Grow With Pastor Joe

For many of today’s Christians there is a daily struggle of understanding how the person and work of Christ in the gospel is to be applied throughout one’s day. There are many who misunderstand the gospel of Jesus Christ as just the cure for our eternal destination, but they fail to see how to incorporate it into their daily life. Is the gospel for everyday? Is His grace for every moment? What about the little, unseen, and ordinary things of life? The answer is yes. Jesus isn’t just for eternity, but for the everyday life of the believer. It isn’t just necessary to have grace to get out of hell, but to live as a heavenly citizen while on this earth. I believe that one of the greatest issues that keeps Christians from growing in their personal walk with Christ and in their relationship to the local church is that they know Christ is supreme and sufficient in theory only. Theoretical Christianity is the plague of our day. Every believer that I know, myself included, and all that I am tasked to shepherd know that Christ is supposed to be supreme and sufficient; however, we wage a constant warfare of who and what gets our attention and affection. We constantly struggle with believing that Jesus really is enough for all aspects and details of life. Understanding and applying the truth that Christ is supreme and sufficient is the key to Christian living and the health, life, and vibrancy of a local church. If we think that Jesus isn’t supreme then something else will be put in the preeminent place. If we think that Jesus isn’t sufficient then we must rely on our own creativity, wisdom, strengths, or programs to produce fruit that will never truly last. Living without the daily submission to the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ only produces plastic fruit that looks great on the outside but has no life in it. Christ’s supremacy demands submission and His sufficiency demands satisfaction in Him alone. Jesus is our Lord and Life. It is time that we believed it and behaved like we believed.

            With that being said, I believe that the Lord would have us to carefully study the book of Colossians to see Christ as supreme and sufficient in all of life. The book of Colossians was one of Paul’s letters that he wrote while facing imprisonment for his gospel ministry. The letters to the church at Ephesus and Colosse are sister letters. The book of Ephesians focuses more on the Body of Christ, the Church; whereas, Colossians focuses more on the Head of the Body, the Lord Jesus Christ as being supreme and sufficient. Both books are broken in half with the first half focusing on doctrinal exposition and the second half focusing on the practical expectations for believers. Here in Colossians, we see that Christ is supreme and sufficient. Because of this, He is to be submitted to in all areas of life (individually and corporately) and that we are to be totally satisfied in Him. The church at Colosse appears to have been founded by Epaphras, who is mentioned throughout Paul’s letter. Paul himself did not make it there in person but goes there through this letter to deal with some troubling issues to prevent further damage being done in the life of the church. Theologians and church historians often discuss what is called the “Colossian Heresy.” This particular issue was a mixture of early Gnosticism blended with mysticism and Jewish legalism. All of these issues boiled together to create an awful concoction that was poisoning the life of the church. To make it as plain as possible, there was a threat of adding man’s wisdom and works to the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In adding our own wisdom or works, we are saying that Christ is not supreme or sufficient. If you add anything to your salvation or sanctification, then you don’t have either. Throughout the letter to the Colossians, Paul focuses on the believer being “in Christ” which is seen in his opening greeting that we’ll cover today. All of the daily practical life of the believer hinges on understanding our union with Christ and His Church while by grace through faith living in communion with Christ and His Church. Christ being supreme and sufficient in our heads, hearts, and homes is the key to living in daily communion with the One we are eternally united to. Jesus is not to be a part of our life. He is our life.

            True Christian living is deeper then higher. It is inside then outside. It is completely contrary to the way of the world. It is supernatural. Man’s wisdom says that we work outside in, but the gospel works from the inside out. Man’s work builds higher and wider without ever building deeper leading to destruction. God wants believers to actually live the Christian life in the fullness and victory that Christ has provided. Yes, we will stumble and struggle, but there is strength in the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ in the everyday life. Our study of Colossians will help us to deal with all of the issues of Christian living, but all of those issues come down to our relationship and responsibility. God wants us to live by His wisdom, not ours. Because of our union with Christ, He is our wisdom and His wisdom is supreme and sufficient compared to all of the books in the world. God wants us to live by His works, not ours. Because of our union with Christ, our work is done relying upon His wisdom and work for us, in us, and through us. Simply, Colossians places the gospel on the pavement of life. This book puts the gospel and grace of Jesus at the dining room table, the hospital room, the workplace, the car, school, the cemetery, and local Mexican restaurant. Today, we will begin this study by looking at the gracious greeting in Col. 1:1-2 which says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, ² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

