WINTER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2012-2013

“THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST’S LORDSHIP REVEALED FROM ROME”

UNIT THREE: COLOSSIANS…REVELATION OF CHRIST’S PERSON TO THE CHURCH

“CHRIST’S GREATNESS REVEALED TO THE CHURCH”

Sunday School Lesson No. X – February 3, 2013

Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III Pastor-Teacher

Lesson Text: Colossians 1:15-20

Required Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

Motto Text: Colossians 1:19, “For it pleased the

Father that in him should all fulness

dwell.”

Reliable Resources: Precepts for Living (UMI); Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Libronix Electronic Library; MacArthur Study Bible; Thomas Nelson Open Bible Notes; Word Search 9 and 10 Electronic Library

INTRODUCTION

We live in a society where the word “awesome” is used to describe almost anything: “an awesome game,” “an awesome pair of boots,” “awesome run for a touchdown,” etc. In fact, our society pronounces such hyperbole to almost anything. It is no wonder there is little reverence for our Christ and people hardly drop their jaws when they consider the greatness of His Person! But beloved, Jesus Christ is more than “Awesome!” In fact, we should consider who He is, as the Hebrews writer in 1:1-4 said: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Our lessons this quarter will bring us face-to-face with the indescribable Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Paul remained in prison in Rome, he is undoubtedly was visited by Epaphras, who most likely was the founder of the Church at Colossae. (Read Col. 1:7, 4:12-13). This brother Epaphras came to inform Paul of problems and seek his wisdom because of some of the issues that were plaguing the Church. Wilmington says, “Paul wrote this letter to warn them against those false teachings, that on the one hand obscured the majesty and glory of Christ (1:15; 2:8).” Paul also warned the Church of some of the heresies that would cause doubt and disillusionment in the Church. According to the Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator, “There might have been a mixture of Judaism, Asceticism and Gnosticism being taught. Judaism taught that certain elements of the Mosaic Law needed to be followed as part of their salvation. Asceticism emphasized the necessity of following certain rituals of self-denial as part of their Christian life. Gnosticism taught that all matter, and especially the body, is evil and that Jesus was not truly human, but only appeared that way. …This denied His deity.”

But let us begin to examine Christ’s Greatness Revealed to the Church. Our Anticipated Power Points are:

·  Paul’s Praise of the Colossians. Colossians 1:1-8

·  Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians. Colossians 1:9-14

·  Paul Presents the Pre-eminence of Christ. Colossians 1:15-20

LESSON OUTLINE

I. Paul’s Praise of the Colossians. Colossians 1:1-8

The good news of the salvation of Christ being received by the Colossians is on the lips of Paul. He praises this church for their faithful testimony of salvation, discipleship, evangelism and stewardship. Praise God!

II. Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians. Colossians 1:9-14

Paul was never short on prayers. He not only sought prayer for himself, but he always willingly pronounced prayer on the lives of the Saints in Christ Jesus. (Read Ephesians 6:18-20). Wilmington declares, “Paul prayed that they would find God’s perfect will, which included personal holiness, fruitfulness, and power in their Christian lives (1:9-12). This was all possible because of God’s mighty act of redemption on their behalf through Jesus Christ (1:13-14).” The New Living Translation states: “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

III. Paul Presents the Pre-eminence of Christ. Colossians 1:15-20

The teachings of the false teachers at Colossae caused much confusion in the minds and practices of the believers, much like many today who are compromising the philosophies of this modern world with the truths of Christ. From the Garden of Eden, Satan has sought to use the vocabulary of God without His dictionary! But Paul expounds and explains. The key word that expresses the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ is “Pre-eminence!” Defined: “The quality or state of being superior; to have paramount rank, dignity, importance and being outstanding.”

Wilmington declares concerning Christ’s Pre-eminence:

Vs. 15 “Life is the ‘image’ of God (1:15). The Greek signifies not that he is simply like God but that he is God, for the very ‘fulness’ of God dwells him.” Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Vss. 16-17 “He created all things in heaven and on earth for his glory, and continues to hold it all together.” “…Because he existed before everything else began.” John 1:3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Vs. 18 “He is the head of the church.” Jesus Christ’s dominion and authority causes much unrest among the skeptics and unbelievers, but HALLELUJAH, He is who He is! Philippians 2:9-11 states, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Revelation 5:11-12 says, “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

Vs. 19 “All of presence (fullness) of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) dwells permanently and pleasantly in the Person of Jesus Christ! This makes the teachings of the Gnostics null and void!”

Finally: Verse 20 puts the icing on the cake. The Believer’s Bible Commentary states: “In other words, it was not only the Godhead’s good pleasure that all fullness should dwell in Christ (vs. 19), but also that Christ should reconcile all things to Himself.” Remember, to reconcile means “(a) to restore to friendship or harmony; (b) settle or resolve.” Webster. Beloved, aren’t you glad that Paul exposes us to Christ’s greatness as it is revealed to us, His Church?

CLOSING

We close with the words of I Timothy 1:17, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA & Little Bethel Baptist Church, Amite, LA

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 19768, New Orleans, LA 70179

Phone: (504) 486-7876

Website: www.thestudyhour.com

Radio Broadcasts: WLNO AM 1060, Saturday 8:30 a.m.; Sunday 5:30 a.m.

WABL AM 1570 (Hammond-Amite area) Sunday 7:00 a.m.

THE STUDY HOUR IS BACK ON TELEVISION IN METRO NEW ORLEANS

WHNO TV-Channel 20, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. (Same Time and Channel)

LOOKING AHEAD: February 10, 2013 Colossians 2:6-15

Pastor Davis invites you to hear him teach the Sunday School lesson at Bibleway on Wednesday at noon.

Please visit our website, www.thestudyhour.com to see and hear Pastor teaching the lesson via Video.

Then call a friend and share the blessing.