That I May Know Him
Colossians 1:1-12
We are beginning a sermon series through the book of Colossians on Sunday mornings. The apostle Paul wrote this wonderful book. It is known as a prison Epistle because Paul wrote this under house arrest during his first imprisonment in Rome.
Ephesians is widely known as portraying the “church of Christ” and Colossians is know as portraying the “Christ of the church.” Ephesians is all about the body of Christ and Colossians focuses on the Head of the body.
Paul’s purpose in writing this book is to show that Christ should be preeminent—first and foremost in everything in the church and in the lives of every Christian. Our lives should be evident that Jesus is #1.
Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:10, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,” (NKJ)
Paul says I want to know everything about Jesus and get so close to Him that I learn everything about Him. Paul is saying folks Just give me Jesus.
The world and major religions of the world have a completely different viewpoint of who this Jesus is. Of the four major world religions tonly Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder. Our verse said that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection—why is that important?
In 1900 B.C. Judaism’s Father Abraham died. In 483 B.C. Buddhist writings say Buddha died “with that utter passing away in which nothing whatever remains behind.” June 6, 632 A.D. Mohammed died. . In 33 A.D. Jesus died but came back to life appearing to 500 people over a period of 40 days.
The Bible says in 1Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead than He’s no different than any of the others.
But I think to really understand this book of the Bible we ourselves have to ask the question Who is Jesus to us? I mean is Jesus first and foremost in our lives?
See I believe that the preeminence of Christ should not be a slogan or a statement we just agree with it should be lived our practically in our lives.
I believe the church needs today more than anything else to fall in love with Jesus all over again. That’s my prayer and passion for this series.
So the question is...are you ready?
How is it evident in the life of a Christian when Jesus is #1?
I. We hear and believe the Gospel (v.1-6)
This is what separates Christians from non-Christians. All hear the gospel story but few believe by putting their faith in Jesus. But to really understand this the Bible tells us here:
A. What the Gospel is (v.4-5, 6b)
The word “Gospel” means “good news.” Well what’s the good news? It’s two-fold:
1. It’s all about Jesus (v.4a)
The good news is the story of Jesus Christ. His story of His life, death and resurrection is recorded in the Gospels. The good news is we have a savior who died for our sins. The Gospel is not a way to God it is the way to God. Because of Jesus there is hope for all the world.
2. It’s the Word of Truth and Grace (v.5, 6b)
This means that the Gospel came from God and it can be trusted. John 17:17 says, “Thy Word is truth.” There are many things that can be called true. My love for my wife and my boys that is true. Your love for your family is true. However, there is only one thing that can be called truth. VBS motto and verse. Absolute truth is found in God’ Holy Word.
But notice the phrase “grace of God” in v.6. Grace gives us what we don’t deserve. Sometimes we give our children grace. After a speeding ticket, or when one brother hits the other. I better changed subjects…
Sometimes we need grace to put up with our children...can I get a witness. I hear people say I’m not looking forward to the empty nest...Have you lost your mind!! I’m counting the days! Noah is getting kicked out the day he turns 18—6/12/2016.
2,912 days.
The grace of God. We don’t deserve it. That He would die for me and for you goes against every other religion and every bit of worldly wisdom.
Chuck Swindoll in "The Grace Awakening" wrote this: “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, So God sent us a Savior!”
B. Who the Gospel is for (v.6a)
(in the world) There are some today and it has been around for a while that believe Jesus died for the elect—those who were the elect of God before the world began. I don’t believe that. I believe the Bible teaches that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world because God so loved the world
The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9...“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
If God doesn’t want anyone to perish and everyone to come to repentance, He had to provide a way for anyone and everyone to come to Him.
That’s why all of mankind is promised in 1 John 2:2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (NKJ)
Third truth:
C. What the Gospel does (v.4-6a)
See it in v.6—Bears fruit. If a person hears and receives the Gospel, believes in Jesus as the Savior of the world and of their sin then the Gospel will—will bear fruit in their life.
Jesus said in Luke 6:43-44, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.” (NIV) He goes on to say in v.45 “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (NIV)
If the Gospel is believed and rooted in the heart and if Jesus is first and foremost in our lives then we will bear good fruit. What is the fruit? Paul lists these 3 words over and over in his writings:
Faith, love (v.4) and hope (v.5)
A Christian who is obeying Jesus is going to be filled with faith and hope. They are not going to be negative because this Earth isn’t their home, Heaven is. They are going to trust God in good and bad times because they are leaning on Jesus.
