Living Together to Glorify the Preeminent Christ
Colossians 4:7-18
Purpose: How ordinary Christians will live together.
1 Lord of All to Live For
Preeminent Creator & Savior
Master and Head of the Church
2 Churches to Learn From
Colossae
Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)
3 Ways to Live Jesus Together
- Care For One Another
Communication & Encouragement (Col 4:7-13)
Help & Hospitality (Col 4:10-11)
Prayer & Concern (Col 4:12-13)
- Grow In Christ
The House Church (Col 4:14-15)
The Word (Col 4:16)
The Ministry (Col 4:17)
- Go To The World
Following the Example (Col 4:18)
Ordinary Christians will live together to advance the gospel and bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Ministry Under the Preeminence of Jesus Christ
Colossians 4:7-18
Colossians 1:1-23 “Jesus is God”
Colossians 1:24-2:8 “Follow Jesus”
Colossians 2:9-23 “Follow Jesus Only”
Colossians 3:1-17 “Jesus is Life”
Colossians 3:18-4:6 “Live Jesus”
Colossians 4:7-18 “Live Jesus Together”
Purpose: How exemplary Christians should minister together; 9 models of
effective ministry
Question: How is each person an example for how we should live Jesus together?
- Ministry of Communication & Encouragement (Col 4:7-9)
How is Tychicus described here? (three descriptions in v. 7, two-fold purpose in v. 8)
How is Onesimus described here? (v. 9)
Who is Onesimus (see Philemon)?
- Ministry of Help & Hospitality (Col 4:10-11)
Aristarchus is described as what? (v. 10)
Mark is to be what (v. 10)? By whom?
Jesus/Justus
These three Christians are described three ways (v. 11b)
- Ministry of Prayer & Concern (Col 4:12-13)
Epaphras is described how? (three things, v. 12)
How does Epaphras “labor”?
“in” what?
Why? “That”
What is his personal reason why he prays this way?
- Ministry in the Body: Greetings for the House Church (Col 4:14-15)
Luke is the same Luke who traveled with Paul and wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
Demas
- Ministry of the Word (Col 4:16)
What were they commanded to do with the writings of Paul?
- An Exhortation to Ministry (Col 4:17)
Paul exhorts Archippus to do what?
- Ministry of Setting an Example (Col 4:18)
Why would Paul want them to remember his imprisonment?
Live Jesus together, be a body of believers on mission to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Heart of the Authentic Christian
Colossians 3:18-4:6
Purpose: To see how God wants us to live in Christ-like relationship with all people
Thesis: Love of God must beget Love of Others
- First, In the Family (Col 3:18-21)
- Second, In Everyday Life (Col 3:22-4:1)
- Third, To the Rest of the World (Col 4:2-6)
The heart of the authentic Christian is to live “As Unto the Lord” in all relationships, because we represent Christ to one another and to a lost world!
The Authentic Christian Life Under the Lordship of Christ
Colossians 3:18-4:6
Purpose: The authentic Christian life testifies to the Lordship of the Preeminent Christ by declaring the gospel through our relationships.
Introduction: Context of Culture and the Unchanging Truth of God’s Word
- Lord of the Christian Household (Col. 3:18-4:1)
Wife to Husband
Children to Parents
Man as Head of the Home
Slaves to Master
Master to slaves
- Lord of the Christian Prisoner (Col. 4:2-4)
Prisoner to Persecutor
- Lord of the Christian Citizen (Col. 4:5-6)
Christian to non-Christian
How we live in relationship with others will serve to affirm or deny that Christ is the all-sufficient Savior and Lord of the world.
Fight For the Authentic Christian Life
Colossians 3:1-17
Purpose: The authentic Christian life is the spoils of a war already waged and won by the preeminent Christ. The outcome is sure, even as our battles rage.
- The Conflict of Life (Col. 1-4)
- The Strategy of Sin (Col. 5-11a)
- Christ Our Champion (Col. 3:11b)
- The Strategy of Christ (Col. 3:12-14)
- The Spoils of Victory (Col. 3:15-17)
The Authentic Christian Life
Colossians 3:1-17
Purpose: The authentic Christian life is found in Christ alone, on earth and in heaven!
