A study in Colossians

Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”.

 

We can either get inspired by this passage, or we can get theologically entangled. I preferred to get inspired myself.

 

We are actually going to stand in the presence of Jesus, who stood in the presence of His Father before we were created, and who came to earth and manifested Him. Beyond that we are going to stand in the presence of Jesus, who stood in the presence of His Father before we were created, who came to earth to manifest Him, and who returned to His Father’s presence and was given authority from His father to rule over all of creation.

 

But what is even more inspiring is: God considers that we are already in His throne with His Son who has all authority over every minuscule and major aspect and function of creation. And, He has given us all authority in Him to rule with Him as priests and kings over all of creation NOW, as well as in the age to come. Here are some passages that reveal this exciting truth:

 

I John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” NKJV

John 1:18 “No man has ever seen God at anytime; the only unique Son, the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [that is in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him – He has revealed Him, brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him, and He has made Him known.” (Amplified)

Revelation 4:10-11 “The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” NKJV

Revelation 5:8-10 “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth’.” NKJV

Revelation 5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessings and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the lamb, forever and ever!’.” NKJV

Ephesians 2;6 “And raised us up together, and made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” NKJV

Ephesians 1:20-22 “Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.” NKJV

 

Therefore, my question  is: seeing we are already in His presence - in His throne - with all authority over all creation NOW – and also in the age to come, why are we so timid and full of doubt when it comes to living this positional truth? Let us hear the encouraging words of Jesus to His disciples as He taught them the facts of positional truth after He took authority over created gravity and the dimension of time, John 6:20-21 “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.”

 

Remember, only Peter got out of the boat and found out personally that Jesus did indeed have control over creation! Peter took Jesus at His word and for a moment or two lived in positional truth, overriding the physical laws of gravity. In other words: Jesus said it, Peter believed it and by faith experienced it. So did Philip after he immersed the Eunuch Acts 8:38-40.

 

Are you and I willing to get out of our boats which fly the flags of denominational God-controlling legalisms and religious doubts and fears? Or, are we more worried about what those in the denominational boats will say rather then hearing Jesus say to us, “Come out here on the water and find out for yourself that I control the molecules of the air and the sea and the universe, and do not fear for we go a fish’n for men”? Peter did! 

A study in Colossians

Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins”.

 

On one of my return business trips from China I went via Bangkok. I had booked a room in a hotel that offers “preferred guest” status to regular clients. When I arrived they upgraded me to a very comfortable business suite. During my two day stay they continually sent tropical fruits of various kinds and other dainties to my room. In the evening I met my business contact in the lounge and added coffee, eats etc., to my account for both of us.

 

At the hour of my departure for the airport I went to reception to check out and pay for the extra services I had used. I took my credit card out of my wallet and offered it to the receptionist. She looked down at the computer screen, examined my account and said, “Mr Chapman, your account is paid in full; you have nothing to pay. You have been our preferred guest for the last two days and the hotel thanks you for using our services; have a nice flight home.”

 

Paid in full! I was delighted. Not only was I delighted, I was excited and I have shared this story of their grace many times. It is not often that you can enjoy opulent comfort and sumptuous food and have someone else pay for it. My debt for two days was redeemed in full and I was very grateful.

 

Well, that is what Jesus did, except He did it for eternity; not just two days. He paid our IOU to God in full (Colossians 2:13-14). We were sinners and now we are redeemed. We had fallen short of God’s glory, but now we have been forgiven. We had nothing to pay our debt with, so Jesus paid it in full with His blood. Talk about exciting. Talk about wanting to tell others. We are ”preferred guests” for eternity in the house of God because Jesus paid our debt in full!

 

A study in Colossians

Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

Sorry about the length of this article, but this is a very important subject which deals with modern day “generational sins deliverance ministry” and needs to be addressed.

There is a saying that goes something like this: “Why fix it if it ain’t broke?”

In the verse above, Paul used past tense to convey a fantastic state of being to the Colossian disciples. He told them that all God could possibly do to bring sinners into abundant life had been done. The Colossians did not have to go back after they were saved and improve on what God had done for them in Jesus. At conversion they were delivered from the power of darkness that had controlled their lives. They were not just delivered from darkness; they were delivered from the power of darkness.

Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to deliver them from all of their past; all of the power of darkness over their lives. His sacrifice was sufficient to deliver them from all that would confront them in the present. His sacrifice was sufficient to convey them into the presence of God at death. They did not have to go back into their past or their parent’s past or their grandparent’s past and chase out demons or deal with the generational sins of their forefathers. They were once and for all delivered from the power of darkness.

