Rooted in Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life

November 8, 2026 · Colossians

A walk through the whole book of Colossians, tracing how Christ as Lord grounds prayer, unity, grace toward outsiders, and the call to fulfill the ministry God has given you.

Study guide Transcript Save

Series · Colossians · Week 29 of 29

Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

This message worked through the closing chapter of Colossians as a way of pulling the whole letter together, tracing the grounding that chapters one and two provide for everything the letter asks of its readers. The preacher moved from a quick review of Colossians one through three to the final greetings of chapter four, treating those greetings not as filler but as the letter's themes showing up in real people. The thread running through all of it was that life in Christ, from prayer to forgiveness to unity, flows from who Jesus is, not from anything we have done.

What was said

The review of chapters one and two kept returning to one point: the reason Paul instructs Christians to live a certain way is rooted in what God has already done. Believers were transferred out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of Christ not because of anything they did but by grace alone. The preacher pushed back gently on any idea that this transfer could be earned or supplemented by religious effort, human tradition, or mixing in other spiritual practices alongside faith in Christ.

The Christology of chapter one got particular attention. The language of Jesus as firstborn of all creation and firstborn from the dead was explained as a rhetorical device establishing priority and supremacy, not an argument that Jesus was himself created. Everything was created through him and for him, and in him all things hold together. The preacher described this as some of the highest Christology in the entire Bible.

The hinge of the whole letter, as the preacher put it, is the word "therefore" in chapter two: just as you received Christ Jesus by faith, so go on walking in him. The practical instructions of chapter three grow directly from that. Compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love are not a self-improvement list but a description of people who have grasped what has been done for them. The image used was putting on clothing, with love described as the outer garment that holds everything else together.

Moving into chapter four, the preacher spent time on the closing greetings not as a list of names to get through but as evidence of the letter's themes at work. Tychicus and Onesimus are named together, the second being a runaway slave making the unlikely journey back to Colossae as a believing brother. The pairing was treated as a picture of what the gospel actually produces in people's relationships with one another.

The names of Mark and Demas came up side by side, and the preacher drew out the contrast deliberately. Mark, whom Paul had once refused to take on a second missionary journey because he considered him a deserter, is here welcomed back and later described in second Timothy as useful for ministry. Demas, mentioned warmly here, later deserts Paul for love of the present world. The point was not to judge either man but to observe that failure does not have the last word, and neither does a good start.

The preacher closed by drawing the whole letter into a few consistent threads: the importance of earnest prayer, the urgency of the gospel for the people living around us, the call to act wisely and graciously toward those outside the faith, and the cultivation of unity within the body of Christ. All of it was anchored in the same place the letter begins, the person of Jesus, described at the end as the preacher put it simply: He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.

Touch points

Things you could actually do this week.

Set aside time each day this week to pray, and after you have said what is on your mind, stay quiet long enough to listen for what God might be saying back.
Find someone you have a complaint or grievance against and extend forgiveness to them, even if they have not asked for it.
Look for one opportunity this week to talk about your faith with someone outside the church, and lead with grace rather than argument.
Get together with one or two other people to talk through what Colossians actually means for how you live, the way the original hearers would have discussed the letter after it was read aloud.
Think of someone who has failed or walked away and do something concrete to welcome them back rather than keeping them at a distance.

Scripture referenced 13 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Colossians 1 reviewed as grounding for the whole letter

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,
6 which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
7 even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;
14 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins;
15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18 He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;
20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
21 You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
22 yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
23 if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly;
25 of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
27 to whom God was pleased 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 whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
29 for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

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Colossians 2

grounding for instructions; fullness of deity dwells in Christ

1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.

4 Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,

10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;

15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,

17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

18 Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

20 If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

21 “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”

22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?

23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

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Colossians 3:1-17

walk in holiness; put on compassion, kindness, humility, etc.

1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;

8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

14 Above all these things, walk in 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 with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

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Colossians 3:12-17

put on heart of compassion, forgiveness, love, unity, word of Christ

12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

14 Above all these things, walk in 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 with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

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Colossians 4

closing of the letter; prayer, wisdom toward outsiders, greetings

1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;

3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;

4 that I may reveal it 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.

