The Reality of Suffering

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5    
1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Paul and company wanted to know how the Thessalonians were maturing as Christ followers, so they sent Timothy to encourage them, but also to solidify their faith by word and example.  They wanted them to understand that suffering for the gospel was to be expected, that it was God’s intent for all who followed in Christ’s steps to share in His sufferings also.  This should not shake their faith, but rather should bolster it as proof of their calling and faithfulness to their Lord.  Paul reminds them that they already told them these things before, and they saw what was happening to him, so there should be no surprise, but joy.  Even so, Timothy was sent to see how the truth remained in their souls and how they resisted the lies to drive doubt between them and their Savior, and to remind them of the reality of suffering in the truth.

Glory and Joy

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20    
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

A shepherd’s care goes out of the way to meet in person with those he is constantly with in heart.  Here Paul and his company were striving to get back in person, eager to be with them in fellowship and ministry.  When the adversary kept them away, they wanted even more to come.  Why?  These sheep were precious, a joy, the epitome of their joy, and hope realized.  They ultimately wanted to be together in eternity before the Lord Jesus Christ at his return and forevermore.  These in Thessaloniki were the glory and rejoicing of the apostles and ministers of the gospel.  This should inspire us to so see and live for others as well. 

Ambassadors and Spokesmen

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16    
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

When we make disciples and teach them all things by the mandate we have been given, the greatest joy and goal is that they hear the word as from God and not us.  We are ambassadors and spokesmen for the kingdom of God, and we represent Christ to the glory of God by the power of His Spirit living in and through us.  For this we should be ever thankful!  His word works in us and we rejoice to see that in others as Paul did here in those he ministered to.  We trust in the effective working of His word and work, and should imitate others who do so, corporately and individually.  This includes suffering for Christ’s sake (not our own), and pleasing God when we are opposed, either from within or without the church.  We stand valiant for the truth so others may be saved from God’s wrath hanging over us all.  We preach Christ crucified, not wisdom or signs to impress or distract from God’s true reconciling purpose through the gospel.  We are to be His spokesmen and ambassadors of justifying reconciliation through the cross of Christ.  This is the source of our thanksgiving and joy. 

This High Calling

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12    
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Those in Thessaloniki witnessed the life and sincerity of the apostles and disciples toward them, especially in ministry.  Paul points out that they were doing right by God’s standards and with love for them because of that commitment.  They challenged and comforted those they served with the gospel in light of living as blameless as possible before Christ, striving to be holy as and because He is.  So should we listen, learn, and live.  They did all these things  as a parent would care for their children, seeking what was best in the long term, not just making them temporarily happy but eternally joyful.  The apostles and disciples yearned for the lives of those here to live as God pleasers because of their high calling before God’s throne for eternity; they were preparing them for heaven, not their own earthly glory or rule.  This is a good pattern for us all to follow. 

Approved by God

1 Thessalonians 2:4-9   

4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

God approves us to wield the good news of forgiving and justifying reconciliation which we speak to others.  This is not a right or something earned, but grace and responsibility given by the Almighty.  On our part, we then do not change it to make friends with man, but speak His truth in love as it is, including man’s deep depravity and God’s immense grace.  We don’t misuse this responsibility for selfish gain nor give false hope, but cut the words straight and aim the Spirit’s sword at the soul’s heart.  He commands us to do all in love, not for our glory but His, and gently offering this hope as ministry and not as occupation.  We then make disciples as a parent, teaching others to imitate Christ as we do, following Him.  This means we lay down our lives and labor as much and as long as it takes.  We do not burden others, but point out their accountability to God and lead them alongside Christ, the hope of glory.  

Making Disciples

1 Thessalonians 2:1-3    
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

Suffering has eternal purpose.  Paul and company suffered greatly to persist in preaching the gospel and were treated with extreme prejudice and spite, and here remind those in the church at Thessaloniki of the importance of the gospel and their souls over comfort or ease.  They spoke boldly, holding nothing back to protect themselves, but threw themselves directly into the fray to ensure God’s words of life in Christ Jesus were told.  The conflict they encountered did not stop their work of love for God and man.  They also made it clear that their motivation was pure and honest; they had no hidden agenda or motive in pleading with the Thessalonians (or Philippians), but cleanly and openly brought God’s truth to bear on their lives for eternal good.  We now can do the same, honestly and openly bringing the gospel and subsequent instruction to others.  Making disciples of all nations requires the gospel of grace and teaching them all things, holding nothing back.  Do we imitate these? 

