Colossians Exposition 1:2 The Saints at Colossae

Описание: A sermon preached by Paul Hartwig on 2 February 2025.

The city of Colossae was located in what is now Turkey, in the Roman province of Asia, situated on the Lycus River in a fertile valley between mountain ranges. It was a well-known city on a trade route, known for its wool, agriculture, and exports to Rome. The city was predominantly pagan, with people worshiping various gods and deities, including Aphrodite, Artemis, and astral deities, as well as participating in mystery religions.

Paul's letter was addressed to a new group of people in Colossae, a diverse community of men, women, slaves, masters, Jews, and pagan worshipers. This group had been meeting for about seven years and worshiped Christ as Lord. They were seen as peculiar for believing in Jesus, a Jewish preacher who was crucified and rose from the dead.

Key people in this church included Epaphras, the founding pastor, Philemon and his wife Apphia, and Philemon's slave Onesimus. The gospel created a holy people and faithful brothers in Christ Jesus in Colossae.
There are three key aspects of what the gospel does:
(1) The gospel puts a person in Christ. Christians live and exist in Christ, who is essential to them, like air to breathe or water to fish. This union is the closest possible, with Christians incorporated into Christ.
(2) The gospel creates saints or "holy ones". This term is not for an elite group, but for all true Christians, set apart for God. It's a status before God, not primarily about moral performance, though lifestyle should reflect this status.
(3) The gospel creates a loyal brotherhood (or sisterhood), a community of faithful individuals. This kinship is a powerful demonstration of the gospel, creating unity and equality in Christ. They are loyal to one another as family in Christ.

The gospel came to Colossae through Epaphras, not Paul, and it transformed pagan worshipers and Jews alike, bringing them into a relationship with Christ. This transformation occurs when the gospel is authentically received and the Holy Spirit is working.

The Nicene Creed's defines the church as "one, holy, catholic, apostolic". This definition is seen in Paul's address to the Colossians. The church is connected to apostolic teaching and is one unified body, not separate. Christians are part of a family, with loyalty and commitment to one another.