Chapter 17: Letters to the Believers: Romans to Colossians

Letters to the Believers

Romans to Colossians

The New Testament epistles are a gold mine of spiritual truth, written by people who were in the heat of the battle, winning souls and building and maturing churches. When you consider the many modern assets we have for transportation, communication, and education, you’ll find that what Paul called “my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28) cost much more in his day than it does today. Let’s give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful tools we have and make good use of them, backed by Bible study, prayer, commitment, and patience.

The Epistle to the Romans

“I must also see Rome,” said Paul (Acts 19:21), and anticipating that visit, he sent this letter ahead. He wanted the believers in Rome to know exactly what he believed and preached. As the capital city of the great Roman Empire, Rome was certainly a strategic place for the apostle to the Gentiles to minister, and he did finally arrive there—as a Roman prisoner. In this important letter, Paul pointed out what Rome needed and what the whole world needs today.

God’s Truth, Not Man’s Lies (1:1—3:20)

In the opening section of his letter, Paul first greeted the believers in Rome and complimented them on their solid faith and effective witness. He magnified Jesus Christ and the gospel. Then he put the Romans and other Gentiles on the witness stand and accused them of suppressing truth and believing lies (1:18–32). Their man-made pagan religion, with its many gods and goddesses, was certainly not true. The people could look around them at the natural world and know it had to be created and maintained by a great and glorious God. The pagan world not only suppressed the truth but also exchanged the truth for “the lie” (1:25; 2 Thess. 2:11). Note the emphasis Paul made on truth (1:18, 25; 2:2, 8, 20; 15:8). Paul used the word righteousness sixty-five times in Romans. There are multitudes of religious systems and philosophies in our world, but the only true worship of God is taught by the Spirit from the Holy Scriptures: “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).

Paul also declared the Jews guilty of lacking the saving righteousness of God (2:1—3:8). Their Old Testament Scriptures came from God and pointed the way to Christ, and the New Testament Scriptures clearly reveal to us Jesus Christ and the salvation found only in Him. Merely keeping the Law of Moses could never save either the Jewish sinner or the Gentile. Both Jesus and the apostles had to explain to the Jews that keeping the law could never cleanse them of sin, and they needed to put their faith in Jesus Christ who died for their sins. In 3:9–20, Paul wrapped up his case and declared that the whole world is guilty before God and needs a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world. Apart from the cross, there is no other way to have our sins forgiven and be guaranteed a home in heaven.

Faith in Jesus Christ, Not Human Self-Effort (3:21—4:25)

Ask the average churchgoer how to get to heaven, and the reply might be, “Keep the Ten Commandments.” But Paul makes it clear that the law cannot cleanse us from sin. The law reveals sin like a mirror reveals a dirty face (Rom. 7:7; James 1:22–24), but you don’t wash your face in the mirror! Romans 7 tells us what the law does. The law not only reveals sin, it also arouses sin (7:8–9) and ultimately produces death (7:10–11). All of this shows how dangerous sin really is!

One of the key words in Romans is justification. Justification is the gracious act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ. Don’t confuse justification with sanctification, which is the process by which God makes the believer more and more like Christ. In Romans 4, Paul made it clear that justification is by faith and not good works (vv. 1–8), by grace and not law (vv. 9–17), and by Christ’s resurrection power and not human effort (vv. 18–25). We don’t work our way into heaven, but we do live a godly life because heaven has come to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. The law brings out the worst in us, but grace brings out the best in us!

The verse that summarizes this is “but the just will live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17). It is also quoted in Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. And it bears repeating: we are justified by grace—and not because we deserve it (Rom. 3:24). Instead it is by faith and not by our good works (3:28), comes by the blood of Jesus Christ (5:9), and is unto eternal life now and forever (5:18). Salvation is a wonderful gift!

