Fruit Production

Colossians 1:1–14 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Expound on each verse ......

(1) Paul declares his identity/position ---- Apostle of Christ Jesus

(2) Paul reveals who he is writing to ---- to the Saints and Faithful Brothers in Christ

(3) Paul reveals who he is praying to when he is giving thanks ---- the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

(4) Paul reveals how long they have been praying & giving thanks ---- ever since they heard of their ....

* Faith in Christ Jesus

* Love for all the saints

* Hope laid up in Heaven

(5) Paul reveals where they heard of this Faith, Love, Hope ---- The word of Truth, the Gospel

(7) Paul reveals who shared this Gospel ---- Epaphras, Pauls beloved fellow servant (Faithful)

(9) Paul reveals what they have been praying for ---- to be filled with the knowledge of His will ....

* Spiritual wisdom (Sophia)

* Spiritual understanding (Synesis)

(10) Paul reveals why they are praying ---- So they would “live a life worthy of the Lord.” (ALL IN)

(10b) Paul reveals what this “life, worthy of the Lord” looks like ---- He gives an overview of is .... (He expounds on this in Col. 3:5-4:6)

“Bearing Fruit” (Karpophoreo) metaphorically used for the fruit of an action.

Example: the righteous man brings forth good fruit. The unrighteous man brings forth bad fruit.

Matt. 3:8 “Bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.” (NIV - Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.)

The use of the term “fruit” indicates that it is not a question of deliberate, self-determined action on man’s part.

Rather it is that “fruit-bearing” which follows from our turning to God and the power of the Spirit working in us.

If we were to look deeper into this thought we might come to believe that ....

.... if we are not producing fruit there is a possibility we are not saved.

It’s not that we receive Christ and then we are required to share the good news.

It’s that when we receive this free gift from God we can’t help but too share this good news.

WHY does it seem we give more to everything else than we do to the one who has given us more than we deserve.

How many times have you walked by someone or saw someone and thought to yourself, “That person needs Jesus!”

Did you ever think the Lord orchestrated this encounter so that YOU WOULD share Jesus with them?

Matt. 7:16 states “You will recognize them by their fruits.”

Our fruits should be the indicator of who and whose we are.

When Jesus taught that true disciples are recognized by their fruits, the meaning is that their faith shows itself alive in their love.

In receiving divine love, they will love; in receiving forgiveness, they will forgive.

Paul goes on to say, “in every good works”

Implying that this is in EVERY ASPECT of a believers life.

Paul point to the impact the gospel has upon the daily lives of believers.

Those who have been transformed by God’s grace substitutes the “wisdom of this age” for the “Knowledge of God.”

This is continual! Never ceasing!

The word “increasing” is present, passive which means its continually happening to them.

They are growing as they are moved by the gospel.

Bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God describes the intended outcome of a life committed too and consistent with the claims of the Gospel.