Lesson 2 Colossians

Review Author: Paul Recipients: Colossian believers/Gentiles Heard the gospel from Epaphras Where: From prison in Rome When: A. D. 60-62 Warning not to be deluded or taken captive by false teaching Instructions about how to live as believers Purpose: 1:28 To present every man complete

Colossians 1 Outline: vs. 1-8 Paul and Timothy vs. 1 Colossian saints vs. 2 Church described as faithful vs. 2, 4, 7 Thankfulness for saints they’d never met vs. 3 Epaphras knew they loved ALL the saints vs. 4 They had been increasing and bearing fruit since the DAY they heard it!!! vs. 6

Colossians 1 Outline vs. 9 Paul and Timothy’s prayer for the saints “Since the day we heard of it” vs. 9 Their desire was for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in ALL spiritual wisdom and understanding vs. 9 “knowledge”: epignosis – FULL knowledge, expresses a more thorough participation in the acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner A knowledge laying claim to personal involvement

Word definitions “Wisdom”: sophia – insight, intelligence, the capacity to understand and hence, act wisely. Insight imparted by God in respect to the divine counsels. The knowledge of how to regulate one’s own relationship with God. “Understanding”: sunesis – a mental putting together; to comprehend, reason out, the ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them.

application Where do YOU get your counsel, your wisdom, your understanding of God’s will for your life? How can YOU know ALL things spiritual? Gnostics will say you can’t. Knowing the word of God enables one to recognize when man’s counsel goes against God’s wisdom. Wisdom enables you to ACT on that knowledge

Colossians 1 Result of Paul’s prayer: Walking in a manner worthy of Christ vs. 10 Pleasing Him in all respects vs. 10 Rom. 12:1-2 God’s Spirit and Word renews one’s mind: FULL knowledge and wisdom Proving (trying to learn) the will of God: which is good, acceptable and perfect

Cross references on fruit Bearing fruit in EVERY good work vs. 10 Matt. 3 & 7 Jesus said to bear fruit in keeping with repentance The one who repents will bear fruit, evidence of salvation/changed mind Good fruit is doing the will of the Father 7:21 False prophets will be recognized by their BAD fruit 7:16

Cross references Matt. 21:43 Because those Jews did not produce fruit, the kingdom was given to the church, the Gentiles…..for a time Luke 8:11-15 Those who believe God’s Word when they hear it, produce fruit No fruit: No true life Fruit in this context comes with perseverance and patience Luke 8:12 These hearers had not been saved

Cross references John 15:1-16 The one who abides in Jesus bears MUCH fruit Rom. 7:4-6 Believers bear fruit, serving Him in newness of Spirit Before salvation, people bear fruit for death, the Law bears fruit for death vs. 5 But the Law ALWAYS points to Christ

Cross references Gal. 5 Fruit of the Spirit = character Eph. 5 Walk as children of the Light Phil. 1 Be filled with fruit of righteousness Heb. 12:11 Discipline brings about fruit Heb. 13:15 Thankfulness is fruit Jam. 3 God’s wisdom is full of good fruits

Colossians 1 Col. 1:10 ….increasing in the knowledge of God Growth takes place as one’s mind is renewed “power”: dunamis – to be able, inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature The “Power” is God’s might working within Eph. 1 God’s power surpasses greatness Power that raised Christ from the dead and that power is toward believers!

Colossians 1 saints There is JOY in steadfastness/endurance 1:11 Joy in that God has qualified us 1:12 “Saints”: hagios – set apart, sanctified, set apart from a common to a sacred use Col. 1:12 Saints in Light (Eph. 5:9) Col. 1:13 -14 No longer in darkness but transferred to Light, sharing in the inheritance, forgiven and redeemed Rom. 1 Called and beloved of God I Cor. 1 Sanctified and chosen I Cor. 6 Washed, no longer idolaters, etc……

“Transferred” “methistemi”:To change its place. Used only 5 times. Used of God removing Saul, by death, and setting up David as king Acts 26:18 From Satan’s power to God, to receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance! Eph. 2 We USED to: Walk according to the world and the prince of the power of the air We WERE by nature, children of wrath, dead in sins, transgressions and lusts…

But god Made us alive Raised us up Seated us with Christ in heavenly places Redeemed us in God’s Son We are now heirs! Not enemies and aliens

Inheritance of the saints Matt. 19 Eternal life Matt. 25 The kingdom of God, prepared for us from the foundation of the world Acts 26 Paul’s ministry was to open eyes and turn people from darkness to light, thereby giving them an inheritance Rom. 8 Heirs are children of God Eph. 1 Holy Spirit is our guarantee Heb. 1 Because of Christ, I am an heir of all things I Pet. 1 My inheritance is kept in heaven, imperishable

Jesus in Colossians 1 1:13 Jesus is God’s beloved Son 1:14 Redemption and forgiveness is in Him 1:15 He is God 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God 1:15 He is firstborn of ALL creation 1:15 Firstborn from the dead 1:16-17 He is Creator, timeless, before all things, the essence of all things

Jesus in colossians 1 1:18 He is first place in EVERYTHING 1:19 All fullness is in Him Purpose of Colossians: To present every man complete/mature in Christ 1:20 He reconciled ALL things to the Father Chapter 1 presents Jesus as God, man with a flesh and blood body which disproves the Gnostics.

What did jesus do? 1:21 Those hostile in mind, alienated, engaged in doing evil deeds are now…. 1:22 Reconciled to God, holy, blameless, beyond reproach Condition: IF you indeed – continue in the faith, firmly established, stable and steadfast, not moved away shifting from hope (5,27)

Paul’s message 1:23 Paul is a minister of the gospel and of the church 1:25 A preacher to fully carry out the Word of God, the mystery revealed to him Mystery: Christ in you, the hope of glory (27) Purpose: Every man presented complete/mature in Christ (28) By God’s power, and Paul’s labor (29) to fulfill his ministry from God for others