Colossians how he prayed for them.
One of the things Paul prayed
was that the Colossians would be thankful.
Vs. 12 - Those who are going to Heaven are saints. God in his wonderful plan
devised a way, that we as sinners, could be made meet or fit for a Heavenly
inheritance.
Vs. 13 - Why did we need God to find a way to make us fit for Heaven? Because of our sins, we are actually born as
members of the Kingdom of darkness.
It is important to note that
at salvation we were delivered or translated from one kingdom to another.
The word
"translated" means deported from one kingdom to another. Often
defeated people are deported. We were deported as well when we trusted
Christ. But our deportation is really a
promotion from this black kingdom of darkness and into the
Vs. 14 - Here is the reason why we as Christians have been transported from
the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light.
We have redemption!
Redemption means to pay a
ransom and set one free!
Our debt was a sin debt!
Someone had to pay the debt,
the ransom to set us free. Christ did this. Romans 5:6-9
It is this redemption that
has set us free and transported us from the
Of course, the redemption
that has made us free has made us free now!
We don't have to wait to go
to heaven in order to be free from sin's power. John 8:36, Romans 6:14
And we are told in this verse
14 that with this redemption comes forgiveness.
Colossians 2:13-14
WE'RE CREATURES, HE'S CREATOR Vss. 15-17
Colossians 1:15 - Who is the image of the
invisible God
God is not playing
"hide and seek".
God is not trying to hide from
mankind.
He wants mankind to know
Him.
The way we know what God is
like is by knowing what Jesus is like. Jesus is the "image" of the
invisible God.
An image is an exact
representation and revelation. John 1:14, Hebrews 1:3, John 14:8-9
He that has seen Jesus has
seen the Father.
Jesus shows us a God who is
compassionate, righteous, holy, merciful, loving and a host of other things!
Study Jesus Christ and you study God. Know Jesus Christ, and you know God.
Colossians 1:15
Some people believe that
this verse teaches that Jesus is a created being because it calls him
"firstborn".
That just isn't so!
Charles Erdman said - "'Firstborn' here means two things: priority in time and
supremacy in place or position. Christ existed before the Creation, but He held
the rank commonly assigned to the 'firstborn', the rank of eminence and
dominion." Charles R. Erdman, The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan, Baker Book House, 1966), p. 52
H. A. Ironside - "It is not that he is himself created, but he is the head of
all that has been created." H. A. Ironside, Lectures on Colossians, (Neptune, NJ, Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.
1929), p. 42
Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of
Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.
Vs. 16 - Please understand one thing. You exist because of Jesus Christ! He
created all things!
John 1:3
Vs. 17 - In this verse we see Jesus' stability. He is before all things.
Yes, he is before all things
in rank, He's King, but here the principle is time. He is stable because He existed before
creation, before His birth, before His death, before His resurrection. And
notice the verb is in the present tense, not the past tense. Jesus continues to
exist!
Just think. It is the
eternal Son of God, who guarantees us eternal life. We can't lose.
Another way we see Jesus
stability is because he holds all things together.
Jesus Christ does not
change!
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
WE'RE SAINTS, HE'S SOVEREIGN Vss. 18-20
In these verses, Paul is
talking about Christ and the Church.
The church is made up of
"saints".
A saint is a person who has
been set apart by God for God, based on the person's faith in Christ.
Vs. 18 - We have many body parts.
Each body part is distinct.
Each body part has a job,
and each body part is important.
The church is made up of
many parts, but there is only one head. That is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word "head" in
Greek can mean source and origin as well as "leader" and
"ruler".
Jesus Christ is the source
of the church.
He died for it. He arose for
it. He ascended into Heaven for it, and He lives today for it.
Jesus Christ is the leader
and ruler of the church.
The local church will either
be a phenomenal success or a phenomenal failure. Whether this church is a failure or a success
depends on us. If our lives are successful, the church will be successful. If
our lives are failures, our church will be a failure.
Success or failure centers
on our recognition of the truths we are studying.
If I recognize His headship,
it means Christ tells me what to do!
If I recognize His headship,
that He is my sovereign, my King.
I let Him live through me.
As my body is dependent upon
the head to tell it what to do, and for the motivations and strength to do it,
so we are to be dependent on our Spiritual Head to control us. John 15:5
Don't expect this church to
be successful unless you are personally willing to recognize His headship.
"who
is the beginning" - Jesus Christ has priority in time and He is the
originator of the church.
The church was His
idea. He has every right to tell us what
to do!
The firstborn
from the dead . We saw this word
"firstborn" a few minutes ago.
He is first in rank over creation because He created it. He is first in
rank in resurrection because He arose to die no more.
that in all things he might have the preeminence - Another word would be "supreme" or "first
place."
