Colossians Chapter 1

Introduction: Colosse is a small town located 100 miles east of Ephesus. We are not told that Paul personally visited there (Col. 2:1). It appears that the Ephesians got the word out to all Asia which would include Colosse.

Colossians is a letter written to us and about us. It is our private mail. Matthew 23:1-5 Jesus told the Jews of His day who to listen to; He has also told us who to listen to.

Colossians was written from a Roman prison. It was written in about 62 AD. Colossians was written after Paul ended his Acts ministry. The books he wrote during his Acts ministry were: Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, I & II Thessalonians.

Colossians can be divided up into two main categories---the deity of Christ (1:15) and the doctrinal error that comes against Him (2:8). Epaphras was a Colossian and he came to Paul in prison in Rome and told him that there was doctrinal error in the assembly. In chapters 3 & 4 Paul tells them how we should walk if we are “seeking those things which are above” (practical application on how to walk as a new creature) 3:18-22 hits us with clear direct application of what God wants and expects from us; there is not a lot of how-to instructions. Chapter 4:12 is the bull’s eye for a saint. Just do it!!!

A serious warning is given to us in chapter 2:8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. The “spoils” Paul is referring to that which comes from philosophy. There is a battle going on in the earth and Satan is leading this battle through “ideas”.

In verse 10 Paul tells us we are complete in Christ---philosophy, vain deceit after the tradition of men and rudiments of the world are enemies to those who are saved. Jesus had His detractors in His earthly ministry also: Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees.

Christ is sufficient; He is the all in all; He is the head of all creation; He is the Head of the Body; He is the fullness of the Godhead. The people in Colosse were having a problem operating according to this truth---we are complete in Christ.

Vs. 1… “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother”  Paul calls Timothy “our brother”. It appears that something happened between Paul and Timothy that caused some distance in their relationship. I believe you can see that hinted at also II Timothy 1:8.

The Church, the body of Christ gets its marching orders from Paul. A few years ago it was popular among "Christians" to pose the question, “What would Jesus do?” If we could literally ask the Lord such a question I believe He would answer us by telling us to, “Go ask Paul"!  Paul’s birth and life was of special value to the Lord like many of the men of the Bible (Adam, Moses, Samson, Samuel, Jeremiah, John Baptist, etc). Paul knew he had a special purpose (election) from his birth. Perhaps angels announced his birth as special to his parents as God did to all the aforementioned men. I wonder how many times Elisabeth told John Baptist his special conception and life purpose. Well, as far as we can tell from Scripture, Paul was fulfilling his “election” in the Jew's religion passionately according to Galatians 1: 14-16. But something happened to Paul in Acts 9 as he was carrying out his misguided ministry to Israel---Jesus met him, gave him a new message and sent him to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:16-19)

Election and the related words---to choose, chosen or elect--- are used of God’s selection of men or agencies for special missions or purposes; but there is no basis for the doctrine that God has predestined a definite number of people to eternal life, and the rest to destruction. Election is the act of God’s holy will in selecting His own methods, instruments, and times for carrying out His purposes.

1. Israel was elected by God to be His people. This election is as a nation. Some individuals in the elect nation had faith in God and others did not. This election is the Old Testament covenant between Israel and God and is the basis for naming the scriptures the Old Testament...Isaiah 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 4: For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called the by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

2. The church, the body of Christ is elect. This election is not a guarantee of salvation to certain people but rather a guarantee of salvation by grace based on the individual's faith in Jesus Christ's death for the forgiveness of sin, and faith in His resurrection for the giving of life...Colossians 3:9-13…”Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

The following verse indicates that in the dispensation of grace, all men and women are "the elect" in the sense that everyone has a legitimate offer of salvation extended to them by God but not everyone will receive or believe that offer of a free gift. Paul is hopeful that they will obtain salvation but the wording shows it is the possible they may not. This verse clearly contradicts the teaching that election is equal to salvation. It is not!  2 Timothy 2:8-10… Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10: Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

3. Individual Persons are elect. Election does not determine individual salvation and it is not a guarantee of salvation. God does elect some individuals to carry out His purposes on earth. Some people are not willing to do the righteous will of God so He uses their evil deeds to carry out His purposes. God uses the faithful and obedient man to do His righteous works. The following verses show that Pharaoh rejected God and hardened his heart against the will of God. God responded by sending ten plagues against Pharaoh to show His power and to declare His name in all the earth. God continued in Exodus 9 to harden Pharaoh's heart to bring to the surface that which was already there...Exodus 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

4. Jesus Christ was elected by God to take away the sin of the world...John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth;” 

Vs. 2… “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The city of Colosse was located in southwestern Phrygia, Asia Minor. It was one of the cities where the saints “forsook” the Apostle Paul and "the revelation of the mystery" before Paul died. (II Tim. 1:15) Paul addresses the Colossians as saints and faithful brethren---they are not always one and the same. You can be a saint without being faithful. Paul is not admonishing them to be faithful to their church by regular attendance; they were to be faithful with the message of “grace” which is the only source of genuine peace. Is there any evidence that you are faithful with the message of grace?

