Untitled Sermon

The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians The Double Commitment (Colossians 1:2–8)

Though the cause of Evil prosper, yet’ tis truth alone is strong …

Truth for ever on the scaffold, Wrong for ever on the throne—

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

3 - 14 (ESV)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossae location - Southern Asia Minor or modern day Turkey as we know it

Who - The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. Remember he was allowed visitors and people to support his need. He was basically under house arrest.

- Colossae location - Southern Asia Minor or modern day Turkey as we know it

- Who - The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. Remember he was allowed visitors and people to support his needs. He was basically under house arrest.

Date - 61-62 AD

- Date - 61-62 AD

· Why - Paul had a very deep love for those who had come to believe and he had heard great reports from Epaphras. He wanted to encourage them and also give them evidence that some of the false teachings they were hearing were something they must guard against

- Why - Paul had a very deep love for those who had come to believe and he had heard great reports from Epaphras. He wanted to encourage the Colossians and also give them evidence that some of the false teachings they were hearing were something they must guard against

· And again as I pointed out last week the main emphasis of the letter is Jesus Christ and his position as it relates to the universe and the church

Brief summary of Colossians

- And again as I pointed out last week the main emphasis of the letter is Jesus Christ and his position as it relates to the universe and the church

Last time we cover the introduction where Paul uses a Typical Greek opening to a letter where the one sending it is identified

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Last time we cover the introduction where Paul uses a Typical Greek opening to a letter where the one sending it is identified at the beginning

We are introduced to Timothy.

Co-worker

Timothy had 2 letters written to him from Paul that are captured in the New Testament.

He was converted under the preaching of Paul and his mother and grandmothers were believers

Timothy had 2 letters written to him from Paul that are captured in the New Testament.

He was converted under the preaching of Paul and his mother and grandmothers were believers

There are many points in the 11 verses before us tonight.

There are 7 that I am going to cover over the next 2 weeks

There are many points in the 11 verses before us tonight.

Tonight we are going to cover 3 them that run throughout the entire book of Colossians.

There are 7 that I am going to cover over the next 2 weeks

I am hopeful for your encouragement by Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians in this first section.

Tonight we are going to cover 3 them that run throughout the entire book of Colossians.

I am hopeful for your encouragement by Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians in this first section.

1. Verse 3

a. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you”

v If your taking notes you want to write down 3 things

b. This continues the greeting but also starts Paul’s expression of his thankfulness for the Colossians and a pray that continues through verse 14.

1) Compelling Faith

c. Very typical opening offered in the Greek letters of Paul’s day. And follows a similar in most of the other 13 letters written by Paul

2) Compassionate or agape love

3) Confident Hope

d. Paul gives thanks to God, He knows that it is God who saves and that no one came come to God without his drawing them.

1. Verse 3

e. The always does not mean that Paul always prayed for the Colossians

1. Paul always give thanks to God when he prayed for the Colossians

b. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you”

2. This seems obvious but there are commentators and others that would like us to believe that Paul prayed for all the churches in all the cities when he prayed

c. This continues the greeting but also starts Paul’s expression of his thankfulness for the Colossians and a pray that continues through verse 14.

d. Very typical opening offered in the Greek letters of Paul’s day. And follows a similar pattern to most of the other 13 letters written by Paul

3. I cannot imagine Paul just had a list and went through it every time he prayed, I expect he was much more intentional about his prayer.

f. There are some difference that I want to point out being and some of the openings of this epistle and his other epistles.

e. Paul gives thanks to God, He knows that it is God who saves and that no one came come to God without his drawing them.

1. He gives mention to someone else. “We” this most likely means Timothy like I mentioned before. In Romans, 1st Corinthians, Philippians and Philemon Paul clearly says “I”. It is highly unlikely that Paul ever used the plural to refer to himself. 1st and 2nd Thessalonians follows the same “we” and is a very clear indication Paul has a co-author or he has included those with him in his current situation who “thank God” with him

f. The always in the verse does not mean that Paul always prayed for the Colossians

2. He prays in thanks to God for the people of Colossae who live the Gospel and are fruitful which he mentions later in this passage.

