Maranatha Baptist Church
Christian Legacy
  • Holy, Holy, Holy

      • Psalms 9:1-3ESV

      • Psalms 9:4-6ESV

      • Psalms 9:7-10ESV

      • Psalms 9:11-13ESV

      • Psalms 9:14-16ESV

      • Psalms 9:17-20ESV

  • O Lord My Rock And My Redeemer
  • Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

      • Colossians 4:7-8ESV

      • Colossians 4:9-10ESV

      • Colossians 4:11-12ESV

      • Colossians 4:13-15ESV

      • Colossians 4:16-18ESV

  • When it comes final greetings passages they at first glance appear to be only slightly more interesting than a genealogy, it also feels like you are reading someone else’s mail. This can make it easy to just breeze past them.
    However, today, I am hoping that we can slowly walk through this text look at each of the figures mentioned.
    Paul mentions two best selling authors, a church planter, several ministry partners, but he also mentions several people who we don’t know much about.
    In this portion of the letter we learn of those whom Paul has partnered with in order to accomplish his goal - advancing the gospel and encouraging the church
    Contained in this conclusion we find four different stories - some of these are very clear in the text of Colossians, and others found by comparing them with other parts of the New Testament.
    Paul mentions 10 people in this text, and I will touch on each one. However, There are four specific men with four different stories who I will focus on.
    Onesimus’ Story of Redemption
    Mark’s Story of Reconciliation
    Epaphras’ Story of Reliability
    Demas’ Story of Rejection
    This sermon will be a bit more biographical, and at times a bit dry, even so I am going to encourage you to work to stay with me here.
    In this section of Paul’s letter we see a personification of what Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 12 - there is one body, but many members.

    Tychicus

    Colossians 4:7–8 ESV
    7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,
    The first person who we read of is Paul’s mailman, Tychicus. He delivered the Ephesian and Colossians letters, as well as the letter to Philemon while Paul was in prison.
    He was a member of Paul’s ministry team Acts 20:4, during Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey. He is twice referred to as a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. Here in Col and in Ephesians 6:21. Tychicus not only delivered the letters but he also filled the church in concerning Paul’s ministry, and to encourage the church.
    Colossians 4:9 ESV
    9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
    Along with Tychicus, Paul sent Onesimus.

    Onesimus’ Story of Redemption

    Onesimus is a runaway slave who was converted. The subject of the letter to Philemon. In addition to the comments concerning slavery at the beginning of ch 4, Paul has not merely stated that slaves should be treated and fairly, but also here he tells the church that this runaway slave is one of them. He is faithful and beloved.
    I don’t have time to rehash my comments on slavery from chapter 3, but I would add the warning that the kind of slavery that Paul was referring to here was not the same as our American history of slavery. It was not race based - but Paul’s guidelines for slaves and masters, and the OT laws concerning slavery were quite radical. If you have questions about that I will be glad to answer them after the service, or you can refer back to that sermon two weeks ago.
    It is likely that Onesimus sold himself into slavery and then ran away - in a sense it would be a lot more similar to someone who sign a work contract and fled the country before it could be fulfilled. Paul seems to suggest that Onesimus stole from his master before fleeing. After leaving at some point Onesimus is converted and meets Paul - uncertain of the order of those two. Following this he befriends Paul. They become incredibly close.
    Onesimus is with Tychicus because Paul is sending him back to his master. However, the nature of the letter is remarkable. Paul asks Philemon to charge him for any wrong that Onesimus may have done. In the story of Philemon and Onesimus we see a picture of the Gospel. A servant who owed his master everything, runs from his master’s service, steals from his master when he flees and yet he is forgiven. His wrongs are asked to be charged to the account of another. Then the relationship changes - Onesimus is not returning to Philemon as a slave but rather he is returning to Philemon as a brother in Christ. He returns as family. Onesimus is treated as a faithful and beloved brother. Philemon was a member of the church in Colossae. The recipients of this letter would have likely been somewhat aware of Philemon’s runaway slave. Imagine the response as they see this man return carrying these letters from Paul. Where Paul speaks of him as a useful, beloved brother - who is one of them.
    This is the Gospel - we are created beings who owe God everything - instead we sin, we choose to live our lives glorifying ourselves, we choose to seek the glory of our kingdom and our legacy rather than living in the way in which God has prescribed for those he created to live. Due to our disobedience, we deserve punishment, because we broke God’s law we deserve appropriate punishment. BUT GOD intervened - on the Cross Jesus takes our place - our account is charged to him and Jesus cancels the record of our debt.
    Through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven, our wrongs are placed on Jesus, and the debt we owe is cancelled. We are no longer at odds with God - our relationship has changed we are adopted into the family of God as children. 

    Aristarchus

    The next person that Paul mentions is Aristarchus. He is a fellow prisoner with Paul. He is also mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Philem. 24.
    Colossians 4:10 ESV
    10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you,
    We do not know much about Aristarchus. We know that his is "a Macedonian from Thessalonica”. He traveled with Paul during his Third Missionary journey. He was present during the Riot in Ephesus and arrested alongside Paul.

    Mark’s Story of Reconciliation

    In addition to Aristarchus we read of Mark. In Mark, we read a story of reconciliation.
    The first of the best selling authors that Paul mentions is Mark. Writer of the Ευαγγελιον κατά Μαρκον
    Colossians 4:10 ESV
    10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
    “concerning whom you have received instructions…”
    You do not say this about someone if there is not good reason to do so? So why did Paul say this?  Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. In Acts 13:13, Mark leaves in the middle of the journey to return to Jerusalem. In Acts 15:37-39, Paul and Barnabas separate over Barnabas’ desire to invite Mark on their return visit to each of the cities. Acts 15:38 tells us:
    Acts 15:38 ESV
    38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
    This significant disagreement between Paul and Barnabas leads them to part ways in their ministry.
    Previously, Paul did not see Mark as fit for ministry - yet when Paul writes this letter he tells them church to welcome him. The story goes a little further. Paul sends Philemon greetings from Mark in the letter he sends with Onesimus. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul tells Timothy send Mark for he is very useful to me. 
    I have a few friends who I have seen are able to hold a grudge like you cannot imagine - often over petty things - this is not one of those things - this is Paul having genuine concern over the seriousness of Gospel ministry. We do not know why Mark returned to Jerusalem. What we know is that Mark left Paul and Barnabas, while Paul is dissatisfied with Mark’s leaving, and warns at least one church about him. Beware Mark, becomes welcome him.
    There is no room for grudges in the Christian faith among believers. Paul knows how much he has been forgiven so he is able to forgive. Paul understood that his sin against God, was far more severe than Mark’s leaving the missionary journey. Because Paul had been forgiven, he was able to forgive. We should take a note from Paul here and be willing and ready to forgive other brothers or sisters in Christ when they have wronged us.
    And consider how this connects to Onesimus, how would Paul be able to ask Philemon to accept Onesimus knowing the wrong that he had done, if he had not done the same for Mark?

    Jesus Justus

    Alongside, Mark and Aristarchus, Paul mentions a man named Jesus Justus. Who he groups with previous two as being Jewish converts to Christianity, who have been a great comfort to him.
    Colossians 4:11 ESV
    11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
    Jesus Justus - “who is called Justus is stated twice in Acts. 
    The next man who Paul mentions is the church planter Epaphras.

    Epaphras’ Story of Reliability

    Epaphras - chapter 1, Philemon 23 one of you - from Colossae. 
    Colossians 4:12–13 ESV
    12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
    Paul writes that he is one of them, and in chapter 1 Paul writes that they learned the gospel from him. Paul describes him as “beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf…” It is from Ephaphras’ account that Paul writes this letter and that Paul celebrates this church for what they are doing well in chapter 1, but then also from this account that Paul corrects them in chapters 1-2. Paul in verse 12, describes Epaphras as being from Colossae - one of you - 
    In Philemon 23, Paul describes him as a fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus. So while he was writing the letter to Philemon, Epaphras had been placed in prison alongside Paul. 
    In Epaphras, we see a story of Reliability. 
    And soon after Paul follows up with reference to two additional ministry partners.

    Luke

    Colossians 4:14 ESV
    14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
    Not much is said about Luke or Demas here - however, we still know quite a lot about both of these individuals. 
    Luke - the beloved Physician.
    Κατά λυκκαν, Acts. Luke is even part of the narrative in Acts. When you are reading Acts and you see the pronoun we used, Luke is part of the story.
    Luke is the 2nd Gospel writer mentioned here. The two gospel writers that Paul associates with are the two who were not among the 12 disciples of Jesus.
    Both of these gospel writers are also mentioned in the conclusion of Paul’s final letter. 2nd Timothy. In fact nearing the end of Paul’s life, it is Luke who sticks with Paul.

    Demas’ Story of Rejection

    It is interesting he pairs Luke and Demas here in Colossians. As in 2 Tim 4, where he writes, “Luke alone is with me,” And just two verses before that he writes that Demas has abandoned him, alongside the Christian faith.
    With Demas, we read the story of rejection. Sadly, Demas’ legacy is one where he has rejected Paul, but more important he has rejected the Lord.
    2 Timothy 4:10 ESV
    10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
    Demas deserts Paul because of his desire for worldly things. We cannot love the things of this world and love Jesus. In speaking of money, Jesus himself in Matthew 6:24 states that we cannot serve two masters, you will either love one and hate the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. If we are seeking to love both the things of this world and the Lord we will not do well. 
    The New Testament regularly warns of the dangers of loving the world. Demas shows that danger.
    From Demas we see that we can serve in ministry with someone, they can do good things and they can still abandon the faith. 
    It is important that we understand that our faith does not reside in the things that we do. But in the One who saves. 
    I absolutely believe that if someone is truly in relationship with Jesus they will not walk away. However, when someone chooses to love the world more than they love the Lord - it is due to the fact that they never really experienced what the Lord promises. Demas never truly tasted and saw that the Lord is good.
    We cannot be presumptuous upon our salvation because of something that we have done. The only work that earns us anything for our salvation is the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Faith in Jesus is what saves us - not church attendance, not baptism, not taking the Lord’s supper, nor church membership but rather belief in Jesus as the son of God who took on flesh, lived the life that we should have lived and died the death that we deserved to die - on the cross Jesus died to save sinners from the wrath of God that they deserved for their sins. 
    It might be easy to look at Demas and worry about others we know who might fall into this temptation, or maybe those who have. And we ask “well how should we respond to them?” However, the more important thing to consider is the warning that it gives to you. Be on guard against the love of the world. If we skip down to verse 17 for one moment, we will see an interesting contrast to the legacy of Demas. The instruction that Paul gives to Archipas, is an instruction that Demas failed to do.
    Colossians 4:17 ESV
    17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
    At one point he was concerned that Mark would fail to do this. He teaches Archippus, and later Timothy, to fulfill their ministry.
    Looking back at verses 15 and 16, we read of the church of Laodicea, a neighboring city, and the house church that meets in the home of Nympha. And the encouragement from them to read the letter to the church in Colossae. They are told to swap letters - and to read them aloud. We do not have an existing copy of the letter to Laodicea. And we know nothing about Nympha aside from being the host of a church. We don’t even know for certain if Nympha was a man or woman because of vagueness in the greek pronouns. In fact, if you are reading from a KJV you may see the text reads “his house” rather than the ESV rendering her house.
    But the confusion on our end, does not negate the significance that Nympha brought to host the church in that age.
    A best selling biography, that maintains all the finer points of a Christians life is not the mark of faithfulness. Most faithful Christians, who have served the church well will be forgotten in the eyes of men in 150 years - but God does not forget your faithfulness. There’s nothing wrong with being content to fill the same role as Nympha, who cares for and supports the church but ends up virtually forgotten.
    In verse 18, Paul concludes the letter with what seems like an odd phrase I Paul write this greeting with my own hand…
    Paul likely used a scribe and thus finishes the letter with these last two statements -
    Remember my chains.
    Remember Paul and his chains. But also remember the chains of others who have suffered for their faith in Jesus.
    …those who were martyred for the faith.
    …those who have suffered, or are suffering for the gospel. 
    Those who are currently in prison for their faith. Remember them in your prayers that they might be comforted by the Holy Spirit, that their faith may increase, and that like Paul even in the midst of their imprisonment that they would be encouraged to continue in ministry.
    Grace be with you.
    This is a traditional ending for Paul’s letters - especially those that he wrote himself. 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus and Colossians all end with this. With the statement Grace be with you - Paul reminds his readers of the Gospel. Paul reminds them that all we have is grace from God. 
    So here in this text, we see the importance of partnership with others in the church for the sake of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul, the one who wrote most of the New Testament needed a lot of help and had a lot of partners in order to fulfill his ministry. This involved a lot of heartbreak, a lot of forgiveness, a lot of patience, diversity - Jews, Gentiles, Macedonians, authors, church planters, doctors, slaves, homeowners, etc. Though from many different backgrounds they were all one in Christ, and they were all used for the building up of the church.
    But ultimately, as we look to any of these people - as we look at Paul, or Onesimus, Mark, or Epaphras each of these people should ultimately point us to not themselves, or their works, but rather it should point us to Jesus. Ultimately, if we’re looking for a legacy their legacy is Christ. 
    Grace be with you.

      • Colossians 4:7–8ESV

      • Colossians 4:9ESV

      • Colossians 4:10ESV

      • Colossians 4:10ESV

      • Acts 15:38ESV

      • Colossians 4:11ESV

      • Colossians 4:12–13ESV

      • Colossians 4:14ESV

      • 2 Timothy 4:10ESV

      • Colossians 4:17ESV

  • O Church Arise
Maranatha Baptist Church
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http://www.mbcglobe.org
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