Paul listed these three words time and time again in his letters and magnified them in 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (NIV)
You show me a Christian who loves Jesus I’ll show you a Christian who loves other people. When Jesus rules the heart words of love pour out.
How is it evident in the life of a Christian when Jesus is #1?
I. We hear and believe the Gospel (v.1-6)
II. We grow in faith (v.7-12)
The major emphasis coming this fall here at FBC is growing in our faith. Folks churches are full of stagnate Christians. I’m not talking about attendance I’m talking about what v.7 is saying modeling Christ.
You’ll notice that Epaphras the minister of the church a fellow prisoner of Paul was teaching them God’s Word. I believe it is a pastor’s call, duty and privilege to teach his people God’s Word so they can Grow in faith. That faith will grow and be evident in three ways:
A. Growth is evident in our wisdom (v.9)
The Greek word translated knowledge here means full knowledge. We never fully understand the things of God we should never feel like we’ve arrived unfortunately some do. It’s like a college freshmen turning in a 3 page paper on the history of the universe.
So I’m going to be practical in this area of wisdom. V.9 tells us the knowledge of His will and spiritual understanding. You need to get this if you don’t get anything else. If we’re going to know God’s will it starts with wanting to know His will. He must be humble and say something like this to Jesus.
I need you. You are my Lord and all I want is to do your will. I’m going to serve you and obey you until you tell me what it is you want me to do.
Young people if you’ll do that you won’t waste time chasing things that are not God’s will...Notice the word filled.
It means complete. We are only complete in Him. Amen! The word picture is a ship filled and ready to make the voyage. The Christian has all the necessary equipment to make this voyage of life all we have to do is follow His will.
B. Growth is evident in our walk (v.10)
God does want us to be wise spiritually but God is more concerned about our walk than He is about what we can do for Him. Too many people have been gifted and talented in their Christian life only to neglect their walk and be shipwrecked in their voyage.
Paul wrote about this in 1 Timothy 1:18-20, “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (NKJ)
Paul said he turned these two men over to Satan and the world because they have shipwrecked their faith. Newly elected president of the SBC and one of my heroes Johnny Hunt says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” I’ll say it this way, “Obedience is better than service.”
God cares more about us walking with Him than working for Him.
C. Growth is evident in our work (v.11-12)
There is always this progression. We learn about our Lord Jesus (wisdom), follow His will, we (walk) with Jesus obeying Him, and then we (work) for Him by serving others.
Worship isn’t about us. Worship is about Jesus. Church work isn’t about us. It’s about others. Listen my dear friends I love you, I’m so grateful to God for calling me here as your pastor. But most of our churches in the U.S. think that the church is there for those who are in it. If we’d just listen to them...Why don’t we just listen to Him!
Why do you serve Him in the church? Or for some of you, Why don’t you serve Him in the church?
See if we’re growing in wisdom and walking with Him service just becomes a natural outflow of our love for Jesus because He is first in our lives. Think about it when we’re behaving like Jesus His entire life, ministry and death was all about others.
Are we growing in faith?
Conclusion: Kay Arthur a gifted Bible teacher has a devotional book called Lord, I Want To Know You. In chapter 12 she speak about all of us from time to time.
“You can study for a lifetime and never mine all the precious gems of truth hidden in God’s Word. How can we sell our souls for tinsel when silver could be ours? How can we wear the clothes of spiritual paupers when the coffers pf the King of kings are ours for the claiming? O church, church, why have you asked for your inheritance, taken it to a far country, squandered it on the fleeting pleasure of the world, and found yourself eating the husks from the pig’s trough when you could be dining at the King’s table?
Am I speaking to you? You can tell by what is foremost in your life, by what you give yourself to!” (pg.117)
Is Jesus first and foremost in your life?
Have you heard and believed the Gospel?
Are you growing in your faith?
How is it evident in the life of a Christian when Jesus is #1?
I pray by the end of this series that all of our church family will say...Just Give me Jesus...like Paul That I May Know Him.
PRAY
