Aug 16, 2024 Believing at the Beginning of Colossians – Words of Grace Blog – August 18, 2024
Modern greetings have become casual, carrying little meaning and adding almost no value to our conversations or correspondence. But when the Apostle Paul opened his letter to the Colossians, he made a bold claim that his readers were called to believe as they began to read. This is a unique approach to both writing and reading. But the Bible is unique, so it makes sense to begin reading it with faith.
I can’t think of anything else that we read or hear that we can believe at the start is completely accurate and true. Even in many of our conversations, we remind ourselves that we are getting only one perspective so we’re probably not getting the whole story. It’s sobering to realize that as hard as we may try, we can’t be sure that we are representing reality as it really is.
That means we almost never begin reading, watching, or conversing with complete faith in what we’re about to hear and see.
Then we pick up Colossians and read these opening words, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…” What are we to make of that?
Along with identifying himself, Paul is making the claim that he is set apart by God with the authority of Jesus Christ to write on his behalf. That’s what apostolic authority is. That’s what the Colossians Christians were to believe.
Many people report that they picked up the Bible as a skeptic and came to faith in Christ as they read. That happens, and that’s because of the grace of God and the self-authenticating nature of his word. But when they come to faith in Christ, they go on to report that they came to have faith in the Bible. From that point on they open the Bible believing that what is written by men is inspired by the Holy Spirit and has the authority of Christ.
As Christians, it is right and reasonable to believe at the beginning what we are about to read in the Bible.
This Sunday at Grace Community Church we will take a close look at Paul’s greeting to the Colossians believers. In this short greeting, claims will be made that we will be called to believe.
Go ahead and get started this weekend. Read Colossians. From the opening two verses ask yourself if you believe these things.
- Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?
- Do you believe that this letter is Christ’s word to us through his apostle?
- Do you believe that Christ can change you and others, like he did Paul and Timothy, by his power and grace?
- Do you believe that Christ has gathered us together as a congregation the way he did the Colossians Christians?
- Do you believe that God will grant us grace and peace in Christ today?
I look forward to believing with you Sunday.
-Scott