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COL 01 – Colossians & the Emerging Church - Col 1:1-14 BY & TO: Paul to the Church in Colosse WHEN & WHERE: 61 AD – Colosse – 100 mi from Ephesus
near Laodecea (Rev church) –Epaphras Pastor (3 churches) WHY: The main reason for writing Col was to refute a heresy (Errant Teaching) that was very real just 30 yrs after the death & resurrection of Christ The Heresy The heresy in Colosse seemed to be a mixture of “Judaism”
(mixing Jewish rituals & traditions with Christ)AND “Gnosticism”
(attaining a higher or superior knowledge about God) This was the main purpose for Paul writing this letter -
& so it was a very, very big deal Today – to start Colossians – I’d like to tell you a bit about the Errant
teaching in the 1st century that Col was written to combat . . . & then also tell you about a very subtle & growing
Errant teaching in mainstream Christianity today The Colossian heresy was brought into the NT church
by a group called the Essenes, . . .a Jewish sect that held to Eastern mysticism & mosaic rituals they worshipped the sun, & angels as mediators to God
they held “higher spiritual secrets”
& would only divulge them to those in their “order” they believed they had a “higher knowledge” than the simple gospel They set aside the Preeminence of Jesus Christ -
& instead adhered to philosophical concepts of God They focused on intellectual spirituality – knowledge (name),
& this higher knowledge put them above the “simple” believers & tho there were other specifics or details of the Colossian heresyI’d like to list some that match the dangers
in “The Emerging Church” today Here are some of the “Distinctives” of the heresy in the 1st NT churches
that compare (at least on some level) with the “Emerging church”
movement that is quickly gaining ground in Christianity today The Heresy in Colosse . . . : It stressed Philosophy –it attacked the simple & absolute truths of the gospel –
it prided itself in having something “NEW” & “IMPROVED” to offer It stressed Enlightenment –it had a strong emphasis on using the mind
to delve into a “new & higher” knowledge of God It stressed Spiritual Enlightenment -some disciplined their bodies away from anything “unnatural” – some decided their actions didn’t matter It stressed Rituals & Traditions -they insisted upon following Rituals & Traditions –
over a personal relationship with Jesus Christ It stressed Other Mediators -it stressed a connection to spirits & angels as a path to God equal
to Jesus Christ – communicating with God on a “Higher Plane” Most of all
it Attacked the Supremacy & Preeminence of Jesus Christ It attacked His Deity, His Messiahship, His Creative Power  & what is so incredible – is there is an “EMERGING CHURCH”
movement in Christianity today . . . that is so similar to the heresy in 61AD that Paul wrote Colossians
to refute – that it is mind-boggling What is the “Emerging Church” It’s very difficult to clearly define in just a few words(which is part of the movement - - “indefinable”) It comes from the idea that people today want a “spiritual experience”
more than to know what the Bible says about God SO – the emerging churches put emphasis on “feeling connected”
to God thru practices that actually have roots in Eastern Mysticism Some Key Phrases:contemplative prayer -- centering prayerspiritual formation -- ancient practices -- the silenceincense -- candles -- chanting “Biblical Mantra’s” They have the very attractive “spin” to the gospel;“success oriented” – “positive thinking” – “live life to the fullest” & they really promote “becoming one with God” –in order to live your best, well rounded, life  They say they have a New & Better way for this generation
to “Get Connected” to God – (spirituality without religion) They promote “Heightened Spiritual Experience”
over a sound Biblical Knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ The problem is – they are more & more leaving out the Bible’s very clear mandate . . .that there is no other way to the Father but by Jesus Christ Instead of promoting the Preeminence of Christ . . .they promote getting in touch with God (Christ Consciousness) & really what this new movement in the church is -is a mix of Eastern Mysticism & New Age SpiritualismCOUCHED in “Christian terminology” & please hear me – IT IS GAINING GROUND QUICKLY –in evangelical Christian churches  PARSON TO PARSON – POSITION STATEMENT The Emerging Church Tendencies;1) Jesus may not be the only way to heaven(an affinity especially to Eastern Religions)2) Very little talk about hell(even universalism)3) The focus on experience over Biblical truth(talk about the Bible, but seldom teach from it)4) The use of incense, candles, icons to promote the experience5) Strong effort to make sinners feel welcome in church6) Watering down sins that God condemns7) Renaming Eastern religion methods of meditation, breathing,
mantra’s, & yoga8) A huge confusion as to what they actually believe(unclear doctrine by design . . . anything goes)  & so – there is no better time for us to study the book of Colossians – Because Colossians was written to stand against a very similar
“Subtle Attack” on the Preeminence of Jesus Christ –
