Our Daily Scripture – 7/21/22

SCRIPTURE:  COLOSSIANS 1

INTRODUCTION:

Colossians was the third letter written by Paul while he was in prison at Rome about AD60.  Epaphras was one of the converts of Paul who founded the Colossian church.  When he came to visit Paul at Rome, he told Paul that a new teaching was invading the church and causing trouble.  The heresy was known as “Gnosticism” from the Greek word “Gnosis” which means “to know”.  The gnostics professed to have a superior knowledge of spiritual things.  Their doctrine was a mixture of some Christian truth, Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy and Eastern mysticism.

The gnostics denied the pre-eminence of Christ.  The doctrine includes legalistic practices and strict discipline of the flesh (Asceticism).  Their doctrine had a resemblance of spirituality but no real spiritual value.  Paul stressed on the deity and pre-eminence of Christ.  Christ is God incarnate.  Christ is all in all and we are made full in Him.  Therefore, Christ is all we need.  Legalism, man-made philosophies, strict diets, compulsory observance of holidays, dicipline of the flesh are no longer required when Christ is given His place of pre-eminence.

BIBLE VERSES:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:9-11)

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:15-18)

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER (vs. 32-14)

Paul thanked God for the faith and love of the Colossian believers through the faithful ministry of Epaphras.

Paul’s prayer for the Colossian saints: (vs. 9-14)

  1. To fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
  2. To live a life worthy of the Lord.
  3. To please God in every way.
  4. To bear fruit in every good work.
  5. To grow in the knowledge of God.
  6. To be strengthen by His power.
  7. To have great endurance and patience.
  8. To give thanks to the Father.
  9. To share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
  10. To have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST (vs. 15-23)

  1. He is the image of the invisible God, the first born in all creation.
  2. All things were created by Him and for Him.
  3. He is before all things and in him all things hold together.
  4. He is the head of the body, the church.
  5. He is the beginning and the first born from among the dead.
  6. All things are reconciled through him by his blood on the cross.

PAUL’S LABOR FOR THE CHURCH (vs. 24-29)

Paul presented the word of God and the mystery to them.  The glorious riches of this mystery is having Christ in them with the hope of glory.  Paul admonished and taught everyone with all wisdom so that they could be perfect in Christ.

THOUGHTS:

THE FIVE BENEFITS GOD GIVES TO THE BELIEVERS:

  1. He enables us to share his inheritance (v. 121)
  2. He rescues us from Satan’s kingdom of darkness and makes us his children (v. 13a)_
  3. He brings us into his eternal kingdom (v. 13b)
  4. He purchased our freedom from sins and judgment through the redemption of his blood (v. 14a)
  5. He forgives all our sins (v. 14b)

THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF CHRIST:

  1. He is God and Lord of all.
  2. He is the visible image of the invisible God.
  3. He is the exact representation of God.
  4. He reveals God to us.
  5. He is supreme over all creation.
  6. He has all the priority and authority.
  7. He came from heaven.
  8. He is Lord of all.
  9. He is holy and has the authority to judge the earth.  He is the source of salvation.
  10. He existed before anything else.
  11. He is the creator of heaven and earth
  12. He is the sustainer of all life.
  13. He is fully human and fully divine.