In our message, FOLLOW THE WILL OF GOD (Colossians 4:7-18), we completed our series in the book of Colossians. Scripture here teaches the truth that Jesus is all we need (Col. 2:3, 9-10, etc.) and even all we desire (when we are seeing things correctly, James 1:16-17, etc.). And today in our message we saw the Holy Spirit ended this letter mentioning several bothers in the faith with whom we can learn more about our call to follow Jesus in our life…
Tychicus and Onesimus brought the Word of God to the church in Colosse and the surrounding area to encourage the Christians there and help them know Christ better (Col. 4:7-9, 15-16). In addition to the book of Colossians, these faithful emissaries carried the personal letter of Philemon (also part of the Bible) to that town as well as the book of Ephesians which had been written by the Lord through Paul as well at that time and was to be shared with the churches in surrounding region of the Roman province of Asia (of which the city Ephesus was the capital).
Paul then mentioned three faithful Jewish Christian men who were serving with him at Rome where he was in prison- one of them (Aristarchus) who also was imprisoned with him there (Col. 4:10-11). And he mentioned three non-Jewish brothers in the faith who also were faithfully serving with him at that time (one of which was also imprisoned with him in Rome as well for the faith- Col. 4:12-14; Phile. 1:23-24; 2 Tim. 4:10, etc.). An additional brother, Archippus, in the Colossian house church in Philemon’s home is also addressed and urged by the Holy Spirit to stay the course in following God’s will for his life (Col. 4:17). While all Christians are saved by grace and heaven-bound, the outcome of our legacy in this world and what we take into heaven depends on us FOLLOWING THE WILL OF GOD in our lives now (Col. 4:18; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; 1 John 1:9; 2:28, etc.). *For more information on this passage of Scripture, please see Springhill Bible Fellowship Church’s January 18th service above.