A) . 1:1-14 1. Paul’ s Greeting. 1:1-2 2. Paul’ s Gratitude. 1:3-8 3. Paul’ s Prayer. 1:9-14 1. Paul’ s Greeting. 1:1-2 V.1 a) Apostle in Christ - I. It is God that gives the ministry gifts and not men. Paul reminds them of his authoritative ministry. II. Timothy was Paul’ s missionary companion. V.2 b) Brethren in Christ - It was addressed to all the saints but also to the faithful. c) Grace and peace in Christ - I) Grace and peace is available only through Christ and those in Christ. II) There can only be grace and peace when the Father and Jesus is received as Lord and God III) Grace and peace is a person. 2.Tim.2:1; Eph.2:14 IV) There is a peace - with God Rom.5:1 and of God. Phil.4:7 2. Paul’ s Gratitude. 1:3-8 V.3 Thanksgiving - Paul gave thanks for their faith, love and fruit. V.4 a) Faith - Fame of the Colossians. I. God-ward. II. Paul develops this faith to Christ in Ch.1-2. b) Love - Flowing love of the Colossians. I. Man-ward. II. Paul develops this love in Ch.3-4. V.5 c) Hope - Focus of the Colossians. I. Faith, hope and love. 1.Cor.13:13 II. The hope in heaven. Eph.1:3, 18; Matt.6:19-20 III. They were exhorted to seek this hope in Col.3:1-2. V.6 d) Grace - Fruit of the Colossians. I. It was by the grace of God that they heard the Truth and bore fruit. II. The Gospel is: Truth v.5, for everyone v.6, it produces fruit v.6 and is God’ s grace to man v.6. V.7 a) Minister of Christ - Learned from Epaphras. I. Paul began with faith and love and now ends this section with it as well. II. Epaphras was a faithful minister (perhaps their Pastor). III. Perhaps Paul mentions Epaphras to reveal that he also held the same views in this epistle and therefore made the words more acceptable. V.8 b) Love in the Spirit - Love of the Colossians. Love is a fruit caused by the Spirit. Gal.5:22 3. Paul’ s Prayer. 1:9-14 V.9 a) Portion - Filled with knowledge. I. Reason for prayer - They began praying for the Colossians when they heard of their faith in Christ. II. Request of prayer - v.9-11 describes their prayer for them. 1. Knowledge - Is the storage of facts of Truth. (Gr. epignosis) means full knowledge. Gnosticism promoted a “ deeper knowledge” reachable only by the privileged few. Words like knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding were a part of their religious language. Paul said they could have the full knowledge, wisdom and understanding they wanted in Christ in contrast to the deeper knowledge of Gnosticism. Col.2:2-3 2. Wisdom - Is the application of Truth. 3. Understanding - Interpretation of Truth. Gnosticism is about knowledge that saves by thinking right. Christianity is about knowledge of His will through a Person: Christ. V.10 b) Pleasing - Full in pleasing and fruitfulness. 4. Pleasing God - Through a worthy walk. Through fruitful good works. Through increasing in knowledge. V.11 c) Power - Full power strengthening. 5. Strengthened with might - 5.a Extent - The Source is: His glorious power. Phil.4:13; Rom.8:18; 1.Pet.4:14 5.b Endurance - The result is: Patience and longsuffering 5.c Expression - Joy: Not only Enduring but Enjoying in patience and longsuffering. Paul moves from 5 Petitions to God (v.9-11) to 6 Praises to the Father. (v.12-14) The petition is Paul Asking God to give, the praise is Paul giving an Answer to God for giving. Paul gives 6 reasons to be thankful and they tell us why Jesus died for us. v.12-14 V.12 a) Transformation - Inheritance in the Light is Gained. I. Qualified us - He qualified us by giving us Christ’ s holiness and perfection. Col.3:3; 1.Cor.1:30; Eph.4:24 II. Be Partakers - The saints are partakers of an inheritance laid up for them in heaven and they have the Holy Spirit as a deposit for that inheritance. Col.1:5; Eph.1:13-14 V.13 b) Translation - The Son’ s kingdom and Love is Given. III. Delivered us - The saints are no longer under the domain, authority of darkness, they are free. Eph.2:1-2; 1.Pet.2:9 IV. Translated us - 1. The saints are inside His Kingdom where Christ is their King. (Teleportation) Col.3:1; Eph.2:5-6 2. Gnosticism taught much about light and darkness but no teaching can measure with what Christ did for His own. V.14 c) Transcentric - His sacrificial Life brought Grace. V. Redemption - The price for the saints was the blood of Christ. VI. Forgiveness - When God forgives it is in a righteous way, He meets the qualifications for forgiveness through Christ. Ps.103:12