Colossians – Week 1
September 12 – Colossians
Colossians 1:1-2, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
The author is identified as the Apostle Paul. He has become so by the will of God. It was definitely not by his choice but through a very dramatic confrontation and calling that we read about in Acts 9.
As Paul often does, he includes others in the salutation who are with him from where he writes. Here, we find Timothy whom he describes as a brother in the faith. We learn from other places that Timothy is a younger leader whom Paul mentors to be a pastor in the early church. Paul writes to the holy people, to the faithful believers who are in Christ Jesus at Colossae.
[Historical records tell us that while Colossae was a populous city, wealthy and large in the classical period (4th-5th century BC), during the Christian era it was only a small town. In the Byzantine era (3rd century AD), Colossae served as an archbishop’s see. Though the first-century town was small and relatively insignificant, the believers and the issues at stake were vitally important to Paul. His co-worker Epaphras had brought report of God’s gracious work at Colossae. It is also evident that Epaphras had shared with the apostle his concerns about the Colossian church.
A strange teaching was being distributed at Colossae. Though it is never clearly spelled out, it appears to be some form of a fusion of human philosophy. The heresy seemed to promise its followers protection from evil powers through ascetic legalism. The apostle’s antidote to these claims is a strong doctrine of Christ’s sovereignty.
From Paul’s major argument develops a singular theme: the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. The first half of the letter (chs. 1-2) proclaims the universality of Christ’s dominion, while the second half (chs. 3-4) applies his Lordship to daily living.] Adapted from the Asbury Bible Commentary Copyright © 1992 by The Zondervan Corporation.
Paul offers the two great words of the Christian faith in his greeting: Grace and peace from God our Father. Grace is the undeserved rich holy love of God fully expressed to us in His Son Jesus. Peace has the connection to the Old Testament word “shalom,” which offers the blessing of God’s total well-being in every imaginable way to them.
Do we have the grace and peace of which Paul writes? If so, what if we extended it to one another in our writing, our social media posting, and our conversations? What difference would it make in how we communicate?
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:13-14, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question(s) to Consider: How will we, as believers, offer God’s grace and peace to other believers, and even non-believers?
September 13 – Colossians
Colossians 1:3-6a, We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you.
Paul gives two reasons why he is thankful for these Colossian believers. It is because of their faith in Jesus and the love they have for the whole Church. I appreciate how he puts the two together as one. Let there be no mistake, faith in Jesus will lead you to love God’s people, the Body of Christ.
By definition and practice, there can be no solo Christians. To be Christian is to put our total faith in Jesus and to live in love with one another.
John 3:16 tells us how to do the first half by believing in Jesus. 1 John 3:16 tells how to do the second half.
1 John 3:16, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
This is no soft kind of love but a sacrificial selfless serving kind of love for the good of our faith family.
Paul goes on to tell us that we do not manufacture such faith and love. It is a byproduct of receiving the gospel message. It comes from the wonderful hope that is being held in safe-keeping in heaven which we will enjoy for all eternity one day.
Notice that Paul says this comes from the true message of the gospel. Evidently, there were already false messages beginning to develop. We know we must be wise and discerning and watch for many fake versions of the gospel today.
There has been the gospel of prosperity where we are taught to be a follower of Jesus empowers you to become rich materially. There is universal salvation where no one has to respond to the gospel because God automatically saves everyone.
Have you come across any fake versions of the gospel? Paul makes it clear that when we accept the true version it will lead to authentic faith in Jesus and love for the Body of Christ.
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:13-14, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question(s) to Consider: Does your faith in Christ lead you to love the Body of Christ? How are you displaying such love?
September 14 – Colossians
Colossians 6b-8, In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
“In the same way” connects with yesterday’s reading. Just as the true message of the gospel has brought hope that fuels faith and love so we see the power of the gospel at work around the world. The true gospel will always bear fruit and grow. It is a spiritual law of the kingdom of God. Wherever it goes it grows.
Paul says this is exactly what has happened at Colossae. They heard the gospel and truly understood it is a message of God’s grace. When we first hear that glorious message, it may sound too good to be true! It may take some time to fully grasp such amazing news.
