I.     Col 1:4 Verse 4 (read)

A.  In this verse, he brings out the believers faith and love.

1.    This is really the basic foundational qualities for every true Christian.

a)    Faith is one of the most important and essential truths for the Christian.

(1)  It's no wonder that Satan wants to come against the teachings on faith. The more people stay true to the Word of God the more they are seeing the importance of faith.

(2)  People cannot even be saved without faith. Ephesians 2:8-9

2.    Hebrews 6:12 tells us that it's through faith and patience that we'll inherit the promises of God.

a)    I just wanted to see something that Paul says in verse 4 and that is the phrase "Faith in Christ Jesus."

b)    Our faith must be in Him.

B.  The second great foundational truth is found in love.

1.    The Word of God continuously tells us that we are to walk in love. Jesus told us in John 13:34-35 that we are to love one another (his commandment).

a)    We are even told to love our enemies.

b)    In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment and Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (V37)

(1)  In (John 14:15) Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments.

(2)  1st in (1 John 3:23) it Says, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

(3)  If we have faith in the Lord and truly walking in God's love then there is no room within the church or among believers for division, cliques, grumbling, envy, criticism, arguments, strife, or hard feelings.

II.   Col 1:5-8 In this verse we talk about hope, the believers hope.

1.     This is why we have surrendered our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and walk in love towards one another.

a)    This is the hope of some great promise--- the hope of some great reward.

2.    This hope he says in verse 5 is "laid up for you in heaven."

3.    What is this hope?

a)    It is the hope of being raised from the dead and being given a new and perfect and glorious body, a body just like Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, (Phil. 3:20-21 conversation, literally citizenship).

b)    It is the hope of the Lord's return and of being with the Lord himself forever.

(1)  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

c)     It is the hope of entering the veil of heaven and of living there forever. Hebrews 6:18-20.

d)    It is the glorious inheritance we are to receive from God as sons and daughters of His. Romans 8:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:8.

(1)  (Rom 8:16-17) “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together.”

(2)  (2 Tim 4:8) “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

B.  Notice in V 5b it says, “whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”

1.    Our hope comes from one great source and that is the gospel or the Word of God.

a)    Jesus said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

b)    SISTER book (Eph 1:13) Says, “In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:”

C.  Verse 6, “Which is come unto you.”

1.    He’s talking about the WORD OF GOD coming unto them.

a)    God’s Word is for you, it is personal. (Every person must respond to the Gospel, the Word of God).

2.    He goes on to say, “as it is in all the world.”

a)    The Word of God is not only for you personally, but it is for all the world.

(1)  (ACTS 10:24) Says, “God is no respecter of persons.”

b)    The Word of God is not only for any particular body, the nation, religion, church, social class, or intelligence.

(1)  Jesus said in (Mark 16:15), “ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (cf. Luke 24:47)

3.    Paul goes on to say in Col 1:6 that the Word of God “bringeth forth fruit.”

a)    God’s Word produces fruit.

(1)  In Mark 4:28-29 it says that the Word will produce “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.  29  But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

(2)  WHAT FURIT? Fruit of the spirit (Gal 2:22-23); It will produce the fruit of righteous, It will produce the blessings of God.

(3)  AND IT WILL PRODUCE FAITH.

D.  Col 1:7

1.    The Colossians learned the Gospel from EPAPHRAS who apparently founded the church at Colosse.

a)    Paul calls him a dear fellow servant and faithful minister of Christ.

b)    He was more than just a fellow servant with Paul. Look at Philemon 23.

2.    “Epaphras” is a shortening of “Epaphroditus,” referred to in Philippians 2:25 and 4:18 . These could be the same person or different persons since both names were common.

3.    Paul had not visited Colosse himself ( cf. Col. 2:1 ).

4.    Epapras was sent by Paul, but he was a “minister of Christ.

E.  Col 1:8

1.    Not only did Epaphras carry the good news to Colosse, but he also brought back to Paul who was in prison, the good news about their love in the Spirit for Christ.

WOLCC Thursday, January 23, 2003 & Thursday, January 30, 2003