May 15th Colossians 1

verses 1-20
All is not well in Colossae. Paul has written a letter of correction! The letter to the church at Colossae is a profound and priceless little document. A heresy is growing that promotes empty ritual, useless asceticism, and false mysticism. In order to encourage the Colossians to hold to the truth, Paul refutes the heresy in a positive way—he shows them who Christ is. Christ as Lord of all gives complete salvation, and He is sufficient for every need. And if Christ is all and in all, then He ought to be in all we say, do and think. So, Paul encourages the Colossians to pursue a Godly lifestyle befitting those whose “real life is in heaven with Christ.” (3:3)
It appears that Colossians is a companion letter to Ephesians…written around the same time and even though similar, the two letters are different. Ephesians is more general; Colossians is specific and direct.
Like Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians was precipitated by some pressing consideration…to correct doctrinal error. This letter is a quite methodical composition. Its dominant theme is the fullness and pre-eminence of Christ. And the full completeness of Christian believers in Him, There is no need for us or for the Colossians to look beyond the work of the Cross! For salvation!
The city of Colosse was located about 100 miles east of Ephesus in the Lycus valley near Hieropolis and Laodicea. Apparently Paul had not been there, but this area may have been evangelized while Pual was in Ephesus by Epaphras who was a Colossian, Timothy, or others. He may have been converted while visiting Ephesus. He visited Paul some years later in prison and brought a good report in general but had to confess that certain concerns about the church at Colossae. He knew that the heresy being expressed would destroy the fellowship of the church.
Colossae was noted for the manufacture of dyes, especially crimson (called purple then). Another source of prosperity lay in the excellent pasturage for sheep and the resultant trade in wool.
Paul probably wrote this letter because of the news brought to him by Epaphras. The problem bore the name of a philosophy and had a show of wisdom thus appealing to the higher intellectual tastes. It paid regard to tradition which made it further attractive. This strange mixture of Jewish traditionalism and Greek philosophy stressed two things: reverence for angelic powers and contempt for the body.
Apparently Gnosticism, a fusion of religion and philosophy which taught that matter is evil and spirit is good, was modifying the Gospel message to a point of danger. [(NAHStiks) taught that salvation came through secret knowledge they could impart that would elevate people above worldly, material matters. Paul stressed that God revealed His will in Christ.]Over against this Paul sets forth his Christology, emphasizing the preeminence of Christ. He also warns against the danger of legalism, reflecting the influence of Judaizers on the Colossians. The Judaizers held to strict rules about the kind of permissible food and drink, religious feast days and circumcision. Paul responds to these heresies by exalting Christ, demonstrating His complete adequacy as contrasted with the emptiness of mere human philosophy. Paul is concerned that ethical demands and intellectual standards should be properly integrated in the pattern of Christian living.
Not one today should think that this disease which was symptomatic long ago in Colosse has no meaning for our own days. In every generation one or another such teachings reappears in fresh garb and with new deceptiveness. We are in need of the correction of this Colossian epistle today as much as ever.
These false teachers had invaded with the teaching that more was necessary than Jesus Christ to have a proper relationship with and worship of God. It was subtle, deceptive and devastating…the teaching provoked believers to search elsewhere for that which they already possessed. Paul is emphasizing that “in Christ there is all of God in a human body” (2:9) All that God provides for His children is found in Christ!!!!
An error no wider than a hair will lead a hundred miles away from the goal. This group of false teachers made inroads into the Colossian church teaching that Jesus Christ was something less than God. There is more to be gained from the Christian life than what Jesus Christ provided, they said, He is not pre-eminent, there is spiritual wisdom and knowledge to be found outside of Him.
Today false cults abound seeking to add to the Bible their own. “book from God” or “special doctrine” that adds to the simple message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The appeal of such groups is strong, especially if your daily walk with God has become rather humdrum. As you examine your Christian life, do you find yourself asking, ”is that all there is?” Read 2:9-10 the prayer of your heart as well? “Lord, help me to understand what You want me to do, make me wise about spiritual things; help me always to be doing good kind things for others.”
Many Christians have partial knowledge of God’s will revealed in Christ, just as the Colossians did. They needed complete knowledge. Today’s Christians need complete knowledge. WE need complete knowledge. I need complete knowledge!
In verse 1:9 Paul prays that the Colossians “may be FILLED” with spiritual knowledge which is his subject in the first half of the epistle. In verse 10 he prays that they might “walk worthily” of the Lord which is his subject in the second half of the epistle.
The whole effort of the false teaching in Colossae was to depose Christ from His solitary all-supremacy and all sufficiency as Lord and Savior. In v. 15 – 18, Paul gives his glorious full-length portrait of the REAL Christ Who became our Savior. Seven super-glorious features: The visible form of the invisible God.
The Prior-Heir of all creation
In Him the universe was created
He IS before the universe
In Him the universe coheres.
The Head of the body, the Church.
The Firstborn from among the dead.
That is the REAL Christ Who had been preached to the Colossians. How could they exchange HIM for any of the fanciful inferior angel-powers of the philosophizers who were trying to talk them over? Where are His equals or rivals? Why, all the others were made BY Him and FOR Him (16) Who else could even pretend this absolute sovereignty over the whole universe? He alone, with mysterious obviousness and unassuming ease, unites in Himself God and man, nature and super-nature, eternity and time, heaven and earth, past and future, all world and our world, all transcending sovereignty and all sufficent Saviorhood. “that in all things He might have the pre-eminence.”
3 simply tremendous aspects of His person and passion and purpose. First two: v.19”For in Him the whole fullness of the Godhead was please to dwell.” There is no vague distribution of it among numberless shadowy spirit beings such as the new mystics were presuming to have discerned by their secret insight! This wonderful Christ – the REAL Christ is the ONE!!!!
v. 20 adds: …….. So His Cross has both a cosmic and a universal comprehensiveness. As all the universe centers in the eternal Son, so the peace-making of His cross has a universal circumference. Why then toy about with recondite notions of secretly finding some mysterious peace through prying into the unseen realm of spirits?
Paul asked God to fill the believers with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. KNOWLEDGE renders the Greek term for full knowledge that comes from a personal relationship with God. Paul stressed that God revealed His will in Christ. The Colossian Christians had partial knowledge of that will; they needed complete knowledge. WISDOM is the grasp of general principles; UNDERSTANDING (insight) is the application of those principles to specific situations—making wise decisions. The term SPIRITUAL stresses that genuine wisdom and understanding come through the Holy Spirit.
Four words convey continuous action. Paul described what Christlike living involves. *bearing fruit in every good work (gracious deeds of kindness and generosity prompted by God’s working in believers’ lives. *growing in the knowledge of God. (a deepening personal intimacy with God. *be strengthened (empowered) by all power. *giving thanks to God.
V. 20 God’s purpose is that THROUGH Christ He may reconcile everything to Himself. Deepest meaning…Christ alone (through His sacrificial death) was God’s chosen way (God was please, 1:19) of bringing about reconciliation.