WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.679 Well, last week we concluded our verse-by-verse exposition of Mark's Gospel account. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:15.160 ! And this week we're going to begin our study of Paul's letter to the church at Colossae. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:17.980 ! So if you will, please with me, turn to the book of Colossians. 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:29.960 Know that I say this often, and I say it because I mean it, but also for the sake of 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:35.679 those who haven't heard me say it before, I'm immensely thankful to be part of a church 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:41.620 that values verse-by-verse exposition. It has value for a number of reasons. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:50.560 Firstly, we need to hear all that the Word of God has to say to us. It is His inspired, 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:57.920 sufficient, authoritative Word, and none of it's unimportant. All of it is incredibly important. 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:05.920 I think it's helpful in our study verse-by-verse to help you better learn how to study the Bible 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:12.879 for yourself. Me and others that help here, taking week-by-week and helping you place in context 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:21.760 various texts of Scripture. We hope in doing so that we're looking at in a broad sense what 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:26.500 other parts of the Scripture have to say. So as we're going through a New Testament epistle, 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:34.879 for example, to pull in the Old Testament references and speak of them well, I know it's good for me 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:40.439 because it keeps me from having pet topics that I preach upon all the time or being able to skip 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:46.400 over hard things in the Scriptures, which I so very much want to do some weeks, but yet the schedule 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:53.519 is before me and the task is at hand. And so just to reiterate to you the value and importance of that, 00:01:53.519 --> 00:02:01.239 as we're about to begin another verse-by-verse exposition of a book of the Bible, in this case, 00:02:01.899 --> 00:02:08.539 Colossians. I want you to know that my singular goal in today's sermon is to get you excited 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:14.259 about what God would have to say to us in our study of Paul's letter to the Colossian believers, 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:22.120 that it has relevance and meaning bearing on our lives as we work through this in the coming months. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:28.659 Colossians, as part of God's holy writ, has a great deal of significance for us today. 00:02:29.259 --> 00:02:34.640 But in order for us to fully appreciate that significance, we must rightly understand the 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:40.159 original intent. So we'll begin our study by asking a series of questions of the letter. 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:44.920 Question number one. Who wrote Colossians? 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:53.000 Now in the very salutation in verse one, we see that the letter was written by Paul. Paul, 00:02:53.179 --> 00:02:58.979 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother. Some people say that 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:05.539 Colossians was written by Paul and Timothy. It's possible that Timothy was the scribe, the one who 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:12.639 was actually writing down a secretary, so to speak, as Paul spoke the words to him. But certainly, 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:19.719 we see the use of plural pronouns, we, throughout the text. It is a proper assumption to think that 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:25.779 Paul is referring to himself and Timothy when he says we, but also much use of the singular pronoun 00:03:25.779 --> 00:03:35.359 I. It was right to understand that Paul himself is the ultimate author of this text. Colossians 4.18, 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:42.220 he says, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. So potentially, the very closing of it, he 00:03:42.220 --> 00:03:50.380 himself wrote out to emphasize that it was, in fact, a letter from him. Now there are some arguments 00:03:50.380 --> 00:03:57.040 against Paul's authorship, but they're so very weak that they're not worth mentioning in this setting 00:03:57.040 --> 00:04:01.280 and at this time. You are welcome to study that. I have some books you can borrow on it if you would 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:09.500 care to, but they're incredibly weak arguments. Church history, certainly contained within the text 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:15.620 itself, is the name of Paul, the context in which he writes, the way that your scriptures actually are 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:21.420 organized as has to do with who they believe wrote this letter. If you like with me, turn to your table 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:33.500 of contents in your copy of God's Word. For those of you who don't know, your scripture is not arranged 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:41.379 chronologically, but rather categorically. In the New Testament, it's hard to find that table of contents, 00:04:41.520 --> 00:04:45.560 isn't it? Probably a good sign. It means you know your Bible if you can't find your table of contents. 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:51.300 If you look at your table of contents, we have in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:57.360 John. These are the gospel accounts. They're historical accounts of the life, death, resurrection, 00:04:57.540 --> 00:05:02.860 ascension of Jesus Christ, and then the book of Acts, which is also, some people rightly call it the 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:08.860 acts of Jesus Christ or the acts of the Holy Spirit, but also a historical narrative of the things that 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:15.480 happened after Jesus' ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. You then can see Romans, 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:22.579 down through 2nd Thessalonians. These are Pauline epistles, letters that Paul wrote to specific 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:29.519 churches. The church at Corinth, the church at Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:36.139 Then you have the pastoral epistles, also written by Paul, 1st and 2nd Timothy, letters written to 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:44.259 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. And then Hebrews, which is a letter written to Jewish believers, but we're not 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:51.639 sure who in fact authored it. Some believe that Paul did, some do not, and no one can quite agree 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:56.259 on this, and we're all okay with that. So we stick it there. It's kind of the dividing point after 00:05:56.259 --> 00:06:04.120 Paul's writing, the book of Hebrews. And then from there on you have other epistles by various apostles, 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:10.339 and then finally the book of Revelation by John. So that's why it's organized in this fashion, 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:18.319 and how Colossians finds itself in the midst of the Pauline epistles. And it's important for us to know, 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:26.799 to rightly understand the book itself. Who wrote it? Paul wrote it. Clay said for us very well last 00:06:26.799 --> 00:06:32.679 week, so I won't get into all of the details of it, but when we believe that the Word of God is the 00:06:32.679 --> 00:06:39.519 inspired Word of God, that it was written by God Himself, that it's breathed out, that it's exhaled out 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:46.279 by Him, that God did not circumnavigate the personalities and the context of the writer 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:51.899 himself. So we've got to know who Paul is, and why he would have written in the particular way that he 00:06:51.899 --> 00:07:01.799 wrote as he was being carried along by the Spirit. So who wrote Colossians? Paul. Secondly, when and where 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:08.939 was Colossians written? When and where? And you might wonder why I ask it in that way. When and where? 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:18.819 The question of when is largely dependent on the answer to the question where. Colossians is a 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:26.500 prison epistle. It was written from a prison cell, from a sentence that was given to Paul. Imprisonment is 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:33.019 mentioned in chapter 4, verse 3, and chapter 4, verse 18, as well as some form of suffering, but we can 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:41.100 rightly assume the suffering in a prison mentioned in chapter 1, verse 24. So the debate about when 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:46.939 really has to do with which imprisonment. Paul was imprisoned a number of times, and we have to know 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:54.279 which imprisonment it was to rightly set the field for when, in fact, it was written. The wide scholastic 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:58.979 agreement, and again, there are some varying arguments, a little stronger than some of the 00:07:58.979 --> 00:08:03.939 arguments against Paul's authorship together, but there's some other arguments, but again, not worth 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:08.759 getting into. The wide scholastic agreement is that it is most likely written during Paul's Roman 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:15.500 imprisonment, which dates the letter at approximately 62 AD, which had been around the same time that the 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:22.399 letter to the Ephesians and to Philemon were written, right? So AD 62, from Roman imprisonment some 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:31.959 thousand miles away from Colossae. So when and where, written in Roman imprisonment around AD 62. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:42.179 Thirdly, to whom was Colossians written? A little easier off the top, we can answer fairly quickly the 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:49.840 church at Colossae, chapter, or excuse me, verse 2, chapter 1 of the salutation, to the saints and 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:55.280 faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae, but it's good and important for us to understand a few 00:08:55.280 --> 00:09:02.379 things about this city before we proceed in our study. Colossae was located in the Lycus River Valley 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:08.860 of West Central Asia Minor, and if you want to later look at a map, this is in modern-day Turkey, 00:09:09.160 --> 00:09:15.940 approximately in the center of modern-day Turkey. It's important to know that Paul did not establish 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:22.560 the church at Colossae, but it was likely the fruit of his three-year ministry in Ephesus, 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:30.640 Ephesus being about 120 miles west of Colossae. The text tells us in chapter 1, verse 7, that Epaphras 00:09:30.640 --> 00:09:38.060 was the one who came and spoke the Word of God to the people of the Colossian church. So it's presumed 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:43.880 that Epaphras traveled to Ephesus, became a convert to Jesus Christ while he was there, and then, 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:50.120 as a proper disciple of Jesus Christ, went home and made disciples and founded a church back in his 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:58.159 hometown of Colossae. Colossae, at one time, before Paul's time, was a very significant city. In fact, 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:05.000 it had become famous for a particular high-quality dark red wool that was actually known as Colossian 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:11.980 wool, and you can find references to that in other historical works. It was located at the crossroads 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:20.960 of two major highways going through the region. But before Paul's time, the Romans moved the road 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:28.340 to pass through Laodicea, which was 12 miles to the west of Colossae, and Heropolis, which was 15 miles 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:36.940 to the northwest. They built a bypass, so to speak, and sort of left Colossae off the map, and so it had 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:44.140 declined in its prominence. In fact, it was a rather insignificant city altogether in the days of Paul. 00:10:45.180 --> 00:10:49.560 J.B. Lightfoot, this rather famous commentary on Colossians, wrote, 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:56.000 Colossae was the least important church to which any epistle of St. Paul was addressed. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:04.520 So, a rather insignificant church as regards the spread of the gospel, because the city itself was 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:14.519 rather insignificant. Those of you who live in Dahlonega and Dawsonville, even though 400 rips right 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:18.460 through the middle of Dawsonville, may be able to relate to this. Those of you who live in Gainesville 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:21.779 have no idea what's being talked about, because it is the chicken capital of the world. 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:28.720 Really, all fairly insignificant in the large scheme of things. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:36.340 And our little church can feel that way at times. Rather insignificant, hidden behind the hill on the 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:42.040 side of Highway 60 South, with a deteriorating sign, which is going to be fixed very soon. 00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:51.519 Who are we that we should even have the Word of God put before us, that God might speak to us from this 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:59.980 letter today. All the same, even though the church at Colossae seemed fairly insignificant, 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:06.340 note Paul's care for them as a church, and for all the churches for that matter. Colossians 2, 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:08.579 verse 1 and 2, he says, 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:15.439 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea, 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:21.460 and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:27.680 together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:36.460 of God's mystery, which is Christ. He has a great struggle, a contest, or a battle, because he has 00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:43.320 great concern for any who claim the name of Jesus Christ. His suggestion by all of this is that there is 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:51.900 no insignificant extension of God's redemptive work in the world, that if you are a body of Christ, 00:12:52.000 --> 00:13:01.540 then you are His, and therefore very significant. The city itself, because of the region in which 00:13:01.540 --> 00:13:07.480 Colossae was located, would have been primarily Gentile. And for those of you who don't know, this would 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:14.820 just simply mean not Jewish. This area particularly would have been Greek. But there was also likely a 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:20.960 significant Jewish population. Josephus, a Jewish historian in antiquities, said that Antichius the 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:29.420 Great settled 2,000 Jewish families in the area in 213 BC. So a little over 200 years ago, a massive 00:13:29.420 --> 00:13:34.639 number of Jewish families were moved and settled in the area. So it was likely also a very Jewish 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:42.919 populated region. So both a mix here of Jew and Gentile in the area. So that's who it was written 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:53.340 to, the Colossians. Number four, why was Colossians written? Why was Colossians written? Now the letter 00:13:53.340 --> 00:14:00.819 itself makes no explicit claim about its purpose. However, the warnings contained within make it clear 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:07.320 that it is intended to encourage the Colossians to resist some kind of erroneous teaching that's going 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:14.020 on at the time. The actual teaching itself is not stated. We don't know for sure. And there's a lot 00:14:14.020 --> 00:14:19.660 of conjecture about that. There were a number of heresies floating around in that day. An example of 00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:25.280 one would be Gnosticism. Certainly there seems to be some Gnostic elements in the heresy, but we can't say 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:31.939 for sure that it was the Gnostics that were teaching in the area. So there's this mix of 00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:38.879 heresy going on, and Paul seems to be writing to correct those things. Many people believe that, 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:44.159 as we know, Epaphras is with Paul at the writing of this letter. You can see that in chapter 4, 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:50.519 that Epaphras has actually traveled to see Paul in Rome, where he's in prison but in a house arrest 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:55.799 kind of a situation. So he's able to go and see him, and Paul, hearing about the trouble that's 00:14:55.799 --> 00:15:03.159 happening in this church, writes them to help do away with some of these heresies. Due to the 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:09.759 population of Colossi being made up of both Gentiles and Jews, it is no surprise, or it shouldn't be, 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:16.460 that this heresy contains both Jewish and pagan elements. I'll tell you what I mean. Firstly, 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:25.980 the pagan elements, the false philosophy of the Greeks. The Greeks loved knowledge. They worshipped 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:32.360 knowledge. And they prided themselves in the sophistication of their philosophical systems. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:39.720 If you study philosophy, you're going to study the Greeks as college students. They actually believed 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:46.040 that the Gospel was too simplistic. It was too easy. It wasn't worthy of believing in because it wasn't 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:53.339 complex enough. Some evidence of that is in Paul's writing in 1 Corinthians 1, 22 and 23. 00:15:54.059 --> 00:16:02.000 For Jews demand signs, and Greeks seek wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, right? The simple 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:09.279 message of the Gospel. Christ crucified. A stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. It was so 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:17.159 simple that it was silly in their thinking. Colossians 2, verse 4. Paul says, I say this in order that no one 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:24.159 may delude you with plausible arguments. And in chapter 2, verse 8, see to it that no one takes you 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:30.539 captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:38.860 of the world and not according to Christ. So you've got this false philosophy of the Greeks. You also have 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:45.459 this Judaistic legalism happening as well. The Colossian heretics embraced elements of Jewish 00:16:45.459 --> 00:16:51.539 ceremonialism. They taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation. They also taught rigid 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:58.860 self-denial and harsh treatment of the body. Things like keeping the Jewish dietary laws and observing 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:07.159 holy days. Chapter 2, verse 16. Paul writes, therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food 00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:15.539 and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. And verse 18, let no one disqualify 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:22.799 you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in details about visions puffed up without 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:33.099 reason by his sensuous mind. So both radical groups suggested that salvation necessitated Christ plus 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:39.519 something else. And we'll get into the details of what those something else's were in our coming study 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:44.779 together. But all of them were saying Jesus Christ crucified was not enough. You must have Christ 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:53.220 plus something else. And this is what Paul seeks to set straight. So question five, what does Colossians 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:59.779 teach? What does Colossians teach? What is the overarching theme of the letter? Because certainly it teaches 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:06.859 many things. But thematically, what is Paul trying to communicate to the Colossian believers and us 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:14.200 today? The sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus Christ. 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:23.119 The sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus Christ. Says it in this way, this kind of perfectly sums it up. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:31.119 Christ is all. Christ is all and in all. Chapter 3, verse 11. He is God. Chapter 2, verse 9. He is the creator. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:40.199 Chapter 1, verse 16. Jesus is the savior. Chapter 1, verse 20 and 2, 13 through 14. He is the head of the church. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:49.779 Chapter 1, verse 18. And kind of wrapping it all up in chapter 1, verse 18. That in everything, Jesus Christ 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:51.339 is supreme. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.720 Chapter 1 has much to do 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.579 with the vision and mission statement 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:58.639 of Christ's family church, 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:00.799 desiring that in all things, 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.779 Jesus Christ would be shown as supreme. 