2025-07-13 Faithful Saints in Christ
Colossians 1:1-14 (NIV)
I. Greeting 1:1-2
2 To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Today, we'll explore the Book of Colossians, one of the four Prison Epistles. What are the Prison Epistles? They are Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon, and Colossians.
From the opening of Colossians, we see the writer and the recipients. The writers are Paul and Timothy. Paul introduces himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus. An apostle is someone sent out, a representative of the sender. The term also carries the meaning of a "messenger." By calling himself an apostle of Christ Jesus, Paul indicates that he is sent by Jesus Christ to convey His message.
Paul highly values his apostolic identity. He describes the apostle Peter as the apostle to the circumcised (the Jews), while he is the apostle to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. Though their audiences differ, their mission is the same: to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul specifically notes that he is an apostle "by the will of God." Why does he introduce himself this way to the brothers and sisters in Colossae? Why is this introduction so significant? Pastor Kaan loves watching movies to learn Mandarin. I once tried watching American movies to learn English, but when I focused on the English, I missed the plot; when I focused on the plot, I forgot the English. In the end, I neither learned English nor understood the movie. How do Cantonese-speaking brothers and sisters learn Mandarin? Do you also watch Chinese movies? I know some mainland brothers and sisters who speak Cantonese learned it through TVB dramas.
In Chinese films, especially those set in imperial courts, we often see a scene where a eunuch holds a yellow silk scroll—a decree from the emperor. The eunuch arrives before officials, proclaiming, "The Imperial Edict has arrived…" At these words, even the highest officials kneel. The eunuch then reads, "By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor declares…" Are these the eunuch's words? No, they are the emperor's. And when officials kneel, are they kneeling to the eunuch? No, they kneel to the emperor who issued the decree. The eunuch carrying the edict represents not himself but the emperor. Similarly, Paul, as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, speaks not his own words but God's message.
Do you see how significant Paul's introduction is? Everyone who hears this letter must listen carefully, for Paul's words carry God's authority. As God's decree, shouldn't every child of God listen attentively?
Who is this letter addressed to? The saints in Colossae. How does Paul describe these saints? As faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
First, Paul calls them "saints." When we hear "saints," we might think of exceptionally holy, morally upright people who live ascetic, simple lives in close communion with God. But Paul calls "all" the brothers and sisters in Colossae saints. Are they all spiritual giants? If you read the entire book, you'll see that while the Colossian church is commendable, it's not perfect—it faces internal issues and challenges.
Paul calls them "saints" not because of their deeds but because of what the triune God has done for them, setting them apart as holy. In Colossians 1:12-14, Paul reminds them that they share in the inheritance of the saints because God has rescued them from the dominion of darkness, brought them into the kingdom of His beloved Son, and granted them redemption and forgiveness of sins through Christ. In verse 8, he mentions their love in the Spirit. Thus, it is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the triune God—who makes them saints.
II. Thanksgiving Prayer: Faith, Love, Hope (1:3-8)
4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people—
5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel
6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace.
7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Paul prays for these believers, beginning with thanksgiving. For what? Their faith in Christ Jesus and the love they show to all God's people. What is the foundation of this faith and love? Hope. Where does this hope come from? The gospel, delivered by faithful ministers. These short verses contain key faith concepts.
Let's start with faith in Christ Jesus. Paul doesn't just say faith in Jesus as an object but faith in Christ Jesus—the sphere of their faith. This faith arises from a relationship with Jesus Christ and fellow believers, creating the context for their faith.
This relationship begins with God. God created humanity in love, became human to bring us back to Him. This faith is visible through love for all God's people—all believers, the saints. Loving some believers is easy, but loving ALL? That's hard. Loving those who are like us or agreeable is simple, but loving those who are different or difficult? That's a challenge. Yet faith in Christ Jesus produces love for ALL saints—both the lovable and the unlovable. The Colossians demonstrated this love, and Paul thanks God for it.
"Gospel" wasn't a Christian-exclusive term. In the Roman Empire, victories in war or an emperor's ascension were called "good news." For Paul, the gospel centers on Jesus Christ—His victory on the cross and His reign as King. Colossians 1:13-14 outlines this gospel: God rescued us from the dominion of darkness, brought us into the kingdom of His Son, and through Him, we have redemption and forgiveness of sins.
III. Intercessory Prayer: Living Worthy of the Lord (1:9-14)
10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his Son he loves,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul, hearing of the Colossians' transformed lives, gives thanks and prays for them. They heard the gospel, witnessed its power, and spread it. With such a strong start, Paul encourages them to stand firm in the truth.
Paul prays they live a life "worthy of the Lord." Christians often say, "I'm so unworthy!" This isn't humility or politeness but a heartfelt response to God's grace. I once struggled with stuttering, barely able to complete a sentence. Now, I not only speak fluently but preach God's word—what amazing grace! I'm unworthy, yet God chooses the foolish to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong, the lowly to nullify the proud, so no one can boast before Him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
If we're so unworthy, why does Paul urge us to live "worthy of the Lord"? Because in Christ, we are saints, rescued from darkness into God's kingdom. Our actions should match our new identity.
Paul says to "please him in every way." In everything—health or sickness, employment or unemployment—we ask, "How do I please the Lord?" Christianity isn't abstract philosophy but the foundation of daily life, 24/7.
How do we live worthy? Paul prays they be filled with the knowledge of God's will through spiritual wisdom and understanding—not worldly wisdom, which may help us navigate this world, but only spiritual wisdom helps us know God and His will. Knowing God's will enables us to please Him, bear fruit in good works, and grow in knowledge. We also need God's power to gain strength, endurance, and patience, living in two worlds: the visible world and the invisible world in Christ.
To live worthy, start with prayer. Let's hear Paul's prayer for the Colossians again, letting the Spirit speak through these words written over 2,000 years ago.