Transformation, Not Imitation (5:1—8:39)

This section of the Roman epistle describes the depth and delight of the Christian life empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Note the four “kings” in chapter 5: death reigns (vv. 14, 17), sin reigns (v. 21), grace reigns (v. 21), and the believer “reigns in life” (v. 17). In Romans 8—a thrilling chapter—we meet the Spirit of life (v. 2), the Spirit of death (v. 13), the Spirit of adoption (v. 15), and the Spirit of intercession (vv. 26–27)—one great and glorious Holy Spirit who, day by day, transforms us to become more like the Master (Rom. 12:1–2).

The Spirit of life imparts the life of our Lord into our lives: “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (8:13). In Scripture, adoption (v. 15) is not entering the family—we are born again into God’s family—but being given an adult standing in the family of God. Babies cannot talk, walk, work, inherit wealth, speak, or carry burdens, but adults can. The moment you were born into God’s family through faith in Christ, you were given an adult standing and can talk to your Father, understand what He says to you in the Bible, do adult tasks, walk, battle—yes, all the adult privileges and responsibilities are yours! We have no excuses—“I’ve been saved only three months. I can’t do that!” Yes, you can! We all can! We have been given an adult standing in the household of faith, and the Holy Spirit enlightens us and enables us day after day.

Salvation comes through substitution because Christ died in our stead, but transformation comes through identification: “I have been crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). When He died, my old self died with Him; and when He arose, I arose with Him into new abundant life. The world lives by imitation, one copying the other (Rom. 12:2); but Christians live by transformation, becoming more and more like Jesus. We are not “self-made” but Spirit made! “Christ died for me” is salvation, but “I died with Christ” is sanctification and transformation. To be identified with Christ through the Holy Spirit is the secret of the transformed life.

Others, Not Just Ourselves (Rom. 9—16)

Once Paul completed explaining the transformed life, he immediately challenged his readers to get busy serving others. These chapters instruct us to pray for the salvation of God’s chosen people, Israel (chs. 9—11). When was the last time you heard public prayer for the salvation of the Jews? Paul makes it clear that believers today are debtors to the Jews (15:27), and that we should pray for their salvation and help get the salvation message to them.

But that isn’t the only “spiritual debt” we have, for Romans 1:14 tells us we are debtors to a lost world and must pay that debt by our loving witness to the lost. We also are indebted to the Holy Spirit who lives within us (Rom. 8:12–15) and to weaker believers who need encouragement (15:1–14). Good citizens are good witnesses.

First Corinthians

Paul founded the church at Corinth and ministered there about eighteen months. A populous and prosperous city, it was proud of who its people were and what they accomplished. The Corinthians were especially proud of their “wisdom.” But the city was also known for its corruption (see Rom. 1:18–32), and it was not easy to live the Christian life in such a place. Paul received personal letters telling of the church problems caused by some of the members, and he wrote the two Corinthian letters to correct their errors and answer their questions. Corruption and confusion infected the church. This outhne summarizes the problem and Paul’s letter:

The letter emphasizes the local church—what it is, what it should do, and how it should do it. Paul gave us several images of the church: a family (3:1–5; 4:15), a field (3:6–9), a temple (3:9–17), a loaf of bread (5:6–7), a body (6:15; ch. 12), an army (9:7), and a team of runners (9:25). This makes for a helpful series of sermons or Bible class lessons.

In the first nine verses of chapter 1, Paul described the church that the Lord made. But from verses 10 to 18, he focused on the church the people were building—and what he described is not beautiful. The church’s problems were provided by the members of the church family! The spiritual leaders of the congregation were not faithfully teaching the people and uniting them in Jesus Christ. The city had gotten into the church and changed it when the church was supposed to change the city!

The church was divided because they fixed their eyes on human leaders and not on the Lord. One family liked Paul, but their neighbors liked Apollos, and another group liked Peter. Each group sounded spiritual, but their attitudes divided; and after all, the Lord did appoint apostles and other leaders to guide in the building of the church (Heb. 13:7–8, 13).

