STUDIES IN EPHESIANS & COLOSSIANS STUART GREAVES FALL 2012, COURSE NOTES #10: COLOSSIANS 1:1-12

I. GREETING AN EXPRESSION AND BESTOWAL OF GOOD WILL Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:1-2 A. Paul always alludes to the reality that his ministry is by divine appointment and that he does not speak from his own authority. Paul was not self appointed but rather was commissioned by the King to be an ambassador to the nations of the earth.
1

12

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry 1 Tim 1:12 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles Galatians 1:15-16 then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christs behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 A greeting is an expression of desire or of good will from the greeter to the one who is being greeted. Greetings at times can come from the actual greeter or sometimes from a third party. I believe that the apostolic greeting is two-fold: 1. 2.
11For

15

20 Now

B.

A communication of good will from the apostle to community of believers. A communication of good will on behalf of the Godhead to the people of God. I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

C.

Paul bestows the blessings and the greetings of God upon the church. It is customary for Paul to start his epistles with a bestowal of goodwill from his heart and a greeting from the Godhead. Paul has been in the place of prayer and encounter and has stood in the counsels of the Lord from which he was sent forth as an apostle of Christ to the people of God. The greetings and the content of the book of Colossians come from a God who desires to bestow grace and peace upon His people. Grace and peace is what is imparted to the heart of the saints as they find themselves embracing and experiencing the truths found in the book of Colossians.

D.

II.

PAULS GRATITUDE FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL A. Paul the apostle was one whose reward was in the gospel. Paul so identified with the gospel that at times he called it his gospel. He rejoiced greatly at the news when the gospel went forth and prevailed.

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Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began Romans 16:25 As one who had profound insight into the mystery of the gospelthat it indeed is to the glory of God and that it is Gods goodwill towards the earthPaul is filled with gratitude as he hears that the gospel is spreading throughout Asia Minor touching specific geographical areas like Colosse. The news of the spread of the gospel fills Pauls heart with gratitude and with intercession for the Colossians church.

B.

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 Jesus and of your love for all the saints Colossians 1:3-4 1:4, The spreading of the gospel produced a people of faith and love for God, and a people of love for the saints (the 2nd commandment). The fruit of the gospel is a people in love before God (Eph 1:4).

C.

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith 1 Timothy 1:5 The gospel of Jesus Christ establishes a people in love for God and for Gods people, or passion for Jesus and compassion for people. The real fruit and victory of the gospel is evidenced in the presence of mature love and obedience. The fruit of love in a spiritual community is intimacy with God and being like God, or holiness, which is the love of God expressed in a spiritual community through the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle. The message of the love of God is that we enjoy fellowship with the Godhead and then we express our encounter with God towards one another. There are three dimensions that love produced in the gospel: 1. Love from God
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D.

E.

F.

We love Him because He first loved us. (1 Jn. 4:19)

2.
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Love for God I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (Jn. 17:26) Love for others
5

3.

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit... (Rom. 5:5)

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III.
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ESCHATALOGICAL HOPE THAT PRODUCES HOPE

because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel Colossians 1:5 A.
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Jesus is the hope that is laid up for us in heaven in that we expect His return to the earth. Our hope is in His return to the earth. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:19-21 Paul defines the gospel as the message of hope in Christ. One of the realities that is very clear in the NT is that the gospel is eschatological producing an eschatological hope in the hearts of the people of God. There are over approximately 100 eschatological passages in the epistles of the New Testament. (Rom 8:35 39; 9, 10, 11, 12:1; 13:10 14; 14:10 12; 16:19 20; 1 Cor 1:7 8 ; 3:13 15 ; 3:18 22 ; 4:5 ; 6:1 3 ; 6:9 11; 7:29 31; 9:24 27; 11:26; 13:9 12; 15:20 58 ;16:22; 2 Cor1:13 14; 4:13 16; 4:17 5:2; 5:9 11; 11:2 4; Gal 4:27-28; 6:8 10; Eph 1:9 14; 1:18; 2:6 7; 2:19 22; 3:6 12; 4:30; 5:5; 5:15 21; 5:25 28; 6:13; Phil 1:9 10; 2:9 16; 3:10 11; 3:14; 3:20 21; Col 1:3 5; 1:9, 12; 3:1 4; 3:23 25; 1 Thess. 1:9 10; 2:12; 2:19 20; 3:12 13; 4:13 18; 5:1 11; 5:23; 2 Thess. 1: 4 10; 2:1, 2; 10; 14-17; 1 Tim 4:1 6; 4:7 8; 6:14; 6:17 19; 2 Tim 1:16 18; 3:1 4:8; Tit 2:11 13; Heb1:6; 2:1, 5, 8; 3:6 11; 14; 3:18 4:1; 6:11 12; 9:15; 9:27 28; 10:23 27; 10:34 39; 11:16; 24 26; 11:39 12:2; 12:28 29; 13:13 14; Jam 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:4 13; 4:7-13; 5:10 11; 2 Pet. 1:11 14; 3:3 4; 3:10 15; 1 Jn 2:17; 2:28; 3:2 3; 4:17; 2 Jn:8; Jd:20 22; 24) The eschatological hope of the gospel grants us the certainty of victory of Gods kingdom in the lives of the people of God in that it connects us with Gods sovereignty and His perfect leadership. a voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great! 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Revelation 19:5-7

B. C.

D.

