People in the Kingdom of Light
description
Transcript of People in the Kingdom of Light
Colossians 1:1-14
Acts 28:16-31. Paul’s (first) Roman imprisonment.Colossians 4:3,18
Letters: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians
Lycus Valley: 200 km inland from Ephesus, in Province of Asia (Western Turkey)
Paul not personally known to them (Col 2:1)
Founder of the church: Epaphras (Col 1:7), who still cared for them, though in Rome with Paul (Col 4:12)
Churches of the area: Laodicea, Hierapolis (Col 4:13)
Word taken from Epaphras to Paul Some ‘correction’ required. Not an ‘angry’ letter, like Galatians. Issues: Was Christ enough?
(compare Galations, ‘Was faith enough?’
The writer(s): Paul (and Timothy) The recipients: saints (TNIV: God’s holy
people) and ‘faithful brothers’ (brothers and sisters) in Christ, in Colossae Possibly a circular letter (Col 4:16)
The ‘set’ greeting: Grace and peace
The Structure: two sentences in GreekFirst Sentence: vv 3-8.
Thanksgiving for the believersSecond sentence: vv 9-20
Prayer for believers. vv 9-14 Supremacy of Christ. Vv 15-20
THE FOCUS: PEOPLE
FAITH in Christ JesusLOVE for all the saintsRooted in HOPE ‘laid up for you in heaven’
Romans 4:18 ‘Abraham in hope believed….
Romans 4:21 ‘…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’
WHERE has it been working? Colossae: local, personal Around the world: universal
WHEN has it been working? From the day it was heard and understood
HOW has it been working? By GRACE alone. In TRUTH Both are by DIVINE origin and authenticity
Paul’s beloved ‘fellow-servant’ (sundoulos)
Christ’s ‘faithful minister’ (diakonos) He taught Colossians the gospel (v 7) He told Paul of their ‘love in the Spirit’ (v
8) The point (in this letter): Epaphras and
Paul taught the same Gospel.
Its DURATION (v 9)It BEGAN when Paul first heard of
their faith.It CONTINUED daily (‘we have not
stopped praying for you’). Compare v 3 ‘We ALWAYS thank God’
A. LIGHT: that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will. SOURCE of light: ‘all spiritual wisdom and
understanding’ GOAL of light: to live (lit. ‘walk’) a life worthy
of the Lord. Fully pleasing to him. Bearing fruit in every good work. Increasing in the knowledge of God.
B. POWER: that you may be strengthened with all power…. SOURCE of power: God’s own glorious might GOAL of power: that you may endure and have
patience. C. JOY: joyfully giving thanks to the Father
Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
Who has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
From PAUL, the writer His concern for the churches His concern for the truth of the Gospel. His unceasing prayers for the churches. His pastoral help to the churches. His encouragement to a pure faith
From EPAPHRAS the faithful evangelist His faithfulness as a ‘fellow-servant’
(co-labourer) His faithfulness as a ‘minister of Christ’
(servant/ deacon) , to teach the Gospel His continued care, even after he left
Colossae. His linking of the church with Paul,
when he sensed there might be a problem.
A people of LIGHT –- filled with the knowledge of God’s will
A people of POWER – strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, SO THAT we might have great endurance and patience.
A people of JOY – giving thanks to the Father.
QUALIFIED to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light.
RESCUED from the dominion of darkness
BROUGHT INTO the kingdom of the Son he loves.
Acts 28:16-31. Paul’s (first) Roman imprisonment. Colossians 4:2,18
Letters: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians
Lycus Valley: 200 km. inland from Ephesus, in Province of Asia (Western Turkey).
Paul not personally known to them (Col 2:1)
Founder: Epaphras (Col 1:7), who still cared for them, though in Rome with Paul (Col 4:12)
Churches: Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis (Col 4:13)
Word taken from Epaphras to Paul Some ‘correction’ required Not an ‘angry’ letter, like Galatians Issues: Was Christ enough? (compare
Galatians, ‘Was faith enough?’)
The writer(s): Paul (and Timothy) The recipients: saints (TNIV: God’s holy
people) and ‘faithful brothers’ (brothers and sisters) in Christ, in Colossae. Possibly a circular letter (see 4:16)
Grace and peace
The Structure: two sentences in Greek First Sentence: vv 3-8 Thanksgiving for
believers Second Sentence: vv 9-20
Prayer for believers (vv 9-14) Supremacy of Christ (vv 15-20)
The focus: people
FAITH in Christ Jesus LOVE for all the saints Rooted in HOPE ‘laid up for
you in heaven’
Biblical hope: always based on promise/Word of GodRom 4:18 ‘Abraham in hope believed….’
Rom 4:21 ‘being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.’
WHERE has it been working?Colossae: local, personalAround the world: universal
WHEN has it been working?From the day it was heard and
understood. HOW has it been working?
By GRACE alone In TRUTH.Both are by DIVINE origin and authority.
Paul’s beloved ‘fellow-servant’ (sundoulos)
Christ’s ‘faithful minister’ (diakonos) He taught them the gospel (v 7) He told Paul of their ‘love in the Spirit’ (v
8) The point (in this letter): Epaphras and
Paul taught the same gospel.
It’s DURATION (v 9) It BEGAN when Paul first heard of their
faith. It CONTINUED daily (we have not
stopped praying for you). Compare v 3 ‘We ALWAYS thank God….’
A. LIGHT: that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will SOURCE of light: In all spiritual wisdom and
understanding GOAL of light: to live a life worthy of the
Lord… Fully pleasing to him Bearing fruit in every good work. Increasing in the knowledge of God
B. POWER: that you may be strengthened with all power…. SOURCE of power: God’s own glorious might GOAL of power: that you may endure and have
patience. C. JOY: joyfully giving thanks to the Father
Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
Who has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
From PAUL, the writer His concern for the church His concern for the truth of the Gospel. His unceasing prayer for the church His pastoral help to the church. His encouragement to the pure faith.
From EPAPHRAS the evangelist His faithfulness as a ‘fellow-servant’ (co-
labourer) His faithfulness as a ‘minister of Christ’
(servant/ deacon of Christ) to teach the gospel His continued care, even after he left
Colossae. His linking of the church with Paul
QUALIFIED to share in the inheritance of his people in the kingdom of light.
RESCUED from the dominion of darkness BROUGHT INTO the kingdom of the Son
he loves.