Sermon #1497 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: What A Great Savior!
Text: Colossians 1:1-29
Subject: The Glorious Person and Work of Christ
Date: Tuesday Evening—
Tape # X-1a
Introduction:
Let’s turn to
Colossians chapter one. I will give you the title of my message when I am
finished. While you are turning to our text, let me give you just a little of
the background of this Epistle.
This letter to
the church at Colosse was written while Paul was a prisoner at
We do not know
who first brought the gospel to the city of
After he had
sown the seed of the gospel, Satan sowed his tares among the wheat, which
threatened to choke out the good seed of the gospel. As it is now it was then.— Wherever Paul preached the gospel of God’s free and
sovereign grace in Christ, work mongers came behind him preaching
freewill/works religion.
When the pastor
of the church, Epaphras (called Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25 and 4:18),
came to visit Paul in Rome, He told Paul of the faithfulness of God’s saints at
Colosse and of his concern for their souls because of the heretics who sought
to corrupt the gospel and turn the hearts of the saints away from Christ. They
came in the name of Christ, pretending to be the servants of Christ, but they
were in reality the messengers of Satan…
·
Judaizers tried to mix law and grace, mingling Moses and
Christ, teaching that works must play some part in salvation.
·
Others sought to corrupt the gospel by mixing vain
philosophy with the revelation of God, teaching for doctrine the commandments,
superstitions, and reasonings of men.
·
Some even taught the veneration (worship) of angels and
saints, and taught for mortification the punishing of the body!
·
Still others crept among God’s saints,
teach the proud Gnostic notion that salvation was to be attained by knowledge,
teaching that men arrived at Christ by knowledge.
·
They all preached righteousness.— They all called it the
righteousness of Christ, but the message they preached was the righteousness of
man, a righteousness that was ultimately gained by something man must do,
experience, feel, or know. It was not that righteousness sinners have by faith
alone.
Proposition: Paul, inspired
by God the Holy Spirit, wrote this epistle to confirm God’s elect in the gospel
of Christ, to warn them of the heresies by which Satan’s messengers sought to
pervert the gospel, and to urge them to “continue in the faith grounded and
settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (1:23).
May
God the Holy Spirit be our teacher as we look at these 29 verses together.
I. This letter,
like most of Paul’s epistles, opens with a gracious, encouraging salutation (vv.
1-8).
(Colossians 1:1) "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timotheus our brother."
“Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God.”—Paul refers to himself as
“an apostle of Jesus Christ,” not “the apostle of Jesus Christ.” John the
Baptist was the voice by which God spoke to men in his day. Paul was one voice
among many; and he looked upon himself that way. In the beginning of this
gospel age there were twelve apostles. Paul was the apostle born out of season,
the one God had chosen to take Judas’ place.
1.
The apostles were men chosen by Christ.
2.
They saw the Lord personally.
3.
They had infallible knowledge of the gospel as they wrote
the words of Holy Scripture, being inspired by the Holy Spirit.
4.
They were gifted to work miracles for the confirmation of
their doctrine.
5.
When the last of the apostles went to glory, the apostolic
age and the apostolic gifts by which the apostles were identified as God’s
inspired messengers, ended.
This was all
done “by the will of God.” There are no apostles in the church today.
There are many preachers sent as messengers of God to his people, but there are
no apostles.
Read on—“And
Timothy, our brother.” Though Timothy was not an apostle, Paul included
him in this salutation because God’s servants are all brethren,
fellow-laborers, and workers together in his vineyard[1]. They are not rivals!
There is no such thing as
“Big Me” and “Little You” in the
(Colossians 1:2) "To
the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto
you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
“To the saints and faithful
brethren in Christ.”— All believers are saints (sanctified
men and women). All believers are faithful. And all believers are brethren. We
are sanctified by God the Father in election, God the Son in redemption and God
the Holy Spirit in the new birth. We are brethren because we have the same
Father, because we are in one body and family and because we have one elder
brother, Christ Jesus. All who are born of God are “in Christ.” We are
saints, we are brethren, and we are faithful only because we are “in Christ.”
“Grace be
unto you and peace.”—First grace. Then peace.
Believers seek that which is best for one another and truly wish one another
well. We cannot desire anything better for anyone than this: “Grace be unto you, and peace.”
·
Grace saves you. Peace makes you know that you are saved.
·
Grace is the root of every blessing. Peace is the flower
that makes life sweet and fragrant. I pray that God will grant you both grace
and peace.—
“Grace be
unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”— There is no
grace for anyone and no peace except that which is freely bestowed upon needy
sinners by God the Father through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Colossians 1:3-5) "We
give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for
you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which
ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you
in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the
gospel."
