Meet the Colossians Part 1 | Colin D

This message was preached by Colin D at Word of Grace Church on June 30th, 2019. To listen/download the audio please click here. To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here

Colossians PART1

Do you love Jesus? Do you love his bride? How far are you willing to travel to meet someone you love? How far will you go on foot or on the back of a donkey?

Coli 1:1-9 today we are going to look at the life of a young man named Epaphras

Epaphras. He traveled 2000km to visit Apostle Paul in Rome. There were no planes or trains in those days. It was a long and arduous journey. Colosse is a city in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey.

Acts 19:8 Paul was in Ephesus and he preached in the Synagogue for 3 months. Then he lectured in the Hall of Tyrannus for 2 years. The result is all the Jews and Greeks in the area (Asia Minor) heard the gospel. He did this daily. Then these Jews/Greeks in turn, took the gospel to other cities.

Epaphras was from Colossae and he took back what he heard from Paul and planted a church there. The church was going on and he was concerned about some heresies in the area and wanted to discuss this with Paul before it affected the churches.

In response to this, Paul writes this letter to the Colossians.

Verse 1. Paul has not been to Colosse. He is writing as the Apostle who was chosen by God. He did not appoint himself. God met with him miraculously. He also includes Timothy in his greeting. Paul often wrote about his companions.

Verse2. to the holy and faithful. What a lovely way to address people. Holy is another way for calling them, Saints.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are a saint. We often get confused with the word. Eph1:1 to the saints. You do not have to have a perfect life. It does not mean you are sinless. It means once upon a time you were a sinner (Rom9:9, Rom 3:23, Gal 3:26). “You are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus: So we are changed from sinners to sons. We are saints and servants.

Saints = set apart. It does not mean perfection eg) Your towel is set apart from your body and the mop for the floor.

When we get into sin, we are using the towel for the floor.

Now some people in the church are, messed up. We are being sanctified.

Verse3. We always thank God. Paul prayed for the people and thanked God for them. Let us pray for one another and people’s needs. Be mindful of people’s needs.

Paul thanked God for the people. Why did Paul give thanks for the people?

·       He heard of their faith in Christ Jesus. Faith is the bridge that will take you to heaven.

·       Love for all the saints

·       Hope stored up for you in heaven

Do you see all three here: Faith, hope, and love.

Let’s look at FAITH today.

What Paul is talking about is saving faith. We think it’s intellectually believing but Faith should result in changed behavior. There is a saving faith and a demonic faith.

James 2:14-19 Faith without deeds is dead. Biblical faith must be followed by deeds. Salvation comes by faith alone. But, faith that saves is never alone.

Even the devil believes in Jesus and shudders. People can know Jesus but have not put into action saving faith.

Do you have true faith?

John Newton was a profane sailor. His mother used to pray for him. One day a storm arose for 11 days. He thought he would die. During that time he remembered some of the scriptures his mother taught him when he was a little boy. He cried out to God and he was saved. He gave his life to Jesus. Did he give up all his bad habits immediately? No. That sanctification process took time. He eventually gave up slave trade. He wrote the song Amazing Grace.

No matter how big your sin God’s grace is greater.

Ephaharus was concerned about the purity of the church. He addressed the problem before hand, before anything could happen.

Do you have saving faith in your life? When you have true faith, there will be transformation.

Can we pray for one another? There are different ways to show love to one another. We have great opportunities to love one another. Let us do it in different ways.

The next time we will look at HOPE.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.