Today's lesson is from Colossians 1: 9-22. Most likely, Paul had never visited the city of Colosse. However, he was very concerned about what he had heard about the church there. Word had come to him that false teachers had infiltrated the church. Among the errors was Gnosticism. Some of the teachings of Gnosticism included:
1. The teaching that the world was not created by God, but by a lesser being.
2. Angels were to be worshipped.
3. Christ did not have a human body.
4. Some had extreme ascetic practices while others were given over to gratification.
The book of Colossians is divided into five parts:
1. Introduction (1:1-14);
2. Doctrine--The Christ (1:15-2:3);
3. Exhortation--The Church (2:4-3:4);
4. Practical--The Christian (3:5-4:6); and
5. Conclusion (4: 7-18).
Paul was concerned about the church at Colosse and wrote to expose the spiritual errors.
The first section is: Paul's Prayer (vv. 9-11). The Gnostics taught that there were three classes of people in the church:
1. The spiritual elite that had special knowledge from God.
2. A lesser order that possessed only faith.
3. A third group that were servants of the other two groups.
Paul's prayer had three parts that addressed these errors. First, Paul prayed that the entire church would be "filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." There would be no special classes of knowledge. Second, Paul prayed that the people would "worthy of the Lord...." Paul desired that people's conduct would be in harmony with their profession. Right knowledge should bring right conduct. Right works would increase right knowledge. Third, Paul prayed that the people would be "strengthened with all might." The verb in this phrase is in the present tense which means a continuous and progressive filling. The Christian life is not be lived in our own power, but there must be a reliance on the Holy Spirit.
The summary points of this section are:
1. There are no spiritual elites with special knowledge in the church.
2. The Christian's conduct should match his profession.
3. We need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
Before we move to the next section, this is an appropriate place to point out some errors found in many churches. People will claim a special word from the Lord because of what they claim God spoke to them. This is not true. God has finished speaking except as found in the Word of God. If you want to hear from God, read His Word. If you want God to spoke out loud, read His Word out loud!
The second section is: Paul's Thanksgiving (12-14). Paul's prayer included thanksgiving. He was thankful for the following:
1. The Father had made them worthy and qualified for the inheritance of the saints.
2. God had called them "out of darkness into His marvelous light."
3. God had "translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."
Paul now praises God for the above and he gives thanks for "redemption through His blood." It should be noted that the word "meek" which means fit, worthy or qualified is in the aorist tense. This means it is an instantaneous act, a present reality, and not a progressive work. The shedding of Christ's blood provided "forgiveness of sins," and we have been freed from guilt because of Calvary.
The summary points of this section are:
1. We are made worthy by His grace and not our works.
2. Christians should not walk in darkness and claim to be saved.
3. We should include thanksgiving in our prayers.
The third section is: Christ, the Creator (vv. 15-17). The Gnostics taught that the world was created by a lesser being. Paul will tackle this error head on. He declares that Jesus Christ is "the image of the invisible God." This means that the being and perfections of God are fully seen in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God incarnate and not a lesser created being. Further, Christ is the "firstborn of every creator." This means that He existed prior to creation. The creation act was not the result of a duty being delegated to Christ. It was done in and of Himself. Jesus was not taking orders from a superior God.
The word "created" is used twice in verse 16. The first time it is used in the aorist tense meaning a definite historical, finished act. The second time, it is in the perfect tense, signifying the resulting state. Christ is the Creator of all things that were created. They were created "by Him" and "for Him." The universe owes its existence to Christ.
Christ "is before all things." Jesus was not part of creation, He is before creation. "By Him all things consist." If it was not for Jesus Christ, things would disintegrate. The point is that Jesus Christ created the world and He continues to hold it together.
The summary points of this section are:
1. Jesus Christ is fully God.
2. Jesus Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
3. It is error to believe that Jesus is a lesser God.
The The fourth section is: Christ, the Reconciler (vv. 18-22). Christ is the head of the church. The church is the organism on earth to carry out His will. He is "firstborn from the dead," which means He was the first one to rise who would die no more (Lazarus was raised from the dead but he subsequently died). He has "the preeminence." Jesus is in first place and there is no other worthy of that position.
The "fulness" dwells in Christ which means that the totality of divine attributes rests in Him. It is through Christ that God "made peace" between Himself and sinful mankind. To reconcile means to eliminate the enmity between, or to bring together. That is exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did for those He saves.
Prior to their conversion, the people of Colosse were "alienated and enemies" of God. To be alienated meant one was estranged, separated in affections, and mind. They were at war with God. As a result of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, God reached out to those at war with Him. Paul asserts the humanity of Christ which was denied by the Gnostics. Jesus had a physical body which died. The purpose of that death was "to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." God desires a holy people that hate sin. And, through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, God will have His holy church.
The summary points of this section are:
1. All the fulness of divine attributes reside in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Prior to conversion, all are at war with God.
3. God will have a holy people through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Golden Text is: "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." (Col. 1:18) Christ is supreme and Sovereign over the church. This is because He paid for the church by His sacrifice. He is the Source and the beginning of life, being Firstborn from the dead. What a wonderful Savior we serve. We should thank Him everyday for what He has done for us and the church.
Next week: "Established in the Faith." (Colossians 2: 6-19)
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