Christology:

Jesus Is God!

Colossians 1

Introduction

Written by Paul from Roman

prison –61 ad

Sent to Philemon, Onesimus

carrying the letter

Colossae –a trade city –

Turkey

Epaphras started the Church

of Colossae

Confront the gnostic

philosophy

zGnosticism: “to know” – false teaching

Agnosticism: “to not know” – not sure about god…

Atheism: “there is no god”

There is a perfect higher being –god

The world was created by a lower-level imperfect god

Union between the perfect holy god is impossible because

all of creation is evil and a pure god cannot exist in or with

man –Incarnation is impossible!

Dualism –a broken spirit/soul lives in humanity –flesh/evil,

all evil actions have no effect on the soul because they are

separate entities

zChapter 1

V1 I know who I am (Paul) –an apostle by the will of God!

V2 Written to God’s holy people in Colossae – the faithful!

V3-14 Words of encouragement:

We are rejoicing because your testimony of faithfulness has

spread all over the Roman Empire! Your faith and love springs

up from the HOPE you have in Jesus Christ!

Epaphras is with Paul –he is interceding for you (Colossians)

Praying that you walk worthy of Christ, with His knowledge

that leads to wisdom and understanding given by the Spirit

zEncouragement & Teaching continues…

(Colossians 1: 9 –14)

Let your life be worthy of the Lord (2nd time stated)

Please Him in every way:

Growing fruit in every good work (your character & attitude)

Growing in the knowledge of God (learning from His Word)

Strengthened by His glorious might so you can have patience

and endurance

Giving joyful thanks to the Father –He has qualified you to

share in His inheritance –He rescued, redeemed, and

forgave us!

zChristology:

Study & Teaching of Who Jesus Christ Is

V15 Jesus is The Son of God –the image of the

invisible God and the first born over all creation

John 1: 1-4 & 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing

was made… In Him was life…the Word became flesh

(human) and lived among us … Jesus Christ…”

Paul continues:

V16 “All things have been created through Him and

for Him…”

V17 “He is before all things and in Him all things hold

together…”

V18 “He is the Head of the Church

He is the Beginning

He is the first born from the dead (resurrected)

He has supremacy over all…”

V19 “The fullness of God, the Father, is in Him”

zPaul continues:

V20 “Through Him (Jesus) all things are reconciled to

the Father by making peace through His (Jesus’)

blood shed on the cross”…

2: 9 & 10 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in

bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought

to fullness…”

V21 We were once alienated from God…

V22 BUT Now!!! Reconciled through His death and

resurrection –He presents us holy and without

blemish and free from accusation, v23, if you

continue in your faith…”

zBig Problem…Big Lie…

Gnostics today still say God could not become

human –Jesus became human (The Incarnation) –

Christmas!

Atheists deny there is a God –Romans 1:18-20 –

they have no excuse!

Agnostic believes there could be a god… somewhere

out there… Can’t have personal relationship with us

Deists believes there is a god who created all but left

it for humanity to work it out…

God’s Word Teaches:

“…the Lord himself will give you a

sign: The virgin will conceive and give

birth to a son, and will call him

Immanuel (God is with us).”

Isaiah 7:14

“For in Christ all the fullness of the

Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ

you have been brought to fullness…”

Colossians 2: 9-10

zStand Firm!

Jesus IS God!

Our Immanuel!