INTRODUCTION
1. Background to Colossians
Paul, while a prisoner in Rome, meets a runaway slave named “Onesimus”, who belonged to “Philemon”, one of the leaders of a church in the town of Colosse. Paul had led Philemon to Christ back when he started the church at Ephesus.
Paul also leads Onesimus to Christ and writes a letter to Philemon asking him to forgive Onesimus and receive him back as a brother in Christ.
About the same time, another man by the name of Epaphras also showed up needing Paul’s help. Again, going back to the Church in Ephesus, Paul had also led Epaphras to Christ. What’s impressive about Epaphras is that upon leaving Ephesus, he goes to Colossae and begins a church that meets in a house.
2.The Crisis – So what was Epaphras’ crisis needing Paul help?
There was a special heresy that was invading the church that seemed to be the beginning of what the second century called Gnosticism. Without going into a long 3 page synopsis…
A.It contained several characteristics:
(1) It was Jewish, stressing the need for observing Old Testament laws and ceremonies. )i.e restrictions of certain diets, meats, sexual relations etc.)
(2) It was philosophical, laying emphasis on some special or deeper knowledge (gnosis).
(3) It involved the worship of angels as mediators to God.
(4) It was exclusive, stressing that this special “privilege” and “perfection” was for those select few who belonged to this elite group ‘in the know’.
(5) It was also Christological. However, this group denied the deity of Christ, our basis for faith.
B.Obviously these items needed to be addressed. But what about churches today?.
DO NOT MANY CHURCHES …
1.Jewish … stress the need for certain requirements and actions for membership?
2.philosophical … teach that spiritual perfection comes from certain actions rather than one’s relationship with Christ?
3.worship of angels … how many Christians live by astrology? (there are 1750 daily newspapers of which 1220 of them carry astrological data)
4.exclusive … have “spiritual cliques” – a house of judgment rather than a hospital?
5.(about the only one in the evangelical church that is not a part of today’s church)
You would agree that WE ALSO NEED TO HEAR AND LEARN from Paul’s advice to those in Colosse!
3.The Church And The City Of Colosse
READ 1:1-2
“holy” – “saints” – ‘those set apart for God’ &“faithful brothers” – “faithful brethren” - ‘believing brothers’ (church)
This is an impressive greeting considering Paul did not start or visit the church! In fact, from what we know, Paul had never even been to Colosse.
“Colosse” is One of 3 cities located about 100 miles inland from Ephesus in Asia.
The other two cities were Laodicea and Hierapolis. All 3 were originally strong & attractive because of the important trade routes running through them. Laodicea & Hierapolis remained strong, while Colossae seemed to slip into a 2nd rate position.
ILLUSTRATION: Santee SC
Santee was a town about 25 miles N of my hometown in Orangeburg, SC and was located right in the middle of a very important State Hwy. 301. It was at one time a very active, important, alive tourist town because of fishing, a state park other water sports, and a top rated Golf Course. Small tourists businesses could do well here because of the traffic coming through on Hwy 301.
When the construction of I-95 got close to SC, officials fought hard trying to make lawmakers combine I-95 with hwy 301 (as they had in other cities who depended on traffic for their livelihood). Arguments were that failure to do so would eventually kill the city and that prediction was ultimately true.
Recently while visiting my Mother who lives in SC, we went to one of her favorite restaurants in Santee. What I remembered was NOT what I found.
The fishing attraction was still there for those who know of it, but the tourist trade, golf course, and businesses were run down - many had closed.
This is what I thought of in reading the background to “Colossians”. I point this out because I think it is awesome that in a run down, almost dying city, there is still a strong vibrant church that is making a difference – a church with a REPUTATION of being a “holy, set apart for God, group of believing brothers”.
What a LESSON for CHURCHES TODAY!
APPLICATION: In reading the ‘background’ and ‘circumstances’ surrounding this great book, ONE SUBJECT seemed to keep coming up that I want to turn into a QUESTION FOR US TO CONSIDER:
“IS CHRIST MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE?” – TEXT: COLOSSIANS 1.1-5
I.IS JESUS THE CENTER OF YOUR FAITH (4)
1.READ VERSES 3-4
“because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus” - 4
A.Their faith was centered on Jesus. Their faith in the Lord Jesus made such an impact on the lives of those in the church that they had gained a reputation for their faith.
Before Christ, life was based on living for self – material gain, success or prosperity -- those worldly possessions Paul talked about in Philippians.
After hearing the Word (the gospel), they BELIEVED! But not just any old belief but rather a belief that was a WAY OF LIFE – something so vibrant, so exciting, that all of their old way of life was refocused to have a different purpose.
Now their witness & faith was developing a reputation in Colosse! I wonder what people would say about the church when they walked around Colosse?
