1. Established As a Church

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes Tagged with , , ,

Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Prayer Meeting

25 August 2021

Theme: Pre-eminence of Christ

Book of Colossians

Our new theme for Prayer Meeting Devotion is the “Pre-eminence of Christ”. We shall be considering four pertinent topics summarized in five catchy phrases carefully considered to represent the interest of the church.

  • Introduction – Established as a Church 
  • Testimony – Jesus Bids Us Shine!
  • Relationships (1) – What is Friendship to you?
  • Church – O Happy Day!
  • Affection – In Christ, Off the World
  • Purity – Take Time to Be Holy
  • Relationship (2) – Sacred Roles
  • Missions – Send the Light!

We shall search the Scriptures together to understand what God’s Word says about them. It is my prayer that you will have a spiritually refreshing time and a blessed prayer time together.

Outline

Message 1

Introduction – Established as a Church (Col. 1:1-8)

  • By the Truth of the Gospel (v1-5)
  • By the Grace of God (v6)
  • By the Faithful Ministry (v7-8)

Message 2

In your Testimony – Jesus Bids Us Shine! (Col. 1:9-23)

  • Glowing For Jesus (v9-14)
  • Grounded in Him (v15-23)

Message 3

In Your Relationships (1) – What is friendship to you? (Col. 2:1-10)

  • Who are the right friends? (v1-3)
  • Beware of getting the wrong friends! (v4—8)
  • Who is your best Friend? (v9-10)

Message 4 

In your Church-Life – O Happy Day!

  • Consecrated and Baptised (v11-15)
  • Worldly Influence Creeping Into the Church (v16-22)

Message 5

In Your Affection – In Christ, Off the World (Col. 3:1-4)

  • Your New Status with Christ (v1-2)
    • Your New Life with Christ (v3)
    • Your Future Glory with Christ (v4)

Message 6

In Your Purity – Take Time to Be Holy (Col. 3:5-13)

     (1) Put Off the Old Man (v5-9)

     (2) Put On the New Man (v10-17) 

Message 7

In Your Relationships (2) – Sacred Roles (Col. 3:18-4:1)

  • Familial (v18-21)
    • Wife (v18)
    • Husband (v19)
    • Children (v20)
    • Father (v21)
  • Work (v22-24; Col. 4:1)
    • Servant (v22-24)
    • Master (Col. 4:1)

Message 8

In Missions – Send the Light! (Col. 4:3-18)

  • Pray for Open Door (v3-4)
  • Spirit-Led and Urgency (v5)
  • Equipping (v6)
  • Fellow Labourers (v7-18)

Hymns: RHC 260 The Church’s One Foundation 261 Blest Be the Tie That Binds 262 I Loce Thy Kingdom, Lord

Colossians 1:1-8

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 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; 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: 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Established As a Church

OUTLINE

  • By the Truth of the Gospel (v1-5)
  • By the Grace of God (v6)
  • By the Faithful Ministry (v7-8)

INTRODUCTION

The church was established as a result of the witness of the man Epaphras mentioned in v7 who preached the gospel back in his native hometown of Colosse after his time with the Apostle Paul in Ephesus where the latter taught for two years.

Acts 19:10 (KJV) And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

COLOSSE AND EPHESUS Colosse was about 100 miles due east of Ephesus.[1]

By the grace of God, Epaphras won converts that led to the beginning of the gospel witness in Colosse.

These Christians gathered in homes for worship, teaching, and fellowship. There are at least two house churches that we know of—one in the home of a lady named Nympha (4:15), who lives in Laodicea, and the other in the home of Philemon (Philem. 2). There are probably a number of house fellowships in both of these cities. Nearly all believers throughout the Mediterranean world met in homes during the first century of the church’s existence.[2]

Colossians 4:15 (KJV) Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Philemon 2 (KJV) And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

The Apostle Paul wrote this epistle to warn, expose and counteract inroads of a new and dangerous teaching in the church at Colosse.

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this letter to the church in Colosse at A.D. 60-62 in what is known as his first Roman Imprisonment.

