Study: The Colossians Epistle

The New Man's Dialogue

Colossians 4:2-6
September 18, 2005

Colossians 4:2-6 (NKJV): 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 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, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Introduction

In Colossians chapters 1-2, Paul proclaimed the absolute supremacy of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. And since we have been baptized (i.e., spiritually united and identified) with Jesus Christ, we, as authentic believers, are absolutely complete in Jesus Christ.

Then, here in Colossians chapters 3-4, Paul has been applying those doctrinal truths to our daily practical living. In other words, let your daily practice match your eternal position! Paul has instructed us to take off the old man and all of his vices; and put on the new man and all his virtues. For example, last week Paul instructed us to let the supremacy of Jesus Christ reign in our relationships with all other people (i.e., as husbands/wives, parents/children and employers/employees). This week, in Colossians 4:2-6, Paul continues his practical instruction.

1. The New Man's Dialogue With God

Colossians 4:2-4 (NKJV): 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.

A. The New Man Prays Earnestly

Colossians 4:2 (NKJV): Continue earnestly in prayer,
Colossians 4:2 (NASB95): Devote yourselves to prayer,
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): Continue steadfastly in prayer,

First, we see here the new man's dialogue with God (viz., prayer). The new man is a man of prayer! God speaks to us through Scripture (i.e., Bible study); and we speak to our God through prayer! But why should the new man pray?

1) Because we as authentic believers should be lovers of our Lord with a strong desire to adore Him; which is done through prayer.

2) Because we as authentic believers see, acknowledge, confess and repent of our sinfulness; which is done through prayer.

3) Because we as authentic believers are thankful for our Lord's deliverance of us from the penalty, power and (one day) the presence of sin; the expression of which is done through prayer.

4) Because we are authentic believers realize we are utterly dependent upon God in all things and not our self; and that dependence is expressed through our petitions in prayer.

Well, what is prayer? What does it mean to pray? Well, it obviously includes that single-minded, whole-hearted, submissive dialogue with our God on our knees in a bedroom or secluded in a so-called prayer closet. However, must one always walk around, even during work hours, in a continual dialogue with God? Are we called to live in monasteries devoting our every minute to incessant prayer?

Hughes answers this way: "There cannot be unbroken verbal communication with God, otherwise we would never be really "there" for anything we did. But in another sense prayer is not so much the speaking of words as the posture of the heart."

MacArthur says, "Praying at all times is not necessarily limited to constant vocalizing of prayers to God. Rather, it refers to a God consciousness that relates every experience in life to Him. That does not, however, obviate the need for persistence and earnestness in prayer. (For) such persistence is illustrated repeatedly in Scripture (e.g., Acts 1:14, 2:42; Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-8)."

Thomas Kelly- "There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level, we can be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes, at a profounder level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship, and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings."

So, one might understand prayer to be a "continual posture of God-consciousness deep within the heart." As such, when one grasps this broader meaning of prayer, it is easier to understand how we can be commanded to pray "without ceasing" as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Well, what does it mean to "Continue earnestly in prayer," "Devote yourselves to prayer," or "Continue steadfastly in prayer?" In essence, as those translations indicate, it simply means that the new man is to be courageously persistent in prayer! One might say, "To hold fast and not let go." Or better yet, "To be radically and continually saturated in prayer!"

How earnest is earnest? As MacArthur comments, "True prayer often involves struggling and grappling with God, proving to Him the deepest concern of one's heart. Prayer is to be a persistent, courageous struggle from which the believer may come away limping." In other words, it is a strenuous combat with God as illustrated when Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32 and was then named "Israel" which means "he who strives with God."

All said, prayer is hard work!!! We should attack it as such! With serious, deliberate, calculated effort!

B. The New Man Prays Vigilantly

Colossians 4:2 (NKJV): 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it

In its most basic sense, to pray vigilantly means to stay awake and not fall asleep during prayer (e.g., the disciples in Gethsemane in Luke 22). But in an even broader sense, it means that believers should look for (i.e., be alert for) those things about which they ought to be praying; and praying for them specifically. Sometimes we tend to pray vague, general prayers. Instead, we must be alert to specific prayer needs and opportunities; ready to launch into earnest prayer.

C. The New Man Prays With Thanksgiving

Colossians 4:2 (NKJV): 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Does the new man pray with a mere looking-forward to the things wanted and/or desired? No! Instead, the new man prays with a spirit of thanksgiving (i.e., looking back at God's infinite goodness; thanking and praising Him for that which we could never earn, deserve or be entitled to). Examples? For starters, try Colossians 1:12-14 (viz., thankfulness for God's qualification, deliverance, conveyance and redemption).

D. The New Man Prays For His Brethren

Colossians 4:3 (NKJV): 3 meanwhile praying also for us,

Us- Paul and his friends/coworkers beginning in 4:7.

Paul was an apostle by virtue of God's sovereign choosing. Paul personally encountered Christ on the Damascus road! Paul better than any of us understood God's sovereign omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability and His eternal being. As such, Paul was self-sufficient and knew he did not need the help of his brethren in Christ, right? No! Instead, we see Paul humbly and genuinely seeking the fervent prayers of his brethren on his own behalf!

Romans 15:30 (NKJV): Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, (Note- Likewise, we too need the prayers of our brethren. Even further, we need to be praying for our dear brethren!)