You will frequently find the words wise and wisdom in 1 Corinthians, referring to the wisdom we receive from God by the Holy Spirit teaching us from the Scriptures. The “wisdom of this world” is not what feeds and directs God’s people and God’s work; it’s the wisdom that comes from God. I fear many congregations today are imitating the world and ignoring the Word of God.

Acts 1:15–26 tells us that the first church was united, consulted the Scriptures, and prayed before they selected their leaders. In contrast, the city of Corinth was proud of their philosophers and their “wisdom,” and Paul admonished them to get their wisdom from the Lord and not from the world. To attempt to build a spiritual church with only human ideas is to fail miserably, no matter how many people we attract.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9–17, Paul compared the church’s ministry to constructing a building. Jesus Christ is the foundation (vv. 6–11), and we must build with God’s wisdom in the Scriptures—“gold, silver, precious stones” (vv. 11–12), that which is permanent, not temporary. Ponder Proverbs 3:13–15 and 8:10–11. Throughout Paul’s two letters to the Corinthian church, you will find him issuing apostolic orders to the church, and he expected the leaders to obey the Word of God. Church discipline is not easy, but at times, it is essential. Read 1 Corinthians chapter 5, which is a basic text on church discipline. It is exercised for the sake of the offender (vv. 1–5), the church (vv. 6–8), and those outside the church (5:9—6:8). The unsaved world watches the church, and when we permit sin to bring scandal to the church, we are destroying our witness to the lost world. The church knew about the man’s sins and was even proud of their tolerance! Just as the Jews removed the leaven during Passover season, so the church must bring the sinner to repentance or remove the sinner from the fellowship. Church discipline is not “religious punishment” but loving family discipline.

First Corinthians 13 is perhaps the most familiar chapter in the book. It is often read at weddings and even funerals, but Paul intended it to be read at church services and business meetings to remind the saints that love is the essential element if a church is to enjoy purity and unity. We are to “[speak] the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), for love without truth is hypocrisy and truth without love is brutality; God’s people must avoid both errors. First Corinthians chapter 15 is perhaps the leading chapter on the doctrine of resurrection; the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection—nor do some “religions” today—but Paul defended it admirably. I have often read parts of this chapter at the funerals of believers. It brings comfort to the hearts of God’s people.

Second Corinthians

Paul knew that his letter had wounded some of his Corinthian friends, so he wrote another letter, our 2 Corinthians. It opens with grace (1:2), closes with grace (13:14), and scatters grace in between. Paul repeats the words comfort and encourage, but the word suffering is there also (1:3–11; 4:8–11; 6:4, 8–10; 7:5; 11:23–28; 12:7–10). However, Paul usually connected suffering with glory, so you will find that great word twenty-one times. His purpose in writing was to encourage his friends (and us) to stand firm in every difficult circumstance of the Christian life, trusting the Lord and seeking to glorify Him. Paul certainly experienced his share of suffering, but he learned to depend on God’s grace (12:1–13). He taught us in this letter that we can overcome discouragement by trusting the Lord for the grace of serving (chs. 1—7), the grace of giving (chs. 8—9), and the grace of obeying God’s will (chs. 10—13).

The first seven chapters focus on the grace of serving. “If I have suffered,” Paul wrote, “it’s so God could comfort me and teach me how to comfort others!” Our Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer so that He might be a “merciful and faithful High Priest” and minister to us when we suffer (Heb. 2:17–18). Not all pain is punishment. Some of it is preparation for ministry. In 2 Corinthians 2:13–16, Paul mentioned “the Roman triumph,” a very special parade to honor military heroes. When a Roman commander-in-chief and his army won a complete victory on foreign soil, killing at least five thousand enemy soldiers and gaining new territory for Rome, he and his men were honored by this parade when they returned home. For the Roman army, it meant honor and a victorious life, but for the prisoners, it meant facing the lions in the Coliseum. We may not have that kind of parade in this life, but just wait until we get to glory! Our Lord Jesus has won the war, and we are on the side of victory! Hallelujah!

