Colossians 1:1

Colossians 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,  Paul begins by identifying  himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  He didn't refer to any of his academic achieve-ments nor to his former position of authority in the Jewish community.  As followers of Christ, if someone asks us who we are, or if we are introducing ourselves to people, do we identify ourselves as Christians before anything else?  Paul also said he was an apostle by the will of God.  Whatever we as Christians are today, it should be by the will of God.  He also said that Timotheus, or Timothy, his brother was with him, though Timothy had once failed him.  We cannot let past failures of others to live up to our expectations keep us from ever accepting them as our brothers and sisters in Christ if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse two adds, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul then said he was writing to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse.  These saints were not some super Christians, but were those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ and were therefore set aside from the world by their relationship to Him.  As Christians, we are all saints of God today.  Paul wished them grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  God will give us peace today once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but only if we live by faith in Him once we do.  Verse three continues, We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  Paul then said he gave thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This separated them from the Jews, who believed in God the Father, but did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.  In order to be a part of the family of God, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son and the only way to salvation.  Verse four states, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,  Paul said he had heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and their love to all the saints.  They did not have instant or even easy communication in those days, so Paul must have heard of this by other people talking about the Christians at Colosse.   People should hear about our faithfulness to Jesus Christ today, and this should be expressed by our love for other people because of our faithfulness to God.  Verse five adds, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;  Paul said because of their accepting the gospel hope was laid up for them in heaven.  He did not promise the worldly success and riches.  Our hope as followers of Christ should not be for the things of this world, but for the hope of heaven.  Verse six continues, Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:  Paul said their faith bore fruit for God, as it did with all who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  We as Christians today should first and foremost be bearing fruit for Christ.  Verse seven says, As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow- servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;  Paul also recognized Epaphras as a dear fellowservant who had ministered to the Christians at Colosse.  Paul never set himself above other Christians, and neither should we.  Verse eight adds, Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.  Paul said Epaphras had also declared the love of the people of Colosse in the Spirit of God for each other and those around them to Paul.   People should be able to speak of the love that we have for each other and for those around us because of our leadership by the Holy Spirit today if we are a follower of Christ.