Week One | "Reminded" | "All That Matters"

Lesson 1—Reminded

Colossians 1:1-8

1. The Author (v. 1)

Paul, God’s ambassador to the Gentiles

Timothy, our brother

2. The Recipients (v. 2)

Saints, those who are set apart, holy
Physically living in Colossae, while spiritually “in Christ”

3. Thanksgiving and Prayer (v. 3)

4. A Twofold Commendation (v. 4)

The essence of the Christian life:

A. Faith in Christ Jesus

Christ – Messiah, the anointed of God - God’s Chosen King
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17).

“As you go proclaim this message, the Kingdom of Heaven has come near” (Matthew 10:7).

The Greek word for gospel, euangelion (literally “good news”), in the New Testament also comes from terminology that was used in regards to kings and their dominions. When a new king was crowned, the euangelion was the announcement that the monarch had taken the throne, that a new kingdom had taken power (Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus, Lois Tverberg, p. Loc. 631, Kindle Edition).

B. Love for all the saints

“The Christian has a double loyalty – a loyalty to Christ and a loyalty to men...The Christian faith is not only a conviction of the mind; it is also an outflow of the heart. It is not only correct thought; it is loving conduct” (The Letter to the Philippians, Colossians, and the Thessalonians, William Barclay, p. 126).

5. Because of Hope (v. 5)

Paul believed that the hope offered in Christ inspires assurance and, as a result, produces spiritual fruit. The basis of believing Christ (faith) and serving others (love) is that this world is not the end. There is an afterlife where the deeds done here will be evaluated and rewarded. Christians have an understanding of the rewards and blessings of Heaven (The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Richard R. Melick, Jr. Logos).

6. The Gospel (v. 5-6)

Overcoming the lure of the world and the lies of the evil one.
In the book of Proverbs, Wisdom and Folly are personified. Both call out to those passing by.

"The woman of folly is boisterous,
She is naive and knows nothing.
She sits at the doorway of her house, 

On a seat by the high places of the city, 

Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight:
'Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,'
And to him who lacks understanding she says,
'Stolen water is sweet;
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of Sheol" (Proverbs 9:13-18). 

The Song of the Siren has long been a literary illustration of the lure of Folly. In literature there are two men who overcame the call of the sirens: Ulysses in The Odyssey and Orpheus in Argonautica, Book IV. The siren in Greek mythology was a creature half bird and half woman who lured sailors to their destruction.

"Ulysses, warned of the fatal effect of the Sirens’ song, remained fascinated with the prospect of hearing the beautiful sounds with his own ears. Understanding the human frailties of his crew and himself, Ulysses plugged the sailors’ ears with beeswax and then had himself lashed to the ship’s mast. As the ship sailed past the Sirens’ rocky home, the sailors were unaffected by the sweet-sounding songs while Ulysses was physically restrained from acting on the desires that stirred within him. Orpheus, a musician of legendary renown, took a different approach to escape the Sirens’ snare. When the Argonauts sailed into the treacherous waters surrounding the deadly isle, Orpheus began to play and sing. The exquisite beauty of Orpheus’s music was so genuine and compelling that the Sirens no longer held any appeal for the crew" (Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, Max Anders, Logos).

Ulysses is a picture of what some try to accomplish in the power of the flesh. They increase the prohibitions and constraints of Christianity to defeat the flesh. But the Scripture is clear that these are futile – “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body but are of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Colossians 2:23).

Orpheus sang a more beautiful song.

Paul holds up the supremacy of Christ – to no longer love the world we must have a greater love. We must hold up something or someone more beautiful. That is why we are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. When Christ is preeminent (Colossians 1:15-19) “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace” (“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”).

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Dancing on the Waves

I'm standing at your door

My heart is calling yours

Come fall into my arms

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You're weary from it all

Been running for too long

I'm here to bring you home

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I'm reaching out

I'll chase you down

I dare you to believe

How much I love you now

Don't be afraid

I am your strength

We'll be walking on the water

Dancing on the waves

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Look up and lift your eyes

The future's open wide

I have great plans for you

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Your past is dead and gone

Your healing has begun

I'm making all things new

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I'm reaching out

I'll chase you down

I dare you to believe

How much I love you now

Don't be afraid

I am your strength

We'll be walking on the water

Dancing on the waves

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I set every star into place

So you would remember my name

I made it all for you

But you are my masterpiece

You are the reason I sing

This is my song for you

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I set every star into place

So you would remember my name

I made it all for you

You are my masterpiece

You are the reason I sing

This is my song for you

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I'm reaching out

I'll chase you down

I dare you to believe

How much I love you now

Don't be afraid

I am your strength

We'll be walking on the water

Dancing on the waves

Oh we’re walking on the water

Dancing on the waves

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