Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20000206.htm

COLOSSIANS: DISCERNING TRUE DOCTRINES
"Part II: Trusting The All-Sovereign Jesus To Complete His Church"
(Colossians 1:15-23)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

We can get discouraged in viewing the failings or weaknesses of people in the church, for these insufficiencies can seem to block the Church's ever fulfilling its mission:

(1) Following our Annual Meeting, a Church member reported to me how she had spoken with a friend who liked what another church offered by way of facilities and the expanded ministries its facilities offered, but didn't want to drive so far to attend there.

Well, this member was just about to recommend Nepaug to her friend when she stopped herself short, thinking, "How can I recommend this party come to Nepaug when we don't have as extended a ministry program as does that other church, and Nepaug's facilities fall so far short of what that other church offers?" So, she ended up keeping quiet about Nepaug to her friend!

Then this member read my remarks in the Pastor's Report of the Annual Meeting that noted my eighteen-year "wish" for a new church facility toward developing a fuller ministry program. So her final word was, "Since the tendency at Nepaug is to push our rep air or program development needs into a corner because the cost or work involved is too great, how can we ever obtain this 'wish' of yours?!"

This member reflected a DISCOURAGEMENT at the human FRAILTIES that LIMIT our addressing Church plant and program issues.

(2) This discouragement at human weakness that hinders Church development is widespread. Years ago I attended a workshop on Church Sunday School development at a statewide Sunday School convention in Nebraska. After the leader was all finished ta lking about building a 200 member Sunday School up to say a thousand, somebody asked, "What if our whole church doesn't even number a 100 people?! Will your ideas work in our church?!"

The leader paused, then said, "I guess I'd have to have more people than that to know how to begin to develop the program!"

I recall some people in the room almost groaning in response! They had come from small churches and were going home frustrated!

When we see the failings of human beings in the Church, how do we DEAL with its discouraging affect OURSELVES?

(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )

Need: "When I see the inadequacies of other Christians along with my OWN, it seems an IMPOSSIBLE dream for the Church ever to develop its program and fulfill its mission! Any ideas here?!"
  1. Paul wrote Colossians to COUNTER errant teachings that held Jesus to be of LIMITED power and sovereignty in the Church:
    1. The Colossians had been infiltrated with a false syncretism of Judaism, mysticism and gnosticism, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, p. 1690.
    2. This syncretism held Jesus to be of limited power and sovereignty:
      1. It was asserted by this syncretism that Jesus was only the physical son of the union of Joseph and Mary, a denial of His virgin birth.
      2. The error taught the "Christ" descended on Jesus at His baptism, revealed to him the "Father", worked miracles through him and left him when he suffered, died and rose again, Lightfoot, Col., p. 111.
  2. So, in writing to detail the ABSOLUTE DIVINE power and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, Paul revealed how COMPLETELY the CHURCH ITSELF is wonderfully DISCIPLED by Jesus Christ:
    1. Paul first taught Jesus Christ is the Creator God of nature 1:15-17:
      1. He claimed Jesus is the (KJV, NIV) "image of the invisible God," meaning the "exact representation of [the Father's] being," Bible Knowledge Commentary, N.T., p. 672, Col. 1:15a (cf. Heb. 1:3).
      2. The word "image" is better rendered "form" [from eikon] in Paul's description of the same quality in Philippians 2:6-7, and that means the "very substance or essential embodiment of" the Father!
      3. He claimed Jesus is the "firstborn" of every creature, not meaning Jesus was created, but carries the headship of Creation as though He were the eldest Son of all that was made, Col. 1:15b, Ibid.
        1. Jesus is the protokos, "Firstborn" rather than protoktisis, "first-created": The Greek term is protokos here, Ibid.
        2. As such, He (a) preceeds in time all that was created, and (b) is sovereign over all that is created, Ibid.
      4. Paul then listed the following reasons for this headship, 1:16-17:
        1. Jesus Christ created ALL things, Col. 1:16a,b: whether they are in heaven or on earth, whether they be visible (man) or invisible principalities (angels, demons, cf. Eph. 6:12), He made them all!
        2. All things were made FOR Christ, Colossians 1:16c.
        3. Jesus existed before all created things had come into being, Col. 1:17a [Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex., s. v. "pro," p. 708]
        4. In fact, by means of Jesus Christ, all that has been created right NOW "hold together" (NIV), Col. 1:17b with Heb. 1:3b.
    2. Paul then taught Jesus Christ is the Creator, Sustainer and COMPLETER of the spiritual creation of the Church, Col. 1:18-23:
      1. Paul noted Christ is the Head of the Church by being the "firstborn" (prototokos, not protoktisis again), for He was the first to have an eternally resurrected body, Col. 1:18a,b. That gives Jesus Christ preeminence in all matters related to the Church, Colossians 1:18c.
      2. He taught Jesus was given this position through the resurrection by the Father, for the Father wanted Him to embody all the fulness of the entire Church and triumphantly fulfill its history (1:19-23):
        1. Paul said the Father made Jesus the "firstborn" by His resurrection to tie up in Jesus everything (in the Church), 1:19.
        2. Paul details this in Col. 1:20-23: (a) By death and resurrection, Jesus heads up the reconciliation of everything in the Church to God, Col. 1:20. This includes a proper alignment to God of all that is sinful in the universe though that will come by judgment, cf. Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, ftn. to Col. 1:20. (b) This means God has positionally reconciled all believers to Himself through Christ's cross, Col. 1:21. (c) Someday, this will mean taking all believers via the rapture to heaven to be experientially holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His presence, Col. 1:22. (d) Since [1st class condition for the "If" in verse 23a, cf. U.B.S. Grk. N.T., p. 695] believers will continue in faith and grounded and settled regarding the hope of the gospel, this destiny for EVERYONE in the Church is a REALITY, Colossians 1:23!
Application: To deal with the discouragement at the imperfections of people and Church facilities or program underdevelopment as a result, (1) believe in Christ as Savior to belong to His discipling ministry, Jn. 3:16. (2) Then, if we have sinned SINCE faith in Christ, we should confess it to God for a return to fellowship with Him, 1 Jn. 1:9. (3) Then, trusting the Able Christ to get ALL in the true Church to heaven SPOTLESS, ABOUND in service by a focus on Christ and His Word regardles s WHAT happens or DOES NOT happen with Church facility improvement or ministry program development, for our work is NOT in VAIN in Christ, 1 Cor. 15:58!

