Colossians 1

Greetings once again,

Having 'recently' preached through Colossians (Summer-Fall of 2005), I'm finding it very refreshing to be back in this wonderful little book for a review and refresher. This study, the Chapter Memory Study, has a much different focus and scope that would a preaching series, so there are different things that have grabbed my attention. And while I memorized one passage from each sermon (which would cover any variety of verses), this study has, and I'm sure will continue to, draw out other more 'thematic' scriptures for memory.

The memory passage for Colossians 1 is:
Colossians 1:9-12, 15-19, 24 (ESV)
⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
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,
²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

(Note; I had already memorized 9-12, so I added a few extra verses for myself this week)

The Thematic Outline is Core prayer, Christ is preeminent, and Church ministry.

Core Prayer
After one of Paul's signature greetings including authorship, his company, his audience, and a blessing of grace and peace from God, he begins a section that is filled with prayerful tones. He writes that they 'thank God' in their 'prayers' (3) and that they 'have not ceased to pray' (9) for this body of believers. His prayers include thankfulness for their faith in Christ and love for other saints grounded in hope (4), that the Gospel has taken root and born fruit in them (5) and for their enduring faith and obedience to Christ and His servant Epaphras (7).

Verses 9-12 contain a prayer that I have frequently prayed for myself and others. The first supplication is for increased knowledge of God's will and for its application with spiritual wisdom and understanding. The resulting action is worked out in the believers walk. In fact, the next part of the prayer spells the word W.A.L.K. Our walk is to be:

Worthy of Him
Acceptable to Him
Laboring for Him
Knowing more of Him

This walk can be accomplished because God supplies His strength, power and might for our endurance and patience. With this, we can joyfully give thanks to God, at all times, as the One who has qualified us, as adopted children, to receive the inheritance in His kingdom. Our adoption is possible because He transferred us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom and authority of His Son who bought us on the cross (13-14).

Christ's Preeminence
One of the reasons I included all of 15-19 as the memory passage is that I didn't know where to stop. One of the main heresies threatening the Colossian church was a denial of the deity of Christ. Paul clobbers that heresy with these powerful words:

He is the image (representation and manifestation) of God
He is the firstborn (in rank, not 'the first One born') of creation
All things were created through Him and for Him
He is eternal; before all things
He is the Sustainer; He holds it all together
He is the Head of the church
He conquered death as the firstborn from the dead
He is preeminent
In Him, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

His resulting work was to reconcile all things to Himself through the cross; allowing those who were hostile to God access to the sanctifying work of Holy Spirit through Whom they can be made holy and blameless before Him. Paul's 'if' assumes that they would continue in the faith based on the evidence that they were redeemed, reconciled and regenerate in Christ.

Church Ministry
For the sake of the church, Paul shares in the trials and sufferings that Christ experienced while He ministered on this earth. This verse does not teach that Christ's sacrifice was insufficient in any way (the word 'suffering' is never used for Christ's death) but that those who follow Christ will, and should, be treated in some ways the way He was. This is 'sharing His suffering' (Phil 3:10). The revelation of the mystery of Christ, that salvation has come to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, is the call and mission of Paul's ministry.

The last two verses of this chapter summarize well the goal and power of ministry; to proclaim Christ and make disciples (warning and teaching in wisdom leading to maturity) by the strength and power of God working in us. More on this later.

How does this affect my worship?
The words of vv15-20 could be the focus of unending worship. Christ, the Author and Perfecter of faith, is, was, and always will be Creator, Sustainer, Lord, and Head. The fact that all things were created for Him implies that all things created should worship Him. The words of Romans 11:36 resound here; from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things.
Glory to Him, and Him alone.

How does this affect my discipleship?
I will often quote vv28-29 in conversations concerning discipleship. First of all, He is the subject of our proclamation. We proclaim Him and His kingdom. He is also the subject of our teaching and admonition (not to mention the source of spiritual wisdom and understanding, cf 9). He is also the goal of our sanctification as maturity in Christ yields Christ-likeness. And while this call to ministry is for us to obey, it does not come without the requisite power and strength. Isn't this the Great Commission in action? Go (proclaim) and make disciples (teaching and admonishing everything He commanded)!

May the Sustainer sustain you in His strength,

Ethan