MR. D'S NOTES ON COLOSSIANS

COPYRIGHT 2002

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

7. CHRIST OUR MESSAGE

Christ our Message directs our verbal service (vs. 3, 6).
Col. 4.2-6

Vs. 2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;"

Continue - can you continue in prayer if you pray once a month when you get into a bind where you need some help? Doubtful. Continue or be constant in - the term is used of becoming an adherent to a cause - following a particular philosophy. It would seem to indicate a constant daily thing.

Continue in prayer watching - what are we to be watching for? I would guess this goes back to 3.4 and the second coming.

This kind of gives meaning to 3.2 "set your affection on things above."

Continue in prayer seems straight forward - pray without ceasing relates, but the thought surely of praying every chance you get would be the least we could see in the text..

"Watch in the same" may be a little more difficult. Just what is meant? Watch in prayer would be the thought but how do we watch in prayer?

Watch indicates watching that some great calamity does not overtake you or come upon you by surprise. Similar to folks in the coasts of Hawaii are always on watch for tidal waves - they have a warning system. Not that you keep your eyes on the water all the time, but be watchful - take due care.

Now, how do we watch in prayer? I would suggest that this may be in the thought of using our common sense and thinking through what we know as we pray.

Example: If you get a prayer letter from a missionary stating that the man is going to pick up a single lady missionary at the airport sixty miles away. Not to have a nasty mind, but that is asking for idle gossip and is an open temptation to some men/women. That is quite a good time to watch in prayer - pray that God will open the man's eyes to the problem, pray that God will keep the situation from becoming a problem. Pray that the whole situation might become honoring to God.

Vs. 3 "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:"

Paul goes on to ask them to pray for him as well as "us" - others that are with him preaching.

If you want to pray - pray for the church folks - that they will have open doors to speak of the Lord.

In Eph. 3.12 we are told that we can come to the Father with boldness. Heb. 4.16 mentions the same concept. WE CAN GO BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD IN PRAYER, but we ask for prayer to go before man to witness. Kind of a contradiction actually. What can we learn from this?

1. We are chicken at heart.
2. We fear man more than God.
3. We have a neat relationship with a mighty, yet neat God.

Why is it that we fear man so much? I think it goes back to the thought of selfless. We aren't selfless, we are thinking of self - we don't like

to be the odd person
to be looked down upon
to be rejected
to be thought less of
to be less than we think we are maybe?

Vs. 4 "That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."

Paul realized the importance of making the Gospel manifest or clear and concise. Let's think about the gospel for awhile.

What is the Gospel? How do you put it precisely and succinctly?

What are the elements of the gospel? That which a person must hear to be saved. I would like for you to take a little challenge. We had a pastor once that passed out three by five inch cards and asked all to put down the gospel in twenty-five words or less. Something we could share with someone that was on their death bed.

Give it a try - the Gospel in twenty-five words or less.

Some things we should understand before we go further.

1. We can't possibly talk a person into heaven.

2. We can't possibly talk the wrong person (or the non-predestined) into heaven.

3. We can't say anything that will cause a person to go into hell. If that person is to be a child of God HE WILL BE!

4. We may never lead anyone to Christ.

5. We may lead hundreds to Christ.

6. We are only a tool that the Holy Spirit uses to finalize the work that He has already been doing in the life.

7. There is no key verse or phrase that will bring the sinner to his knees before the Lord.

8. There is nothing we can do to save anyone. They must make a decision based on their knowledge.

9. Without the work of the Holy Spirit there is nothing that can be done to draw a lost person to Christ.

Let us imagine now for a moment or two. You have just come upon a very bad car accident. You run up to see if you can help. Someone points to a young man that is obviously near death and says "See what you can do."

As you talk with the man, you feel that he is lost and very concerned about his eternal destiny. Imagine that you have only seconds to share the Gospel with him.

How would you share the Gospel in 25 words or less.

Let's look at some possibles.

Christ was crucified, buried and raised. Believe - ask for salvation. (10 words)

If you've lied you're lost. Christ was God - crucified - buried - and raised for your sin. If you believe this ask Him to save you. (24 words)

Christ was perfect sacrifice for your sin - accept Him. (9 words)

Christ died for your sin. Ask for salvation. (8 words)

Let's consider the twenty-four word try. Would it do the job? It might. How can we improve it?

"If you've lied you're lost. Christ was God - crucified - buried - and raised for your sin. If you believe this ask Him to save you."

