This Epistle. Colossians 4:16. The public reading of letters to an assembly was important in the early church. Letters were shared among local churches, allowing divine truth inspired by the Holy Spirit to be shared with God's people, and helps prevent false teachings from spreading. Apostolic authority in written form was one of the ways God communicated to His people through His word. What a wonderful privilege we have today to possess the scriptures, the word of God, written in our own language and easily accessible.
In some parts of the world, even now, some people have never seen a Bible or heard the words of truth conveyed by God through holy men. Giving someone a Bible who has never seen or read one is one of the most impactful things I have ever done. There are churches of God’s people who share a Bible or two among themselves because having a Bible is forbidden by anti-Christian governments.
I don't know how many letters I've written over the years, but I do know that what I wrote doesn't have the impact this letter carries. The Spirit of God knew what needed to be said to bring correction. This epistle came from God so that we all might understand what to keep or cast out. The best I can do when writing is to pass on the doctrinal truths I've received from reading the Scriptures and to share how the word of God has affected me. When we apply biblical truth to everyday life, we discover that God has provided the guidance we need when making decisions, doing our work, meeting the needs of others, and fulfilling His divine will.
The themes of this epistle include the supremacy of Christ, our union with Him, Christ as the head of the Church, and living daily to please the Lord. Heresies, all man-made efforts, and anything added to grace are rejected. Those emotional and psychic experiences that have no place in God's church are exposed for what they are, along with the evil connected to them.
When someone becomes a new creation in Christ, there are changes we choose to make. The things of the old life that please the flesh and adapt us to the world are laid aside like a dirty coat; just as a new coat brings freshness, beauty, and cleanliness, we put on this new life. Matters are different in our personal lives and in our family. We consider God’s will and apply it to live righteously and Christ-like. Our freedom in Christ releases us from the bondage that false teachers try to impose by adding their own ideas and efforts to God's word.
The faith we need comes from God Himself when we choose to do His will and learn from Him through reading the scriptures. We learn from His Word as a congregation of saints when we come together to be taught by those who have that gift, and it adds courage and strength to us as we live for Christ in the place of His choosing. The impact may initially seem small to some people, but it will bring glory to God in the outcome.
The size of the congregation of believers gathering in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and how many attend regularly do not measure success. The place God occupies in the gathering and obedience to Him are the true indicators of what He can bless. It is possible to "do church" and exclude God so that reluctant people are more willing to come more often. However, the words of this epistle, and others like it, serve as the blueprint for what must be done in the assembly of His saints, His called-out people.
Therefore, with faith and hopefully grace, we will continue to carry out God's will. Although some may pity us because we are small in number compared to other religious gatherings, we will uphold God's pattern with a commitment to His Word regarding our gathering, purpose, and practice. This epistle provides guidelines for us here, as well as for churches all around the world. By God's grace, I intend to stay true to His Word, even though the pages are curled from being turned over and over again as I seek to “rightly divide the word of truth.”