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.680 So the sufficiency and the supremacy 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:08.319 of Jesus Christ. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:10.180 That He is all and in all. 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:12.879 That He is enough. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.299 So last question, 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:20.680 how does Colossians pertain to us? 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:22.379 We've got some background settings, 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:24.559 some general broad understanding 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:26.259 of the book itself and the writer, 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.879 the people that were receiving it. 00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:30.659 So how does it then pertain to us? 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:33.099 What is the relevance for us today? 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.480 Because certainly we don't deal 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:37.299 with the exact same heretical teachings. 00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.960 No one's coming into this congregation 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:42.359 and suggesting that you must be circumcised 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.059 to be a Christian. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.440 The heresies of our day 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.660 are much different, 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:49.620 but the doctrines taught in Colossians 00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:53.480 speak to all of our falsehoods as well. 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.539 We live in a day 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:59.180 when science seeks to explain away 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:01.580 the very existence of God. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.600 A day when the deity of Jesus 00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:06.500 is widely questioned. 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:08.440 When the truth of God 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.519 is being laid aside 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.920 for a false unity 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:13.480 amongst the religions of the world. 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:15.279 We live in a day 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.920 when grace is peddled cheaply. 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.640 We live in a day 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.799 when followers of Jesus 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.460 think they don't need the church 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:24.819 or that it is acceptable 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.779 to merely show up 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.000 to a congregational meeting 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.720 to consume a presentation 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:30.960 rather than being a part of the life 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.299 of the body of Christ. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.279 We live in a day 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.420 when the definition or role 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:36.000 of the family 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.299 is being redefined 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:39.319 and redistributed. 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:41.579 And Colossians speaks 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:43.539 to all of these things 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.919 and some more. 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.779 It's timely for us 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.759 because it answers 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.839 all of these 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:50.779 with absolute authority 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.079 as Paul's letter 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.099 to the church at Colossians 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:53.919 is Scripture 00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:56.079 and should be treated as such. 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.960 This is the word 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.619 of Almighty God 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.740 for us. 00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:04.139 And with all of that in mind, 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.299 I'm now going to read 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.779 the entirety of the letter to you. 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:09.700 Now, 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.599 I know that some of you 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.399 may be already going, 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.359 oh my word. 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.759 It only takes ten minutes. 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.079 It's a rather short epistle. 00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:19.000 It contains within it 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.660 some phenomenal truth 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.680 for how short it is. 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.680 It certainly has had 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.079 more impact on the church 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.019 for its length 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.200 than probably any other 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:28.039 of Paul's epistles. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.019 It is important 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.839 that we publicly read 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.319 the Scripture. 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.200 After today, 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.240 certainly no one can say 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.839 that we don't read 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.359 the Word of God 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:36.899 in our meetings 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:38.140 together. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.640 Remember that the way 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.680 this would have been received 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.600 would have been a letter 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:45.680 on a piece of parchment 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.040 and it would have been read 00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:48.259 to a congregation 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.360 meeting much the way 00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:50.420 we are today. 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.759 Many people 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.019 would have been illiterate. 00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:55.800 They definitely wouldn't have 00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:56.680 had a copy of it 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.360 in front of them. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.420 I'm going to read 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.960 from the English Standard Version. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.900 If you have a copy 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.900 and you'd like to follow along, 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.440 feel free. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.140 If you don't, 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.980 it might be better 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.059 for you just to listen 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.620 to what's being said. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.279 To imagine yourself 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.279 in that day 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.820 living in a time 00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:13.059 with much heresy 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.940 running around 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.740 and trying to hear 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.980 what it is Paul has to say 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.880 to set all of that 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.660 straight. 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.799 This would have always 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.840 been taken together 00:22:20.840 --> 00:22:21.420 and sometimes 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.320 we're so damaging 00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:23.000 to the Word of God 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.400 because we piecemeal it up. 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:26.000 Because we pull excerpts 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.360 from here, 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:27.340 we pull excerpts from there, 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.279 and we ignore 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.500 the greater context 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.620 of what's happening. 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:31.599 And so there's some value 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.459 in us seeing it 00:22:32.459 --> 00:22:34.059 collectively together 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.079 this morning. 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.339 So here we go. 00:22:37.479 --> 00:22:38.019 I'll do my best 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.019 to read it well to you 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.979 so you can follow along. 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.939 Colossians 1.1 00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:44.979 Paul, 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:47.239 an apostle of Christ Jesus 00:22:47.239 --> 00:22:48.739 by the will of God 00:22:48.739 --> 00:22:49.719 and Timothy our brother 00:22:49.719 --> 00:22:51.039 to the saints 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.299 and faithful brothers 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.179 in Christ 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:54.219 at Colossae, 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.619 grace to you 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.339 and peace 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.599 from God our Father. 