1. Paul always give thanks to God when he prayed for the Colossians

2. This seems obvious but there are commentators and others that would like us to believe that Paul prayed for all the churches in all the cities when he prayed

· We can see there are two things going on here.

3. I cannot imagine Paul just had a list and went through it every time he prayed, I expect he was much more intentional about his prayer.

· Prayer is the activity that Paul and his companions are participating in but they are also “giving thanks” in prayer.

· Paul was a very prayerful man and had I am sure he had many he prayed for, and this included these Colossians who he never meet face to face.

g. There are some differences that I want to point out that exist between this epistle and some of the openings of his other epistles.

1. He gives mention to someone else. “We” this most likely means Timothy like I mentioned before. In Romans, 1st Corinthians, Philippians and Philemon Paul clearly says “I”. It is highly unlikely that Paul ever used the plural to refer to himself. He never thought of himself as above others and considered himself the chief of sinners.

v Paul admonishes me in this simple line of his letter.

2. 1st and 2nd Thessalonians follows the same “we” and is a very clear indication Paul has a co-author or he has included those with him in his current situation who “thank God” with him for the other saints

· I am greatly deficient in this area and fail often to pray for others and for their growth in obedience and faith

3. He prays in thanks to God for the people of Colossae who live the Gospel and are fruitful which he mentions later in this passage.

3. The most interesting variation in this letter comes with the reference of whom he prays to and the distinction between God and Jesus.

· “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you”

· We can see there are two things going on here.

· Prayer is the activity that Paul and his companions are participating in but they are also “giving thanks” in prayer.

· In most of Paul’s letters he uses a similar statement:

· Paul was a very prayerful man and I am sure he had many he prayed for, but here is he prayed for the Colossians a people who he had never seen face-to-face.

Ø “that together you may with one voice glorify “”the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”””

Ø “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

v Paul admonishes me in this simple line of his letter.

· I am greatly deficient in this area and fail often to pray for others and for their growth in obedience and faith

Ø “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus”

Ø . “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

4. The most interesting variation in this letter comes with the reference of whom he prays to and the distinction between God and Jesus.

Ø Even Peter in “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

· “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you”

· In most of Paul’s letters he uses a similar statement:

· This statement stresses as the New International Greek commentary says “that God, the one God made known to Israel, is now to be understood no longer simply as Father of Israel, but most clearly as the Father of Jesus Christ, and … “our Father,” Father of Gentiles as well as Jews”

Ø “that together you may with one voice glorify “”the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”””

· This slightly different praise in the opening of Colossians might have been placed there to make sure the people knew that even though Paul would use this letter to emphasis Jesus Christ and his position as it relates to the universe and the church he is deliberately attempting “to stress the sole sovereignty of God at the beginning of a letter”

Ø “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

v If your taking notes you want to write down 3 things

Ø “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus”

1) Compelling Faith

Ø . “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

2) Compassionate or agape love

Ø Even in “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

3) Confident Hope

· This statement in Colossians stresses as the New International Greek commentary reads “that God, the one God made known to Israel, is now to be understood no longer simply as Father of Israel, but most clearly as the Father of Jesus Christ, and … “our Father,” Father of Gentiles as well as Jews”

2. In verse 4 Paul continues and reports why he gives thanks when he prays, “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus”

a. Compelling Faith

· This slightly different praise in the opening of Colossians might have been placed there to make sure the people knew that even though Paul would use this letter to emphasis Jesus Christ and his position as it relates to the universe and the church he is deliberately attempting “to stress the sole sovereignty of God at the beginning of a letter”

v Faith in Jesus Christ is the bedrock for every Christian.

2. In verse 4 Paul continues with why he gives thanks when he prays, “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus”

a. Compelling Faith

· Peter confesses the Jesus is “the Christ the Son of the Living God.” Faith

v Faith in Jesus Christ is the bedrock for every Christian.

· file://localhost/Users/petermoss/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.gifMark 10:46-52 Jesus is coming into Jericho and heals the blind Bartimaeus. Turn there.

· Peter confesses that Jesus is “the Christ the Son of the Living God.” Faith

· The same account is given in and and in all these accounts; they call Jesus the “Son of David.” This was the Son who was to establish the kingdom forever. The flesh of David that was to be God’s son and fulfill the promise of the Messiah.

· Faith- drove many of the people we read about in the New Testament to desire to know Jesus more and more. To know Jesus they had to hear about him and hear from him

· file://localhost/Users/petermoss/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image001.gifMark 10:46-52 Jesus is coming into Jericho and heals the blind Bartimaeus. Turn there.

· The same account is given in and and in all these accounts; they call Jesus the “Son of David.” This was the Son who was to establish the kingdom forever. The flesh of David that was to be God’s son and fulfill the promise of the Messiah.

· Growing in the knowledge of God’s Word is the only way to know more of Jesus

· This blind man had knowledge of God - or else he would not have recognized Jesus of Nazareth who was from Bethlehem the the city of David was the “Son of David.” ()

· Faith- drove many of the people we read about in the New Testament to desire to know Jesus more and more. To know Jesus they had to hear about him and hear from him

· He had someone who taught him or told him of Jesus and he likely listened in the Synagogue as often as the word was read and understood the connection

· Growing in the knowledge of God’s Word is the only way to know more of Jesus

· This blind man had knowledge of God - or else he would not have recognized Jesus of Nazareth who was from Bethlehem the city of David as the “Son of David.” ()

· Peter’s knowledge of God had grown from the time Jesus call this rough and gritty fisherman out of his boat. Time as Jesus disciple had sharpened and increased his faith

· This is the compelling faith the draws us closer to Jesus and the Father

· He had someone who taught him or told him of Jesus or he likely listened in the Synagogue as often as the word was read and understood the connection

· Peter’s knowledge of God had grown from the time Jesus calls this rough and gritty fisherman out of his boat. Time as Jesus disciple had sharpened and increased his faith

· This is a faith and understanding as Jesus tells Peter in “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

· This is the compelling faith the draws us closer to Jesus and the Father

· file://localhost/Users/petermoss/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image002.gif(). “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.”

· This is a faith and understanding as Jesus tells Peter in “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

v Where is our faith? Do I seek to study God’s word and grow our knowledge of Him? Are we satisfied with just claiming we believe, praying when it is convenient and picking up our bible when we are board?

· file://localhost/Users/petermoss/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image002.gif “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.” ().

b. We now come to the 2nd point to night in the remainder of verse 4 “and the LOVE which you have for all the saints;” this is the compassionate (agape) Love.

v To love other believers is a commandment from our LORD Jesus

v Where is our faith? Do I seek to study God’s word and grow our knowledge of Him? Are we satisfied with just claiming we believe, praying when it is convenient and picking up our bible when we are board?

b. We now come to the 2nd point to night in the remainder of verse 4 “and the LOVE which you have for all the saints;” this is the compassionate (agape) Love.

· The night before he was hung on a cross he spoke to his disciples in the upper room and gave them this command in John Chapter 13:34-35 “A new command I give to you, (talking to the 11 remaining) that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

v To love other believers is a commandment from our LORD Jesus

· Read 1 John he points out how this love for one another is what sets us apart from those who hate God and those who are of the world

· How those who are in darkness hate the world

· The night before he was hung on a cross he spoke to his disciples in the upper room and gave them this command in John Chapter 13:34-35 “A new command I give to you, (talking to the 11 remaining) that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

· How we pass from death to life when we do not hate our brothers because hating one another is just like murder.

· Read 1 John the scripture points out how this love for one another is what sets us apart from those who hate God and those who are of the world

· How those who are in darkness hate the world

v Does anyone know what a bollard is? It is an attachment that is placed along a pier or seawall used to secure ships when they are in port. Describe.