Chapter 3 refers us back to the glorious, shining face of Moses (Exod. 34:29–34). Jesus had a shining face on the mount of transformation (Matt. 17:2) and so did Stephen when he was martyred (Acts 6:15). You and I may also have shining faces! Carefully read 2 Corinthians 3—4. Unlike Moses, we don’t need to veil our faces because our light must shine in this dark world!

In chapters 8 and 9, Paul discussed the love offering he was receiving from the Gentile churches to help the needy Jewish believers. He explained that giving is a grace, which means we give in spite of circumstances, resources, and consequences. We must not give grudgingly but willingly and enthusiastically, and it must come from the heart. We give by faith, even as the farmer sows seed by faith, trusting God to give the harvest. Every Christian must learn the grace of giving. The principles of giving are in chapter 8 and the promises we claim in chapter 9.

Paul closed his letter (chs 10—13) with some very personal words from which we can learn a great deal. He appealed to the Corinthians to understand his ministry as an apostle, and he warned them that his enemies were saying things against him that were not true. Any man or woman who seeks to serve God faithfully will have critics and enemies from within the church! As an apostle, Paul had God-given authority to deal with troublemakers and was not afraid of them. His greatest enemies were those who claimed to be apostles but were only counterfeits. Paul hesitated to promote himself and boast about his ministry, but he had no alternative. He warned the Corinthians that he was coming to them in love but dealing with them with God-given authority. Like any good parent who disciplines a child for the child’s own good, Paul dealt with offenders in love, but he did so with honesty and authority.

In this closing section of the letter, for the first time, he revealed his experience of going to heaven and coming back. To protect him from pride, the Lord gave Paul a thorn in the flesh and would not remove it. I’m a reader of biography and autobiography, and it’s remarkable how many of God’s servants have lived and served with painful handicaps. Pride is a dangerous attitude; it will ruin a servant’s ministry and bring disgrace to the church. Just as children have “growing pains” during their adolescent years, so God’s faithful people have “growing pains” as they mature in their walk with the Lord. Authority must be balanced with love and humility, and Paul had all three. We should too.

By the way, take your Bible and check the word always in 2 Corinthians: 2:14; 4:10–11; 5:6; 6:10; and 9:8. Talk about encouragement!

Galatians

Paul founded the churches in Galatia and taught the new believers the basics of church life, but some false teachers came along and told the fledgling Christians that faith wasn’t enough. Those instructors said that they also needed to obey the Mosaic law if they were to be genuinely saved (2:16; 3:2–3, 10–14; 4:10, 21; 5:2–4; 6:12–15). The key verse to this book is 5:1. Look it up. Here is a simple outhne that shows how Paul refuted those false teachers:

If anyone knew the meaning of the gospel, it was Saul of Tarsus who trusted Jesus Christ and became Paul the apostle (1:10–24). His Damascus Road experience (Acts 9) not only saved him but transformed him into an energetic evangelist to Jews and Gentiles alike. The leaders of the Jerusalem church affirmed that he was truly born again and called to proclaim the gospel (Gal. 1:18—2:10). When he confronted Peter, who was being inconsistent about the law and the gospel, Paul won the battle (2:11–21).

To Paul, simply to experience and declare the gospel wasn’t enough; he also defended it. Notice his pointed questions in 3:1–9, appealing to the Galatian Christians’ personal experience. Righteousness comes by faith and not by practicing the Mosaic law. In verse 11, we meet Habakkuk 2:4 once again: “But the just shall live by his faith.” (We also met it in Rom. 1:17.) The false teachers were denying both experience and Scripture! Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, was saved by faith centuries before the law was even given (Gal. 3:1–9; Gen. 15:6). Why, then, was the law given? The law is like a mirror that shows us how dirty we are—but a mirror will never be able to clean your face (James 1:21–27)! The law reveals God’s holiness and our sinfulness, and we seek deliverance from bondage and condemnation—and the law leads us to Christ, the only Savior (Gal. 3:24).

