REMEMBER MY CHAINS

Colossians 4:7-18

Key Verse 4:18

“I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

Today, we would like to think about Jesus’ grace, which is powerful enough to enable us to overcome obstacles, such as imprisonment, and to share with the needy all the blessings that are stored up in the gospel of Jesus.

I. Paul in chains

In the previous passage, we learned that fluency in prayer was one of the reasons the Apostle Paul was fruitful in serving the Lord: more devotion to prayer translates into greater the fruit.  

There is still another reason why the Lord God enabled Paul to bear great fruit in serving the Lord, that is, his full understanding of the greatness of the power of the gospel – the power to give life to men, the power that makes men noble. 

One unique feature of this power of the gospel is the power to help its adherents overcome obstacles and share the beauty of the gospel. In studying the Bible, especially the Apostle Paul’s epistles, John Calvin discovered this power first hand, which in fact led to the development of the doctrine of “irresistible grace.” This came to be known as the fourth tenet of Calvinism. This doctrine teaches that the Holy Spirit will regenerate all those for whom Christ died and, since the Holy Spirit's working is irresistible, no human being who is worked upon by the Holy Spirit will reject his working. The doctrine of irresistible grace does not necessarily imply that every influence of the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted. Rather, it means that the Holy Spirit can overcome all resistance and make his influence irresistible.  

But if you take a cynical view of the doctrine of irresistible grace, it can be said that some unbelievers know this power far better than most believers do. For instance, I graduated from law school in 1971, whereupon one of my classmates invited me to Bible study with UBF. God’s word was so sweet that I kept attending these UBF Bible studies. But my parents, especially my mother, did not like this. So she kept saying to me, “My son. Never be involved in Jesus’ stuff. If you do, you will get addicted to it, because Jesus is like apyun [trans: opium].” She so loved me that she did not want her son to become a drug addict. Of course, drugs destroy people’s lives. Drugs may make you feel high for a while, but sooner or later, as you get addicted to them, drugs will ruin your life. When a person consumes a drug like opium or cocaine, he feels like he has been transported to paradise. But this paradise is not reality; it is false. The drug will eventually wear out in your blood system, then you’ll crash, and you’ll wake up to a reality which is far cruder than before. 

This is not so with the grace that is in the gospel. The essence of the gospel is Jesus Christ. For those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the Lord gives his Spirit. The indwelling Spirit, who was instrumental in bringing the beautiful universe and everything in it into reality, and then sustaining it all, keeps working inside of the believer, so that as the believer learns to work with the Lord, the Spirit empowers him to share the blessedness of the gospel with others despite any obstacles. 

In the past the Apostle Paul did not know the power of the gospel. In his ignorance, he tried to eradicate Christianity from the face of the earth. But the risen Jesus resisted Paul’s resistance. Jesus turned a seemingly irresistible opponent of the gospel into an irresistible proponent of the gospel. 

Then, when Paul who was a Jew started preaching the gospel to Gentiles, many Jewish people tried to resist Paul, thinking that he had gone completely nuts. They worked extra hard in order to prevent Paul from preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. But the more they resisted, the more Paul preached. Finally, they got upset, and filed false charges against Paul with the Roman authorities. But Paul did not back down. He appealed to the Roman Emperor. The sheriff then shipped Paul to Rome and put him into prison. This is how Paul ended up in chains, waiting for his trial date to be set.

Paul’s case is not uncommon. In fact, if you mean business in believing and preaching the gospel, enemies will certainly arise – people who object to what you are doing. Those who make all kinds of false charges and make disparaging remarks against you, however, will not be someone from a far place like the planet Mars, but people who are very close to you. When this happens to you, there is one thing you must remember: the gospel comes with the power to overcome obstacles and enables the believer to share it ever so gracefully.  

II. Chains promote the gospel

But the deeper truth is that this power is not something impersonal. It stems from the Person called the Holy Spirit. And even as he sees someone in chains, he has many fabulous ways by which to help that person perform as his servant far better than he might have performed without chains. Indeed, one of the major characteristics of the Holy Spirit is that he is irresistible. Furthermore, embedded in his character is that, the greater the obstacles, the greater he is able perform in you and through you. We can see this happening in the life of the Apostle Paul and in the lives of the coworkers working alongside him. Let us think about what we mean by these things.

First, Paul

In the past, the Apostle Paul was weak and often tempted, especially in terms of his covetousness. He coveted this and he coveted that, yet he tried to resist them, but he could not resist his covetous desires. But in Jesus he was able to overcome his sinful nature. Thanks to the power of the grace in Jesus, he became like a bird set free from a cage. Having been set free from the bondage to evil desires, he freely preached the gospel, moving around from place to place, in the towns and villages around the Mediterranean Sea. Through three “world mission” journeys, he planted churches throughout Asia Minor and Greece, and even up as far north as Macedonia. And now he was in Rome, the Imperial City. 

