Colossians 1:1-8 – Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10; 1:22-23):
Colossians is Paul refuting Gnosticism & Jewish legalism written during his 1st Roman imprisonment (60-62 AD) – Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, & Philippians. There was a fourth letter he wrote that is unknown to us – Col 4:16 (“that is coming from Laodicia”).
V1 – “an apostle” = Mk 3:13-14; II Cor 12: 12; Hebs 3:1; Ephs 2:19-20. True Biblical apostles were those who had first hand observation of His person, His teaching, & the signs, wonders, & miracles of His Messianic ministry & who were directly, personally commissioned by our Lord Himself, empowering them with His Sovereign Incarnate power as the testimony of His Deity until the completion of the Holy Spirit inspired New Testament record, which was completed with John’s Revelation. At the death of John, as the last living apostle, the apostolic era of church history ended. All who, today, profess to be apostles & have apostolic ministries are satanic counterfeits – Mt 24:24; II Cor 11:13-15; 4:3-4
V2 – “saints” = not about their “conduct” but their “condition” or “standing/commission in Christ” – Col 2:9-15(9-10); 1:22-23; “in Christ” = the gracious act of God imputing to each true believer the sinless, victoriously resurrected Christ, sinless righteousness of Christ, time present – I Ptr 1:3,4-5,6a; the “living” evidence of our Lord’s glorious, immutable declaration in Jn 14:6(1-6); 14-17.
V3 – “We give thanks to God(Why? V5), the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…..” =
Contrary to the heresy of those who arrogantly declare that Paul is here revealing or stating that Christ is “lower than God”, thus a created being possessing no Deity as created by His “Father”, contrary to this heretical, blasphemous lie, Paul is in reality declaring Christ to be of the exact Divine, sinless nature as His Father, God – Jn 14: 9-15; Col 2:9-10(9-15); Roms 11.33-36; Titus 1:1-2; Hebs 1:1-4; 2:14.
V4 – “…..since we a) HEARD of your FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS and b) the LOVE which you HAVE for ALL the saints;” = here are two inherent, immutable, irrevocable (Roms 8:1-2; Jn 10:9-10,28-29) evidences of TRUE salvation (a true believer):
a) FAITH – God’s salvific gift of supernatural, immutable repenting, saving faith (II Cor 5:17) followed by His gift of supernatural, never failing, lifelong sanctifying faith that is evidenced by a life of joyful, humble, ongoing faithful, obedience – (Jn 3:3-8; 6:44,65; 14:6, 15,21,23(I Jn 5:18); Ephs 1:3-6; 2:8-10; I Ptr 1:3,4- 5,6a; II Ptr 1:1-2 (1-4,5-11); Acts 2:1-4; I Cor 2:6-16; 3:16-17; 6:19; I Jn 2:20,27; Roms 4(all); Col 2:9- 10; 1:22-23).
b) LOVE – here Paul refers to love for fellow believers that grows out of one’s new heart of tender loving flesh for Christ (regeneration – II Cor 5:17; Mt 22: 39-40). The nature & evidence of this love for fellow believers is revealed in Rom 5:8; 14:1; 15:1; Acts 2:37-47; I Jn 4:7-21.
V5 – “…..because of the HOPE laid up for you IN HEAVEN…..” = this is that SURE & CERTAIN LIVING HOPE (I Cor 13:7) in the SURE & CERTAIN FUTURE fulfillment of God’s promised glorifying love to/for His own – I Ptr 1:4-5(3,4- 5,6a; Is 55:8,9-11; 46:810; II Cor 1:20-21; Nums 23:19)
V6 – a) “…..is CONSTANTLY bearing fruit & increasing….” = Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, here testifies to the truth of Titus 1:1-3, God’s Sovereign, immutable promise to Christ to give Him a holy bride by way of the truth of Ephs 1:3-6, & how that promise is being immutably fulfilled every day of human history (“increasing”). b) “…..and understood the grace of God in truth;” = here Paul testifies to the glorious eternal reality of Jn 17:17; 3:3-8; Acts 16:14; I Ptr 1:3,4-5; Col 2:9-10; 1:22-23 accomplished by way of the truth of Ephs 1:3-6; Jn 6:44,65.
V7 – “…..you learned it…..” = by way of the predestined, foreordained, created plan of God as revealed in Roms 10:14- 15,17; Col 1:28; I Thess 2:8.
V8 – a) “…..your love…” = I Jn 4:7-21; I Cor 3:4-11; Phil 2:3-4; b) “…in the Spirit.” = Acts 2:1-4; I Cor 2:6-16; 3:16- 17; 6:19; I Jn 2: 20,27 (I Jn 4:7-21); Roms 8: 15-17,26-27, 28,31,37-39; II Ptr 1:2-3 (“everything”)