“We give thanks to God.”—Because grace, peace, faith and
love, and all things pertaining to salvation are the gifts of God, he alone is
to be thanked and praised for them. I commend these things in you. I encourage
you to commend them in others. But thanks and praise goes to our God alone (Ps.
103:1-5; John
·
Faith is that gift of grace that unites us to Christ and
gives us peace with God.
·
Love is that gift of grace that unites us to one another and
gives us peace.
·
Hope is that gift of grace that unites us to eternity and
gives us peace.
(Colossians 1:5-6)
“…Whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and
bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and
knew the grace of God in truth.”
We
do not know the grace of God in truth unless it brings forth fruit in us. We
may know it in our heads, but we do not it unless it in truth, we do not really
know it at all, if it does not affect our lives, and bring forth faith love,
and hope: — faith, which lifts us above the world; love, which preserves us
from selfishness; and hope, which keeps us up under all trials. A mere head knowledge is of no value. I want to know my
Savior in my heart! When God the Holy Spirit makes the gospel we have heard
sink down in our hearts, revealing Christ in us, then, we know the grace of God
in truth and give thanks and praise to God!
Now, watch this.
In verses 7 and 8, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to commend to this
church their beloved pastor, thereby encouraging them to highly esteem him and
hear him.
(Colossians 1:7-8) "As
ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful
minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the
Spirit."
·
He was Paul’s fellow-servant.
·
He was a faithful minister of Christ.
·
He loved and spoke well of those people whose souls he
served.
When I read these two verses again, they did my heart good. How I
rejoiced to read of Epaphras speaking well of God’s people and of Paul speaking
well of Epaphras! Most, these days, seem to think godliness requires them to
pick holes in the armor of others, point out their faults, and castigate them
for their failures. Grace teaches men who experience it better. Grace teaches
us to…
·
Honor our brethren.
·
Cover their faults.
·
Extol their virtues.
·
Forgive their offenses.
·
And help them (lift them up) when they fall.
II. In verses
9-14, the apostle Paul declares that the
Lord our God has, by the almighty, effectual operation of his grace made us fit
for heaven.
Lest you imagine
that I have overstated what the passage says, read verse 12 for yourself.
(Colossians 1:12)
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us
meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."
Rejoice, my
brother! Give thanks, my sister! Sing praise to God! He has made us fit for
heaven! Now, look at verses 9-17 with me.
(Colossians 1:9-11)
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might
walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness;"
Pastor Epaphras
spoke to Paul in glowing terms of the Colossian saints, of their faith and hope
in Christ and their love for Christ, his gospel, and his people. Here, Paul
tells these saints, “Since the day Bro. Epaphras came here and told me about
you and God’s grace in you, I have not ceased to give thanks to God for you and
have not ceased to pray for God’s grace ever to be upon you and work in you.”
“That
you may be filled with the knowledge of his will.”—His Revealed
Will!—His Purposed Will!—His Providential Will!—His Redemptive Will!—Paul
-prayed not only that they might have a knowledge of these, but that they might
be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding.”
Oh, that we
might be delivered from the dead letter of the law and the empty, dry
traditions of religious orthodoxy! That we might have and be filled with a God-given
wisdom and spiritual understanding of our sins, our need and our inability!
That we might be filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding of God's
manifold mercies in Christ!—May God give us more than a profession of faith in
Christ. May he give us the possession of Christ!—May God give me more than the
knowledge of and love for the doctrines of Christ and fill my very heart and
soul with the knowledge of Christ!
“That
you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.”—This is talking
about our godly conduct and behavior in the church, in our homes, on the job
and on the street. Let us seek to live, and walk and talk as those who are in
Christ, seeking to please and glorify God.
“Being
fruitful in every good work.”—Believers are trees of righteousness,
planted by the Lord to bear the fruit of the Spirit and good works of the
(Ephesians 2:8-10)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man
should boast. 10 For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them."
“Increasing
in the knowledge of God.”—Ignorance is both dishonoring to God and
counterproductive to us. We will honor God by believing him and by living for
him as we grow in the knowledge of him. We cannot grow in grace if we do not
grow in knowledge of Christ. And we cannot grow in the knowledge of Christ
without growing in grace.
(2 Peter 3:18) "But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for
ever. Amen."
“Strengthened
with all might according to the glorious power.”—We do and
cannot attain these things or do these things by our own strength and power,
but by his! (2 Cor. 12:9).—“I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me!”
