In Christ At Colossae Series

Introduction

If you are on Facebook, you are inundated with advertisements.

One of the ads that pops up in my feed is about a man who seems to be about my age and weight.

He says he is going to try a specific program as his workout regimen.

Next, there is a picture of him with astonishing abs, about 100 pounds lighter, and he says that he accomplished that in just a few months!

The transformation is so astonishing that I am tempted to try it.

Then, I slap myself back into reality and carry on with my daily life.

I tell you this because this helps us understand what was going on when Paul wrote his short letter to the Christians in Colossae.

Paul was in prison in Rome.

It was about 62 AD.

A man named Epaphras came to see Paul in Rome.

Epaphras was the likely church planter and pastor of the Colossian Church.

He was very concerned about false teaching that was affecting Christians in the Colossian Church.

They were being told that, though they had begun with Christ, their continued growth as Christians would be hastened and helped apart from Christ.

Paul was aghast when he heard this from Epaphras.

He wrote to the Colossians that Christ was all they needed.

In fact, Christ was supreme and preeminent in all things.

Theologians call the false teaching that was taking place in Colossae the “Colossian Heresy.”

However, it is tough to know precisely what false teaching—or heresy—was being taught.

The reason is that we only have Paul’s response to guide us as to what false teaching was being taught there.

My seminary professor, Doug Moo, probably gives the best summary of the false teaching that was taking place in Colossae and to which Paul was responding. He writes:

“The false teachers were appealing to spiritual beings, visions, and rules to find security in this very uncertain universe. In doing so, they were questioning the sufficiency of Christ. They may have done so directly, but it is more likely that their questions about Christ were implicit in their approach and that it is Paul who draws out the implications of this “philosophy” for Christology…. Any teaching that questions the sufficiency of Christ—not only for ‘initial’ salvation but also for spiritual growth and ultimate salvation from judgment—falls under the massive christological critique of Colossians” (Douglas J. Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, The Pillar New Testament Commentary [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2008], 60).

As we go through Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we will address the false teaching and apply it in our current church and cultural setting.

This year, I want to preach through Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

I could have called the series, “The Supremacy of Christ” or “The Preeminence of Christ.”

However, many others have used that as their series title.

So, I am calling my sermon series, “The Peerless Christ.”

The word “peerless” means “matchless, incomparable.” (Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary[Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003], n.p.).

So, to say that Christ is peerless means that he is matchless and incomparable, that he has no equal, and that he is eminent beyond comparison.

Today, we are just going to examine the greeting of Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Paul begins his letter to the Church of Colossae with the standard ancient greeting: first, the name of the sender or senders; second, the name or names of the recipients; and third, a greeting.

Scripture

Let’s read Colossians 1:1-2:

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Lesson

Colossians 1:1-2 teaches us that God wants believers to embrace their holy identity as one family resting in his blessings.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Who Is Writing? (1:1)

2. Who Are We? (1:2a)

3. Where Do We Live Out This Identity? (1:2b)

4. What Do We Receive? (1:2c)

I. Who Is Writing? (1:1)

First, who is writing?

Paul begins in verse 1 with these words, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.”

Paul had never been to Colossae, so he started his letter by making his right to write to the Colossians clear.

He does so with one word: he is an “apostle.”

The Greek word for “apostle” (apostolos) means “one who is sent out.”

Paul’s right to speak is that Jesus has sent him out to be his ambassador to the Gentiles.

Moreover, Paul is an apostle “by the will of God.”

He did not earn or achieve his apostleship.

It was given to him by Christ Jesus.

Jesus’ words to his apostles in the Upper Room were equally valid for Paul, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you” (John 15:16).