Jesus Christ Lord of All #1 Paul’s Prayer - Colossians 1:1-14

Jesus Christ Lord of All #1

Paul’s Prayer - Colossians 1:1-14

Introduction and Background

Origin and Date of the Epistle

Colossians is one of Paul’s prison epistles. Like Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon, it was written from prison and was delivered with the Epistle to Philemon and probably  Ephesians by Tychicus and Onesimus (4:3, 7-9; Phm 12; Eph 6:12). Most believe that it was written from Rome during the imprisonment of Acts 28 around  A.D. 61-63. -Wycliffe

Pattern of the Epistle

The epistle is written in the pattern Paul almost always used. First the doctrinal and then the practical. He writes the churches and tell them, “This is what we believe and then this is how we live what we believe.”

Purpose of the Epistle.  

Paul wrote to the church at Colosse, because he was asked by Epaphras a member of the church to help fight a heresy that was first beginning to appear in in the new Christian faith. In order to oppose this false teaching, Paul overwhelms the error by exalting the truth. He upholds Jesus Christ as Lord of All and shows that all other teachings or beliefs cannot compare to Him. The light of the Lordship of Jesus Christ drives out the shadow of the lies of heresy.

The Heresy at Colosse.

In second century about 50 years from Paul’s writing,  within the churches the heretical movement, Gnosticism turned many away from the faith. Like a modern-day cult movement, it convinced them that they still were believers but had just discovered something deeper or more truthful than the truth of Jesus and the Gospel. The seeds of Gnosticism were being sown even in the first century churches like Colosse. Gnosticism didn’t precede from Christianity but was already in existence and like a mutating virus moved from paganism to Christianity. Even today Gnosticism still exists and is probably stronger than ever, but none would recognize it by name because it has mutated into Neo-paganism, relativism, modernism and progressiveness especially within the “so called” modern churches.

This incipient Gnosticism was more a religio-philosophical attitude and tendency than a system, and it could adapt itself to Jewish, Christian, or pagan groups as the occasion required. (if you study tenets of the Masonic Lodge you’ll find that they are basically Gnosticism.) Nevertheless, certain ideas appear to be generally characteristic of the Gnostic mind: metaphysical dualism, mediating beings, redemption through knowledge or gnosis. (Today we say, “follow the science” or I believe in science.” It’s not really science at all it is the idea of greater knowledge, deeper insight than whatever you believe.) All religions, Gnostics held, which are manifestations of one hidden verity, seek to bring men to a knowledge of the truth. This knowledge or gnosis is not intellectual apprehension but the enlightenment derived from mystical experience. Because man is bound in the world of evil matter, he can approach God only through mediating angelic beings. By the aid of these powers and through allegorical and mythical interpretations of the sacred writings, spiritual enlightenment can be achieved and one’s redemption from the world of sin and matter be assured. - Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett Falconer Harrison, Eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: New Testament, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962).

What we see in Colosse was that the lies of Gnosticism begin by attaching themselves to the truth like a leech or a parasite, it feeds off the truth while all the same time destroying it and ultimately it destroy the person or church that could not see the difference between the true knowledge and the false knowledge. This is true of many of the Christian cults and unfortunately true of many modern churches. They take the appeal of the truth and then subvert it under the lies of greater revelation, or new truth until the truth no longer has any power. And the greatest of those truths is what Colosse is about, the preeminence of Jesus, Lord of Lord and King of Kings.

Paul begins his epistle with a greeting and a prayer. We are going to confine our message today on that prayer. For it introduces us to the theme of Jesus as Lord of All and shows us not only Paul’s love for the believers in Colosse but also how he expressed that love through pray. Paul’s prayer also shows us, how important prayer is to the work of the Lord. Paul’s writings are filled with two things, instruction and intercession. He did not attempt to do God’s work with both.

 Paul’s Greeting – Colossians 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 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.

Prayer Prerequisite

Let’s breakdown Paul’s greeting to the church. The greeting preceded everything else, so that those receiving the letter will know that it is from Paul and that it is for them. This was necessary since the letters were written on parchment and then rolled up, so as you unrolled it the sender and receiver needed to be written at the very beginning. Such as is done here.

Paul is also giving his authority and credentials at the very beginning of the letter. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. What Paul is about to write has the authority of a Christ chosen, God sent apostle. It will be the truth from God’s chosen man.

