Sermons on Colossians 1:23

Colossians 1:23 Interpretation:

Steadfast Faith: Resting in God's Presence (Reach City Church Cleveland) offers a unique interpretation of Colossians 1:23 by connecting the concept of steadfastness to the Hebrew word "nakon," which means to be firm, established, and secure. The sermon draws a parallel between the steadfastness required in Colossians 1:23 and the Old Testament usage of "nakon," especially in Genesis 41 and Psalms 51, emphasizing that steadfastness is about having a "made-up mind"—a deliberate, unwavering commitment to God. The preacher uses the analogy of a bendy pencil versus a regular pencil to illustrate how steadfastness allows believers to bend under temptation without breaking, highlighting the elasticity of faith that endures trials. This interpretation is further deepened by exploring the active and reflective nature of steadfastness in the Hebrew, showing that it is both a gift from God and a personal commitment.

Embracing the Global Gospel: Hope and Transformation (Desiring God) provides a notable linguistic insight by challenging the common translation of the participle in Colossians 1:23 ("which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven"). The preacher argues, based on Greek grammar, that the participle does not require a temporal translation and should be understood as describing the nature of the gospel ("the one proclaimed in all creation under heaven"), not as a statement that the gospel has already been preached everywhere. This reframing shifts the focus from a completed action to the global, ongoing, and universal character of the gospel, emphasizing its relevance and authority for all peoples and places.

Persevering Faith: Assurance and Security in Christ (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 1:23 by focusing on the conditional "if" clause, explaining that the perseverance in faith is the evidence of genuine reconciliation with God. The sermon distinguishes between a superficial faith and a persevering, saving faith, using the example of Demas and the teaching of 1 John to show that those who do not continue in faith were never truly of the saved. The preacher emphasizes that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a receiving, embracing, and treasuring of Christ, and that the foundation of steadfastness is the hope of the gospel.

Urgency of the Gospel: A Global Mission (Desiring God) offers a unique linguistic and exegetical insight into Colossians 1:23 by challenging the standard English translation of the phrase “which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” The sermon argues that the Greek construction (an aorist passive participle with the article) should not be read temporally (“has been proclaimed”) but rather as a descriptive or qualitative phrase: “the proclaimed one in all creation under heaven.” This means Paul is not claiming the gospel had already reached every creature in his day, but is instead describing the gospel’s universal scope and intent. The sermon emphasizes that the gospel is, by its very nature, a message for all creation, not a parochial or local phenomenon. This interpretation is distinguished by its focus on Greek grammar and its implications for the global mission of the church.

Finding Hope in Darkness: A Call to Action (SermonIndex.net) interprets Colossians 1:23 with a strong emphasis on perseverance and the real possibility of being “moved away from the hope of the gospel.” The sermon uses the analogy of a train, where feelings are the caboose and not the engine, to stress that faithfulness is not about emotional highs but about remaining grounded and steadfast regardless of circumstances. The preacher paraphrases Paul’s exhortation as a call to “walk the straight and narrow regardless of how you feel,” highlighting the danger of drifting and the need for intentional, ongoing commitment. This analogy and the focus on emotional discipline provide a distinct interpretive angle.

Steadfast Hope: Laboring in Light of Resurrection (Desiring God) brings a unique interpretive connection by linking the Greek word for “immovable” in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to the same root used in Colossians 1:23 (“not shifting from the hope of the gospel”). The sermon uses the metaphor of being “deeply rooted, unchanging, unflinching, unwavering” in hope, and illustrates the temptation to shift one’s hope onto things like money, fame, or relationships. The preacher’s use of Greek concordance study and the practical application of steadfastness in everyday work (from changing diapers to hammering nails) as “the work of the Lord” is a notable interpretive expansion.

Colossians 1:23 Theological Themes:

Steadfast Faith: Resting in God's Presence (Reach City Church Cleveland) introduces the theme that steadfastness is not just a passive state but an active, ongoing choice rooted in a deeply made-up mind, paralleling the Hebrew concept of "nakon." The sermon uniquely explores how steadfastness is both a divine gift (as in David's prayer for a steadfast spirit in Psalm 51) and a personal responsibility (as in David's declaration of his own steadfastness in Psalm 57), highlighting the interplay between divine empowerment and human agency in perseverance.

Embracing the Global Gospel: Hope and Transformation (Desiring God) brings a fresh theological angle by arguing that the global scope of the gospel in Colossians 1:23 is meant to assure believers that their faith is not provincial or tribal but part of a cosmic, all-encompassing plan. The preacher stresses that the gospel's universality is both a promise and a command, connecting the passage to the Great Commission and the eschatological promise that the gospel will reach all nations.

Persevering Faith: Assurance and Security in Christ (Desiring God) adds a nuanced facet by addressing the tension between the conditionality of perseverance ("if you continue in your faith") and the assurance of God's keeping power. The sermon teaches that the warnings and conditions in Scripture are means by which God keeps his people vigilant and secure, and that the assurance of salvation rests not in human effort but in God's faithfulness to sustain and complete the work he began.

Urgency of the Gospel: A Global Mission (Desiring God) introduces the theological theme that the gospel’s universality is not just a future goal but an inherent quality of the message itself. The sermon insists that the gospel is not “local, tribal, or parochial,” but is the very message that lays claim to every person and people group. This theme is further nuanced by the assertion that the gospel’s power is proven by its fruitfulness “wherever it goes,” and that its global reach is a reflection of the Creator God’s sovereignty and intent to redeem all creation.

Finding Hope in Darkness: A Call to Action (SermonIndex.net) adds a fresh facet to the theme of perseverance by warning against the “peace, peace when there is no peace” mentality, drawing from Old Testament prophetic tradition. The sermon contends that true perseverance involves not only personal steadfastness but also a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge complacency, and resist the cultural drift away from biblical foundations. The preacher’s emphasis on the necessity of both encouragement and warning in the Christian life, and the danger of a one-sided focus, is a distinct theological contribution.

Steadfast Hope: Laboring in Light of Resurrection (Desiring God) presents the theme that steadfastness in hope is not passive but is expressed through “abounding in the work of the Lord.” The sermon uniquely applies Colossians 1:23’s call to steadfastness to all of life’s activities, arguing that any task done “in the name of Jesus” and for his glory is part of the work of the Lord. This broadens the theological application of steadfastness from doctrinal perseverance to holistic, everyday faithfulness.

Colossians 1:23 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Steadfast Faith: Resting in God's Presence (Reach City Church Cleveland) provides historical context by examining the use of "nakon" in the Old Testament, particularly in Genesis 41 (Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream) and Psalms 51 and 57 (David's prayers for steadfastness). The sermon explains how the cultural understanding of steadfastness in ancient Israel involved both mental resolve and spiritual security, and how this background informs Paul's exhortation in Colossians 1:23.

Embracing the Global Gospel: Hope and Transformation (Desiring God) offers contextual insight by noting that Paul had never visited the Colossian church and was writing to assure them that the gospel they received was not a local or secondary message but the same global gospel proclaimed everywhere. The preacher situates the passage within the missionary expansion of the early church and Paul's apostolic authority, emphasizing the inclusivity and universality of the Christian message.

Urgency of the Gospel: A Global Mission (Desiring God) provides historical context by addressing the misconception that first-century people, including Paul, were ignorant of the world’s vastness. The sermon points out that Paul’s own missionary ambitions (e.g., his desire to go to Spain, as mentioned in Romans 15) demonstrate his awareness that the gospel had not yet reached all regions. This context is used to argue that Paul’s language in Colossians 1:23 is not a claim of completed global evangelization, but a statement about the gospel’s intended scope.

Finding Hope in Darkness: A Call to Action (SermonIndex.net) offers contextual insight by referencing the cultural and religious climate of both ancient Israel and the early church, particularly the prevalence of false prophets who proclaimed “peace, peace” in times of national and spiritual crisis. The sermon draws parallels between the Old Testament context of Jeremiah and the contemporary church, warning that complacency and a refusal to heed God’s warnings can lead to spiritual drift and judgment. The preacher also references the hardships faced by Paul (beatings, shipwrecks, hunger) as a historical backdrop for his exhortation to perseverance in Colossians 1:23.

Colossians 1:23 Cross-References in the Bible:

Steadfast Faith: Resting in God's Presence (Reach City Church Cleveland) references multiple biblical passages to expand on Colossians 1:23: Genesis 41 (the firmness of God's determination), Psalms 51 and 57 (David's prayers for a steadfast spirit), Job 15:35 (the negative example of a steadfast mind set on evil), James 1:14-15 (the process of temptation and sin), 2 Peter 1:3 (divine power for godliness), Romans 7:18-19 (the internal conflict of the believer), Galatians 5 (the war between flesh and spirit), Romans 6:6-14 (freedom from sin's mastery), Psalm 78 and Hosea 6 (the unreliability of unsteadfast hearts), 1 Corinthians 10 (God's provision of escape from temptation), and Colossians 1:9-10 (the role of knowledge in steadfastness). Each reference is used to illustrate the necessity and nature of steadfastness, the reality of spiritual conflict, and the means of perseverance.

