FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST
A MESSAGE SERIES FROM COLOSSIANS
Reasons To Give Thanks
Colossians 1:12-20
INTRODUCTION:
A. Following Paul’s praise of the church at Colosse and his pray for them He expresses an attitude of thankfulness.
1. Now you might think “So what?”
2. Paul has been on three very hard mission trips (His second trip alone was somewhere about 1500 to 2000 miles [St Louis to Salt Lake City or San Francisco])
a. He has been beaten, stoned, left for dead, shipped wrecked, bitten by snakes, chased out of numerous towns
b. And now he is in prison for preaching the gospel that speaks of freedom!
3. Yet he writes, Giving thanks unto the Father…
B. Think about this for a moment
1. We live in troubled times
a. The economy is bad to put it mildly
b. The government is not exactly friendly to the Christian life style
c. Our cities are in turmoil crime is up - services are down
d. Families at all levels of society are falling apart
e. Maybe your own situation is not good, or down right bad
2. Do we, like Paul, find in us a thankful spirit?
C. If we are Christians and we don’t, it could be because our heads and hearts are in the wrong place.
1. Jesus said, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34
2. It could be said, where your heart is, there you will seek your treasure.
3. Jesus also said, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
4. Paul took these words to heart: as he begins this extended oration of thanksgiving we are going to find that he does not focus on the things of this world
5. On what does He focus? Jesus Christ!
D. Paul can be thankful through it all because He sees Jesus for who He really is – this will be our outline.
1. Paul knew Jesus:
a. Is Savior
b. Is Creator
c. Is Head of the Church
2. As we look to Jesus and see who He really is, we will have Reasons To Be Thankful as well!
PRAY
We will begin this morning by taking a look at the greatest reason To Give Thanks: that being
I. JESUS IS SAVIOR, Col. 1:12-15 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: [13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: There are many things from this passage we could look at but lets settle for two:
A. The Fact: we are partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1. Listen to these two verses:
a. Ephes. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
b. Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2. Do you see reason to be thankful for Jesus as Savior?
a. We have become children of God, we have a joint inheritance with Christ – all that is his is ours!
b. We are no longer children of the disobedient one (Satan) and our destiny is no longer with him, but rather with Christ!
B. Secondly, The Means: hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1. We did not become children of God on our own or under our own power, for John wrote that we were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:13 (In fact we could not)
2. It was Christ who purchased our redemption – the price was His blood!
a. The blood of Christ covers all our sin – we no longer have to give an account for it!
b. Christ’s death on the cross made it possible to become His children.
C. If we ever come to understand just how far we are from God, as sinners, and therefore realize how far God came to bring us to Himself, we will be a thankful people!
1. We were at war with God - Rom 8:7-8 the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
2. Yet, according to Rom 5:8 God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Gospel)
3. Jesus is our Savior – that is a reason to be thankful!
We can be thankful for Jesus as our Savior and we can be thankful because
II. JESUS IS CREATOR, Col. 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
A. It is important that we understand that Jesus is the Creator of all things
1. Paul begins this line of encouragement by letting us know that Jesus is of the utmost preeminence and eternal
a. …the firstborn of every creature:
1) The term “first born” can mean the first in numerical order, but it can just as well mean first in priority or supreme – above all else.
2) We come to understand that it is the second of these two possibilities by its immediate context and in relation to what else the Word has to say about Christ.
b. Jesus Christ has always existed: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- The word “beginning” is translated from a Greek word which means: the person or thing that commences, the leader, that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause
c. Jesus is eternal: He always was & always will be!
2. Secondly, For by him were all things created
a. Jesus was the person of the Trinity who brought this world into being – He created it all (the account of Genesis)
b. Not only did He create it, all things were created for Him!
3. Thirdly, by him all things consist
a. The word “consist” could mean “to fit together”
b. In other words, Jesus makes everything work together and keeps it working
B. So why should this be a point of thanksgiving?
1. Think about it.
a. If Jesus made everything, He knows how it works (this includes us)
b. If Jesus made everything he knows how to keep it working
c. And if Jesus is eternal, He can keep it going
2. We can be thankful that Jesus is in control!
a. Since He is before all things, in control of all things, and can never be out of control: He can make good on His promises
1) Never to leave us
2) Never to be estranged from His love
3) That He can make all things work to our good
b. You get the point!
3. Even in a world that seems to be out of control – Jesus has it in hand!
4. Because He is the Creator – the eternal one, we can know that we are safe in His arms!
5. Thus Paul – even in jail – could be thankful! And so can we!
Be thankful because Jesus is our Savior, Jesus is our Creator and finally, because
III. JESUS IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH, Col. 1:18-19 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. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
A. Jesus is Head of the Church – Oh, how we need to learn this!
1. Many metaphors are used to describe the church: family, bride, flock & building to name just a few
2. But the most profound, according to John MacArthur, having no Old Testament equivalent, is the body.
3. I want you to think about your head – what does it contain?
a. Most importantly if houses your brain – it is essential to all other parts of the body
b. Jesus as the head is essential to all the church (His body) does.
4. He, as the Savior and eternal Creator is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing, and ever-present and knows what He wants us to do, go and be.
B. So why should this be a reason for thanksgiving? ( Are you ready to get excited?)
1. Listen to what Christ told Peter, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (Peter’s profession that Jesus was the Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
a. The church is not some government dependent, mealy mouse, impudent offspring of the world – she is the body of Christ, who is the eternal Creator and living Savior!
b. The world and her governments have been trying to get ride of her since her inception – but it will not happen – EVER!
c. As the eternal God and Savior of mankind Jesus is head of the church
2. There has been enough “church bashing:” despite her short comings, she is still God’s and her head is still Christ! AMEN
3. We do not need to be ashamed of belonging to the church – we might need to be ashamed of what we have made her look like, by undermining the head and rolling around in the mud of this world: but neither the church nor the head is bad.
4. Let us be washed: Paul wrote to the Ephesians 5:25-26 …even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
a. Let the Bride be washed!
b. Let the world see the beauty and righteousness of Christ our Savior and His bride, the church!
5. If you have fallen: repent & confess your sin and Jesus will pick you up, clean you off, and use you in His church to his glory!
6. We can be thankful that our clumsiness or half-heartedness is not going to destroy His church – He is going to be triumphant and we can be part of it!
7. We can be thankful that, as head, Jesus can make us to be what He wants us to be – a light in darkness, salt in a decaying world, and a building set upon a hil to His eternal glory!
CONCLUSION: In closing
A. Folks, we have many reasons to be thankful:
1. Jesus is Savior
2. Jesus is Creator
3. Jesus is Head of the Church
B. Paul rejoiced in hearing that the church was doing well but he was thankful because of who Jesus was and what he had done.
C. Let’s do the same – Let’s be a thankful people – a thankful church!