Vs. 3… “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you”

Prayer is God's way of conforming your will to His will. That is not how we think of prayer today; it is our wish list of things we want God to do. Prayer should always function in accordance with the dispensation you live in. For example:

Prayer during the dispensation of the Law was conditional...one had to perform (do certain things) and meet certain conditions and the results were physical. (2 Chronicles 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. They would know their sins were forgiven because God would heal their land. In Time Past, confession and obedience were necessary for answered prayer...If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; {41} And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: {42} Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. {43} The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. (Leviticus 26:40-43)

Prayer during the dispensation of the Kingdom was unconditional... not based on the people's performance and the results were physical and spiritual. Jesus promised in the Kingdom Gospel that if you ask Him something, believing, you shall receive...“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:21,22) What about Christians in the hospital with cancer today. Can a prayer of faith give them a guaranteed answer of healing? If you say yes, then let’s go to the hospital right now because there are people dying of cancer that need the Matthew 21:22 prayer promise. Does God keep His Word all of the time, most of the time or some of the time? Many people abandon God and Christianity because they claim a promise He never gave to them. Prayer, no matter how fervent, will not make God do something He never promised to do... If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14)

Prayer in the dispensation of grace is provisional and spiritual... Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22) By this verse, we are able to see that grace is offered to all and comes upon all who believe. The provision has been made for all, but it has a limited application, to those who believe. If God's grace is provisional then prayer in this dispensation of grace is also provisional...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3) We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings at the moment we believe the gospel of Christ; however, He has not promised us all physical blessing in this present life as He did to the nation of Israel. Under the Law program of Israel, prayers of confession of sin were  required continually in order to get an answer of your prayers from God. This is not true in Grace… " In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” (Ephesians 1:7-8) Forgiveness is not something God gives the believer in this dispensation on the "installment plan". Based on Christ's substitutionary death on the Cross, God's justice has been satisfied and He is now reconciled to the sinner in that He has forgiven all our trespasses (past, present and future). Does it make sense, then, to continually ask for something you already have? (Colossians 2:13-14)

God’s desire for every saved person is that we "repent"---bring our thinking in line with Scripture. It is essential that we pray according to knowledge...“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” (Romans 10:1,2) People often say that they have prayed about a matter and the Lord told them to do something or not to do something, even though the Bible contradicts their decision. They contend that they prayed about it and “the Lord gave them peace about it”; “they felt good about their decision”; or “God told them to do it or not to do it”. We need to store up the Word of God in our hearts so when the crisis points of life come---and they will come---we have the mind of Christ in our hearts so we can pray about how to apply sound doctrine to the details of life and the Holy Spirit can teach us how to do this...“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26,27)

When we rightly divide the Word of God with regard to prayer, we understand that God communicates to us today through His Word---not visions, dreams, promptings, angels, prophets, miracles, signs, etc. God used each one of these in previous dispensations. Those means were legitimate; however, they are not used of God today. When we store up the Word of God in our hearts, we have God’s thinking in our hearts to make decisions that please Him.

Most people pray the "Our Father which art in heaven", "Ask and you shall receive", "If two or more agree on anything" kind of prayers. We do this because we read these verses in the Bible and we hear other Christians pray in that manner. In the dispensation of grace, tribulation, suffering and problems are not a sign of God's displeasure with us. They are a part of the nature of the evil world in which we live...For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. {19} For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. {20} For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, {21} Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. {22} For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. {23} And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:18-23) Our bodies in this age are in bondage to corruption. Sin is working in our members and bringing forth fruit unto death. Death is a process that is actively at work and we are not going to escape that bondage no matter how hard we try. Our physical deliverance is NOT something we see. It is something that is out there in the future that we are look forward to obtaining...And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) ...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. {37} Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:35-37). God fixed it so whatever happens to us in life we can be productive and positive: if we walk according to His purpose, if we allow Him to work in our lives in accordance to His will. God has not promised physical safety, protection and/or provision in this dispensation. We are not told to expect or demand these things; we are told to expect suffering, hardship and difficulty. God proved His love for us once for all when He gave His Son to die on the cross. Your situations, circumstances, trials and afflictions are never an indicator of God's love for you. The greatest indicator of God's love was through the cross of His Son. God's love was demonstrated once and for all through the cross of Calvary.