(Philippians 2:12-13)
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling. 13 For
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
(Philippians 4:12-13)
"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every
where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both
to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me."
Now, look at verse 12 again. How I wish I
could expound the marvelous wonders of grace here declared!
(Colossians 1:12)
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"
The Lord our God has, by his almighty, free, saving grace in
Christ, qualified us, has made us fit, to enter into and possess heaven itself,
the bright and glorious inheritance of the saints. By nature we are fit for
hell. Grace has made us fit for heaven! (Read 1 Cor. 1:30)
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men
after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God
chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that
are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according
as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Read verses 13
and 14, and you will see how he did it.
(Colossians 1:13-14)
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins"
Now, having just
mentioned God’s grace and God’s great salvation in Christ, Paul seems to go off
on a tangent. He seems to go wild with excitement. He was so
enthusiastic with regard to Christ and his great atoning sacrifice that the
very thought of Christ’s blood stirred his blood. If you read the chapter as it
ought to be read, observing its grammatical structure, it seems that Paul wrote
verses 15-29 like a man whose hand was on fire. He could not write fast enough
or express himself adequately. He was enrapt in his subject, raptured in his
soul, as he began to write about Christ.
III. Having
barely declared what Christ did for us at Calvary, Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to extol,
magnify, honor and praise him as our all-glorious Savior and Lord
(vv. 15-29).
I could not expound the depths
of these verses if I had the mind of Solomon, the tongue of an angel, and the
space of eternity to do so. This ocean is too deep for me. So, let me just wade
around the edges and splash the water. Throughout the chapter, he plays a
symphony on just one string—“HE!”
(Verse
15) "Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."—He is God.
·
Christ is exactly what God is, for he is God. And he is
that One, the only One in whom God is seen and known.
(Colossians 2:9) "For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
·
He is the firstborn of every creature. That is to say,
he is “the Beginning of the creation of God” (Rev. 3:14). We know that
is what this means because the next verse, verse 16, tells us so…
(Verse 16) "For by him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him."—He is the Creator of all things.
(Verse 17) "And he is
before all things, and by him all things consist."—He is eternal.
(Verse 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 might have the preeminence."—He is the Head of the Church. –
The Beginning Of All Things!—The Firstborn From The Dead!—The Upholder of All
Things!—That He Might Have The Pre-Eminence!
·
In the Covenant
·
In the Scriptures
·
In the Heavens
·
In the Church
·
In our Preaching
·
In our Worship
·
In our Hearts
·
In the End
(Verse 19) "For it
pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell."—He is fulness.
·
All Divine Fulness (Col. 2:9)
·
All Mediatoral Fulness!
·
All Covenant Fulness!
·
All Saving Fulness!
·
All Everlasting Fulness!
·
Undiminishable Fulness!
(Verse 20) "And,
having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all
things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven."—He is reconciliation.
(Verse 21) "And you,
that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now hath he reconciled"
(Verse 22) "In the
body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and
unreproveable in his sight:"
·
Now, look at verse 23. Here is a
conditional aspect of grace. Grace is ours forever, so long as we persevere in
grace. But the promise of God is unconditional. – “They shall never perish.”
– If I am his, he will keep me in his way!
(Verse 23) "If ye
continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from
the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to
every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister."
·
All God’s preachers are made men.
(Verse 24) "Who now
rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the
afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the
church:"
There is nothing “behind,” or lacking as to the atoning
efficacy of Christ’s sufferings. But there is much yet to be endured by us in
order that all the elect may be brought to Christ.
(Verse
25) "Whereof I am
made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for
you, to fulfil the word of God."
(Verse 26) "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and
from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints."
Here it is…
(Verse 27) "To whom
God would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory:"
(Verse 28) "Whom we
preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."
·
“Whom we preach”—Not what, Whom!—Not about whom, Whom!
(Colossians 1:29)
"Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
I fully agree with Mr. Spurgeon’s
comment on this last verse.— “There will never be any mighty work come from us unless
there be first a mighty work in us, no man truly labors for souls unless the
Holy Ghost has first wrought mightily in him.”—As Paul put it, “Our
sufficiency is of God!”
____________________________________
Illustration: A Couple from
I promised you that I would give you the
title of my message when I was finished. Here it is. I got it from Bro. Merle
Hart five or six years ago. One night before our evening service, Bro. Bob
Poncer read this chapter. When he finished reading these 29 verses, Merle said,
“What great Savior!”
[1] “The highest office-bearer in the church recognizes even the least as being a brother and worthy of respect and recognition. In Christ we are one, and he that is greatest is but a servant.” (Henry Mahan)