If you've lied you're hell bound. (makes it 26 words)

Christ was God - was crucified for your sin - buried & raised. (makes it 27 words)

Accept this & you will be saved. (makes it 22 words)

Would you add to the front of the second line? "If you’re sorry" (makes it 25 words)

If you've lied you're hell bound. If you're sorry Christ was God - was crucified for your sin - buried & raised. Accept this & you will be saved.

Does this do it? NO for Christ is God whether they are sorry or not. Yes this is a real challenge!

Are you sorry? might work.

If you've lied you're hell bound. Are you sorry? Christ was God - was crucified for your sin - buried & raised. Accept this & you will be saved.

Give some thought to this idea of setting down your faith in as few words as possible.

What are the essentials to salvation that we need to include in our witnessing?

1. Repentance for example is listed among the required items of witnessing by some, yet others leave it out because great texts of the scripture do not mention it in relation to salvation in the church age.

What are the pros and cons?

John's gospel does not mention the term once while it emphasizes "belief" greatly.

I Corinthians 15 does not mention repentance but states belief is the key. READ I Cor. 15:1-8

What is the answer to this question?

What is repentance?

A change of mind. If I were to leave New York City to drive to California and while crossing Nebraska I decided, this is a dumb idea, and turn around to go back to New York I have had a change of mind.

If a person moves from a position of going to Hell or rejecting God to a place of accepting God and going to Heaven, then that person has had a change of mind. This requires belief and the result is change of direction.

I agree that repentance is a definite part of salvation. It seems that John was viewing those that believed as having had a change of mind or if you will "repentance." Paul in I Cor. is not laying out a full discourse on the Gospel - only reminding them of some of the things that they had placed their trust in.

Simple belief is not enough for it is possible to have a knowledge of facts in the head but not have a saving faith that those facts are going to save you.

As the driver in Nebraska made a conscious choice to change directions so must the lost person come to a point when he or she says yes - before I was walking against God and now I want to walk with God.

You don't have to beat them over the head with a stick trying to get them to repent - but you should see to it that they have a change of mind toward sin and their previous life. This requires they understand their sin and their lostness.

2. Lordship Some feel that at the time a person accepts Christ he or she must also make Christ the Lord of their life. They must assume a master servant relationship. Others say, No that is an item of maturation and will come later.

What say ye?

Some possible help for the situation:

a. It would seem natural for Lordship to come, for that seems to be how it was in the early church.

b. It would seem to be our reasonable service according to Rom. 12:1-2

c. It would certainly help the persons’ testimony before the world.

d. It says that we are bought with a price - we belong to Him that paid the price.

Is Lordship a pre-requisite to salvation?

I see the Master as purchasing and paying the price. We become a servant of that Master. Whether we serve or rebel is a matter of walk not salvation.

It would seem however that Lordship at the time of salvation would be a very distinct testimony of a true change of mind and turning to God.

3. Hell

Some say that Hell is something that is very negative and that it should not be used in witnessing. It is a detraction from the real decision of accepting or rejecting God.

Do you think Hell is a needed part of witnessing?

In the New Testament days Hell was an accepted truth as was heaven. Today many do not believe in Hell so they must be told of its existence and reality. Otherwise how can they properly understand the gulf that separates them from God?

We have to get them lost before we can get them saved, so to speak.

Other things that are needed that usually are not disputed:

4. Belief

5. Acceptance/Receiving

6. Sin

Let's have some fun now and take these essentials and put down some scripture that we could use to show a lost person what they must do to be saved.

As we go through this why don't you try to find references in your mind that would work and jot them down for your own information.

HELL:

Rev 20:13-15 21:8b for some description. Also - speaking of the final judgment: 20:13. 21:8b "the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

REPENTANCE:

Acts 20:21 "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

II Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

BELIEF:

Jo 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name;"

Acts 13:38,39 "Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."

Acts 16:30,31 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Rom. 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

I Jo 5:13 "These things have I wrote unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

ACCEPTANCE:

II Cor. 11:4 "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

RECEIVE:

Jo 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name;"

Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

Acts 11:1 "And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God."

I Cor. 15:1 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and in which ye stand;"

Col. 2:6 "As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him,"

If you have pulled verses from your mind for these topics then you have the tools to share Christ with. If you did not have a verse for each jot down some of these and in the coming weeks take time to work out a few that will be easy for you to use with people.

We could give you a list of things to say and you could memorize it and it would work yet if you have some verses that you are comfortable with then witnessing will be more comfortable for you.

LORDSHIP:

In the concordance there are three columns of references for "our Lord," "the Lord,” "the Lord Jesus Christ" and similar terms.

It would seem that He is to be Lord of our lives. This is probably post salvation information however.

Another item that we should mention which definitely is a post salvation item is FOLLOWUP!

Many failures in this area have caused great delays in the spiritual maturing of many Christians.

I was saved as a Senior in high school but was never discipled. Indeed, I was not told what I was to do as a Christian. I entered the Navy on a four-year enlistment and maintained the typical sailor image. I stood outside of a Christian Servicemen's center in Vallejo, CA one evening but didn't go in because I had no idea what a Christian Servicemen's center was. I tried to read the Bible a few times because I thought that might help me but I started in the genealogies and really wasn't too thrilled with that.

I have often wondered what would have happened if someone had taken only a few hours and told me some of the basics. Maybe I would have sought out a local church etc.

When you lead someone to the Lord take time if at all possible to disciple them. Cover some of the basics of the faith so that they can beware of the cults and wrong isms.

Prayer
Bible Study
Security of the believer
Church
Witnessing

Vs. 5 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

Walk in wisdom. If we need wisdom we need to ask the Lord (James 1.5). We need to walk in wisdom as we live before the lost.

This passage seems to be saying pray - watch - walk before the lost so that you can reach them as soon as possible. Redeeming the time - redeeming the time God has given you.

Be very wise before the lost lest you lose an opportunity.

I am doing a very in-depth study on wisdom and this verse is using the word in a general way rather than speaking of true wisdom that some have. It is the goal for all believers, but is not saying that all are wise. I think this is a general use of the term wise and that this relates to all believers - be careful how you walk is the thought of the text.

Don't blunder around and ruin your testimony before the world. Don't do things that might bring dishonor to the Lord, don't say things that might bring dishonor to the Lord.

We are to walk wisely that we might redeem the time. Make the time we have been given here on earth profitable for God, would be the thought of the text.

First of all we have no idea how long we have on this earth. We could be gone tomorrow. The problem is that we don't always live this way. I could list a number of instances where someone has died with no warning at all. In the blink of the eye they were dead and had no more time. One of my wife's friends and her husband were talking over the day in their living room. She heard a funny sound from her husband so she looked up to see him slumping - gone without a sign - without a warning - without having accomplished all he wanted to do in life. Redeem the time.

We have no idea when our time is to be, thus we ought to walk as though we were going to die at the next breath.

I feel this text speaks to the thought that we ought to live correctly so that at any moment we might be able to witness to anyone without worry of having to defend ourselves against accusation.

Vs. 6 "Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

This verse lends credence to my thoughts on the last. Watch what you say! However Paul adds a little phrase that is of interest - season what you say with salt. What a neat thing to do.

I would relate this to watch for opportunities to salt the conversation - ways to drop spiritual thoughts into your talk with others.

I have a little trick that I like to show people. It is a properly folded piece of paper that ends up with a proper ticket to heaven.

I was doing this one evening when my wife's folks were there, but I was showing the trick to a neighbor that was over for coffee. As I finished up the trick and showed her the right ticket to heaven, my father-in-law asked quietly, "Ricki, do you have that ticket?"

It was the perfect salt for the time and opened opportunity to witness. This is why we need to use a little salt with our talk.

The rest of the verse seems to bear this thinking out. We need to be ready to give answer for our faith at any moment, at any place to any that might ask.

If Christ is our only message then we will easily be able to share it, however, if we are living a message that contradicts Christ we probably will find it difficult to share the simple gospel.


THE ROMANS ROAD

I trust that this does not infringe upon someone's copyright! I do not know the source of this method of witnessing. It has been used for many years.

Romans 1:16 The Gospel is for everyone that believes.
Romans 2:11 Everyone is equal before God.
Romans 3:10 God states that no one is righteous.
Romans 3:23 Everyone has sinned - none fulfill God's requirements.
Romans 6:23 Sin requires death - However God has a better way.
Romans 5:8 Christ died for sinners.
Romans 10:9-13 A recap of what has already been shown.
Romans 8:35-39 This text can show assurance of the decision.

ANOTHER SET OF VERSES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL TO YOU

Romans 3:23 There is a gap caused by sin between man and God.

Romans 6:23 We will be paid for our sin, however God has provided a gift for our taking.

Revelation 20:13-15;21:8 Speaking of the final judgment Revelation mentions this second death:

Ephesians 2:8-9 There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves - Not baptism, nor good works, nor prayer.

John 1:12 If we believe and receive Christ as the Bible presents him we will become His children.

Leviticus 1:4-5 As the Old Testament saint acknowledged the death of the sacrifice for "HIS" sin so we must acknowledge CHRIST'S death for our sin. His sacrifice was the only sacrifice that could satisfy God.

Hebrews 9:11-15

I John 5:12,13 those that believe can be assured of their salvation.

Romans 8:35-39