B.I wonder what people say about New Horizons when the subject comes up? What are we known for in your circle of family and friends?
-- IF Jesus is the center of our faith,-- IF Jesus is making a difference in our lives, then LIFE is different – Your WAY OF LIFE is Different & OTHERS KNOW IT!
-- OUR CHURCH WILL NOT BE KNOWN FOR OUR FAITH UNLESS TWO THINGS HAPPEN:
1.Our faith is be evident in our lives – our daily lives.
2.We become involved in the lives of others allowing them to see our faith in action. Notice…
II.IS YOUR LOVE FOR THE SAINTS EVIDENT
READ VERSE 4b
“heard … of the love you have for all the saints” - 4
If Jesus is the center of your faith, that FAITH will manifest itself in how much love we have for other brothers and sisters in Christ.
"You can’t be a Christian alone"—you cannot live a complete and developing Christian life unless he is in fellowship with God’s people. The local church becomes a FAMILY which is exactly what GOD INTENDED.
The CHRISTIAN LIFE has TWO RELATIONSHIPS:
1- VERTICAL (Godward) and
2- HORIZONTAL (manward).
Each of these two relationships is to be one of love, one for the other.
-We CAN SAY how much we love Jesus all we want;
-We CAN TELL Him how sold out we are to Him,
-BUT if we DO NOT love one another, they are just empty statements!
III.DOES YOUR FAITH & LOVE REST IN YOUR HOPE OF HEAVEN?
READ VERSE 5
5) “…spring up from the hope stored up for you in heaven”
1. The previous two, ‘faith in Christ Jesus’ and ‘love for the saints’ COME from our hope stored in heaven!
A.Verse 5 explains why one has such faith and such love –“because of our hope in heaven”! If Jesus is making a difference in your life, you will be able to STAND on the BIG PICTURE - “the hope stored up in heaven” and NOT the CIRCUMSTANCE of the day!
ILLUSTRATION: NOT SEEING THE BIG PICTURE
All of you know because of the economy, my business of home inspections and renovations have both come to a halt. Even our tithes here at NHBC have been effected by the struggles of our economy.
For a while, I was holding strong and remaining positive. Slowly, the pressures wore me down spiritually and mentally. As the reserve deplinished, the stress began to rise more and more.
One night this past week, I was sitting in my truck here in the parking lot and found myself fussing at God as though it’s all His fault.
It was like, “why are you allowing me to go through this when I have tried so hard to live for you?”
MY ATTITITUDE SHOCKED ME! THIS LIFE is NOT the HOPE I LONG FOR – THE HOPE STORED IN HEAVEN BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE! THIS life is NOT all there is PRAISE GOD!
HEBREWS 11.1 “now FAITH is being sure of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN for what we DO NOT SEE”
True “faith” is “confident obedience” to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences of the day.
If Jesus is making a difference in your life, your HOPE in the future will allow you to SACRIFICE some of the present for the future gain being stored in heaven.
B.A Word About Today!
1)When Jesus told his disciples he was leaving them in this world, they got upset and confused. His encouragement to them applies to us today,
John 14:1-4 (NIV)
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
This world stinks because of the fall of man. Mankind was separated from God and life became ANYTHING BUT WHAT GOD INTENDED.
THAT IS until the work of the cross. Now, as Jesus told the disciples, there IS a way back to God – through FAITH IN CHRIST.
2)But we still are in the world WITH ONE DIFFERENCE – WE ARE NOT ALONE
Jesus promised that we would never be left alone or abandoned – that while there would be tough and hard times, times of confusion, pain, anguish and stress,
- he promised that HE WOULD WORK THEM OUT FOR OUR GOOD so that they have purpose.
Isn’t that worth making a stand! One day, we too will realize the hope we’ve been waiting anxiously for. One day, he will claim His church.
SUMMARY
THE QUESTION: Is Christ Making a Difference In Your Life?
I kept thinking about Epaphras and how he goes without any instruction (or knowledge) from Paul, no special education, but because of His desire to be USED BY GOD.
READ VERSES 7-8
‘you learned it (faith, love, and hope) from Epaphras’
Because of his love for Christ, He made a difference in the lives of others (those that God brought into the church).
‘… and told us (Paul and his team) of your love in the spirit’
he then reported of their “love for Christ’ to others (back to Paul).
But keep in mind, it wasn’t just Epaphras that kept talking about the love and faith of the church. (back in verses 3 & 4) we found that Paul constantly (“always”) prayed for the church because of what “we have heard” (reports even before Epaphras comes)
There is a good lesson for us here: God does not always need an apostle, or a "full-time Christian worker" to get a ministry established. Nor does He need elaborate buildings and extensive organizations.
Here were two laymen, Philemon and Epaphras, who were used of God to start ministries in at least three cities.
What a lesson for all of us!