When we do get it and receive it, it is the turning point. It is the day when everything begins to change. A miracle of transformation begins within the deepest recesses of our soul, mind, heart, and spirit. We have new desires, new thoughts, new words, new attitudes, and new behavior.
We become walking and breathing power plants of the Holy Spirit! We grow and bear the fruit of the love and character of Jesus. It is a work within us that makes its way out into all of our life. We cannot manipulate this change, but we fully cooperate with the Holy Spirit to make ourselves come to life.
Paul said they first heard this message from Epaphras. He was a faithful servant and minister of Jesus on Paul’s behalf. He gave Paul the report of the love the Colossian believers have for one another through the pervading Spirit at work within them.
Who first told you about the gospel message? Was it your parents, grandparents, a Sunday School teacher, a friend, a pastor? Who have you told about the grace of God?
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:13-14, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question(s) to Consider: Have you ever thanked the person(s) who shared Christ’s saving message with you? Are you praying for an opportunity to share God’s grace with someone else?
September 15 – Colossians
Colossians 1:9-12, For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Because Paul has heard about the Colossian’s faith and love in the Spirit, he tells them that he and his colleagues have persisted in prayer for them. Thankfully, he also tells us the content of his prayer so we might know how to pray for each other.
They never stop asking God to fill them with the knowledge of God’s will through the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives them.
Do you remember what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit being our teacher?
John 14:24-26, Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Paul was trusting and praying for this to be the reality for the Colossian church because so much was at stake. The believers did not have the New Testament for it was being lived and written in those early days of the church. They had to remember what they had been taught, and the Holy Spirit would help them do so and, also, teach them knew things that was in line with what Jesus taught.
The purpose of such teaching is so that we may live lives worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. By doing so we will show fruit in our good works, we will grow in our knowledge of God, we will be strengthened by God’s power so that we can endure the challenges of life, and be joyful because we get to share in the eternal inheritance with all other holy people in God’s glorious kingdom.
There is nothing wrong with praying for one another to be safe, to have what they need materially, and for healing. God invites us to bring all our anxieties to Him. However, do we also pray for this rich spiritual dynamic to come alive in each other which will last for all eternity?
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:13-14, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question(s) to Consider: Who will you pray this prayer for today?
September 16 – Colossians
Colossians 1:13-14, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
These concluding verses of this section connect with what Paul previously said that they have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the holy people of God in the glorious kingdom of light. So, the big question is, how do we become qualified?
God has done so through the gift of His Son Jesus. We have been rescued, redeemed, and forgiven by the great work of Jesus on our behalf. As mentioned earlier, this great gift must be received and appropriated into our lives through wholehearted belief and surrender.
There is a dominion of darkness that prevails in the world. It is an opposing kingdom set up against the kingdom of light. Through original sin, we are born into this darkness. As a result, we sin and are broken in our relationship with God. “Rescue” is an accurate term because we are in dire danger of perishing in this evil kingdom. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all stand in need of such a rescue in order to be saved.
As a result of being rescued, we are redeemed. The price has been paid at the cross for our freedom so we can be released from the prince of darkness’ imprisonment. The big exchange took place where Christ took upon himself our sin and guilt, and we received the righteousness (a right relationship) with the Father through the Son.
We are brought into Christ’s kingdom of light because we have been forgiven. Let us not take lightly that our sin has broken our relationship with God. The Bible is clear that before we receive God’s redeeming grace we stand condemned before God in our natural state. We are in great need of being rescued, redeemed, and forgiven.
However, the greatness of God’s grace has provided the way to come home to Him. He loves us so that He cannot bear the thought of anyone being forever lost. However, in order for His rescue effort to be effective for us, we must believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and pick up our cross and follow after Him.
This is something marvelous to celebrate if we are in the kingdom of light. If we are unsure, we can declare, “I am a sinner in need of rescue, and I wholeheartedly put my trust in Your plan of redemption for the forgiveness of my sins. Out of my love and response to Your amazing gift, I choose to pick up my cross of obedience and follow after You the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:13-14, For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question(s) to Consider: Are you confident that you are in the kingdom of light? On what are you basing that conclusion?