Why We Follow Christ

1 Thessalonians 1:6-10    
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Because we know the character of true Christ followers, we can follow their examples as they follow the Lord before us, just as the Thessalonians did here.  Even when we suffer in the following and doing right which chafes against the world system, we can do what is right in God’s sight and become examples to others as we are fools to the unbelievers.  His word can be sent out from us so our faith in the vital truth of God’s work of reconciliation in Christ is spread.  This is what we are called to.  The change of our focus and motivation make an impact when the words of life are cemented to the work of Christ in us by this good news.  The message of His kingdom, suffering, death, resurrection, and eternal hope in His righteousness that justifies the ungodly is hope in the face of certain and terrible judgement to come upon all apart from faith in Him.  This is why we follow. 

Motivation of Grace by Election

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5    
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

Paul begins writing to the church at Thessaloniki by including those with him in the greeting.  He pronounces peace from God and the grace in which they stand, from the Father and the Son.  He then shows his exceeding thankfulness in prayer for their growth and walk in Christ.  Paul points out how trust in Christ drives their efforts, how that effort is driven by the love of God poured into their hearts and to others, and how their solid hope in Christ and His promises (leading to certain resurrection and life) dive their patience and endurance.  All this is due to their calling, their election by God, for only His choosing and calling out can work these things in and through them; their own effort apart from Christ cannot.  This gospel of God’s powerful working is attested to by His Spirit living in them, giving eternal assurance as demonstrated by Paul and the others among them also.  This doctrine of God’s grace is the basis of certain peace with God and the work of the gospel.  This should motivate us as well. 

Perfect and Complete

Colossians 4:12-18    
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. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.  16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”  18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Final concerns and prayers reveal a labor of love and zeal in lifting each other up to God in prayer for the work of the gospel.  This is for spiritual growth toward maturity in Christ and in God’s will as the goal.  All these greetings were also a reminder to read these letters which were God-breathed as scripture so that what God was finalizing through the apostles would be spread through the church and many would be encouraged, challenged, rebuked, and exhorted.  They were so motivated to follow Christ and complete the work they were called to in their sanctification.  Paul reminds them this is a personal letter as well, written while chained, and that God’s Grace was with them as it was with him always. 

Faithful Friends

Colossians 4:7-11    
7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.   10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

Paul’s associates were loved brothers, faithful ministers, and fellow servants in Christ.  Others were fellow prisoners and relations of friends.  They were trusted to convey and gather news as godly messengers of both circumstances and heart.  These greetings are not so short as to be glanced over, but should make us think of our own faithfulness as well as honoring that of others.  Faithful friends work for the kingdom of God and comfort us, encourage us, and keep us united in Christ and the gospel.  They are never to be taken lightly. 

Driven to Pray

Colossians 4:2-6    
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.   5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Prayer should be a driving habit out of both love and necessity.  Behind the diligence of our prayer should be a deep attitude of thanksgiving, whether praying in supplication for others or for God’s work in our own lives.  We especially should note the specific example here to pray for open doors that God’s word can walk through into the hearts of those we speak to of these good words of life in Christ.  We all need to be lifted up so that we speak as we ought to, openly and with wisdom to buy back the time we have for eternity.   Lord, give us this wisdom and speech that flows with Your grace in all the responses we have in this hostile and fallen world!  Amen.

Eyewash or Cleansed Heart?

Colossians 3:22 - 4:1    
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.   4:1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Servants or employees are all supposed to serve sincerely and in the fear of God.  We are to do all we do as if it directly to God, and not find reasons to just do enough outwardly to avoid trouble.  Our work should be an effort of love and not drudgery of obedience.  Why?  Because our reward comes from Christ, not men, and that inheritance is of far more value than earthly gain.  How we live matters.  Though we are accountable, we do not lose our eternal salvation, but we do answer for all we do and so should be motivated by love to do what we are called to do (Eph.2:10).  God has no favorites in this area, so we should also be fair and impartial, remembering our Master and being righteous and grace-filled bosses as well.  We follow the Lord Christ.

Husbands, Wives, and Children, Oh My!

Colossians 3:18-21    
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.  20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.  21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Husbands, wives, and children, oh my!  There is order and equality in the family, with mutual submission and respect.  There is headship, but never lordship, discipline but not provoking to obey.  The idea is not to discourage each other, but to build each other up in love.  Amen! 

Peace of God Rules

Colossians 3:14-17    
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Love is the holy garment of completion which holds us together in Christ.  The peace of God is our ruler within which gives us thankfulness together in Christ.  Therefore we must yield to His word to fully live in and through us, worshipping as a body with grace from the heart.  In the end, we must do all as unto Christ, for His glory and honor and praise.  This honors our Heavenly Father by His Holy Spirit in us.  

