Lessons from First Century Christians
Introduction:
Read Hebrews 12:1-2. “Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God.” NKJV It does us good
to read about the lives of Christian men and women; their examples
encourage us to more faithful lives ourselves. We need to emulate
the good qualities and virtues of others who have devoted their
lives to following Christ. “Lives of all great men remind us, we
too can make our lives sublime.”
Text:
Colossians 4:7-18
Body:
1.
Tychicus
Colossians 4:7-8
“Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant
in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him
to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances
and comfort your hearts,” NKJV Tychicus was from the province
of Asia in Asia Minor. Ephesus was the capital. He accompanied
Paul part way on the Third Missionary Journey. He had become close
friends with Paul and had probably been sent to Rome to help and
comfort him in prison and bring back news of the apostle to the
church at Ephesus. (Acts 28:30-31) “Then Paul dwelt two whole
years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern
the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”
NKJV Tychicus returns with Onesimus and delivers the letters
to the Colossians and the Ephesians and maybe the Philemon letter
too. Tychicus was a man of trust. Paul depended on him to
bring these great epistles back. Lesson: God has entrusted
us with carrying the gospel to all the world. Was His trust
misplaced? Tychicus was a beloved brother; the church is God’s
family, isn’t it? We have all been born of the same incorruptible
seed!
(I Peter 1:22-23) “Since you have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the
brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been
born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the
word of God which lives and abides forever,” NKJV We need to
be very concerned for our spiritual brothers and sisters; we should
be warm and friendly. Tychicus was a faithful minister, willing to
serve at all times and under all circumstances. He was a fellow
slave and understood that he had been bought at a price and his life
was not his own. He is a great example to learn from!
2.
Onesimus
Colossians 4:9
“with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
They will make known to you all things which are happening here.”
NKJV Onesimus was a slave from Colosse who had run away from
his master. He came in contact with Paul, and been converted. Paul
urged him to return to his master and entreated Philemon to receive
him as a brother in Christ. (Philemon 15-16) “For perhaps he
departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him
forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave – a beloved
brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the
flesh and in the Lord.” NKJV As Paul had told the Galatian
brethren in Galatians 3:28 “in Christ there is neither bond nor
free.” He had undergone a tremendous change – from an untrustworthy
runaway slave to a faithful and beloved brother. This was true
conversion. Are we still living exactly the same as before we
became Christians? Something is wrong if we are. Are we more
dedicated and committed?
3.
Aristarchus,
Mark, and Justus Colossians
4:10-11
“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of
Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you,
welcome him). and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only
fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision;
they have proved to be a comfort to me.” NKJV
a.
Aristarchus was a Macedonian of Thessalonica who was
converted from Judaism and became a faithful traveling companion of
Paul. He was with Paul in Ephesus when the uprising about the
goddess Diana took place. (Acts 19) Now he was a fellow-prisoner –
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Even if it meant death.
Tradition has it that he was beheaded at Rome with Paul.
b.
Mark was a cousin or maybe a nephew of Barnabas. He
started out with Paul and Barnabas on the First Missionary Trip but
left and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13) Barnabas wanted to take
him on the Second Journey but Paul said “no.” (Acts 15) This
caused contention between Paul and Barnabas. So Barnabas took Mark
with him and went to work in Cyprus. But Mark proved himself to be
a very useful servant and a good colleague of Paul. (II Timothy 4)
(Philemon) Lesson: We see the importance of godly
friends. Without men like Peter, Paul, and Barnabas, Mark’s life
may have turned out very differently. When we stumble, it’s
essential that we have those near us to lift us back on our feet.
c.
Jesus called Justus was associated with Paul in
prison. He brought comfort to Paul. How helpful it must have been
for Paul to have Christians of the Jewish backgrounds, like himself,
working with him. Gravestone epitaph: “He was a comfort to
others.” (I Thessalonians 4:18) “Therefore comfort one another
with these words.” NKJV
Gentile Brothers
4.
Epaphrus
Colossians 4:12-13
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand
perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness
that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and
those in Hierapolis.” NKJV Epaphrus was a Christian from
Colosse who was a fellow prisoner with Paul. (Philemon 23)
“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,” NKJV
He had probably started the congregation in Colosse and was laboring
fervently for Christians in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. All
three cities were within a few miles. “Agonizing” He
didn’t just pray, but labored in prayer, showed his great concern
for them. Paul desired they be spiritually mature and completely
assured in all the will of God. The Hebrews’ writer informs us this
comes by studying and applying the Word of God. (Hebrews
5:12-14) “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of
God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For
everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those
who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” NKJV Let us
today follow Epaphras’ example and pray fervently for the
congregation here and world-wide and then work to do God’s will on
earth.
5.
Luke
Colossians
4:14
“Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” NKJV Luke
was the writer of Luke and Acts. He was a companion of Paul on part
of both of the Second and Third Missionary Journeys. He remained
with him during the first imprisonment at Rome and during his second
imprisonment in Rome and near the end of his life. Paul wrote:
“Only Luke is with me. . .” (II Timothy 4:11a) He was
probably Paul’s dearest friend. We need to stick by our faithful
friends in Christ just as Luke stuck by Paul.
6.
Demas
Colossians 4:14
“Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” NKJV Demas
sent greetings to the Colossian Christians. He was a
fellow-laborer. (Philemon 24) “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas,
Luke, my fellow laborers.” NKJV He was faithful at this time
and a helper in Paul’s work. But six years later, Paul says this in
II Timothy 4:9-10. “Be diligent to come to me quickly; for
Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has
departed for Thessalonica – Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”
NKJV Demas had abandoned Paul, seemingly quite recently.
After experiencing the suffering of Paul and how his life had been
threatened, Demas decided that he was unwilling to put his life on
the line for the sake of the gospel. He loved the world too much.
He loved living too much! He wanted to be safe from persecutions of
the faithful Christian’s life. Christians can feel as Demas did.
“Fail in school, business, or home is unfortunate; to fail as a
Christian is tragic.” Thomas Holland
Closing Remarks of Paul to the Church at Colosse
1.
Colossians 4:15-16
“Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church
that is in his house. Now when this epistle is read among you, see
that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you
likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” NKJV Greetings to
the brethren in Laodicea and to Nymphas. Something happens to the
Laodicean church because by the time Revelation is written, it
receives a terrible rebuke. (Revelation 3) These two
congregations were to exchange letters. The Laodicean letter may
have been a copy of Ephesians. Nymphas is a faithful Christian in
Laodicea, apparently where the church met. He must have loved the
church very much.
2.
Colossians 4:17
“And say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have
received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.’ ” NKJV The
entire congregation at Colosse was to encourage and exhort Archippus
in his work for the Lord. Imagine how good he would feel! All of
us need to remember these words of Paul to encourage each other to
be faithful.
3.
Colossians 4:18
“This salutation by my own hand – Paul. Remember my chains. Grace
be with you. Amen.” NKJV Paul authenticates this letter by
signing with his own hand. He asks them to remember why he was in
prison.
(Colossians 1:24) “I now rejoice in my sufferings for
you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of
Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.” NKJV
This would also help them during their difficult times. He closes
by wishing for them God’s greatest blessings.
Invitation:
So much can be learned from the lives of these
brethren in Christ that can help us on that last day to be found
faithful.
Bobby Stafford
March 26, 2017
Colossians: Lesson 14 Colossians 4:7-18
[Colossians Series: Lessons 1-14]
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