1.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
1. Observe here the modesty of Luke, the amanuensis, in the omission of his own name, which certainly had a right to appear with that of Paul and Timothy.
2.
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.
2. “ To the saints in Colosse, and to the faithful brethren in Christ. ” You see here again a confirmation of the fact patent throughout the Scriptures, that “saint” is the epithet given by the Holy Ghost to the Lord’s people. We should all accept the name, and recognize the standard which God has given us.
3.
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
3. “ Always praying for you. ” We do not pray enough. We ought to pray incessantly for all the saints on the earth.
4.
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5.
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6.
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7.
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8.
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11.
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
ARGUMENT 3
GOD’S DYNAMITE
11. “ Being dynamited with all dynamite according to the power of his glory. ” Paul, in Romans 1:6, defines gospel the
“dynamite of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Hence, this power (Greek, dynamite) is the only gospel. The trouble with the pulpit nowadays is the absence of the dynamite, which alone can blow sin out of the soul, and the devil out of the Church. Dynamite is like powder, but infinitely more so. The preachers are afraid to handle it, lest it blow their Churches all to pieces. They need not be afraid, for it can not blow out anything but sin, which is bound to come out, or the devil will get them. Some are willing to take the dynamite of conviction for sinners, and regeneration for penitents, but not willing to take the dynamite of sanctification for Christians. Shall we not walk in the footprints of Paul, and go for the entire bill of fare, and get the people dynamited with all dynamite? God forbid that we should leave out any of heaven’s dynamite! In so doing, we take an awful risk. Let us receive the dynamite of conviction, regeneration, and sanctification, and henceforth be true to our commission, do our utmost to get our people all dynamited with all dynamite.
12.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20.
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22.
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23.
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24.
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25.
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26.
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28.
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29.
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.