While in Rome, Paul was in chains. It was while he was in chains that he bore great fruit like the fruit of writing the four prison epistles – Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. In addition, as we shall see in the passage, despite physical limitations, the Lord enabled him to bear lots of fragrant fruit in the lives of many, in and through those who came into contact with him in Rome. 

Second, Tychicus

Look at vs. 7-8. “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.” Paul established Tychicus with the express purpose of telling the recipients of the epistle he carried “all the news” about him. News is an acronym for North, East, West, and South. So Paul wants Tychicus to tell others all the news about him – the news that comes from the four corners of the world. This sounds strange. Paul was under house arrest. He was imprisoned; in imprisonment, not that much can go on. Surely, how much can go on with a man in chains? Maybe at the most, all that can be done is to wake up, brush one’s teeth, eat three meals, then sit up, sit down, pace around a little bit (like my Chinese quails in a small bird cage), then sit down, then sit up again, do a few push ups, get bored, and then go to sleep. No soccer games, no picnics, no nothing. Yet Paul was so excited about all of his circumstances that he even picked two brothers to tell all the other brothers and sisters in the Lord all the news that was happening to him. 

What was the news? The most exciting thing that was going on with Paul was surely the joy that was springing up from within. He was in a prison cell, but he had not lost his joy. In fact, he was overjoyed. Joy, joy, joy, that was the theme of his life. “The streams of joy, joy, joy” freely flowed from within him and poured out to others. It gushed out so powerfully and so uncontrollably that he had to share it with people. The joy was so powerful that he had to share it with all peoples on earth. So he wrote, not just one or two, or even three, but four prison epistles, all of whose predominant theme is joy. 

When you think about it, this is truly newsworthy. Under Roman rule, not all people were joyful all the time. Without a doubt, people tried all they could to secure happiness. But not all were that happy. In fact, despite their most earnest efforts, an absolute number of them could not find joy in life. Most of them thus had long faces. This was particularly true of the Roman Emperor Nero. As the richest, most famous, and most powerful man of his generation, he could have been the happiest guy in the world. But in fact the opposite was true, and Nero ended up committing suicide. But what about Paul? He was imprisoned and awaiting trail, despised by both Jews and Gentiles, and regarded as either a “Benedict Arnold” deserving of execution or as completely insane. But was he unhappy? No. For example, read Philippians. In addition, look at what Paul says in vs. 8-9. The Lord of all comfort so encouraged his heart that he had the courage to encourage those who might have been discouraged in their hearts for whatever reasons. So he picked two brothers, and sent them with the express purpose of encouraging the hearts of the discouraged. And Tychicus was a witness to the power of the grace of God working in Paul. 

Third, Onesimus

Look at v. 9. “He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.” Onesimus was a runaway slave owned by a believer named Philemon who most likely ran a large agricultural estate somewhere in or near Colosse. Apparently, Onesimus had committed some sort of a crime (perhaps he had stolen some money). So he ran away to Rome. However, it was in Rome that he met the Apostle Paul. And Paul taught Onesimus the gospel. Through Bible studies with Paul, Onesimus met Jesus. Then deeply moved by God’s sin-forgiving love, he repented of all of his sins in tears. By the power of God’s grace, he was born again. He gained freedom from the power of sin and Satan. Now, Paul sent him back to Philemon as a fellow brother. This reminds us of the power of the gospel that sets man free, and uniquely qualifies man to become a member of God’s family.

Fourth, Jewish Christians working with Paul 

Look at vs. 10-11. “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.” Arguably, the expression “these are the only Jews” refers to Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus also known as Justus. When you think about the Apostle Paul, it is a miracle of miracles to see not just one or two, but three Jewish men, particularly a fearful man like Mark, not only believing in Jesus, but proactively proclaiming the gospel of God’s kingdom. 

Nowadays, we are praying for North Korea. Each time I think about this prayer topic, I tremble at the thought of going there and witnessing about Jesus Christ. Once upon a time, I visited North Korea. The first night in Pyongyang, the capital city, they checked us into a hotel. There, I secretly prayed to fish one person and witness to that person about Jesus Christ. But I was so afraid that, if I witnessed, then I would get the whole group into trouble. I was afraid that I might never be able to see Rebekah and my children again. But still I prayed. Then around midnight I woke up. I stepped out of my room and went to the reception area. There I saw a beautiful North Korean girl who was just 19 years old and on night duty. She said, “Hi.” I said, “Hi.” Seeing that no one was around I started to witness about Jesus for about half an hour. Her name was Chohyang Park. I am not sure how she is doing nowadays.

Each time I go to Chicago, Mother Barry keeps praying for North Korea. Here, I am powerfully reminded of Shepherdess Melissa who once upon a time decided to go to North Korea as a missionary. Last weekend, we had a staff conference at Trinity University in Chicago. There I met Shepherdess Liz Hambekiddes. She did not ask me about Melissa. But I knew what she was thinking about, that is, Melissa’s decision to go to North Korea as a missionary someday. So we prayed about this prayer topic.