God's plan for you and I as
Christians is that Jesus Christ would be supreme, having first place, being #1,
having the preeminence.
Make sure that Jesus Christ
is supreme commander in your life!
Fullness means "the sum
total of all the divine power and attributes". To dwell here means to be
at home permanently. All dive power and attributes are "at home" or
comfortable in Jesus Christ.
John 1:16 refers to Christians!
He lives inside of us.
The deity of Christ lives
inside of you and me. We are the temples of God! 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I have the fullness of Christ
living inside of me. If I don't allow
Him to fill and control me, I will have no Spiritual power or impact.
Vs. 20 -He made peace at the cross through His blood!
I am no longer God's enemy
because of sin, but I am God's child.
All things are reconciled to
Him.
He will rule.
He is my peace right now!
WE'RE SINNERS, HE'S SAVIOR Vss. 12-14
WE'RE CREATURES, HE'S CREATOR Vss. 15-17
WE'RE SAINTS (the church), HE'S SOVEREIGN Vss. 18-20
Jesus is your creator.
Is Jesus your Savior?
Is Jesus your Sovereign?
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COLOSSIANS 1:14-19
THE STAR OF THE SHOW
This morning, there is a
show going on throughout
Is it the song leader,
worship team leader, choir director?
Is it a special soloist,
a choir, or a visiting musical group?
Is it the trustees,
deacons and/or elders?
Is it the pastor of the
church?
Is it a guest speaker?
All too often in local
churches there are those who wouldn't necessarily admit it, but they consider
themselves to be the stars of the show.
And there are people in the congregation who attend church because of a
musical personality or because of the talents of the preacher.
In reality, however,
there is to be only one star of the show.
And that star of the show is the one whom we have gathered to worship
and to serve, that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus is the star,
God the Father gets the glory. Ephesians 3:21
In order to help us
focus better when we come to worship, and to help us understand why the Lord
Jesus Christ is the star of the show, I turn your direction to Colossians
1:14-19.
HE IS REDEEMER - Vs. 14
Vs. 14 - You and I were under a death sentence because of our sins.
Romans 6:23,
The Lord Jesus Christ,
God's Son, died in our place for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21
When Jesus died for our
sins, his blood was shed for our sins.1 Peter 1:18-19
The word translated
"redemption" refers to someone being set free because of the paying
of a price. Because of the payment blood
of Christ, the person who trusts Christ as Savior is set free from bondage to
sin and set free from the punishment for sin.
With redemption comes
forgiveness for sins. The charges of sin against us have been dismissed!
There is only one
requirement for being redeemed and forgiven.
You must trust Jesus as
your Savior, your way to Heaven.
You must believe that it
is He who died for your sins, and that He is your only hope of Heaven. John
3:16
HE IS REFLECTOR - Vs.
15a
So many times we have
said, or heard it said, "He's just like his father!" In the case of Jesus, this statement is absolutely
true!
Vs. 15a - He is the image of the invisible God. Do you want to know what God is like? He is the exact duplicate! How can Jesus be an exact duplicate? He is God in the flesh!
John 1:1-2, John 1:14,
John 14:9
What a great privilege it
is for us Christians to study and learn from the Lord Jesus who is the
reflector of who God is.
HE HAS RANK - Vs. 15b
According to verse 15,
not only is the Lord Jesus The image of
the invisible God, but the firstborn
of every creature.
In many societies,
current and historical, there is rank and privilege that goes with being the
first born.
Jesus of course is
eternal. He has always existed. John 1:2
Charles Erdman -
"'Firstborn' here means two things: priority in time and supremacy in
place or position. Christ existed before the Creation, but He held the rank
commonly assigned to the 'firstborn,' the rank of eminence and dominion. Christ is thus declared to be the universal
sovereign." Charles Erdman, The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to
Philemon, © 1966 by W.L. Jenkins, Baker Book House,
The Lord Jesus Christ
outranks us all!
In this church and in
our lives, we are to treat the Lord Jesus as preeminent. He's the star of the
show.
HE IS RESPONSIBLE - Vss.
16-17
Vs. 16 - The Lord Jesus is responsible for two things mentioned in
verses 16-17. The first thing He is
responsible for is creation.
The things that we can
see in Heaven, He created.
The things that we can
not see in Heaven, He created.
The things that you can
see on earth, He created.
The things that you can
not see on earth, He created.
Please don't miss the
last line of the text.
All things were created by him, and for him. Revelation 4:11
You were created by and
for the Lord Jesus Christ.
He didn't create you to
please yourself, or to please anyone else, but to please Him!
However, when we do
please the Lord, we and everyone else will be best served.
According to Romans
12:2 says that the will of God is "good and acceptable and
perfect".
Proverbs 16:7 - When a man's ways
please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at
peace with him.
