The Gospel Truth
Notes
Transcript
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Pray...
Introduction to Colossians
Introduction to Colossians
To begin with, I would like to look at a little bit of the history and background of this letter. The city of Colosse is located to the East of Ephesus and just 10 miles east of the city of Laodicea. As the context of the book suggests, the apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church of Colosse having never met them before. Paul states that the Colossian believers had heard the Gospel and learned of the grace of God from Epaphras, Paul’s fellow servant. It is the same Epaphras that meets Paul (wherever he was at the time) and tells Paul the testimony of the young church and some of the issues that they are starting to have. The reason that I say wherever he was, is because there really isn’t any specific evidence to show exactly where and when the letter was written.
What we do know, however, is that this group of believers, predominantly gentile believers, was a faithful bunch, but despite their faith, there were some issues that were starting to creep into the church. Over the next several weeks, we will look at these triumphs and trials in the Colossian Church.
The word Gospel as many know basically translated as the “Good News.” But I want to point out that this isn’t just any good news, the term was used to speak of a report of victory brought back from the battle field. This word is especially fitting in referring to the good news of Jesus Christ because He won the victory over Satan, Sin and Death. And because of the fact that we too can have the same victory through Him and Him alone. The Gospel is the Good news that Jesus Christ Died to Provide complete Forgiveness of sins and rose again that those who place their Faith in or believe on Him can live forever
The Gospel Truth is Received by Faith
The Gospel Truth is Received by Faith
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
While these verses are part of the thanksgiving and prayer portion of the letter, we see that Paul is thankful for their Faith in Christ Jesus. But what is Faith in Him?
Faith’s Definition
Faith’s Definition
The Greek word Pistis means to be persuaded that something is true and to trust in it. This is far more than intellectual assent, it involves obedience as well. You see, Pistis comes from the word peitho meaning to obey, thus we see in many places where obedience is equated with belief in the New Testament. ( Jn 3:36, Acts 6:7, Romans 15:18 and more.)
Contrary to the belief of many, Biblical Faith is much more than a “blind leap in the dark,” it is based on fact and grounded in evidence Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Substance here can also be translated as assurance, so we can define it as the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. As an example, we place our faith in the chair we are sitting in, that it won’t brake underneath us. This faith is based on the evidence of it’s construction and the reviews people give. Similarly, we place our faith in Jesus Christ, based on the evidence in the Scriptures and the testimony of other believers.
True saving faith, because there is a dead faith that provides false security, has for its elements repentance and obedience according to James 2:14-26. Repentance is defined as a “change of mind,” but biblically, it goes further to mean a change of purpose and a turning from sin. Further, repentance calls for the repudiation or rejection of the old life and a turning turning to God for salvation according to 1 Thessalonians 1:9.
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
So we see that there are 3 elements to true repentance, a turning to God, a turning from evil, and an intent to serve God. Repentance or the changing of the mind cannot happen without all 3 elements being present.
As I mentioned earlier, the second part of Faith is obedience. Obedience is the evidence of the change of mind. Therefore, true faith can not and must not be separated from good works. Martin Luther said it this way “Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works.”
Faith’s Object
Faith’s Object
Now that we have settled on the definition of what faith is, we need to ask the question, what is it’s object. As I mentioned a few minutes ago, there is such a thing as dead or empty faith that leads to false security, which unfortunately is very common in our culture today. Unlike that empty faith, true Faith has Christ as it’s object. In fact, Hebrews 12:2 says:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Gospel Truth Results in Love
The Gospel Truth Results in Love
Genuine faith cannot exist in a vacuum. In fact, as I mentioned already, genuine Faith will result in a changed life. Colossians 1:4 tells us:
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Paul speaks of their love for the saints. John 13:34-35 tells us :
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John repeats this many times in his 1st epistle as well. A true child of God will love his fellow believers. As the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer, selfishness and their love for sin diminish and a love for Him and for His people grows. John 13:34 says:
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
This love is best illustrated in John 13:1b, where the bible says:
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
True, genuine faith breeds a love and care for other believers, as Paul states is true of the Colossian believers.