7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.

8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),

11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house.

16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.”

18 The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

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Ephesians

cited to confirm salvation is not by works

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Ephesians

just as God in Christ has forgiven you, so forgive others

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John 1:1

in the beginning was the Word; Jesus as agent of creation, before Genesis 1:1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Romans 3:23

we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God

23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

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Romans 5:8

while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating God's love

8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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Philippians 1:6

he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus

6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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Philippians

the whole Praetorian guard knows about Paul because of his imprisonment

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2 Timothy 4:9-11

Demas having loved the present world deserted Paul; Mark is useful for ministry

9 Be diligent to come to me soon,

10 for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

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Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

The preacher said that Colossians 3:1-17 requires the grounding of chapters one and two to really land. What does it look like in your own life when you try to live out those instructions without that foundation underneath them?
Paul prays that the Colossians would be filled with the knowledge of God's will so they could walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. Where in your life right now do you feel the gap most between what you know and how you are actually walking?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

Resumen en español

El mensaje resumido, en español.

Este mensaje cerró la serie sobre Colosenses repasando el libro completo, desde el primer capítulo hasta el final. El predicador recordó que la carta fue escrita para ser leída de una sola vez, y que todo lo que instruye en los capítulos tres y cuatro, sobre cómo vivir, solo tiene sentido cuando está anclado en la teología de los primeros dos capítulos: que Cristo es la imagen del Dios invisible, el agente de toda la creación, la cabeza de la iglesia, y el único medio de reconciliación entre Dios y los seres humanos. No es por obras propias que somos trasladados del reino de las tinieblas al reino de la luz, sino únicamente por la gracia de Dios.

Al llegar al capítulo cuatro, el mensaje se enfocó en los saludos finales de Pablo, mostrando que detrás de cada nombre hay una persona real con una historia real. Onesimus era un esclavo fugitivo que volvía a casa como hermano en Cristo. Marcos había abandonado a Pablo en un viaje misionero, y sin embargo Pablo lo recibió de nuevo y lo recomendó. Demas, en cambio, eventualmente abandonó la fe por amor al mundo. El predicador usó estos tres casos para hacer un llamado a no "disparar a los heridos", es decir, a no rechazar a quienes han fallado, porque muchos regresan con más humildad y más pasión por el evangelio.

Los puntos centrales que quedaron fueron estos: la oración debe ser constante y con actitud de gratitud; el evangelio tiene urgencia real porque hay personas a nuestro alrededor que no conocen a Cristo; hay que actuar con sabiduría y gracia al relacionarse con quienes están fuera de la fe; y la unidad del cuerpo de Cristo debe cultivarse activamente, con amor que pone a los demás por delante de uno mismo. Todo esto, subrayó el predicador, está enraizado en Cristo, autor y perfeccionador de la fe.

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Pasajes bíblicos usados:

Colosenses 1 - 4 (recorrido completo del libro)
Efesios (referencia general sobre la salvación por gracia, no por obras)
Juan 1:1
Génesis 1:1 (referencia de contraste con Juan 1:1)
Filipenses (referencia a que Dios completará la obra comenzada, y al testimonio desde la prisión)
Filemón (referencia al caso de Onésimo)
2 Timoteo 4 (sobre Demas, Marcos y Lucas)

Read the full transcript 5,403 words

Find in this transcript

That we need to prop the paragraph before. So, last week was two paragraphs. This week's the whole book of Colossians. Preaching with balance, you know, take a little bit. Today is gonna be a lot but Colossians has the grounding.

It has the grounding for everything that it instructs us to do, okay? Last week, we started off with the conductor cells in such a a way and then went just zoned in on the the household codes and I didn't go all biblical scholar on it. Just let it sit with you and I had a lot of reports back that man, that was good for us. We needed that reset. I got a few stragglers that were like, no, missed it.

Worst sermon you've ever done. I did, honestly. Think that the wisdom that is in Colossians is very, very, very helpful for us in the way that we live our everyday lives. Three one through 17, if we just meditated on that all the time, we'd be much better off but it requires the grounding of chapter one and chapter two. So, I'm gonna get to the end and yes, it's mostly greetings.

