Colossians
Lesson 2
1) The Apostolic greeting and commendation {#
Introduction:
Last week we discussed verse one what is an apostle and
the will of God.
We continue with verse 2 of the Apostolic greeting found in Col 1:1-8
(
Paul draws a distinction:
We see to the saints and faithful brethren.
At first glance you might think why did Paul
separate the two for all are saints who are born again. Paul was not drawing a
picture of different ways to be saved or levels of belief but rather position
in the church.
(
·
All are called to be saints but there are those whom God uses in specific
ministries and this is whom Paul was referring to when stating faithful
brethren.
Eph 4: 11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ:
14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:
16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that
which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
·
The theme of this greeting is:
Fidelity, To God {See Themes
on 1230} {See "Ge 26:5"} {See "
fi·
1. Faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances.
We might use the word allegiance.
Issac was faithful to God
Gen 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside
the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech
king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
2
And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into
3
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for
unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will
perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will
give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed;
5
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my
commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
6
And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
·
He begins by addressing the saints
and the faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse.
The allegiance to God is summed up in one
word:
Steadfastness--
1. Fixed or unchanging; steady.
2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving.
There are many notable examples of Steadfastness in the scriptures.
·
A Man of God, in Refusing a Reward
1Ki 13: 6
And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the face
of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.
And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him
again, and became as it was before.
7 And
the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and
I will give thee a reward.
8 And
the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I
will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this
place:
9 For
so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink
water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
10 So
he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to
·
Job, in his Religious Life
Job 23:10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come
forth as gold.
11 My
foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have
esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
·
Three Hebrew Captives
(Dan 3:17)
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
(Dan 3:18)
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy
gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
·
Christ, in going to the Cross
(Luke
9:51) And it came to pass, when the time
was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to
Isa 50: 6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off
the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For
the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have
I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
·
Peter and John
Ac 4: 18
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach
in the name of Jesus.
19
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in
the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
·
Paul, in finishing his Course
Ac 20: 22
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto
23
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me.
24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I
have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
(Heb 10:39)
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (destruction); but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul.