SUMMARY OF COLOSSIANS
Chapter
1
·
The
person of Christ
o
Paul
affirms the deity of Jesus by identifying Him as God’s son
o
It is
through Jesus that we have redemption
o
Jesus
is God in the flesh – the exact image of the Father
o
Jesus
is fully God AND fully man – all the fullness of the God-head dwells in Him
o
Jesus
created the world for Himself
o
Jesus
existed before the earth was created and is the “glue” that holds the universe
together
o
Jesus
is the head of the church, His body, His bride
o
Jesus
is the “firstborn” of the resurrection, the first to be permanently resurrected
from the dead
·
Reconciliation
o
Redemption
purchased by Christ on the cross was for all kinds of people regardless of
race, gender, or socio-economic status
o
Jesus,
as our High Priest, sacrificed HIMSELF even while we were still His enemies
o
Leads
to good works as a result of being saved
o
Spiritual
fruit is the evidence of a relationship with Jesus
o
We are
not worthy on our own – Jesus died to make us worthy of knowing God
o
True
believers WILL persevere in the faith because will enable them to continue
living for Him
·
Paul’s
work
o
God
called Paul to be an Apostle
o
Considered
Timothy his son in the faith
o
Wrote
letter to the Colossians while under house arrest in Rome
o
Considered
it a privilege and rejoiced to suffer due to serving the Lord
o
Interceded
in prayer on behalf of the congregations to whom he wrote
o
Mentored
congregations via letters
o
Proclaimed
the “Mystery” of the Gospel “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
o
His
strength came from the Lord
Chapter
2
·
Warning against heresy
o
False
teachers will try to entice them with plausible sounding ideas
o
Question
any teaching that denies the deity of Jesus
o
No “higher
knowledge” is needed other than the person of Jesus and the Bible
o
Beware
of any teaching that works or traditions are a requirement for reconciliation
to God
o
Believers
need to stay firmly rooted in the truth of the gospel and continue to grow in their
understanding of God’s word
o
False
teachers are detached from the Head – Jesus
o
The
false teachers we promoting asceticism
·
Sufficiency of Christ
o
All
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ
o
Jesus
is fully God and fully man
o
Jesus
is received by faith and each day is lived by faith
o
Jesus
makes us complete – nothing else is needed
o
Our
sin was nailed to Jesus’ cross and no longer has power over us
o
We do
not need to abuse ourselves through asceticism since Jesus completely suffered
our punishment on the cross
·
Mistake of reverting to bondage
o
The
accusations against us were paid for on the cross and can no longer enslave us
o
Jesus
triumphed over sin, Satan, death, and demons – we are no longer chained by them
o
Do not
revert to legalism – observing moons, Jewish festivals, dietary restrictions,
circumcision, etc.
o
Do not
worship angels
Chapter
3
·
Forgiveness
o
We are
completely forgiven due to Jesus’ sacrifice in our place on the cross
o
We are
“hidden in Him” – sheltered from the wrath of Holy God
o
We
should forgive others as Christ forgave us – completely, unconditionally
·
Putting off and putting on
o
Mortify:
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry
o
Put
off: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth,
lying
o
Put on
the new man, the new nature
o
Put
on: bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering
o
Over
all, put on love
·
Relationships
o
Let
God’s peace be your decision maker
o
Encourage
one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as well as the Word of God
o
Do all
to the glory of God – even in our relationships
o
Wives
submit to husbands as to the Lord
o
Husbands
are to love their wives sacrificially as Jesus loves the church
o
Children
are to obey parents
o
Parents
should not nag or exasperate their children
o
Workers
should do their best heartily as if the Lord is their Boss
o
The
Lord will reward faithful work and punish wrongdoing
o
4:1 –
Masters, bosses are to be fair with their employees
Chapter
4
·
Religious duties
o
Believers
are to pray for one another alertly, consistently, persistently, and with
gratitude to God
o
Paul
sent his prayer requests to the church at Colossae
o
We
should walk in wisdom among non-believers as faithful witnesses for Jesus
o
We
should speak graciously and be prepared to defend the Gospel respectfully
·
Commendations
o
Tychicus
was called a faithful minister and fellow-servant of Paul
o
Onesimus,
a former runaway slave, is now Paul’s faithful and beloved brother
o
Aristarchus,
Mark, and Justus were fellow-workers alongside Paul in Rome and were great
comforters to him
o
Epaphras
was commended for his faithful, zealous labor of intercessory prayer
o
Paul
called Luke the “beloved physician”
·
Greetings
o
Paul
sent greetings from Luke and Demus
o
Paul
sent greetings to the Laodicean church as well as the congregation at Colossae
and a person named Nymphas who had a church meeting in his(or her) church
o
Paul
sent a word of encouragement to Archippus to continue in his God-given calling
o
The
letter ended with Paul signing it in his own handwriting and requesting prayer
once again
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