Colossians 1:4 Christ the uniting Hope of His people. I. The Epistle to the Colossians is remarkably full of this delightful fact, the world-wide family love of the Gospel. In this epistle Paul rejoices that the Gospel had begun to come to all the world, that its blessed truth was preached "to all... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:9 Moral thoughtfulness. I. The state of spiritual folly is, I suppose, one of the most universal evils in the world. For the number of those who are naturally foolish is exceedingly great: of those, I mean, who understand no worldly thing well; of those who are careless about everythin... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:12 It is the special glory of the Gospel, the foundation or the perfection of all the rest, that it first truly and distinctly, in language beyond the uncertainties of conjecture, the refinements of allegory, or even the bright colouring of hope, enlarged the prospects of men into the d... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:18 I. Living as we do, far down the stream of time, when long ago the name of Christ has associated itself to all that is the most classical in literature, the most refined in art, the most exquisite in poetry, the most generous in chivalry, and the most advanced in civilisation; when t... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:19 The Communicable Fulness of Christ. I. Think first of the fulness of Christ referred to in the text. There is in Christ (1) all fulness of life, (2) all fulness of pardoning mercy, (3) all fulness of peace and comfort, (4) all fulness of spiritual strength, (5) all fulness of sanct... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:27 Christ, the Age, and the Church. I. The character of our age. It is a distinctive age. Whatever may be said of it in the future, this at least will not be affirmed that it was an age of meagre and unmarked peculiarity. It may indeed not be helpful to individual distinctiveness. I am... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:28 On looking at this verse, three points seem to emerge distinctly from it: the theme, the manner, the object of our preaching. I. We have, says St Paul, to preach Christ. Now to preach Christ is not to mention Him, more or less frequently, in your sermons and discourses. It is obviou... [ Continue Reading ]