Colossians #2 - An expository sermon: Colossians 1:1-14

The Book of Colossians: Greeting, Thanksgiving, and Prayer
Colossians 1:1-14

Introductory Notes
Genre of the book: Epistle
Theme of the book:
To combat those troubling the Colossian congregation by preaching the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
See Colossians 2:4, 2:8, 2:16-18.
Structure of the book:
Doctrinal Indicatives (Chapters 1 and 2): What you need to know and believe
Practical Imperatives (Chapters 3 and 4): What you need to do and practice

Preaching Outline (Chapter 1: Verses 1-14)
A Christian Greeting (Verses 1-2)
A Heavenly Authority
A Heavenly Family
A Heavenly Salutation

A Copious Thanksgiving (Verses 1-8)
Gratitude to our God (Verses 3-5a)
Gratitude because of the gospel (Verses 5b-6)
Gratitude to the gospel bearer (Verses 7-8)
A Complete Prayer (Verses 8-14)

Colossians 1:3-5
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
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.

A Copious Thanksgiving (Verses 1-8)
Gratitude to our God (Verses 3-5a)

Thankfulness is mentioned seven times in Colossians. See Colossians 1:3-4, 12; 2:6-7; 3:15, 16, 17; 4:2.

Notice the Trinitarian Doctrine (Verses 3 and 8):
What is the Trinity?
It is a Biblical doctrine.
It is a precise doctrine.
It is a profound doctrine.
It is a doxological doctrine.

Some Applications:
Let the study of the Trinity not be an exercise of curiosity but a trigger for doxology!
In our prayer and thanksgiving, we should be Trinitarian.
We should appreciate our salvation all the more because it is a Trinitarian salvation: God planned it, the Son was crucified for us, and the Spirit applied that salvation into our hearts.

Notice the Triad of Christian Virtue (Verses 4-5a):
This triad of Christian virtue is always in Paul's mind; See 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 13:13.
First virtue: Faith in Christ Jesus
Salvation is by faith alone, never by works.
The object of our faith is in Christ. Saving faith is not faith in faith, but faith in the Lord.

Second virtue: Love to the saints
True Christianity changes our hearts so that our love for others, especially within the household of God, becomes visible and real.
John 13:35: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Third virtue: Hope in heaven
Paul is grateful to God for this sure, certain, and blessed hope that we have!
1 Peter 1:4: "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."