We are to pray with an understanding of God’s will. We are responsible to understand God's will, not search for it. There are many books that are written on "How to find the Will of God". However, the will of God is found in the Word of God...See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, {16} Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. {17} Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17) There are two aspects to God’s will---one is His divine fiat (this is going to happen by God’s decree); the second is God’s will which means God’s desire for humanity. The will of God is not God predetermining every single thing that happens...In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11) The issue of the counsel of His will is the things God said He would do; it is not the manipulation of circumstances in every single event. When you pray, "Lord, if it be thy will to heal someone, have safe travels, etc.; you are thinking that God controls and manipulates all events. Ephesians 1:11is used to support that idea, but this verse is not talking about God's will in individual events; it is talking about the eternal purpose God has revealed to us regarding why He has temporarily set aside the nation of Israel and formed a new body called the church to proclaim His gospel during this new dispensation of grace... Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)

In Colossians 1:9-12, Paul told how he and Timothy prayed that we would be filled with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding... (we) do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father.”

Vs. 9-12… do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father.” Prayer is talking with God about lining up with His purpose, program and plans (the heavenly calling/walking worthy).  

The best way of illustrating this truth is found in the book of Ruth. In chapter one verse sixteen we are told that Boaz instructed his servants to drop some “handfuls of purpose” for Ruth. Boaz had a plan, a program and a purpose with the life of the apparently beautiful Gentile woman, Ruth. Boaz wanted Ruth to know he was interested in her and if she was willing, they could make some beautiful music together. Similarly, God is dropping “handfuls of purpose” to the church, the body of Christ. Are you interested? God is not dropping “handfuls on purpose” of physical provisions as He did with the nation of Israel under the Law Program; He is dropping “handfuls of purpose”. Pick up every handful you can; stuff your pockets; when it comes to the “revelation of the mystery” get greedy.

These are the things we are to pray for because these are the things that concern God:
1. Pray for wisdom and knowledge. One of the things that Paul makes clear in his writings is that great wisdom and knowledge of God is available here in this present life on earth...(I, Paul,) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe." (Ephesians 1:16-19)
2. Pray for other believers in the Body of Christ..."I thank my God, making mention of thee (Philemon) always in my prayers." (Philemon 1:4)

3. Pray for the ministry of fellow believers. He wrote in Philemon 1:22, "But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you." Also Romans 15:30-31 says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints." In Ephesians 6:18-19, Paul encouraged the believers in Ephesus to be, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel." Supplication is a humble request for God's help. Notice that the exhortation here is to pray for all of the believers and also for Paul and his ministry of the gospel. Likewise, Paul wrote in Colossians 4:2-4, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 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: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." Paul asked the believers in Thessalonica in 2 Thessalonians 3:1, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."

4. Pray for the spiritual maturity and development of believers. In Philippians 1:9 he said, "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
5. Pray for fellowship in the gospel. Philippians 1:4 says, "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
6. Pray for governing authorities. 1 Timothy 2:1-4, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
7. We should pray for the unsaved. Romans 10:1, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."
8. Pray about your food. 1 Timothy 4:3-5, "… meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." Here we see that we should pray, giving God thanks for our food, thus sanctifying our food, whatever it may be. We are not under the law of Moses, where certain foods were off limits. Romans 6:14 says we, "... are not under law, but under grace." Under grace, we are left to make prayerful choices about the foods we eat.

9. Pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18-20, "... be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." This not only applies to prayer but every aspect of our lives. Colossians 3:16-17, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

The Peace of God that results from prayer. Philippians 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” So when we have a request that is consistent with His Word rightly divided, we can take it to the Lord. It does not necessarily mean that God is going to grant our request. But whether He does or not, we can be assured that God always answers prayer in the sense that prayer will always result in "… the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” 


We are made up of three parts: body, soul and spirit. However God promises to keep our heart and mind through Jesus Christ.(Phil. 4:7). Our body is physical. Our soul is the seat of our will and emotions; it is our heart. The spirit is our mind; it is the analytical part of us, it is the part in which we know there is a God. Our mind is spirit because it can think in the abstract; it can believe something that it cannot see. This is what makes us different from animals. Animals have a mind but cannot comprehend what they do not see. Paul tells us nothing about keeping our body as the result of prayer, but he does tell us that concerning the body we need to wait for physical deliverance. (Romans 8:18-23)

How does the peace of God come?

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {9} Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:8 tells us the things we need to think about. Where do we find these things? Verse 9 tells us that we learn about them in the writings of Paul. We will not have the peace of God if you are trying to pray according to something you read about in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; this will only lead to discouragement and frustration because you will always wonder why prayer does not work for you.

