Colossians 3:18 - 4:18

Good evening, brethren. Paul, starting from chapter 3 of Colossians, is trying to encourage the Colossian brethren, and he gets to the very root of Christianity of how to treat one another. And we can see briefly in verse 1 that he says, Colossians 3, verse 1, if then you were raised with Christ. And so what does it mean being raised with Christ? It means that after baptism, after we've been put in the water, we come out of the water symbolically, but that is symbolic of us living a new life.

And so if we truly baptized and converted, if we raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. And so we are to set our minds on the things above, as it says in verse 2, and not on the things of the earth. So it's really an important major milestone in our lives and our Christian life to focus on the things above. And then a little bit further, in verse 5, he says, Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth.

So if we are seeking the things above, because we got our minds on the things above, because we have died at baptism, the old man is dead, which basically at baptism is that great symbolism of a commitment that we make to God. And because Christ is in us, He is in our lives. So Paul now shows the areas of our lives that we are supposed to kill, supposed to destroy.

And so continuing on, verse 5, he says, fordication, uncleanliness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry. So basically, he's focusing on areas of our life, of our human nature, that we gotta kill, we gotta destroy. And then in verse 7, he says, in which yourselves once walked when you lived in them. So these were things that we did, and we should not do anymore. And so now in verse 8 and 9, he says, but now you yourselves are to put off these as well.

Let's anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie one to another, since you've put off the old man with his deeds. And so this is basically saying, now you put off these as well, which basically saying that even after baptism, even after conversion, we still have things that we need to overcome. We gotta take them off, like taking off a coat.

And interesting enough, one way or another, these things are all related to our tongue. They're all in one way or another related to our tongue, driven by human emotions. And in other words, it's some things that we have to control. And then in verse 10, he adds and say, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him, who created him. And so we're going to put on the new man. We're going to put a spiritual image, which is obviously at a resurrection. We'll have the full composition, but now spiritually we need to be striving to grow in that image to be like Christ.

In Ephesians 4 verse 13, we read, "...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." That's where we got to grow. We got to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as Peter puts it in 2nd Peter 3 verse 18. That's the scripture that we all need to learn of by heart, because that's what we got to grow. These two scriptures Ephesians 4, 13 and 2nd Peter 3, 18, a big pardon, are very important for our Christian growth.

That's what we got to imitate. That's what we got to grow. That's what we got to put on. So these are the things we must put on. And Paul now in Colossians 3 verse 12 through 13, he itemizes them a little bit more by saying, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. If anyone is a complaints against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

And so Paul very clearly described, we should have put off certain things at baptism, certain things of the flesh, but he says put to death those members. Then he says, because those are the things that you once walked in, so you've got to put those things completely off. Then he says, now put off also anger, wrath, malice, etc. So those are things of the tongue. But now in verse 12 and 13 he says, put on. These are the things we got to put on. This is what we got to try and become. You know, it was tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, forgiving one another.

These are the things we got to put on. And then he says in verse 14, above all, but above all these things, put on outgoing concern, agape love. And then he says, which is the bond of perfection, which is the glue of perfection, that is what leads us to true Christian godly maturity. That's what we're striving for. Godly love, agape love. And then starting from verse 18, which is where we're starting today, because up to YAH I was just doing a very brief review of the previous week.

Starting from verse 18, now Paul encourages particularly relationships within the family, how to handle relationships with one another. First he does discuss his wife and husband, then child and parent, and then servant and manager or master, as he puts it. So the wife-husband relationship is one of love and submission, and one of child-parent and servant and master is one that he encourages us, those that are the children and the servants to obey and the leaders to be kind for those like the parents and the masters, to those under them.

And so Paul then, starting from verse 18, he talks about that in verse 18 and 19, he shows that the husband is instructed to love. Love is outgoing concern, is to serve as Christ has served the church. Then he also instructs, starting from verse 21, about the father, the parents, is to show this love in gentle considerateness. And then a little further in starting in chapter 4 verse 1, talking about the master, the manager, the one, the supervisor, to give to his servant their Jews for their labor and again to treat him in a correct way.