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.619 We always thank God 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:00.439 the Father of our Lord 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:01.179 Jesus Christ 00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:02.219 when we pray for you 00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:03.819 since we heard of your faith 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.619 in Christ Jesus 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.939 and of the love that you have 00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:06.779 for all the saints 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.019 because of the hope 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.119 laid up for you in heaven. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:11.279 Of this you have heard before 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.359 in the word of truth, 00:23:12.739 --> 00:23:13.279 the gospel, 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.859 which has come to you 00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:16.319 as indeed in the whole world 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.219 it is bearing fruit 00:23:17.219 --> 00:23:17.779 and growing 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.599 as it also does among you 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.759 since the day you heard it 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.979 and understood the grace 00:23:21.979 --> 00:23:22.859 of God in truth 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:24.159 just as you learned it 00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:24.919 from Epaphras, 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.099 our beloved fellow servant. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.199 He is a faithful minister 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.500 of Christ on your behalf 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.840 and has made known to us 00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:32.039 your love in the Spirit. 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.580 And so, 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.640 from the day we heard, 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.880 we have not ceased 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:36.720 to pray for you 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.400 asking that you may be filled 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.019 with the knowledge 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.620 of his will 00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:41.180 and all spiritual wisdom 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.940 and understanding 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.340 so as to walk 00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:43.840 in a manner 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.819 worthy of the Lord, 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.519 fully pleasing to him, 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.680 bearing fruit 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.860 in every good work 00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.580 and increasing 00:23:49.580 --> 00:23:50.660 in the knowledge of God. 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.580 May you be strengthened 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.580 with all power 00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:55.240 according to his glorious might 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.779 for all endurance 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.019 and patience with joy, 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.460 giving thanks to the Father 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.480 who has qualified you 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.700 to share in the inheritance 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:03.039 of the saints in light. 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.940 He has delivered us 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:06.099 from the domain of darkness 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.220 and transferred us 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.799 to the kingdom 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.859 of his beloved Son 00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:10.339 in whom we have redemption, 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.120 the forgiveness of sins. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.099 He is the image 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.099 of the invisible God, 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.059 the firstborn 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.099 of all creation. 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.420 For by him 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.579 all things were created 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.900 in heaven and on earth, 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:22.299 visible and invisible, 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.559 whether thrones 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.220 or dominions 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.419 or rulers or authorities, 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.119 all things were created 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.940 through him 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:29.359 and for him. 00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:31.159 And he is before all things 00:24:31.159 --> 00:24:31.859 and in him 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:33.460 all things hold together. 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.960 And he is the head 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.619 of the body, 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.559 the church. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.879 He is the beginning, 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.960 the firstborn from the dead, 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.079 that in everything 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.819 he might be preeminent. 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.559 For in him 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.659 all the fullness of God 00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:46.639 was pleased to dwell 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.679 and through him 00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.879 to reconcile to himself 00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.779 all things, 00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:50.940 whether on earth 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.700 or in heaven, 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.839 making peace 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.599 by the blood 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.319 of his cross. 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.839 And you, 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:57.359 who once were alienated 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.599 and hostile in mind, 00:24:58.939 --> 00:25:00.119 doing evil deeds, 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.699 he is now reconciled 00:25:01.699 --> 00:25:02.779 in his body of flesh 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.579 by his death 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.959 in order to present you 00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:06.159 holy and blameless 00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:07.259 and above reproach 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.939 before him, 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:09.659 if indeed you continue 00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.319 in the faith, 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.899 stable and steadfast, 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.339 not shifting from the hope 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:13.839 of the gospel 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.439 that you heard, 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.819 which has been proclaimed 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.720 in all creation 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.279 under heaven 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.099 and of which I, 00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:18.699 Paul, 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.659 became a minister. 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:21.800 Now I rejoice 00:25:21.800 --> 00:25:22.620 in my sufferings 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.279 for your sake 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.420 and in my flesh 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.420 I am filling up 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.040 what is lacking 00:25:26.040 --> 00:25:27.100 in Christ's afflictions 00:25:27.100 --> 00:25:28.160 for the sake of his body, 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:28.860 that is, 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.460 the church, 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:30.580 of which I became 00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.160 a minister 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.440 according to the stewardship 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:32.940 from God 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.700 that was given to me 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.140 for you 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:35.580 to make the word of God 00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.380 fully known, 00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:37.740 the mystery hidden 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.960 for ages and generations 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.920 but now revealed 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.640 to his saints. 00:25:41.300 --> 00:25:42.519 To them God chose 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.540 to make known 00:25:43.540 --> 00:25:45.100 how great among you Gentiles 00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:45.720 are the riches 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.480 of the glory 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.259 of this mystery, 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.980 which is Christ in you, 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.240 the hope of glory. 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.140 Him we proclaim, 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.519 warning everyone 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.539 and teaching everyone 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.460 with all wisdom 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.559 that we may present 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:58.220 everyone mature in Christ. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.740 For this I toil, 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:01.599 struggling with all his energy 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.000 that he powerfully works 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.819 within me. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.539 For I want you to know 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.299 how great a struggle 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.119 I have for you 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.480 and for those at Laodicea. 