Deliverance ministries, which are practiced in some churches today, are an attempt to improve on what God has done in Christ. How can you improve on that which needs no improvement? There is no need to chase demons out of believers or deal with the sins of their ancestor’s past. What is needed is true conversion in the first placed. Conversion that is based on what the word of God teaches not raising your hand and receiving Jesus into your heart.

If believers struggle to live the Christian life the problem is not their past; it is their conversion. They have not had a full encounter with Jesus or a full disclosure of what He did at the cross to deliver them the power of darkness and appease God once and for all at conversion. When believers struggle with their Christian lives it is not their past that is to blame; it is their conversion and lack of exposure to what God’s word promises in the present. Poor preaching and poor teaching produce impoverished, doubting believers!

How can we improve on the past tense of the verse above: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness”? Or how about II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” The old is passed away; ALL THINGS are now new; without exception!

Forget the past; you have been forgiven and delivered from the power of darkness. If you can’t believe and appropriate it, then go back to the gospels, fall in love with Jesus, and get renewed. Then rejoice in your present state of being as God sees it; not as you see it! Remembering what the rest of the verse above says, and it is again in past tense, “and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”. If you are in His kingdom and in His Son, then you are in His love. You have come out of darkness and the power of darkness into Christ and His kingdom and you can’t improve on that; no matter how many believers pray over you or lay hands on you!

You are loved! You are going home! God has dealt with your past once and for all! Don’t be deceived by doctrines of men which have no biblical basis to support their practice or existence.

If you are converted; you are indeed converted! Metamorphosis has occured and you are no longer a grub! You are now a butterfly because God is absolutely, utterly, totally and completely satisfied with everything He has done in Jesus. If you are in Jesus then the old, and the power of the old is passed and He is absolutely, utterly, totally and completely satisfied with YOU! Your past is now His present; SO LIVE IN IT! You’re a King’s kid (I Peter 2:9-10); REJOICE IN IT! You have been delivered from the POWER of darkness; ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF IT!

A study in Colossians

Colossians 1:11 “We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy.” (Amplified Version).

 

There is nothing more memorable or enjoyable in life than an invigorating experience. It is something you treasure and often talk about.

 

Well, Paul prayed for the Colossians that their life in Christ would be an invigorating one. Not only that; he said he sought God on their behalf so they would be strengthened with all power. He did not seek God for some power or enough power; but ALL power for their lives in Christ.

 

Too often we rob ourselves because we do not seek God’s best. We settle for the crumbs that fall from His table rather than the complete meal He sets before us. Paul wasn’t about to settle for the crumbs; he wanted God’s very best for the Colossians and for himself.

 

We should not settle for crumbs any more. We must hunger and thirst for God’s best. There is no question that we certainly need it at all times!

 

But, Paul went further and prayed that God provide His best according to His might and His glory. It is one thing to receive God’s best, but it is another thing to know how to live in it. So, Paul asked God to not only provide His best, but to enable the Colossians to live in it, comprehend it, appropriate it and reach new God-empowered heights in it.

 

When disciples live in God’s best it will always attract the attention of Satan, other believers and the world.

 

Satan pays attention to believers who become disciples and start to live their lives in the promises and empowerment of God. Such disciples threaten his kingdom and endanger the success of his dark realm.

 

Church-going believers are also attentive to fellow-believers who suddenly start to break the mere church-going mould and begin praying more, reading more, trusting God’s promises more and seeking to serve in His power and glory regardless of the cost. Such commitment soon brands one as fanatical, fundamental etc.

 

The world also pays attention because its sinful activities are challenged by disciples who are strengthened with all the power of God (Ephesians 1:15-23). The world only has two options when confronted by the lives of committed disciples: join them or kill them.

 

So, because such invigorating, powerful lives are a threat and attract persecution, Paul prayed for the Colossians that they would joyfully endure persecution from Satan, their own brethren and the world.

 

In the light of Paul’s concerns for the Colossians we also need to remember these wonderful words of Jesus if we determine to seek God’s best in our service unto Him: Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

A Study in Colossians

Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Prayer is the most demanding of all spiritual disciplines. Prayer is also the most rewarding of all spiritual disciplines. Unselfish prayer is the most difficult of all spiritual disciplines. The apostles mastered these three disciplines and never ceased to pray for others; and especially for their intimate spiritual development.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians and told them not to be ignorant of God’s will for their lives (Ephesians 5:17). He wanted them to have an intimate and rewarding walk with God. And, in his letter to the Colossians, he goes beyond just knowing God’s will for their lives: he prays that they understand the spiritual implication of God’s will for their lives.