Paul's example (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Paul had a physical problem and he prayed about it and the prayer was answered. Nothing changed in his body. The prayer did change his spiritual outlook on the problem. His prayer affected his heart and mind (soul and spirit). In verse 8, he wanted to get rid of the problem. In verse 9, he gladly glories in it. What changed? Not the physical condition, but Paul's outlook on it changed (in the soul and spirit realm). The answer to Paul's thorn did not affect his body or the thorn, but it did affect Paul. What caused the change? Verse 9 tells us, "and he said to me"; it was the word of the Lord that caused Paul to change his outlook on the problem. The word of God changed Paul's perspective.The only difference with what happened to Paul and what happens to us is that we now have the written word of God. God spoke to Paul by revelation and Paul wrote it down. So the difference between Paul praying and us praying is that Paul has written down God's response. The answer to any prayer is found in God's word for us today, Romans through Philemon.

The intercession of the Holy Spirit in prayer. Romans 8:26 begins, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities ...." Here the word "infirmities" does not refer to health problems; it is a reference to our weakness in our inability to know for what we should pray… for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Frequency and Length of Prayers. Prayer should not be just occasional, but with great frequency, as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." Also in 1 Timothy 5:5, Paul describes the ideal for the prayers of widows in the church, "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day." Romans 12:12 says we should be... continuing instant in prayer." And in 1 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul writes that Paul, Silas, and Timothy were, "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" Colossians 4:12 mentions that Epaphras was, "… always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."  There is no set length for prayer, while some prayers in the Bible are rather long, such as Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9, other prayers are quite short. For example, in Nehemiah 2:4-6, when King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah a question, Nehemiah said a very quick prayer before responding to the King.

Mindset for Prayer. Prayer must not be with an inappropriate mindset. In 1 Timothy 2:8 Paul write, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." We should never approach God in anger, as some may do when a tragedy happens. Nor should we ever pray a doubtful prayer, as some non-believers begin their prayers with, "God, if you're up there ...." Prayer should be from the heart, not simply by repeating memorized phrases. Matthew 6:7-8, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

Thanksgiving should characterize our prayer lives. Life for many people seems to be an endless series of disappointments, and while being a thankful person will not eliminate the disappointing situations, it will diminish the disappointment.

Posture for Prayer. Some might wonder if there is an appropriate physical posture for prayer, that is, kneeling, standing, sitting, and so forth. There are many passages that refer to a variety of postures.

Paul said in Ephesians 3:14-19, "I bow my knees", and he referred to "lifting up holy hands" in 1 Timothy 2:8. In Luke 18:13, Jesus spoke of a man who stood and, "… would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast …." In Exodus 34:8, Moses, " … bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped." Hebrews 11:21 says that when Jacob was near death, he, "… worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." Revelation 7:11 says, "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God."

When Jesus was asked to teach the disciples how to pray, He did not tell them to get into a particular position. He gave them guidelines for what to say. There is no essential posture for prayer. What is more important is our frame of mind. Some may find that certain physical positions may be more helpful for getting into the proper frame of mind, but the scriptures state no specific requirements.

Vs. 9-12… The two topics in these four verses are prayer and the worthy walk. Paul’s prayer here is instructive; he prays that they might get the knowledge of His will. According to II Tim. 2:15, if you do not study, you will not have the knowledge you are going to need to have wisdom and spiritual understanding. He is not praying about their health, jobs or wealth. Paul also prays that they would “walk worthy” as a result of being filled with the knowledge of His will. In other words, do something with what you know. This prayer reminds us of Ephesians 3:16 where Paul tells the saints that the “inner man” is what we should be focused on in this dispensation. Are your prayers addressing the issues of the inner man or outer man? Eph. 3:19… “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” The love of Christ surpasses the knowledge that you came into the world with. You will have to learn this from Paul. He writes this letter to help them to “know the love of Christ”. He is praying for them.

Notice also what is not here in vs. 9-11: There is no speaking in tongues; no request for a miracle; no healing; nothing for Paul; and no divine intervention in bad circumstances. He is stirring up truth in the Colossians and praying for his ministry there.

Vs. 10… being fruitful in every good work… This means we are to be evaluating what we are doing. Is the work we are doing fruitful? If not, you probably need to make some adjustments. There are 5 “E’s” in ministry: educate, edify, evangelize, expand, evaluate. Prepare the mind before you shoot the mouth off about the “Good Ship Grace” as you sail through life.

