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Title: A Verse by
Verse Study of Colossians. Text: Col. 1:1 – 5
Continued I. A Thought about the Church’s Problem. 1. The Colossian Church Problem. a. I believe the Colossian’s problem was very similar to the problem they had at Galatia. Colossians 1:6 “Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” Galatians 1:6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” b. I believe that both of these churches were infested with Gnosticism teachers. Teaching against Jesus Christ and His preeminence and teaching man-made salvation, just as Arminianism does today. Arminianism is today’s Gnosticism. 2. Epaphras lost control. a. I believe Epaphras was a young minister and he just could not combat the teachers of Gnosticism. b. This is why he went to Paul for this letter, and I also believe these folks had a great respect for Paul while he was in Ephesus. c. This may be the reason Epaphras stayed with Paul in Rome (if in fact he did) and Onesimus carried this letter back to them. 3. I also believe this is just what John was trying to combat with the two groups of young believes in the Church that he wrote to in 1 John 2:12 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.” These Gnostic teachers were teaching that while Jesus was a wonderful (prophet) there is no way salvation is in Him only, that salvation is earned and not by grace, and etc.
II. 1:4 “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,” 1. There is no doubt that Paul was writing to this church. Paul also mentioned two very important things, 1. Their faith in Christ Jesus and 2. Their love for all saints. You cannot be a Christian without the two. a. Not that love for other Christians is a part of salvation but that it is always a result of salvation. 1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8.) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” b. These Gnostic teachers neither had love for Jesus Christ or for Paul or for this Colossian Church, they simply were sent by Satan to destroy the church just as the Arminians and other Religionist of our day are attempting. They have totally destroyed many churches in out day. 2. This church (while drifting away from truth) apparently had genuine salvation and genuine love for other believers because Paul spoke highly of it. a. Real salvation is real faith in Christ Jesus and given as a gift from Him, real love comes from God and no one has one without the other. b. But even with both we are all subject to be taught heresy if we let the heretics in and this is the problem with this church and Galatia also.
III. 1:5 “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” 1. Now we see Paul’s purpose in this letter, to remind them of the preeminence of Jesus Christ. a. What is the “truth of the gospel”? 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2.) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3.) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;” Christ is the truth of the gospel and salvation is only in Him, that is preeminence! b. This hope is in Christ, and in Him we have something to look forward to and that is not in this world. 1 Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” c. The Lord promised more than this life, He promised eternal life, eternal life with Him. However, it is only through Him. This is what Paul is writing about. 2. Paul also says “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” a. Not only eternal life but rewards, living on the new earth with Him, being with Him in His second coming, and etc. 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” b. There is hope of a better life foe our suffering in this world for Him, however, those rewards are lost if we do not suffer to serve and worship Him. 3. However, our faith must be everything is in Him and because of Him and because of His grace. a. J. Vernon McGee said, “Paul links the trinity of graces for believers: (1) faith -- past; (2) love -- present; and (3) hope -- future.
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