Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 8

Paul Declares Christ to Be God the Creator of All Things Part 2

Colossians 1:17-18 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. 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. KJV

Paul now goes on even further solidifying his declaration that Jesus Christ is YAHWEH, Jehovah, Elohim, or God by these words to these Colossian believers and we believers today, “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17) (KJV). Let us begin to delicately unpack this short, but mightily powerful verse of Scripture by first seeing more deeply the little English word ‘before’ (it seems easy enough to understand, but let us dig a bit deeper), it is translated by the little Greek word pro which is a primary preposition meaning in front of, prior (figuratively superior) to. In other words, Paul is declaring here for the Colossian brethren and all brethren for all ages, as well as all of humanity, that Jesus Christ was, lived, subsisted, or existed before anything anywhere ever came into being (even time which is also part of His Creation). This sets forth and boldly and unapologetically Christ Eternality, for He that had an existence before anything was created, must be eternal, there is no other conclusion that can be drawn. This absolutely explodes (no pun intended) the big bang theory, for surely our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ did not blow up Himself or anything else for that matter (nothing else existed) in order that the various Universes or the Earth would come into being, but instead as the Psalmist declares with these words I adhere to and trust with certainty, “Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed {and} given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” (Psalms 90:2) (Amplified Bible). Jesus Christ was before/pro ‘all things’ which leaves nothing out that is visible or invisible as He Himself declared to the Jews with these words, “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” (John 8:58) (NKJV).

Next Paul has declared that by our Lord Jesus Christ all things ‘consist’ and this English word ‘consist’ is translated by the Greek words sunistao    sunistano    sunistemi meaning to set together, that is, (by implication) to introduce (favorably), or (figuratively) to exhibit; intransitively to stand near, or (figuratively) to constitute: - approve, commend, consist, make, stand (with). In other words, it is Christ that sustains everything that He created supplying what is needed for it to function properly, i.e. the Sun and all the stars and other planets as well as everything on this planet the Earth, He (Christ) is the cement or super glue holding everything in all of Creation together (only God has Power to do this). Therefore, then as God, He (Christ) is not only the sustainer and supplier of all of Creation, but most importantly for these believers in Colosse and we believers today Paul says, “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.” (Colossians 1:18) (KJV). This means that every true Church makes much and most of Jesus Christ in everything they do and teach. The Church where Christ is the Head functions from His sustaining life just as the rest of the Universe is supplied by Him to remain in its natural order, so must the Church receive spiritual life from Him to keep from going off away from the Bible or the Word of God (Ephesians 1:22).

When Paul says, ‘who is the beginning’, he means here of Christ as being the first of the ‘new creations’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and these Colossian believers and we believers today all follow Him as the first, even as the Apostle John said with these words, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2) (NKJV). When Paul says, ‘the firstborn from the dead’, he means that (in Christ’ humanity) He died and was resurrected to life from death and that this is likewise the exact same thing that these Colossian believers and we believers today can expect to be our same condition as Paul declared with these words to the believers in Rome, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:22-25) (NKJV) and likewise as Paul declared to the believers in Corinth with these words, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) (NKJV).  

“The meaning is, that they are kept in the present state; their existence, order, and arrangement are continued by His power. If unsupported by Him, they would fall into disorder, or sink back to nothing. If this be the proper interpretation, then it is the ascription to Christ of Infinite Power - for nothing less could be sufficient to uphold the universe; and of Infinite Wisdom - for this is needed to preserve the harmonious action of the suns and systems of which it is composed. None could do this but One who is Divine; and hence we see the reason why He is represented as the image of the invisible God. He is the great and glorious and ever active agent by whom the perfections of God are made known.” Albert Barnes

“He is the beginning through His resurrection, too, in regard of His raising us from the dead. He is the first fruits of them that slept, and bears the promise of a mighty harvest. He has risen from the dead, and therein we have not only the one demonstration for the world that there is a life after death, but the irrefragable assurance to the Church that because He lives it shall live also. A dead body and a living head cannot be. We are knit to Him too closely for the Fury ‘with the abhorred shears’ to cut the thread. He has risen that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. So, the Apostle concludes that in all things He is first-and all things are, that He may be first. Whether in nature or in grace, that preeminence is absolute and supreme. The end of all the majesty of creation and of all the wonders of grace is that His solitary figure may stand clearly out as centre and Lord of the universe, and His name be lifted high over all.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 7