5 Then

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E.

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The study of the apostolic gospel reveals the beauty, power, tenderness and fierceness of Christs leadership initiated by His death, burial, resurrection and ascension which culminate with the events of the 2nd Coming. After His 2nd coming Jesus will lead the earth into fullness of that which He accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection. The gospel is about both the unveiling of events and the beauty of the personhood of Christ Jesus. The hope of the gospel also points to the central purpose of God. The centerpiece of Gods eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom rule over all the earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. Gods purpose has always been to live together with His people face to face in the natural realm on earth. God doesnt want to remain in heaven but has determined to live on earth forever.

F.

Behold, the Tabernacle (House) of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev. 21:3)

IV.

THE CONSUMATION OF ALL PERFECTION: OUR HOPE OF GLORY, REV 21:1-8 A. The New Heaven and the New Earth 21:1 1. B. No more sea

The New Jerusalem 21:2-4 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Coming down out of heaven from God Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband The tabernacle of God is with men He will dwell with them They shall be His people God Himself will be with them and be their God God will wipe away every tear No more death No more sorrow No more crying No more pain The former things have passed (2 Corinthians 5:17)

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STUDIES IN EPHESIANS & COLOSSIANS STUART GREAVES FALL 2012, COURSE NOTES #10: COLOSSIANS 1:1-12
C. The decree of the Father 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. D. E.
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I will make all things new These words are true and faithful It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts He who overcomes shall inherit all things I will be His God He shall be My Son

Lake of Fire: The portion of the wicked, Rev 21:8 The purpose of this hope is to fuel our hearts with the presence of Gods grace unto living holy lives before Him.

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. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

V.

THE GOSPEL BEARING FRUIT ACROSS THE WORLD

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which has come to you, as it has also 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 Colossians 1:6 The gospel of Christ has come to the earth, and all across the globe nations are responding in faith to the glorious gospel and people are being born again according to the incorruptible seed of Christ that is deposited in them at their conversion.

A.

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having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever I Peter 1:23 The spreading of the gospel is God, like a patient farmer, planting the very life-giving seed of God in the lives of those who are responding in faith to the gospel of truth.

B.

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He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Matthew 13:3-9 For Paul, the gospel is being planted in the nations of the earth and a mighty tree of righteousness bearing the fruit of love will be brought forth for the nations. One of the mysteries of the kingdom is that when it first came through the gospel it came as a seed among the nations. parable He put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 Paul in 1:6 highlights the global spreading of the gospel. He shares with the Colossians the breadth of influence the gospel is to have (global) and the mandate of the gospel (to be fruitful).

C.

31 Another

D.
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And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7 E.
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The fruit of the gospel is the righteousness found in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7). For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 The gospel of truth to Colosse was proclaimed by Epaphras as the intercessory missionary. you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf Colossians 1:7
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22

F.
7 as

12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12 The report of Epaphras is in regard to the fruit of the gospel (love) that is growing in Colosse.
8 who

G.

(Epaphras) also declared to us your love in the Spirit. Colossians 1:8

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STUDIES IN EPHESIANS & COLOSSIANS STUART GREAVES FALL 2012, COURSE NOTES #10: COLOSSIANS 1:1-12
VI. PRAYER FOR REVELATION OF THE ETERNAL WILL (MYSTERY) OF GOD A.

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The seed of God is growing amongst the Colossians as it is among the nations of the earth, and the fruit of love is evident. This report is fueling the apostolic company with faith and they give themselves to unceasing intercession for the continued revelation of Gods mystery the knowledge of His will.

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 Colossians 1:9 1:9, The seed of the gospel is planted in the inner man and Paul is praying that it would continue to grow and bear much fruit. He prays that by the Holy Spirit the church of Colosse would have profound encounters in the inner man with the living Christ, revealing the heart of the Father. The book of Ephesians is about the glory of the Church in Christ, and the book of Colosse is about the glory of Christ in the Church. Paul continues to pray that the Colossians would experience the deep things of God in their being. The Holy Spirit beckons us to enjoy intimacy with God by enabling us to experience the deep things of God. The Spirit discerns the deep things of Gods heart (His emotions), mind (His plans) and power (His works in creation, redemption, New Jerusalem, etc) that we might know or experience them. God opens His heart so we can experience active intimacy with Him. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches (discerns) all things, yes, the DEEP THINGS OF GOD12 Now we have receivedthe Spirit who is from God, that we might know (experience) the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1 Cor. 2:9-12)

B.