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.579 For all who have not seen me 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:11.379 face to face, 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.119 for their hearts 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.059 may be encouraged, 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.539 excuse me, 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.099 that their hearts 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:14.859 may be encouraged, 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.579 being knit together in love 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.559 to reach all the riches 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.500 of full assurance 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.279 of understanding 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.379 and the knowledge 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.220 of God's mystery, 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.339 which is Christ, 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.399 in whom are hidden 00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.199 all the treasures 00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:25.480 of wisdom and knowledge. 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:27.179 I say this in order 00:26:27.179 --> 00:26:28.359 that no one may delude you 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.539 with plausible arguments, 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.980 for though I am absent 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.599 in body, 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.720 yet I am with you 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.259 in spirit, 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.339 rejoicing to see 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.099 your good order 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.960 and the firmness 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.559 of your faith in Christ. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:38.960 Therefore, 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.419 as you receive Christ Jesus 00:26:40.419 --> 00:26:40.980 the Lord, 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.720 so walk in Him, 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.439 rooted and built up in Him 00:26:44.439 --> 00:26:45.579 and established in the faith, 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.699 just as you were taught, 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:48.019 abounding in thanksgiving. 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.980 See to it that no one 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.819 takes you captive 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.720 by philosophy 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.879 and empty deceit, 00:26:53.199 --> 00:26:54.480 according to human tradition, 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.779 according to the elemental 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.819 spirits of the world, 00:26:56.899 --> 00:26:58.619 and not according to Christ. 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.000 For in Him 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.039 the whole fullness 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.379 of deity dwells bodily, 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.720 and you have been filled 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.199 in Him 00:27:04.199 --> 00:27:04.879 who is the head 00:27:04.879 --> 00:27:05.539 of all rule 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.539 and authority. 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.319 In Him also 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.419 you were circumcised 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.240 with a circumcision 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.299 made without hands, 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.519 by putting off 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.539 the body of the flesh 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.659 by the circumcision 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.379 of Christ, 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.559 having been buried 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.440 with Him in baptism, 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.720 in which you were also 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.539 raised with Him 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.200 through faith 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.319 in the powerful working 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.799 of God 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.639 who raised Him 00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.220 from the dead. 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.480 And you 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.279 who were dead 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.139 in your trespasses 00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.240 and the uncircumcision 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.920 of your flesh, 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.339 God made alive 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.200 together with Him, 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.399 having forgiven us 00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:32.480 all our trespasses 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.000 by canceling the record 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.720 of debt that stood 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.259 against us 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.240 with its legal demands. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.859 This He set aside, 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.500 nailing it to the cross. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.500 He disarmed the rulers 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.319 and authorities 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.940 and put them 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.680 to open shame 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.660 by triumphing 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:46.359 over them in Him. 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:47.819 Therefore, 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.059 let no one pass judgment 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.980 on you in questions 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:51.200 of food and drink 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.220 or with regard 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.960 to a festival 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.980 or a new moon 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.680 or a Sabbath. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.279 These are a shadow 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.460 of the things to come, 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.480 but the substance 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.920 belongs to Christ. 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:02.180 Let no one disqualify you, 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.440 insisting on asceticism 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.539 and worship of angels, 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.880 going on in detail 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.640 about visions, 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.180 puffed up without reason 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.460 by His sensuous mind 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.980 and not holding fast 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.640 to the head 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.920 from whom the whole body, 00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:14.220 nourished and knit together 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.240 through its joints 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.860 and ligaments, 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.060 grows with a growth 00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:18.160 that is from God. 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:20.360 If with Christ you died 00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:21.460 to the elemental spirits 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.240 of the world, 00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:22.980 why, 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:24.060 as if you were still alive 00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.519 in the world, 00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.860 do you submit to regulations, 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.140 do not handle, 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.259 do not taste, 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.560 do not touch, 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.640 referring to things 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.180 that all perish 00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.960 as they are used, 00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:33.940 according to human precepts 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.600 and teachings? 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.400 These have indeed 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.480 an appearance of wisdom 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.839 in promoting self-made religion 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.819 and asceticism 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.940 and severity to the body, 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.380 but they are of no value 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.720 in stopping the indulgence 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.779 of the flesh. 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.400 If then you have been 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:47.259 raised with Christ, 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.539 seek the things 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.259 that are above, 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.319 where Christ is, 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.640 seated at the right hand 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.140 of God. 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.299 Set your minds 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.180 on things that are above, 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.039 not on things 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.819 that are on earth. 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.960 For you have died 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.059 and your life is hidden 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.339 with Christ in God. 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.620 When Christ, 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.240 who is your life, 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.660 appears, 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.940 then you also will appear 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:04.460 with Him in glory. 