Colossians 1: 1 -14

May I speak in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. 

Why are you in Church this morning? I ask this question because I’ve been struck again this week by the amazing story of Jesus – stumbling on a video series called: Jesus: the game-changer.  

What struck me and will strike you if you watch it – is us being in Church today, worshipping a carpenter from Nazareth, is, all things being equal, a very unlikely thing. 

Jesus may have been a great teacher, but it did not go well for him. He was accused by religious leaders and killed by Roman crucifixion, a most humiliating, terrible death, and his followers ran off.  

And yet, as we know, he did not stay dead. He rose after 3 days, telling his disciples to preach ‘that through his life and death and resurrection – sins could be forgiven’. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

So, Jesus is why we are in Church this morning! Jesus was not only a game-changer in world history but he has been a game-changer in our personal histories too. So 2000 years after the resurrection, we are in Church. 

But just 20 years after the resurrection, in a place called Colossae, there was a Church that St Paul sent a letter to. Georgie read the start of that letter so well to us. 

In that letter’s introduction Paul reminds them who they are as Christians and why they are in Church. I want to highlight 3 themes: faith & love; truth; & fruit. 

1.  Faith & love 

Paul uses a good management technique by starting on a positive note. The reason he is writing is to correct them - or at least warn them – but he starts on a positive note – Who they are in Christ - and by implication what they don’t need from elsewhere. 

Paul had not met them, but had heard about their faith and love. He had sent Epaphrus (v7) with the good news of Jesus and they had believed and become a Church. Faith and love, a nice reputation to have. I wonder what the reputation of St Mary’s is? Would we be satisfied with faith & love? 

20 years on from the death of Jesus – the Colossians were no longer scattered - but a faithful and confident Church – faithful to the gospel and loving each other.  

And the reason they were in Church to hear Paul’s letter for the first time - is probably the same reason for us. They had heard about Jesus and put their faith in him. 

Twenty years after the resurrection - or 2000 years – meeting Jesus has remained a game-changer – from fear to faith & love. 

So, the 1st theme this letter identifies in the Colossian Christians is their faith and love. 

2. Truth 

The second theme Paul’s letter highlights is truth – specifically (v5) ‘the word of truth, the gospel’. The whole point of this letter is truth. It is written to counter wrong-thinking or error. We will hear more of this later with talk of elemental spirits, worship of angels etc – we are not sure what this error was (there are 44 theories!). 

Now many people today have an allergic reaction to claims about truth. This is often because such claims are made by arrogant or rude people, who appear to have no sensitivity for the considered views of others. And yet, the purpose of this letter is to make truth claims - and to counter what theologians call ‘doctrinal error’.  

This year we celebrate the Nicaean Creed – 1700 years. Creeds are a positive expression and summary of our faith, which is why we say it every week in Church.  

Paul describes the message of Jesus as truth ‘you have heard this hope, the word of truth, the gospel’. My hope and prayer is that our Church will be less interested in saying where people are wrong – and more interested in saying what we believe to be true, hopeful and good.  St Paul is keen in the introduction to this letter to remind the Colossians of the power and truth of the Gospel that they have heard and responded to. 

3. Fruit 

The third theme that Paul highlights in the introduction to this letter is fruit. 

We are not talking apples and oranges but the fruit of the Spirit - a theme Paul unpacks more fully in his letter to the Galatians – the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”.  Not only has this Gospel of Jesus resulted in faith and love, power and truth in the Colossian Church – it is ‘bearing fruit and growing in the whole world’. They have a hope for heaven but also changing things on earth. 

Paul points out to the Colossians the power they have in Christ to transform themselves and their communities. This is not static, it is a dynamic faith. That is why Paul has not ceased praying for them (v9).  The Colossians have started on a journey of faith, and he wants them to finish it.  This includes his praying for them to be filled with knowledge of God’s wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord and bearing fruit in every good work as they grow in the knowledge of God. (v10) 

So in Conclusion 

Paul writes to the Colossians to challenge their thinking. But before he does, he reminds them of who they are in Christ, what they already have - and what they need to do to keep going. In reminding them of what they have – Paul reminds us of what we have – who we are in Christ – why we have come to Church – and what we need to do to grow in God. Paul is saying to the Colossians – you’ve started well – but there is trouble ahead – so let’s dig deep and keep going.  

It’s a message that is relevant for us today. 

Paul will now turn to some serious claims about Christ – and tackle some serious errors that others are saying – but that is for another day….. 

So, who are we in Christ? and Why are we in Church this morning?  

We can answer these questions by using v13 of this letter’s introduction:  

‘We are in Church (like the Colossians were) because we have been rescued from the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins’. 

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,