A Heavenly Perspective: Colossians 1:1-14
“THE WORLD DOESN’T REVOLVE AROUND YOU!”
In the heat of an argument, when the kid’s have a bad attitude, or when our friends only want to talk about themselves, we often say (or think) that statement above. There is truth to that line, but we can’t stop at simply calling out who the world doesn’t revolve around, we need to proclaim who the world truly does revolve around.
The book of Colossians does just that. It is a theological argument for the supreme role and function that Jesus plays in the history of mankind. Jesus was not just a good teacher. He’s not just one of many Gods. He is the teacher, and he is the God of the universe. The thesis of this book makes it clear who the world actually revolves around, and it’s Jesus.
Background on Colossians
Not much is known about ancient Colossae. Scholars do know that it was a decently large city with larger neighboring cities Laodicea and Heiropolis. It had a good-size population, which means that it likely had social influence on the region. Paul was the author of this letter, and it is directed toward the “holy people in Colossae.” Paul didn’t plant this church. One of Paul’s proteges, Epaphras, was the initiator of this ministry in Colossae.
Apparently Epaphras needed help combating false teaching which was cropping up in the Church here, and this is the reason for Paul writing. The Colossians seemed to have a worldview problem, and were not worshipping Jesus for who he truly was. This group in Colossae seemed to have what we would now call a syncretistic worldview.
Syncretistic Worldview:
First off, a worldview is the lens by which we process information. It is why we believe what we believe. We all have a worldview, and it shapes the way that we think and behave. Syncretism, or a syncretistic worldview, is a compilation of many ways of thinking. It’s like cherry-picking what you like about each religion, and forming it into your own personal religion.
In America’s cultural emphasis of expressive individualism, this worldview of picking only what you like and discarding the rest, has taken over as the preferred worldview in our country. According to Barna’s research through Arizona Christian University, Syncretism is the worldview of 92% of people in the USA. The same research highlights that only 4% of Americans have a true biblical worldview. (If you feel like things are not going well socially, this is the answer)
The reality is, this is nothing new. Throughout history, when there is comfort and freedom, people generally are lulled into deception. It’s a fancy word that is used now, but the concept of syncretism was present throughout the OT and into the NT. The Church in Colossae was struggling in the same way, compromising the truth of who Jesus actually is. They wanted to make Jesus simply one of their gods. This was a serious problem, and we still deal with this today.
There are two key themes of the book of Colossians.
1. Supremacy and centrality of Christ.
2. Realized eschatology.
Realized eschatology:
This is a term that theologian nerds made up to help us understand the importance of living “now” (realized) as though we have obtained “the future” (eschatology, end times).
To help grasp this concept, imagine this: an angel comes to you in a dream and says that you’ll have a million dollars next year. Would you be worried about your finances for the rest of that year?
This illustration helps us to see what a heavenly perspective looks like, and this is a key point of Paul’s throughout. As Christians, we don’t have to grieve, fear, or worry about life as the world does. We live life, knowing how the story ends, and it ends with Jesus making all things new. A heavenly perspective is what God wants us to have constantly. It changes the way that we live, and it gives us hope, faith, and love for one another. When we have a realized eschatology, we are operating as citizens of Heaven, not as citizens of the world.
What Kingdom do you live in?
Colossians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
From:
-Paul, the “sent one.” (apostle). Putting the debate on the office of apostle on the side, the function and giftings of Paul are clear. He highlights his authority as one who has been sent, as though a sailor going to sea, directly by Jesus Christ.
-Timothy here is mentioned as Paul’s “brother,” and not the ‘son in the faith’ as mentioned often in other letters. Perhaps emphasizing their bond and experience as leaders in the Church.
To:
-The “saints” in Colossae. (not the “no-good, awful sinners”) This will be an emphasis throughout the letter. Paul calls every day Christians “saints.” Christians are holy now, not just in the future.
-”Grace and peace” from the Father. The Trinity is not rejected when emphasizing the authority and supremacy of Christ.
Colossians 1:3-8
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
-Paul, though not directly involved with them, constantly prays for them and is encouraged by their faith and love. (great things to be known by)
V5 - He reminds them that this faith that they have comes from the hope of the gospel message. Jesus alone brings hope.
We NEED Hope
It is said that humans can live 40 days without food, 3 days without water, 8 minutes without air, but only 1 second without hope. The gospel message gives us that hope to carry on.
V6 - When we are people of faith, hope, and love, the world is changed for the better. Paul’s not just talking about the known world, but the actually entire world. Church tradition teaches that the apostle Thomas, the doubter, had brought the gospel to India at this point in history. The truth was genuinely spreading around the world and bearing fruit!
V7 - This is where we learn of Epaphras. He took what he had learned from the apostles, and spread it to another city. He is an example of that fruit growing around the world at the time.
-The gospel can spread just as easily today, but it requires us to submit to the will and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:9-14
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
-Paul’s ministry was fruitful because it was rooted in constant prayer. Without prayer, we are pursuing our own agendas.
-He prayed for their spiritual development, wisdom and knowledge in the faith, so that they would live lives that honor him, and keep the gospel train going. This is a noble goal that we should strive for as well.
In describing the hope he has for them, and prays for them, he wants them to be…
V11 - “strengthened” by God’s power, in contrast to the flesh’s or satanic.
-”giving thanks” to God who “qualified you”. Isn’t it good that God calls us saints? And that he qualifies us?!
God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
The “inheritance” (v12) line is used also in Ephesians, which has a similar theme of realized eschatology, and likely was written during the same stay of house arrest that Paul was in. Are you getting the point of this letter so far? God has done the work, and given you the wages. Knowing what is coming, is what keeps you going.
-We, right now, have everything that we need in Christ, because we are a part of his Kingdom.
V13 -The major deliverance occurred when we believed in the gospel of grace. This kingdom swap is what identifies us as God’s subjects, rather than Satan’s. This epic passage shows us the profound implications of the Christian life and perspective.
The now and the future: the heavenly Kingdom.
-We were in the kingdom of darkness, we weren’t just going there.
-We aren’t just going to be with Jesus one day, we have him with us right now.
This is where God wants us to stay - a heavenly perspective, a heavenly Kingdom where Jesus rules. When we stay confident knowing what kingdom we live in, we can bear the fruit that God has planned for us to.