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:06.000 Put to death, 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.400 therefore, 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.740 what is earthly in you, 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:09.180 sexual immorality, 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:09.960 impurity, 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.640 passion, 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.840 evil desire, 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.759 and covetousness, 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.880 which is idolatry. 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.319 On account of these, 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.340 the wrath of God 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:16.920 is coming. 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.600 In these you too 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:19.460 once walked 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.200 when you were living 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.700 in them, 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.680 but now you must 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.680 put them all away, 00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:23.279 anger, 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.039 wrath, 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:24.920 malice, 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.660 slander, 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.000 and obscene talk 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.700 from your mouth. 00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:29.519 Do not lie to one another, 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.759 seeing that you have put off 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.460 the old self 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.240 with its practices, 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.259 and have put on 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.859 the new self 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:34.559 which is being renewed 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.059 in knowledge 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:35.779 after the image 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.480 of its creator. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.839 Here there is not 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.579 Greek and Jew, 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.660 circumcised and uncircumcised, 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.539 barbarian, 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.240 Scythian, 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:42.960 slave, 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:43.680 free, 00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:45.019 but Christ is all 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.980 and in all. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.440 Put on then 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.620 as God's chosen ones, 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.519 holy and beloved, 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.039 compassionate hearts, 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.819 kindness, 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:52.799 humility, 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.740 meekness, 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.519 and patience, 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.900 bearing with one another, 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.380 and if one has a complaint 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:58.059 against another, 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.359 forgiving each other 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.940 as the Lord has forgiven you, 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:02.840 so you also must forgive. 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.460 And above all these, 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.200 put on love 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.600 which binds everything together 00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:07.799 in perfect harmony. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:10.259 And let the peace of Christ 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.559 rule in your hearts 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:13.120 to which indeed you were called 00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.920 in one body, 00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.080 and be thankful. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.640 Let the word of Christ 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.720 dwell in you richly, 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.900 teaching and admonishing 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:20.140 one another in all wisdom, 00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:22.380 singing psalms and hymns 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:23.360 and spiritual songs 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:24.400 with thankfulness 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.519 in your hearts to God. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.019 And whatever you do, 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.120 in word or deed, 00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:29.460 do everything in the name 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.299 of the Lord Jesus, 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.960 giving thanks to God the Father 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:33.039 through Him. 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.440 Wives, 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.960 submit to your husbands 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:37.419 as is fitting in the Lord. 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.559 Husbands, 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.799 love your wives 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:41.299 and do not be harsh with them. 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.419 Children, 00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.740 obey your parents 00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.379 in everything 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:46.059 for this pleases the Lord. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.200 Fathers, 00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:48.700 do not provoke your children 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:50.259 lest they become discouraged. 00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:51.619 Slaves, 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.599 obey in everything 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.319 those who are 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.299 your earthly masters, 00:30:54.659 --> 00:30:56.139 not by way of eye service 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:57.240 as people pleasers, 00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:59.059 but with sincerity of heart, 00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:00.000 fearing the Lord. 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.399 Whatever you do, 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.299 work heartily, 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.259 as for the Lord 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.200 and not for men, 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.839 knowing that from the Lord 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.960 you will receive the inheritance 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.899 as your reward. 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:10.639 You are serving the Lord Christ. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.679 For the wrongdoer will be paid back 00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:13.700 for the wrong he has done, 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:15.179 and there is no partiality. 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.220 Masters, 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.339 treat your slaves 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.379 justly and fairly, 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.679 knowing that you also 00:31:19.679 --> 00:31:21.279 have a master in heaven. 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:23.579 Continue steadfastly in prayer, 00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:24.799 being watchful in it 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.460 with thanksgiving. 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.779 At the same time, 00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.960 pray also for us 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:29.059 that God may open to us 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:30.039 a door for the word 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.940 to declare the mystery of Christ, 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:33.019 on account of which 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.860 I am in prison, 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.460 that I may make it clear 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:37.140 which is how I ought to speak. 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.819 Walk in wisdom 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.640 toward outsiders, 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.079 making the best use 00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:41.779 of the time. 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:42.819 Let your speech 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.799 always be gracious, 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.920 seasoned with salt, 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.799 so that you may know 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.980 how you ought to answer 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.920 each person. 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.279 Tychicus will tell you 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.900 about my activities. 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:53.440 He is a beloved brother 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.540 and faithful minister 00:31:54.540 --> 00:31:55.600 and fellow servant 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.200 in the Lord. 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.560 I have sent him to you 00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:58.480 for this very purpose, 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.460 that you may know 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.320 how we are 00:32:00.320 --> 00:32:01.540 and that he may encourage 00:32:01.540 --> 00:32:02.220 your hearts. 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.300 And with him, 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.000 Onesimus, 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:05.560 our faithful and beloved brother, 00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.820 who is one of you, 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.780 they will tell you 00:32:08.780 --> 00:32:09.280 of everything 00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:10.400 that has taken place here. 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:11.840 Aristarchus, 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.620 my fellow prisoner, 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.300 greets you. 