E. The New Man Prays Dependently Upon God

Colossians 4:3 (NKJV): 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door

Why does Paul seek the prayers of his brethren? Because he knows that true spiritual power and strength lies not in self, but in our sovereign God. In other words, Paul knows he is utterly dependent upon God in all things, in all aspects, at all times. It is God who opens the doors (i.e., grants opportunities), not man. Again, despite Paul's credentials, we see no self-sufficiency here!

F. The New Man Prays For Evangelism

Colossians 4:3-4 (NKJV): 3 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, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

For what purpose did Paul seek the prayers of his brethren? Why did he desire that God would open doors? Because Paul yearned for, indeed lived for, opportunity to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Paul had a passionate heart for evangelism! Paul yearned to see sinners saved by God's grace (see Romans 9:1-4)! Paul longed for open doors to speak the full truth of the gospel, despite the cost!

In fact, wasn't Paul writing this very epistle from prison? Wasn't Paul at times literally in chains for the Gospel? Yes! Yet, Paul envisioned his whole life, his whole being, as a willing slave to the Gospel. In prison or not, Paul's whole reason for being was to preach Christ and Christ crucified! In fact, Paul evangelized many times from within prison, it made no difference to him! MacArthur says of Paul, "There were no devastating circumstances, only unique opportunities." What a model for us!

And how would God save sinners from their sin? Through God's Word (viz., the Gospel of Jesus Christ). By speaking the Gospel! With a total reliance on the power of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ as delineated in Scripture. Again, the power is with God; and not man!

So much so, that Paul asks his brethren to pray that he would manifest it as he ought (i.e., to speak clearly the Gospel of Jesus Christ). Paul yearned to be radically faithful with the Gospel of Christ. He yearned to speak it clearly! Here, we see God's ordained method of evangelism (viz., clearly speaking the Gospel of Jesus Christ as delineated in Scripture)! It is that simple! We do not need to add to, or modify, God's ordained method (e.g., man-centered evangelism which only results in false professions of faith).

Let's look at Paul parallel passage to the Ephesians: Ephesians 6:17-19: 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

MacArthur- "What a sharp contrast to the self-centered prayers of our day. Much of the contemporary church has lost its reverence for God. He is too often viewed as a sort of cosmic automatic teller machine. If we punch the right code, He's obligated to deliver what we want." (Note- We must pray with a yearning to be conformed to His will, not vice versa.)

Application- Biblical prayer is the very lifeblood in the Christian's life! If you forego consistent, earnest and vigilant prayer, you have in essence unplugged yourself from God's source of spiritual power and strength. In fact, if your Christian walk is one without consistent, earnest and vigilant prayer, yours is no Christian walk at all! You are not walking in Christ! You are not walking in the strength of God's Holy Spirit. Instead, yours is a worldly walk with only the strength of self; in which there is no true spiritual strength. As such, you are doomed to a spiritually weak walk at best; and more likely a worldly and sinful walk. How is your prayer life?

2. The New Man's Dialogue With The World

Colossians 4:5-6 (NKJV): 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Here, we see two sides of one coin regarding how we dialogue with the unbelieving world (i.e., "those who are outside"): 1) our daily actions and 2) our daily speech.

A. Our Daily Actions

In verse 5, Paul instructs us to "walk in wisdom." What is wisdom? Proper application of proper knowledge. Or more specifically, properly evaluating one's circumstances, making godly decisions and faithfully acting upon such.

As MacArthur puts it, "Believers are to exhibit a carefully planned, consistent, righteous Christian life." If we profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ, but live as fools, we only serve as a basis for the unbelieving world to malign our faith and spurn the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Why should we walk in wisdom? Well, as we just touched on, so that we can "redeem the time." The NASB translates it, "Making the most of the opportunity." The ESV translates it, "Making the best use of the time." Simply put, so that we can make the most of every opportunity we have to see sinners saved from their sin!

B. Our Daily Speech

Now, in verse 6, Paul instructs us regarding our daily speech, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

Consistency in one's life must be followed by consistency of one's speech. Our daily actions and our daily speech must not contradict one another. As such, our speech (i.e., our general conversation) must always be with grace! Regardless of the circumstances! That's the really tough part! With that said however, grace in one's speech presupposes grace in one's heart:

Matthew 12:34 (NKJV): 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Hughes- "As grace flows through the heart, it flows outward in kindness." MacArthur- "Speech will reflect the kind of person one is. Because the tongue can speak so easily and is difficult to control, a person's speech becomes the truest indicator of his spiritual state.")

James 3:5-12 (NKJV): 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

What is speech with grace? MacArthur- "To say what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complementary, gentle, truthful, loving and thoughtful."

Further, our daily speech is to be "seasoned with salt." Primarily, Paul had two aspects in mind: 1) purifying speech and 2) genuine, interesting, even witty speech. Not worldly empty chatter. Not churchy, trite, religious cliques.

Lastly, our speech should be such, "... that you may know how you ought to answer each one." In other words, we must know how to say the right thing, at the right time, to the right person.

Conclusion

"The early church has none of the modern means of advertising the gospel, such as TV, radio, tracts, books, magazines, or bumper stickers- and fewer of the scandals and hypocrites. Yet by living out the truth of the gospel in their personal and corporate lives, they turned the world upside down."