Well, this morning we're coming to the end of our study of the book of Colossians, and this has been a tremendous study for me. I've learned a lot going through this book again, I think about 15 years ago we went through it, and now again seeing Paul's words teaching us about the head of the church, the preeminent one, Jesus. 

And I thought it would be profitable for us as we come to these closing words and sort of a list of names that we would overview the book again and look at some of the salient points, the indicative truths that we've studied and learned, as well as the practical applications of these truths lived out in our relationships. 

And then we can consider Paul's closing words this morning where we see real people in real ministry. Let's look at our text in Colossians 4-7, Titchicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts. 

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you, they will make known to you all things which are happening here. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you with Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you received instructions that if he comes to you, welcome him. 

And Jesus, who is called Justice, these are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision, they have proved to be a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 

For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you and those who are in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you, greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and Memphis and the church that is in his house. 

Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord that you may fulfill it. 

This salutation by my own hand, Paul, remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen. 

I've given you three points on your outline this morning. First, indicative truth, second, lived out in relationships, and third, real people, real ministry. 

At the very beginning of this letter, Paul begins to expound the truths of our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ by the hearing of the gospel, and he lays down the foundational truths of who we are and what we have in Christ and how the transforming power of the gospel and God's saving grace is bringing forth fruit in those who believe. 

Look at Colossians 1 at verse 3 with me. We're going to kind of just move through the book and remind ourselves of some of the great truths we've been studying. In Colossians 1, 3, Paul says, We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth. 

We read here of regeneration, the new birth in the one who believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ, he's transformed, recreated, the man in Adam is placed into the man in Christ, giving him hope, hope that is laid up for us in heaven, and all this by the grace of God in truth. 

And we see Paul's heart desire, his prayer for us, is that we would understand, that we would fully comprehend and believe these truths, and in so doing, we would see the transformed life outwardly through our members. 

At the center of this is an understanding of who Jesus is. He continues in verse 15, speaking of Jesus, he is the image of the invisible God. He's the firstborn over all creation, for by him all things were created that are in heaven that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. 

All things were created through him and for him, and he is before all things, and in him all things consist, and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. 

For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross. 

And you who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in his sight. 

Jesus is preeminent in all things, he is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Savior, the fullness of God, our sufficiency, our peace, our salvation and our hope. 

And the main message of this book is that we lack nothing in Christ. We are complete in him, and God has saved us for the express purpose that he might present us holy and blameless and above reproach in his sight. This is the hope and assurance that we have in him. 

Christ in us, this mystery revealed in the new covenant, is our hope of glory. In chapter 2 we see Paul emphasize again the truth that we are complete in Christ, that in him dwells all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, that we need not look anywhere else or be drawn away from Christ as our sufficiency. 

In verse 8 we see this warning, beware, look out, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in him who is the head of all principality and power. 

We are complete in Christ, all the fullness of God dwells in Christ, in him are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We have all things in Christ and in him alone, therefore we do not need man's wisdom, we do not need man's religion, mysticism, asceticism, legalism.

Paul makes this statement concerning all of these things at the end of chapter 2 at verse 23, he says, These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom, in self-imposed religion, false humility and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. We are often drawn to these things, they indeed have an appearance of wisdom, but Paul says they are of no value to us. Jesus is all that we need and he must be the focus of our faith, our full trust and dependence must be in him alone because Jesus is our all in all. 

And we see Paul summarize these truths so powerfully and exhort us to set our minds on Christ, on things above, to think God's thoughts, see all things from his perspective in chapter 3, perhaps the core of this book in Colossians 3.1. He says, Since you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth, for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

We see the great truth here that we died with Christ, that we were buried with him in death and raised new men with new life. This is the new birth, this is the new creation, regeneration. And because we are new men, we must live like new men, and this by the grace and power and life of God in us. Second Peter 1.3 says, As his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

First Corinthians 2.16 says, Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Romans 5.18 says, Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so one man's righteous act, by one man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Those words of life mean the impartation of spiritual life. Wiest comments on these two little words, he says, In itself this righteous standing is purely a legal matter and does not impart life nor change character, but it is accompanied by the life that God is imparted to the believing sinner in regeneration. 

Paul gives us further details of this truth in Romans 6, turn over to Romans 6 and we'll look at verses 1 to 11 together. What does it mean that we died and our life is hidden with Christ and God? In Romans 6.1 Paul says, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were placed into Christ, that word baptized there is dry, were placed into Christ, Jesus, were baptized into his death, therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him that the body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Likewise, you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

These are the truths that Paul sums up in Colossians 3, since you were raised with Christ, since you died, since you are new men, you have new life, you have the mind of Christ, you've been given the divine nature, Jesus himself dwells in you, you have confident assurance and hope of final salvation and glorification. Look at those words again in Colossians 3.1, since you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things of the earth, for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

These are the indicatives, the truths that undergird, form the foundation for our thinking, our believing, and therefore, our living. When Paul says, set your mind, he's talking about thinking in these terms, from our home in heaven, for our life is hidden with Christ in God, we are seated with him in the heavenlies. We must set our mind, that is, think his thoughts according to his truth, and believe him, trust him, and see all things, earthly things as well, from God's perspective. 

