The Book Of Colossians Life Application Bible Study

9Believers Bible Commentary Verses 9-14:The apostle clearly states that it was from Epaphras that the believers had heardthe gospel message and had come to know it experientially in their lives. There wasnothing of bitterness or jealousy about the Apostle Paul. It did not bother him tosee another preacher receiving commendation. In fact, he was the first to expresshis appreciation for other servants of the Lord. It was from Epaphras that Paulhimself had heard of the Colossians’ love in the Spirit.He did not pray in generalities. Here he seems to make four separate requests forthe Colossians: (1) spiritual insight; (2) a worthy walk; (3) abundant power; (3) athankful spirit.First, he prayed that they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in allwisdom and spiritual understanding. He did not ask that they should be satisfiedwith the boasted knowledge of the Gnostics. He would have them enter into thefull knowledge of God’s will for their lives as revealed in His Word. This knowledgeis not of a worldly or carnal nature; it is characterized by spiritual wisdom andspiritual understanding—wisdom to apply the knowledge in the best way andunderstanding to see what agrees and what conflicts with God’s will.The true purpose of spiritual wisdom and understanding is to enable Christians towalk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him. Here we have a very important lessonon the subject of guidance. God does not reveal His will to us in order to satisfy ourcuriosity. Neither is it intended to cater to our ambition or pride. Rather the Lordshows us His will for our lives in order that we might please Him in all that we do.Being fruitful in every good work. Here is a helpful reminder that although a personis not saved by good works, he most certainly is saved for good works.Not only did Paul want them to bear fruit in every good work, but also to increasein the knowledge of God. How is this done? First of all, it is done through thediligent study of God’s word. Then it is also found in obeying His teachings andserve Him faithfully.

101:11 – The Christian life cannot be lived by mere human energy. It requiressupernatural strength. This power is needed so that the child of God may have allpatience and longsuffering with joy. This deserves careful attention!To maintain joy within and kindness to others requires God’s power and isChristian victory. The difference between patience and longsuffering has beendefined as the difference between enduring without complaint and enduringwithout retaliation. God’s grace has achieved one of its greatest objects in the lifeof the believer who can suffer patiently and praise God in the midst of the fierytrial.1:12 – When God saves someone, He instantly bestows on that person fitness forheaven. That fitness is Christ. Nothing can improve on that. Not even a long life ofobedience and service here on earth makes a person more fit for heaven than hewas the day he was saved. Our title to glory is found in His blood.1:13 – In making us “qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in thelight”, God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into thekingdom of the Son of His love. As sinners we were in bondage to Satan, butthrough Christ we have been delivered from his clutches and now we are subjectsto Christ’s Kingdom. Satan’s kingdom is of darkness—and absence of light, warmth,and joy; while the kingdom of Christ is one of love.1:14 – Christ is first presented as the ONE in whom we have redemption theforgiveness of sins. Redemption describes the act whereby we were bought fromthe slave market of sin.

11Review Questions Lesson #2:1. In verse 9, what is Paul asking God to give to the people (and us)?2. In verse 10, Then the way you will always andthe Lord.3. Your lives will every kind of.4. In verse 11, What are the “action words” we should pray for and use to walkout our Christian walk?5. In verse 12, God has us to share in thethat belongs to his people.6. He has us from the kingdom of .7. He purchased our and our sins.8. In the first paragraph in our commentary notes-what kind of attitude didPaul have about Epaphras?9. What 3 ways did Paul pray?10.In paragraph 4 in commentary notes, what is the true purpose of ourreceiving spiritualwisdom?11.In paragraph 6 in commentary notes, how do we bear fruit?12.In 1:11 – The Christian life cannot be lived by mere energy.Believers Bible Commentary Questions:1. There was no or about the ApostlePaul.2. First Paul prayed that they might be filled with the ofGod’s will in all and spiritual .3. The true purpose of wisdom and isto enable the Christians to walk of the Lord, fullyHim.4. Being fruitful in every work. Here is a helpful reminder thatalthough a person is not saved by works, he most certainly isfor works.5. The Christian life be lived by mere human. It requires strength.

12Video #3 Titled (calcarysb.com) – The True Nature of Jesus – Chapter 1:15-20-BBLesson #3 – “Christ is the Image of God” (NLT)Christ Is Supreme-15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existedbefore anything was created and is supreme over all creation,16 for through himGod created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the thingswe can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, andauthorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and forhim.17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.18 Christis also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme overall who rise from the dead, so he is first in everything. 19 For God in all hisfullness was pleased to live in Christ,20 and through him God reconciled everythingto himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means ofChrist’s blood on the cross.KJV- 1:15-2015Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16 For byhim were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible andinvisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: allthings were created by him, and for him:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.18 And he is the head ofthe body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in allthings he might have the preeminence.19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;20 And, having madepeace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; byhim, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

13Chapter 1:15-20 Summarized Christ IS the VISIBLE image of the invisible God Christ EXISTED before anything was ever created Through Christ Jesus, God created everything Everything was created through Him and for Him He EXISTED before anything else He HOLDS all creation together Christ IS the head of the church He is SUPREME over all who rise from death God in ALL His fullness was pleased to “Live in Christ” God RECONCILED everything to Himself God made peace with everything in heaven and earth Jesus shed His blood on the cross for all of us!CHRIST ISCHRIST EXISTEDCHRIST HOLDS USCHRIST ISCHRIST IS SUPREMECHRIST IS ALL IN GODCHRIST RECONCILED USGOD MADE PEACE BY JESUS BLOOD/DEATH ON THE CROSS

14Believers Bible Commentary notes 15-20:1:15 – The Lord is here described as the image of the invisible God. Image carrieswith it at least two ideas. First, it conveys the thought that the Lord Jesus hasenabled us to see what God is like. God is Spirit and is therefore invisible. But in theperson of Christ, God made Himself visible to mortal eyes. In that sense the LordJesus is the image of the invisible God. Whoever has seen Him has seen the Father(see John 14:9).1:16 – This verse states conclusively that the Lord Jesus is not a creature, but thevery Creator. In this verse we learn that all things—the whole universe of things—were created not only by Him, but through Him.The apostle then goes on to state that the Lord’s creation included thing visibleand things invisible. The word visible needs no explanation, but doubtless theApostle Paul realized that when he said invisible, he would arouse our curiosity.Therefore, he proceeds to give a break-down of what he means by things invisible.They include thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. We believe that theseterms refer to angelic powers.1:17 – He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Not only did the LordJesus exist before there was any creation, but also in Him all things consist. Thismeans that He is the Sustainer of the universe and the Source of its perpetualmotion. He controls the stars and the sun and the moon.1:18 – And He is the head of that body. The head speaks of guidance, dictation,control. He occupies the place of pre-eminence in the church. As we read that in allthings, He may have the preeminence, it is only proper that we should askourselves, “Does He have the preeminence in my life?” All fullness dwells in Christ.The word for dwell here means to dwell permanently and not simply to visittemporarily.

15Review Questions Lesson #3:1.2.3.4.5.6.Christ is the image of the God.He existed anything was .Christ is the of the church.God in all His was pleased to in Christ.What does our commentary notes say in 1:16 – first paragraph?In our commentary notes, 1:18 – The head speaks of ,and .Believers Bible Commentary Questions:1. The Lord is here described as the of the invisible God.2. The whole universe of things were not only by Him, butHim.3. What is the breakdown of what Paul means by things invisible?a.b.c.4. He is the head of the . (He -Jesus)5. All dwells in Christ.

16Video #4 Titled (calcarysb.com) –Aliens Now Reconciled – Chapter 1:21-29-BBLesson #4 – “You Were the Enemy” (NLT)21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies,separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciledyou to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he hasbrought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you standbefore him without a single fault.23But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t driftaway from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The GoodNews has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed asGod’s servant to proclaim it.Paul’s Work for the Church-24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I amparticipating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, thechurch. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiminghis entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries andgenerations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wantedthem to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And thisis the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.28So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with allthe wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in theirrelationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending onChrist’s mighty power that works within me.KJV – 1: 21-2921And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wickedworks, yet now hath he reconciled22 in the body of his flesh through death, topresent you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away fromthe hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to everycreature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

1724Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of theafflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which isgiven to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26 Even the mystery which hath beenhid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mysteryamong 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 presentevery man perfect in Christ Jesus:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according tohis working, which worketh in me mightily.Chapter 1:21-29 Summarized You WERE once far from God You WERE enemies You WERE separated by evil thoughts and actions NOW you ARE reconciled through Jesus Resulting NOW, we are Holy, Blameless, Standing Firm and Without a SingleFault You MUST continue to believeo Stand Firmo Don’t Drifto Share the Good News with otherso We are appointed to share Jesus Suffer in the flesh (refuse to sin) We are responsible to serve and proclaim Jesus The Message WAS a secret The Message is NOW revealed to everyone God wants everyone to know about His riches in glory God gives assurance God warns others Teach others and share Godly wisdom Work and struggle (strive) depending on Christ Mighty Power to work in you

