Colosse was a large town whose importance had been overtaken by Ephesus and Laodicea.
Paul had spent 3 years ministering in Ephesus, during which time Epaphras, who was from Colosse, had heard him teach and had become a Christian.
Upon his return to Colosse he was involved in the starting of the church of Colosse.
The town was mainly gentile but it had a sizeable Jewish population as well
And this Jewish/Gentile profile was reflected in the church.
Epaphras’s concern was that there were elements within the church who were starting to push certain heresies.
The gentiles pushed gnostic philosophy and the Jews pushed the Law.
So Epaphras contacts and discusses these things with Paul who writes this letter to the church of Colosse.
It is an important letter not only because of the situation in Colosse but because much of what we see there is very prevalent in our society today.
And Medway is in many ways very similar to the Colossian church…
We have faithful people, loving people, willing people.
So it becomes important to us at Medway.
The gnostic philosophy claimed only spirit was good and all matter was evil.
Therefore Jesus who was born of Mary (Flesh) was not equal to God…
He was one of a number of created emanations away from God.
And man has to wind his way thru the emanations to get to God.
This demanded special knowledge thus the name gnostic.
From there the theology of docetism develops…
They believe that Jesus is a spirit not a reality.
Docetism comes from the Greek “dokein” which means “it seems”
Jesus looks/seems real but is not real flesh and blood.
The problem with all of that is, if that is true, there is then no death for sin or resurrection to new life.
On the other hand the Jews were saying Jesus is all very well but he is not enough to satisfy God's demands and we need to add certain parts of the Law of Moses as well.
So there are 2 problems to deal with…
The gnostic philosophy which defamed the status of Jesus…
The Jews who defame the sufficiency of Jesus.
Paul manages the situation by proclaiming sound doctrine concerning the supremacy of Christ and the sufficiency of Christ… Colossians 1:15-23
Colossians is a mere 4 chapters but the quality and quantity of sound doctrine is astounding.
So the elders of Medway who are keenly aware of the need to protect sound doctrine have decided to do a series on the book.
Importance of sound doctrine
In many churches today sound doctrine is a low priority.
To many people good sound doctrine is regarded as…
Narrow minded…
Old fashioned and out of touch…
Boring and unnecessary
The teachers of truth become the enemy rather than saviours of truth.
Research done by Tim Challies, a Canadian pastor, on the subject shows that there are hundreds of churches in the USA alone where false doctrine is tolerated and even enjoyed.
The problem is that we like to hear and espouse that which is convenient and benefits our emotional state.
But Paul warns against this…
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears… and they will turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables… 2 Timothy 4:3-4
So the likes of Sarah Young produces a devotional book entitled Jesus Calling which sells 46m copies and she teaches Christian Mysticism.
But the problem is the truth of God's word often makes us uncomfortable and challenges change.
Which is what the Lord Jesus wants to achieve in us… Philippians 1:6
His purpose is to achieve Christ-likeness in us…
And we have to admit that it demands great changes which for many of us takes a lifetime.
Jesus speaks of weeds among the wheat… Matthew 13:25
Notice the modus operandi…
It is not confrontational from outside…
It is deceitful from within the church.
They take some truth to mask their error.
It is true that there are many outside agencies that oppose Christianity…
States like Russia, China, North Korea and many Muslim countries.
But even more damage is done in Churches who teach false doctrine and are leading their congregations to a lost eternity.
They teach…
A convenient health and wealth gospel
Hyper grace…
Universalism
New Revelations
Relativism
They deny…
The Trinity
Existence of hell
Christ's humanity
Virgin birth
Resurrection
Christ return
Be very particular about which authors books you read…
Or T.V. blogs you expose yourselves to.
So the message we need to hear, teach and live out is the sound doctrine that teaches the fullness of Christ… as found in scripture… Colossians 1:19 & 2:9
All too often we hear that Christ is not enough and that we need something more…
Some more exciting experiences … tongues, slain in the Spirit
Some extra-biblical prophecies …Bible is incomplete.
Some miraculous events … miracles.
But Scripture says…
The Son is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things… Hebrews 1:3
The challenges are often not convenient or comfortable…
But the Lord is doing a work in us for our benefit.
Colossians
The aim and purpose of this church (Medway) is to persevere in truth
Therefore we study Paul's letter to the Colossian church