Paul also includes Timotheus, Timothy, his son in the faith and right-hand man in the ministry. What Paul says Timothy would also teach and agree with. Timothy often traveled to surrounding cities while Paul worked in the larger cities, and it may be that some people in Colosse had met Timothy. Paul had never met the church at Colosse though he knew the pastor Philemon and some of the members like Onesimus, the runaway slave.

Though he did know them personally, he called them “saints and faithful brethren in Christ” This means they were sanctified, set aside through the Gospel and their salvation for God’s purpose and that by reputation they were loyal and dedicated brothers and sisters in the Lord.

He sends the letter to the city of Colosse, a city in the Lycus valley of Asia minor in what is now present day Turkey. The same valley that the letters of Revelation were sent to and in fact in not far from Laodicea. The church was probably founded by Epaphras, who had come to Paul to tell him what was happening in Colosse and to seek his help. This letter as well as Philemon, Philippians and Ephesians were carried back to Colosse by Epaphras and Onesimus.

Now Paul after his address gives his greeting. v2 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The normal greeting for a letter written in Greek during this time period was “Rejoice” the word is usually translated as “greeting” but here Paul changes the normal and uses a word that comes from that same root but means grace. He combines that with the traditional greeting in Hebrew “Shalom” a greeting still used today. He uses this form of greeting in most of his letters. Grace and peace, charis and shalom. He may have created a greeting that acknowledged both the Jews and Gentiles in the church as well as the new and old covenants of God’s relationship with mankind.

Guidance From The Greeting

What can I learn from the simple greeting of Paul to the church? Many things actually, but there are two things I can see easily.

First, I can see how Paul views other Christians. They are saints and siblings. They may be caught up in error but if they believe in Jesus Christ as their savior then they are my family.

Second, I learn from Paul’s greeting what I should desire for my Christian family, Grace and Peace. If only every child of God could fully live within the loving boundaries of grace and peace wouldn’t our lives, our families and our churches be so blessed? If only I could dwell where grace and peace abounds at all times what a wonder of God’s power I would be.

Psalms 23

Isn’t This a description of exactly that kind of life, the life of believer surrounded by grace and peace.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

After the greeting, Paul moves to his prayer. A prayer that takes first place before the rest of the epistle. And the first thing, in Paul’s prayer is thankfulness.

Paul’s Gratefulness – Colossians 1:3-8

3 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; 6 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: 7 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.

 Praying and Praising

Paul begins by simply saying. I am grateful for you. He directs his thankfulness to God the father and our Lord Jesus Christ. By giving thanks to both, the Father and the Son, he shows that God the Father and Jesus are co-equal in power and place. And here in the 3rd verse of the epistle we see him use the full title of Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where he wants the Colossians to focus on Jesus as Lord and Savior.

He tells the church why he is thankful for them and that he is always praying for them. He has them on his perpetual prayer list.

Then he tells them what he is giving thanks for. Look at Colossians 1:4-5 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Paul is thankful for the three vital elements of the Christian life and belief are here and

Faith, Love and Hope. These three elements form the base upon which all Christianity is built. If you remove one, then the entire structure collapses. These elements reoccur time and time again in Paul’s writing. I will give you just one example in…

1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Faith is trust and belief. Love is enables self-giving and self-sacrificing. Hope is the ability to look forward into eternity with anticipation, expectation and confidence.

Paul goes on in vs. 6 and says these things come to you when you heard the truth of the Gospel and that seed of the gospel in them brought a harvest of fruit, since the first day you heard and knew of grace of God.

And notice he adds, “in truth. The true Gospel they heard from Epaphras.

Essential Elements

The things that Paul is thankful for in the testimony of the Colossians are the same things every Christians should see as vital to their testimony as a child of God.

We must build our testimonies, our lives, families and church within the three corners of Christian Faith, Hope and Love. Faith in God and His word, Love from Christ, to Christ and then passing love on to others like Christ, and the Hope of Heaven, that is confirmed in us by the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote to the Hebrews, Christians who were struggling due to persecution and throughout the letter he emphasized over and over the Christians Triad of faith, hope and love. Do a quick survey with me.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love…

Hebrews 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,

As we live the life of a child of God, a saint, a Christian we must always make sure that what we do, what we believe and what we plan is built within the boundaries of Faith, Hope and Love.

As Paul told the Corinthians in the midst of their errors. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three;

Paul then comes to the heart of his prayer, in vss 9-14.

Paul’s Goal – Colossians 1:9-14

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; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Praying With Purpose (three prayer requests)

He says, in vs 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you. First he tells them I am praying consistently, faithfully and exhaustively for you. I’m praying always.

Then he tells them specifically what he is going to God and interceding for. Still in vs 9 to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;. Vs. 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;

First, he is asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is real knowledge, true knowledge, true understanding as opposed to the knowledge or gnosis that was being introduced into the church by false teachers.

Second, that filling of true knowledge would enable them to walk worthy of the Lord always pleasing Him, because they would be fruitful in every good work and increasing even more in the personal, firsthand, experiential knowledge of God.

Third, He is asking the Lord to strengthen them with all might, (that is strength sufficient to any task or work) and that this would be through the channel of God’s glorious power and result in all sufficient patience and longsuffering. These two words both mean forbearance, but patience has the idea of cheerful, expectant waiting of the Lord, while longsuffering is the power of endurance in the midst of trials. He qualifies the gift of patience and longsuffering as coming packed in joyfulness. Not always where we think trials and suffering will bring us but according to Paul’s prayer that is exactly where it should bring us, to joyfulness.

Then in the last 3 verses we will cover this morning, we come to Paul’s plan for his epistle and for the Colossians. Look at vs. 12

Paul’s Plan (To exalt Christ)

He gave thanks first to the Lord for the saints at Colosse, but now he is giving thanks to God for blessings of salvation through Jesus Christ.

He says, in vs. 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (made us worthy) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (what a phrase to describe such a blessing. We are worthy of the inheritance of sanctified one and that inheritance is the light of salvation)

Paul goes on in vs. 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (We have been delivered, the word means draw out from, rescued from, like a man being saved from a raging river by someone who pulls him from that death.) Not only have we been rescued from the power darkness but we have also been “translated.” Translated means not only have the Colossians being saved from the power of darkness but they have been transferred, from that kingdom of dark power into the kingdom of the Lord’s light.)

Paul then brings us back to the source of our deliverance, our salvation and our translation and the purpose for his letter. In vs 14 In whom (in God’s dear son, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, in him) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Paul finishes his prayer by saying its all about Jesus. Jesus paid the price for our redemption, buying us back from sin and death at the cost of his own life and shed blood. It is Jesus who has brough us forgiveness of sins. He is the preeminent prince of peace and the righteous ruler of redemption. It all begins with Jesus, it all comes down to Jesus, it is all about Jesus and one day it will all end with Jesus.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 2:9-11 wrote, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Summit In The Savior

What Paul prayed and planned for the Colossians in this letter centuries ago, is still what the Holy Spirit is working toward in us today. You know what you should be aiming at, what your goal of life should be? Well, it right here in this sublime intercession of Paul.

Be filled with the true knowledge of God’s will. Seek wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Seek those because that is how you will walk worthy of the Lord, those things equip us so that we will be fruitful in the Lord’s good work. And be able to continue to grow in the knowledge of our Father in heaven.

In our prayers, our worship, our studies go to God and find His might, and in that might we will have the joy of enduring the trials and suffering of this world.

Be thankful because we have been delivered from power of darkness, made inheritors with the saints in the kingdom of the Lord’s light. We have been delivered, we have been transferred, we have been redeemed and we have been forgiven all by the dear Son of God, our Savior and the one we should recognize and bow before as Lord of All.

Is Jesus all those things to all of us this morning? Is He savior, redeemer and Lord in our hearts, our souls and our lives?

Conclusion

As I prepped for this sermon, I found another sermon by the great preacher S. M. Lockridge. It is simply entitles Jesus Is Lord. I listened to it and then went back and transcribed this portion that we will close with this morning.

SM Lockridge, “Everyone is mastered by someone or something. Christ alone deserves first place. We need a strength stronger than ourselves we need a strength strong enough to help us to stand the stresses and the strains of our struggles and the rightful Lord of our lives is Jesus Christ. In order for Him to be the Prince of Peace to you, a coronation service must take place. You must crown him king in your own heart.”

So it comes down to this and in eternity, it will always come down to this, Is Jesus Lord to you? Have you had the coronation service? Have you accepted His redemption? Have you found forgiveness through Him? Can you proclaim, “Jesus Lord of Lord, King of Kings and Lord of my life” this morning.