So, the best question
you can ask yourself, especially when you are considering doing something
different or questionable, is "Is the Lord Jesus pleased with what I am
doing?"
Not only is "The
Star of the Show", the Lord Jesus responsible for creation. He is also responsible for holding everything
together.
Colossians 1:17 - And he is before
all things, and by him all things consist.
The Lord Jesus is the
glue that holds the universe together!
And let me tell you
something even more comforting than that.
The Lord Jesus wants to
be the glue that holds your life together.
Just as molecules could fly apart if the Lord Jesus didn't hold them
together, you life will fall apart if the Lord Jesus doesn't hold it
together.
The Lord Jesus is
responsible for creating the universe and for holding everything together.
HE IS RULER - Vss. 18-19
Vs. 18 - In the New
Testament the church is sometimes viewed as a body, the body of Christ. 1
Corinthians 12:13, 27
Think of the head as the
control center of the body. There are
several body parts that you can do without and still survive, but not the
head. That's where the computer is, your
brain, that runs everything else!
As the head of the body,
the church, Christ is the ruler!
He is in control. He has every right to tell you and I, and
this church what to do! He is the star of the show.
He is the firstborn from
the dead. Again, we are thinking of rank. He is first in position and authority when it
comes to resurrection. Nobody else's
resurrection has been or will be as grand as His. Ephesians 1:19-23,
Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head
of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;
that in all things he might have the preeminence.
When you get to Heaven,
the Lord Jesus Christ will have preeminence in your life. He will be the star
of the show.
What Jesus wants from us
right now is for us to allow him to be in our hearts and in our church, what He
already is in the universe, the preeminent ruler.
He won't be truly the
star of the show called the church, until He is the star of the show that is
your life.
Colossians
All that is God is found
in Christ.
He is the ruler.
He is the star of the
show!
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Colossians 1:15-19
A COLOSSIAN CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS!
Paul reveals the message
of Christmas in these verses.
THE PERSONALITY OF GOD'S
SON - Vs. 15
THE PARTICIPATION OF
GOD'S SON - Vss. 16-17
THE PREEMINENCE OF GOD'S
SON - Vs. 18
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COLOSSIANS 1:20-29
RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation - When two people are at odds, differences are resolved and fellowship and friendship are either restored or established for the first time.
There have been times in your life when you needed to be reconciled to someone. Perhaps reconciliation was needed with your parents after you "blew it". My Dad had every reason to be angry with me when I told someone else I was changing churches and didn't tell him. But he confronted me, and eventually there was reconciliation.
Sometimes reconciliation has been needed between you and a friend or a brother or sister. Sometimes reconciliation is even needed because we've hurt someone we don't even know such as through a traffic accident.
Our greatest need of reconciliation has been with God.
We are sinners.
We have offended the holy and almighty God!
We do not deserve any of God's blessings.
We do not deserve forgiveness.
We do not deserve a home in heaven. Romans 3:10-18
That's the bad news.
The good news is, of course, that God long ago took the matter of reconciliation into his own hands and has provided that reconciliation to all who will trust His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.
We want to consider reconciliation as described by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:20-29. Studying this passage is important because we will see:
THE MEANS OF RECONCILIATION - Vs. 20
Here we see how God provided a way of "peace" between Himself, righteous God, and sinful man. There was certainly need of peace! Ephesians 2:2-3
God provided the peace through the blood of His Son.
Someone had to pay for our sins so God could forgive and take us to Heaven. 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 5:9
My friend the price for your forgiveness has been paid. All you have to do is accept this gift of forgiveness by faith. Romans 5:1
Not only did Jesus reconcile sinners to himself, but it tells us that Jesus has reconciled all things in Heaven and in Earth.
When Christ returns and reigns there will be complete submission to Him. There will be total peace with God in the natural world and in the world of men.
And we look forward also to the day when there will be a new Heaven and a new earth.
Revelation 21:1- And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
I believe that this is the time when Romans 8:21 will be fulfilled.
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Philippians 2:9-10 - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. However only those who know Christ shall have peace!
Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The means of reconciliation of God to man and the means of reconciliation of everything in heaven and earth is the blood of Jesus Christ.
THE MIRACLE OF RECONCILIATION - Vss. 21-23
Talking to believers, Paul now shows us what a great miracle reconciliation is for the one who has come to Christ.
Vs. 21 says that we were alienated from God. The word means estranged, or we would say separated from God. Our sins did that.
We were the enemies of God.
Even though we might have thought we loved God before we accepted God's forgiveness, we were in reality God's foes. We were hostile towards God!
Our hostility led to wicked works.
But now, He has reconciled us or changed us.
Final reconciliation takes place when Jesus reins supreme.
Current reconciliation has brought us peace with God now.
