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Colossians Week #4

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Colossians 1:24--2:5
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RIVERWAY CLASS Week #4 Colossians 1:24-2:5 Instructor: Ernie Zarra
Transcript
Page 1: Colossians  Week #4

RIVERWAY CLASS

Week #4

Colossians 1:24-2:5Instructor: Ernie Zarra

Page 2: Colossians  Week #4

Review of Colossians 1:9-23

Page 3: Colossians  Week #4

SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING (COLOSSIANS 1:9)

“Paul prayed that the believers ‘might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.’ His use of the very terms employed by the heretics probably startled his readers . . . Paul demonstrated such knowledge was available to all of the believers, not just to a privileged few . . .”

Gromacki, New Testament Survey, p. 271

Page 4: Colossians  Week #4

EVERY “GOOD” WORK

Greek Word is “agathos”

• Describes that which, being good in its character, or constitution, is beneficial in its effect; it is used of things physical (tree, ground, etc), in a moral sense, frequently of persons and things.

CAN WE NAME SOME

“GOOD” WORKS?

Page 5: Colossians  Week #4

DEEDS OF THE FLESH V. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

(GALATIANS 5:16-26)

While walking by the Spirit, we will not carry out the deeds of the flesh

• Flesh sets desire against the Spirit; and Spirit against the flesh

• Led by Spirit, not under Law• Deeds of Flesh are evident (5:19-21)• Fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26)

Page 6: Colossians  Week #4

HERESIES ADDRESSED BY PAUL

Legalism of Judaism over whether Gentiles were required to eat certain foods, get circumsized, and celebrate Jewish holy-days.

Gnosticism/Essene Teachings

Page 7: Colossians  Week #4

PAUL’S RESPONSES TO HERESIES (1:15-22)

A. He is the “image of the invisible God.” (1:15)

B. In Him “all things were created.” (1:16)

C. . . . through Him things “created.” (1:16)

D. . . . for Him things “created.” (1:16)

E. He is “before all things.” (1:17)

F. He is the “head of the body, the Church . . . the beginning; the firstborn from the dead.” (1:18)

G. . . . in Him all God’s fullness dwells. (1:19)

H. . . . through Him “all things . . . “ (1:20)

I. . . . through Him “peace” . . . (1:20)

J. He has now “reconciled.” (1:22)

K. . . . before Him “presented holy and blameless.” (1:22)Descriptions of Jesus Christ

Page 8: Colossians  Week #4

PAUL’S RESPONSES TO HERESIES (1:15-19)

A. He could not be the exact representation, or image of God unless He is God. (1:15)

B. “Firstborn” indicates His priority before all creation. (1:15)

C. “By Him were all things created” signifies that He took part in Creation; He did not create Himself. (1:16)

D. Not only did He create all things, these things were created “for Him.” (1:16)

E. “He is before all things,” indicates His pre-incarnate state of deity. Now incarnate, all deity dwells in Him. (1:17)

F. He maintains Creation and holds it together. (1:17)

G. He is the “head of the Church, firstborn from the dead; Only One raised in a glorified body.” (1:18)

H. Jesus Christ is “preeminent in all things.” (1:18)

I. Jesus is 100% God and 100% man; He is the “full fullness.” (1:19)Statements Concerning the Person

Page 9: Colossians  Week #4

PROTO-TOKOS V. PROTO-KTISTOS

The question . . .Is Jesus the Firstborn,

the heir of all things created, or is He the first created

thing of all creation?

Page 10: Colossians  Week #4

THIS WEEK’S TEXT

1:24—2:5

Page 11: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:24

We find Paul rejoicing in his own sufferings.

• What does he mean by this?• How does James 1:2 coincide with Colossians 1:24?

“CONSIDER IT ALL JOY, MY BRETHREN,

WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS.”

Page 12: Colossians  Week #4

JAMES 1:2

“My Brethren”

• James immediately points to those he is writing to as equals. • He never uses his position of authority as a position to abuse

power. • His humility as a servant is grounded in Christ.

Page 13: Colossians  Week #4

“Consider it all joy”

• How can it be joyful or even profitable for us when we meet trials?

• This entire passage focuses on the development of the Christian character.

Page 14: Colossians  Week #4

“Joy”

• From the Greek word kara.• Literally means gladness and being joyful. T• Trials are the cause for occasions of which there is to be joy. • Matthew Henry writes: “Philosophy may instruct men to be

calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God.”

Page 15: Colossians  Week #4

BACK TO COLOSSIANS 1:24

Let’s examine the following texts:

• 2 Timothy 2:3• 1 Peter 1:20-25• Philippians 1:27-30

Page 16: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:25

Paul became a minister according to God’s purpose, and to accomplish God’s will.

Page 17: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:26

God’s Word, in its fullness, is equated with a mystery.

• Paul contrasts this mystery of the ages with that of the teachings of the Gnostics.

• The major difference here is that all saints have complete access to this mystery, not merely those of a higher intellectual plane.

Page 18: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:27

God willed to make known to the Colossians the riches and glory in Christ

• In what ways did these riches become known?

• How was this “revelation” different from those secret revelations claimed by the Gnostics?

Page 19: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:28

What is Christian maturity?

What are some biblical, and personal characteristics of this maturity?

Let’s revisit James 1:1-16

Page 20: Colossians  Week #4

JAMES 1:1-16

What are the marks of a mature, effective Christian?

What about the opposite?

Habit 1: Dichotomize Your Life. Truly ineffective Christians apportion their lives into secular and sacred components.Habit 2: Make tolerance your god. Accept anything and everything. All viewpoints are not only valid but also equal.Habit 20: Seek the quick, self-help solution. Look for easy answers. Trust your instincts.

Page 21: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:28 ACTIVITY

Completeness in Christ Incomplete Christians

JAMES 1:1-16 Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:21

Page 22: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 1:29

Paul states that he labors according to God’s power

• What is the difference in our culture between “labor” and “work”?

Page 23: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 2:1

Paul seeks to identify with those who are struggling and to be certain those believers know he is with them in their struggles.

Page 24: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 2:2

Paul relates the purpose of their “struggles” together

• What joins the Colossians to Paul, in terms of struggles?• What is to be the result of “struggling”?

Page 25: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 2:3

Paul draws a direct contrast to the things that are claimed to be hidden by Gnosticism, and the “treasures of wisdom” available for all in Christ.

• In your mind, what are “treasures of wisdom and knowledge?”

Page 26: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 2:4

~How persuasive are some of the heresies and false teachings that are found in the church?

~What persuasive teachings exist in culture that believers would do well to avoid?

~Ever heard someone speak, know there was error in there somewhere, but were unable to decipher the actual error at the moment?

Page 27: Colossians  Week #4

COLOSSIANS 2:5

~Paul was rejoicing from afar with the Colossians for their Christian character.

~How important is Christian stability to those who are watching?

~When trials come, what security does it provide to know that mature believers have been through similar circumstances?

Page 28: Colossians  Week #4

CLOSING QUESTION

What have we ascertained about the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1—2:5?


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