· How we pass from death to life when we do not hate our brothers because hating one another is just like murder.

v Faith and Hope these are the two bollards of the Christian… faith and love. John MacArthur writes “We are saved by faith; we are saved to love. True saving faith is more than a conviction of the mind. It transforms the heart to love.”

v These two bollards are our anchors points as Christians.

v Does anyone know what a bollard is? It is an attachment that is placed along a pier or seawall used to secure ships when they are in port. Describe.

3. The point that Paul is trying to make very clearly here is that the Colossians having been restored in faith, reconciled to the Creator as they grow in knowledge will love others that have the same faith and that through the knowledge that increases in them by seeking to know Jesus more will continue.

v Faith and Love these are the two bollards of the Christian… faith and love. John MacArthur writes “We are saved by faith; we are saved to love. True saving faith is more than a conviction of the mind. It transforms the heart to love.”

a. It will continue because of the Confident Hope they have in the promises to come. Verse 5 “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,”

v These two bollards are our anchors points as Christians.

3. The point that Paul is trying to make very clearly here is that the Colossians having been restored in faith, reconciled to the Creator as they grow in knowledge love others that have the same faith and that through the knowledge that increases in them by seeking to know Jesus more will continue.

b. Paul was praying for the Colossian’s hope. A hope they had heard of in the truth of the Gospel the truth that comes in the WORD of God.

a. It will continue because of the Confident Hope they have in the promises to come. Verse 5 “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,”

· Turn to Hebrews chapter 6. Whoever gets there first start reading verses 18-20

· 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

b. Paul was praying for the Colossian’s hope. A hope they had heard of in the truth of the Gospel the truth that comes in the WORD of God.

c. Hope is the anchor chain or as we use today in the Navy mooring line.

· Turn to Hebrews chapter 6. Whoever gets there first start reading verses 18-20

v So imagine with me if you will we are Christians or saints as Paul refers to us are the ship. A ship that can be tossed at sea as we make our way through day to day life with all its trials injustice and ugliness can always be secure that in our faith and love the two bollards along the pier will be securely fastened to the hope we have in the everlasting life that God has promised through Jesus.

· 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

d. Hope is not “pie in the sky” a wish or “que sera sera (what will be will be) but that hope comes from the Holy Spirit that lives within us

· In the ancient world they did not have what we think of today as and anchor. It was likely a single stone with a hole worked into it and rope passed through it. It served the same purpose to slow the ship or hold it in place.

c. We can look at Hope is the anchor chain or as we use today in the Navy mooring line.

e. The hope of Heaven is justified by our Lord’s resurrection from the dead, and His promise to return and take us there.

v So imagine with me if you will we are Christians or saints as Paul refers to us and we are a ship. A ship that can be tossed at sea as we make our way through day to day life with all its trials, injustice and ugliness. We can always be secure that in our faith and love the two bollards along the pier will be securely fastened with the hope the anchor chain we have in the everlasting life that God has promised through Jesus.

· “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Lastly I want to leave you with a single verse from a poem by James Russell Lowell “The Present Crisis”

d. Hope is not “pie in the sky” a wish or “que sera sera (what will be will be) but that hope comes from the Holy Spirit that lives within us

Though the cause of Evil prosper, yet’ tis truth alone is strong …

e. The hope of a life everlasting is justified by our Lord’s resurrection from the dead, and His promise to return and take us there.

· “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne—

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,

Lastly I want to leave you with a single stanza from a poem by James Russell Lowell “The Present Crisis”

Though the cause of Evil prosper, yet’ tis truth alone is strong …

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne—

The Christian hope is that God’s way is the best way. It is not just the best way but also the only way. It is based on the fulfillment of God’s promises in the life, death and resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ and that we are sons and daughters of the Father just as he is Christ Father. Christ Jesus who laid down His life for our sake so that we can have reconciliation with God the Father.

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.

The Christian hope is that God’s way is the best way. It is not just the best way but also the only way. It is based on the fulfillment of God’s promises in the life, death and resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ and that we are sons and daughters of the Father just as he is Christ Father. Christ Jesus who laid down His life for our sake so that we can have reconciliation with God the Father.