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.759 And Mark, 00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.820 the cousin of Bartimus, 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:16.740 concerning whom 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.880 you have received instructions, 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:19.080 if he comes to you, 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.120 welcome him. 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:21.199 And Jesus, 00:32:21.399 --> 00:32:22.259 who is called Justice, 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.899 these are the only men 00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:24.699 of the circumcision 00:32:24.699 --> 00:32:25.919 among my fellow workers 00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.859 for the kingdom of God, 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.659 and they have been 00:32:27.659 --> 00:32:28.539 a comfort for me. 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:29.839 Epaphras, 00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:30.579 who is one of you, 00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:32.099 a servant of Christ Jesus, 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.779 greets you, 00:32:33.159 --> 00:32:33.899 always struggling 00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:34.659 on your behalf 00:32:34.659 --> 00:32:35.279 in his prayers, 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.759 that you may stand mature 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.739 and fully assured 00:32:37.739 --> 00:32:39.139 in all the will of God. 00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:40.679 For I bear him witness 00:32:40.679 --> 00:32:41.879 that he has worked hard 00:32:41.879 --> 00:32:42.379 for you 00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:44.079 and for those in Laodicea 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.039 and in Heropolis. 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.059 Luke, 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:46.839 the beloved physician, 00:32:46.979 --> 00:32:47.459 greets you, 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.539 as does Demas. 00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:49.959 Give my greetings 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.640 to the brothers 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:51.500 at Laodicea 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.220 and to Nympha 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.799 and the church 00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:53.400 in her house. 00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.480 And when this letter 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.360 has been read among you, 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.180 have it also read 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.420 in the church at Laodicea 00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:58.640 and see that you also 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.299 read the letter 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.720 from Laodicea. 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.360 And say to Archippus, 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.480 see that you fulfill 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:03.920 the ministry 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.779 that you have received 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.440 in the Lord. 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.680 I, Paul, 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.420 write this greeting 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.819 with my own hand. 00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:10.400 Remember my chains. 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.860 Grace be with you. 00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:13.660 So this is how 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.980 it would have been read 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.819 originally 00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:17.120 to the church 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.859 at Colossae. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.359 And this is God's 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:20.899 word to us 00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:22.500 written for His glory 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.259 and our good. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.919 We would all do well 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:25.919 to listen to it 00:33:25.919 --> 00:33:27.099 in order to believe 00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.739 its promises 00:33:27.739 --> 00:33:29.259 and obey 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.519 its commands. 00:33:31.659 --> 00:33:32.699 Let's look in conclusion 00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.819 at the first two verses 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:35.139 in just a bit more detail 00:33:35.139 --> 00:33:37.039 and then we'll close out 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:37.500 our time 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.919 together. 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.659 Let me read to you again 00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:42.779 Colossians 1, 1, and 2. 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.299 Paul, 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:45.139 an apostle of Christ Jesus 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:46.059 by the will of God 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.119 and Timothy, our brother, 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.319 to the saints 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.299 and faithful brothers 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.660 in Christ at Colossae. 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.299 Grace to you 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:51.819 and peace 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:54.240 from God our Father. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:56.319 A very familiar salutation. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:58.180 Most of Paul's openings 00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.980 were very similar 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.740 to this. 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:02.599 He establishes first off 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.379 that he is an apostle 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.240 of Christ Jesus 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:06.819 by the will of God. 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:08.099 And I believe he 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.500 intends to do two things here. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:09.960 Firstly, 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.480 that this is an expression 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:13.260 of his entire 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:15.340 theological perspective 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:17.699 that all things happen 00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:20.420 by the will of God. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.559 You remember that 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:23.400 Paul was once Saul, 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:25.679 a very zealous persecutor 00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:27.400 of the church of Jesus Christ. 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:29.119 That he had every intention 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.199 of imprisoning 00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:31.760 all that he could 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:34.000 who claimed to follow Jesus. 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.800 He was on his way 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.860 to do this very thing 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:38.440 when Jesus encountered him 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:40.460 on the road to Damascus. 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.200 You can read about that 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:43.460 in Acts 9, 1-9. 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:45.360 Took hold of him. 00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:48.200 Changed his very personhood 00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:49.619 in these moments. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.280 According to Paul, 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:53.480 God works all things 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.679 according to the counsel 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.400 of his will. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:57.340 It's Ephesians 1, 11. 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:59.000 I believe he's trying to say 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.619 his entire theological perspective 00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:02.579 that if things come to pass, 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.460 they come to pass 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:06.019 by God's will. 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.519 I would not be an apostle 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.199 of Jesus Christ. 00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:09.380 I would not be a follower 00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.340 of Jesus Christ 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:11.699 if it had not been 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:12.860 for God's intervention. 00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.679 I would not stand before you 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:15.239 this morning 00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:16.480 caring at all 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.900 about what Paul had to say 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:18.980 to the church at Colossae 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.619 if it were not 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:21.000 for God's intervention 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.219 in my life. 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:23.739 If God had not turned me 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.639 from an enemy 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.840 to a friend 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:28.820 by the will of God. 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:31.139 We are what we are. 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:32.460 Secondly, 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.880 he needed to make very clear 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:36.840 to the Colossians 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.240 and to us 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:41.140 their and our obligation 00:35:41.140 --> 00:35:42.840 to listen to him. 00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:45.680 He was an apostle. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:47.260 Capital A Apostle. 00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:48.140 A sent one. 00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:51.059 Sent directly from Jesus Christ. 