C. D.

E.
3

It is critical that we give ourselves to intercession in order to gain insight into the mystery of God.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 Paul asks that the Lord would grant wisdom (skill) and spiritual understanding in regards to the knowledge of Gods will. The mystery of God is spiritually discerned. These things we also speak, not in words which mans wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16

F.
13

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VII.
10 that

WALKING WORHTY: ENCOUNTERING THE DEEP THINGS UNTO OBEDIENCE you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:10-12 A. Insight into and encountering the mystery must result in a life that is worthy of Christ. The experience of the knowledge of God is unto a heart being empowered to walk in complete obedience before the Lord. We are to be complete in our obedience (2 Cor. 13:9, 11; Phil. 1:6; Col. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:17; Heb. 13:20-21; Jas. 1:4); perfect (Mt. 5:48; 19:21; Jn. 17:23; Gal. 3:3; Eph. 4:13. Col. 1:28; 1 Thes. 3:10; Jas. 2:22; 3:2; 1 Pet. 5:10; Rev. 3:2); mature (Phil. 3:15); blameless (Lk. 1:6; 1 Cor. 1:6-8; Phil. 2:15; 1 Thes. 3:13; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:2, 10; 5:5-7; 6:14; 2 Pet. 3:14; without spot (Eph 5:27).
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B.

You shall be perfect (mature), just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Mt. 5:48)

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that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:27)
24 Now

to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless (blameless in our character) before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 24)
10

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Peter 5:10) C.
1

The encounter of the knowledge of God is for the producing of love in the heart of the redeemed.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 The 16 facets of mature love

D.
4

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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E.

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The pursuit of the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is what allows us to grow, becoming fruitful in the knowledge of the mystery of God. It is not just a matter of study, though study is a vital part of the pursuit of the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is kept as we do not attain but aggressively pursue lives of 100% obedience in the grace of God. Paul prays that the Colossians would encounter the mystery of God unto producing worthy lives: 1. 2. 3.
5But

F.

Fully pleasing (pursuing complete obedience) Being fruitful in every good work (fruitful in ministry) Increasing in the knowledge of God (2 Pet 1:5-8) also for this very reason (the reason of having been empowered by the knowledge of God), giving all diligence, add to your faith(Heb 11 the gift of God that connects us with eternity) virtue (moral excellence i.e. eyes and speech), to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge (the knowledge of God) self-control, to self-control (self-government over ones soul and its desires) perseverance, to perseverance (persistence in the context of the oppositions of life) godliness,7to godliness (living a devout life, fasted lifestyle, spiritual disciplines) brotherly kindness (reality of affection and favor fitting for brothers), and to brotherly kindness love.(strong affection with personal ties Heb10:25-26) 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

G.

1:11, Intimacy with God strengthens our inner man. The way to cultivating might in the inner man is by cultivating a life of intimacy with God. The might of God enables us to patiently endure with joy the journey of life as the fruit of righteousness is cultivated in the life of the believer. Patience is the 1st facet and expression of love. Might is needed to weather the various seasons and storms of life unto Christ and truth being formed in the inmost part of the redeemed.

H.
6

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Psalm 51:6 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you Galatians 4:19

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I.

Paul is praying for the continued establishment of 1:4, 8 in the life of the Colossians, that they not grow weary in the journey of love unto the glory of the bride in Revelation 19:5-7 which describes a people who have been filled with the knowledge of Gods will.

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Then a voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great! 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Revelation 19:5-7

VIII. ACCORDING TO THE GLORIOUS POWER OF THE FATHER WHO QUALIFIES US according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:11-12 A. The grace of God is the power of the resurrection made available to us. We have available to us not only the power of Genesis 1 for our wholeness and sanctification. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is towards us if we strive through living lives of communion and cooperation with the indwelling Spirit. The power towards us who believe is according to the power of the Father that worked in Christ, raised Him from the dead and through which He ascended into heaven. The power of the resurrection is the Spirit of Holiness.

B.

and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:4 The power that created the worlds, the power that raised Christ from the dead, is the grace that is available to help us change our appetites and overcome sin, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.

C.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 D. By grace we were brought to newness of life. We were dead, not being able to respond to God. God being rich in mercy, forgave those who repented before Him and by grace made us alive in Christ. Grace is the power of Genesis 1 and the power of the resurrection!!! By it weve been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love. He has established us by His power.

E.

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Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

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