Also, each time I see Dr. Mark Park, a picture of Dr. Mark and Melissa Park working as a house church somewhere in Pyongyang comes into my mind. I see them running a clinic, perhaps even right next to the Great Party Leader Jeong-il Kim’s private residence. This morning I even had a dream of Dr. Mark Park visiting Jeong-il Kim, to heal him of his chest problem, and, afterwards, taking care of him and preaching the gospel to him, saying, “Repent and believe.” 

Actually, in a bid to import the gospel to North Korea, Mother Barry visited Washington UBF in order to meet Mr. Sam Folta, the dean of the English department at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST) in Yanbian, China.  Our second-generation missionary Abraham Lee is working there, and Mr. Sam Folta will be speaking to our Washington UBF members on Friday.  And YUST is planning to open an affiliate college campus in Pyongyang in the near future. 

Nevertheless, preaching the gospel in North Korea is not easy. But in the day of the Apostle Paul, for a Jew to become a Christian involved a lot greater challenges than for a North Korean communist to profess his faith in Jesus. Yet, in Paul’s day, it was not just Paul himself, nor the eleven apostles, women, and others, but three more Jews who professed their faith in Jesus; and furthermore, they not only professed their faith in Jesus, but they positively worked to expand the gospel together with Paul in Rome! This in and of itself is proof positive that the gospel comes with all the power necessary to advance the gospel, whatever obstacles may stand in the way. 

Fifth, Epapharas

Look at vs. 12-13. “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.” Bible scholars say that the word “Epaphras” means “lovely.” Evidently, Epaphras was with Paul in Rome when Paul wrote the epistle to the Colossians. Tradition says that he was a distinguished disciple, and probably the founder of the Colossian church. He is also mentioned in the epistle to Philemon (1:23), where he is called by Paul a "fellow-prisoner." 

For whatever reason, Epaphras too was in prison, so his physical freedom was likewise limited. Yet, he was not seeking his own interests. If you are in an unfavorable situation like a prison cell, you are apt to think about how to improve your own physical condition rather than the condition of others; you are so focused on your own problems that it is next to impossible to think about someone else. But Epaphras was different. He was concerned about the physical and spiritual well-being of his sheep who were hundreds of miles away. Day in and day out, he wrestled in prayer for them. What made a man in such a difficult condition to be as sacrificial as Epaphras was? What made his heart so lovely, as his name so aptly describes?

It is all because of the gospel of Jesus. Jesus is lovely altogether. Sin makes man ugly. It makes man selfish. But the power of gospel in Jesus cleanses man from every hint of sin, and restores the image of God in him, the image that is so noble as to seek the interests of others even when he himself is beset by a plethora of difficulties. 

Sixth, Luke 

Look at v. 14. “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.” Luke was a doctor. In Paul’s day, doctors belonged to the slave class. We don’t know exactly how Luke became a Christian. Perhaps it was thanks to the Apostle Paul’s influence. Later, though, and as we know, Luke wrote the gospel of Luke. His example serves as a proof that the gospel comes with the power of grace, the grace that not only changes a slave to sin into a free citizen in God’s kingdom, but that also makes him into a powerful instrument of the gospel. When we study Luke’s gospel, we see his deep interest in those who belonged to the underclass of society, those who were underprivileged and underrepresented. For example, Luke’s gospel shows his deep, loving concern for women. Nowadays, the women’s rights movement is regarded more highly than even men’s rights. After all, we are living in a nation that goes by the adage, “ladies first.” But in the Paul’s day, the situation was different. Because of their lack of power to earn bread, women were not well-considered in society. But when Jesus came, he showed a deep and loving concern for women. Thanks to Jesus’ good influence, Luke too learned to see God’s true beauty built in women. And Luke’s gospel has plenty of examples of this. Again, Luke is another living example of the power of the grace found in Jesus.  

Seventh, Nympha

Look at v. 15. “Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” They say that Nympha means “bride” in Latin. Obviously, Nympha was a woman, probably a rich woman, and arguably a Roman citizen. One thing that amazes us is that she offered her house as a Bible center. They say that when the Apostle Paul preached the gospel in Rome, it was the wives of the Roman officers who accepted Jesus Christ first. And it was through the mouths of these women that the gospel spread like brush fire amongst the members of Roman high society. And Nympha reminds us of the gospel that works first amongst those who are considered weaker vessels. The point remains the same: the gospel makes the weak powerful, and the powerful weak, so that as the powerful learn what it is to be weak, they too can become humble, lean on Jesus, and in and through Jesus become truly strong, and strong all the time.

Conclusion 

This passage then reminds us of what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, “[O]ur gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power…” This power includes the power to help us to not only overcome difficulties such as evil environments, but also to perform even better in times of trouble, as Paul said in Philippians 1:12, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

Christians are faced with difficulties and hardships. These difficulties stem from three sources: oneself, the world, and the devil. When hardships or ordeals like persecutions and temptations come upon us, there is one thing we must remember: the gospel comes with the power to overcome these obstacles and empower us to serve the Lord even better than ever.  

One word: “Remember my chains.”

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