It's a lot of people's names that we barely pronounce and we don't know much about but here we go. Quick review. So, Colossians one. Oh, so good for us. Now, also defending myself right now.

Originally, they would have read this whole letter. Okay? So, they would have gotten all of it. One through four, all of it, all at the same time and then afterwards, they would have talked about it. I'm glad y'all are talking about it after.

Keep on doing that. Get together and discuss what it means but here we go. I'm going to just review the white slides and then we're going to go into the new stuff and the black slides. For this reason, we also, since the day we heard about it, since the day we heard that y'all had accepted the gospel, we have not ceased praying for you. Prayer is really really important in the Christian life.

Communicating with God. Yeah. Tell em what you want. Tell em what's bothering you. All that stuff but listen for what he says back, right?

There's a lot that he has to say back. We haven't ceased praying for you and what are we praying? Asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you'll walk in a manner that's worthy of the Lord. To please him in all respects and be bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. It's already mentioned knowledge twice.

Like, get this. It really matters. The content of what's going on is really important. Some of y'all are in an academic phase right now where you're sucking it up and you're taking inscription. You're really learning a lot.

Praise God for that. The knowledge of God. Strengthen with power. According to God's glorious might for the attaining of all perseverance and patience. That's a theme here.

Joyously giving thanks to the father. He's the one who's qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints of the light. Now, he rescued us from the domain of darkness and he transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son. Was it because of stuff you did? No.

Go back to Ephesians if you want to be sure, alright? It's not works. You didn't do anything to deserve it. He's leaning forward with grace and when you recognize that mercy and that grace and that love and that kindness that has said, the agape was available to you and he's leaning forward towards you with grace. He rescued us from the domain of darkness.

He transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption. That is the forgiveness of sins. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God but the gift of God. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That's God demonstrating his love to us.

Now, he, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the first of all creation, firstborn of all creations. Firstborn, Primo, he is not born, not created, but it's a setting up a rhetorical device. He's the firstborn of all creation. For by him, all things are created both in heavens and on earth. He's the agent of creation.

Go back to John one one and John one one happens before Genesis one one. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and everything that was created was created through him. That's Jesus. That's who we're talking about. This is the highest, what some of the highest Christology in the whole Bible.

For by him, Jesus, all things were created both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and they are all for him. He's before all thing and him all things hold together. He, Christ, is also the head of the body. This is a rhetorical vice of the son of. He's the firstborn of creation.

He's the beginning. He's the firstborn from the dead. Amen. So that he himself will come to have first place in everything. This is another memory verse that nobody memorizes but get it.

It's good. Christ is the head of this body. Not just this body, this body, capital c church. There should be unity within the body of Christ. If he's the head, all of us are part of that.

He's beginning first form from the dead. He has to come to have first place in everything. Let all other affiliations go. He has to have first place in everything. For it was the father's good pleasure.

For all of the fullness of Pleroma of the godhead to dwell in him and through him to be reconciling all things to himself whether things on earth or things in heaven having made peace through the blood of his cross. Jesus is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. This is what it's saying.

He is the way that God is reconciling. I hate that it sounds exclusive. You know what? It is exclusive. He's the way, the truth, the life.

He has made all of the steps necessary for you to have eternal life. He has made peace through the blood of his cross now. Will you take it or will you reject it? Although you're previously and this is a book to Christians now. I just went all evangelistic there for just a second but this is a book to Christians, alright?

It's mainly to people who already know Jesus and so, although y'all were all previously alienated and hostile in your attitude and engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his body of flesh through death in order to present you before him. Holy and blameless. Do you feel homely? Homely. I feel homely.

Lord. Yeah. I feel homely right now. Do you feel holy? Though you were not holy, he's called you holy by the blood of Christ.

Blameless. Oh, there are so many things this week that I thought, I'm the one. That was me. I did that. Blameless is what he's presenting us.

Before God, holy and blameless before God. He's reconciled you in his body of flesh through death in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach if indeed you continue in the faith. Firmly establish. This is one of those place where it says, in the faith, not your faith. So, it's again, exclusive.

