COLOSSIANS - THE PREEMINENT CHRIST (1 OF 15)
by Zach Terry
Scripture: Colossians 1:1-29
This content is part of a series.
Colossians - The Preeminent Christ (1 of 15)
Series: Colossians
Zach Terry
Colossians 1
INTRODUCTION: While on his third missionary journey, Paul had an opportunity to teach the Word to the citizens of Ephesus who gathered in the school of Tyrannus. While Paul taught faithfully, one of his proteges named Epaphras made a brief excursion to his home town of Colossae, preached the Gospel there and the Holy Spirit birthed a church. It seems almost accidental, a brief detour, but with God there are no accidents, only divine appointments.
Keep in mind Paul had never set foot in the city of Colossae. Almost a decade had passed - Paul finds himself in prison at Rome - when word comes to him about this accidental church in the city of Colossae. It seems that this relatively young church was facing an onslaught of heresies.
- The Gnostics had gained some influence in the young church. Gnosticism was a movement that viewed anything material as evil and anything spiritual as good. Therefore they were given to asceticism - that is we should liquidate all our physical possessions. They also had a real problem with the incarnation - Jesus had come in the flesh, he couldn't really be Truly Divine in their perspective.
Gnostic Creation - Once there was only God who sent for emanations, or lesser beings. And in a long cycle of infinite lesser beings that God beget, finally somewhere infinitely down the road from God they became bad. And finally they got so gross that one of them was able to create, he was so far removed from God. And this evil emanation, this evil demiurge, this sort of semi-god way down the line created evil, not God.And then they said Jesus was just one of those emanations way up at the front of the line. He was still when they were good.
So it almost sounded like they were pro-Jesus but did you know that it is possible to be saying ''NICE'' things about Christ and totally insulting him simultaneously?
Listen to the average Mormon or J ...
Series: Colossians
Zach Terry
Colossians 1
INTRODUCTION: While on his third missionary journey, Paul had an opportunity to teach the Word to the citizens of Ephesus who gathered in the school of Tyrannus. While Paul taught faithfully, one of his proteges named Epaphras made a brief excursion to his home town of Colossae, preached the Gospel there and the Holy Spirit birthed a church. It seems almost accidental, a brief detour, but with God there are no accidents, only divine appointments.
Keep in mind Paul had never set foot in the city of Colossae. Almost a decade had passed - Paul finds himself in prison at Rome - when word comes to him about this accidental church in the city of Colossae. It seems that this relatively young church was facing an onslaught of heresies.
- The Gnostics had gained some influence in the young church. Gnosticism was a movement that viewed anything material as evil and anything spiritual as good. Therefore they were given to asceticism - that is we should liquidate all our physical possessions. They also had a real problem with the incarnation - Jesus had come in the flesh, he couldn't really be Truly Divine in their perspective.
Gnostic Creation - Once there was only God who sent for emanations, or lesser beings. And in a long cycle of infinite lesser beings that God beget, finally somewhere infinitely down the road from God they became bad. And finally they got so gross that one of them was able to create, he was so far removed from God. And this evil emanation, this evil demiurge, this sort of semi-god way down the line created evil, not God.And then they said Jesus was just one of those emanations way up at the front of the line. He was still when they were good.
So it almost sounded like they were pro-Jesus but did you know that it is possible to be saying ''NICE'' things about Christ and totally insulting him simultaneously?
Listen to the average Mormon or J ...
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