Persevering Faith: Assurance and Security in Christ (Desiring God) draws on 1 John (those who leave the faith were never truly of it), the example of Demas, Colossians 2:12 and 2:5-7 (the Colossians' faith and firmness), John 1:11-12 (faith as receiving Christ), Romans 8:28-30 (the unbreakable chain of salvation), 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (God's faithfulness to sustain believers), Philippians 1:6 (God completing the work he began), Luke 22:31-32 (Jesus' prayer for Peter's faith), and Jude 24-25 (God's ability to keep believers from stumbling). These references collectively support the doctrine of perseverance and the assurance of God's keeping power.

Embracing the Global Gospel: Hope and Transformation (Desiring God) references Colossians 1:5-6 (the gospel bearing fruit in the whole world), Matthew 28:19 (the Great Commission), and Matthew 24:14 (the promise that the gospel will be proclaimed to all nations). These passages are used to reinforce the global and universal nature of the gospel and its destined fulfillment.

Urgency of the Gospel: A Global Mission (Desiring God) references Romans 15:20-24 to show that Paul did not believe the gospel had already reached the whole world, as he still planned to preach in Spain. The sermon also connects Colossians 1:6 (“the gospel is bearing fruit and increasing in the whole world”) to reinforce the idea that the gospel’s power and scope are universal, not limited by geography or ethnicity. These cross-references are used to support the argument that Colossians 1:23 describes the nature of the gospel rather than its completed dissemination.

Finding Hope in Darkness: A Call to Action (SermonIndex.net) draws on several Old Testament passages, including Jeremiah 6 and Jeremiah 23, to illustrate the danger of false prophets who proclaim “peace, peace” when there is no peace. The sermon also references Isaiah 59 (“when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him”) and Ezekiel’s image of the watchman, applying these texts to the need for vigilance and warning in the church. These cross-references are used to frame Colossians 1:23’s call to perseverance as part of a broader biblical pattern of warning and steadfastness.

Steadfast Hope: Laboring in Light of Resurrection (Desiring God) cross-references Colossians 3:17 (“whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”) and 1 Corinthians 10:31 (“whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”) to expand the application of steadfastness and the “work of the Lord” to all aspects of life. The sermon also references 1 Corinthians 15:58, drawing a direct linguistic and thematic connection to Colossians 1:23.

Colossians 1:23 Christian References outside the Bible:

Hope and Reconciliation Through Christ's Supremacy (Alistair Begg) explicitly references John Calvin, quoting his insight that "all that Christ has done for us is of no value to us so long as we remain outside of Christ," emphasizing the necessity of personal faith for reconciliation. The sermon also mentions Robert Murray M’Cheyne, citing his pastoral advice: "For every look that you take at yourself, take ten looks at the Lord Jesus," to encourage believers to focus on Christ rather than their own shortcomings for assurance and hope.

Colossians 1:23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Steadfast Faith: Resting in God's Presence (Reach City Church Cleveland) uses several detailed secular analogies to illustrate steadfastness in Colossians 1:23. The preacher compares the difference between a regular pencil and a bendy pencil: the regular pencil snaps under pressure, symbolizing a lack of steadfastness, while the bendy pencil bends but does not break, representing the resilience of a steadfast believer. The sermon also references the fleeting nature of morning dew and clouds, using the example of a "dew delay" at a golf course to illustrate how some people's loyalty to God is as short-lived as the morning dew—quickly disappearing when circumstances change. Additionally, the preacher shares personal anecdotes about ignoring weather warnings and COVID-19 restrictions, humorously contrasting his own stubbornness with the wisdom of seeking shelter, to drive home the point that steadfastness means staying under God's protection rather than running out into danger. These vivid, relatable illustrations help the congregation grasp the practical implications of steadfastness in faith.

Finding Hope in Darkness: A Call to Action (SermonIndex.net) uses the analogy of a train, where feelings are the caboose and not the engine, to illustrate the importance of not letting emotions drive one’s faithfulness to the gospel. The preacher also references the old country song by The Judds, “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days),” to evoke nostalgia for a time when moral boundaries were clearer and to highlight the cultural drift away from biblical values. These secular illustrations are used to make the call to perseverance in Colossians 1:23 more relatable and vivid for the audience.