And so we see that the godly domestic life and the godly business life of individuals is elevated to one of a relationship at home and in our job to be of a godly relationship, which is based on submission to authority and the love or the outgoing concern in that relationship. And that's it.

That's it is a respect and submission to authority and an outgoing concern for the others, outgoing concern in the way of service for the others that one is the head of. The head of the family, the parent or the manager or master of an employee.

And so let's start reading that in verse 18. It says, wives submit your own husbands as it is fitting in the Lord. Now, as we read earlier in this, in earlier in prison epistle in Ephesians 5 in verse 22 says, wives submit your own husbands as to the Lord. So we can see a very similar, nearly identical instruction between Colossians 3 18 and Ephesians 5 22. So a lady, a wife, has this responsibility, obviously, if she's a wife. This submission is in the context of to your own husband. It does not say submit to every other man, but your own husband. And then it says as to the Lord. And so, just like we all as true Christians, we have to submit to Christ.

Ladies are to be under the same respect and submission to authority of their husbands.

Just like the church as a whole is under the authority of Christ. The church submits to Christ and so the wives are to submit to their husbands. So really, yeah, he's basically talking about submitting to those above us in God's appointed governing structure. Some of us will think, oh, well, this is an old-fashioned idea, but this is not an approach, some may think, for this modern age.

But the key that Paul is emphasizing, yeah, is the spiritual meaning. The spiritual meaning.

In Ephesians 5 verse 23, Ephesians 5 verse 23, marriage is considered from a godly point of view. Let's just read Ephesians 5 verse 23 says, for as the husband is the head of the wife, so also Christ is the head of the church and is the savior of the body. And so we have here a godly point of view, or in other words, in the husband-wife relationship, we see an earthly shadow and, in a sense, a fortized of the Christ-church unity or union. And in a sense, it's a parallel of things which are. Now, if we look at Philippians chapter 4, Philippians chapter 4 verse 8, and there we can see finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, and so on. And so, yeah, we have a parallel of the spiritual realm. You know, whatever is pure or whatever is to meditate on these things. Likewise, there is a relationship between the physical and spiritual from a husband-wife relationship to a greater union, which is the church to Christ. And so, the marriage relationship, in a sense, foreshadows that union of Christ to the church. And if we look back at Ephesians chapter 5 verse 32, Paul says this is a great mystery, and I speak concerning Christ and the church.

And so, the marriage relationship is one that foreshadows or foretasts, or from a physical point of view, looks at things which are spiritual, which is the union, the greater union, between Christ and the church. And so, yeah, in Colossians chapter 3 verse 19, then he reads, Colossians chapter 3 verse 19, husbands love your wives.

This is very important, because when we look at that relationship between Christ and the church, Christ loves us, loves the church, and gave his life to serve the church. Likewise, husbands, we need to give our lives in sacrifice to serve our wives. Now, this is a very high standard for a man to measure up to, and we as men, we fail terribly. We do not reach that degree of love that Christ has for us, but we have to strive. We have to make an effort. We have to be trying. We all fail in one way or another, but our intent, our desire, is to be like Christ is to the church. We as men need to have that same desire to our wives. Let's just read Ephesians 5, 25 through 28. It says, husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself a rep. Then he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. Then he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their wives, their own wives, as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. That is a huge, huge responsibility for men and that we need to work on. And so the husband's love for the wife is elevated. In this example, yeah, in Ephesians 5, it's elevated. It's made greater than just me, a passion or selfish ambition. And this is, in a sense, comparing it to God's love to us through Christ. So godly love should lead, if we as men are striving to act with this godly love towards our wives as much as we can. Yes, I understand with our own failures, but as much as we are trying, that would lead to a reciprocal, a returning, a reaction, a positive reaction, a positive way of giving back from the wife to the husband by showing that godly submission. Why? Because then she only wants to submit to husband that cares for her.

And so this is very important. It's not just a woman, submit, submit, submit.

The man must do his part and that is what the covenant relationship is. And then continue now reading in Colossians chapter 3 verse 19. We read the first part, which says, husbands love your wives. But the second part is, and do not be bitter towards them. So because he, the husband, loves her, is not harsh or bitter towards her, either in words or looks or actions.

