Introduction and Purpose: Colossians 1.1-18 (7)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 116.1-6
I love the LORD, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.
Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.

Sing Psalm 116.1-6
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise To God Who Reigns Above)
I love the Lord because He hears my cries and pleas for mercy.
Because He bends to me His ears, my prayers shall ever thus be.
The snares of death encompassed me; hell’s grip could not unloosened be;
distress and anguish pressed me.

I called to God, “O Lord, I pray, my soul redeem with favor!”
The Lord is gracious in His way, and righteous is our Savior.
His mercy to the simple flies; He lifted me up to the skies –
I rest in Him forever!

Read Colossians 1.1-18; meditate on verses 17 and 18.

Preparation
1. What has God accomplished for us in our salvation?

2. How should we respond to such a great salvation?

Meditation
In the opening verses of his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul invites us to get on the same page with him concerning the greatness of our salvation. If someone were to ask you, “What does it mean to be saved?”, how would you reply? For perhaps most Christians, the answer would be, “To have my sins forgiven so that I shall go to heaven when I die.” And that’s certainly true.

But that’s certainly not all.

We who have come to the salvation of Jesus Christ are set apart unto Him – saints! – and increase, through faithful obedience, in love for God and our neighbors. Our hope for eternal life with the Lord is so strong that it leads us to proclaim the Good News to everyone we can, and by this the Gospel spreads throughout “all the world” (v. 6). We who are saved are delivered from the power and penalty of the kingdom of darkness (v. 13). We have become citizens in the Kingdom of God’s love, members in the Body of Christ, and brethren and servants to one another (vv. 13, 1, 7). By our ardent faith and faithfulness, we increase daily in the knowledge of God and His will, live in a manner befitting our calling, and bear fruit in every good work by the might and power of God at work in us (vv. 9-12; Phil. 2.13).

We who are saved know, love, and serve the living God, as He has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ, the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of the vast cosmos, Head of the Church, and Ruler over all things (vv. 15-18). Him we know with increasing knowledge (v. 10). Him we serve with faithfulness and love (vv. 1, 4), abounding in good works reflective of our calling to the Kingdom and glory of God (v. 10; cf. 1 Thess. 2.12). And we hope fervently for that day when we will be joined forever with our King and Lord and Savior (v. 5).

For the greatness of our salvation is Jesus, from Whom, through Whom, and unto Whom are all things, for His praise, honor, and glory forever (Rom. 11.36).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
So, this should be fun. Right? This being saved. Well, that’s what many churches push today: Are the congregants pleased and happy, and maybe even having a doggone good time?

But is that really what being in the Kingdom is all about? Is that how we serve our King Jesus?
He Who is the Pre-eminent Ruler of all the cosmos.
He Who was, and is, and is to come. The Almighty. (Rev. 1.8)
He Who is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
He Who is The Head of the body, the Church.
He Who is the Heir of all things, “through whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1.2, 3).

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4.11).

No. Truly. Fun is not the modus operandi of any kingdom, especially not the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Who was bruised for our iniquities; and the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Is. 53.5) This Man of sorrows deserves our utmost love and serious sacrificial service – “for His praise, honor, and glory forever.”

Reflection
1. What do we mean by saying that “the greatness of our salvation is Jesus”?

2. Why should all “saints” be eager to be “faithful” followers of Christ?

3. What is the measure of our faithfulness? How can concentrating on Jesus help us realize that goal?

Christ is the head of the church, if things heavenly and earthly live together in him, such that if the whole body is ever deprived of its head, that is, separated from its Creator, there would be an insane and empty chaos. Ambrosiaster (fl. 366-384), Commentary on the Letter to the Colossians

Closing Prayer: Psalm 116.7-19
Thank and praise the Lord for His great salvation and all the many blessings and benefits that come with it. Renew your commitment to Him, and offer yourself as a living sacrifice to Him for this day.

Sing Psalm 116.7-19
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
and dwell with them forever.

Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
and pay my vows most truly.

How sweet to Him when saints depart – save me, Your servant, Savior!
From sin You loosed my wand’ring heart; I praise Your Name forever!
On You I call, my vows to pay; here in Your presence I would stay
Your praise to offer ever.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Praying the Psalms
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Such a Great Salvation!
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Except as indicated, all Scripture are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.