            First, in this gracious greeting we see the sent one. Paul is the sent one of God as we see in Col. 1:1. He is God’s man with God’s message. In the opening greeting we see Paul greeting the church at Colosse. Unlike how we might sign a letter at the end, Paul places his name first so that they knew who was writing to them. There are two things that we see about the sent one.

One, we see Paul the man. Paul’s name in Greek is “Paulos” which means “little or small.” You and I view him as a giant of the faith having been used of God to write over a dozen books of our New Testament. We think of Paul as a larger-than-life character. Yet his name shows us that the wisdom and work of God displayed. God chooses to use the small and weak things of the world to do his great work. Paul spoke of this in 1 Cor. 1-2 as he even describes himself as one who didn’t preach with the wisdom of man, but the power of God. Paul viewed himself as a small instrument who was in the hands of a mighty God. Paul’s conversion is seen in Acts 9, but his testimony is perhaps seen most clearly in Phil. 3:4-11 which says, “⁴ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: ⁵ Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. ⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Paul knew that as a man he had nothing to boast in except the work of Christ. In Paul’s testimony, we see the example to see oneself as small and Christ big. We see in him the example to live with Christ supreme and sufficient in all things. From the road to Damascus until the day that Paul lost his head for Christ as a martyr, he knew that Christ was supreme and sufficient for all of life.

Two, we see Paul the messenger. Paul was “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” The office of apostle was a temporary office having the prerequisite of seeing the risen Christ and being directly sent by Christ. In Acts 9 we see not only Paul’s conversion but Jesus sending him as His ambassador to the nations with the gospel. An apostle was one who was sent in its most basic meaning of the word. However, the idea carried the understanding that an apostle was an authorized ambassador who was given authority to exercise. This is precisely what Paul, and the other apostles were in the early church. With their office came the authority of being ambassadors of Christ and His gospel. Paul was not an apostle because of his worthiness, but rather “by the will of God.” It was Jesus who chose him and sent him. Paul would not have chosen this for himself. After all, when Jesus met him, Paul was on his way to persecute the Church of Christ. Understanding here Paul as the sent one helps us to see that it doesn’t matter what we make of ourselves, but rather what matters most is what God makes of us. The truth of the gospel transforms us from the inside out just as it had transformed Paul. It is Christ who sent Paul with the gospel, but it is also Christ who sends His Church out into the world today to proclaim the good news. God saves us from our own wisdom and works and sends us with His wisdom to do His work. That is God’s will for Paul as God’s sent one, but the same is true for all believers.