Paul Declares Christ to Be God the Creator of All Things Part 1 

Colossians 1:15-16 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: KJV

Having completed his declaration of these Colossians (and our) transfer from one kingdom (darkness) to the other Kingdom (light in Jesus Christ) through Christ payment for their/our sins by His precious, perfect, and powerful Blood, Paul now declares to them/us exactly who this Man Jesus Christ truly is and always has been in eternity with these words, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15) (KJV). Paul uses the English phrase ‘the image’ which is translated by one Greek word eikon which means likeness or representation or carbon copy of the original. In other words, the Man Jesus Christ was and is God manifested in a human body and this truth has caused many people to stumble over since He was born in Bethlehem and subsequently denying themselves any chance of being eternally forgiven and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ. It began so with most of the Jews refusing to believe that He was YAHWEH standing right before them in the flesh as our Lord Jesus declared to them with these words, “And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’” (John 8:23-24) (NKJV).

The very man the Jewish Patriarch Abraham saw YAHWEH appear to him in the flesh and received Him as God and not as just Man as it is written here, “Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So, he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, ‘My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.’” (Genesis 18:1-3) (NKJV). The Jehovah’s Witness and the Mormon’s are two modern day examples of those who like the Jews are blind to the fact that the One True God is Jesus Christ who manifested Himself as a Man as the Apostle Paul clearly writes this truth with these words he wrote to the believers in Corinth, “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling {and} restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up {and} holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).” (2 Corinthians 5:19) (Amplified Bible).

Moses wanted to see YAHWEH face to face, but was told these words, “But He said, ‘You cannot see My face; for no man, shall see Me, and live.’ And the LORD said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So, it shall be, while My Glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.’” (Exodus 33:20-23) (NKJV). The Glory of God is not some quaint nice saying, but is an actual part of His Eternal Supernatural Being or Himself. The Sun in our solar system is a faint example of the Glory of God, although God’s Glory is infinite times more powerful than the Sun, yet there are numerous Atomic explosions going off within the Sun every second, can you imagine what would happen to a human body approaching the Sun, for we are 93 million miles away from the Sun here on the earth and we cannot even look into its rays with our eyes for a couple of seconds before we are blinded and have to turn away.

Therefore, for man to see God, God had to veil, obscure, cover, conceal, or hide His Glory in the Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as therefore our Lord Jesus said these words to Philip, “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.’” (John 14:9-11) (NKJV). Paul’s use of the English word firstborn is translated by the Greek word prototokos which is from the Greek word protos and it means foremost (in time, place, order or importance): - before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all). In other words, the God-Man Jesus Christ is not a created being as the Jehovah’s Witness and the Mormon’s sadly mistakenly believe to their eternal detriment and destruction, (we just read the proof of this fact above from Paul and our Lord Jesus Himself in the Word of God).

But what it does mean is that Christ (the God-Man) just as the word image/eikon declares God’s revelation to humanity in Christ, likewise firstborn declares Christ eternal preexistence before creation as Paul will affirm in the very next verse and even as he affirmed in his letter to the Hebrews with these words, “In many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in {and} by the prophets, [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir {and} lawful Owner of all things, also by {and} through Whom He created the worlds {and} the reaches of space {and} the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole expression of the Glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the Divine], and He is the perfect imprint {and} very image of [God’s] nature, upholding {and} maintaining {and} guiding {and} propelling the Universe by His Mighty Word of Power. When He had {by offering Himself} accomplished {our} cleansing of sins {and} riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High, [Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from {and} more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did [God] ever say, You are My Son, today I have begotten You [established You in an official Sonship relation, with kingly dignity]? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a Son? Moreover, when He brings the firstborn Son again into the habitable world, He says, Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Hebrews 1:1-6) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now leaves no doubt in the minds of these Colossian believers and we believers today who the Man Jesus Christ truly was then and is now and always has been and always will be when he says, “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:” (Colossians 1:16) (KJV). First off Paul declares that the Man known to all to be a reality in human History was and is the Eternal God (YAHWEH) as known by the Jewish Nation Israel the One who created everything that is in Heaven and on the earth. This destroys any argument that our Lord Jesus Christ was created by God because no created being can create anything, therefore, He is God period (no one can be saved eternally and deny this in their heart) as it is also clearly declared at the very beginning of the Apostle John’s Gospel with these words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:1-3) (NKJV).

Jesus Christ is the Creator of all of the invisible world i.e., the angels, seraphim, cherubim, demons, gravity, electricity, and every other invisible entity, therefore, it is absolutely absurd for any human being to believe that He (Christ) is OK with people worshipping angelic beings over Him, therefore, such worship is surely wrong as an angel warned the Apostle John when he was caught up in the moment, “Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God. Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honors) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].” (Revelation 19:9-10) (Amplified Bible).

“Question: Why would the winds and the waves in the sea (non-living things) obey the words of a mere man or even an angelic being (Matthew 8:26), unless He (Christ) was not just a Man, but the One True Creator God in human flesh. The disciples asked a question that has but one answer when they said, “But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27) (KJV). He is not just a Man, but the One and Only God-Man!” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 6

Paul Prays for the Colossian Believers to be Thankful for Deliverance from Darkness and Eternal Forgiveness in Christ

Colossians 1:13-14 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins: KJV

No doubt when Paul wrote these words that begin this verse 13, he was probably tearing up as his mind wandered back to the journey he was tasked to complete of imprisoning or even killing followers of Jesus Christ as he road along the Damascus Road to fulfill his orders from the Jewish High Priest, but he was delivered from his state of spiritual darkness, spiritual blindness, and spiritual death to serve a new High Priest (Hebrews 3:1-2), therefore, he writes to these believers in Colosse and to us these words I’m sure with tears streaming down his cheeks, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:” (Colossians 1:13) (KJV). The English phrase ‘hath delivered’ is translated by one Greek word rhuomai which is a primary verb meaning to rescue from harm and evil; saving one from such danger. In other words, Paul surely at first did not understand what was happening to him when he was knocked off his horse or donkey or camel on the Damascus Road, but he later understood that he had been rescued from evil and so has every true believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ been rescued from the evil one. The little English word ‘from’ is translated by the little Greek word ek and it is a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause. The English word ‘power’ is translated by the Greek word exousia meaning in the sense of ability, that is, (subjectively) force, delegated influence, authority, jurisdiction, strength, and control. The English word ‘darkness’ is translated by the Greek word skotos meaning shadiness, that is, obscurity (literally or figuratively); error, blindness, and hatred.

In other words, God the Father through giving His Son as a sacrifice for sin has rescued us from or out of the place of the jurisdiction, authority, and influence and control of the devil’s hatred and errors and darkness, which is exactly where the Apostle Paul found himself (and we all do) before his spiritual eyes were opened to the light and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul (at that time Saul) was certain that he was worshipping Jehovah God truly and rightly denying that Christ was the Jewish Messiah (as most Jews still do today), but Saul become Paul after he encountered Christ that day going to Damascus and these words spoken by our Lord Jesus rang true to him, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12) (NKJV). The English phrase ‘hath translated’ is translated by the Greek words methistemi methistano meaning to transfer, that is, carry away, depose or (figuratively) exchange; - put out, remove, translate, turn away. In other words, after our conversion to Christ we are taken out of the kingdom of darkness and the devil and carried away into (indicating the point reached or entered of place), that being, the Kingdom of Christ or the Kingdom of the Son of God the Father’s Love as He declared when He spoke these words from Heaven, “And suddenly a voice came from Heaven, saying, ‘This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17) (NKJV), likewise all of us who are ’in Christ’ God the Father is also well pleased with us, for Christ sake. Note: “Power detains reluctant captives, a Kingdom cherishes willing subjects.” (John Wesley).

It was the Father’s plan and purpose to rescue unto Himself (through sacrificing the Son of His Love) many adopted sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5-6) away from the devil’s control as our Lord Jesus Himself told the Apostle Paul directly after He saved him on the Road to Damascus with these words, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:15-18) (NKJV). It is the Son of the Father’s Love where sinners find all that is good, true, pure, and holy and we cease to find anything good in ourselves and seek for Christ grace to make us over into what He would have us to be eternally, therefore, Paul declares that it is in Him (Christ), “In whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:14) (KJV). The little English phrase ‘we have’ used here by Paul is translated by one Greek word echo a primary verb meaning to hold such as possession, ability, contiguity, relation or condition). The English word redemption is translated by the Greek word apolutrosis which means (the act) ransom in full, that is, buying back or (specifically) Christian salvation: - deliverance, redemption. In other words, these Colossian believers and we believers today have been reclaimed from darkness and the devil by the payment of a ransom price, as we see in many situations of hostages taken and a ransom payment being made to their captures for their release.

In this spiritual case, we have been bought back from the usurper (the devil) who deceived Adam (the first man) and in so doing caused every human being after him to become a spiritual kidnapped victim of the devil, but praise God we have now been redeemed from our captivity and the payment price was the Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shed on Calvary as it is written, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15) (NKJV) and also as it is written, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:13-15) (NKJV). Through our Lord Jesus’ Blood Sacrifice for us we have forgiveness of all our sins past, present, and future as the Psalmist King David wrote with these words, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalms 32:1-2) (NKJV). Note: “The forgiveness of our sins is the sending away of our sins into oblivion, as far as the east is from the west.” (Clifford D. Tate, Sr.).

“Verse 13 emphatically tells all of us that every person ever born in human history (past, present, and future) are born a sinner and are in the kingdom of darkness, however, every child that dies before his/her age of accountability is then automatically translated from the kingdom of darkness into Christ Kingdom.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

“The voluntary passion of our Lord appeased the Father’s wrath, obtained pardon and acceptance for us, and, consequently, dissolved the dominion and power which Satan had over us through our sins. So, that forgiveness is the beginning of redemption, as the resurrection is the completion of it.” John Wesley

“It means, here, that they who are Christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another, as if a people were thus removed. They become subjects of a new kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and happiness. No change, therefore, in a man’s life is so important as this; and no words can suitably express the gratitude which they should feel who are thus transferred from the empire of darkness to that of light.” Albert Barnes

“The essential and first element in this redemption is ‘the forgiveness of sins.’ Possibly some misconception of the nature of redemption may have been associated with the other errors which threatened the Colossian Church, and thus Paul may have been led to this emphatic declaration of its contents. Forgiveness, and not some mystic deliverance by initiation or otherwise from the captivity of flesh and matter, is redemption. There is more than forgiveness in it, but forgiveness lies on the threshold; and that not only the removal of legal penalties inflicted by a specific act, but the forgiveness of a Father. A sovereign pardons when he remits the sentence which law has pronounced. A Father forgives when the free flow of His love is unhindered by His child’s fault, and He may forgive and punish at the same moment. The truest ‘penalty’ of sin is that death which consists in separation from God; and the conceptions of judicial pardon and fatherly forgiveness unite when we think of the ‘remission of sins’ as being the removal of that separation, and the deliverance of heart and conscience from the burden of guilt and of a Father’s wrath.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 5

Paul Prays for the Colossian Believers to be Thankful for Spiritual Strength and our Heavenly Inheritance

Colossians 1:11-12 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: KJV

Paul prays for these Colossian believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to receive His strength within them as he says it in this manner, “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” (Colossians 1:11) (KJV). The English word strengthened is translated by the Greek word dunamoo which simply means to enable or render capable or able for some task. It is the same prayer Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 3:16). In other words, even the great Apostle Paul (as many then and now like to refer to him) had come surely acquainted with the reality that there is no human strength within any man (even the redeemed man) that renders him capable of living a life pleasing to Almighty God, for as the Prophet Isaiah said to the people of Israel with these words speaking of even the ‘good works’ of man, “For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags {or} a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].” (Isaiah 64:6) (Amplified Bible). Paul had come to a similar conclusion of himself when he wrote these words to the believers in Rome, “For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]” (Romans 7:18) (Amplified Bible), therefore, we always and at all times find this Apostle praying for the strength of the grace of God to be welcomed into the inner man and inner woman of every believer in Christ.

The English word might Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word dunamis (this is where we get our English word dynamite) which means force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): In other words, Paul prays for this grace that comes only from God to invade the inner man and inner woman of these believers in Colosse so as to give them strength, power, and force that is not inherent in their nature or flesh. The reception of this miraculous strengthening grace is for their patience and longsuffering under trials, abuse, and ill-treatment that is certain to continually come from those who do not belong to our Lord Jesus Christ as Paul asked for prayer for himself on one occasion for this very reason when he said, “I appeal to you [I entreat you], brethren, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love [given by] the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in prayer to God in my behalf. [Pray] that I may be delivered (rescued) from the unbelievers in Judea and that my mission of relief to Jerusalem may be acceptable {and} graciously received by the saints (God’s people there)” (Romans 15:30-31) (Amplified Bible).

The English word patience Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hupomonē which means remaining under difficulties without succumbing, while the English word longsuffering Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word makrothumia which means long endurance that does not retaliate. Paul adds after these two words the English word joyfulness which is translated by the Greek word chara meaning cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: In other words, it is the will of God for us to suffer the ill-treatment of those two-legged devils with calm delight and not to succumb to our flesh to be filled with indignation, outrage, and anger aroused by the offense or injustice rendered unto us as our Lord Jesus said with these words, “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad {and} supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) (Amplified Bible).

Because this power is all of God and all from God, that is, ‘the Power of His Glory’ Paul declared to these Colossian believers and to us today that they/we have but one response and that is continually thanking our Heavenly Father, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” (Colossians 1:12) (KJV). The English phrase ‘giving thanks’ Paul uses here at the very beginning of this verse is translated by one Greek word eucharisteo meaning to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude towards our Heavenly Father in this case always. The giving our Heavenly Father continual thanks is for His justifying us by faith in Christ and for His sanctifying work in us (Philippians 1:6) as we continue our pilgrimage here on the earth. The English phrase ‘which hath made us meet’ is translated by one Greek word hikanoo which means to enable, that is, qualify: - to make fit, sufficient, and worthy. In other words, God the Father has adopted us as His children automatically qualifying us for full pardon of all our sins once and for all and putting us in this new standing as sons and daughters and no longer bastards, therefore, we have inherited all that our Heavenly Father has in His vast Universes as Paul declared to the Thessalonian believers with these words, “But you are not in [given up to the power of] darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5) (Amplified Bible).

“All who are designed for heaven hereafter are prepared for heaven now. As those who live and die unsanctified go out of the world with their hell about them, so those who are sanctified and renewed go out of the world with their heaven about them.” (Matthew Henry).

“There is a fitness or meetness which Christians possess for heaven. It consists in their having complied with the conditions on which God promises heaven, so that, although they have no merit in themselves, and no fitness by their own works, they have that meetness which results from having complied with the terms of favor. They have truly repented of their sins, and believed in the Redeemer; and they are thus in the proper state of mind to receive the mercy of God; for, according to the terms of mercy, there is a propriety that pardon should be bestowed on the penitent, and peace on the believing. A child that is truly brokenhearted for a fault, is in a fit state of mind to be forgiven; a proud, and obstinate, and rebellious child, is not.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 4

Paul Prays for the Colossian Believers Spiritual Understanding

Colossians 1:9-10 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; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. KJV

Paul now begins to pray for specific things for these believers in Colosse first thing at the top of his prayer list for them is as follows, “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;” (Colossians 1:9) (KJV). The for this cause or that thing Paul refers to is what he said of them in verse 8 their love in the Spirit that is produced by God the Holy Spirit and this is what compels Paul’s prayer for Divine wisdom and Divine spiritual understanding to be theirs. Paul uses the English phrase ‘ye might be filled’ speaking of knowing the will of God and it is translated by one Greek word pleroo meaning to fill up to the fullest measure or to fill to satisfaction. The idea Paul has in mind here is that they so come acquainted with, informed of, and come to know personally for themselves (by the leading and guiding of God the Holy Spirit) the will and desires of God for them that they become obsessed with His will going after it with energy, earnestness, and enthusiasm and as our Lord Jesus Himself declared they/we will know for certain what that will truly is as He said with these words to the Jews who questioned His understanding of God’s will, “Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, ‘How does this Man know letters, having never studied?’ Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.’” (John 7:14-17) (NKJV).

The strong desire that Paul had for them (even though he had never met them face to face) was that the Spiritual wisdom or their ability to apply the knowledge of the Word of God taught to them by Paul, Epaphras, and other ministers of the Gospel to their own personal lives giving them spiritual enlightenment of all God’s truth enabling them/us to be prudent, careful, sensible, and able to use sound Biblical judgement every day of their/our lives as they/we continue to travel along this redeemed life on earth as strangers, pilgrims, and sojourners headed to our eternal home in heaven always remembering these words spoken by Paul to the Corinthian believers when he said, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) (NKJV). Secondly, Paul prays that their/our spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding would lead to the following, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10) (NKJV). First off in this second stage of his prayer he uses the English phrase ‘might walk’ which is translated by one Greek word peripateo which means in this case figuratively to live or behave in a certain manner. Next he uses the English word worthy which is translated by the Greek word axios which means deserving, appropriate, or suitable, as becomes a Christ follower or after a godly manner.

In other words, Paul’s prayer for them/us is that they/we as we bear the name of Christ live in such a way that it is proven that we do belong to Christ because His Holy Spirit has changed and is working in us making us into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) trusting that He will finish the work which He began in us (Philippians 1:6), so we should yield ourselves to submission to the will of God as it is revealed in the Word of God and made known to us by the Spirit of God for these ‘good works’ or ‘godly manner’ has already been ordained for us to walk in as declared by Paul with these words to the Ephesian believers, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” (Ephesians 2:10) (Amplified Bible).

Paul prays that they/we be pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ and this English word pleasing Paul uses is translated by the Greek word areskeia (used this one time only in New Testament) meaning to have a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of another; also through the idea of exciting the emotion of someone; to be agreeable or by implication to seek or desire to be agreeable to them. In other words, it should be our strongest desire to be pleasing to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ knowing how much He loves us and gave up for us suffering in our place on Calvary, then it should make us want to yield to His will as it is revealed in His Word seeking to excite His Emotions toward us as we do His will, not grudgingly but freely and lovingly wanting to please Him because we love Him desiring to have said of us that which was said of Enoch, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5) (NKJV).

“All good beings desire that others should understand their character, and God delights in those who are sincerely desirous of knowing what He is, and who inquire with humility and reverence into His counsels and His will. People are often displeased when others attempt to look into their plans, for they are sensible they will not bear the light of investigation. God has no plans which would not be seen to be, in the highest degree, glorious to Him. Albert Barnes

“Gnosticism had somehow begun to invade many Churches, even this early after our Lord Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead and His ascension back to heaven. Those who believed and followed these Gnostic teachers taught that spiritual wisdom and understanding was intuitive and that it did not require deep and meaniful study of the revealed Word of God. Paul prayed for these new believers in Colosse to know true Spiritual wisdom and understanding that only comes from the Word of God as taught to us by the Spirit of God as our Lord Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12-15) (NKJV).” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 3

Paul Gives Thanks for Their Faith in Christ Part 2

Colossians 1:6-8 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: As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. KJV

In continuing his thanks to God for these Colossian people coming to Christ, Paul declares to them how their reception of the Gospel of Grace has affected their lives as well as all who have embraced it, “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:” (Colossians 1:6) (KJV). Ever since that day (whenever it was in their lives) that someone (most likely Epaphras) brought the declaration of the Gospel to the city of Colosse, the hearts of many of the people in Colosse hearing this truth was pierced by it and they were brought into or baptized into the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith. In some hearts (not all who heard), the Gospel penetrated and sunk down deep like a seed planted in a well prepared field. The seed of the Gospel of Grace being like a seed planted in a field is growing in these Colossians bearing the fruit of the Gospel such fruit as righteousness as we just learned this same Apostle Paul praying to be displayed in the lives and by the believers at Philippi with these very words, “And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more {and} extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, {and} approve {and} prize what is excellent {and} of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted {and} pure and unerring {and} blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling {nor} causing others to stumble]. May you abound in {and} be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].” (Philippians 1:9-11) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase “bringeth forth fruit” is translated by one Greek word karpophoreo meaning to be fertile in this case in the figurative sense; fruit-bearing or being fruitful. This word is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ meant when He declared to the first disciples how He would so work in them/us that they/we would bear fruit that was different than what they/we bore before receiving Him as He said with these words, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit {and} keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.” (John 15:16) (Amplified Bible). It was evident and apparent to the Apostle Paul that like himself, these Colossian believers had truly experienced the grace of God that flows through the gracious power of God to any sinful soul that would yield to Him as Paul declared of the Thessalonians with these words, “For not only has the Word concerning {and} from the Lord resounded forth from you unmistakably in Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere the report has gone forth of your faith in God [of your leaning of your whole personality on Him in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. So we [find that we] never need to tell people anything [further about it]. For they themselves volunteer testimony concerning us, telling what an entrance we had among you, and how you turned to God from [your] idols to serve a God Who is alive and true {and} genuine, And [how you] look forward to {and} await the coming of His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead--Jesus, Who personally rescues {and} delivers us out of {and} from the wrath [bringing punishment] which is coming [upon the impenitent] {and} draws us to Himself [investing us with all the privileges and rewards of the new life in Christ, the Messiah].” (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10) (Amplified Bible). Note: “The growing and the fruit-bearing go on simultaneously as always with Christians (inward growth and outward expression).” (Robertson’s Word Pictures).

Although Paul had never met them in person, he wanted them to know what his opinion of Epaphras was, which was also his opinion of them as part of Christ Body, so he says, “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;” (Colossians 1:7) (KJV). In getting to know Epaphras, Paul felt as if he knew every other member in the Church @ Colosse. Paul calls Epaphras a ‘fellow-servant’ and this English word is translated by the Greek word sundoulos which means a co-slave, that is, servitor or ministrant of the same master (human or divine). In this case the Master is the Divine Son of God our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul wanted them to know that he and Epaphras were commanded by and served under the same Lord Jesus Christ seeking the same goal for them and that was for them to as the Apostle Peter declared with these words, “Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless {and} wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition {and} knowledge {and} understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!” (2 Peter 3:17-18) (Amplified Bible). Love (true love to others) is not inherent in the heart of humanity despite what is spread abroad in the world today. The only real love is produced in the redeemed heart of men and women by God the Holy Spirit and this is what Paul found being produced in his fellow-servant Epaphras, therefore, he declares to Paul and the other believers with Paul what he writes here, “Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.” (Colossians 1:8) (KJV). Love (true love) sincere love is first to our Lord Jesus Christ and to His Body and is more than mere natural affection and is not something that can be worked up in the soul of human beings, it is a gift from God to us as Paul wrote to Brother Timothy with these words, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm {and} well-balanced mind {and} discipline {and} self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) (Amplified Bible).

“It is good for Christian men often to recall the beginnings of their faith, to live over again their early emotions, and when they may be getting stunned with the din of controversy, and confused as to the relative importance of different parts of Christian truth, to remember what it was that first filled their heart with joy like that of the finder of a hidden treasure, and with what a leap of gladness they first laid hold of Christ.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

“Epaphras was then with Paul. (Philemon 1:23). He had probably been sent to him by the Church at Colossae to consult him in reference to some matters pertaining to the Church there. It is evident from this, that Epaphras was a minister of the Church at Colossae, though there is no evidence, as has been often supposed, that he was the founder of the Church. The Apostle here says, that they had learned from Epaphras the true nature of the Gospel, and he designs undoubtedly to confirm what he had taught them in opposition to the teachings of errorists. He had doubtless conferred with Epaphras respecting the doctrines which he had taught there.” Albert Barnes

“The Apostle Paul speaks of the Word of God or the Gospel of God as if it were a living and breathing person that dwelled among them continuously always breathing out life, and this is no accidental way of speaking declaring the Word of God ‘which is come unto you’ meaning near to them or at hand with them, but this is the way Paul always saw or viewed the Word of God to himself and to others, as it was he (in my opinion) who wrote the letter to the Hebrews and said this to them speaking of the Word of God, ‘For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing {and} sifting {and} analyzing {and} judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.’ (Hebrews 4:12) (Amplified Bible)” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 2

Paul Gives Thanks for Their Faith in Christ Part 1

Colossians 1:3-5 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; KJV

Gratitude was the hallmark of the Apostle Paul’s entire life and ministry after his redemption on the Damascus Road by and to Christ Jesus our Lord, therefore, it was common for him to pray prayers of thanksgiving and appreciation to God our Father for others who have received Christ Jesus and His forgiveness of sins as we find him doing so for these Colossian believers at the very beginning of his letter to them, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” (Colossians 1:3) (KJV). God is our God at the same time that He is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ seeing that Christ Jesus has willingly, willfully, and worshipfully submitted Himself to God the Father and sits at His Right Hand right now in a Glorified Human Body as both God and Man as Christ Himself declared to Mary Magdalene with these words to her after His Resurrection from the dead, “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’’” (John 20:17) (NKJV).

It is through God the free giving of grace to all of humanity that these Colossian people are now believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and said grace is what has produced their conversion and this is what Paul is praying to the Father (the author of all good) as described for us by the Psalmist King David with these beautiful words, “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, {and} worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust {and} take refuge in You before the sons of men!” (Psalms 31:19) (Amplified Bible). Giving thanks for these Colossian brethren because of these words that the Apostle John wrote (quoting our Lord Jesus Christ) that are perhaps the most recognizable words of Scripture everywhere, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) (NKJV). What the Apostle Paul prays to the Father thanking Him for is their embracing of the Gospel of Grace turning from their false idols or false gods to receive the only forgiveness of sins that is true, sure, and solid and that is faith in Jesus Christ alone as he declares with these words, “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints” (Colossians 1:4) (KJV).

As was declared in the last study/commentary, it is widely documented by many reputable Bible Scholars that Paul never visited the Church @ Colosse, but more important than the Bible Scholars are Paul’s own words when he said this later on to them in this same letter, “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh” (Colossians 2:1) (NKJV), therefore, Paul declares here at the beginning that their faith in Christ and their love for all the saints of God was reported to him by other believers he knew or met on his journeys and in this case it was most likely Epaphras (who was a Colossian himself and a member of the Church @ Colosse) who conveyed to Paul the sincerity of his and their faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. It is no strange or odd thing for believers to care deeply about other brethren way across the world whom they have never met in the flesh because of our union with Christ Spiritual Body the Church, we are all connected no matter physical distance just as a finger is connected to the hand and the hand to the arm and the arm to the shoulder, etc. of an actual human body, so is it with the individual members of Christ Spiritual Body here sojourning on the earth.

What actual evidence of their love to all the saints given to Paul by Epaphras is not known, but whatever Paul saw and found in the man Epaphras was evidence enough for him that he and the rest of the Church @ Colosse cared for the well-being of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to make Paul include this at the very beginning of his letter to them whom he has never actually met in the flesh, they indeed subscribing to these words written by the Apostle John, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23) (NKJV) as well as these words written by one of the first disciples the Apostle Peter when he said, “Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17) (Amplified Bible). Faith in Christ produces an eternal hope of everlasting comfort and goodness that will be ours when we are absent from the body and with our Lord Jesus Christ and this is what Paul found to be so with Epaphras and the other believers in the Church @ Colosse after their hearing the preaching of the Gospel of Grace as he declared with these words, “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel;” (Colossians 1:5) (KJV).

Our hope of heaven is placed within us at the moment of our regeneration and new birth, but the complete fullness of it is reserved for us in heaven or stored in heaven awaiting our soul’s ascent into Glory as the Apostle Paul spoke of himself and other believers at the approaching end of his life with these words written to Brother Timothy, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) (NKJV). Like the other believers in Ephesus, Thessalonica, Corinth, etc. these Colossians had believed the true Gospel of Grace and not the Gospel of Works sounded about by the Judaizing teachers who plagued Paul constantly with their false gospel that he vehemently denounced in many of the Churches that he himself had founded by the preaching of the true Gospel and this he commends these Colossians for adhering to as he also did with these words to the believers in Thessalonica, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) (NKJV).

“Faith is sometimes spoken of in the New Testament as ‘towards Christ Jesus,’ which describes that great act of the soul by its direction, as if it were a going out or flight of the man’s nature to the true goal of all active being. It is sometimes spoken of as ‘on Christ Jesus,’ which describes it as reposing on Him as the end of all seeking, and suggests such images as that of a hand that leans or of a burden borne, or a weakness upheld by contact with Him. But more sweet and great is the blessedness of faith considered as ‘in Him,’ as its abiding place and fortress home, in union with and indwelling in whom the seeking spirit may fold its wings, and the weak heart may be strengthened to lift its burden cheerily, heavy though it be, and the soul may be full of tranquility and soothed into a great calm. Towards, on, and in-so manifold are the phases of the relation between Christ and our faith.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…