Vs. 12… “Giving thanks unto the Father”  The idea of thankfulness is always present in Paul’s prayers. We need to take this seriously. Why? Well, because thankfulness is the will of God concerning you. Most of our prayers consist of what is going wrong in our lives that we am not comfortable with; in essence we are fussing and whining and complaining with God in prayer to change the things we don’t like. Now He has already told us “in everything give thanks” (I Thess. 5:18); He has told us we have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places; He has told us we are complete; He has told us I am seated together with Christ in heavenly places. Why would I want my prayer life to sound like a beggar? I am not to be a beggar or a boss when I pray, I am to be a believer!!! The difference between a beggar, boss and a believer is thankfulness. Thankfulness moves you from being a beggar and boss that is asking God to give you the same blessings Israel had, to a believer that is confident in what He has provided for the church, the body of Christ. When I know who I am in Christ---I’m dead, and my life is hid with Christ in God--- when I know that, what exactly should I care about on this planet? It is all going to burn anyway. I know this isn’t my home. Make thankfulness the centerpiece of your prayers. It moves you from being a beggar to a believer.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that your promises in prayer are better than anything Israel ever had in their Covenant Program with God. Romans 8:28 simply tells us that when God’s Will/Purpose is in operation, He will work all things together for good and that relieves us from being God’s boss, telling Him what to do in our lives. What I can know as a Christian is that God works all things together for good. What I don’t know is how we should pray as we ought. (8:26). This was particularly true of the Roman saints in that Romans was one of the first six books Paul wrote. At that point in the grace program, saints were struggling with their prayer life since the full revelation had not been given. Therefore a key issue in prayer is activating doctrine resident in my soul. Now if I don’t have any doctrine in my soul, my prayers are going to be the “now I lay me down to sleep” prayers. When I stir up grace doctrine in my prayers, I am going to be more inclined to the knowledge of His will as opposed to getting God to carry out my will. This kind of praying will also move me toward the “worthy walk” that Paul prays for the Colossians. When our “affections are set on things above” we will walk more worthy than when we are focused on “the weak and beggarly elements of the Law”. The Law focuses you on failure; it focuses you on sin and your “old dead man” that you will be constantly stumbling over. We have no need of a “schoolmaster”; we walk in “liberty”; we have a wise “masterbuilder” (I Cor. 3:10). I know that this sounds contrary to sound doctrine. It sounds like I am saying that sin is irrelevant in the life of the believer in this dispensation. God forbid!  

Vs. 12…“which hath made us meet.”  “Meet” means to come together. That is what Paul is trying to do---bring us together with God’s will which is His Grace Program.

“to be partakers of the inheritance”… Our inheritance is not the same as Israel’s inheritance. Israel has a Kingdom here on earth as their inheritance. Our inheritance is in the heavenlies. Our inheritance is not “stuff”; it is not physical (Ephesians 1:3). Now Paul explained this to the Galatians as well in Galatians 4:7 and 3:18; Paul uses Abraham’s life before he entered into a covenant of circumcision with God and before he had his children known as the nation of Israel. The difference between Paul’s reference to Abraham’s life and James’ reference to Abraham’s life in the book of James is that Paul uses his life before law and James refers to Abraham’s life after law. The trouble with dispensationalism for some Christians is that they lose the ability to tell God what to do. Obviously we don’t have the ability to tell God what to do but we pretend to be able to do this through prayer. Christians are just going through the motions today. We need to get real.

“in light”… We have the light of God’s Word to know where we are going. We walk by faith, guided by God’s Word. Israel walked by sight; they could see what God was up to. Too many saints walk by the miracles, signs and wonders of Israel’s program. They are actually walking in darkness when they do so (I Thess. 5:4-5).

Vs. 13… Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Think about this: One Man hung on one cross and accomplished two things at the same time: As Israel’s Messiah, as their ultimate Sacrifice, Jesus purchased Israel’s Kingdom for them. At the same time, Jesus became a Saviour for the church and purchased a “heavenly calling”. That is our inheritance.

Here is how you can keep the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God clear in your mind: The Kingdom of Heaven is a physical people and place; God is a spirit (John 4:24), but the Kingdom of God is a spiritual situation and spiritual blessing. (Rom. 14:7) When someone says the church is spiritual Israel today you need to turn them to Galatians 3: 27-29 and point out that in this dispensation, God has no favored nation or people. In Christ there is no Jew or Greek.

Remember that Phil. 4:13 should not be used to boast, “I can do all things through Christ”. Too many Christians believe this means I can work in the nursery at church, sing in the choir, attend visitation, manage my home and teach Sunday School because of vs. 13. No! Verse 13 is defined by vs. 12---“all things” is all things that come into my life, whether it abases me or causes me to abound. The circumstances (whether good or bad) do no disrupt my focus on the program of God. I operate not under the circumstances, I operate in spite of the circumstances of life. Where will you get what you need to deal with the circumstances of life? You get it out of the spiritual stuff in the inner man (vs. 11… Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness---fruit of the Spirit and the knowledge of His will!!!

The positive theme of Colossians is “ye are complete in Christ”. The negative theme of the book is “failing to regard Christ as the head”; instead, we value the vanity of humanity (deceitful philosophy). We are living in the dispensation of the official rejection of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We are here as God’s ambassadors to witness the ministry of reconciliation to people who reject Jesus Christ. God the Father points everything to Jesus in Colossians 1. (Hebrews 1:7-9)

Vs. 15… “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Jesus is the firstborn in the sense that He is the firstborn of Israel’s kingdom people and the first member of the church, the body of Christ. That means He is the first One to be born, to die and never die again. “who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (vs. 18) The Jehovah Witnesses like to point to this verse to demonstrate that Jesus was a mere man in that He was a “creature”; therefore not God. The Roman Catholics teach that the term “firstborn” indicates that Jesus was the first and only child born to Mary. These are totally unsatisfactory doctrines because verses 16 and 17 tell us that He (Jesus) was before all things and by Him were all things created. Many Christians today believe Jesus exited in eternity past, then He laid aside His attributes of deity, and performed His earthly ministry---died, was buried and rose again---then ascended back to heaven and assumed His position of deity. That is not correct!!! In fact it is very close to what the Colossians were embracing 2,000 years ago and Paul had to correct. For instance, here is what the NASV says in John 1:18… “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” This is the concept of a superior God begetting a lesser God that was brought forth to serve and glorify the Father. That can not be Jesus, who was the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Verse 19 says… For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; That means He was and never has been a lesser god or a begotten god in the sense that He had a beginning. Either we believe what God said about Jesus in Col. 1:15 & 19 or He can not save His own soul, much less ours.

Now let’s think about this word “begotten”. In Acts 13:33-34 we can determine what the word begotten means in its context. The begetting was about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Begetting has nothing to do with God the Father giving birth to Jesus in eternity past or in a manger in Bethlehem. The begetting deals specifically with the work of Christ on the Cross. Acts 13 also tells us to reference Psalm 2:7 and there we read that “this day” is the day when Jesus gets the heathen for His inheritance in the Kingdom as a result of His work of the Cross.

Now let’s turn to John 3 and examine what verse 16 is all about. First of all, God giving His only begotten Son is not to Mary at Bethlehem, it is at the cross. Now keep in mind that Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, the teacher in Israel, who did not understand a thing Jesus was talking about. In verse 14 Jesus says that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so also must the Son of Man be lifted up. Isn’t that about the Cross? Certainly! So two verses later, Jesus tells Nicodemus that He is going to accomplish salvation on a cross lifted up. Remember that the work of the Cross was still in the future. So John 3:16 is talking about...THE BEGETTING AT THE CROSS !!!

Vs. 16… “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” The new translations change “by him” to “in him”; therefore that makes him created and not fully God. You can’t have a God creating all things and then being created Himself. Jesus created all things---in heaven and in earth. The program of Israel and the church in its heavenly things are affirmed here. Further, the visible and invisible describes the essence of the two programs---Israel had its visible rewards in time (health, wealth and wisdom). The church has its invisible blessings in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3).

Verse 16 speaks to what Jesus did before He was born to Mary and before His work on the Cross. This is talking about His work in Genesis 1:1. From Gen. 1:2 through Acts 9 the earthly program is in view. In Acts 9 Jesus speaks from heaven and reveals to Paul His heavenly vision for His heavenly program, and His heavenly people and inheritance, etc. (Acts 9:3; 26:19)

Our orientation is to think that Jehovah created all things and He knows all things but Jesus does not know certain things. That is incorrect. The THREE IN ONE created all things. There is no pecking order in the trinity. There are delegated duties in the Godhead. In I Cor. 15:25 we read that He (Jesus) must reign, till he hath put his enemies under his feet. Hebrews 2:8…But now…we see all things put under him. Jesus reigns; He will put all things under His feet. In John 18:36… Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. This is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 7… “Thy kingdom come.” This once again is about Jesus. This pleases the Father. Who is this Jesus we preach? Jesus is God. When He is on planet earth, He is the fullness of the godhead bodily. Verses 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 Paul lists the earthly attributes and ministry of Jesus; in verses 16,17,18 we have Jesus in His eternal glory and work. Paul presents Jesus as fully God, not an incomplete Jesus. Once again we have to depend on Paul to inform us that Jesus is God in heaven in eternity past and Jesus is God during His earthly ministry. Don’t forget this---we do not preach the revelation of the mystery; we preach Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery. Jesus must have the Preeminence. He is above all.

Vs. 18… “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Paul now applies the title of firstborn to Jesus as it relates to the church, the body of Christ. A cross reference verse is Romans 8:29… “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” In eternity past, Jesus foreknew the church and its purpose when He accomplished His work on the Cross, thus becoming the firstborn---the head of the body, the church. The conception of Jesus was a miracle (Isa. 7:14) but the physical birth itself was not a miracle. If Jesus would not have died on the Cross, His 33 years of life on earth would have profited us nothing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is wrapped up in the death, burial and resurrection---not His miraculous life. I Timothy 3:16 tells us that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh and that begins at Bethlehem. He is begotten of the Father at Calvary’s cross.

Matthew 1:25… “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” The word “firstborn”is removed from all modern translations based on the Vaticanus manuscripts (NIV & NASV). Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son since she had four more sons and at least two daughters. But if you read this and then see the word firstborn in Colossians 1:15 you will have no chance of getting it straight.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God and judicially Christians are placed in Him. I Cor. 12:13 tells us we are baptized (immersed for the sake of identification) into one body. Therefore we have a position in the image of the invisible God. This is very important to understand. In Col. 2:9 we are told that “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” And in verse 10… “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” The body that you were placed into by the Holy Spirit is God---not a lesser god or born god. You are complete in a Complete God.---Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this means that the problem of Genesis 5 has been fixed by Christ. Adam brought sin into the world (Rom. 5:12) and destroyed the “image of God” in man. Gen. 5:3 Adam begat a son in his image (sinful humanity). If you are saved, you have a new identity (Gal. 2:20 & Col. 3:3). He has already taken you out of Adam and placed you in Christ. 

What do you think about the deity of Jesus? Do you believe that some greater Father God birthed Jesus in eternity past? Or do you subscribe to Jesus being begotten in time at Bethlehem? If Jesus is not fully God, then you do not have a thing to depend on. We start with and at the Cross. This is worth fussing over. The belief in a lesser god going to the cross and ending up purchasing reconciliation is impossible.

"And he is the head of the body, the church:" The church today has made any and everything the preeminent thing---church attendance, music, drama, mission work, sports, Bible history, water baptism, etc. The issue is Him. I Samuel 3:7 says "the word of the Lord was not revealed to Samuel." You and I don’t have this problem. We have the Word of the Lord revealed to us. In I Samuel 3:21…the Lord revealed himself to Samuel by the word of the Lord. I trust God’s Word to work effectually in me. I use to believe in reaching people for Jesus through ministries--- fun and games; parties; rock and roll music; sports, etc. If you reach them this way, you will have to keep doing those things in order to keep them. I’m going to stick with the Word of God. (I Thess. 2:13)

Vs. 20… And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. God has offered reconciliation to the entire world through the work of Christ (II Cor. 5:19); however, not all of the world will believe the Gospel and thus be reconciled to God. God is reconciled to the world but not all the world is reconciled to Him. Reconciliation is available to all. You will not go to hell for your trespasses according to II Cor. 5:19, you will go to hell for rejecting the work of reconciliation offered through Christ. Please find out what the issues are and take a stand for that which is true---the form of sound words (II Tim. 1:2)

The work of Christ reconciles things in earth and things in heaven. That means the new heaven and new earth were all taken care by Jesus at the Cross. We have peace with God because of what Christ did in reconciling all things to Himself. On the cross, Jesus reconciled Israel’s kingdom program, the church’s mystery program in heavenly places and the thorns He wore means He was reconciling the earth to Himself. He is preeminent.

 

Vs. 21… And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled…Romans 5:7-10 explains that God has made it possible for His enemies to be exalted to a new position with Him that He calls “perfect”. Eph. 2:21-22…In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:[22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. We are a holy building in Christ and we should be growing toward that end. One day we will be perfectly holy; until that day, keep pressing on toward that end.

Vs. 22… In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight… The phrase “through death” can refer to not only the death of Christ on the cross; it also refers to the fact that believers are also “buried with Him by baptism into death” (Rom. 6:4) “you are dead” (Col. 3:3) etc. The only way that a Christian can ever be said to be presented holy, unblameable and unreproveable is through death. If you do not understand the doctrine of death as a Christian, then verse 22 could never be true of you. We want what we want, when we want it and how we want it. There will be some straightening out going on at the judgment seat of Christ.

Vs. 23… If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Paul is writing to the saints and faithful brethren. Therefore the “if” here means---"in the event that; allowing that; on the assumption". Notice also that Paul talks about the “hope of the gospel”. The word “hope” does not mean to wish or be optimistic as to the outcome; it means someone (or something) on which expectations are centered. This verse is not about maintaining good works in order to stay saved; it is a warning for the Colossians not to be removed from sound doctrine. (see vs. 28)

When we discover that so many of the doctrines we learned through church were wrong, it is easy for a saint to get involved in “new wrong doctrines”. This is exactly what happened in the Protestant Reformation. Several important doctrines were discovered; but some new doctrines were simply equally bad false doctrines. Paul is warning us not to get carried away with “new doctrines”. Be patient; be longsuffering as you study your Bible. Paul warns the Colossians to build their doctrinal faith foundation on I Cor. 3:10. We are instructed to build our foundation on the instructions of the “wise master builder”. We are not preaching Paul! We preach Jesus Christ but according to the revelation of the mystery.

Paul makes the statement that he preached the gospel to every creature under heaven. Now watch what happens when you are not dispensational in your study of Scripture. Matthew 24:14…And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Now Paul says that he accomplished that task but no end came. Why? Because Jesus was talking about the gospel of the kingdom; Paul was preaching the gospel of the grace of God. The two gospels are not the same thing.

This verse is important also in that it informs us that God got the word of salvation to every creature under heaven so there are not people who have never heard. We like to ask that question because it makes God guilty and unfair for sending people to hell who have never heard. God is not responsible for people deciding to abandon His Gospel and embrace Buddha, Mohamed, Joseph Smith or Charles T. Russell. God is not winking at the ignorance of people (Acts 17:30) when they have willfully chosen to turn from the cross work of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.

Vs. 24-26… “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you” In I Cor. 1:5-6…For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. The problem with II Cor. 1:5 is that we get the sufferings now and the consolation later. We want both right now; or we want the consolations without the sufferings; we want the abounding without the suffering.

When sufferings come in our lives for the sake of Christ (preaching the revelation of the mystery) you must learn to endure them. It is not a time to ask God to deliver us from them. Paul is a pattern to us of this response to suffering (I Tim. 1:16). We will have to endure some suffering for Christ’s sake but we do not have to lose hope. II Cor. 12: 7-10 Paul is asking God to remove a thorn in the flesh; when God tells him He will not remove the thorn, Paul says he would glory in it and take pleasure. He moved from enduring it to enjoying it. Prayer has never been the means for a Christian to manipulate the difficulties of life. Paul had many revelations by personal appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can only think of one situation where Jesus appeared to Paul before the trouble began and injury sustained (Acts 22:18). Otherwise Paul went through the trouble and had to endure it.

“and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church”… Paul’s ministry was not simply an extension of the ministry of Jesus. Paul had to suffer because he was given a new message for “his body’s sake” the church. Jesus not only suffered for the salvation of the nation of Israel on the cross; He also had the church, the body of Christ in mind on the cross and Paul had to fill up that which is behind. Jesus never personally talked about the “Mystery” to the Gentiles, so Paul accomplished the ministry for Christ and thereby suffered in his body what the Gentiles would have done to Jesus had He given it to them.

“to fulfil the word of God”… There is nothing else God wants to tell you. There are no more programs God will reveal to the world.

Vs. 27… “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” I have a positional truth whereby Christ resides in me. How do we get in Christ? Paul tells us in Eph. 1:13…In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Salvation results when a sinner trusts the word of truth (the gospel of Christ). When Paul tells us in Eph. 2:1 that we are dead in trespasses and sins, he does not mean we are incapable of believing the gospel. Calvinists take Eph. 2:1 too far and therefore have to come up a whole new set of theological doctrines which portrays God as rectifying this death problem in some people and neglecting it in others. Unless God “regenerates” you (they say), you are reprobate and on your way to hell. Calvinists like to quote Rom. 3:10-12… As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. In Acts 17 Paul visits Athens, Greece and encounters unsaved idolaters. Listen to how Paul talks to them in verse 27 …That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: I learn from this that God is not far from every one of us. He expects and demands that we respond to His initiation of the gospel. Please get out of my face with a “god” who sits in the heavens, sovereignly regenerating whom He pleases while the rest of us grope in our “total depravity” as we stumble on our way to hell; never alive enough to even know that we are on our way to hell for eternity. If hell is my destiny through “god’s sovereign election”, then please Mr. Calvinist, leave me alone during my life here on earth lest you start my torment early by telling me that a loving, merciful, gracious God has sovereignly determined that eternal suffering is the future I deserve because I was born “dead in trespasses and sins”. While mankind is born without a relationship with God and is unable by his own good deeds to earn his salvation, mankind is capable of responding to the work of Christ in his behalf. God has given every man born in this world enough light to respond to the gospel. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)...But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  (I Cor. 2:7-10)

Vs. 28-29… “Whom we preach”… We do not preach a list of rules and regulations for Christians to go by. We are not preaching apologetics, kingdom principles, missions, evangelism, discipleship, etc. We preach Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery.

“warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”… Every Christian has work to do but we must do it right. I Thess. 2:13 says the word of God is what effectually works in them that believe. Our object is not to start arguments; it is to persuade those who believe not.