Why? So they could walk worthy of the Lord and please Him in the tasks He planned for them before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 2:10). This involvement with God, according to His will and His planned works, would lead to an intimate and informative relationship with Him.

God wants all disciples to have an intimate and informative relationship with Him. He wants to lead us continually with His Spirit (Romans 8:1-17). But, it is we who fear such intimacy. So, we set about inventing all kinds of church programs, worship activities, events etc., which have the appearance of spirituality, but feed us little spiritually and keep us from prayer and studying God’s word. These indulgences often fail to produce something very basic; intimacy with the Father. 

Our activities and programs seldom originate from intimacy with God, either on a personal or corporate level. They usually result from the consensual wisdom of men and woman in leadership who then bring their plans to God for His blessing rather than seeking His plans for the church. Church boards, committees etc., tend to want to control God rather then be God-controlled.  

Paul calls individuals and assemblies to these three simple but costly endeavours: 1. Know God’s will for our lives and live in that knowledge wisely. 2. Seek after spiritual understanding not worldly religious understanding as we live in His will for our lives. 3. Exercising the first two will then result in walking as the Lord wants us to walk, individually and corporately. Then the world will see our good works and declare that we know Him and have an intimate relationship with Him.

Lasting intimacy with God will seldom, if ever, be found in the decisions of church boards, committees, activities, programs, worship services etc., but only while we hunger and thirst for righteousness, study God’s word and spend more time on our knees seeking His daily will for our lives.

Bob Chapman MA

**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore

A study in Colossians

 

Colossians 1:7-8 “even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.”

What a privilege to have your name mentioned in the Word of God. Yes, but how much more of a privilege to have your name written in God’s book of life?

I am sure that Epaphras was not too concerned that his name was mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. He was most probably not aware that the letter was eventually going to become a selected book of the Bible.

And, something more precious than the mention of his name was the mention of his heart. To Paul, Epaphras was a beloved fellow-servant. He had a heart after the nature of Paul’s sacrificed heart. They both had the heart of bondservants and their master was Jesus.

Not only was Epaphras’ heart mentioned by Paul, but his reputation was mentioned also. Epaphras was a faithful ministering bondservant. And who did he faithfully minister to as a bondservant? His Lord Jesus who was living out His life through the apostle Paul.

Despite what others thought, or what the consequences might have been, Epaphras faithfully served Christ’s fellow-servants, the apostles. He was not envious or covetous of their apostolic call or close relationship with Jesus. He had a close relationship with Jesus and a servant’s role from Him, and in it he served his Master faithfully.

Jesus calls us all to different ministries and roles in the Body of Christ and it is our duty to be faithful in them. It is not for us to question why we aren’t used or honoured like others in the Body of Christ. We must accept the fact that we are all called to serve Christ as He lives in others, regardless of personal cost, fame or recognition among the brethren. Faithful bondservants only care about what their Master wants done and that He gets the glory. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Jesus said that in serving the least fortunate of mankind, we serve Him, (Matthew 25:31-46). Let us therefore rejoice that our names are written in God’s book of life and faithfully get on with ministering unto Him as He lives in others, just as Epaphras did.

Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore

A study in Colossians

 

Colossians 1:5b-6 “…of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you as it has in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”

Have you ever thought about this? If the great commission is so great, why aren’t we telling everybody?

Imagine for a moment that a lawyer knocks on your door and informs you that a distant uncle you didn’t know you had made a fabulous fortune and you’re the sole heir to his billions. Upon hearing this news you shake the lawyer’s hand, take the bank cheque, close the door and put the cheque in a drawer for banking one day in the future when you’re not so caught up in your urgencies. Then you return to what you were doing before you were rudely interrupted by the lawyer. Over time you forget about the cheque and never get around to banking the money. Folks, it wouldn’t happen!

Well, in the first century the priceless gospel spread throughout the entire world bearing fruit because it was exciting truth. It was indeed the pearl of great price that one would give anything to possess. It was worthy of great celebration. The gospel was exciting news and had to be shared, just like it would be if one did have a rich uncle who left you his fortune.

