Colossians 1:1-14: Rescued
Discussion notes based on the sermon preached the morning of 10-7-22
STUDY MATERIAL
Read the passage again and don’t forget to start your meeting in prayer.
Particularly ask that the Holy Spirit would guide your discussion and help you to apply what is said in Scripture to your lives today. Sermons are available on the St John’s website or YouTube channel.
Sermon Outline
Col 1:1-14 – Rescued
1. Key points on the passage.
– The basic message of Colossians is simple: Jesus is sufficient for all our needs. He is
sufficient for forgiveness for the past, maturity in the present and hope for the future.
– There was nothing special about the Colossian Christians: they were ordinary Christians
but Paul refers to them as “God’s holy people” (v.2a; lit “saints”). All those who have
faith in Jesus (vv.2a/4), who have heard and understand the Gospel (v.6) and have
responded to it by trusting in Jesus are among God’s holy people and that includes us.
– In vv.12-14, Paul points to some important consequences of this:
– We have a great hope for the future (v.12b): death is not the end; if we are
among God’s people, we will share in Christ’s resurrection and his kingdom;
– We have been moved from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus
(v.13; see Romans 5-8): in our natural state our nature is corrupt, we do wrong
and are separated from God; but when we repent and put our faith in Jesus, we
are moved to the “kingdom of light” (v.12b); we are redeemed (v.14) and are set
apart as God’s people (“saints” = those sanctified = those set apart for God).
– Some Christians are uncomfortable with this idea for perhaps two reasons:
– What Paul says is sharp edged, dividing people into two categories and modern
western people are uncomfortable with such statements and even the concept
of absolute truth. But if God exists then absolute trust exists and Jesus himself
tells us that it has been made known. The modern world denies this but the
denial (which contradicts Jesus) is just as much a hard edged statement of truth
as what the bible says. We have no choice but to decide where the truth lies.
– Some people feel that saying that we are God’s holy people is tantamount to
saying that we are better than other people but nothing could be further from
the truth: we become God’s holy people the instant that we turn to Jesus in
repentance and faith; we can’t qualify ourselves for this; it is God who qualifies
us for his blessing (v.12b); becoming part of God’s people requires that we be
forgiven for what we have done wrong rather than being a reward for what we
have done right (v.14); we can never add anything to what Jesus has done.
– All Christians are, as it were, members of God’s family: other Christians are brothers and
sisters (v.2a). The Colossian Christians loved one another (v.4) and this derived from
what God had stored up for them (v.5). We love because God loved us first (1 John
4:19). To love one another more requires that we focus on our hope for the future and
God’s grace generally.
– This is part of a bigger issue. Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with the
knowledge of God’s will through all wisdom and understanding so that they would
please God (vv.9-10). We likewise need to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.
– The source of this wisdom and understanding is the Holy Spirit (v.9), who is also the
source of our ability to love one another (v.8). We can’t serve God on our own: we need
the Holy Spirit and, fortunately, when we turn to Jesus in repentance and faith we
receive the Spirit; this is part of being moved to the kingdom of light.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
– What does it mean to say that we are “God’s holy people” (“saints”; vv.2a/12b)?
– Why does Paul describe our condition prior to becoming Christians as being in the
“domain of darkness” (v.13)?
– Do you feel uncomfortable with the idea that those who do not have faith in Jesus are in
the “domain of darkness” but those who have such faith are in the “kingdom of light”
(v.13; c.f. v.12b)? Why or why not? Think through the issues relating to this.
– What is the “inheritance” of which Paul speaks in v.12b? Do you focus on this regularly?
Why or why not?
– Do you accept other Christians as your brothers and sisters (v.2a)? Why or why not?
What are the implications of this? Do you love other members of St John’s? How can
we seek to increase our love for one another (consider 1 John 4:19 and the source of the
Colossians love, v.5)?
– How often do you pray in the manner that Paul prayed for the Colossians (vv.9-12)
either for yourself or for other people? Should you use this kind of prayer more? Why
or why not?
– What does this passage indicate that we need to live lives worthy of God and to please
God (v.10)? What does this suggest that we need to be doing?
Prayer:
– Pray that your and all members of St John’s would understand what it means to be
God’s holy people. Don’t forget to give thanks to God that he has set us apart as his
people as an act of pure grace.
– Pray that God would enable you and all members of St John’s to understand his grace
better and, in particular, understand the “inheritance” to which we can look forward.
Again, don’t forget to thank God for this: he has “qualified us” for this inheritance.
– Pray that you and all members of St John’s would love one another.
– Pray Paul’s prayer in vv.9-12 (or, at least, the core of it), asking God to fill you and all
members of St John’s with the knowledge of his will.
– Ask that God would send the Holy Spirit to guide us and transform us so that we can
serve him better (including having wisdom and understanding and being inspired to love
one another).
– Thank God generally for Jesus and his sufficiency for our fundamental needs.
