Spurgeon's notes on COLOSSIANS

"It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell."

In the epistle to the church at Colosse Paul had to deal with many dangerous errors and mischievous practices, hence it is more distinguished for earnest warning than for those tender expressions which abound in the epistle to the Philippians.

Colossians 1:7, 8

It is delightful thus to hear one servant of God praise another. There is far too little of this in our day. True soldiers of Christ set high store by their comrades and are glad to advance their repute. Paul does not point out the failings of Epaphras to the Colossians; this would have been destructive of the influence of that worthy brother, and so would have injured the cause of Christ.

Colossians 1:9

The Colossian church needed understanding as much as that of Philippi needed unity; the brethren were too easily duped and decoyed from the gospel. We need in these days to know the gospel well, and hold it firmly; for many deceivers are abroad who will mislead us if we permit them to do so.

Colossians 1:10, 11

To labor, to suffer, and in both to rejoice, is the peculiar mark of a Christian. For this we need the all-sufficient grace of God; nothing short of the glorious power of God can create a Christian, or maintain him when created.

Colossians 1:12-14

Now that the apostle has touched this string we may expect sweet music, for never is his master-hand so much at home as when he is magnifying the Lord Jesus. Hear how he sounds forth the praises of the Son of God.

Colossians 1:19, 20

If Jesus be not indeed God, such language as this is far-fetched, not to say blasphemous. What more could be said? Is not language put to its utmost tension to set forth the Redeemer's glories? Blessed be his name, he is all in all to us. We adore him as Creator, Head, Fullness, and Peacemaker; and let others say what they will of him, we shall never cease to sing his praises. Happy will the day be when all those in Heaven and earth for whom the Savior died shall join in one happy band around his throne, united in one body through the atoning sacrifice. Even now we anticipate their victorious song, and sing, "Worthy the Lamb."

Colossians 1:21-29

Paul continues to glorify the Lord Jesus, and to stir up his brethren to faithfulness. He shows how the death of Jesus has reconciled us to each other and to God.

Colossians 1:21, 22

Thus the work of grace produces in us the highest degree of holiness: to be unblamably in man's sight is much, but to be unblamably even in the sight of God is absolute perfection. This will be the condition of every believer when the Lord's designs are accomplished in him.

Colossians 1:23

Steadfastness in the faith is an essential of true religion: a tree often transplanted cannot thrive. Since the gospel is assuredly the truth of God, it is foolishness in the extreme to be enticed from it by the novel teachings of men. Paul gloried in being a minister of the old unchanging gospel.

Colossians 1:24

All the body must suffer in order to have sympathy with the Head; and in order to gather in all the Lord's chosen the church must undergo a measure of suffering and persecution; in this Paul was glad to take his share. The atoning sufferings of Jesus were finished long ago, his sufferings in his mystical body are not for the expiation of sin, but arise out of our conflict with the powers of evil.

 

Colossians 2:1-7

Paul a second time declares his call to the ministry.

Colossians 2:1-3

What wisdom, therefore, it is to know Christ: however simple the gospel may appear to be, it is in very truth far superior in wisdom to all the systems of philosophy, or schools of "modern thought."

Colossians 2:6, 7

May the Lord grant us so to do. The gospel which has saved us will do to live by and to die by. To turn from it would be to forsake fullness for emptiness, the substance for the shadow, and the truth for falsehood. May the Holy Spirit continue to lead us yet further into the knowledge of Christ crucified, and never may we in any degree cease from earnest belief of the truth, or lose our thankfulness for it.

Colossians 2:8-23

The portion of scripture which we are about to read, ought to be well understood and earnestly observed by us, for it pleads for the purity and simplicity of the Christian faith, and deals heavy blows at those various additions of men which, under various pretenses, are tagged on to the simple gospel. We need to standfast to the plain, simple, gospel of Jesus; for to adorn it is to deface it, to add to it is to dishonor it.

Colossians 2:8

Pretendedly wise men would improve the gospel: as well might they dream of adding luster to the sun or fullness to the ocean.

Colossians 2:9

What then can we need more? How can his gospel be improved?

Colossians 2:10-12

We have all things in Jesus, and want no Jewish or Popish rites: to all these we are dead and buried, our baptism teaches us Mat; and by faith we are risen from all dead formalities into a new spiritual life, which requires none of the ordinances of man to sustain it. We ought to beware of those gaudy rites with which Ritualists now mar the gospel of Jesus.

Colossians 2:13-15

Christ on the cross has vanquished sin and ended the ceremonial law; let us not return to the bondage from which his death has set us free.

Colossians 2:16-17

From all human laws, as to holy days and fastings and ceremonies, we are free; they are vain shadows; Jesus is the true substance.

Colossians 2:18, 19

How plainly the angel-worship of the church of Rome is here condemned! What have we to do with adoring angels when we are already members of a body which has a divine head?

Colossians 2:20-22

Why bind yourselves with man's commands when you are dead to them all in Christ? Jesus gives you liberty, why put upon your shoulders a new yoke?

Colossians 2:23

The precepts of men as to regarding different days, and rejecting certain kinds of food, appear to be wise and to foster humility, but it is only so in mere appearance, and Christians, being under the law of liberty, should refuse to bring themselves into bondage. One is our Master, even Christ; it is enough for us to obey his will and abide in the liberty which he has so dearly purchased for us, and so graciously given to us.

 

Colossians 3:1-4

So completely are we renewed by regeneration that we are dead to the old life, and only live in Jesus. We cannot love the things of earth: our hearts are in Heaven, our very life is there, where Jesus is, and until he comes we live a hidden life which worldlings cannot perceive or comprehend.

Colossians 3:8

New men should have new manners, and new garments. The cast-off rags of our sinful estate must never be allowed to dishonor and defile us now.

Colossians 3:9

The heathen gloried in clever deceits; we have forever done with falsehood of every kind.

Colossians 3:14

And above all these things put on charity or lose

Colossians 3:15

Sweet precept! How often is it forgotten! "Be you thankful."

Colossians 3:16, 17

A golden rule for all times, places, and duties. Life on earth would be like Heaven below were this continually practiced.

 

Colossians 4:1

So that while we are free from the traditions of men, we are under law to Christ. Let us each one observe the precept which belongs to his condition. May the Spirit of all grace make all of us models, whether as parents or children, masters or servants, and to God shall be all the praise.