The Gospel Truth Rests in Hope
The Gospel Truth Rests in Hope
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
The truth of the Gospel has Repentance and Obedience as it’s elements, Jesus Christ and it’s object, Love as it’s result and Heaven as it’s hope. Hope is very important in the life of the believer. 1 Corinthians 13:13 says:
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Paul is thankful for the Colossian believers faith, love and hope that they have in Christ. You see, true faith and hope can not be separated from one another, we believe and therefore have hope. The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:1, that believers are children of God. and as children of God, we have that imperishable inheritance laid up in Heaven. One result of that blessed hope is the willingness to sacrifice the present, and all it has to offer, for the blessed future that we have in Him.
As believers, we should have a different perspective on things. As believers, we are citizens of Heaven and our home is there, because of this, we are travelers passing through this land until the day we get to go home to be with God. We should be willing to forsake present glory, honor, privilege comfort, and satisfaction that this world has to offer. You see the world has i backward, many people want the comfort and satisfaction now and are willing to pay whatever price later, where believers should think, pay now and have the pleasure and comfort for all of eternity later.
The Gospel Truth Reaches the World
The Gospel Truth Reaches the World
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Another blessed truth about the Gospel is that it is universal! Paul says here that the Gospel has come to them as it has for all the world. The gospel isn’t just for certain people groups, Jesus said that He is the light of the world. Romans 1:8, 16; Matthew 24:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:8 and Revelation 7:9-10 all confirm that The good news of Christs’ victory over Satan, sin and death is for the whole world. The Hope of the Gospel is a hope for all people in all cultures.
The second half of this verse tells us that the same Gospel that reaches the world, also reproduces fruit., lets read verse 6 again:
The Gospel Truth Reproduces Fruit
The Gospel Truth Reproduces Fruit
The second half of this verse tells us that the same Gospel that reaches the world, also reproduces fruit., lets read verse 6 again:
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
The gospel not only brings fruit in the form of the inward change that is fleshed out in our obedience to Christ, but also in the external growth of the Churches. As believers, we are to share the Gospel with the unbelieving world around us. As the Holy Spirit grows the believer, the believer should naturally share the gospel with others so that new converts will come to Christ. It is the duty of every single believer to share the gospel with others, not just the preachers and teachers by vocation, but everyone. Personal feelings never negate the responsibility of the believer to share Christ. Even for people like me who believe it or not, still get nervous sometimes, and feel awkward talking to strangers sometimes. It’s my duty as a Christian to share the truth of the Gospel with the lost, and it’s your duty as well.
Paul commends the Thessalonian believers for this in 1 Thessalonians 1:8 saying
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
This is the same commendation, though in different words that he is saying to the Colossian believers. The gospel is spreading to the region around them because of their faithfulness to sharing the gospel with others. It could be said like this: As the fruit of the gospel grows in individual lives, it’s influence spreads to others.
The Gospel Truth is Reported by People
The Gospel Truth is Reported by People
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Although salvation is by God’s Grace alone, He uses humans as channels for that grace. Jesus explains this in Acts 1:8 as He instructs the disciples. He says :
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
and
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
You see, it is God’s design for the individual believer to share the gospel with others. It is only through the preaching/ teaching/ sharing in one form or another of the Word of God that people can hear the gospel. It is the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the hearer that shows them their need for salvation, but it is the person who shares the gospel with them that the Holy Spirit uses to plant the seed, water the seed or reap the harvest. God gives each believer the power and sobering responsibility to be his agents in sharing the gospel of His Grace.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we conclude our time together today, I want to ask a few questions,
Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal savior? Have you Repented of your sins, turning to God, and turning from evil, with the intent to serve God? or are you trusting in something else to get you to heaven?
As a believer, are you bearing fruit? Does your life show a change from the old nature and a love for the world to the new nature that you have received in Christ Jesus and a love for His people?
Believer, as a citizen of Heaven, are you willing to sacrifice and forsake all the present glory, honor, privilege, comfort, and satisfaction that this world has to offer for the blessed hope and glory that is to come when we are welcomed to our forever home?
Lastly, as a believer, are you sharing the Good news of Christs’ Victory over Satan, sin and death with the world around you?
I hope that the answer to all these questions is and emphatic YES!
Let’s Pray...