Journey Through Colossians
One of the great principles of Bible study is comparing Scripture with Scripture. As someone has suggested, the greatest commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself, and I truly believe that. We have come in our study now in our journey to the book of Colossians. There is much we can learn as we journey through Colossians.
Listen: Journeying through Colossians
Overview of Colossians
Colossians stands alone as a letter to believers in Colossae, but this book has actually been called a twin epistle to the book of Ephesians. Those two cities, Ephesus and Colossae, were only about 100 miles apart. It is even possible that Colossae may have been evangelized by the believers in Ephesus. But besides that fact, and besides the fact that there are distinctions between them, there are many amazing similarities. For example:
- In Ephesians, we learn what grows out of being filled with the Spirit.
- In Colossians, we learn what grows out of being filled with the Scriptures.
I would challenge you to compare Scripture with Scripture. You will find that the same things are produced. Why? Because the Spirit of God uses the Word of God. It is the “sword of the Spirit.” And there are so many little truths like that that connect these two books.
Ephesians is mainly instructional. Colossians is more corrective. Paul is writing an answer to certain heresies that crept in. Now this book is written not from a defensive position; it is written from an offensive position. He combats error by preaching truth. And I think that is a powerful principle.
Truth vs Counterfeit
Some of you are dealing with someone asking you questions or feeding false ideas, and you are trying to answer all those questions. The only way to recognize the counterfeit is to show the genuine — to show the original.
I remember many years ago, a man sitting down next to me on a flight. He was a member of a religious group that does not hold to the deity of Christ. And I remember thinking, “How am I going to answer all these men’s questions? And how am I going to debate with this man who is so well schooled in what he believes?” And the Holy Spirit convicted me and said, “‘Give him your testimony. Tell him about Jesus. Tell him what Christ has done in your life.” Do you know when I finished giving my personal testimony, that man looked at me and said, “You know, sir, I have been studying religious things all of my life. I have never heard anything like what you have just said to me.”
I believe the greatest thing we can do is simply preach the truth, to be real with others. And that truth is not a system, and it is not a philosophy. It is a person: the person of Jesus Christ. Look for those entry points to the gospel and be obedient in your calling to share the good news.
Key Verse of Colossians
The book of Colossians is all about the preeminence of Christ. And the key verse is Colossians 1:18 that says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
I saw the other day one of my heroes’ signatures. Dr. Frank Sales was one of the greatest Bible teachers I have ever heard in my life. He is in Heaven now. I noticed again under his signature this little verse, Colossians 1:18. And truly, every time I heard him teach, no matter where he was teaching from, he seemed to emphasize that Christ was everything.
No wonder this verse meant so much to him, because that is what this book is all about. As a matter of fact, Colossians 3:11, “…Christ is all, and in all.” Jesus is everything, and He has everything you need. There are probably a thousand different ways to say it, but there is only one Whom it can be said of, and that is Jesus Christ.
A Small Town Church
One interesting biographical note here is that Paul had never personally been to Colossae. He had heard of them. That is what he said. But he had never personally been there. And Colossae was a fairly small town. Some have even suggested it was the most unimportant town to which Paul ever wrote a letter.
But I remind you, no church is unimportant, and no church in God’s sight is small. It is His church. Yet, this letter reaches heights that are unknown in some of the other letters and some of the other epistles. You see, God’s truth is for everybody. We believe this church met in Philemon’s House. One of the letters carried at the same time as the letter to Colossae was the book of Philemon.
The Preeminence of Christ
Philemon 2 refers to the church that met in his house. It was primarily a Gentile church, and the pastor, we believe, was a man by the name of Epaphras. The Apostle Paul is writing people that he has never seen, but he heard of the error that has crept in. And he said, “I want to just tell you something. The only one who deserves worship is Jesus Christ. The only one who can save and keep is Jesus Christ. And the only one that can meet your need is Jesus Christ.” That message has not changed. Two thousand years later, Christ is all and in all, and Christ is not to be prominent; Christ is to be preeminent.
Dr. Frank Sells often remarked that “Christ is not to be first on your list; He is on a list all by Himself.” The goal is not to add Christ to everything else in our lives. Christ is to be your life.
Man’s Religion vs True Religion
Heresy had crept into the church at Colossae. What was the heresy in Colossae? We only know some attributes that characterized it:
- Colossians 2:8 tells us it was based on “tradition.” Christ is not about tradition; He is truth.
- Colossians 2:18 suggests that it appeared to be very humble and very pious. It called people to worship, but to worship beings other than Christ.
- Colossians 2:23 details that it puts the body through lots of religious rituals and works to earn their salvation. I do not know about you, but tradition, the appearance of piety, worship, and human rituals, sound like many religious systems today.
The reality is that there are really only two religions in the world. There are these religious systems that are all about man, and then there is the pure religion, and it is all about Jesus Christ. Christ is all you need. I think it was old Vance Havner that said, “When you get to the place that Christ is all you have, you realize Christ is all you need.”
Key Word of Colossians
The key word of this book is the word all. It is used at least 31 times. “Christ is all, and in all,” and all you need is found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Outline of Colossians
Now this letter follows the New Testament pattern. It follows Paul’s pattern in all of his letters. It begins with a doctrinal section. Chapters one and two are mainly doctrinal. But then, when you get to chapters three and four, it is mainly practical. And that is beautiful. It is all about being filled with God and walking in that fullness, letting the Lord, the Christ, who is in you, overflow in your life.
As you read Colossians 3 and 4, Paul deals with lots of relationships at home and on the job and in every part of your life. Why? Because Christ does not just want to live in you, He wants to live through you. Do not make the mistake of thinking that the One who is seated in Heaven at the right hand of the Father does not want to be seated on the throne of your heart today.
Christ is All, and in All
You see, Christ is not a million miles away in Heaven. Christ is very near. He is living inside of you. And He wants to be preeminent, not only in glory; He wants to be preeminent in your church. He wants to be preeminent in your family. He wants to be preeminent in your life. Is He? Can you honestly say Christ is all, Christ is your whole life, that everything is wrapped up in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Or maybe we should ask it a different way. Would anyone else say that about you? Would anyone else say that the way you live your life demonstrates that a wonderful Christ lives inside of you? You might even want to take these words today and write them somewhere.
Put them somewhere where you’ll see them frequently. “…Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). Or maybe these words, “…that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Hide these truths in your heart. Perhaps place them somewhere you will see them often. Put them on your mirror. Every time you look in the mirror, you will be reminded not just of yourself, but of the Christ that is in you. Let Christ be all in all to you and through you today. It is the only way to enjoy the journey.
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