You can't just smorgasbord your religion. I like a little of this and a little of that. I'll hang my prayer flags and I'll also do a little bit of asceticism that helps. Doesn't that help? Oh, God's God.

I appreciate it if I just kinda beat myself up. No. The faith is in Christ alone. Yet, he has now reconciled you all. In his body, a flesh through death, in order to present y'all before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you've heard which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. For I want y'all to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and those who are at Laodicea and for all of those who have not personally seen my face. Paul, can't be everywhere at one time. The Holy Spirit can. Paul trust the Holy Spirit to already be at work in Laodicea.

He trust the Holy Spirit to be at work in Colossi. He he trust that God, like he said to the Philippians, who began a good work in you is going to complete it till the day of Christ Jesus. He's just trying to do his part. I want y'all to know what a great struggle I have on your behalf and for all of those in Laodicea, those that have not personally seen my face, never been there before, that their hearts may be encouraged. Having been knit together in love that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding.

I want people to get this. It it does have something to do with what you know because we do what we do until we do better, and we only do better when we know better and we still miss it sometimes, alright? Hold on to that. That their hearts may be encouraged having been knit together and loved that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery. Now, last week, I hit the mystery of Christ and I did not go into it in great detail.

The mystery of Christ, there does not have to be a way but Christ is that way, okay? There doesn't have to be a way. It's grace. If anybody gets saved, it's the grace of God and he has made this mystery known. Now, in the time of Paul, he's a great student of the Old Testament, great scholar, had been trained well, knew it well, understood it well, he thought.

He knew the intricacies of the Old Testament very, very, very well. But he was wrong in his conclusions Until he met Jesus and when he met Jesus, it became all about Jesus and it came into perfect clarity and focus and that was the mystery which for ages past had been hidden and now is revealed. That's the mystery. Christ himself, the anointed one, the one that reconciles God and man. Therefore, this is the hinge of the whole book, I think.

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus, the Lord and what was that? By faith, right? It was by faith. Just as you have received Christ Jesus, the Lord by faith. So, be walking in him.

So, be walking in faith in him. Having been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith just as you were instructed and overflowing with gratitude. Man, what a miserable life that was and what an amazing life this is. And then, yeah, heaven everlasting is our reward but the everlasting life begins now. Okay.

Overflowing with gratitude that that's the case. See to it and some people just see this and go, this is what the whole book's about right here. Think the whole book's about Jesus. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy, empty deception, in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with just elementary principles of the world. The world's way and God's way are different ways.

Jesus is countercultural in every culture. In accordance with the elementary principles of war rather than in accordance with Christ. For in him, Christ, this is second time it says this, all of the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form. If that's possible in Christ by the spirit of God, it is possible for you to walk in holiness, walking after him. I'm not a absolute perfectionism person.

Don't get me wrong but it is possible to walk in holiness, following after Christ, by his spirit and all humility. 12 through 17. Mentioned this last week. Put all the little words on one page because this is the grounding. This is where the rubber hits the road.

So then, all of those of y'all who have believed have been chosen of God. Though you were not holy, you are holy by the blood of Christ. You are beloved. I had three different people come to me this week and say, I think God is angry with me. I said, tell me why but I think God loves you.

Now, if you're walking against him and you're walking in the ways of the world, yeah, he's saying, turn around. There's an old story about Billy Sunday, the evangelist and he said, he was very adamant about the exclusivity. He should have been but he was very adamant about Christ being the only way and there were a lot of folks who said to him, Billy, Billy is my dad's name too. I've heard this a lot. Billy, you're rubbing the cat's fur the wrong way.

You can't do that. You're rubbing the cat's fur the wrong way. He said, well, the cat is headed towards hell. If the cat would turn around, I'd be rubbing his fur the right way. So, as those who've been chosen of God, holy and beloved, be putting on a heart.

This is like putting on a garment. Now, just before this, it says what to take off and you can go back and read that on your own. It's not long. Be putting on a heart of compassion and of kindness and of humility and of gentleness and of patience and be bearing with one another and be forgiving each other. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, you must do that also and in addition to all these things put on agape love which is others focused, self effacing, willing to take the hit yourself because right here it says, just as the Lord forgave you.

In Ephesians, it says, just as the Lord God in Christ has forgiven you. So, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We have to be willing to take the hit step forward. They might not ask for it but from us, they still should get it, okay? If we're doing what God says, he says, leave room for me.

He says, leave room for me. You forgive. Have you ever seen two young and fighting and the mom and dad are right there and they said, listen, doesn't matter what he does, you're supposed to be forgiven it. Even if they're still agitating you. You're still supposed to be forgiven them.

Bearing with one another, forgiving each other. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so much, you must do also. In addition to all these things, be putting on love which is in itself the perfect bond. Here it is again, unity. Praise God.

There are folks from all kinds of different backgrounds in this room. Praise God. May we bring everyone together under the headship of Christ, all of us to working together And let the peace of Christ to which you were indeed called into one body. There it is again, unity. Rule in your hearts and be thankful.

And word of Christ dwell richly here. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you with all wisdom and teaching and admonishing one another. Oh, by at the beginning, wisdom and teaching, yeah, great. Admonishing, I'm thankful. I'm I'm absolutely thankful when somebody says, you missed that one.

Blew it. Don't all of you do it. Please, it wants to kill me but I'm just saying, if you think I missed it, tell me. It's fine. Admonish.

That's great. Admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Now, whatever it is that you do, whether it's in word or deed, we used to be service missionaries like building schools for the deaf and then to be moved into this where we're doing it in word, not deed. Oh.

It's the worst. Golly. But it's not the worst. Whatever you do in word or deed, whatever it is, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Giving thanks through him to God the father.

Okay. That brings us up to chapter four. There's there's the household code I went over last week. Go listen to it if you want to. I might come back to it next week.

Devote yourselves to prayer. Prayer is important. He's already said that multiple times in this book. Devote yourselves to prayer and keep alert in it with an attitude of Thanksgiving. If you find yourself and you're saying, oh Lord God, everything is terrible all the time.

Do that with an attitude of Thanksgiving. You can't. Lord, thank you God that you are the restraining of evil. Thank you Lord God that you are the one that leads us as we look to you for guidance. Thank you that we have been removed from the kingdom of darkness and we're walking in the kingdom of light.

Lord God, show me who you want me to tell next. Devote yourselves to prayer. Keep an alert with an attitude of thanksgiving. Praying at the same time for all of us as well. Paul and his running buddies that God will open to us a door for the word so that we may proclaim what?

The mystery of Christ. I don't know how it works. That's a mystery but it works. Proclaim it. Christ is the answer.

So that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Oh yeah, that's why I'm in jail. For which I have been imprisoned that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it. Now, y'all, it's crazy world out there. Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders and be making the most of every opportunity.

There's an urgency to the gospel. I I had a a guy that used to call me regularly from a downtown big major metropolitan area. Every time he called me, he was surrounded by sirens and he would say, man, they're dying and they don't know Jesus and it really really got to him. It really bothered him. But just like, you know, he went to the city because that's where the people are.

Just like bank robbers go to the banks because that's where the money is. Right? Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders and be making the most of every opportunity. Your speech must be always be with grace as though seasoned with salt. We think of salty language a little differently.

This is a good kind of salty language. Okay? Seasoned with grace, with unmerited favor. Meeting somebody on common ground, even if they're wrong in a lot of aspects, you probably have some common ground with them. So, approach em with grace.

Paul always starts his letters with grace and peace. If we'd start our conversations with grace and peace, we'd go a lot further with people, I promise. As though season was salt that you will know how to... That you should respond to each person. And here we are.

That brings us to today's text. As to all my affairs, this is closing of the letter, likely written in 6162. Some people think it was in the fifties from Ephesus. I think it was in '61 or '62 from prison in Rome, first Roman in prison. As as to all my affairs, Tichicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond servant in the Lord, Tichicus is going to be carrying this letter.

He will bring you information. Not just the written letter, Colossians that he's carrying but he'll answer all your questions too. I trust him. I know what he's doing. He's already told us about Tichicus before in other books.

For I have sent him, Tichicus, to you for this very purpose. I want for you to know about our circumstances and so that he may encourage your hearts. I don't want for you to get so glum about things. The gospel is going forward. As he said to the Philippians, the whole Praetorian guard knows about him because I've been in prison.

And with Tichicus is Onesimus. This is the first time we've heard of Onesimus by name. With him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother. That's how he describes him. Our faithful and beloved brother.

Now, is, in fact, a runaway slave. He's one of your own. He's a runaway slave who ran away from Colossi and he's with Paul in Rome. Okay? And he's going back to Colossi.

The the I forget the name of what they call it in the history books. Tubman. The the you didn't see people, the underground railroad. There it goes. Underground railroad.

I'm thinking first century not last century. So, two centuries. Good gracious. You didn't see people going the other direction a lot. He's saying, Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, believer in Jesus.

He's coming. He's one of y'all's own. Now, they, Tichicus and Onesimus, will inform you about the whole situation here. Now, Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, send you his greetings. I'm lighting up all the people's names if you hadn't noticed, okay?

It's all about people. It's all about Jesus and it's all about people. What's the motto of this church? It's with all we are, loving what? God and loving people.

Through Christ, that's the only way. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, he sends you his greetings and also Barnabas' cousin Mark. Barnabas and Mark, they're showing up. First missionary journey, Barnabas is there. Mark's there.

Mark retreats, goes back. Second missionary journey. Hey, let's get on back to those churches and encourage him and Paul's and Barnabas says, let's take Mark with us again. Give him another chance. And Paul says, no.

I'm not going with that deserter. No. Sharp disagreement, they split ways. Oh my goodness. And now here we are.

In prison, he's thinking, hey, Barnabas' cousin Mark is sending you his greetings. Now, you received instruction about him. If he comes to him, welcome him. I'm sure word had gotten around that Paul thought he was a deserter and he say, no, no, no, no, no. Welcome Mark.

Bring him in. Bring him back in. Treat him well. Also, Jesus who is called Justice. Jesus was a common name.

Joshua's common name back then who's called Justice to keep him from being Jesus Christ. Jesus called Justice. Now, these guys are only a the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision. So, these are Jewish background believers. They have proved to be an encouragement to me.

Now, some of what he's saying to the Colossians has been about Judaizers coming in and he's saying, watch out for the Judaizers and he's he's saying, but these guys are from the circumcision and they get it. They understand it and they're sending their greetings. They proved to be an encouragement to me. Epaphras, Gentile believer, who is one of your own from Colossi. He's a bond servant of Jesus Christ, a slave of Jesus Christ, Dulos.

He sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you and his prayers. What's he praying? That you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. That sounds like what Paul was praying for the Colossians two. Epaphras is praying the same for him.

That's what I'm praying for y'all. That's what I'm praying for me. That you get it and you stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Eleventh step of the 12. So good.

We have come to this place of knowing and seeing that by we've sought to improve our conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation asking only for his will for our lives and the power to carry it out. That's right there in that last verse that you may stand mature, fully assured, and all the will of God. Knowing what his will is for you and the power to carry it out. For I testify for Epaphras that he has a deep concern for you and not just for you but also those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Now, if you're looking at Southwest Turkey in the time of Paul, you can see Ephesus.

He spent a long time in Ephesus, like three years in Ephesus. But he didn't get to Colossian. He didn't get to Hieropus that looks like or Laodicea and so those that had not seen his face is who he's been praying for and it's not that far. Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings and Demus does also. Demus, Demus, we don't hear a whole lot about.

We have one other place in the Bible where Demus is mentioned and it's right here in second Timothy. He probably hasn't written this yet. I'm not sure. Maybe. Probably.

Make every effort to come to me soon, Timothy. For Demus, having loved this present world has deserted me. And he's gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, only Luke is with me. Take along Mark, same Mark, and bring him with you for he's useful for service.

Hey, where it's blast and demus, it's also accepted Mark. But Paul is a real person. He has feelings. Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also greet Nympha, this woman's name, and the church that meets in her house. Now when this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and you for your part, read my letter that's coming from Laodicea.

That letter coming from Laodicea. Have you all ever heard of Laodiceans one through seven? No. Probably not. But a lot of people believe that that's probably Ephesians.

I don't know. Could be lost. Might have said some stuff too salty for us. Who knows? But a lot of people think that that's Ephesians, a cyclical letter.

It would kind of make sense. You know, Romans is a theological masterpiece and Ephesians is a shorter theological masterpiece. That may have been the letter to the Laodiceans. And he may want to flesh out even further some of the stuff. Colossians is a pretty short book.

So he's saying, hey, read this. Have them read this, and then y'all read the one I sent to them. Okay? Now, tell Archippus, see to the ministry which you have received in the Lord so that you may fulfill it. I started to just put a a blank right there.

I think what Paul would be praying for each and every one of us is, hey, see to it. The ministry which you have received in the Lord, you would be able to fulfill it. That's pretty good and then the last verse is, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. He tempted to have an amanuensis or scribe that would scribble down his letters as fast as he could get em out And then at the end, he would sign off on his own hand in big writing. I write this greeting with my own hand.

Remember my imprisonment. He's already said it was worthwhile. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you. He ends with grace again.

Oh, so beautiful. So, useful takeaways from Colossians. The whole book of Colossians but Colossians four, I think nails them again. A lot of times in your closing, you wrap up what it's all about. So, pray earnestly, people.

Pray earnestly. It's really really important to be diligent in prayer. Paul was and all his running buddies were. There is an inherent urgency to the gospel. There are sirens.

There is an urgency to the folks who are living around us and there's an inherent urgency to the gospel. It is the way. Act wisely therefore. So, act with wisdom and it's not self importance. It's trying to be wise, making the most of every opportunity is a good way of looking at that.

Conducting yourself with wisdom among outsiders because you can cause people to reject your message immediately because of the way that you're acting. You can do that. So let's try not to do that. Act wisely. Be gracious.

Freely, freely, you have received. Freely, freely give. And be getting after it. I mean, how many people were running around all over Southwest Turkey and all over the world? Getting after it.

You might not agree with everybody all the time. That's a possibility. But, you know, be well grounded. Nowhere it's rooted. It's rooted in Christ, author, perfector of our faith, rooted in Christ.

He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He's the one. Because of him, you're removed from the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light.

It's all because of Jesus. We're alive as the song says. Cultivate unity. Do everything you can to find common ground. Yes, there are bridges too far.

Yes. But we ain't in a lot of danger of that. As Baptist, excuse me. Okay. Cultivate unity.

Do what you can to be reaching out and bringing people right there gathered around Jesus and singing his praises and then don't shoot the wounded. Mark, he did desert him. We don't know why And he said, bring him to me. He's useful for ministry. Y'all welcome him.

Make sure to welcome him. Onesimus, runaway slave. By Roman law could have been killed. Right? And Paul sent in a letter back with him to the slave owner.

And he's expecting big things from Philemon. We'll get to that later. And then Demas. Yeah. Don't shoot the wounded.

They're still on this. We're all flawed people. I think that Mark and Onesimus and Demas would really appreciate if we would not shoot the wounded. There are a lot of people who've had failures that come back from those failures much much stronger for the kingdom and with a greater sense of humility and of the lost. What would it be like if I did not have Jesus?

Oh, it's all because of Jesus. I'm alive. Would y'all get the band back up here? Did you, did you grab a string? No.

Would y'all stand with us? I think we're going to sing Amazing Grace Because really, it's the grace of God. It's the grace of God available in Christ and he is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.

If you want to talk to me, I'm here and I'll quit playing the bass and step down and talk to you. I'm also here all week and I'll talk to you then but can I pray for just a second? Lord God almighty, I pray that you would impress upon us with all of that just word salad that I threw out there just then. That you would fortify us. That we would understand it.

That we would understand the deep well that we draw from. That we'd understand the foundation that we're built upon and that we would get it lord. That we would get it together too. That we would all get it. In Jesus name, I pray for every church in this valley and beyond.

Lord, I pray that they'd be drawn into the center of your will, for the knowledge of your will, the power to carry it out. May we be doing it in Jesus name.

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