Encouragement To Those Under Fire

Colossians 1:1-2

(1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, 

Paul calls himself an apostle. This is a word that is built on a root word that means "to send." This word is used in the New Testament at least seventy-nine times, denoting an authorized spokesman, who has the power of the one sending him and serving as his personal representative. 

So Paul is the personal representative of Jesus Christ, because God the Father wanted to appoint him thus. Not because Paul chose it. 

The apostles were appointed to lay the substructure and framework of the church on the foundation of Christ Jesus. Now that the framework has been laid, there are no more "apostles" in the church, because we are building on that foundation according to the substructure that was laid. We are not to change that, as it would destabilize the whole structure.

and Timothy our brother, 

Timothy is the young pastor who had a believing Jewish mother and grandmother, and an unbelieving Greek father (Acts 16:1; II Timothy 1: 5). He was with Paul at this writing, as Paul was in prison in Rome.

(2) to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: 

The word for saints, hagios, meaning "holy," connotes both the excellence of character, and the dedication, or position of being "set apart" for the work and worship of God. And it denotes the Colossian Christians as part of the people of God, with the other congregations.

The word faithful, pistois, is usually interpreted in the sense of "believing;" but here it can also hold the idea of "loyalty" to Christ, a quality especially appropriate for a church under fire, as this one is. 

He calls them "brothers," a term of affection, indicating an intimate connection; calling attention to the intimacy of the Christian fellowship, in spite of the differences of culture, social status, and racial background of all who comprised the Christian community. They were bound together with a common bond of love, and so constituted one spiritual family begotten by one Father.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 

This greeting takes the form of a prayer, it is not just a polite cliche. Grace, charis, is built on a root that is used of things that generally produce well-being. In Paul's writings it expresses the essence of God's saving activity in Christ, in the 155 times he says it. This is a specific and serious concept. 

And the peace, eirene, denotes an idea much richer and broader than just the absence of conflict, with wholeness and soundness, and includes prosperity, contentedness, good relations with others, and even spiritual prosperity. 

All this is from God our Father. 

O my Father, You are so good to us. You have made sure that we have everything we need, and so much more! Your plans for each of us are all good, for our benefit and Your glory. Teach us how to follow in Your footsteps, Father, our hand in yours. Keep us straight on that narrow path that leads to eternal Light; not turning to the right or to the left, not wandering away or falling into a ditch, not running ahead or lagging behind. 

Strengthen us, Father, to be faithful to You and Your ways, even when confronted with the seductive ways of the world and our enemy. Even in the face of every little thing that would draw us away from You and Your ways for us. 

And send us out, Father, into the world, with Your good news, remembering that You are not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to the repentance of recognizing our plight and turning to Christ our Redeemer. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ and Messiah, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!