The Lord Has Not Forgotten You
A journey through the Book of Colossians reveals Paul's heart for the church—a reminder that no matter how small or insignificant we may feel, God sees us. As we navigate building campaigns, governance, and sacrificial giving, we must step back and remember what was foremost on Paul's heart: knowing Christ and walking worthy of Him.
Paul's Heart on a Platter
Paul's letter to the Colossians overflows with pastoral love. He writes: "I want you to grow in Christ. Remember who this Christ is—the image of God who holds all things together. The gospel He gives has brought peace between us and God by His blood on the cross."
Paul labors and toils, willing to give everything to proclaim Christ so believers might grow in maturity. He warns against vain philosophies and fine-sounding arguments that overshadow the Gospel, reminding them that in Jesus dwells the fullness of Deity.
The City of Colossae
Colossae was a small agrarian town in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), about 120 miles east of Ephesus. Known for its wool and textile industry, this city suffered a devastating earthquake shortly before Paul wrote his letter.
Location
120 miles east of Ephesus, near Laodicea
Industry
Known for wool, clothing, and textiles
Crisis
Decimated by severe earthquake
When believers heard that "in Jesus all things hold together," it was especially comforting—a reminder that though everything seemed to be coming apart, this Jesus holds all things together.
A Culture of Fear and Power
Colossae existed in a polytheistic culture steeped in fear. This was a power-fear society where people worried constantly about evil spirits, the spiritual realm, and life beyond the grave. Imagine walking at night, terrified that an evil spirit might drag you into Hades.
The church wasn't immune to this thinking. Christians were venerating angels, believing they needed intermediaries between themselves and God. They were syncretizing worldly mindsets with Christian faith—blending external beliefs with God's truth.
This remains a challenge today: What secular philosophies do we import into our faith? The Western mindset of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps can make us believe we must work to please God, rather than resting in grace.
Cultural Mindsets
- Guilt-righteousness (Western)
- Honor-shame (Islamic/African)
- Power-fear (Animistic societies)
Grace and Peace: Our Foundation
Grace from God
We stand on a position of grace—unearned, undeserved favor that we could never achieve through our own effort.
Peace with God
This grace produces peace with God, not the striving and angst that characterizes so much of Western Christianity.
Paul begins his letter with "Grace and peace from God our Father." This isn't just a greeting—it's a reminder of our position. Are we a people defined by grace and peace, or by striving, fear, and worry? Our foundation is secure: grace and peace from God our Father.
Paul's Prayer for the Church
"I am asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
This progression shows how knowledge leads to worthy living, which produces fruit.
Paul's prayer challenges how we pray for others. Sometimes we pray only about circumstances, but the greatest prayer is that people would come to such a deep, passionate knowledge of Jesus that regardless of circumstances, they would walk worthy through the valley of the shadow of death.
If a church prays these prayers for one another—"I want you to know Jesus and walk in light of that knowledge"—transformation happens. We gather at church to know, so that we might walk in that knowledge.
The Supremacy of Christ
Is Jesus strong enough? Can He protect us? Paul answers with a magnificent declaration of Christ's supremacy:
Image of God
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation
Creator of All
By Him all things were created—visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities
Sustainer
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together
Head of Church
He is the head of the body, the church, that in everything He might be preeminent
J.B. Lightfoot said that Christ is the one who makes creation a cosmos instead of a chaos. Even when earthquakes happen, Jesus holds it all together. In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile all things by the blood of His cross.
What Christ Has Done for You
Before Christ
You were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. That's who you once were.
In Christ Now
He has reconciled you in His body of flesh by His death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.
Here's a wonderful joy: No matter how much you battle sin and frailty, if you are in Christ, there is nothing you can do to make your standing greater before God. And there's nothing you can do that makes your standing less before God. In Christ you are wholly blameless, above reproach, judicially declared righteous.
This is a glorious gospel. And Paul asks: At what length am I willing to go to proclaim this gospel? "I rejoice in my suffering... Him we proclaim... For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me."
Standing Firm as a Church
Paul uses military imagery to describe the church's posture. He rejoices in their "good order" and "firmness"—terms used for Roman battle formations. When the call to battle comes, you know who you are, where you stand, your giftings, where the enemy is, and how to work together.
1
Good Order
Fall into lines of battle, link shields, ready for warfare
2
Firmness
When the enemy charges, the formation doesn't collapse—it stands strong
3
United Stand
Every believer stands together, shields linked, bearing one another in love
We are in a spiritual war to delude and distract us, to minimize the gospel and proclaim everything except Christ. When the sound of battle comes, every single one of us as believers must stand up to the front line with shields linked, ready to withstand the onslaught of lies.
Walk Worthy: Put Off Sin, Put On Christ
Set Your Mind
On things above, not on earthly things
Put to Death
Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, covetousness
Put On
Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience
If Christ is in you, kill sin. Put it to death, execute it. We've gotten so comfortable in our sins that we nurture them instead of trying to put them to death. This side of heaven, sin will never go away, but you can stunt its growth and bring it under subjection.
Putting sin to death is not a one-time altar call—it's every single day saying, "God help me to put to death this sin, this lust, this selfishness, this pride." If you are not killing sin, it will be killing you.
Let Christ shine in your marriages, your parenting, your workplace. Continue steadfastly in prayer, because you can't do this unless you're tapped into daily communion with God. Following Christ is not easy—it may bring you to chains. But are you willing to fight as a church, link shields, and go into battle? What are 80, 90, or 100 years on this earth compared to eternity? Stop living for now and start living for what is to come.