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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 Ephesusnear 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 Godthey 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 heresy
I’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 churchesthat 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 prayer
spiritual formation -- ancient practices -- the silence
incense -- 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 Spiritualism
COUCHED 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 experience
5) Strong effort to make sinners feel welcome in church
6) Watering down sins that God condemns
7) Renaming Eastern religion methods of meditation, breathing, mantra’s, & yoga
8) 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 1:1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
 
Col 1:2
2 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 1:3
3 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 1:4-5A
4 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 NLT
4 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 NLT
5 . . . 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 1:7-8
7 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 1:9
9 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 1:10
10 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 LordKnowledge 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 ENDIt 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 1:11
11 [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.