Paul points out clearly what the law cannot do.

What the law can’t give us, Jesus Christ can, and He does it when we trust Him. When the rich young ruler tried to keep the law, it brought him to Christ (Matt. 19:16–22), but he refused to trust Him.

What are the evidences that sinners who have trusted Christ have salvation? For one thing, they receive a new life that brings freedom (Gal. 5:1–15) and helps to produce spiritual fruit (vv. 16–26). They have a new fellowship that enables them to bear others’ burdens and to share their burdens with others (6:1–5). Love motivates them, not the law (5:6, 13–14, 22). They discover that the law brings fear, but grace brings joyful freedom and growing love for the Lord and His people—and the lost!

The point Paul sought to make is that faith unites us with Jesus Christ and His life, love, and power; and these enable us to obey and glorify Him. The key verse says it well: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (5:1). If you take the yoke of the law, you become a prisoner (5:1; Acts 15) and a debtor (Gal. 5:2–6)!

The old nature knows no law—there is no law strong enough to change or control us—but the new nature needs no law! The Holy Spirit enables us to know God’s will and to obey it joyfully. I once heard about some prisoners who worked hard to dig a tunnel to escape from the prison. When they got to the end, they found themselves in the very courtroom where most of them had been tried and convicted! So it is with the believer who abandons freedom in Christ for bondage under the law.

Let’s take our freedom seriously, guard it courageously, and use it lovingly.

Ephesians

Turning the page from Galatians to Ephesians is like leaving a battlefield and going high into the Alps, but both letters are inspired and important. The key theme in Ephesians is “in Christ,” a phrase used 164 times in Paul’s letters. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us (2:22), we are “in Christ”; and because we are “in Christ,” we have all we need to live for Christ and serve Him. All this and more is ours because of “the riches of His glory” (3:16). Here’s a suggested outhne:

Enriched in Christ (Chapter 1)

In Christ, we have been blessed with the riches of His grace, which means “every spiritual blessing … in Christ” (1:3). Just as babies are born with all they need for sustaining life and growth, so God’s children are “born again” with all they need to mature in Christ, live for Christ, and serve Christ. The word grace opens the book (1:2), closes the book (6:24), and shows up ten more times in between. It has well been said that God in His mercy doesn’t give us what we do deserve but in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve. Praise the Lord!

The letter opens chapter 1 (vv. 3–14) with a hymn of praise to the Trinity—the Father (vv. 3–6), the Son (vv. 7–12), and the Holy Spirit (vv. 13–14). Our salvation involves the Father who chose us, the Son who died for us, and the Holy Spirit who sealed us and dispenses our spiritual inheritance to us. All believers, if they are walking with Christ in the Spirit, have the entire Godhead ministering to them! Through the Bible, the Spirit reveals to us how rich we are. Here are some items from our “spiritual bankbook”:

There are two prayers in the letter. The first one (1:15–23) asks the Lord for enlightenment, “wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (v. 17); the second one (3:14–21) asks for enablement, the ability to know God’s will and the power to do it. All this must be done in love.

Alive in Christ (Chapter 2)

Unsaved sinners are spiritually dead, but when they trust Christ, they are raised from the dead and given eternal life. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36). Besides the resurrection of Jesus, the gospels record three other resurrections: a young man (Luke 7:11–17), a twelve-year-old girl (Luke 8:40–56), and the older man Lazarus (John 11). In each one, evidence proved the person was now alive. The young man sat up and spoke, the girl walked and had an appetite for food, and Lazarus came to the door of the tomb where they removed the not-so-fragrant grave clothes and dressed him with the garments of the living. In Scripture, changing clothes symbolizes beginning new life (Col. 3:1–17). When I became a Christian, I received a new walk and appetite, my speech changed, and I “took off” some things in my life that just didn’t belong there.

