The faith of the Colossian Church

Colossians 1:1-8

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Colossians 1:1-2)

In the story of God’s call of Gideon, in Judges 6:15, we find a feeling of inferiority common to many people. “And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”Moses experienced the same feelings, and many other great men of God have felt them. The feelings can affect an entire church, so Paul found it necessary to remind the church in Corinth that God prepares every Christian and church fully.

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 1:4-8)

The Corinthian church had gotten caught up with carnal attitudes and moved away from their recognition of the Holy Spirit working in them. As a result they had begun to focus on actions, rather than attitudes, shutting out the Spirit, and accepting man’s doctrines and standards. The Colossians were still standing fast in their first faith and love. As a result, Paul focuses on the results of their faith, as it reaches out to others.

“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; 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 fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.” (Colossians 1:3-8)

They have the same faith as all other Christians. It has produced a love for other Christians. Their faith is still based on the word of God, and is producing fruit. The church at Corinth had begun to focus on man’s wisdom, and there was a danger of faith in man’s word replacing faith in God. He points out why he had preached and taught the way he had. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God‘” (I Corinthians 2:4-5).

Epaphras had demonstrated the same sort of faithful teaching at Colosse, resulting in a far stronger church spiritually. The need for spiritual leadership is reaffirmed A leader can never set an example for what he has not done. The guidelines for selecting leaders given in I Timothy 3:1-13 and in Titus 1:5-9 are to enable us to identify men who are qualified to properly teach and lead the church. They are much like state licensing exams. Passing the exam means only that the person has demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge and skill. If he cannot meet that minimum standard, he is definitely not prepared to take the responsibility,