The Adam clock commentary puts it this way, and I thought this was an interesting way of putting it, and I'm quoting it. It says, wherever bitterness is, their love is wanting.

And where love is wanting in a marriage, there is hell upon earth. So it's very true.

It has got to be based on outgoing love, and it is the man's responsibility to take a lead. He's the head, just like Christ took the lead and died for us first and made the first step in absolute trust that God would resurrect him and absolutely trust that this action of love, of him dying, giving his life for us, would yield the result that he is the love of many men to repent and follow God's way. And so this is what Paul says he emphasizes about the relationship of husband and wife. Then he moves to children and parents, and in verse 20 he says, children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Obey parents in everything. Now, obviously, there's an exception. God commands, when God commands one way and a parent commands a different opposite way, we got to do what God tells us first. But when he says obey parents in everything, he says that's well pleasing to the Lord, or that is fitting to the Lord, as we read in verse 18 as far as the wives. In other words, it's the same principle. This is what God wants us to do. And so children, children are to obey parents in everything as much as it is within God's laws and within God's principles.

Now, it is sad when we encounter children that have not been practicing this degree of honoring their parents. In the latter years of their lives, sometimes when parents have died, and as these younger people now mature, then there is no way for them to undo the wrongs that they did in their youth. And so they carry this guilty feeling, this conscience that stings them for years and years and years because of their mistakes during their youth. And then they react in ways that they themselves don't even know because maybe they hate themselves or they try and blame other people. But the problem is, as young people, we need to be aware and experience as much as we can teach our younger ones to be aware of the importance of during their youth to do what's right, to do what's right, because there is a judgment. There is a judgment.

In Ecclesiastes 11 verse 9, we read the scripture in Ecclesiastes 11 verse 9, which reads, Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, walk in the days of your heart and in the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these, God will bring you into judgment. Therefore, remove sorrow from your heart and put away evil from your flesh for childhood and youth or vanity. This ties in what I mentioned earlier on.

Later on, when young people have done wrong things, they have this guilty conscience. They got the sorrow that sometimes it drags them down in their conduct. In many ways, it may even affect their marriage and things like that. So there is nothing more sorrowful than when young people reach an age when then it's too late to undo the wrongs. Because those that have gone by or beyond, there's those that have died, there's no way to to heal that breach in this life. So children, as we read, obey your parents in all things. That is the instruction here in Colossians chapter 3 verse 20. So that you may be spared over guilty conscience later on in your life because of childish faults or youthful mistakes. Continue now in verse 21. Fathers, do not provoke your children.

The lawyer for parents is basically addressing fathers, but it applies equally to mothers. Maybe because a mother's tenderness and care for the children, she has less tendency to quote, provoke the children, unquote. But they could also provoke the children, as it says, fathers. But the father is at rest because the father is the head of the household. And so fathers do not provoke your children, but the principle is applicable to parents, both fathers and mother, and mother, both father and mother. So how can parents provoke the children?

Which says, lest they become discouraged. How can parents provoke the children to a point as the children become discouraged? Well, could be unreasonable instructions or many, many ongoing restrictions. You can't do this, you can't do that. Or being too hard and then maybe letting go back and forth. Maybe the parents don't control their temper. Maybe they scream and shout or speak in the wrong town. When maybe a quiet instruction would be appropriate. You see, all these things could provoke the children to wrath. And in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4, Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4 says, and your fathers do not provoke your children to wrath. So this is this instruction in Colossians chapter 3 verse 21. Do not provoke your children.

We can see in Ephesians 6 verse 4 is specifically narrowing it down as well to wrath.

How could we as parents do that to our children? As I mentioned, I gave you some examples.

But when the child gets to a point that the child starts saying, I cannot please him or I can't please them, the parents, with whatever I do. And then the child feels injustice. And then this child becomes discouraged. It is useless to try anymore. The child may say that. And so then they become discouraged. And when a child or a person loses heart, then there's no more obedience. You know, you think about Malachi, the last book and the last verse in the Old Testament, Malachi, just before Matthew. Malachi 4 verse 5 and 6.

Malachi 4 verse 5 and 6 says, Behold, I'll send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse, with utter destruction.

In our brethren, that's our job. Our job is to turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and hearts of the children to their parents. That's our job. And if we look at Deuteronomy 6 verse 6 and 7, Deuteronomy 6 verse 6 and 7, which is basically what the law says, Deuteronomy 6 verse 6 and 7, we read, And these words, which I command you today, shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise up.

You shall buy them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontless between your eyes. In other words, you shall internalize them. Internalize God's law in our children from when they're small. We've got to do this.

And that is part of turning the hearts of the parents to the children, and hearts of the children to their parents. That's our job.

That's our job at the same time, brethren.

Now continuing in Colossians chapter 3, we're going to now go on to verse 22.

And it says, bond servants...

Yeah, the word of bond servants is from the Greek, dolos, which means slaves.

And it says, bond servants obey in all things your masters according to the flesh.

And when you think about the person that was carrying this epistle to the Colossians was also carrying the letter to Philemon. And and this person was accompanied by a fugitive slave, Onesimus. And so Paul is not saying to slaves, run away from your masters, just the opposite.

He's saying, bond servants, slaves, obey in all things your masters.

So as we know in Colossians chapter 3 verse 11, in this same chapter, in Colossians chapter 3 verse 11, we see there's neither Jew, there's neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised by barbarian, Cynthia, slave, no free. And so to Christ or in Christ Jesus, there's neither slave or free.

And so why did Christ and his apostles do not make war against slavery?

Well, just like they do not make war against any political social institutions.

Christianity does not set itself to destroy these worldly let's call it behaviors like slavery, politics, etc.

This is something that Christ will do when he'll return at his second coming.

But now what he says is Abund servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service as man pleases, but in sincerity of art, fearing God.

In other words, in singleness of art or in sincerity of art, depending which Bible version you read, that he is with an undivided motive.

And that means the opposite and in fact the cure for eye service because he says not with eye service as man pleases. But then he says but in sincerity of art and then fearing God. In other words, we are to fear God, which is the opposite of opposite of being man pleases, and therefore that singleness of art instead of eye service.

And so he continues there in verse 23, and whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.

So as a servant, as as a laborer, as a worker, as an employee, lift your thoughts to Christ who is our God and glorify all these duties to glorify God by fulfilling all these duties by looking at Christ and as if we are serving Christ, as if we work to the Lord.

Therefore we work heartily. That's why it says, whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord.

And verse 24, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.

And so if we labor for man's appreciation or gratitude, in the end, we will not be happy. There'll be disappointment. But if we labor to please Christ, we have abundance of giving of benefits coming back from God and and enjoy and happiness and there'll be an ultimate great generosity coming from God that it says you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.

In Romans 11 verse 35, we read Romans 11 verse 35.

We read, Who has first given, and it shall be recompensed to him again?

Who has ever given something to God that God has not repaid or that God should not repay? Basically, God is going to bless us and we can never out-keep God.

We can get maybe physically rewarded today. But ultimately, we will receive our reward from God.

Now Colossians 3 verse 25, but he with us wrong will be repaid for what he has done and there is no partiality.

Those who do not reach their masters properly will be repaid.

But again, this is like a link step because it says and there is no partiality, which means it applies also to the masters.

It applies to the employers as well as to the managers. Let's call it that way. And it says there's no partiality of God. There's no respect of persons. How you treat your employees or your servants, God will reward you accordingly. Paul is not addressing what is right or wrong. He is addressing the duties and responsibilities of first servants and then he's leading in the next verse, chapter 4 verse 1, to the responsibility of the masters, of the managers, of the supervisors. And it says to the masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

So yeah, it's the same thought. You have a master in heaven.

Just like the servants are serving Christ because they got a master in heaven, the masters also have a master in heaven.

And so if you are converted and you're working for a converted employer, you have to work maybe in a sense even harder. And as a master, if you're a master of employees that there are in the church, you need to make sure you treat your servants properly. You need to ensure you treat your servants properly, whether they're in the church or not. But even more, if they're in the church, we're even more responsible because we are true Christians.

And so whatever way, as masters or as servants, God will repay. And as it says at the end of verse 25, there is no partiality with God.

Now I'll move on to verse 2 of chapter 4.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

We need to be praying all the time, being vigilant and with thanksgiving.

In our relationships with husband and wife, parents and children, employer and employee, we need to be vigilant and we need to be praying that all that is done in a godly manner.

And whatever good we receive, whatever situation we have, thank God! Let's be thankful for giving thanks.

Verse 3 and 4. Meanwhile, praying also for us that God would open as a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I'm also in chains. So we need to pray for the work. And it says that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.

So we need to pray for the church, for the leaders in the church.

Are we praying for the various positions and the various men with responsibilities in the church?

For instance, for those that make decisions for the media, those that are making things for the media, those that have ministerial responsibilities, at whatever level. Why? So that the Word of God may be preached effectively. So that God's words may be preached effectively. And then in verse 5, walk in wisdom towards those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Use wisdom with the unconverted.

And don't waste time. Redeem time. Are we, at times, wasting time? Doing things at a time wasters. Are we procrastinating?

We mustn't. And we have to be very wise, particularly as it says, with those outside.

How we handle it? How we handle these situations? Because the relationships between husband and wife, parent and child, and employer-employee are basically stepping stones to other relationships with other people outside.

And continue now in verse 6.

It says, Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

So we need to speak of grace.

Speak with grace. What's that?

Some speech that is wholesome, that is kind, gentle, thoughtful, lawful. I mean, you think about it. What is gracious and godly? We got to speak that way.

It's being careful with our tongue, be careful what comes out of our mouth. And it says, Seasoned with salt. Now, salt is both a preservative and adds taste.

So we should speak tastefully.

And whatever we say should be an influence, a purifying influence, one that, that in a sense preserves, or builds, or it's wholesome, in a society of today, which is decaying society.

So our speech should build up and not degenerate.

Clearly, we have some big targets to aim at.

The way of life, God's way of life, is not easy, but we got to aim to those, those high standards to be like Christ.

And now Paul concludes this epistle, and he has his basically final greetings.

And he says in verse 7, Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. So this is the man that was taking these letters, the seepistle, and was also taking with him Onesimus, the slave, and the letter to Philemon. So Tychicus, he was going with these letters, along with Onesimus, and Paul is saying that Tychicus will give them the Colossians and God encouragement, and will later on report back to Paul as well. So he says, a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me and what's happening in Rome, in prison.

In verse 8, I'm sending with him with Tychicus to you.

I'm sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts.

And so he may know how you are, which obviously means you'll inform me. That's Paul saying that. But he will also encourage you, and you'll get to know what I'm going through.

And I'm sending Tychicus with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you, and they will make known to you all things which are happening here. And so Onesimus, the slave, with Tychicus, these two will tell you the Colossians what's going on here in Rome. And then in verse 10, Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you. Now, Aristarchus, let's look at it very briefly, Aristarchus, in Acts 19 verse 29, Acts 19 verse 29, we can see that during that rioting emphasis, Aristarchus was there as well, and he was seized. Acts 19 verse 29.

Acts 19 verse 29.

Right. So the whole city was filled with confusion and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus.

Macedonians, Poles travel companions. So these people, Gaius and Aristarchus, were citizens in the north of Greece, in the area of Macedonian.

So during that riot in Ephesus, about Diana and all that, you know that story there, Aristarchus was seized. So we can see Aristarchus was with Paul a number of times. Look at in Acts chapter 20 verse 4.

It says here, in his journeys in Greece, you see here in 20 verse 4. And so Peter of Berea, accompanied into Asia, also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy and Tychicus, and Trophimus of Asia. So Gaius is these same people, but in this case we see Aristarchus as well. He accompanied Paul. And later, in Acts 27 verse 4, when we see that Paul was on his voyage, on his trip to Rome as a prisoner, in Acts 27 verse 4, we see, and where we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

And I think I cited the other wrong.

Oh yeah, I meant verse 2, Acts 27 verse 2. So entering a ship of Adram-Matyam, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coast of Asia, Aristarchus, a moustogne of Thessalonica, was with us. So he sailed to Rome, English trip, with Paul.

And so continuing in Colossians chapter 4, verse 10 and 11, it says, Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner. So the day, therefore, the Romans allowed friends to be with Paul in jail to assist him, or in house arrest.

I don't know. It's possible. So we don't know why he was a fellow. Then he says in verse 10, Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you with mock, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you received instructions. If he comes to you, welcome him. So this is John Mock.

John Mock is the one who wrote the Gospel.

So we know Yah about John Mock.

And then he says in verse 11, and Jesus, who is called justice. So Yah, we have a man.

His name was Jesus.

And these are my only fellow workers for the kingdom who are of the circumcision.

Interesting. So this man, Aristarchus, by John Mock, and Jesus, justice. Jesus, they are of the circumcision. In other words, they were Jews.

And they were there, encouraging Paul.

Now in verse 12, Epiphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you. Epiphras is the one, as we read in Colossians chapter 1 verse 7, that raised up the church in Colossae. He had gone to Ephesus, and he had brought the gospel to Colossus. So Epiphras was the one that then went to Rome to tell Paul about the concern that he was having about the situation that was happening in Colossians with these Gnostic beliefs. So Yah, Epiphras says, Yah, Epiphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. So he was rather very concerned about what is happening in the area of Colossians with these Gnostic ideas, and therefore he was praying for them that they may be able to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. So he's concerned about the danger from the Gnostics and was ever praying on the Colossians' behalf.

Verse 13, For I bear in witness that he is a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laudasia and those in Iropolis. Those were three cities, like a little triangle, that were fairly close to each other.

Verse 14, Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, Gritu, Luke, as a physician, you would maybe come and visit him, Paul, to look after him from a health point of view, and Demas. Now Demas, interesting, later, a few years later, in maybe three or four years later, let's look at Demas in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10. 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10. We read here, For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and as the part of Thessalonika.

So yeah, we have a man that when Paul wrote to the Colossians, he was with him, but later, some maybe three years later, in the letter that Paul wrote to Timothy in the pastoral letter, Demas had forsaken Paul.

So yeah, we have a man which had a fairly high position in the church.

He had close intimacy with Paul.

He was no novice, and yet the world dragged him down.

And we know in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 12, that him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.

You see, the world's influence was very strong and affected Demas, and it can be strong for any one of us.

If we are trying to stand on our own strength, we can't. Now continuing in verse 15, he says, Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Greet of in Playa, Memphis and the church that is in his house. And so, yeah, we have a church in Laodicea, and a small congregation in Memphis house, maybe was an independent group. We don't know, but it's a small group there, and they say, hey, greet them as well. In verse 16, Now, when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And so, yeah, is this warning of this letter of collotions about the Gnostics? This warning was also to Laodiceans, and he also had sent another letter to Laodicean, which is not included in the Bible, and he says, you read it as well.

And then verse 17, he says, And say to Arquipus.

Now, it doesn't address and to Arquipus, he says, and say to Arquipus.

In other words, he didn't write to him directly, and he says, take heed to the ministry to which you have received in the Lord that you fulfilled.

So this is like a warning.

He says, hey, take heed to the responsibility you've been given.

Was Arquipus becoming a bit slack in the work of God? Was he contending with and being impacted with these trials of Gnosticism, and he kind of got tired of it, and he was getting slack?

Was the church there already getting cold? As we read in Revelation 3 verse 15, they wish that you're not cold nor hot. They were becoming lukewarm. And so then in verse 18, Paul signs off and says, this is a salutation by my own hand, Paul. So he says he signs this off with his own handwriting.

And then he says, remember my chains.

He concludes by asking them for their sympathy, because Paul wasn't a big trial, and he basically didn't talk much in this letter about his trial and difficulties. But he says, remember my chains.

Remember the difficulties that I'm going through.

So maybe, maybe in one way, we'll sign to them, remember the difficulties I'm going through, you know, we'll show, pray, and be concerned about me.

But could it also be an encouragement to them? Because he's saying, when you go through your trials, don't just think about my trial, my trial. All you're thinking about is my trial, my trial, my trial.

Remember, there are other people suffering too.

Remember my chains. So maybe it was encouraging to them, so when they would encounter trials, they would look at Paul as well. And then he concludes, grace be with you.

Amen.