United in Christ (Chapter 3)

The word mystery has nothing to do with puzzles or obscure thinking. In the Bible, a mystery is a secret truth, hidden by God and revealed later. Jesus taught the mysteries of the kingdom (Matt. 13), and Paul revealed the mystery of Jews and Gentiles united in one body (Gal. 3:26–29; Col. 3:9–11). In Ephesians, Paul, alluding to this mystery, used the word together in verses 1:10; 2:5–6, 21–22; and 3:6. We are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). That’s why Paul used phrases like “the whole building” (Eph. 2:21), “the whole family” (Eph. 3:15), and emphasized the oneness of the church.

Walking in Christ (4—6:9)

Despite what you may see on television, dead people do not walk. Paul used the word walk to describe the Christian life because every child of God should be standing upright and progressing in his or her spiritual life. This portion of Ephesians provides practical advice for walking as God intends and can be summarized as follows:

Victorious in Christ (6:10–24)

That last “walk” deserves some comment: God’s people are soldiers whom our enemy Satan and his demonic forces attack. It’s important that we put on the armor of God by faith as we begin the day. Day or night, whenever we sense Satan at work, we can claim victory by faith. When King David laid aside his armor, the enemy defeated him disastrously (2 Sam. 1). The Word of God is our sword, and we must be able to recall the verses that meet our needs. Each morning, I put on the armor from head to foot—first the helmet of salvation, then the breastplate of righteousness, and so on to the shoes of peace. But the armor’s effectiveness depends on our faith in God’s promises. The helmet protects your mind, the breastplate your heart, the shield your body, and so on. Claim protection and victory by faith and the Lord will give you both.

Philippians

Acts 16 recounts the founding of the church at Philippi. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter to thank the Philippian believers for the generous gifts they had sent him. The letter is a treasury of inspired truth, with insights on Christian joy and Christian ministry being uppermost. If I were back teaching seminary students preparing for ministry, I would discuss this book with them. It answers the important question, “What does Christian ministry involve?”

Ministry Involves Life and Death (Chapter 1)

Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). Ministry isn’t a small part of life or even a big part of life; it’s all of life! We give ourselves to the Lord unconditionally, follow Him faithfully, and obey Him joyfully. In our churches, we may see the pastoral staff, officers, and teachers as leaders, when, in reality, they are servants—the servants of God and God’s people. They are following the example of Jesus, who said, “I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27). Paul wrote that he wanted Christ to be magnified in his ministry “whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20), and he certainly had his share of trials and dangers (2 Cor. 11:16—12:10). Paul had his friends in his heart (Phil. v. 7) and in his prayers (vv. 9–11), and he was willing to give his life for the spread of the gospel and the glory of God. The world doesn’t pay much attention to it, but there are many prisoners and martyrs today for the cause of the gospel. We may not die because of our faith, but we must be willing.

Ministry Involves Sacrifice and Service (Chapter 2)

This chapter introduces us to four persons who knew what it meant to sacrifice and serve: our Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1–11), the apostle Paul (vv. 12–18), Timothy (vv. 19–24), and Epaphroditus (vv. 25–30). We all need the “mind of Christ” when it comes to sacrifice and service. Jesus welcomed the children and blessed them. He helped the sick and afflicted. He shared the truth of God’s Word and patiently taught His disciples. He willingly accepted the cross and suffered to save a lost world. His humility turned into honor and glory! Jesus must always be our example in everything we say and do. He was humble, and the Father honored Him with glory and rewarded His obedience with honor and power.

Paul suffered for his Lord (vv. 12–18) and could “work out” God’s will because God was “working in” him. We are not manufacturers: we are distributors of what God shares with us. Paul went to the hard places, gave his best, and the Lord blessed Him. It’s been my privilege over the years to mentor several young people who today are faithfully serving the Lord.

Some Bible students believe that Epaphroditus is the same man as Epaphras (a shortened version of the name) who helped found the church at Colosse (Col. 1:7; 4:12). Whether this is true or not, Paul thought highly of him and called him a brother, a fellow worker, and a fellow soldier, which is surely a compliment. While serving Paul in Rome, he became ill and almost died. Epaphroditus knew something about sacrifice and service.! What a great privilege it was for Timothy and Epaphroditus to labor with Paul.

