Letter to the Colossians
By H. A. "Buster" Dobbs



Quote:
I. Introduction.
A. The primary purpose of this letter was to guard the church
against the false teachers of false philosophy.
1. The first half of the letter is doctrinal (1:12 to 2:23).
2. The second half of the letter is practical (3:1 to 4:18) .
B. Greeting and gratefulness for their faith (1:1-2).
1. The letter was from Paul, an apostle of Jesus, and Timothy,
the brother (1:1).
2. To the saved and the faithful in the city of Colossae, a city of
Asia Minor near the town of Laodicea (1:2).
3. He wishes for them grace and peace from Jehovah and from
Jesus (1:2).
C. Paul's prayer for them (1:3-11).
1. Thanksgiving for their faith and love for the saints (1:3-4).
2. Thankful for the hope of an eternal reward (1:5).
3. The gospel was the foundation of the hope of future reward
(1:5).
4. The gospel had come to Colosae and to all the world (1:6).
5. The gospel brings forth the fruit of the knowledge of the
grace (gifts) of God (1:6).
a. Their faithful preacher was Epaphras (1:7).
b. Paul had learned about the church in Colosae from
Epaphras (1:8) .
6. Paul prayed they might:
a. Be filled with knowledge, spiritual wisdom, and
understanding (1:9).
b. Walk worthily of the Lord (1:10).
c. Bear fruit in every good work (1:10).
d. Be strengthened with all power (1:11).
e. Be patient and longsuffering with joy (1:11).
II. Doctrinal Part of the Letter (1:12 to 2:23).
A. Exhortation to be thankful for salvation (1:12-29).
1. The Father made us sufficient to partake of heaven (1:12).
2. The Father translated the saved out of the world of sin, and
into the kingdom of his dear Son (1:13).
3. In Christ is forgiveness of sins (1:14).
4. Jesus is: (1:15-19).
a. The image of the invisible God (1:15).
b. The firstborn of all creation (1:15).
c. Creator of all things (created through and unto him)
(1:16).
d. Before all things (eternal) and by him all things stand
together (1:17).
e. Head of the church (1:18) .
f. Preeminent--to be first (1:18) .
g. God in the completeness of his being (1:19).
B. The great blessing of reconciliation in Jesus is made known
through the gospel (1:20-23).
1. Through Jesus, the Father changes the sinner from enemy
to friend (reconciles the lost). Men are invited to be
reconciled to Jehovah--to change their attitude, and accept
the provision God had made (1:20).
a. The reconciliation is by the blood of the cross (1:20).
b. The result of reconciliation is peace (1:20).
2. The lost are corrupt in mind and evil in works (1:21).
3. The sinner may come back to God and be made holy,
without blemish and unreprovable by Jesus' death on the
cross (1:22).
4. It is necessary to continue in the faith (1:23).
a. Grounded in the hope of the exciting news of salvation
(1:23).
b. The gospel was preached throughout the world (1:23).
C. The service and persecution of Paul (1:24-29).
1. Paul rejoiced in his suffering because it served the highest
interest of the church, which is Jesus' body, for which Paul
gladly faced afflicted (1:24).
2. Paul served sinners because of the stewardship given to him
according to the will of God (1:25).
3. The revealed mystery is that God is willing to save all the
nations--not just the Jews (1:26-29).
a. Christ is also in the Gentiles as the hope of glory (1:27).
b. Paul preached Jesus to all men that all might be made
complete in Christ (1:28) .
c. Paul labored--toiled to the point of weariness--to teach
the whole world the truth of the gospel (1:29).
D. Exhortation to steadfastness (2:1-10).
1. The importance of the subject (2:1-7).
a. The apostle loved the lost and sought their salvation--
even those he had never met (2:1).
b. Paul wanted them to have comfort, love, and the full
assurance that the gospel is for all (2:2).
c. In Christ all spiritual wisdom and knowledge is deposited
(2:3).
d. Do not let false teachers fool you with their fair speech
(2:4).
e. Though I cannot be with you physically, I think of you
and am happy because you have a clear-headed
understanding, and therefore, have a strong foundation
(2:5).
f. Stay with the truth you received (2:6-7).
2. Warning against false teachers (2:8-10).
a. There is an ever-present danger of being spoiled by those
who claim to love truth, but follow empty words, the
teaching of men, and all that is opposed to God (2:8) .
b. In Christ is the fullness of perfection and the government
of deity. If you have Christ--the gospel--you do not need
any other teaching. The fullness of the divine is in Jesus
(2:9).
c. In Christ you have full perfection (2:10).
E. You have everything you need in Christ (2:11-15).
1. In Christ you have a circumcision not made with hands
(2:11)
a. This circumcision is the putting off of the sinful body of
the flesh (2:11).
b. It is the work of Christ (not the work of man--not made
with hands) (2:11).
2. The circumcision not made with hands--putting off the body
of flesh--occurred in baptism (2:12).
a. It is a co-burial and a co-ressurrection--you are buried
with Christ and you are raised with Christ (2:12).
b. This is accomplished because of your faith in the work
God does in your burial and resurrection (2:12).
3. You were dead in sin, but are now alive in Christ (2:13).
4. Gentiles are saved without submitting to the Jewish law
(2:14).
a. The bond written in ordinances that opposed Gentiles and
preferred Jews, is removed (2:14).
b. Jesus nailed that Old Covenant to his cross (2:14)
5. Jesus gives both Jew and Gentile victory over the devil and
his angels in the triumph of calvary (2:15).
F. Evils to be avoided (2:16-23).
1. Do not be bound by the requirement of the Jewish law
(2:16).
a. The Jewish law was a shadow (2:16).
b. The substance is Christ--the new covenant (2:17.
2. Salvation does not come by: (2:18)
a. Your own suffering--crawling over broken glass or lying
on beds of nails (2:18) .
b. Worshipping angels (2:18) .
c. The worthlessness of human wisdom (2:18) .
d. Salvation comes by holding fast to Christ (2:19).
3. If you died and were buried with Christ in baptism and
raised with him to a new life, do not follow worthless things
(2:20-23).
a. Human ordinances (2:20).
b. Austerities (2:21).
c. Things which may appear to be clever, but have no value
in warring against the enemies of the soul (2:22-23).
III. Practical Part of the Letter (3:1 to 4:18) .
A. You died and were buried and were raised with Christ to be a
new creature (3:1-4)
1. Think about heaven, not earth (3:2).
2. You are dead to sin and alive to God (3:3).
3. When Jesus comes again he shall appear a second time
apart from sin unto salvation, and worldly things will perish
(3:4).
B. Stay away from evil (3:5-11).
1. Avoid sexual impurity of every kind, filth (keep your house
clean), intemperate affection, evil thoughts, and greed--love
of money which is worship of mammon, or idolatry (3:5).
2. God will punish every vile thing (3:6).
3. You once lived by the rule of moral decadence (3:7).
4. But now, put all wrong away (3:8-9).
a. This includes anger, wrath, malice, railing and vulgar talk
(3:8) .
b. The old man of sin has bean crucified with Christ,
therefore, tell the truth (3:9).
5. Follow Christ as your generous creator and do not be
biased against other humans (3:10-11).
C. Things children of God must do (3:12-25).
1. Follow what is true and right (3:12-15).
2. Let the word of Christ live in you, and teach and admonish
one another to love and good works (3:16-16).
3. Do only those things Christ approves (3:17).
5. Wives obey your husbands (3:18) .
6. Husbands love you wives (3:19).
7. Children obey your parents (3:20).
8. Fathers, do not provoke and discourage your children
(3:21).
9. Slaves, offer sincere obedience to your masters (3:22-24).
a. Do not chaff and be resentful (3:23).
b. Christ will come and reward you (3:24).
c. Christ will punish evil doers (3:25).
10. Masters, be fair to your slaves knowing you have a master
in heaven to whom you must give an answer (4:1).
D. Various admonitions (4:2-6)
1. Continue in prayer (4:2-4).
2. Walk in wisdom toward those outside of Christ (4:5).
3. Buy back the opportunities (4:5).
4. Let your speech be with grace (4:6).
5. Know how to answer each one (4:6).
E. Tychicus and Onesimus would come to them and bring
additional information about Paul's condition (4:7-9).
F. Closing remarks and blessing (4:10-18) .
Shain1611

"SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH
(John 17:17)

And Jesus Speaking; " He that rejecteth me, receiveth not my words, hath one that, judgeth him:the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in
( John12:48 KJV)