So when we read these words, ponder what God is saying, understand the truth of who we are and all that we have in Christ, and we place our faith in him, choose to believe what he says, then we will see the fruit of this new life manifest in our lives now, today. And that manifestation is lived out in relationships. This is what Paul shows us in the application section of the epistle, look at chapter 3 verse 12, he says, therefore, in light of all this, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 

And above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord, and whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. It is in the relationships of this life that our new life is lived out.

I want you to notice the progression of the salvation that Paul lays out and the indicatives, the truths about who we are in Christ and what will be the fullness of our salvation. God has accomplished our salvation in Christ, in His death, burial, and resurrection. He died in our place for our sins, taking the wrath that we deserved. And we died with Him. Our old man was crucified with Christ. We were buried with Him and raised to newness of life, so that we are now new men, free from the controlling power of indwelling sin, released from the bondage and the curse of the law, and no longer reigned over by the fear of death. 

But now, in Christ, we live under grace and righteousness unto eternal life. So this aspect of our salvation is real now, and we have equal assurance of our future salvation, we have confident assurance, what the Bible calls hope, of full and final salvation in Christ. Our life is now hidden with Christ in God in heaven. When Christ, who is our life, appears, we shall appear with Him in glory. This is our hope, our confident assurance of God's promise through faith. And Romans 8 tells us that this hope saves us, we were saved in this hope. 

What does this mean? It means that this fullness of our salvation is as real and sure as our justification and sanctification. Those whom He justified, He also glorified. There's no fear, no doubt, no worry concerning our eternal future and God's purpose for us in Christ because of hope. Paul's teaching us in the book of Colossians that all of this is ours in Christ. This is what is real. This is what is true. And therefore, we have new life now and we have new relationships now in Christ for this is who we are. 

It's not yet fully manifest. John writes about that. He says, behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now, now we are children of God. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. 

When we begin to understand and believe who we are and what we have in Christ and the certainty of our eternal future and all that God has purposed in Christ, we begin to think God's thoughts. We begin to see the world in eternity in a new light with a new perspective from our home in heaven. We begin to live that new life now by His grace and power. 

Now look at verse 18 of Colossians 3 with me and look at these truths not as a law to be obeyed but a description of who you truly are in Christ and what you most deeply want in your new regenerated spirit. Verse 18, wives, submit to your own husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 

And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. Now these things have a sweet reasonableness in our life if we understand who we are. Did you notice verse 24? Here's that hope again. Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. 

We have new life in the Lord. We are new men, new creations. God has saved us for the express purpose of conforming us to the likeness of Christ and bringing our salvation to consummation in glory for His glory. And my brothers and sisters, this new life is lived out in new relationships now in this world as we eagerly wait for the revealing of the sons of God, the manifestation of who we now are. 

And the body, the church, exists now in this world so that the world may know that Jesus is the Christ. This is John 17, His high priestly prayer. Turn over to John 17, let's read some of those words together. John 17, 11, Jesus prays, Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world. And I have come to you, Holy Father, keep them through your name, those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are. 

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost except the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world, and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 

Look at verse 20, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that's you. That they all may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one, I in them, you in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

We the church, the body of Christ, exist in this world as individual believers, new creations, new men, citizens of heaven with a new heart and a new spirit, and the life and spirit of God living in us, empowering us, accomplishing his will through us, and corporately we are here for one another, to encourage, to help, to exhort in the truth the word of God, to love one another, give ourselves, our lives, and our resources for the common cause of the gospel for the glory of God. 

And so what we see in Paul's closing words is this, real people in real ministry. Look at the words in our text again, I want to start in Colossians 4.2. He says, continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving, meanwhile praying also for us that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. 

Walk in wisdom towards those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. And then Paul gives us greetings here, a list of names, those who are in ministry with him laboring in the Lord, Tychicus, a beloved brother, a faithful minister, fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 

I'm sending him to you for this purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts. Onesimus is with him, a faithful and beloved brother who's one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you with Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you received instructions, if he comes to you, welcome him. 

Jesus, who is called Justice. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision, and they have proved to be a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a bond-servant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 

For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you and those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Memphis, and the church that is in his house. Now when this epistle is read among you, see it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea, and say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it. 

This salutation by my own hand, Paul. Remember my chains, grace be with you, amen. What we see here in this list of names are real people who were involved in real ministry with the apostle Paul. They are strangers and foreigners in this world, they are one in Christ, a body of believers the church, here for the purpose of furthering the gospel, living out who they are in holiness and fruit, and living for the singular purpose of bringing glory to God in all things. 