This reminds me to encourage you again to investigate the many friends of Paul named in Acts and Paul’s letters. Paul was not a “loner.” He had many friends, taught them, encouraged them, and enlisted them in the work of the Lord.

As you read Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi, you no doubt noticed his emphasis on joy. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter, yet he had “the joy of the Lord” in his heart and shared it with others. Child Evangelism Fellowship has a song called “J-O-Y” that says, “Jesus and Others and You, what a wonderful way to spell joy!” and Paul would agree with it.

Ministry Involves Gains and Losses (Chapter 3)

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (3:7). When it comes to religion, Saul of Tarsus ranked at the head of the class. He was zealous for the Jewish faith and had authority to persecute and even imprison Jews who became Christians. His experience on the Damascus Road ended that, and the Jews started to persecute him! He lost favor with the Jewish religious leaders but experienced the favor of the Lord on his life and ministry. His self-righteousness disappeared, and the righteousness of the Lord took over. He lost some friends but gained many more, including Gentiles! He lost tradition and ritual and gained truth and reality. He had new goals in life: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (3:10). Loss and gain!

That last verse (3:10) has always fascinated me. For example, three times Jesus took Peter, James, and John apart from the other disciples: at the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–13)—“that I may know Him”; when raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Luke 8:41–54)—“and the power of His resurrection”; and while praying in the garden with Jesus (Mark 14:32–42)—“and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Mary of Bethany is also linked to this verse. She sat at His feet to hear the Word (Luke 10:38–42)—“that I may know Him”; she saw her brother raised from the dead (John 11)—“the power of His resurrection”; and she anointed Jesus for His death and burial (John 12)—“the fellowship of His sufferings.”

To stand still in the Christian life is only to go backward. Paul knew that he had not arrived at the ultimate stage in his spirituality, so he pressed on by the grace of God, and so should we (Phil. 3:12–16). We should grow in the knowledge of Christ, in the power of Christ, and in the suffering we experience for and with Christ (1:29). A stagnant Christian life is not a joyful or fruitful Christian life.

Ministry Involves Problems and Peace (Chapter 4)

I wish we knew why the two women Paul mentioned in chapter 4, Euodia and Syntyche, were not getting along, but Paul didn’t give us the details. Whether we like it or not, debates, divisions, and disgraces punctuate church history. Christians are not perfect, nor are the outsiders who criticize them. It’s been my privilege to pastor three churches, and in each of them, we dealt with a few troublemakers. Paul had a special affection for the believers in Philippi, and he implored the two ladies to forgive each other and get back in fellowship with the Lord and the church family. He also wrote about those “whose god is their belly … who set their minds on earthly things” (3:17–21). There is usually a group of carnal Christians in a church—saved but not separated. Like Paul, we weep over them and pray for them.

Paul ended his letter with warm and practical encouragement. The answer to all our needs and problems is faith in Jesus Christ. Are you worrying? Ponder verses 6 and 7. Does your task seem too difficult? Lay hold of verse 13. Is there a pressing need in your life? Verse 19 is the key to having what God wants you to have.

Colossians

Paul didn’t found the church of Colosse but only heard the news that the Lord had blessed the work of Epaphras, possibly a member of the church at Ephesus. The saints in the Ephesian church were so faithful in their witness that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). But Paul also heard that problems developed in the church because false teachers had crept in and were causing trouble. In His parable of the tares (weeds), Jesus teaches us that wherever the Lord plants the good seed (God’s people), the devil plants counterfeit Christians (weeds). If church leaders are not faithful to interview new members carefully, the devil’s crowd will move in and take over. Paul couldn’t go to Colosse and minister personally, so he sent them this letter which, to me, seems like the record of a series of questions Paul would ask the members of the church.

