Grace Bible Church of Rolling Meadows

Colossians

Notes by Peter Philippi

Colossians Overview

  • 1:1-8 The Colossians
  • 1:9-14 The will of God
  • 1:15-19 The Son of God
  • 1:20-23 The work of Christ
  • 1:24-29 The riches of the Mystery
  • 2:1-7 The treasures of the Mystery
  • 2:8-23 The protection we need from evil workers who seek to enslave you (8), condemn you (16) and defraud you (18)
  • 3:1-17 The life we live in Christ
  • 3:18-4:6 The effect on our relationships
  • 4:7-18 The relationships Paul had

Primary Themes in Colossians

  • The Headship of Christ
  • The Mystery
  • The Body of Christ
  • The need to mortify, put off and put on
  • The Tie to Romans
  • The Tie to Ephesians

The Writer of Colossians: Paul

  • Apostle of Jesus Christ
  • Apostle by the Will of God
  • Called Apostle, Separated unto the Gospel of God
  • Apostle of the Gentiles, an Elevated Office
  • Apostle with Specific Qualifications
    • Saw the Lord Jesus Christ
    • Apostle with a Seal
    • Performed the Signs of an Apostle
  • Not Worthy to be Called Apostle
  • Household Manager of the Body of Christ
    • A new message
    • A new ministry
    • Distinct from the 12

The Colossians 1:1-8

Nov 23, 2014 -- MP3 audio 04

  1. Saints: what God made them 1:2
  2. Faithful brethren in Christ: the way they became saints and were placed into Christ 1:2
  3. At Colosse: they geographical presence 1:2
  4. God's provision for them through Christ: grace and peace 1:2
  5. Paul's continuous prayer and gratitude for them 1:3
  6. Their faith in Christ Jesus 1:4
  7. Their love to all the saints 1:4
  8. Their hope laid up for them in heaven: received in the word of the truth of the gospel 1:5
  9. Nov 30, 2014 -- MP3 audio 05

  10. The gospel bore fruit in them: as in all the world 1:6
  11. Increasing in the Knowledge of God
  12. The ministry of Epaphras to the Colossians 1:7-8

The Will of God 1:9-14

Dec 14, 2014 -- MP3 audio 07

  1. God wants us to be filled with the knowledge of His will
  2. In all wisdom and spiritual understanding
  3. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord
  4. Unto all pleasing
  5. Dec 28, 2014 -- MP3 audio 08

  6. Being fruitful in every good work
  7. Jan 4, 2015 -- MP3 audio 09

  8. Increasing in the knowledge of God
  9. Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power
  10. Jan 11, 2015 -- MP3 audio 10

  11. Unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
  12. Giving thanks unto the Father 5 Causes for thanksgiving:
    • Which has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
    • Who has delivered us from the power of darkness
    • Who has transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son
    • In whom we have redemption through His blood
    • Even the forgiveness of sins

The Son of God 1:14-22

Jan 18, 2015 -- MP3 audio 11

  1. He is the Redeemer 14
  2. He paid the price by shedding of His blood 14
  3. He alone provides forgiveness of sins 14
  4. He is the image of the invisible God 15
  5. Jan 25, 2015 -- MP3 audio 12

  6. He is the firstborn of every creature 15
  7. Feb 08, 2015 -- MP3 audio 13

  8. He is the Creator of the universe 16-17
    • BY Him all things were created 16a
    • All things were created FOR Him 16b
    • He is BEFORE all things 17a
    • BY Him all things CONSIST 17b
  9. He is the Head of the Body, the church 18a
  10. He is the beginning 18b
  11. He is the firstborn from the dead 18c
  12. That in all things He might have the preeminence 18d
  13. Feb 15, 2015 -- MP3 audio 14

  14. In Him all fullness dwells 19
  15. God provided peace through the blood of His cross 20a
  16. By Him God reconciled all things to Himself 20b
  17. By Him God provides individual reconciliation 21
  18. This reconciliation is provided for alienated enemies engaged in wicked works 21
  19. This reconciliation is provided through the death sacrifice of God's Son 22a
  20. This reconciliation is complete and permanent 22b

The Imperative of Living Well 1:22-23

Feb 22, 2015 -- MP3 audio 15

  1. What the end result of living well looks like
    1. Holy
    2. Unblamable
    3. Unreprovable

    Mar 1, 2015 -- MP3 audio 16

  2. The necessity of remaining firmly grounded in THE FAITH
    1. Which they heard
    2. Which was preached to every creature
    3. Of which Paul was made a minister
  3. The essential role of right doctrine in the process of living well
    1. Continuing in the faith grounded and settled
    2. Not moved away from the hope of the gospel
    3. Paul's unique ministry to the body of Christ
    4. Paul's mention of the dispensation given to him
    5. Paul's clear reference to the mystery
    6. Preaching Christ, warning every man, teaching every man wisdom
    7. The warnings of being beguiled by wrong doctrine!

The Riches of the Mystery 1:24-29

Mar 8, 2015 -- MP3 audio 17

  1. The completeness and totality of Christ's sufferings
  2. The necessity of suffering as part of living the Christian life
    1. Prediction of Paul's sufferings
    2. Paul's attitude in and response to suffering
    3. The reality of every believer's sufferings
    4. Paul's sufferings as an extension of Christ's sufferings

    Mar 15, 2015 -- MP3 audio 18

  3. The responsibility and ministry of Paul
  4. Without the acknowledgement of the Mystery there is no spiritual maturity