Grace of the Elect

Colossians 3:12-13    
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

We who are chosen by God are loved by Him and holy in Christ.  Therefore as being in Christ we must put on thankful attitudes and actions to imitate and reflect Him.  These are love actions springing out of our regeneration.  We love God First, but others next as He loves us in mercy and grace.  Because He forgave us everything in merciful grace, how can we do any less among each other?  

Killing the Old Man

Colossians 3:5-11    
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.   8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

We who are regenerated must now kill off the old man of sinful desire remaining in us.  This includes the thoughts and actions opposed to God and His Law such as sexual immorality, lust for all things ungodly, and idolatrous desire to have and worship what others have and we are convinced we must have.  Remember that God’s wrath and judgement are going to be executed on all at the end who are not in Christ, so we who are in Him must loathe and leave these things behind as we are called to do.  The attitudes out of the heart must also be hunted down and done away with such as anger, ill will to hurt others, lying, along with blasphemous and empty words.  If we have put on the new man in Christ, we must also kill off this old man.  We now are to be made more like Jesus each day, be renewed in the understanding of knowing Him as we are conforming to His image by His work in us.  This applies to all in Christ, no matter if we were Jewish or not, slave or freemen.  These things apply to all who now are in Christ.  This war within is not easy, battles are won and lost, but victory is always available in Christ as we labor together to daily kill the old man and put on the new. 

Eyes Set on Eternity

Colossians 3:1-4    
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Since we died to the principles of the fallen world and have been spiritually resurrected with Christ, our focus must be on things we do here that matter from here to eternity.  When we set our eyes on Christ as Lord, high and lifted up on heaven’s throne as the sovereign ruler, then we begin thinking differently about what we dwell on and do in this life.  If our focus is not on transitory and self-seeking desires but on God-pleasing attitudes and actions, then that eternal focus begins to seek God’s glory and will.  Remember, we died with Christ for our sin, our disobedience against the holy God, and so are live now in Christ.  In Him means not just covered in justifying blood, but also in His life and will.  When He appears again in the end and we stand before Him in that glory, we will know that He is our life who rescued us from death and the justice of judgement executed on our disobedience.  This is why we strive to seek out and live for the things above, where He is.  Not things turning to dust which do not please Him. 

Grace, Not Our Rules or Penance

Colossians 2:20-23    
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Since we died to living by the world’s methods of attempting to placate God by earning His favor through particular actions and accomplishments, and now live in Christ’s grace and His work of righteousness on our behalf, why would we want to go back to those ways?  We live in this world, but are citizens of the heavenlies now.  All the keeping of rituals and added teachings of men outside of God’s word do not last, but the word of God is forever, as is His work in and for us.  No matter how appealing it is to “do penance” or play with beads, no matter how self gratifying it may appear to follow checklists and compare our goodness with others or beat our bodies with whips or figurative punishments, these all fall short of the glory of God by His standards.  They do no good against sin.  But Christ by faith in His grace shows us we are dead to our efforts apart from His work in and through us. 

God’s Increase in Us

Colossians 2:16-19    
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Because the sign of the old covenant of the Law as means to deliverance was pointing to our need for an inward change to be like God, we are free from judgement when we do not rely on the outward circumcision.  We now rely on God’s inward cleansing of our heart as the work, and point our lives to follow instead of relying on keeping ritual feasts and celebrations.  These only indicated God’s work in spiritual places through Christ, and have no reward in their rote masks of humility.  Some even worshipped angels and imagined other means to attempt to draw closer to God.  But only Christ can draw us to Himself and make us acceptable on His merit alone.  Therefore we should humbly realize our acceptance, not in keeping outward signs, but in being transformed day by day through God’s working in us.  We rely on our head who is Christ, allowing His Spirit minister His word in us to grow in holiness to be pleasing to God, more into that original image from our sin-marred one.  Keep in mind that we also grow together as a church in Christ as well as individually. 

