The Scripture makes it very clear that as we focus on purity we experience power from above. Paul stressed this in his final letter to his understudy Timothy. “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter [i.e., “iniquity”], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Ti 2:21). How? The process is simple: God the Father works through the Son. The Son works through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works through the Word. The Word works through the believer. The believer works through living faith.
1st Thessalonians – The Word Working in You – Uniontown, PA 2007Gene Cunningham - December 2, 2006
Colossians Lesson 3
Joh 1:14-17 proclaims the character of Jesus Christ -- Grace and Truth. Epaphras was imprisoned with Paul in Rome after seeking his guidance on the divisions in the Colossian church (Phm 1:23). We know several things about Epaphras' character. He was a teacher; faithful to his gift; and a prayer warrior (Col 4:12; Col 1:6). Our character is built as illustrated in these verses: Jam 4:7; Gal 5:16; 1Jo 5:4-5; Rom 6:14; Rom 8:37; 1Co 4:2; Jud 1:22-23.
Scripture References: Colossians 1:1, Jude 1:22-23, John 1:14-17, Romans 8:37, Romans 6:14, Galatians 5:16, James 4:7, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Philippians 1:23, 1 John 5:4-5
From Series: "Colossians - 2006"
Paul never met the Colossians but wrote to them from a Roman prison around 62 AD to counter misconceptions of his day. It magnifies the character of Jesus Christ more than any other book in the New Testament, and counters misconceptions of our day as well. The key verse may well be Col 1:18 "...that in all things, He might have preeminence."