Lesson: Jesus, the Creator and Sustainer God of NATURE is also the Head, Creator and Sustainer God of the CHURCH Who will thus capably BRING it to a spotless, wonderful COMPLETION in the heavenlies!

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 Some events have occurred this week since I spoke with the concerned Church member after the Annual Meeting, and these reveal God's ideas about our church's building and program development:

(1) Last Sunday, some first-time visitors told me they had recently been in another church which has a newer facility than ours, yet claimed they were so impressed by people here welcoming them unlike they had known there that they signed up for our Valentine's Banquet!

(2) Then, on Tuesday, I got a call from Marshall Klimasewiski. He announced our Church would have its Internet web site set up that day! We have been given a ministry where our Bible teaching notes can be downloaded anywhere, potentially reaching around the world!

(3) Next, Tuesday night, due to a series of VERY unusual events, I drove past a new church that I hear has extensive programs. Yet, I know that group's leaders deny cardinal doctrines about Christ, the Trinity and the written Bible! I found myself saying, "I'd rather be at Nepaug than go there any day regardless of the church plant issue!"

(4) Later, on Wednesday, I received a circular in the mail from Dallas Seminary (Connection, Winter, 2000). It featured an interview with Dr. Pentecost, my seminary Bible professor who is cited as saying, "The great need across evangelicalism is exposition of the Scriptures. I sense there is a departure from that, even among some of our own grads who are entertaining the people, giving the people what they want, whereas we are called to teach the Word. It is the Word that is the power of God to salvation, it is the Word that is the power for Christian living, and I would want them to make the Word the center of their ministry. It may not be popular, it may not build mega-churches, but it will fulfill that to which they are called . . ."

Wednesday and commented on how nice it looked. As I noted before, the decorating was done (a) over 5 years (b) by various and (c) unconnected parties, meaning God made the setting conducive to Scripture study!

What I've mentioned in closing here displays GOD'S view of our building and program: HE wants us to FOCUS on teaching and applying His true Word and HE will supply what FACILITY or PROGRAM improvement is needed to spread HIS truth to the WORLD! OUR part is to focus on HIM and His WORD, period!