Victory Parade

Colossians 2:11-15    
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

The circumcision of Christ means our hearts have the sin cut away to keep sin from infecting it by the work of Christ’s righteousness in us, and He further puts His Spirit in us to keep us pure.  The burial of our old man put to death is reflected in being baptized into Christ, as we rise with Him from death into new life, and this is by trusting God’s work to raise both Him and us from death into life.  Furthermore, this life has circumcised our hearts and given us life with Him by forgiveness to the point of wiping the slate of sin and its sentence forever from our lives; the slate is considered clean now, never to be seen as sinful by God again.  He also has taken away the means of righteousness as keeping the Law that was our enemy in a sense (contrary, against us) by nailing that salvation by works to the cross, as He perfectly fulfilled the Law for us, and now gives salvation by grace and puts His Law within us and lives in us to be able to hear and do those things in His power.  Jesus defeated the evil powers that led us by deception to fall from grace by giving more grace in Christ and taking away the ability of the evil adversary to ever do that again.  Jesus paraded through the streets to Golgotha and had the victory parade ending in triumph over death for each of us forever out of the tomb! 

Live As Called, in Faith and Truth

Colossians 2:6-10    
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.   8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

We are to live in a worthy way that fits our calling, founded on our Rock and building each day on His word and work in us through our responses that honor Him.  We truly are called to be holy because He is.  How?  By building on the faith given through His word by His Spirit through His work and ours.  What we must therefore beware of are misleading teachings that make us feel good or satisfy our desires as the corrupt creation around us calls us to believe and follow.  We instead are to overflow in our solid faith built on the truth in Christ as we follow Him.  Many would have us believe God’s wants come from our wants, but we are called to desire His will to become the desires of our hearts.  If we are Christ centered instead of self centered, we yield to His will and work because He is the Almighty Lord God come as a man.  Jesus Christ is Lord and God, and we find completion only in the Almighty Sovereign, not in our own petty and temporal pursuits which just fade into dust and blow away as we enter into His eternal kingdom.  He called us in His righteousness and for His good pleasure; we should pursue the things worthy of our calling of such grace.

Know Christ and Live Your Calling

Colossians 2:1-5    
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul struggled with the spiritual state of those in Colossi and Laodice (where Revelation 3:14-22 talks later of that church’s downhill slide into utter complacency).  The prayer and desire of his ministry was for these to all be encouraged and not give up.  They should instead seek a unity in love for Christ and therefore each other as they strived for knowing the truth to know Christ personally in ever-increasing ways.  By grasping God’s deep treasures revealed in the scriptures, they were to be assured in the standing by understanding who God is, what Christ has done, and who they then were in Him as a body, the church.  He also warned them of others who brought false teaching to detour them from the truth by emotional or intellectual persuasion contrary to the word of God.  In the end, Paul wanted them to know they were not alone in this struggle of the gospel’s sanctification race, but that he ran with them in that life and was deeply thrilled to see them hold fast to trusting Christ and doing their best to live according to their calling.  Here is a pattern and exhortation for us to seek Christ above all together by knowing Him accurately and personally through right comprehension of the whole Bible, and so to exercise faith and loving obedience from the heart with God and man. 

Warnings and Wisdom to Perfection

Colossians 1:24-29   
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Paul suffered as Christ did for the assembly of those called out, the church.  It is not that Christ’s sufferings were not enough, but that the suffering in His name continued in His name for the gospel’s sake.  Paul saw that as a joyful privilege, part of his calling as a messenger of the message, to reveal or explain the mystery of Christ in the scriptures which were the Old Testament books.  He points out that these all point to Christ from the very beginning of Genesis, and how the gospel and God’s Spirit in us now makes these things known to opened eyes.  That is what he preached, Christ in us as the good news, God’s Spirit giving us a new heart with His Law engraved on its pages of grace in place of hard and demanding stone of deeds.  This new life with its ability to willingly live as God commands is the hope of God’s glory in us who are in Christ!  This is why we also are to preach Christ with warnings and wisdom to the perfection or completion of our transformation, doing all we can by His enabling power and wisdom by His word.  Do we strive with all we have and not just make feeble efforts to tell of Christ and the gospel from all of scripture? 

Reconciled from Wrath

Colossians 1:19-23    
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.   21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

All of God was in the man Jesus Christ.  Only God Himself could reconcile who we are with Himself, estranged from birth by our sin, and satisfy His wrath on that rebellious nature of the first disobedient Adam in us.  As His enemies, we find forgiveness and peace with God possible by His suffering death on a tree, for “cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree,” as it is written.  Jesus became our curse by taking God’s wrath for us, wiping out the requirements of working for forgiveness and instead putting His Law into our very being.  No longer alienated by our sin, no longer enemies by His work on the cross, we are seen in Christ’s righteousness to be truly right with God, holy and beyond further accusation.  Therefore we follow on by this faith given, exercising it daily to put to death remaining sin.  We are grounded on the solid rock of the gospel, on Christ Himself, and need no longer be moved from that hope and peace as we obey from a willing heart without fear of eternal punishment.  This is the good news we have heard preached to us and which we are to tell forth to all others. 