Are You a Christian? (1:1–14)

In verses 1–8, Paul described the characteristics of true believers. They have faith in Christ, they love God’s people, and they look forward to Christ’s return—faith, hope, and love. In other words, they have experienced God’s grace, and this leads to a “walk worthy of the Lord” (v. 10). They grow in their knowledge of the Lord and live by the power of the Lord. They know they are saved only by the blood of Christ (v. 14). If you are a Christian, your sins have been forgiven!

Do You Really Know Jesus? (1:15–29)

He is the eternal Son of God, the Creator of all things, and the One who holds all things together. He is the Head of the church whose death and resurrection made the church possible. But especially notice what our attitude toward Christ should be: “that in all things He may have the preeminence” (v. 18). Please note that Paul wrote “all things” and not “some things.” Because He is Master of all things, we are “complete in Him” and possess through Him all that we need for life, death, and eternity. In both Galatians and Ephesians, Paul declared that Christians are “one in Christ,” and here in Colossians we are “complete in [Christ]” (2:10; 4:12). Jesus is beloved of the Father (1:13) and the Savior of the world (1:21–23).

But why is it so important that we grow in our knowledge of Jesus? Because the better we know Him, the more we will love Him; and the more we love Him, the more we will obey Him! In 1:24–29, Paul tells us he suffered as he served the church, constrained by a love for Christ (2 Cor. 5:14). We study the Bible that we might know Jesus better and love Him more. After all, He is the Savior of the world, having united believing Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church.

Do You Recognize and Oppose the Enemies of the Church? (2:1–19)

People who mixed pagan philosophy with the Christian faith (vv. 1–10) as well as Jewish legalism (vv. 11–17), oriental mysticism (vv. 18–19), and asceticism (v. 23) had infected the Colossian church. God’s truth needs no “seasoning,” and attempts to please everybody only lead to disaster. Every believer should have “full assurance of understanding” based on the Word of the Lord (v. 2). To dilute the inspired Word of God is to grieve the Spirit of God, divide the church of God, and rob us of the blessings of God that He wants to send His people. God’s “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” give all preeminence to Jesus Christ alone (v. 3). Paul warned that these false teachers try to deceive God’s people (v. 4), cheat them (v. 8), judge them (v. 16), and defraud them (v. 18). Beware!

Do You Know What the Church’s Doctrinal Treasures Are? (2:20–4:6)

Paul moved from the negative to the positive and exhorted the Colossians to relate everything to Jesus Christ and not meddle with the devil’s lies. When we trusted Christ as Savior and Lord, we died with Him and were raised in Him to new life. Our identification with Jesus Christ is what makes it possible for us to draw upon His spiritual riches and walk to please Him. Thus we become more and more like our Lord (3:5–10)! It makes for a unified and godly church when God’s people realize how rich they are in Christ and, by faith, draw upon these riches (3:11–17; Eph. 1:3). In 2:6–7, Paul reminded us that we are responsible to walk in Christ, be rooted in Christ, and be built up and established in Christ. This means much more than an hour or two in church every week! Every Christian is responsible to live like a Christian at home (3:18–21), in the workplace (3:22—4:1), in the prayer closet (4:2–4), and in the community (4:5–6).

What Spiritual Gift Can You Share with the Church Fellowship? (4:7–18)

A true church composed of real Christians is not a collection of religious cliques but a family of people who love the Lord and one another. Each person has at least one spiritual gift and should use it for the building of the church body. Read this list in Ephesians 4, review the list in Romans 16, and discover the variety of people who helped build the early church. Then read 1 Corinthians 12. If a person unites with a local church but refuses to use the gift or gifts the Lord gave them, that person is not walking with the Lord—or perhaps not even born again!

ADVENTURE ASSIGNMENT #17

As evidenced by the books we’ve looked at in this chapter, people are different, and people are important. Review the “one another” statements throughout the New Testament. Discover how to get along with others and enjoy God’s blessings.

↑ Back to top