- Focus on Future Glory (Col 3:1-4)
A command: “keep seeking” what?
Another command: “set your mind” on what?
The REASON for this Focus: You have “died”
See Gal 2:20
- Consider Your Conversion (Col 3:5-8)
Another command: “kill” what?
See Matt 6:24; Luke 16:13; 2 Peter 2:19
Another command: “you put them all aside”
- Authentic New Life (Col 3:9-11)
Another command: “Do not to lie to one another”
The REASON: “since” you “laid aside” the “old self
NOW “put on” the “new self”
See Rom 8:29; Eph 2:1-16, but esp. 13-16
This is the “mystery” lived out! Christ “in all” who believe regardless of
distinction!
Col 1:24-29 & Eph 2:14-18, Saved Jew & Gentile become one body in Christ’s church
- Live for CHRIST (Col 3:12-17)
Another command: “Put on a heart of compassion”
See Gal 5:22ff; Matt 18:23-35; Phil 2:1-8
Another command: “be thankful”
The authentic Christian life is found in Christ alone, on earth and in heaven!
Living a Substantial Life
(Colossians 2:6-23)
Purpose: Only in the preeminent Christ, the Lord of All, can we live a life of substance that glorifies Him.
- Walk in Christ (Col. 2:6-7)
- Think Like Christ (Col. 2:8)
- Glory in Christ (Col. 2:9-15)
- Be Confident in Christ (Col. 2:16-19)
5. Rebel in Christ (Col. 2:20-23)
The Substance Belongs to Christ!
Colossians 2:4-23
Purpose: God is the primary Actor in all of history, believe only in Jesus Christ!
- Paul’s Purpose: A Warning! A Command! A Command Warning! (Col. 2:4-8)
- Jesus is God… is Supreme… is Alive! (Col. 2:9-12)
- Made Alive in Christ! (Col. 2:13-14)
- The Absolute Triumph of Christ Over All (Col. 2:15)
- The Substance Belongs to Christ (Col. 2:16-19)
Christ v. Religion
Shadow gives way to Substance
- How Then Shall We Live? (Col. 2:20-23)
God in Jesus is the primary Actor in all of history, therefore to believe in anything other than Jesus Christ is to miss out on the greatest experience of existence, life itself.
Generating a Heart for the Lost
Colossians 1:24-2:5
Purpose: to foster Christian hearts willing to sacrifice for the salvation of the lost
Introduction – Paul’s Gospel Focus:
Romans 1:16-17 “the gospel… the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes”
Romans 15:20 “I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named”
1 Corinthians 1:24 “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”
1 Corinthians 2:2 “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”
1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ”
- Sacrifice for the Salvation of Others (Col 1:24-27)
Acts 9:13-16
1 Peter 2:21-25
1 Peter 4:19
2 Timothy 2:3-10 The Heart of An Apostle, Suffering for the Sake of Christ in Others
- To Present Them Complete in Christ (Col. 1:28-29)
- Because God’s Mystery is Now Revealed in Christ! (Col 2:1-3)
God’s Mystery is Christ Himself (v. 2)
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found only in Christ (v. 3)
1 Corinthians 2:7-13
- Resulting in All Believers Standing Confident in Christ (Col 2:4-5)
A heart for Christ generates a heart to sacrifice for the salvation of others, to present them complete in Christ, because God’s mystery is now revealed in Christ, resulting in all believers standing confident in Christ.
Bearing the Gospel Burden
Colossians 1:24-2:5
Purpose: The responsibility of proclaiming and defending the gospel of the preeminent Christ, is a burden to be carried with joy and care.
- Paul’s Joy in Suffering (Colossians 1:24)
- Paul’s Task of Stewardship (Colossians 1:25-27)
- Paul’s Purpose in Preaching (Colossians 1:28-29)
- Paul’s Goal in Striving (Colossians 2:1-3)
- Paul’s Heart of Unity (Colossians 2:4-5)