Vs. 22 - The work of Christ accomplished three things that are mentioned here.
· He has made us holy.
It is the same word that we get "saint from"
You might say that He has made us saints. The word means to be "set apart". Through Christ's death He has set those who believe in Him apart for God.
· He has made us unblameable.
This word means "without blemish".
Just as the Old Testament temple sacrifices were to be without flaw or blame, we are without blame or blemish before God because of the Word of Jesus Christ.
· He has made us unaccusable.
There is nothing that the accuser of the brethren, Satan, can accuse us with that will stick.
Not one accusation can keep me out of Heaven.
Not one accusation can stop God from loving me in Christ.
Vs. 23 - There's an "if" in this verse which, of course connects with the verse we just looked at.
This "if" does not mean that you can lose your salvation.
It means that if you are truly saved, you will become tooted and grounded in the Gospel and not moved away.
Someone has said, "If the Bible teaches the final perseverance of the saints, it also teaches that the saints are those who finally persevere in Christ. Continuance is the test of reality" John 10:27-30
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION - Vss. 24-29
When a person preaches or shares Christ he is involved in the ministry of reconciliation.
The preaching of the word of reconciliation causes people to believe on Christ and be reconciled to God.
Paul, in verses 25-29 gives us some characteristics of his ministry of reconciliation that I feel will be true of us as we share Christ or witness of Him today.
· REJOICING IN SUFFERING - Vs. 24
How did Paul "suffer" for these Colossians?
Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. That is, to the non-Jews.
As such, he suffered all sorts of hardships and persecution. At the time of this writing, Paul was in prison.
In the rest of this verse it may appear that Paul is saying that the suffering of Christ was inadequate, so Paul had to suffer some more!
It is only the work of Christ that pays for sin! John 1:29, Hebrews 10:14
In this verse Paul is not talking salvation, but service. As a believer in Christ Paul had the privilege of suffering for Christ and his body, the church. The word “afflictions” means distress, pressure or trouble.
Philippians 1:29 - For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
We will suffer like Paul when we dare to preach or witness for Christ. But like Paul, let us rejoice in the sufferings which are for the benefit of other believers.
· REVEALING A MYSTERY - Vss. 25-27
A mystery in Scripture has nothing to do with "Murder She Wrote". It is not a "who done it?"
It is a "sacred secret", once hidden, but now revealed.
Vs. 25 - Paul was given a dispensation or a stewardship, or a responsibility. His job was to fulfill the Word of God in ministry to the gentiles.
Vs. 26 - This was a mystery, a sacred secret, hidden in the past, but now revealed to his saints.
Vs. 27 - The mystery is simply this. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah, would indwell a church that is made up of people mostly like the Colossians, Gentiles!
Our hope of glory is that we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior the moment we believed on him and were reconciled to God. Our hope of Glory is that Christ indwells us! Galatians 3:27-28
And because Christ indwells us we are new creatures and we have a new and changed life!
2 Corinthians 5:17
This mystery may not mean a lot to you, but it is because of this mystery that you have equal access with God as any Jew does in Christ. And it is because of this mystery that you can walk up to any person and tell them that they can have forgiveness of sin in Christ.
· Preaching the truth - Vs. 28
The ministry of reconciliation is summed up in this verse.
It is preaching or proclaiming the truth.
It is to involve warnings.
And it is to involve teaching, not just scaring people.
This is done to present every person perfect in Christ.
· Laboring in power – Vs. 29
No minister, not even Paul, was effective in his own power.
It is all dependent upon the gracious work of God's Holy Spirit.
So pray for your pastor that he will be properly empowered to reach the lost and minister to the saved.
And pray for yourself that you will be able to share Christ with those who need to hear the Gospel.
This is not only the Pastor's Job!
THE MEANS OF RECONCILIATION - Vs. 20
THE MIRACLE OF RECONCILIATION - Vss. 21-23
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION - Vss. 24-29
Rejoicing in suffering
Revealing a mystery.
Preaching the truth - Vs. 28
Laboring in power
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Colossians 1:21-23
IT'S MANDATORY!
One of the problems we
have in the church today is "easy believism".
People feel that as long as they have walked an aisle, professed faith, and/or
been baptized they are ready to go to Heaven.
The Bible is very clear
that when a person has truly trusted Christ as Savior (John
OUR SIN - Vs. 21
This verse tells us what
our lives were like until we were reconciled to God through Christ.
OUR STANDING - Vs. 22
If a person is truly
born again he/she is now "holy, unblameable and unreproveable in his sight".
OUR STANDARD - Vs. 23
Because our standing has
changed in Christ (Vs. 22) our standard of behavior changes as well.
Proof of salvation is
being "grounded and settled" as well as not being moved away from the
hope of the Gospel.
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