A. INTRODUCTION
KEY WORD: Preeminence (1:17)
WRITER: Paul includes Timothy because he pastored the church (1:1)
But only Paul signed the letter. “The salutation by my own hand Paul” (4:18).
FOCUS: Prison Epistle. “Remember my chains.”
CONTENT: Similar but shorter than Ephesians
PURPOSE: To deal with false doctrines
a. Greek philosophy (2:4, 8).
b. Eastern mysticism (2:18-23).
c. Aestheticism (2:20, 23).
d. Hebrew legalism (2:16).
THEME: The position, privilege and power of a believer
B. PAUL’S THANKSGIVING
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth” (Col. 1:3-6).
1. Thanksgiving precedes prayer. “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying for you” (1:3). Emphasizes deity.
2. Past work is basis of future ministry. “Since we heard of . . .” (1:4).
3. Their complete work.
a. FAITH is “in Christ Jesus.” Inspired by Christ and is in vital union with Christ.
b. LOVE of believers individually to one another.
c. HOPE confidence of future heavenly blessing.
4. “Word of truth” (v. 5). Emphasizes truth as opposed to error.
5. The gospel transforms. “Bringing forth fruit” (v. 6).
6. Church planter. Paul thanks God that “you learned from Epaphras” (1:7).
C. PAUL’S PRAYER
“As you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col. 1:7-12).
1. Prayed for their spiritual insight. “Filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (1:9).
a. Counteracts false philosophy.
b. Wisdom is to know and do God’s will.
2. Prayed for their consistent walk. “That you may have a walk worthy of the Lord” (1:10).
a. The will of God unites doctrine and duty.
b. “All pleasing” means blamelessly before God.
3. Prayed for continual fruitfulness. “Being fruitful in every good work” (1:10). Not one time fruit like grain, but continual fruitfulness like a fruit tree.
4. Prayed for their growth in learning. “Increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:10).
a. This goal is reached by a study of God, not philosophy.
b. To walk with God and for God and to make God known.
5. Prayed for their convictions “strengthened with all might according to His glorious power” (1:11).
Strength of character
“Habitually doing the right thing in the right way.”
Strength of conviction
“Habitually believing the fundamentals of the faith.”
Strength of moral action
“Habitually, holding to the right thing.”
a. “Strengthened . . . unto all patience” (1:11), means steadfast endurance in the face of opposition.
b. “Strengthened . . . unto all long suffering” (1:11), means forbearance in the face of insult and injury.
c. “With joy,” you can always rejoice when your mental attitude is right.
I am not always responsible for what happens to me
But I am always responsible for what happens in me
6. Prayer of thanksgiving. “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (1:12).
a. Father, the loving source of spiritual blessing from whom comes “every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17).
b. Partakers denote privilege and position. We have new privileges as children of God. We have a new position, i.e., saints.
c. Saints already have the honor in the heavenlies, even before they have the full life-style. They are saints in God’s sight.
Behave what you believe.
Possess what He has purchased.
Walk because He’s made you worthy.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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