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:53.220 Had spent time with him. 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:55.619 Had been taught by him. 00:35:55.720 --> 00:35:57.340 This is a special category 00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:58.840 in church history. 00:35:59.160 --> 00:36:01.480 There have not been apostles since. 00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:03.680 Little A sent into the world, 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.819 but not capital A. 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:07.059 Falling in this lineage 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:09.739 of Jesus' apostles and Paul. 00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.440 He was set apart 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:12.599 for missionary service 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.779 by the Holy Spirit. 00:36:13.919 --> 00:36:15.859 Acts 13.2. 00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:18.000 Commissioned with this calling. 00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:19.919 He authored the vast majority 00:36:19.919 --> 00:36:21.519 of the New Testament. 00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:22.899 He has the authority 00:36:22.899 --> 00:36:24.019 from God 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:26.259 to speak to us. 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.619 So Paul, 00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:28.719 an apostle of Christ Jesus 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:31.779 by the will of God. 00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:33.640 And then in verse 2, 00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:35.040 he greets the saints 00:36:35.040 --> 00:36:37.019 and faithful brothers. 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:37.720 And these are not 00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:39.320 two distinct groups. 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.740 He's kind of piling up 00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.340 description 00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.820 of the people 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.640 at the church 00:36:43.640 --> 00:36:45.100 at Colossae. 00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:46.600 They're merely qualifiers 00:36:46.600 --> 00:36:48.519 of the same group. 00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:49.700 Saints, 00:36:49.820 --> 00:36:50.400 the Greek word, 00:36:50.540 --> 00:36:52.140 refers to separation. 00:36:52.620 --> 00:36:53.080 These are people 00:36:53.080 --> 00:36:53.519 who have been 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:55.100 set apart from sin 00:36:55.100 --> 00:36:56.420 and set apart 00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:58.060 to God. 00:36:58.600 --> 00:36:59.060 These are people 00:36:59.059 --> 00:37:00.239 who have been changed. 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:01.539 No longer sinners 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.420 in need of a Savior, 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.159 but people who have 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:04.559 received a Savior. 00:37:04.699 --> 00:37:05.079 They are now 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.259 in a new category. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.299 Saints. 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:08.619 And the fact that 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.860 they're faithful brothers 00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:11.519 notes the source 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:13.019 of that separation, 00:37:13.799 --> 00:37:15.000 which is saving faith. 00:37:15.779 --> 00:37:16.980 They had believed 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:18.159 in the person 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:19.159 and work 00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:20.579 of Jesus Christ. 00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.799 This is the way 00:37:21.799 --> 00:37:22.980 and the only way 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:24.019 in which God 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:25.500 saves mankind. 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:26.860 The great issue 00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:27.360 with mankind 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.280 is that we're separated 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:28.840 from God 00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:29.860 because of sin. 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.140 Our activity 00:37:31.140 --> 00:37:32.180 says to Him 00:37:32.180 --> 00:37:33.420 that we hate Him 00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.440 and His ways. 00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:35.620 And we must 00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:36.680 have somebody 00:37:36.680 --> 00:37:37.740 pay the price 00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.460 for that sin 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:38.880 on our behalf. 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:40.340 That is the person 00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.519 of Jesus Christ. 00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:43.079 All of this 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:44.180 is also by 00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:44.780 the will 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:46.200 of God. 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.640 Paul writes 00:37:47.640 --> 00:37:48.720 in Ephesians 2 00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:50.280 verses 8 and 9, 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:51.900 For by grace 00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:53.579 you have been saved 00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:54.480 through faith. 00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.460 And this is not 00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:56.059 your own doing. 00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.840 It is the gift 00:37:56.840 --> 00:37:57.440 of God, 00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.639 not a result 00:37:58.639 --> 00:37:59.259 of works, 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.739 so that no one 00:38:00.739 --> 00:38:01.719 may boast. 00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:02.699 We are saved 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.579 by grace alone, 00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:04.960 through faith alone, 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.980 in Christ alone. 00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.940 If you don't know 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.579 that to be true 00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:11.579 of yourself this morning, 00:38:11.759 --> 00:38:13.119 please heed 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:14.099 the warning. 00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.239 You are being 00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:16.679 swept downriver, 00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:18.239 surely to be taken 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:19.639 over a large waterfall 00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:20.840 that will crush you 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.719 at the bottom 00:38:21.719 --> 00:38:22.860 if you were not 00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.900 saved 00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:25.280 saved by Jesus Christ. 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.820 Galatians 6.14, 00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.260 Paul says, 00:38:29.680 --> 00:38:30.420 But far be it 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.280 for me to boast 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.840 except in the cross 00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:34.680 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:36.019 by which the world 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:36.920 has been crucified 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.519 to me 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.619 and I 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:40.099 to the world. 00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.280 Paul, 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:42.220 saved by the will 00:38:42.220 --> 00:38:42.619 of God, 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:43.460 set apart, 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:44.920 commissioned as an apostle, 00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:46.300 wrote this book 00:38:46.300 --> 00:38:47.880 to the Colossian believers, 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.380 and it has been canonized 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:51.920 now as an inspired work 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.220 of the Lord God Almighty 00:38:53.220 --> 00:38:55.579 for us to receive 00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.820 in these coming months. 00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:58.720 So we have a background, 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:00.559 a summary, 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.860 and a theme 00:39:01.860 --> 00:39:03.320 for Paul's letter 00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.059 to the Colossian believers. 00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:05.280 And we have 00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:06.480 some bearing 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:08.000 on the salutation. 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:09.820 I hope that you 00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:10.760 will join me 00:39:10.760 --> 00:39:11.659 with your mind 00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:13.019 and with your heart 00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:14.360 in these coming months 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:16.119 by praying for our study, 00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:17.300 praying for one another 00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:18.079 as we receive 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:19.539 God's Word to us, 00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:21.480 by attentively listening, 00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:22.920 by being active listeners, 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:24.340 taking notes, 00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:26.300 really applying your mind 00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:27.159 to the text 00:39:27.159 --> 00:39:28.059 that's before us, 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:30.340 and then taking that truth 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.619 and taking it 00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:32.860 from this place 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.940 and living 00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:35.119 by it 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:36.500 for the glory of God. 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.840 Let's pray together. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:39.000 Amen.