            Second, in this gracious greeting we see the separated ones. Col. 1:2a says, “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse.” There is no such thing as a Christian who isn’t a saint. There is no such thing as being a Christian but not separated. The word “saints” is the word “hagios” which means to be different, distinct, separate, or holy. Paul is not writing to unbelievers or for unbelievers. He is writing to and for Christians who have been separated from the world and who must continue to be separated from the world that is seeking to destroy the church through deception. Believers are to be separated from the world and separated unto God. The idea of being a saint is that of belonging. It is primarily a word that describes one’s position. Notice that the first thing Paul says is that they are saints and faithful brethren who are “in Christ.” That phrase directly tells the reader to think about the believer’s union with Christ which is their eternal position of belonging to Christ. We are united to Him by grace through faith. Secondarily, the word deals with practicality of living as saints. The idea is that they are positionally saints (holy, distinct, separated ones) who should then in turn live practically as saints. Holiness is not optional for the believer. We are commanded to practically live by faith according to our fixed position being in Christ. Because I am a saint in Christ I must live accordingly. Notice though that Paul says that they are first of all “in Christ” before they are “at Colosse.” We are first and foremost citizens of heaven who are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (See Eph. 2:6-10; Col. 3:1-4). This is for all believers to remember. I love America. I was born here, raised here, and I plan to die here. This country is filled with wonderful freedom to enjoy. I have great privileges because of my American citizenship. Even this past week and it appears the foreseeable future there will be a surge of conservatives who will be more American than Christian. Being politically conservative does not equal Christianity. Neither does being liberal for that matter. I believe that one of the deadliest issues of Christian living today is that we do not see ourselves as being in Christ first. We view ourselves as American Christians not Christians who live in America. Yes, we live in Colosse if you will, but we are in Christ. We are seated in heaven. We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We are separated unto the gospel. We are separated from the world, not because we are Americans, but because we belong to Jesus Christ. Not only are these separated ones saints, but they are also “faithful brethren.” They are considered faithful in the sense that they not only possess or profess faith, but that they practice faithfulness. They are trustworthy in their testimonies. While the Colossian Heresy was threatening, the believers that Paul addresses here have not fallen prey to the push of Gnosticism, mysticism, or legalism. They are abiding faithfully by abiding in Christ. Furthermore, the term “brethren” is used to signify the closeness of the family bond of Christians. They are not just separated, but they are separated together in Christ. There is union with one another in Christ while also being corporately separated from the world. The Church is in Colosse, but they are united to Christ and one another as citizens of heaven. Today, Christians must too be separated together in our unity in the gospel.

            Third, in this gracious greeting we see the Sovereign One. Col. 1:2b says, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Who is the Sovereign One? It is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the full title that Paul often uses of Christ. Lord shows us His sovereignty. His name Jesus being His earthly name also shows us His salvation for it means “God saves.” Christ is the title that shows us His supernaturality in that there is none like Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Sovereign One who we are united to, but in this gracious greeting we see that He sovereignly gives us grace and peace. Grace and peace cannot be earned. They are gifts of His sovereign love for His Body and Bride, the Church. The word “grace” is the word “charis” which means unmerited favor and it also signifies the enabling empowerment of God. If we had to use one word to describe the Christian life it would be grace. We are saved by grace, sustained by grace, and sealed by grace until the day of redemption. Grace is our beginning, middle, and end. Grace is woven throughout eternity into the fabric of the everyday and ordinary life of the believer. Being saints in Christ is an act of God’s grace. God’s grace precedes God’s peace that is given to the believer. It is grace that produces peace. The word “peace” is the word “eirene” which has the basic idea of joining together that which was separated. Apart from Christ man has no peace with God. The grace that the gospel provides to us in Christ gives us peace with God and the peace of God. Grace is God stooping low to embrace us and empower us to live for Him in peace. Peace is the enjoyment of God’s grace. What believers need for everyday living is the enjoyment of the grace and peace that the gospel of Jesus Christ has provided. Being in union with God through Jesus by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the God’s grace in our life and His peace allows us to enjoy it in the fullest sense. Grace reveals, redeems, and reconciles. Peace rests and rejoices in our relationship with Christ. For the Colossian believers and for us today, we must see that the grace of God did not disappear after we got saved and that peace isn’t just something we’ll experience in heaven. Grace and peace are for here and now. Grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ are what will protect and preserve us from the dangers of life. Because Jesus is the Sovereign One, we can trust that His grace and peace are sovereignly given by His eternal love for us. Furthermore, we can trust that His grace and peace is supreme and sufficient to any of our own wisdom or works.            

As we close today’s study of the gracious greeting to the Colossians, I wonder, have you received the grace and peace of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you still trying to be wise enough or work hard enough to please God? It will never happen. Grace and peace are available in Christ, but applied by faith in Him alone. Lay aside your wisdom. Lay aside your work. Only Christ is sufficient to save because He is supreme in His person and work. As Paul graciously greets this church, he graciously greets today’s believers and invites us to make Christ supreme and sufficient in all parts of our life. Ask yourself today if Christ is truly supreme and sufficient in your life. Not in theory, but in practice! Until we see Jesus as our Lord and Life we will constantly struggle in life to live for the Lord. May we see Christ as supreme and sufficient in the everyday and ordinary things of life.