INVESTIGATING PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

I’ve been giving a lot of thought as to what direction to take in the next series of blog posts, and I keep coming back to Colossians.  No, it is not a prophetic book per se, but it is a wonderful resource regarding central truths in the word of God.  It seems that the veracity of scripture is more and more under attack even by those who profess to be Christian.  Frankly, I believe this is one of the primary evidences that we are in the end times just preceding the return of the Lord Jesus to take His place as the King of kings on planet earth. 

2 Timothy 3:1–5 & 13 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof….But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

2 Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts….”

Matthew 24:3–5 & 11 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many….And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

I pray that you will be strengthened and become more discerning spiritually as we investigate Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse and discover its many treasures.  As the time gets continually closer to the Lord’s return, the truth of scripture will be ever more manipulated by wicked men toward their own purposes.  We need to hold tightly to the truth of God’s word and exercise great discernment so as not to fall for their deceptions.

Please note that Paul was formerly known as Saul and was a zealous member of the Pharisees who persecuted the early Christians until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.  According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Colosse was located in what is today known as Turkey “about 12 miles above Laodicea, and near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates.”

Colossians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 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.

Paul starts out six books in similar fashion (2Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1&2 Timothy)—with a statement to the fact that he is an apostle according to the will or commandment of God.  This is an emphasis to the fact that his Damascus Road experience was the turning point in his life.  I think this is a wonderful example of God’s supernatural intervention in a man’s life to accomplish His will.  Paul could have rejected the whole experience, but he chose to embrace the truth when it was revealed to him so powerfully.   There is nothing in the narrative (Acts 9) indicating that he was forced against his will.  In fact, as soon as Jesus identified Himself to Paul as the One he was persecuting, Paul became immediately submissive.  He immediately recognized the truth and wanted to serve God in truth.  This is also a statement of Paul’s authority as established by God to declare His truth.

Many times throughout my journals I have noted that you can’t experience the peace of God without first experiencing His grace.  It is by His grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), and it is only in Christ that we can find peace.  Peace is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22), and we don’t benefit from the presence of the Spirit in our lives until we are “in Christ.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….”

(to be continued…)