Worship Christ as Creator and Sustainer

Colossians 1:15-18    
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

To see Jesus Christ is to see God.  He is the exact likeness you look at when gazing into the Father, our great God and Savior.  He is also the Word through whom all of us and every single thing is made by God’s will and work for Himself.  This includes the universe and the spiritual realm of angelic beings, loyal and fallen.  Nothing is outside His creative will and utterance in and through Christ.  Jesus even holds the very atoms of the universe together, keeping the spinning particles from coming apart unless at His command.  He also holds together the farthest galaxies and every star in them.  All exists in Him, by Him, and for Him.  He is also the firstborn as the man, the second Adam, raised from death to life, making Him above all in the church and creation.  As our head, He rules absolutely and is to be worshipped as only God is to be, above all else.  When we realize who Jesus is, we can only fall down in our souls to worship and give all glory, honor, and praise to Him who is absolutely worthy! 

Pray to Know God’s Will

Colossians 1:9-14    
9 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; 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. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

What to pray for faithful fellow believers?  The example here begins with knowing God’s will, and that by wisdom and spiritual understanding.  The understanding must have the supernatural enabling of His Spirit or it is only our flawed reason or academic fact finding.  This understanding must also be with wisdom, knowing how it shows us God in Christ and how we are to live by that knowledge.  The example then speaks of what this wise understanding is to result in: a life of pleasing God, worthy of the holy calling out, a life with fruit that honors Him, and so leads to more good actions which add even more and deeper knowing of Him in Christ.  This knowing and growing then gives us strength to be patient for the long haul, joyfully and thankfully enduring and waiting for the consummation of His will.  We look forward to our inheritance as we are declared worthy.  We long for knowing just how wonderful our deliverance from the darkness of sin into the light of His infinite glory will be in eternity.  We meditate on our calling with awe and wonder, knowing entrance into His kingdom is sheer grace by His redeeming blood which cleanses our sin forever by a righteousness solely of Christ.  These things we pray for each other to fully grasp more each passing day till then. 

Fruit to Thanksgiving

Colossians 1:3-8    
3 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; 5 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, 6 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; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Why did Pail commend the Colossians and thank God so much for them?  Their faith was demonstrated in their lives.  They showed genuine love for other believers in Christ (the saints).  Because of the certain and permanent hope of heaven which God gave them in Christ, the true good news words of life which they heard and witnessed to.  They bore fruit.  Because of God’s grace in the gospel and their participation in that message and life, these knew that grace as true and could not help but live it and bear fruit for eternity.  Even another Christ follower Paul and Timothy knew had invested in their lives and spoke highly of their genuine love of God’s Spirit in them as they worked out their salvation with trembling fear and joy, relying on God’s ability and desires He put in them to live this way.  He thanked God for His work and their joyful obedience in their lives and witness. 

Grace and Peace with Meaning

Colossians 1:1-2    
1 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.

Paul begins this letter like others with who he is by Christ’s authority and calling, and adds Timothy as one working alongside who is involved in this work of the gospel.  They address the saints, the elect and called out who make up God’s church in Christ who are in the city of Colossae, now in western Turkey.  The greeting of grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ are no mere words of formality, but deep and heartfelt desires for God’s peace to reign in their hearts by the immeasurable grace obtained in Christ by his death and resurrection for their death to a new life by imparted justification.  They will see again how Christ holds all together as God’s word who made all things.  This is no trivial greeting, but one to stop and dwell upon. 

Every One in Christ a Saint

Philippians 4:21-23    
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.  23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The letter to the church in Philippi closes with encouragement to greet all who are in Christ there, the saints.  This term means holy or set apart ones, which is what every regenerated believer in Christ is.  A saint is not one who is a superhero of Christ, not one elected or deemed worthy by any man or council, but one who has been called out of darkness and judgment into the light of forgiveness with justifying grace by God’s work alone in Christ on the cross.  This is the heart of God, the gospel which is the good news of God saving us where our effort to do good will ever fall infinitely short of man’s religiously skewed view of who and what a saint is.  When we greet the saints of Caesar’s house or others in church, it is because we are called by God and justified by Christ’s righteousness to be imputed His holiness.  This Lord Jesus Christ and His grace is with us all who are redeemed and reconciled in Christ, the saints of God.  Do not let man’s religion teach you contrary to God’s word in this.