That is why Jesus came in the Year of Jubilee when celebration was at fever pitch because the forgiveness of all debt and the restoration of all inheritances was under way. But, beyond the wonderful blessings for the Jews in that Year of Jubilee came the grace of God for all mankind. God was throwing a party for all who had been made in His image. Now all sin would be forgiven and God’s house was open to all who obeyed the gospel call; gentile and Jew. God was throwing a party and the cost was on Him! (Luke 15:7, 20-24).

The disciples at Colossae were so excited about this God-initiated hope in Jesus that the lost and hopeless were beating a path to their door to find out why. And, when the lost got there, not only did they hear the gospel; they saw the gospel! What they saw were the Colossians celebrating the good news of their joint-heirship with Jesus, (Romans 8:17). The Colossians were contagiously joyous and were contaminating others with the joy of salvation and hope everywhere they went.

Is it possible that we have quarantined ourselves in our homes, careers, social lives and meeting halls and no longer contaminate others with our joy of salvation and hope? Are we fearful of infecting others with our genuine exuberance about our salvation? Maybe we haven’t realized the value of it yet! Have we possibly filed Jesus away amongst our self-interests? Are we waiting for a more convenient time to get excited about the hope we can bring to the lost world outside of our Sunday meeting halls and entertainment worship arenas?

Surely it must be time for us to take a moment and bank that cheque God wrote with the blood of Jesus when He sent Him to save us from sin in the Year of Jubilee 2000 years ago? Wouldn’t you say it is time to count our blessings and celebrate in the streets, homes, workplaces and nations so sinners just have to have what we have and will cry out, “How do we get what you’ve got!”

Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore

A study in Colossians

Colossians 1:5a “Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…”.

While living in Xian, China and teaching English in a university, I asked one of my fellow Christian teachers how he was converted. He was in his late thirties and had not married.

He told me that before coming to China he had worked in a London retirement home and his conversion was the result of an elderly man of 93 speaking only one word to him. I was curious and asked him to continue.

He went on to tell me that each morning this gentleman would come to breakfast with his Bible under his arm. He would sit down in his usual seat, place the Bible in front of his place mat, eat his breakfast and return to the lounge for the day. 

My friend then told me that after observing this for a few weeks he decided to ask the gentleman why he brought his Bible to breakfast. One morning he plucked up the courage and asked. The old man looked down at his Bible, reached out his hand, placed one finger on the cover and without looking up said, “Hope.” 

From that day onward my friend concluded that if this 93 year old man had found hope in the Bible, then he had to find it as well. He began reading and found Jesus. From that moment on he was with me in China sharing HOPE.

Bob Chapman MA

**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore

Studies in Colossians

Colossians 1:3-4 “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all the saints.”

It is not easy to pray!

It is even harder to faithfully lift up all those on our prayer list day in and day out. We get weary, we doubt, we fall out with someone on the list, we get distracted. But in these verses Paul encourages the Colossians by reminding them that he prays for them always. Not only does he pray for them always; he exceeds that and says he gives thanks to God for them.

Now praying for others is easier than giving thanks for them. Actually, it is easier to find what to condemn in others than it is to find what to appreciate. Thus, when we give God thanks for others we generally look for their best qaulities and similarities to our nature and preferences and thank Him for them. Really though, we should be thanking Him for their weaknesses and their failings and the qualities about them we find uncomfortable because, in so doing, their weaknesses and failings will eventually be overcome and our prejudices will diminish.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I don’t like that man; I better make a friend of him.”

Agape love is not love that simply tolerates others. Rather it is love that seeks another’s highest good at our personal cost. So Paul was praying for the best outcomes for all the assembly at Colossae. He did not pray just for his favourite clique, the intelligent, the leaders etc., but the whole assembly. The babes, immature, carnal, faithless and the faithful.

Why? Because, despite their weaknesses, they had a reputation which he had heard about; they had faith in Christ. They believed He was the Messiah. They believed He was worth living for. They believed He was worth dying for. And, they believed He lived in their fellow brethren, despite their weaknesses and unloveable characteristics. Simply put: they loved one another as Christ loved them.

What a great reputation.They loved the Messiah and that was seen in their love for one another. Their love was something the lost world found attractive. They had something worth living for and the world wanted it.

Does the world want what we have in Christ? Are they crying out for what we have in Christ? They will when we start loving one another enough to give God thanks for one another. They will when we are willing to maintain our prayer lists at all cost. They will when we looked for Christ living in each other despite our differences, personal failings and status in life.

Blessings
Bob Chapman MA
**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore