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Sunday, January 27, 2019

Ephesians Chapter 6 Part Two


Ephesians 6:11 
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Put on the whole armour of God”: “Put on” conveys the idea of permanence, indicating that armor should be the Christian’s sustained lifelong attire. Paul uses the common armor worn by Roman soldiers as the analogy for the believer’s spiritual defense and affirms its necessity if one is to hold his position while under attack.
In order to take advantage of the strength of God’s might, a believer must also put on the full spiritual armor that He supplies (2 Cor. 10:3-5). “Put on” carries the idea of once and for all, or permanence. The armor of God is not something to be put on and taken off occasionally but is something to by put on permanently. It is to be the Christian’s lifelong companion. It provides believers with divine power from “Him who is able to keep you for stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy (Jude 24).
Put on” (Greek ingressive aorist imperative) denotes a sense of urgency, demanding immediate action. “To stand” has military overtones. This verb was used in classical Greek meaning to resist the enemy and hold a critical position in battle. “The wiles of the devil” (or, “the Devil’s strategy”): Satan carefully devises schemes and tactics against believers.
Wiles”: Wiles or schemes are a Greek word that carries the idea of cleverness, crafty methods, cunning, and deception. Satan’s schemes are propagated through the evil world system over which he rules, and are carried out by his demon hosts. “Wiles” is all inclusive, encompassing every sin, immoral practice, false theology, false religion and worldly enticement.
Schemes” carries the idea of craftiness, cunning, and deception. The term was often used of a wild animal that cunningly stalked and then unexpectedly pounced on its prey. Satan’s evil schemes (wiles) are built around stealth and deception.
Christians are really in a war. We are soldiers in God's army. The greatest battle is between the flesh and the spirit. The prize they are after is the soul, or the will of man.
Paul wrote this scripture while he was chained to a soldier, so it was not difficult for him to use the dress of a soldier ready for battle as an example of what we must wear as armor in God's army.
The devil”: Scripture refers to him as “the anointed cherub” (Ezek. 28:14), “the ruler of the demons” (Luke 11:15), “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). Scripture depicts him opposing God’s work (Zech. 3:1), perverting God’s Word (Matt. 4:6), hindering God’s servant (1 Thess. 2:18), hindering the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4), snaring the righteous (1 Thess. 3:7), and holding the world in his power (1 John 5:19).
This fallen archangel and his fallen angels who became demons have been tempting and corrupting mankind since the Fall. They are an evil, formidable, cunning, powerful and invisible foe against whom no human being in his power and resources is a match.
In this life, we are in daily conflict with the devil and his army. Life is a battle ground. Preparation is necessary to fight any battle. Jesus fought the devil with the Word of God. Our strength is in the Lord and in His Word {Bible}.
Evidence of Satan’s great power and deception can be seen in the fact that, despite God’s miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt, His immeasurable blessings, protection and provision in the wilderness and in Canaan, His chosen people repeatedly fell for Satan’s seductions, worshiping the hideous and demonic idols of paganism.
After all the predictions of the Messiah given in the Old Testament and after Jesus’ preaching, teaching, and miraculous healings, Satan managed to induce Israel to reject and crucify her own Messiah! In the last days his final deception of Israel will be to persuade her that the antichrist is instead the Christ (Dan. 9:26-27).
Ephesians 6:12 
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]."
Wrestle”: Wrestle or struggle which is a term used of hand to hand combat. Struggling or wrestling features trickery and deception, like Satan and his hosts when they attack. Coping with deceptive temptation requires truth and righteousness.
The four designations describe the different strata and rankings of those demons and the evil supernatural empire in which they operate. Satan’s forces of darkness are highly structured for the most destructive purposes (Col 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22).
Paul here reminds his readers that the Christian’s struggle is not only against Satan himself but also against a host of his demon subordinates, a vast array of adversaries who, like the devil, are not flesh and blood. Our greatest enemy is not the world we see, corrupt and wicked as it is, but the world we cannot see.
Not against flesh and blood”: (See 2 Cor. 10:3-5).
Spiritual wickedness”: This possibly refers to the most depraved abomination, including such things as extreme sexual perversions, occultism, and Satan worship.
In high places”: As in 1:3; 3:10, this refers to the entire realm of spiritual beings.
Rulers … powers … rulers of the darkness … spiritual wickedness” describe the different strata and rankings of those demons and the evil, supernatural empire in which they operate. Human beings who promote paganism, the occult, and various other ungodly and immoral movements and programs are but dupes of Satan and his demons, trapped by sin into unwittingly helping to fulfill his schemes.
The demonic categories are not explained, but rulers no doubt reflects a high order of demons (linked with “authorities” in Col. 2:15), powers are another rank (mentioned in 1 Peter 3:22), and world forces of this darkness perhaps refers to demons who have infiltrated various political systems of the world, attempting to pattern them after Satan’s realm of darkness (see Dan. 10:13; Col. 1:13).
The spiritual forces of wickedness are possibly those demons who are involved in the most wretched and vile immoralities, such as extremely perverse sexual proactive, the occult, Satan worship and the like. Paul’s purpose is not to explain the details of the demonic hierarchy but to give us some idea of its sophistication and power. We are pitted against an incredibly evil and potent enemy. But our need is not to specifically recognize every feature of our adversary but to turn to God who is our powerful and trustworthy source of protection and victory.
Several activities in the Bible may involve demons. Sometimes they cause physical disease or mental suffering. However, not all mental disorders are demonic in origin. Demons also tempt people into immoral practices. They originate and propagate false doctrines taught by demons (Mark 1:23).
Although demons are committed to do evil, God will use them to accomplish His plan during the end of the age (Rev. 16:14).
Demons are also objects of worship in various occult practices forbidden by God. These include divination (an illegitimate means of determining the will of God), necromancy (efforts to communicate with and interrogate the dead), magic (using formulas and incantations), sorcery (perhaps the nonmedical use of drugs), witchcraft and astrology (Deut. 18:10-12).
Dealing with demons in one’s Christian life is not a matter of finding the technique to send them away, but of being committed to the spiritual means of grace that purifies the soul, so that there is no unclean place that demons could occupy or by which they might gain advantage. James gives the only formula for deliverance from the demons or the devil himself: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
When the Ephesian Christians who were “dabbling” in the occult repented, there was a great revival in that place. No Christian can ever justify his participation in demonic activities (Exodus 7:11; Hebrew 1:4).
Wrestle,” used of hand to hand combat, emphasizes the personal and individual nature of spiritual warfare waged against each local church and Christian. “Flesh and blood” refers to humanity. Such is not the church’s adversary.
Instead she opposed “principalities (rulers), “powers” (authorities), rulers (world rulers), “Spiritual wickedness (wicked spiritual beings), that is, fallen angels, demons, and Lucifer himself.
One thing that we must do to fight against our enemy, is to learn who he is and, what are his tactics. That is what the above verse is about. The enemy that you cannot see with your physical eye is the most dangerous, because you do not know when he is on the attack, or just which way he is coming from.
This is a spiritual battle, spoken of here. The devil {old Lucifer} and his angels {demons, or devil spirits} are the enemy. His tactics are to tempt the flesh of man. The flesh of man is earthy. These are real battles.
The Father has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (read Col. 1:11-13). No Christian is any longer in Satan’s domain and every Christian has the resources of God’s own Holy Spirit within him to free himself from any demonic entanglement, no matter how severe. Where sin is confessed and put away, Satan and his demons are expelled.
We are to put on God’s armor and report to Him, perfectly confident in the knowledge that “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The very “gates of Hades shall not overpower” Christ’s church (Matthew 16:18).
Ephesians 6:13 
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Wherefore” means because of this,” That is, because we face such a formidable foe, we must avail ourselves of God’s provision lest the enemy destroy our Christian witness and ministry.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God”: Paul again emphasized the necessity of the Christian’s appropriating God’s full spiritual armor by obedience in taking it up, or putting it on, verse 11.
It is possible to live the Christian life in lethargy, indifference and in perfect satisfaction with the way things are, and still spend eternity with the Lord, because He has eternally secured the salvation of every believer (John 10:28-29). We cannot lose the ultimate war, because we belong to the Lord and the battle is His.
But we disregard obedience to Him at great cost. We bring our heavenly Father and ourselves grief instead of joy; we leave lost souls in darkness and damnation instead of bringing them to the light of salvation; and we see our work burned up with fire like so much hay, as we forfeit the reward that faithful service would bring.
The first three pieces of armor, girdle, breastplate and shoes/boots, verses 14-15, were worn continually on the battlefield; the last three, shield, helmet and sword, verses 16-17, were kept ready for use when actual fighting began.
The evil day”: “Having done all, to stand”: Standing firm against the enemy without wavering or falling is the goal.
The evil day” refers to the periodic demonic onslaughts and satanic assaults. “Having done all” includes both dressing oneself in God’s armor and resisting Satan. Having done all these be ready, for the Devil will attack again and again. Since the fall of man, every day has been evil, a condition that will persist until the Lord returns and establishes His own righteous kingdom on earth. This evil day is probably many different days. The battle sometimes stops for a day or two, but it starts up again when you least expect it. Our job is to be ready and then stand.
The soldier's job is to stand and remain standing regardless of what the enemy sends your way. Our strength in this battle must come from within. Christ in us gives us the strength to stand firm in the battle.
But even the most willing and eager soldier of Christ is helpless without God’s provision. We have His provision in being His children, in having His Word, in possessing His indwelling Holy Spirit, of having every resource of our heavenly Father. God is our strength, but His strength is appropriated only through obedience; His mighty armor must be put on (verse 11) and taken up (verse 13).
Some believers have done everything well in the Lord’s work, but they do not continue to stand firm. The issue is not in what a believer has done, but, when the battle is over and the smoke clears, whether he is found standing true to the Savior.
Verses 14-17: The whole armor of God consists of six pieces.
1.      “Truth”, verse 14a, is a knowledge of the truth of God’s Word, 4:21. The ancient soldiers “loins” (“waist”) were “girt about” with a leather belt which held most of the other pieces of his armor in place. Similarly, the other pieces of the Christian’s armor depend on, and are held in place by, his spiritual “belt” or his knowledge of the “truth” of Scripture.
2.      “The breastplate of righteousness, verse 14b, may be read “the breastplate which is righteousness.” It represents a holy character and moral conduct. Obedience to the “truth” known produces a godly life (“righteousness”).
3.      “Preparation of the gospel of peace”, verse 15, means “eagerness that comes from the gospel of peace.” That is, as the Roman soldier wore special shoes called caligae on his feet, enabling him to advance against his enemy, so the Christian must have on his feet (possess) as sense of “eagerness” or “willingness” to advance against the Devil and take the fight to him. Such “eagerness” to contend with Satan “comes from the gospel of peace.” The gospel gives peace to the believer, freeing him from anxiety though he advances against such a powerful opponent.
4.      “The shield of” (which is) “faith”, verse 16, means taking God at His word by believing His promises. Such trust will protect one from doubts induced by Satan.
5.      “The helmet of salvation, verse 17a: Since the readers are already Christians, 2:8, they are not here urged to be saved. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 describes this helmet as “the hope of salvation” that is, the certainty (assurance) of salvation.
6.      “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, verse 17b: The Greek term rendered “word” is not logos, referring to the whole Word of God, but rhema, referring to certain portions or selected verses of Scripture.
Ephesians 6:14 
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"
Stand therefore”: For the third time the apostle calls Christians to take a firm position in the spiritual battle against Satan and his minions (See verses 11, 13).
Satan attacks believers through doctrinal confusion and falsehood. Christians who are untaught in God’s Word fall easy prey to wrong ideas about the things of God, about salvation, sanctification, morality, heaven and hell, the second coming and every other biblical truth. The believer who is confused about God’s Word cannot be effective in God’s work. He is “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14).
Whether confronting Satan’s effort to distrust God, forsaking obedience, producing doctrinal confusion and falsehood, hindering service to God, bringing division, serving God in the flesh, living hypocritically, being worldly, or in any other way rejecting biblical obedience, this armor is our defense.
Such as when a young child dies or is permanently crippled, a husband or wife is taken away, a child turns away from the Lord, or we lose our business, job or our health, Satan or his demons may attempt to generate thoughts in the mind that place the blame on God. This arena of conflict also involves attacking the truthfulness and sufficiency of Scripture.
Girt … with truth”: The soldier wore a tunic of loose fitting cloth. Since ancient combat was largely hand to hand, a loose tunic was a potential hindrance and danger. A belt was necessary to cinch up the loosely hanging material. Girding up was a matter of pulling in the loose ends as preparation for battle.
The belt that pulls all the spiritual loose ends in is “truth” or better, “truthfulness”. The idea is of sincere commitment to fight and win without hypocrisy – self discipline in devotion to victory. Everything that hinders is tucked away; (2 Tim. 2:4; Heb. 12:1). We are to be tightly secure in the Truth of God. We are to hold fast to the Truth.
The breastplate of righteousness”: The breastplate was usually a tough, sleeveless piece of leather or heavy material with animal horn or hoof pieces sewn on, covering the soldier’s full torso, protecting his heart and other vital organs. Because righteousness or holiness, is such a distinctive characteristic of God Himself, it is not hard to understand why that is the Christians’ chief protection against Satan and his schemes.
The breastplate of righteousness that we put on as spiritual armor against our adversary is the practical righteousness of a life lived in obedience to God’s Word (the putting on of righteous behavior in line with the “new self” in 4:24-27, which having been done, will “not give the devil an opportunity”).
As believers faithfully live in obedience to and communion with Jesus Christ, His own righteousness produces in them the practical, daily righteousness that becomes their spiritual breastplate. Lack of holiness, on the other hand, leaves them vulnerable to the great enemy of their souls (Isa. 59:17; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 5:8).
Being filled with God’s Word but not obedient to His Spirit has caused the downfall of many believers. Right doctrine with right devotion is a serious pitfall for many Christians. The person who trusts in his own understanding instead of the Lord Himself, (Proverbs 3:5) plays into Satan’s hands. This very church at Ephesus within a few years became cold and mechanical in the expression of its orthodoxy. Right theology without deep devotion to Christ cannot prevent the death of a church.
To put on the breastplate of righteousness is to live in daily, moment by moment obedience to our heavenly Father. This part of God’s armor is holy living for which God supplies the standard and the power but for which we must supply the willingness. God Himself puts on our imputed righteousness, but we must put on our practical righteousness.
Not to be armored with the breastplate of righteousness will first of all cost the Christian his joy. John’s first epistle contains many warnings and commands to believers, and these are given, along with the other truths of the letter “so that our joy may be made complete” (1 John 1:4). In other words, lack of obedience brings lack of joy. The only joyful Christian is the obedient Christian. Once saved, unholy living does not rob us of salvation, but it robs us of salvation’s joy.
The breastplate covers the heart. The righteousness that we have is the righteousness of Christ. We are clothed in His righteousness. It was His precious shed blood that made us righteous {in right standing with God}.
We have a brand new heart washed in the blood of the Lamb. The heart of the Christian has the law of God etched into the fleshly part of the heart. Our heart is stayed upon God.
Ephesians 6:15 
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"
 “Shod with … gospel of peace”: Roman soldiers wore boots with nails in them to grip the ground in combat. The gospel of peace pertains to the good news that, through Christ, believers is at peace with God and He is on their side (Rom. 5:6-10).
A Christian’s spiritual footwear is equally important in his warfare against the schemes of the devil. If he has carefully girded his loins with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness, but does not properly shod his feet with the preparation of the gospel, he is destined to stumble, fall, and suffer many defeats. Preparation has the general meaning of readiness.
In this passage the gospel of peace refers to the good news that believers are at peace with God. The unsaved person is helpless, ungodly, sinful and an enemy of God (Romans 5:6-10). The saved person, on the other hand, is reconciled to God through faith in His Son, verses 10-11. It is that confidence of divine support which allows the believer to stand firm, knowing that since he is at peace with God, God is his strength (see Romans 8:31, 37-39).
Our feet are secure in the good news of the gospel. In Leviticus, we find that the big toe of the right foot was covered in the blood, so that our walk was pure before God. This just means here, that our walk is steadfast, grounded, and secure in the good news of Jesus.
The believer who stands in the Lord’s power need not fear any enemy, even Satan himself. When he comes to attack us, our feet are rooted firmly on the solid ground of the gospel of peace, through which God changed from our enemy to our defender. We who were once His enemies are now His children, and our heavenly Father offers us His full resources to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10).
Ephesians 6:16 
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
Above all” introduces the last three pieces of armor. The first were for long range preparation and protection and were never taken off on the battlefield. The shield, helmet and sword, on the other hand, were kept in readiness for use when actual fighting began, hence the verbs in verses 16-17, taking and take.
The shield of faith”: The Greek word usually refers to the large shield (2.5 x 4.5 feet) that protected the entire body. The faith to which Paul refers is not the body of Christian doctrine (as the term is used in 4:13) but basic trust in God, the faith in Christ that appropriates salvation and continues to bring blessing and strength as it trusts Him for daily provision and help.
The believer’s continual trust in God’s word and promise is “in addition to all” necessary to protect him from temptations to every sort of sin. All sin comes when the victim falls to Satan’s lies and promises of pleasure, rejecting the better choice of obedience and blessing.
The substance of Christianity is believing that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6); putting total trust in His Son as the crucified, buried, risen and ascended Savior; obeying Scripture as His infallible and authoritative Word; and looking forward to the Lord’s coming again.
Fiery darts”: Temptations are likened to the flaming arrows shot by the enemy and quenched by the oil treated leather shield (Psalm 18:30; Prov. 30:5-6; 1 John 5:4). The spiritual flaming missiles against which believers need protection would seem primarily to be temptations.
Satan continually bombards God’s children with temptations to immorality, hatred, envy, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust, and every other sin. The purpose of all of Satan’s missiles, therefore, is to cause believers to forsake their trust in God, to drive a wedge between the Savior and the saved.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Our faith in God causes us to be able to ward off attacks from the devil and his crowd. We should have so much faith that we could move a mountain of problems, if necessary. Let us look at Abraham the father of faith, and see what God promised him.
Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward."
Faith then is the shield.
Ephesians 6:17 
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
The helmet of salvation”: The helmet protected the head, always a major target in battle. Paul is speaking to those who are already saved and is therefore not speaking here about attaining salvation. Rather, Satan seeks to destroy a believer’s assurance of salvation with his weapons of doubt and discouragement.
Since Paul is addressing believers, putting on the helmet of salvation cannot refer to receiving Christ as Savior. The only ones who can take up any piece of God’s armor, and the only ones who are involved in this supernatural struggle against Satan and his demon forces, are those who are already saved.
This is clear from Paul’s reference to the helmet as “the hope of salvation” (Isa. 59:17).
The fact that the helmet is related to salvation indicates that Satan’s blows are directed at the believer’s security and assurance in Christ. The two dangerous edges of Satan’s spiritual broadsword are discouragement and doubt. To discourage us he points to our failures, our sins, our unresolved problems, our poor health, or to whatever else seems negative in our lives in order to make us lose confidence in the love and care of our heavenly Father.
Satan’s most disturbing attack against believers is in tempting them to believe they have lost, or could lose, their salvation. Few things are more paralyzing, unproductive or miserable that insecurity. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33) How can a doubting heart have peace?
How can a person who lives in continual uncertainty about his salvation be comforted by such promises, when he is not sure that they apply to him or that they will always apply to him? If he loses his salvation, he obviously loses those promises as well. How could such a person not have a troubled and fearful heart? Those promises would be a mockery to him.
But although a Christian’s feelings about his salvation may be seriously damaged by Satan inspired doubt, his salvation itself is eternally protected and he need not fear its loss. Knowing Satan’s strategy, Jesus assures us that “all that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out … And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6:37, 39). Absolutely no circumstance, no failure, shortcoming, or sin, no matter how serious, can cause either Jesus or His Father to disown a person who is saved.
Satan wants to curse the believer with doubts, but the Christian can be strong in God’s promises of eternal salvation in Scripture (John 6:37-39; 10:28-29; Romans 5:10; 8:31-39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Security is a fact; assurance is a feeling that comes to the obedient Christian (1 Peter 3:1-10).
The helmet of salvation is that great hope of final salvation that gives us confidence and assurance that our present struggle with Satan will not last forever and we will be victorious in the end. We know the battle is only for this life, and even a long earthly life is no more that a split second compared to eternity with our Lord in heaven. We are not in a race we can lose.
The sword of the Spirit”: As the sword was the soldier’s only weapon, so God’s Word is the only needed weapon, infinitely more powerful than any of Satan’s.
The Greek term refers to a small weapon (6 to 8 inches long). It was used both defensively to fend off Satan’s attacks, and offensively to help destroy the enemy’s strategies. It is the truth of Scripture.
Of the Spirit” can also be translated “by the Spirit” or as “spiritual,” referring to the nature of the sword rather than its source. From the context we know that it is a spiritual weapon, to be used in our struggle against spiritual enemies. As the Spirit of truth (John 14:7), the Holy Spirit is the believer’s resident truth Teacher, who teaches us all things and brings God’s Word to our remembrance (verse 26).
The sword of the spirit is first of all a defensive weapon, capable of deflecting the blows of an opponent. It is the believer’s supreme weapon of defense against the onslaughts of Satan. Unlike the shield, however, which gives broad and general protection, the sword can deflect an attack only if it is handled precisely and skillfully. It must parry the enemy weapon exactly where the thrust is made.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, His defense for each temptation was a passage of Scripture that precisely contradicted the devil’s word (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). The Christian who doesn’t know God’s Word well cannot use it well. Satan will invariably find out where we are ignorant or confused and attack us there.
Christians who rely simply on their experience of salvation and their feelings to get them through are vulnerable to every sort of spiritual danger. They get into countless compromising situations and fall prey to innumerable false ideas and practices, simply because they are ignorant of the specific teachings of Scripture.
The helmet covers the head. This is just saying that our mind is stayed on the fact that we are saved. A mind stayed upon the Lord will not be swayed with false religion made attractive to the mind of man. Our weapon is the Word of God. Spirit, here, is the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God is made clear to our understanding by the teaching of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit, it sets us on fire to carry the true Word of God to all who will receive it.
The two most powerful things in the world today are the spoken and the written Word of God. Win battles for God with the Word of God.
The truly surrendered life is the life committed to aggressive, confrontive and unreserved obedience to all of God’s commands.
The Word of God is so powerful it transforms men from the realm of falsehood to that of truth, from the realm of darkness to that of light, and from the realm of sin and death to that of righteousness and life. It changes sadness into joy, despair into hope, stagnation into growth, childishness into maturity, and failure into success.
No believer has an excuse for not knowing and understanding God’s Word. Every believer has God’s own Holy Spirit within Him as his own divine teacher of God’s divine Word. Our only task is to submit to His instruction by studying the Word with sincerity and commitment. We cannot plead ignorance or inability, only disinterest and neglect.
Ephesians 6:18 
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
This verse introduces the general character of a believer’s prayer life.
1.      “All prayer and supplication” focuses on the variety;
2.      “Praying always” focuses on the frequency (Rom. 12:12; Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:17)
3.      “In the Spirit” focuses on submission, as we line up with the will of God (Romans 8:26-27)
4.      “Watching thereunto” focuses on the manner (Matt. 26:41; Mark 13:33)
5.      “All perseverance” focuses on the persistence (Luke 11:9; 18:7-8)
6.      “All saints” focuses on the objects (1 Sam. 12:23).
All the while that we are fighting in the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, we are to be in prayer. Prayer is the very spiritual air that the soldier of Christ breathes. It is the all pervasive strategy in which warfare is fought.
Praying” is grammatically linked to “stand” in verse 14. Without prayer God’s armor is inadequate to achieve victory. Prayer is indispensable. “Always means “on every occasion,” that is when Satan attacks. “In the Spirit" signifies that with the Spirit’s help such prayer for divine aid is to be made.
We are to be involved in all kinds of prayer, every form of prayer that is appropriate. We may pray publicly or privately; in loud cries, in soft whispers, or silently; deliberately and planned or spontaneously; while sitting, standing, kneeling, or even lying down; at home or in church; while working or while traveling; with hands folded or raised; with eyes open or closed; with head bowed or erect.
The New Testament, like the Old Testament, mentions many forms, circumstances, and postures for prayer but prescribes none. Jesus prayed while standing, while sitting, while kneeling, and quite probably in other positions as well. We can pray wherever we are and in whatever situation we are in. “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray” (1 Tim. 2:8), Paul said. For the faithful, Spirit filled Christian; every place becomes a place of prayer.
To pray at all times is to live in continual God consciousness, where everything we see and experience becomes a kind of prayer, lived in deep awareness of and surrender to our heavenly Father. To obey this exhortation means that, when we are tempted, we hold the temptation before God and ask for His help. When we experience something good and beautiful, we immediately thank the Lord for it. When we see evil around us, we pray that God will make it right and be willing to be used of Him to the end.
When we meet someone who does not know Christ, we pray for God to draw that person to Himself and to use us to be a faithful witness. When we encounter trouble, we turn to God as our Deliverer. In other words, our life becomes a continually ascending prayer, a perpetual communing with our heavenly Father. To pray at all times is to constantly set our minds “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth (Col. 3:2).
To pray in the Spirit is to pray in the name of Christ, to pray consistent with His nature and will. To pray in the Spirit is to pray in concert with the Spirit, who “helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
As the “Spirit of grace and of supplication” (Zech. 12:10), the Holy Spirit continually prays for us; and for us to pray rightly is to pray as He prays, to join our petitions to His and our will to His. It is to line up our minds and desires with His mind and desires, which are consistent with the will of the Father and the Son.
To be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18) and to walk in His leading and power is to be made able to pray in the Spirit, because our prayer will then be in harmony with His. As we submit to the Holy Spirit, obeying His Word and relying on His leading and strength, we will be drawn into close and deep fellowship with the Father and the Son.
To pray in the right manner also involves praying specifically. “Whatever you ask in My name,” Jesus promised, “that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13). God answers prayers in order to put His power on display, and when we do not pray specifically, He cannot answer specifically and thereby clearly display His power and His love for His children.
To pray, as young children often do, “God bless the whole world,” is really not to pray at all. We must think about particular people, particular problems, particular needs, and then pray about those things specifically and earnestly, so that we can see God’s answer and offer Him our thankful praise.
Most Christians never get serious about prayer until a problem arises in their own life or in the life of someone they love. Then they are inclined to pray intently, specifically, and persistently. Yet that is the way Christians should always pray. Sensitivity to problems and needs of others, especially other believers who are facing trails or hardships, will lead us to pray for them “night and day” as Paul did for Timothy (2 Tim. 1:3).
Watching thereunto” means “being vigilant in the very matter” of prayer. They are to pray not just for themselves but also “for all saints;” spiritual combat is both an individual and corporate matter.
"Supplication", here, means petition. So many people do not realize the power of praying in the Spirit. That is when you have run out of words to say, and you let the Spirit of God pray through you for the matter.
God knows just exactly what to pray for. Not only are we to petition God for ourselves in prayer, but for all the believers in Christ called saints.
Verses 19-20: Paul seeks their prayers in his behalf, that he may “boldly” (or, plainly) “make known the … gospel” verse 19, and “speak” it “boldly” as it ought to be preached, verse 20.
Paul does not ask for prayer for his personal well being or physical comfort in the imprisonment from which he wrote, but for boldness and faithfulness to continue proclaiming the gospel to the unsaved no matter what the cost.
Ephesians 6:19 
"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,"
Paul did not plead or pray on his behalf, in order that his ankles, raw and sore from his shackles, might be healed, or that he might be freed from prison and suffering. His deep concern was that utterance may be given unto me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
When Satan tempted him to keep quiet about Christ, he wanted God’s help to be bold and faithful to proclaim the gospel. He wanted help in his own battle against Satan, and he pleaded with his brothers and sisters at Ephesus to pray toward that end. Paul also needed the prayers of fellow believers because he was a leader. Our enemy knows that when he strikes the shepherd, the sheep will scatter.
This "utterance" of speaking boldly about the mystery of God is speaking as an oracle of God. I call this letting the Lord speak through your mouth. Each time a minister preaches, he or she, should be allowing God to speak to the people through them.
The boldness comes when you realize that it is not you speaking in your own might, but God speaking through you.
Ephesians 6:20 
"For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Even in prison it was important to Paul that he would make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, because it was his own boldness that attracted the Praetorian Guard to the gospel and that inspired boldness in other witnessing Christians. Even when he requested prayer for himself, Paul’s purpose and motive were selfless, to further the gospel, to encourage other believers and to glorify his Lord.
We have mentioned before, that an ambassador does not express his own opinion, but is a glorified message carrier for the one who sent him. Paul is saying, I can be bold, because this is God's message to you, not my message.
Verses 21-22: “Tychicus”, a convert from Asia Minor (modern Turkey) who was with the apostle during his first imprisonment in Rome, from where this epistle was written, see 3:1. He accompanied Paul in taking an offering to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 20:4-6) and was sent by him on several missions (1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12).
Ephesians 6:21 
"But that ye also may know my affairs, [and] how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:"
Realizing that the Ephesian Christians could not pray specifically or intelligently for him without more information, Paul added, But that you also may know about my circumstance, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us.
Tychicus, an Asian, had been chosen to accompany Paul and the others in taking the relief offering to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4-6), was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment, and was frequently sent on missions by the apostle. He not only delivered this letter for Paul but the one to Colossae as well, in both cases being instructed to give the recipients additional information about the apostle’s situation (Col. 4:7-9).
In both cases of these texts he is called the beloved brother, because he was especially dear to Paul.
Ephesians 6:22 
"Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and [that] he might comfort your hearts."
Tychicus was going to give them a report on the condition of Paul in his captivity. Paul did not want to write of himself, but would let others report on his welfare. He explains that they can trust him, because he is a brother in Christ. Paul knew that a personal word from someone who had been with him recently would be an comfort to their hearts.
Paul had confided all of the personal news to him, and he would bring this news to the church at Ephesus. Paul knew their great fear of prison, and he wanted them to know that he was not suffering in prison. The man in chains sought to comfort others.
Verses 23-24: This beautiful benediction sums up the major themes of this very personal letter, reminding readers of the peace (verse 15; 1:2; 2:14, 15, 17; 4:3), love (1:15; 4:2, 4: 15-16; 5:25, 28, 33), and faith (verse 16; 1:15; 2:8; 3:12, 17; 4:5, 13) from God and Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:23 
"Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
This is a typical benediction from Paul. The only real peace is in Jesus. Paul is trying to convey to them that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ brings peace, and love, if they have enough faith to receive it.
In its beautiful clarity and simple dignity, the apostle’s closing benediction resists being analyzed. It is not unlike others of Paul’s benedictions, yet it seems uniquely to reflect the themes of this rich epistle. Certainly peace, love, and faith are recurring touchstones in the thought of this great letter. Little wonder Paul gathers all three together and prays that they would be the experience and commitment of all believers.
Ephesians 6:24 
"Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."
Grace, or divine favor, was the gift Paul desired for all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible. That is the love that belongs to true believers; so Paul is really identifying the ones who will receive grace as only those whose love is not temporary and thus untrue but permanent and thus genuine!
Unmerited favor "[grace]' be with all who love Jesus Christ and walk in His ways.
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come," "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
To apply obediently in the power of the Holy Spirit the principles of peace, love and faith taught in this epistle will yield to every believer the blessing and favor of God.

Colossians Chapter 1 Part Two


Colossians 1:13 
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
Delivered us”: The Greek term means “to draw oneself” or “to deliver,” and refers to the believer’s spiritual liberation by God from Satan’s kingdom, which, in contrast to the realm of light with truth and purity, is the realm of darkness (Luke 22:53) with only deception and wickedness (1 John 2:9, 11).
Kingdom”: In its basic sense, a group of people ruled by a king. More than just the future, earthly millennial kingdom, this everlasting kingdom (2 Pet. 1:11) speaks of the realm of salvation in which all believers live in current and eternal spiritual relationship with God under the care and authority of Jesus Christ (see Matt. 3:2).
His dear son”: Matt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; Eph. 1:6; 2 Pet. 1:17; see John 17:23-26. The Father gave this kingdom to the Son He loves, as an expression of eternal love. That means that every person the Father calls and justifies is a love gift from Him to the Son. See John 6:37, 44.
Darkness” is the religious state in which unbelievers exist, namely, that of spiritual ignorance with its attending immorality and misery.
In the last lesson, we began by speaking of how we are to walk in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. Light does away with darkness. Darkness is the absence of Light. Darkness does not need a generator, Light demands a generator. The source of all power of Light is Jesus Christ who is the Light.
Darkness has no power over Light. Light destroys darkness. Before we come to Jesus, we are living in darkness. Paul was very familiar with this, because it was the Light of Jesus that stopped him in his tracks and turned him around. This power of darkness is the dominion of Satan. Satan cannot survive when the Light of the world is applied. Darkness is, and always has been, opposed to the Light.
Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
When we become a Christian, we are snatched away from Satan and become, immediately, sons of God.
Colossians 1:14 
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:"
Redemption”: The Greek word means “to deliver by payment of ransom,” and was used of freeing slaves from bondage. Here it refers to Christ freeing believing sinners from slavery to sin (Eph. 1:7; 1 Col. 1:30; see note on Rom. 3:24).
Some later manuscripts follow “redemption” with “through His blood.” Verse 20, a reference not limited to the fluid as if the blood had saving properties in its chemistry, but an expression pointing to the totality of Christ’s atoning work as a sacrifice for sin. This is a frequently used metonym in the New Testament (see Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19).
The word “cross” (as in verse 20) is used similarly to refer to the whole atoning work (see 1 Cor. 1:18; Gal. 6:12, 14; Eph. 2:16). See Rom. 5:9.
The forgiveness of sins”: The Greek word is a composite of two words that mean “to pardon” or “grant remission of a penalty.” Psalm 103:12; Mica 7:19; Eph. 1:7; see 2 Cor. 5:19-21.
Blood” reminds the Colossians of the enormous price and sacrifice paid to secure their redemption. Redemption, then, is achieved by the atonement wrought by Jesus’ death (Eph. 1:7).
It was the precious shed blood of Jesus that abolished our sins. The blood of an animal in the sacrifices in the Old Testament, could not do away with sin, or clear the conscience of the sinner. The blood of an animal covered the sin. The precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, abolished sin for those who will believe.
Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"
We will see in the following Scripture that Jesus paid the price for our sin, when He shed His blood on the cross to remove our sin.
Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
This next Scripture says it all.
1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Verses 15-20: One component in the heresy threatening the Colossian church was the denial of the deity of Christ. Paul combats that damning element of heresy with an emphatic defense of Christ’s deity.
Colossians 1:15 
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:"
Image of the invisible God”: See Heb. 1:3. The Greek work for “image” is eikon, from which the English word “icon” derives. It means, “copy” or “likeness.” Jesus Christ is the perfect image – the exact likeness – of God and is in the very form of God (Phil. 2:6; John 1:14; 14:9), and has been so from all eternity. By describing Jesus in this manner, Paul emphasizes that He is both the representation and manifestation of God. Thus, He is fully God in every way (2:9; John 8:58; 10:30-33; Heb. 1:8).
First-born” here signifies two things: (1) Temporal priority. As the firstborn child in a family is born before his brother and sisters, similarly Christ existed before Creation. He existed before the universe was created. “And owing to the privileges usually given an oldest child, “first-born” also signifies:
(2) Positional priority. The firstborn in a family was customarily accorded more honor, greater authority, or large share of the inheritance, and so held a privileged position supreme over the universe. Therefore, when Paul declares Christ to be “the first-born of every creature,” the apostle does not mean that He is the first person whom God created; Paul instead means that Christ is earlier than, as well as preeminent in, all creation.
We are now looking at the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the image of the Father.
John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?"
This one Scripture lets us know that Jesus is the image of His Father. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. You and I are sons of God through adoption. Jesus is Creator God. We are His creation.
Psalms 89:27 "Also I will make him [my] firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth."
The Spirit of God hovered over Mary and she conceived of the Spirit of God. Jesus was the firstborn Son of God. Christians are the sons of God being purchased for the Father with the precious shed blood of Jesus. God is a Spirit. He is, also, the presence of the greatest Light there is. Jesus is the reflection of the Father, not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense.
Colossians 1:16 
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
Thrones, or dominions or principalities or powers”: 2:15; Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; 1 Pet. 3:22; Jude 6). These are various categories of angels whom Christ created and rules over.
There is no comment regarding whether they are holy or fallen, since His is Lord of both groups.
The false teachers had incorporated into their heresy the worship of angels (see 2:18), including the lie that Jesus was one of them, Merely a spirit created by God and inferior to Him.
Paul rejected that and made it clear that angels, whatever their rank, whether holy or fallen, are mere creatures, and their Creator is none other than the preeminent One, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The purpose of his catalog of angelic ranks is to show the immeasurable superiority of Christ over any being the false teachers might suggest.
All things were created by him and for him”: Rom. 11:33-36; see notes on John 1:3; Heb. 1:2. As God, Jesus created the material and spiritual universe for His pleasure and glory.
This verse provides the reason Christ is called the “first-born” in verse 15. Paul’s rationale is that: Since “by him were all things created,” then (1) Christ must have existed before the universe, and (2) He must be greater than all He made.
Thrones … dominions … principalities … powers” all refer to angelic beings (Eph. 1:21; 3:10). “Thrones” refer to angels who sit on thrones as rulers; “dominions” refer to domains or kingdoms over which these heavenly beings reign, “principalities” refer to rulers, and “powers” refer to angelic monarchs who wield regal power.
Since Christ created these various ranks of angels, He is supreme over them. Striking a blow at the Colossian heresy advocating angel worship (2:18), this text forbids Christians to pay homage to angels or other heavenly beings created by God.
As we said before, the One we call Jesus, who was the Word of God in heaven, is Creator God.
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The same was in the beginning with God." "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made."
The universe, and everything in it, was created by the Lord. We see in the next verse why He created them.
Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
God is Spirit, so we can see that it would not be just the things we can see with our physical eyes that He created. Actually, man is a spirit. We are made in the image of God, and if God is Spirit, then we are spirit. We live in a house of flesh, but the real person within that flesh is spirit.
We could get into a deep study here on the fact that all things that exist, are actually existing in His power. He gave all things, whether visible or invisible, the power to be. It is the Lord who really decides who will be president or king. This is one reason we must respect the office. Sometimes we cannot respect the officeholder, but we must respect the office.
It is a creation of the Word of God. All existence was in Him from the beginning. The purposes of God are sometimes carried through by those He has given power and authority on the earth.
Colossians 1:17 
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
He is before all things”: When the universe had its beginning, Christ already existed, thus by definition He must be eternal (Mica 5:2; John 1:1-2; 8:58; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 22:13).
Consist”: Christ sustains the universe, maintaining the power and balance necessary to life’s existence and continuity (Heb. 1:3). That is, by Him all things are held together; Christ now preserves all that He made in Creation.
We read in Genesis, In the beginning God. This word used for God is covered in the following Scripture.
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
They are all the Spirit of God. Each is separate, but are all in total agreement in the Spirit. Notice, in the few words from Genesis, it says "in", not at. We are speaking of the great I Am. I Am, means, the Eternal One who exists. I Am is the present tense, but that present tense is for all of eternity.
God is God of those who live. We live, and move, and have our being in Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
Colossians 1:18 
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence."
He is the head of the body” means, “He himself is the Head of the body.” The word himself translates the Greek intensive pronoun signifying that Jesus, rather than any angelic being, is the churches’ Head (leader).
Paul uses the human body as a metaphor for the church, of which Christ serves as the “head.” Just as a body is controlled from the brain, so Christ controls every part of the church and gives it life and direction (Eph. 4:15; 5:23 see 1 Cor. 12:4-27.
Who is the beginning” (or, “He is the beginning”) justifies calling Jesus the Head of the church (verse 18a). Beginning means “cause,” “origin” as in Revelation 3:14. Why then, is He the church’s Head? Because His is the “origin” from which the church comes, or the “cause” of her existence; also, because He is “the first-born” from the dead, that is, the first of a new creation – the church – to be resurrected, never to die again.
That in all things he might have the preeminence” (or, “so that in all things He alone has become preeminent”): Now that Jesus is Head of the church, He “alone” holds the preeminent position in both the first creation (the universe) and in the new creation (the church).
This refers to both source and preeminence. The church had its origins in the Lord Jesus (Eph. 1:4), and He gave life to the church through His sacrificial death and resurrection to become its Sovereign.
Thus Jesus should hold first place in the believer’s life. This occurs when one bows to His authority, obeys His Word, yields to His Spirit, submits to His church leaders, does His will, and bestows his chief affections on Him.
The firstborn from the dead”: Jesus was the first chronologically to be resurrected, never to die again. Of all who have been or ever will be raised from the dead, and that includes all men (John 5:28-29), Christ is supreme.
The body of Christ is His church. Every believer in Christ is part of that body. Jesus is the first of the firstfruits. Because He arose, we shall rise, also. We are the inheritance of Jesus Christ. He has quickened our spirit to everlasting life in Him. Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom.
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. It is the spiritual body which makes up the body of Christ. We must bear in mind that He is the head, we make up the body.
 Verses 19-20: “For” gives two reasons for Jesus’ “pre-eminence” (verse 18): (1) all the “fullness” of deity is in Him. Since He is fully God, He ought to be preeminent. (2) By Christ’s death God reconciles the universe to Himself (verse 20).
Colossians 1:19 
"For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fullness dwell;"
All fullness dwell” a term likely used by those in the Colossian heresy to refer to divine powers and attributes they believed were divided among various emanations. Paul countered that by asserting that the fullness of deity – all the divine powers and attributes - was not spread out among created beings, but completely dwelt in Christ alone (2:9).
We will see in the next chapter of this book the following.
Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
Actually the Spirit of the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost were all caught up in the working of the Spirit within the body of Jesus. They all agreed on the plan of salvation, even at the beginning. Just as all 3 were present at the baptism of Jesus. Jesus, being baptized, the Voice from heaven saying this is my beloved Son (Father), and the Dove of the Holy Spirit which lit upon Jesus.
Their plans were being carried out in Jesus. They were all pleased with their plan in Him.
Colossians 1:20 
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven."
Reconcile all things unto himself”: The Greek word for “reconcile” means “to change” or “exchange.” Its New Testament usage refers to a change in the sinner’s relationship to
God. See Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18-21. Man is reconciled to God when God restores man to a right relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
An intensified form for “reconcile” is used in this verse to refer to the total and complete reconciliation of believers and ultimately “all things” in the created universe (Rom. 8:21; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Rev. 2:1). This text does not teach that, as a result, all will believe; rather it teaches that all will ultimately submit (Phil. 2:9-11).
Having made peace”: See Roman 5:1. God and those He saved are no longer at enmity with each other.
The blood of his cross”: See verse 14.
Jesus is the One who reconciles and He is the reconciliation, as well. The blood of Jesus Christ puts all who will believe in reconciliation with God. It is very difficult to separate Jesus from the Father here. Jesus opened the entrance to the Father when the veil was torn from top to bottom in the temple when He was crucified.
His blood makes it possible for all who believe to stand in front of Jesus (the Judge of the world) justified. In that sense, He reconciled us to himself and with the Father with His shed blood at Calvary.
We know, also, that Jesus is the King of Peace. To know that you are just as if you had never sinned (justified) would bring you perfect peace. Jesus (the Word) is Creator God. It is understandable that He would be the One to justify His creation. Since He created all things, He also justified all things.
Colossians 1:21 
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled"
Alienated and enemies”: The Greek term for “alienated” means “estranged,” “cut off,” or “separated.” Before they were reconciled, all people were completely estranged from God (Eph. 2:12-13).
Unbelievers hate God and resent His holy standard because they love “evil deeds” (John 3:19-20; 15:18, 24-25). Actually, there is alienation from both sides, since God hates “all who do iniquity” (Psalm 5:5).
Reconciliation is the act whereby God, through Christ’s atonement, brings men who are at odds with Him back into a peaceful, proper relationship with Himself.
To be "alienated" is to be away from God. The mind is an enemy of God, before it is changed to the mind of Christ.
Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
The carnal mind is enemy of God, because it is of the flesh. All of mankind had a fleshly nature, before they came to God. The mind of man is really not what the Lord Jesus wants He wants your heart. When our heart is stayed upon God, then the mind will follow.
Colossians 1:22 
"In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"
Reconciled (ending of verse 21) … death”: Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross that paid the full penalty for the sin of all who believe made reconciliation possible and actual. See 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom. 3:25; 5:9-10; 8:3). Also see verse 20.
In the body of his flesh through death” (or, “by His fleshly body through death”): The Colossian heretics may have argued that Jesus’ humanity and death indicate His inferiority to the angelic beings in the universe. Paul turns this argument against them, showing that His death points to His superiority; for His death is the divine means of achieving reconciliation to God.
To present you holy … in his sight” (or bring you holy … into His presence”): This expresses the ultimate purpose of reconciliation: it is to eventually usher the believer, made perfectly holy, into the heavenly presence of God.
Holy” refers to the believer’s positional relationship to God – he is separated from sin and set apart to God by imputed righteousness. This is justification (see Romans 3:3:24-26; Phil. 3:8-9). As a result of the believer’s union with Christ in His death and resurrection, God considers Christians as holy as His Son (Eph. 1:4; 2 Cor. 5:21).
Christians are also “blameless” (without blemish) and “beyond reproach” (no one can bring a charge against them; (Rom. 8:33; Phil. 2:15). We are to be presented to Christ, when we meet Him, as a chaste bride (Eph. 5:25-27; 2 Cor. 11:2).
It was the body of the Lord Jesus Christ that suffered death for our sins. It is very important for them to realize that Jesus had a physical body. He suffered on the cross in His body of flesh, as you or I would suffer. We are without blemish, without blame, in fact justified by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus made us acceptable before the Father, when He washed us in His precious blood. It is Jesus who made us acceptable to stand before Himself as Judge of the world. He, also, opened the way to the Father for us.
Colossians 1:23 
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
Continue in the faith”: Acts 11:23; 14:22. Those who have been reconciled will persevere in faith and obedience because, in addition to being declared righteous, they are actually made new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17) with a new disposition that loves God, hates sin, desires obedience, and is energized by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 8:30-32; 1 John 2:19).
Rather than defect from the gospel they heard, true believers will remain solid on Christ who is the only foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), and faithful by the enabling grace of God (Phil. 1:6; 2:11-13).
Preached to every creature”: Mark 16:15. The gospel has no racial boundaries. Having reached Rome, where Paul was when he wrote Colossians, it had reached the center of the known world.
If ye continue in the faith” (or, “since you will persevere in the faith”): the Colossians’ future entrance into God’s heavenly presence depends on whether they remain in the Christian faith. The words “since you will persevere” indicate that they will remain loyal to Christ. Perseverance in the Christian’s faith is a test of the reality on one’s trust in Christ. This verse implies that true believers will persevere.
Paul is expressing the fact that they must continue in the faith they have received. The only way to be "grounded and settled”; is to study the Bible, and have faith in it.
Paul says, that the Word of God had been preached to every human. Probably, this means the known world at that time. It could even mean the world around Israel. Paul is saying, he has done all he could to spread the Word to all of humanity.
Colossians 1:24 "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:"
My sufferings”: Paul’s present imprisonment (Acts 28:16, 30). Paul’s motivation for enduring suffering was to benefit and build Christ’s church. (Phil. 1:13, 29; 12:9-10.
Fill up that which is behind”: Paul was experiencing the persecution intended for Christ. In spite of His death on the cross, Christ’s enemies had not gotten their fill of inflicting injury on Him. So they turned their hatred on those who preached the gospel (John 15:18, 24; 16:1-3). It was in that sense that Paul filed up what was lacking in Christ’s affliction (see notes on 2 Cor. 1:5; Gal. 6:17).
The afflictions of Christ:” Since Paul is a member of the body of Christ; the Lord Himself suffers when His apostle suffers. These afflictions are more Christ’s that Paul’s. Rather than detracting from his ministry, Paul’s afflictions actually enhanced it, as they exist “for his body’s sake, which is the church.”
Paul counted it a pleasure to suffer for Christ. He was willing to suffer so that these Colossians could know the truth. The body, in the verse above, is the body of Christ, the church.
Colossians 1:25 
"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;"
Dispensation” meaning stewardship: 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 9:17. A steward was a slave who managed his master’s household, supervising the other servants, dispensing resources, and handling business and financial affairs. Paul viewed his ministry as a stewardship from the Lord.
The church is God’s household (1 Tim. 3:16), and Paul was given the task of caring for, feeding, and leading the churches, for which he was accountable to God (Heb. 13:17). All believers are responsible for managing the abilities and resources God gives them. (see 1 Peter 4:10).
The expression “according to the dispensation of God” might be rendered “because of the divine assignment.” Paul was a “minister” or servant to the church because of the divine assignment given him.
That assignment was “to fulfill the word of God,” that is, to preach the gospel over a wide geographical area, winning converts to Christianity. The Greek word translated here as “fulfill”: is rendered in Romans 15:19 as “fully preached.”
Fulfill the word of God”: This refers to Paul’s single-minded devotion to completely fulfill the ministry God gave him to preach the whole counsel of God to those to whom God sent him (Acts 20:27; 2 Tim. 4:7).
Colossians 1:26 
"[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:"
Mystery” is the divine truth which, because it is too profound for man to discover and comprehend without help, was previously unknown but is now disclosed to man by God through His apostles and prophets. 2:2; 4:3. See notes on Matt. 13:11; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:4-5. This refers to truth, hidden until now, but revealed for the first time to the saints in the New Testament.
Such truth includes the mystery of the incarnate God (2:2, 3, 9), Israel’s unbelief (Rom. 11:25), lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:7), the unity of Jew and Gentile made one in the church (Eph. 3:3-6), and the rapture of the church (1 Cor. 15:51). In this passage, the mystery is specifically identified in verse 27.
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; To those who do not accept Jesus as their Saviour, it is foolishness.
Colossians 1:27 
"To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
Gentiles … Christ in you”: The Old Testament predicted the coming of the Messiah and that the Gentiles would partake of salvation (Isa. 42:6; 45:21-22; 49:6; 52:10; 60:1-3; Psalms 22:67; 65:5; 98:2-3), but it did not reveal that the Messiah would actually live in each member of His redeemed church, made up mostly of Gentiles.
That believers, both Jew and gentile, now possess the surpassing riches of the indwelling Christ is the glorious revealed mystery (John 14:23; Rom. 8:9-10; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 1:7, 17-18; 3:8-10, 16-19).
The specific mystery here is “Christ in you.” It was no secret in the Old Testament that Gentiles would be saved; but that Christ would dwell in Gentile converts was unknown at that time. In further explaining this “mystery” Paul equates “Christ in you” with “the hope of glory.”
The hope of glory”: The indwelling Spirit of Christ is the guarantee to each believer of future glory that is, for a Christian it is the joyful and confident expectation of salvation. (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-4).
Glory” here refers to the glorious state to be enjoyed by the believer in heaven. Thus the hope of glory refers to the certainty of heaven. That Christ’s life, character, virtues, values, thoughts, attitudes, and deeds are present in a Christian is evidence that he is headed toward glory (heaven).
It is the will of God for those who believe in Jesus Christ to receive the knowledge of the mystery, which is, Christ in you, and is your hope of Glory. We have discussed before that what really happens when a Christian is baptized is, he is buried in a watery grave and rises to new life in Jesus.
The life that this Christian lives after he, or she has received Jesus, is actually Jesus living in them. The Christian is dead to the lust of the world through the desires of the flesh. They are now quickened in their spirit to everlasting life in Jesus Christ. The hope is in the resurrection.
Colossians 1:28 
"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"
Perfect”: To be perfect or mature – to be like Christ. See Romans 8:29; Phil. 3:12-14, 19-20; 1 John 2:6; 3:2. This spiritual maturity is defined in 2:2.
This is what I call making Jesus Christ Lord of your life. We are not perfect in the flesh, but in the spirit. The Christ in us is perfect. We have put on Christ, as well as having Him inside of us.
Not only that, but He has clothed us in a white linen garment (free from sin) washed in His blood. We have put on His righteousness.
Colossians 1:29 
"Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
I also labor, striving according to his working”: Here is the balance of Christian living. Paul gave the effort to serve and honor God with all his might. “Labor” refers to working to the point of exhaustion. The Greek work for “striving” give us the English word “agonize” and refers to the effort required to compete in an athletic event.
At the same time, he knew the effective “striving” or work, with spiritual and eternal result was being done by God through him (see Phil. 2:11-13; 1 Cor. 15:10, 58).
This is simply saying, Paul desires them to have the same relationship with the Lord Jesus that he has. He worked hard to win them all to Christ. His striving was not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of the people he preached to. Paul knows that even the desire to help them, is Christ in him wanting to help them.