And they do this together. One faith, one spirit, one body, the church of whom Christ is the head. We have names here written down in heaven at Living Hope Church. We could write a letter such as this, of names and service and roles in this body, who are serving the Lord, being who they are, living for God's purpose, accomplishing His will. 

We are a body of believers just the same, real people, living in a real time and a real place that God has prepared, doing the works that He has prepared in advance for us to do. This is what we see here in the closing words of Paul. I love these sections, the end of the letters where Paul lists names. 

And we could just read over these, we could close out the book and say, well, there really isn't much here. But my brothers and sisters in Christ, everything is here. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where the doctrine is implemented practically in the relationships that God has placed us into in this world. 

This is the reality lived out. This is the manifestation of the new heart, the new passion and purpose of the believers together in one faith, one hope, and one purpose in the world. Let's just look briefly at some of these precious believers who were so dear to Paul and vital to his ministry. 

Tychicus. We are introduced to Tychicus in Acts 20 as one of the Gentiles that Paul took with him when he was gathering the money from the Gentile churches to take to the poor saints in Jerusalem. In Ephesians 6, we see that Paul sent Tychicus as a messenger and representative of himself to the saints so they might know Paul's affairs, how he was doing. 

We see those same words here in Colossians. At the end of Paul's life and ministry, when he called for Timothy to come to him, it was Tychicus who was faithful, was to be trusted to go to Ephesus and fill in for Timothy. And the last reference we see of this faithful servant of Paul in the Lord is in Titus 3.12 And he says, when I send Artemis to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me, and I Coppelus, for I've decided to spend the winter here. 

He was always available to Paul, always faithful. He was not a prominent apostle in the early church, but he was just as essential to the ministry and furtherance of the gospel as a faithful companion, encourager, and worker in the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles. 

And with him, Paul sent Onesimus, another tremendous story of God's grace and salvation. Onesimus was a runaway slave, you'll remember, he ran from his master Philemon. But in his running, he ran into Paul, and he was led to the Lord, and was recreated and transformed. 

And now Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon with a letter, and with Tychicus who would help Onesimus and represent Paul to Philemon. And we see in that little letter redemption, and restoration, and grace, and forgiveness. All of these stories are part of the real ministry and real people in the life of Paul. 

Then there was Aristarchus, he was a Macedonian Christian from Thessalonica who became one of the apostles' closest traveling companions. He was a fellow worker, at times he was a fellow prisoner, he's repeatedly referred to in Acts and Paul's letters. He was at the riot in Ephesus. He traveled Macedonia, he even went to Rome with Paul. 

This was a loyal, faithful friend, and fellow minister in the gospel with Paul.

And what about John Mark, you remember that Mark had failed Paul in their first missionary journey when he left the work and went back to his mother's house. And later when Paul and Barnabas wanted to go back and see how the brethren were doing in the churches that they'd founded, Paul refused to take Mark with them, and the contention became so sharp that Paul and Barnabas split. 

But here we see that Mark has been restored and is commended by Paul, called useful to him and his ministry, and recommended to the churches that they should receive him. It's a beautiful story of restoration and it likely came under the discipleship of Peter, who you remember himself had once needed forgiveness and restoration. Of course, Mark ends up writing one of the gospel accounts of the life of our Lord as well. 

And Jesus, who is called justice, he says, these are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision, who are Jews in the flesh, they've proved to be a comfort to me. They were the only believing Jews with Paul and encouraged him. 

And there is with Paul, of course, the pastor from the church in Colossae, the one who traveled so far to bring his deep concerns for the church to Paul that precipitated this letter. Listen to Paul's words concerning Epaphras, he says, he's one of you, he's a bond slave of Christ. He's always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, for I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you and those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

The Epaphras life was given for the benefit of the body of believers and the glory of God. And Luke is with Paul, and Demas. I just want you to think about this, that all of this doctrine that we study, all of these truths, are meant to change our mind and our focus to think God's thoughts, that we might live out these truths in the relationships of our lives in order to further the gospel and to bring glory to God. 

Real people living in a real time in real ministry, as a body, as believers, as those in Christ with a mission, a purpose, empowerment from the Holy Spirit, and hope for today and for eternity. This is the church. This is you, my brothers, my sisters in Christ, here now in this place as part of this body, this living hope church for your good. God's glory. 

Let's close in prayer. Father, we thank you. Thank you for this letter to the Colossians. We thank you for this time that we've had these months to study this verse by verse and so rich and so full and pointing us to Christ. Thank you for the truths that we learned here. Help us to go back and to study those and to think on those and to believe you, to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly. Help us to think your thoughts, to see things the way you see them, to know what is true, and to live according to it. In Jesus' name, amen.