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 were 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 and 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 Demas

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