18Believers Bible Commentary Notes Verse 21-29:1:21 - Paul reminds the Colossians that reconciliation in their case was already anaccomplished fact. Before their conversion, the Colossians had been Gentilesinners, alienated from God and enemies of His in their minds because of theirwicked works. They desperately needed to be reconciled, and the Lord JesusChrist, in His matchless grace, had taken the initiative.1:22- He reconciled them in the body of His flesh through death. It was not by Hislife but by His death. The expression of the body of His flesh simply means that theLord Jesus effected reconciliation by dying on the cross in a real human body (notas a spirit being, which the Gnostics claimed Him to be)The wonderful result of this reconciliation is expressed in the words to present youholy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. What marvelous grace, thatungodly sinners can be delivered from their past evil life and conveyed into such arealm of blessing!1:23 – Now the Apostle Paul adds one of those “IF” passages. The Spirit of God hasseen fit to put many of these so-called “IF” passages in the word of God in order tochallenge all who profess the name of Christ as to the reality of their profession.The apostle is urging the Colossians not to be moved away from the hope thataccompanies the gospel, or which the gospel inspires. They should continue in thefaith which they learned from Epaphras, grounded and steadfast.Again, Paul speaks of the gospel as having been preached to every creature (or “allcreation”) under heaven. The gospel goes out to all creation, but it has not yetreached literally every creature.1:24 - The last six verses in chapter 1 describe Paul’s ministry. First of all, it wascarried out in an atmosphere of suffering. Writing from prison, Paul can say that henow rejoices in his sufferings for the saints, that is, on their account. As a servantof the Lord Jesus Christ, he was called upon to endure untold hardships,persecution, and afflictions.1:25 -We are not expected simply to lead men to Christ by the gospel and thenabandon them to get along as best they can. Rather, we are expected to direct ourevangelistic efforts to the formation of local NT churches where the converts canbe built up in their most holy faith, including the truth of the church.

19The Lord wants His babes to be directed to feeding stations where they will benourished and where they can grow.A steward is one who cares for the interests or property of another. Paul was asteward in the sense that the great truth of the church was entrusted to him in avery special way. One of the most difficult expressions in this chapter is to fulfill theword of God. Exactly what does Paul mean by this? In what sense, then, did Paulfulfill or complete the word of God?First of all, to fulfill may mean to declare fully, to make known. Thus, Paul haddeclared the whole council of God.1:26 – That Paul’s fulfilling of the word of God had to do with the mystery is borneout in this verse, namely, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and fromgenerations, but now has been revealed to His saints. In the NT, a mystery is atruth not previously revealed, but now made known to the sons of men throughthe apostles and prophets of the NT. It is a truth that man could never have arrivedat by his own intelligence, but which God has graciously deigned to make known.1:27 – The truth of this mystery may be summarized as follows: (1) The church isthe Body of Christ. All true believers are members of the Body and destined toshare Christ’s glory forever. (2) The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Body, providingits life, nourishment, and direction. (3) Jews have no preference as to admission tothe church; neither are Gentiles at any disadvantage. Both Jew and Gentilebecome members of the Body through faith and from one new man.The particular aspect of the mystery which Paul is emphasizing in verse 27 is thatthe Lord Jesus is willing to dwell within the Gentile heart. Christ in you, the hope ofglory. This was spoken to the Colossians, who were Gentiles.Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The indwelling Christ is the believers’hope of glory. We have no other title to heaven than the Savior Himself. The factthat He indwells us makes heaven as sure as if we were already there.Warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may presentevery man perfect in Christ Jesus. Here we have further insight into the ministry ofthe beloved apostle. It was a man-to-man ministry. He warned the unsaved of theawful wrath to come, and he taught the saints the great truths of the Christianfaith.

20He was not satisfied to see souls saved and then to pass on. He wanted to presentevery man perfect in Christ Jesus. He wants them to mature, full-grown, adultChristians. He wants them to be well-grounded in the truth. Do we share a similarburden for those whom we have led to Christ?1:29 – He realized that it was only as he was empowered by the Lord that he wasable to serve Him at all. He was conscious of the fact that the Lord was working inhim mightily as he went from place to place planting churches and feeding thesaints of God.Review Questions Lesson #4:1. What were we before we got saved? (We were from Him byour thoughts and )2. We are and in Him without afault. (vs. 22)3. We must to believe this truth andin it4. Write out

The Book of Colossians Bible Study Books used: The “Bible” and “Colossians Enduring Word Bible Commentary” Outline of Weekly Lessons and Commentary Page Numbers: Lesson #1 Chapter 1:1-8 Pages 67-70 Lesson #2 Chapter 1:9-14 Pages 70-73 Lesson #3 Chapter