back in the 1st century – in the 1st NT churches !!! J. B. Lightfoot (famous scholar - 1800’s) says of Colossians;
“The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here stated with greater precision and fullness than in any other of Paul’s epistles.” & it’s because the Preeminence of Jesus Christ
was under subtle (but very serious) attack  Col 1:11 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Col 1:22 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. “faithful brethren” is an unusual greeting for Paul – it’s like he’s already “hinting” at those who either are, or may be,
beginning to follow this Errant Teaching The word translated “faithful” here MEANS – “steadfast, unswerving” Col 1:33 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Paul’s praying (more LIT) concerning you – He’s praying concerning the needs & circumstances of the Colossian church Col 1:4-5A4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, . . . It is “because of the hope” which is laid up for them in heaven –that they’re faith in Christ & love for the saints is so strong Look at V. 4-5A in the NLT4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,
5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. . .  Remember – Biblical hope MEANS – A confident expectation Now – Pls bear w/ me as I also read V.5B-6 out of the NLT
(it handles this section so much clearer) V.5A refers to the “Confident Hope” the Colossians have
of what God has reserved for them in heaven . . . Col 1:5b-6 NLT5 . . . You have had this expectation [confident hope] ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. This is a Very Important foundation for Paul to lay - Because it’s
this “Good News” that’s being attacked by the Errant Teaching (V.6) The Good News that’s going out all over the world –
bearing fruit, changing lives –
just as it changed your lives from the 1st day your heard it - Paul is reminding us here of the Radical Change
that receiving Jesus Christ made in our lives & he seems to already be clearly identifying the Gospel –so as to separate it from the false teachings that are slipping in & he’s already preparing his letter to imply . . . WHY would you want to run after something besides Jesus Christ . . . when Jesus Christ has transformed your life -
& reserved this confident hope in heaven for you? Then – in V.7 Paul mentions Epaphras –
Who is probably the one who brought the gospel to Colossae Remember – it doesn’t appear that Paul was ever in Colossae himself Col 1:7-87 as you also learned from Epaphras [again reminding them of how they heard the true gospel] , our dear fellow servant [bond-slave], who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf [he brought Christ to them],
8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. [he told Paul of their faith & love - ref to in V.4] Col 1:99 For this reason [ref to the reports given about them] we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Now – already – in V.9 – Paul begins his defense
against the Gnostic heresy that was slipping into the church The Gnostics claimed special knowledge –
a superior knowledge that you could only learn from them & here Paul says –
“we pray that you may be filled with THE KNOWLEDGE” The is the GK word - epignosis = LIT
“Complete knowledge, Divine knowledge”
Paul prays that they (& we) would have complete, divine knowledge
of God’s Will – in ALL spiritual understanding Guys – we can have the Complete, Divine knowledge of God’s Will –in all wisdom & spiritual understanding . . . Or we can be drawn away into false teachings that promise
something “in addition” to Christ – but can never really deliver Jesus Christ - & our knowledge of Him – is THE REAL THING –everything else is just a counterfeit So – Paul prays that we may have
this complete knowledge of God’s will – WHY . . . ?? Col 1:1010 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; The true Gospel – begins an eternal personal relationship with the Lord
Knowledge is not it’s end – Relationship is it’s end & Paul prays that we may use this “complete knowledge” to
“order our lives” worthy of the Lord – fully pleasing Him One easy sign of Errant teaching is – it’s END is often a selfish END
It usually attracts people with the “what’s in it for my attitude” But here Paul says – may our divine knowledge of God’s will
cause us to walk worthy - & be fruitful in every good work . . . So – just the knowledge is not the end – but a changed life (worthy) & (end of V.10) – “and increasing in the knowledge of God” . . . The intent is – that our “walking worthy” & “being fruitful”
would increase “in (by means of) our knowledge of God Again – Paul is already beginning to dispute the teaching in the church
that seeks a supreme knowledge as an “END”  V.11 continues the RESULT of us being filled
with the Divine knowledge of God’s will Col 1:1111 [cont. from V.9, that we may be filled w/ the knowledge of God’s will] strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; Again – life changing effects of being filled
with the knowledge of God’s will That our “Knowing God” would radically change our lives 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.