There are 12 dates that provided the chronology of events from the death of Jesus to the Martyrdom of Paul and Peter from Scroggie[3] is given below

A.D. 30                                  –      Death of Jesus

         37                                  –      Conversion of Paul (Acts 9)

         44                                  –      Death of James, son of Zebedee (Acts 12)

         44-46                             –      Paul and Barnabas at Antioch (Acts 12: 24, 25)

         47-49                             –      First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)

         50                                  –      Conference at Jerusalem (Acts 15)

         50-53                             –      Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16-18)

         54-58                             –      Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18-21)

         58                                  –      Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21)

         58-60                             –      Caesarean imprisonment (Acts 24-26)

         61-63                             –      First Roman Imprisonment (Acts 28)              

         67-68                              –         Martyrdom of Paul and Peter, and perhaps of Luke.  

The historian Philip Schaff who wrote based on his research of history provided a good insight to for the period beyond A.D. 68 to the death of Paul and Peter  

The apostolic period extends from the Day of Pentecost to the death of St. John, and covers about seventy years, from A.D. 30 to 100.  The field of action is Palestine and gradually extends over Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy.  The most prominent centres are Jerusalem, Antioch, and Rome, which represent respectively the mother churches of Jewish, Gentile, and United Catholic Christianity…The Acts and the Pauline Epistles accompany us with reliable information down to the year 63.  

Peter and Paul are lost out of sight in the lurid fires of the Neronian persecution which seemed to consume Christianity itself.  We know nothing certain of that satanic spectacle from authentic sources beyond the information of heathen historians. A few years afterwards followed the destruction of Jerusalem, which must have made an overpowering impression and broken the last ties which bound Jewish Christianity to the old theocracy.  

The event is indeed brought before us in the prophecy of Christ as recorded in the Gospels, but for the terrible fulfilment, we are dependent on the account of an unbelieving Jew, which, as the testimony of an enemy, is all the more impressive. The remaining thirty years of the first century are involved in mysterious darkness, illuminated only by the writings of John.  This is a period of church history about which we know least and would like to know most.  This period is the favourite field for ecclesiastical fables and critical conjectures.  How thankfully would the historian hail the discovery of any new authentic documents between the martyrdom of Peter and Paul and the death of John, and again between the death of John and the age of Justin Martyr and Irenaeus.[4]  

Colosse was a religiously pluralistic society. Like any other city in the Roman empire at this time, Colosse was religiously pluralistic. We know this because of the variety of gods and goddesses depicted on a few coins that have been discovered originally minted in the city. They suggest that among the deities the Colossians worshipped were the Ephesian Artemis, the Laodicean Zeus, Artemis (the huntress), the local moon-god Men, the lunar goddess Selene, the Egyptian deities Isis and Sarapis, as well as a number of well-known Greek divinities, including Athena, Demeter, Hygieia, Helios, and Tyche. It is likely that other distinctively Asia Minor deities would have been worshipped there as well, such as the mother goddess, Cybele, and the goddess of witchcraft, Hekate.[5]

There is a blending of religious beliefs at Colosse. It was common for a person at this time not only to worship more than one god or goddess (polytheism), but also for the religions themselves to reflect a borrowing of ideas and forms of worship from one another. Such a blending of religious ideas is called syncretism.

There is also a strong belief in dangerous spirits and powers. In their belief, not all gods, goddesses, and spirits were benevolent. Most were to be feared. Even the good deities, if offended, could manifest their anger toward the people in some kind of disaster. People also had to worry about the potential of being cursed (and not in the sense of someone uttering a four-letter word at them). In this context, curses involved the summoning of supernatural beings to harm the life of another person. Archaeologists have discovered curse tablets in Asia Minor that illustrate these dark arts.[6]

  • By the Truth of the Gospel (v1-5)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul and his spiritual son Timothy are the writers of this epistle to the church at Colosse. 

Timothy had spent some time with Paul in Ephesus during the third missionary journey (Acts 19:1, 22), and may thus have become acquainted with some of the people of Colosse who at that time presumably came to hear Paul (Acts 19:10). 

Acts 19:1 (KJV) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Acts 19:22 (KJV) So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

By calling Timothy “our brother,” Paul, though implying that his younger associate was not in the full sense of the term an apostle, was rather emphasizing the closeness of the relationship between himself and his associate. The apostle loved Timothy deeply and tenderly (Phil. 2:19–23). 

Philippians 2:19-23 (KJV) But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

Paul, Timothy, and the members of the Colossian church all belonged to the same spiritual family. It is, however, Paul, Paul alone, who is to be considered the real author of the letter (notice the words “I Paul,” in Col. 1:23; cf. 1:24–2:5; 4:3, 7–18), not Paul and Timothy.[7]

We can see that the Apostle Paul would switch to the first person addressing himself as the writer of the letter at some point:

Colossians 1:23 (KJV) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Colossians 1:24 (KJV) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

The saints or “holy ones” and the faithful brethren at Colosse are the recipients of the letter. These are the believers in the church at Colosse that held on to their faith and steadfastly following Christ.

The salutation proper is as follows, grace to you and peace from God our Father. Thus, there is pronounced upon all the saints and believing brothers in Christ at Colosse grace, that is, God’s spontaneous, unmerited favour in action, His sovereign, freely bestowed lovingkindness in operation, and its result, peace, that is, the assurance of reconciliation through the blood of the cross, true spiritual wholeness and prosperity, these two blessings (grace and peace) flowing down from “God our Father.”[8]

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 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;

The church was established in Christ when the gospel was preached and God effectually by faith saved the hearers of the gospel message. It was established by the prayers of the saints who were concerned about the souls of dying men, willing to give themselves to the work of intercessory prayer. The message of God’s love through Christ, the crucified Saviour, brought faith to those who heard it and were consoled in their hearts to believe, repenting of their sins.

It is exciting to see a church established for only God can bring it about and it is a matter of much thanksgiving to all who had a part in its establishment.

Three spiritual virtue is pre-eminently highlighted – faith, love and hope. 

When faith comes to our hearts and in contrition of heart our sins have been forgiven through Christ, God’s love overflows in our hearts. This can be seen in our general demeanour. There is a change. We are willing to forgive others and willing to share with others God’s love that is in our hearts.

There is a strength of hope in our hearts concerning the future for we are filled with the truth of having eternal life in Christ, the prospect of our heavenly home and the dispelling of fear toward death.

This is because we have heard of the word of the truth of the gospel. That is the understanding of God’s sovereign purpose in creation and redemption and glorification. 

  • By the Grace of God (v6)

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:

The heart is opened and awakened to the truth of God working in the world around us by the unmerited favour of God through the faithful preaching of the gospel.

The Apostle Paul affirmed his life mission when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus so that he would be sent by Christ to preach the gospel. 

He spoke of the effect of it in Acts 26:18 (KJV) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

He testified that the gospel work, the saving of souls is the work of God’s grace, none of his effort, no credit to him but of Christ. It was the grace of God that enabled him to preach and the hearers to believe.

1 Corinthians 15:10-11 (KJV) But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

The Apostle Peter himself attested of the true grace of God that established the church when souls were won to His kingdom.

1 Peter 5:12 (KJV) By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

  • By Faithful Ministry (v7-8)

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Epaphras was a faithful minister of Christ that the Apostle Paul attested who brought news of the conversion and the change in the converts who demonstrated traits of God’s love in their lives.

Colossians 4:12 (KJV) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

With salvation and comes sanctification as the lives of the converts are grounded and rooted in the truth of God’s Word preached to them constantly and consistenly that their lives may be established more and more in Christ and like Christ.

This was the fulfilling of the Great Commission committed to the disciples of Christ to bring the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

There is evangelism, there is conversion and catechism and baptism as the saved are established in the local church and there is a lifetime work of knowing the whole counsel of God and be established for fruitfulness to be disciple-makers in continued mission work in the sending of the gospel.

CONCLUSION 

It is through the church that Christ will have the pre-eminence when His people are sanctified through His Word and be presented perfect in Christ Jesus. To Him be the Glory! Amen.

[1] Arnold, C. E. (2002). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. (Vol. 3, p. 372). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[2] Arnold, C. E. (2002). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. (Vol. 3, p. 375). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[3] The Chronology of Acts is based on the works of scholars Bengel, Wendt, Zahn, Ramsay, Harnack, Holtzmann, Lightfoot, Turner, and others. W. Graham Scroggie, The Unfolding Drama of Redemption, (Grand Rapids: L Kregel Publications, 1998), 173-4.

[4] Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, United States of America, (United States of America: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1991, Electronic Version.

[5] Arnold, C. E. (2002). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. (Vol. 3, pp. 372–373). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[6] Arnold, C. E. (2002). Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. (Vol. 3, p. 373). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[7] Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of Colossians and Philemon (Vol. 6, pp. 43–44). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

[8] Ibid.