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COLOSSIANS

Introducing Colossians

While Paul was in prison in Rome, awaiting his upcoming trial before Caesar, one of the letters he wrote was to the gathering of believers in the city of Colossae. Paul had never met them, but they knew who he was and respected his leadership. Paul had worked with a man named Epaphras when he was in Ephesus. Epaphras was originally from Colossae, about 100 miles to the east. Paul sent him to bring the good news about Jesus to his city and to two other nearby cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Epaphras was later arrested and brought to Rome as a prisoner himself. Paul learned from him what was happening in those cities.

The Colossians were mostly Gentiles, but like the Galatians they were being pressured to follow the Jewish law and were adding extra rules and false teachings to the faith. Some of them were priding themselves on having visions and getting secret spiritual knowledge. So Paul wrote them a letter to say, “When you’ve got Jesus the Messiah, you’ve got it all!”

Paul emphasizes that all things in heaven and earth were created by the Son and were reconciled to God by the Son’s death on the cross. Christ possesses the fullness of God’s being. Since the Colossians have been brought into the new kingdom of light, they can live their faith to the fullest. They are to put on the new self, awaiting the time the Messiah will appear openly, revealing his glory.

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Colossians Chapter 1 (ESV)

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Chapter at a Glance: Without Christ, Christianity is nothing. Paul offered prayers for the Colossians (vv3-14) and made a profound affirmation of Christ’s supremacy (vv15-23) and his living presence in the believer (vv24-29).
2. We often hear: “All roads lead to Rome. Everyone is eventually going to the same place. How can Christians say Jesus is the only way to God?”What is your response?
3. In this passage, Paul adamantly declared Christ’s supremacy over every being and every idea. It is the central truth of Christian faith. Christ is Lord over all creation and is the reconciler between God and His creation.  Our lives are built upon it, shaped in every way by it.  Through Christ’s reconciliation, we may be given back to God holy, blameless, and irreproachable.  God is the all-powerful ruler of heaven and earth.  God expresses his supreme power in this world in the person of Jesus.  God still expresses His supreme power in this world—through us!
4. Silently reread verses 21-23, inserting your name every time Paul says you. What emotion, phrases, or thoughts come to you? What insight do you have about Jesus Christ and your new life in Him?  Talk to God. Wait and listen to Him speaking to you.

 

PRAYER:

Dear God! Christ is before all things, and all things hold together through Him. I was once alienated from You and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. But now, through Christ’s sacrificial death, You have reconciled me to Yourself. I am made holy, blameless, and without blemish, brought into Your presence. I pray that You keep me steadfast in the faith, with a firm and unshakable foundation, so that I won’t be swayed and lose hope in the Gospel.

 

HYMN:

Creator King – www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSKjVkePAkA