The Pastor’s Plea (Part 2)

Title: The Pastor’s Plea (Part 2):

Text: Colossians 2.16-23

CPT: Colossians, hold fast to Christ and experience true spiritual growth and maturity. Do not submit any longer to regulations and rituals which only tend to falsely and temporarily puff you up.

CPS: Hey guys, hold fast to Christ and do not hold on to legalistic teachings and rituals, which only puff you up for a little while.

Introduction:

Philosophy should result in Practice. Therefore, a Wrong Philosophy results in a wrong behavior and practice. A Correct philosophy results in correct living and practice.

Introduction: I attended a conference 10 years ago where RC Sproul was one of the guest preachers. He spoke of his educational journey where he watched liberalism infiltrate his seminary (the one he attended as a young man) and then how it impacted the local church: Col 2.6-9; Sproul said he witnessed Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis throughout the years.

• The thesis is an intellectual proposition. – The Gospel; Christ
• The antithesis is simply the negation of the thesis, a reaction to the proposition. – This is what false teachers do with empty and deceitful philosophy.
• The synthesis solves the conflict between the thesis and antithesis by reconciling their common truths, and forming a new proposition. This is Jesus plus.

The fear of syncretism arises when we see these same false teachers combining Christ with worldly philosophies;

Ill.: Tim Keller in his book, The Prodigal God, tells how weird Christianity was in the beginning. They’d meet their neighbor or some stranger and talk religion. Oh, I’m a Christian. Really? Where is your Temple? Well, we don’t have one? Then where do you offer your sacrifices? Well, we don’t really do that either. Christ was our sacrifice.

Transition: So, with spiritual practices moving inward, in a society that understood religion to be outward, there was a tendency toward syncretism or synthesis; Paul warns the Colossians not to synthesize the gospel with anything the world has to offer: not worldly philosophies nor human traditions. We want to spend a few minutes looking at Paul’s concern for the Colossians and then turn our attention to today’s similar situation;

We’re in the midst of a section I’ve entitled, The Pastor’s Plea. Beginning in 2.6,

• Paul pleads with the Colossians to continue to walk in the faith, just as they’d received that faith.  
• His plea is seeded out of his concern for those who would lead the Colossians astray
• His plea stems from power of the gospel to transform lives
• And finally, it blossoms into victorious living, because of Christ’s Victory.

Let’s pick up in 2.16 where we continue the Pastor’s Plea with three warnings; Paul’ 1^st warning:

I. Do not let anyone judge you (16f)

exp.: rd v 16; in regard to

• Food and drink (clean/unclean)
• Festivals, new moon celebrations and Sabbaths (Jewish Holidays)

exp.: it appears that false teachers have come onto the scene and are trying to incorporate a Jewish mindset into the Gospel; Jesus is good, you need Jesus, but you’re missing some things: add the Law; you must accept Christ as your Lord and savior, and oh yeah, you must observe these other things, too (circumcision; this festival, that festival; you can’t eat or drink this or that); synthesis; I love what Paul says next: rd v 17; these ‘shadows’ or practices had their purpose! They were shadows.

ill.: CS Lewis calls this world the ‘shadowlands’; you see a shadow and you know what it comes from; a tree; a car or truck; a deer; we see this theme of shadows present in the book of Hebrews; The temple, the sacrifices, the work of the priests were but shadows of the real thing, the substance;

app.: here is what I think Paul is saying: there is nothing wrong with someone who abstains from certain foods or certain drinks. And, likewise, there is nothing wrong with those who don’t abstain from certain foods or drinks; There is nothing wrong in celebrating holidays; the Passover, the feast of tabernacles; for us, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. The problem is when you insist upon these things being added to Christ in order to attain salvation; when someone says you’re not saved because you don’t do these things, too! Or maybe they understand you’re saved – you’re a Christian – you’re just not as mature as they are.

The two examples I think of are baptism and speaking in tongues. i.e., you’re not saved until you get baptized; you’re not saved until you speak in tongues; you’re not saved because you…

Now, I have some friends who believe these things. I’m sure if they happen to watch this video they’ll be offended – bothered. But we have our own problems within our denomination that is similar to these. We’ll get to those in a minute.

t.s.: he continues in v 18; rd v 18; Paul’s second warning

II. Do not let anyone disqualify you (18f)

exp.: rd v 18; disqualify; appears only here; not in LXX; καταβραβεύω; Κατα means down or against; Βραβεύω means to umpire, to rule. So you get the idea of someone who rules against you, hense disqualify;Melick writes: The word ‘disqualify’ builds on the word which means to umpire or award the prize. The NASB translates this sentence: Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind;

Note: He’s not talking about salvation here; i.e., you lose your salvation, but rather forfeiting the prizes and rewards of the Christian faith that we get each day; Who is he talking about? Specifically, he says ‘those’ who (three participles (pres. act. ptc.)

• Insisting (θέλω: will; their will for you)
  • Asceticism (fasting); ‘self-abasement’;
  • Worship (religion) of angels
    • Acts 26.5; Jas 1.26; 27
    • Religion, faith, practice
  • Going on in detail about visions (setting foot on)
    • Being Puffed up (pres pass ptc) in vain (without reason)
    • Ill.: Pastor’s Prayer group with those who speak in tongues;
  • Not Holding to Christ; they’re holding on to a shadow; rd v 19; Christ, the only one who can bring true growth to the Body;

Transition: watch out for such people; avoid them; and then he gives them this great warning; rd v 20-22;

III. Do not add anything to Christ (20-23)

exp.: Paul says: you died to the world! Why are you still holding on to some of its regulations, precepts and principles; rd v 21; and then he gives the reason in v 23; they make you appear spiritual, but you’re really not; they make you appear humble, but you’re really not; you’re actually quite proud of your humility;

ill.: it’s like the man the church honored for his humilty; they brought him forward and honored him with a pin; the next week the took it away from him because he wore it!

ill.: Dr. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY (whom Time calls the ‘reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the US) in his sermon “How does it happen: trajectories toward an adjusted Gospel” he lists 8 identifiable trajectories. I’d like to borrow from him and list them for you so that you might be mindfully aware of what preachers are preaching and teachers are teaching. Some of these you’ll recognize:

1. The Modern Trajectory

No, modern man would believe such myths; ill.: I remember eating at a table with some liberal pastors who were speaking in favor of gay marriage and ordaining homosexual men and women to the pastorate; I asked: with all that the Bible teaches against these things, how can you possibly be in favor of them. The answer: The Hebrew people were a pre-scientific people. Modern people have medicine, science and technology. Rudolf Bultmann said: No man who uses an electric razor believes that Jesus actually walked on water!

2. The Post-Modern Trajectory

The idea of Pluralism: what’s ok for you is ok for you. Truth is relative; ‘that’s your language’; we’re now supposed to tolerate all other forms of religion;

3. The Moral Trajectory – these folks struggle with the morality of the bible or as they would call it “the immorality of the Bible”; Specifically: Hell, divine atonement; human depravity; Wrath of God; penal substitution; sacrifice; and a God who acts in History through Judgment; Washington Gladden (Social Gospel) to teach such a doctrine as this (hell and divine justice) about God is to inflict upon religion a terrible injury and to subvert the very foundations of morality. Thus, we are morally superior to the stories in the Bible; today, a movement throughout the evangelical movement is to question God’s morality in crucifying His own son; people call this divine child abuse; a father would inflict pain upon his own child to forgive sins; ‘a divine monster’; self-aggrandizing in seeking his own glory; Mohler says in his sermon that so much of this movement has injected what he calls the ‘fairness doctrine’ – God has to be fair; Mohler points out that God is perfect and perfect is better than fair;
4. The Aesthetic Trajectory – God is beautiful; this is a beautiful story; the good, the beautiful, the true; thus, man being made in the beautiful image of God (imago deo) we’re aesthetic people; we can see these beautiful things for ourselves; These folks avoid Gen 3; clean up the story; the blood of Jesus; that’s gross;
5. The Therapeutic Trajectory – everyone has a therapist; some opt for those on TV, Oprah, Dr. Phil; Dr. Mohler refers to an article about “Therapy Envy” where there are those who are signing up for therapy in areas in which they don’t suffer; the idea here is that we are sick and in need of therapy instead of dealing with sin;

Ill.: A big movement today is the condemning and outlawing “Conversion Therapy”; In Britain this last month, Boris Johnson has tried to appease the Evangelical Community by saying that Conversion Therapy will be outlawed, but that there will be exceptions for Parents, Preaching and Prayer. But, the LGBTQ+ community is outraged. They want to take away the parents’ rights, the preaching of sin and even pernicious prayer.

6. The Pragmatic Trajectory – we have a problem, so let’s solve it; we organize, we mobilize, we scrutinize the problems and create programs and ideas to move us forward (where the Gospel fails, we jump in and help); Truth and Doctrine have their place, but in order to get results we implement a program! The pragmatic trajectory says we must be practical about ministry, evangelism and church growth; Key: Rd v 19 – grows with a growth that is from God.
7. The Emotional Trajectory – we are emotional beings; Jesus wept; emotion and feeling are at the heart of who we are; pastors have been moving toward not preaching the Gospel (Thesis), but rather what they feel or what they feel their people are feeling (antithesis); we call this preaching to felt needs; the danger is when pastor allows his feelings to dictate what he preaches; Mohler asks: How do you feel about original sin? What is your emotional response to hell? Point: it doesn’t matter how I ‘feel’ about the doctrines of the Bible. The preacher’s responsibility is to preach God’s Truth – not what he feels.
8. The Materialistic Trajectory – we live in a material world; we see the synthesis of the Gospel and the material trajectory with the health and wealth gospel; the prosperity gospel;

Transition: It amazes me that we keep adding to Christ. The Colossians were struggling with this; we know through church history that it continues for them for years, decades and centuries; And it amazes me that after all this time, we’re still trying to add to what Christ has done!

Conclusion and Application: Let me review for you what I’ve done so far this morning:

1. I told you about RC Sproul’s experience over the past 70 years Thesis/Antithesis/Synthesis
2. I told you about Christianity’s misunderstood beginnings (no temple, no sacrifice, no festivals)
3. We went through the Scripture and showed you how Paul had warned the Colossians of this very thing – don’t let anyone try to make you think you need – a temple, a sacrifice, a festival, etc.  
4. Then, I listed for you 8 trajectories that we need to be concerned about in our time where the world is trying to get us to add to the Gospel.

So, what are our take-a-ways?

1. Theology Matters. As a Christian, you should be concerned with Theology. The movement to liberalism is a slow moving metric. The trajectory is there, but it usually isn’t recognizable until changes have been made. I liken it to the ‘frog in the kettle’ analogy.
2. Warning: Listen for anything that might sound like Christ plus. You know the Gospel. Recognize anything that adds to it – or takes away from it.
3. Enjoy the celebrations God has set forth, but don’t require them as a standard of salvation or even a level of righteousness or maturity.
   1. God has blessed us with festive times. We should not mourn during those times. But, they are not required for salvation. And they don’t detract from them either.  
4. Your salvation is complete in Christ. God has blessed us with so many wonderful things in this life, but none of them: not the people, not the party, and definitely not the particulars are ever needed to be added to Christ to complete our salvation.

Conclusion: Christ is all you need. Do not add anything to Christ! We are Justified by Christ alone, through faith alone. He stands alone! His sacrifice is sufficient, paying the penalty for every sin you’ve ever committed or will ever commit; He himself said, “It is finished!”

The Pastor’s Plea (Part 1)

Title: A Pastor’s Plea

Text: Colossians 2.6-2.15

CPT: As you received Christ, so walk in him. Watch out for those who would lead you astray to follow deceptive human traditions. Christ has set you free from all of that through his work on the cross.

CPS: Let us continue to walk in the same manner in which we came to Christ. We have a new life in Christ because of what he has accomplished in saving us and he has given us victory over the powers that threaten to entrap us through following the traditions of men.

Introduction: I’m not sure I’ve ever noticed, when I was younger, how I began a journey. Nor, am I sure that I noticed how the start effected my progress. I know now that I’m older and wiser to begin my journey with the car ready. Don’t travel on bad tires. Make sure the oil has been changed and the fluids are topped off and in good working order. I know this because I’ve changed the tire on a van beside the freeway on a hot summer day! I know this because I got going and realized I didn’t have something I needed.

On the other hand, when steps are in working order and plans have been made and outlined, your journey tends to go smoother. That means making contingent plans for when other, unexpected bumps in the road occur.

I think that is what Paul has in mind as he transitions from a deep theological statement of Christ – the foundation for our faith – into a plea for the Colossians to continue walking in the firm foundation of faith in which they started. 1.15, 19; 2.9. Paul then says that Christ, who is God, established the world and the church; 1.18a; And, having done that work, Christ had now reconciled them (the Colossians) and brought them into a relationship with God, the Father, through him.

In 1.24-2.5, the text from last week, Paul informed the Colossians that his passion, his pursuit, was the proclamation of this gospel that brought them reconciliation – this good news. And he ends the little passage with this statement of warning in 2.4f: that no one may delude you and 2^nd, I can’t be there to protect you.

But you know something big is coming in what he has to say because he says, “Therefore”.

Summary: Jesus is God in the flesh. He created all things (and sustains all things) – even the church, of which He is the Head. And he brought you into His Church, reconciling you into His Body through faith in Him. Therefore, and Paul makes his plea to them…

I’ve outlined this next portion of the text into two sermons (Part I & Part II). Today’s message will take on the portion of the plea as it comes from a pastor’s heart: 1^st,

I. A Pastor’s Plea is for his people to continue to walk in the faith, just as they’ve received that faith (6f)

exp.: rd 2.6f; Paul describes that journey to faith with these prepositional phrases (in him; with him); v6, 7, 10, 11, 12 (2x), 13, 15; next, Paul uses imagery to describe the action of the coming to faith and of their walk; 1^st three participles describe the action of ‘walking’ in him; When you first read them you might think that Paul is mixing up his metaphors – going from a plant (rooted) to a building (built up).

Ill.: mixed metaphors

1. We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.
2. Trying to thread a needle with a haystack.
3. Half of one, six dozen of another.
4. Robbing Peter to pay the piper.
5. Burning the midnight oil at both ends
6. It’s not exactly Rocket Surgery
7. Don’t beat a dead horse in the mouth

But, Paul isn’t doing that here. In each of these metaphors he describes the Temple – the Body of Christ. Indeed, that is exactly what Paul does in 1 Corinthians 3, where he describes God’s people as God’s Temple.

1. Like a tree: pft, pass; a present state based upon a past action; passive means it wasn’t their doing, but that of someone else; Firmly rooted in Christ; if not, easily uprooted in a storm;
2. Like a house: Built upon a firm foundation; if not, easily destroyed in a storm;
3. Established in the faith; just as you were taught; that is to say, continue in how you began
4. Abounding in thanksgiving;

ill.: I got me some tomato plants and planted them recently. Last year, I started with one plant. It died. This year, I started with 8. I thought my chances of something surviving might go up. So far, I’ve only killed two plants. I’ve got a couple of plants looking pretty good. A couple of others…. Not so good. I’m quickly losing hope in the rest.

app.: Here’s my problem – and I know what it is: I didn’t start off very well. The truth is, I need someone who knows about this stuff to help me start off correctly.

t.s.: here are two simple words you can write in the column of your Bible – Command: Walk, #2

II. A Pastor’s Plea is seeded out of his concern for those who would lead his people astray

exp.: rd 2.8; watch out! That no one carries you off as a spoil of war! POW! Now, this sentence is a hard sentence to translate. Most translations work on a literal, word for word translation. And I honestly like that. But, sometimes, word for word in the original language doesn’t make sense. And I find that here in this verse. You NIV users, well, the NIV translates the thought. That’s not always good – and to be quite honest, sometimes that is bad – because they miss the thought. But in this case, I think the NIV nails it. Rd 2.8b; See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, but technically, it should be translated: See to it that no one takes you captive by empty and deceitful philosophy, according to human tradition…

1. Empty and Deceitful Philosophy or Philosophy that is empty and deceitful; not all philosophy is bad. There are philosophers who are solid. There is philosophy that is solid. But here, Paul says that there are those who come in and kidnap many in the church with a philosophy that is empty and deceitful.

The 2^nd part of this sentence continues: according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world…

• According to Human tradition, that is to say, those things which are Elementary or basic spirits (principles, forces) of the world
• And not according to Christ. Christ isn’t simple or basic. Look at 2.3 – in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge).

app.: So, walk in him – in his wisdom and insight and knowledge. Don’t get conned by those who would attempt to kidnap you with their empty and deceitful philosophy.

t.s.: Here are two more words to write in the column of your Bible – Concern: Watch out; #3

III. A Pastor’s Plea stems from the power of the gospel to transform lives – (9-12)

exp.: rd 2.9; remember, he is God; 2.10; he, who is God and all powerful, has filled you; 2.11a; circumcision – Humm, sounds like we’re hearing some of the empty philosophy and deceitfulness coming from those false teachers. Sounds like they’re trying to make these Christians Jewish, before they can be truly Christians. Rd 2.11b; Putting off the body of flesh; Paul employees some terminology that will be repeated quite a bit over the next few paragraphs. This term means to strip away or to strip off; think of undressing. And, redressing; rd the rest of 11-12; You were buried with him in baptism – the old you has died – that’s why you buried him/her; that rascal no longer lives, but a new you lives; rd 12b; this is saying that the same powerful spirit who raised Jesus from the dead has also entered into your body and powerfully raised your dead spirit from the dead – making you powerfully alive in Christ. That’s powerful!

ill.: you guys remember the times before technology made some powerful advancements? Do you remember getting in your car and turning the engine over and all it did was go… (make slow engine noise); that’s because there was no power – your battery was dead.

app.: But you don’t have to live your life that way! You are firmly rooted, built up in Christ and established because of the power and the presence of God at work in you!

t.s.: If you’ve been writing in the column of your Bible, here are a couple of more words. Cause: Power of the Gospel – your walk is by the power of the Gospel. #4

IV. A Pastor’s Plea blossoms into victory in the lives of believers because Christ is victorious. (13-15)

exp.: rd 2.13-15; you are no longer the same! Yes, you once were that way – but no more!

ill.: this is probably Satan’s greatest tools against believers. He is always reminding us of how we don’t deserve God’s grace because we’ve been bad. He quotes the 1^st part of 13 to us: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh… And he’s right – to a point. That’s what he does, he takes partial truths and builds lies from them. That’s what makes them so believable.

app.: When he does, that’s when you say, “Yes, that’s true, but…” and then quote the rest of this verse, “but God made me alive in Christ! He cancelled the debt that I owed! He took care of my legal matters through Christ, who paid my debt for me.” You see in v 15 there – that he was victorious over them, making it possible for us to live in victory!

t.s.: last set of words for the column of your Bible – Call: to Victory – live the winning life.

Conclusion:

“The Storm on our Shores”, Mark Obmascik, pg. 154-155; (great read) “The Battle of the Pips” – July 26^th, 1943; maybe some of you remember it? The Japanese had landed on the island of Kiska and stationed some 6,000 soldiers there. The US had prepared and was sending some 35,000 soldiers and sailors to take back the Aleutian Island, some 500 miles west of Alaska.

The Soldiers on Attu, the last island in the Aleutians, had defeated the Japanese there and were loaded up on ships and sent to Kiska. However, at some point in their journey, intelligence reports came in that 7 Japanese ships were headed their way from Paramushiro. Admiral Kinkaid did not want to be surprised by an attack from the rear. So, he ordered those ships to turn around and engage the Japanese.

Just after midnight, on the 26^th of July, multiple US ships located 7 blips on their radar. The US fleet navigated to the west side of the island to engage the Japanese. The soldiers and sailors prepared for battle. This battle for Kiska would begin at sea.

Five US Ships launched a barrage of artillery in an attempt to sink the Japanese ships. Guns roared at a range of 8-12 miles. Each 14-inch gun weighted 180,000 pounds. It required a quarter ton of propellant to blast a 1,400-pound projectile up to 13 miles. Even after firing  518 rounds from big guns, and 487 shells from the 8-inch guns, the radars still showed seven pips. There were no explosions or any other evidence that the enemy had been hit. On radar, the targets still moved. More shots yielded no change. After a half hour of fury, the guns were silenced. The seven pips linked on the radar, then disappeared.

At sunrise the American fleet and warplanes scoured the area for crippled and destroyed ships. They found nothing – no flotsam, no oil slicks, no lifeboats.

As it would turn out, a post-war investigation found that there were no Japanese ships within 200 miles of that area. It all remained a mystery for many years, until someone discovered that there is a group of birds, sooty shearwaters that migrate through the Aleutians every year. These birds are so large in number, that they actually appear on radar as ships floating on the water. The reality is that they’re just a huge raft of birds floating on the ocean waves.

The US military was engaged in a battle with a bunch of harmless birds.

I think Satan is really good at getting us to worry about things that have no bearing on what we’re supposed to be doing. His lies get us all worked up by turning our attention toward what appears to be dangerous and harmful, but in reality is nothing at all. Instead, our focus is taken from where it should be. He does it to us as individuals and he does it to us as a group.

What are you worried about? Is Satan reminding you that you aren’t good enough to serve the Lord? Is your past so glaringly bright, that it appears as pips on your radar? You remind Satan that those sins were nailed to the Cross, your debt has been paid and your account settled. You are free now to live life in the full power afforded you through the Gospel! Let’s pray – invitation;

The Pastor’s Struggle

Title: A Pastor’s Struggle

Text: Colossians 1.24-2.5

CPT: Paul rejoices to see the Colossians (and the Laodiceans) walking with the spiritual maturity that comes through knowledge and understanding of this wonderful mystery, which is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.

CPS: A Pastor’s struggle is faced with joy when he knows his people are walking in the full assurance of faith and spiritual maturity that comes through wisdom and knowledge.

Introduction: Canadian Pastor James Coates was jailed in March for violating Canada’s 15% capacity rule. His crime as the leader was that he refused to turn anyone away, allowing his congregation to exceed the mandated 15% capacity of their worship facilities.

This past year, John MacArthur faced difficult and tested threats from the leadership of California for pretty much the same thing. I think with Dr. MacArthur’s situation, he just continued to show up and when people noticed on video that he was preaching from his pulpit, they just started coming and sitting in the worship center. Pretty soon, the worship center was filled – which of course violated the state’s mandate for social distancing. All sorts of threats were issued, but I don’t think any were really carried out.

I believe we’re on the cusp of religious persecution against churches and Christians in general. I believe it has already started and will only grow as the moral revolution ramps up pressure to conform.

Robert Hoogland’s daughter was 11 years old when she told someone at school that she identified as a boy. Over the course of a few years, the rights of her parents were taken away and the government stepped in to help her transition to a boy.

The father protested, declaring the surgery, the hormone therapy and other treatments would hurt her physically and damage her. He refused to give consent. But the court took away his rights and declared that his consent wasn’t needed. Instead, they pursued their agenda by using the girl as an example for their own political purposes. Furthermore, Robert and his wife were ordered in court to affirm their daughter’s gender identity. And, added to that, if they refused to do so, they would be guilty of ‘family violence’. This included using the proper pronouns.

As I understand it, immediately after the court’s decision, Robert agreed to an interview with the Federalist (a conservative new source). In the interview, he used the pronouns ‘she’ and ‘her’ to reference his daughter. He also called her his daughter, and not his son. The judge was furious. Local authorities were ordered to arrest Robert immediately if he referred to his daughter with feminine pronouns. He was soon thereafter arrested and incarcerated for family violence. From what I understand, he has been denied bail and remanded to prison until his court hearing scheduled for Monday, April 12^th. He’s been incarcerated for about a month now.

Paul understood this. As he writes this letter, he is in prison for preaching the gospel. Turn to 4.3; ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

As we open this section of the letter, we’re reminded that Paul’s ministry – preaching the Word of God – has put him in prison. Rd 1.24; ²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church… Now, your first thought might be questioning just what Paul means. First, let us just take note that Paul is suffering. We know he is in prison, but his suffering seems to go beyond simple incarceration. He appears to be suffering bodily harm. You see that with his phrase, ‘in my flesh’ and ‘afflictions’.

Instead of noting his situation, most folks run to the theological dilemma of his statement, “I am filling up what is lacking for the sake of his body,” Many begin to wonder: did Christ’s suffering not fulfill it’s purpose. What was lacking in his sacrifice? The answer: nothing.

I’m convinced that Paul was a genius. His writings contain incredible, indepth structure. Two items I notice here.

1. Look at 1.22f; Paul points out two facts about the body of Christ. 1^st, in these verses Paul is referring to Christ’s physical body (cf.: 1.20 – His blood);
2. Our passage is referring to the church, who is the body of Christ. rd 1.24c; for the sake of his body, that is, the church…

Paul’s suffering isn’t enhancing what was lacking in Christ’s sacrifice for sins. The suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord is perfectly sufficient and effective in atoning for our sins – indeed, for the sins of the whole world. That’s Paul’s point in 1.19-22; Sufficiency and Efficacy. Paul’s suffering in these verses is in reference to the suffering the church has been called to endure. Evidently, Paul was enduring more than his fair share. And you see what he says about this suffering? He rejoices! If you somehow missed it, he’ll repeat it down in 2.5 (top & tail).

While I’m on the topic of his genius, I’d like to point out something special in his literary structure: another chiasm. I mentioned this form of teaching two weeks ago. Look at the chiastic structure Paul employees in these two paragraphs:

 a) Rejoice (1.24)

            b) in my flesh (body) – (1.24)

                        c) mystery: Christ (1.27)

                                    d) spiritual maturity (1.28)

                                                e) struggle (1.29; 2.1)

                                    d) spiritual maturity (2.2)

                        c) mystery: Christ (2.2)

            b) in my flesh (body); (2.5)

 a) Rejoice (2.5)

You see here, the top and the tail, there is this rejoicing that takes place Inspite of his suffering. So here is my opening statement: Paul rejoices… and he rejoices in his struggle. But why? Well, in this short couple of paragraphs, Paul helps us identify three reasons for his joy: His Ministry, His message, and the change he sees in those who believe that message. So let’s begin with the first reason.

Paul rejoices in the struggle because of… (24; 29-2.1; 5).

I. The Ministry – called, equipped (v25)

exp.: he identifies his calling at the beginning of v 25; rd v 25a; of which I became a minister; this word ‘minister’ is the Gk word for which we get our word ‘deacon’; Acts 6 and the dilemma of the Greek Widows being overlooked in the daily distribution of food; they selected deacons – same word here; but it then says, “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry (to the deaconing) of the word.” This word deacon simply means someone who serves. Paul is saying that he is a servant.

ill.: it bothers me that this word deacon has come to mean something so negative. It doesn’t really take much; you can have 9 great deacons in a church who are good, godly men, but let one bad deacon have too much power and man, you’ve got a mess on your hands. But since I’m on this subject, let me just say that deacons have a bad rap for a couple of reasons: 1) men were selected to serve who weren’t qualified and 2) the deacons didn’t serve (wait tables), but rather ruled – and that isn’t their function.

Church, when the time comes to select men and women to serve at Tarpley, make sure you pick servants and make sure their responsibility is service. That would be Biblical. So, Paul says he became a ‘servant’ (minister); 2^nd…

rd v 25b; according to the stewardship; This word (stewardship) is a word that describes Joseph when he was a house manager for Potipher; So he’s a servant and a house manager, serving the people of God. This is another great word for deacon or servant – a steward, a house manager;

ill.: instead of a definition, let me show you a picture; image key ring;

Now look at this 3^rd section of 1.25; rd 1.25c; to make the word of God fully known; he’s a servant & a steward to the church and 3^rd, he’s a preacher and a teacher;

t.s.: which brings us to our 2^nd reason for his joy: 1) His Ministry and 2) his…

II. The Message – the mystery revealed (v25c-6f)

exp.: and just what is his message? The Mystery; rd 1.25c-26; Within the Word of God is this mystery; we spoke some of it last week at Easter – God has come in the flesh and made his dwelling among us – God with us; His coming as Messiah can be truly labeled as a Mystery; the full details hidden in the past; rd 1.27; Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

app.: it is an amazing thought that Christ would come to dwell in us; it is mysterious, but truly wonderful. This mystery is Christ – Him we proclaim! It reads in 1.28;

t.s.: So, we’ve seen Paul’s joy in the struggle because of His Ministry, His Message,

III. The Maturity it brings to peoples lives

exp.: rd 1.28c-2.2; Paul’s toil, his struggle is for them; that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love (their relationships), to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding (maturity) and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ. rd 2.3-5; we see this in two respects:

1. Salvation to the lost (v28)
2. Maturity to the faithful (1.29-2.3)
   1. Helping them to avoid following false teachers and teaching (2.4)

ill.: When I was younger, I found it odd that the Gospel, preached and proclaimed, accomplished these two tasks – salvation to the lost and spiritual maturity to the believers. The first one I got – that one makes sense, but that 2^nd one stumped me. Now, decades later, I see that the Gospel proclaimed and possessed brings about spiritual maturity. It’s something I’ve experienced and witnessed in countless Christians.

Can I add that I can also see how a lack of the Gospel has left many an older believer spiritually immature? This can be heartbreaking – to see someone who aged with decades of life, but is still a baby, a toddler when it comes to the faith. What a waste of a life – never attaining to the maturity Paul describes here.

Conclusion: Oh, but for those who do grow – what a blessing! He says, I rejoice to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Why? Because there are those out there who wish to delude you with plausible arguments. They wish to lead you astray. This false teaching has already infiltrated the church of God. We have denominations who’ve embraced the LGBTQ movement – not just to admit them into church membership, but to select them into leadership!

As subtle as it was, these leaders have seduced the church! The next movement is afoot! For those who will not conform willingly, they will be forced to conform or face persecution. We’re already seeing it!

Recently, former vice-president, Joe Biden nominated Dr. Rachel Levine to be Assistant Health Secretary. Dr. Levine is a man who thinks he is a woman. He ‘transitioned’ from male to female in 2011. He now goes by the name of Rachel Levine. A couple of concerns cross my mind as I’m sharing this information with you.

1. With someone like this in our leadership – how long will it take before what has happened in Canada begins happening in the US?
2. I understand that my statement above violates all sorts of politically correct protocol. I’m supposed to refer to Dr. Levine as a woman and use female pronouns. My problem is that, although I understand the delusion, I’m just not willing to enter into the delusion myself. That’s why I say he is a man who thinks of himself (that’s the delusional part) as a woman.

I’m not trying to offend anyone. I’m really not. I’m just saying that it is a reality before us as Christians – reality, that’s the word I think the liberal portion of our society is ignoring – the reality is before us that the values we hold to as Christians, the values we get from this book, the very Word of God, inspired, inerrant, and infallible, … the values, and mores, and ethics, and standards we hold to from the Word of God are under attack. So, let me encourage to stand boldly against those who would lead us astray! That is why it rejoices my heart to see you grow in the faith.

So, what do we do when persecution comes? Aaron Armstrong and Brian Dembowczyk offer four responses:

Pray for deliverance.

Pray for endurance. (physical)

Pray for Faithfulness. (spiritual)

Pray for those who persecute you.

The Pastor’s Passion

Title: The Pastor’s Passion – The Gospel

Text: Colossians 1.15-23

Introduction – The past week or so has seen to mass murders take place; both, on opposite sides of the country; both caused by individuals who appear to be on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum.

The moment something like this happens, people move to their corners and shore up their particular stance – whatever that might be. There are those who would like to take all forms of self-defense and remove them from our homes and our churches. They would like to legislate gun reform – that basically would abolish the 2^nd amendment – the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

The problem isn’t guns. The problem is people. James Madison famously said, “What is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” If that is so, then our government is reflecting a degenerate human nature – and it is getting worse!

In these two instances of tragedy, one in Georgia and the other in Colorado, we see two individuals where the heart is the same – it’s just a different face. And that heart is reflected in a degenerate government that leads the people further and further away from God.

The USA Today had an article this week on why Oral Roberts University should not be in the NCAA Tournament. #15ORU knocked off #2Ohio State in a shocking surprise win. Then, they went on to upset #7 Florida Gators to advance to the Sweet 16 round. ORU is the Cinderella team for 2021. But, according to USA Today’s writer, Hemal Jhaveri, who appears to be transgender, preferring the pronouns she/her, thinks ORU should be ousted from the tournament for their Christian beliefs on marriage – that marriage is between one man and one woman. And further, that intimacy should be shared only within that context.

So, where am I going with this? I don’t want you to get mad or upset or spur you to write your congressman/woman. What we need isn’t government intervention! What we need is for a mighty move of the Holy Spirit bringing about a revival in this land. That can only happen as the Gospel is preached. I say that because that is the means by which God has chosen to perpetuate the faith.

Transition: That’s why preachers and pastors love the Gospel. It is life changing because it changes the heart of a person. Our text is all about the gospel and how it changes people, specifically, how it changed the Colossians.

The letter begins with a traditional or typical opening: This is Paul and Timothy, to the saints at… Grace & Peace to you; Thanksgiving and Prayer; often times Paul would express his theme within his prayer or somewhere in the opening of his letter. And really, that prayer of his is so in line with the theme of his letter. In Colossians, it all about their spiritual maturity.

So, it’s interesting how he gets there in this letter. The first bit of information he tackles is some of the deepest, richest theology of Christ we see in Scripture. This passage is actually recognized as an ancient hymn. If you have the CSB, you’ll note at how this is written out in poetic form or style. I notice none of the other translations do that. At least none that I have. The editors of the Greek Text have it in poetic form.

If I were to sing, “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound…” you could probably join in – without needing words on the screen or a hymnal. If I said, “Our father which art in heaven…” you could probably join in… without aids. So, it would be with these Colossians.

The hymn starts in v15 and goes through v20; You’ll note the Hebraic style in the Chiastic structure:

            a. He is the image of God

                        b. The firstborn of all creation

                                    c. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

c. He is the beginning

                        b. The firstborn from the dead

            a. In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

The hymn brings out two important doctrines of Christ. 1) He is the Creator of all things and 2) He is the Head of the Church. So, what is the point of this hymn and Paul’s citing it here in the first part of this letter? I think it is simply this: Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, and he has absolute authority to accomplish whatever his heart desires. Paul quotes this hymn to demonstrate, first:

I. Christ in Relation to Creation: He is Lord. (15-17)

exp.: rd 15a; He is the image of the invisible God; This is a simple declaration that Jesus is God; It is reiterated in v 19; For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell; continuing in v 15; the firstborn of all creation; firstborn doesn’t mean the first one born; the word is means position; the common use would be the firstborn of the family.

ill.: According to the Law, all firstborn in Israel belong to God. So, the first-born animals were sacrificed as an offering to God. In some instances, such as firstborn sons, they could be redeemed by offering sacrifices in their stead. God was declaring the importance of position.

When an inheritance was to be given, the oldest, the first born got 2/3 of the estate; the final 1/3 was divided up between the rest of the boys. So, the etemology of the word leans toward people thinking that it has everything to do with birth position, but that isn’t it – that’s just the visible, popular use of the word. You need to know it means that Christ is preeminent in position of authority.

app.: He is the agent by which creation came into existence; he is the one who has authority over all of creation;

exp.: rd v16; For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. John 1.3 – ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

πάντα διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν

All through him became, and without him became not one thing which became.

Without him, nothing was made that has been made. He created it all! rd v 16 again; For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Rd v 17; And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

1. He is Creator.
2. He is Sustainer. Not only did he speak all that there is into existence, but his power is what holds it together.

app.: That’s an incredible power. That’s the ultimate authority. So, Paul, still in the midst of this hymn, is quoting for these people – probably something they already know – reminding them of Christ’s Supreme Authority. And he continues… rd v 18

t.s.: Now, this Hymn brings out…

II. Christ in Relation to The Church: He is Head. (18-20)

exp.: cf.: Chiastic structure; Christ has all authority as creator, sustainer, but he is also the Supreme Authority over his church.

• He is the Head of this body, the church.
• Beginning (ruler)
• Firstborn (position) from the dead; the 1^st to be resurrected

ill.: Others were raised from the dead, but they eventually died again; Christ is the first to be resurrected and still lives; And because of this, we have this hope of our resurrection and the resurrection of our loved ones; But this one act establishes Christ as the Supreme Authority over the Church. Remember, this again is about his position.

exp.: rd v 19-20; ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 19 establishes once again that he is God in the flesh; vs 20 tells us why he did all that he did: to reconcile to himself all things. He has all authority. He could have just written the earth off and destroyed it, but instead, he brought us peace. And he did so through the shedding of his blood on the cross.

app.: I love a good hymn that has good theology and doctrine. This ancient hymn is rich in Christology – the Doctrine of Christ. But why is Paul quoting it here? At the beginning of his letter? Where is he going with this?

t.s.: well, let’s look as he points us to…

III. Christ in Relation to The Colossians: He is Redeemer (21-23)

exp.: rd v 21-22; alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds; it appears there are two pieces of evidence for their unregenerate lives: alienated – that is to say, separated from God and enemies (hostile in mind) – that is to say, at enmity with God. These two pieces of evidence were seen in their actions – doing evil deeds. Earlier Paul mentioned (10) bearing fruit in every good work – same word here as ‘deeds’; good deeds vs. evil deeds; but it isn’t that way anymore!

Now you are no longer alienated or at enmity, but rather you’ve been reconciled…(and here is the gospel) in his body of flesh by his death; this little statement is connected to v. 24; we’ll revisit it next week, but for now, it’s important to note that Jesus physically died on the cross for our sin, making it possible to have a relationship with him. We were enemies of God, doing evil deeds, but now, he has reconciled us, making us holy, blameless and above reproach before him.

Paul then makes this statement that might bring some confusion: rd v 23: ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard… It sounds like you can lose your faith, but that isn’t the doctrine.

This is the doctrine: Continuation in the faith is evidence you’ve committed your life to Christ. For those who don’t continue in the faith, it is evidence that they haven’t committed their lives to Christ. This verse doesn’t mean that you can become a Christian and then lose your faith. Lots of folks start the journey and decide not to stick with it, for various reasons. When they choose to walk away from it, it means they never really were committed to it.

t.s.: The preeminence of Christ in all things establishes his authority in redemption history, reconciling the Colossians based on his atoning work and their continuation in the faith. And it is the same for us – All authority, in heaven and on earth, belongs to Christ. He is Preeminent in all things, including our redemption, if we stand firm in our faith.

Conclusion: I love the Gospel. I love that it changes lives.

She had been coming to our church for a few months. She was inquisitive and truly seeking. That was evident in her passion and pursuit of the truth. Her story relects the woman at the well – the Samaritan woman. When we met her, she had come through a nasty divorce. She and her little girl were trying to make a go of life in East Texas. She had gotten pregnant and had no intention of marrying the father of her 2^nd child. A co-worker, actually a subordinate, invited her to our church. It was there she heard the gospel.

She attended for some time – months even. It was during this time that she got pregnant with her 3^rd child. According to her own testimony, as she drove down the road, she was overcome by her own sin. She knew that living her life her way had made things incredibly difficult. She said she pulled off to the side of the road and just wept. It was there in her car on the side of the road, with tears streaming down that she committed her life to the Lord.

And boy did she. The Gospel got a hold of her life and transformed her. At first I was leery of her conversion. A lot of people start off like a falling star – bright and brilliant and full of energy at first, but then fall away into mediocrity. Not her! Jesus changed her and she has never been the same. I’ve watched her blossom into a passionate evangelist who has probably led more people to Christ than any other convert I’ve personally known!