The Real Thing - TMS

Don’t Read this line - The Real Thing

Please open your Bibles to Colossians 1:3-8.

Read Colossians 1:3-8.

Perhaps you’ve experienced this, but when you spend time in another country, the people there, love to share their culture with you.

A few years back, a group from our church went to the Czech Republic.

One of the things that was shared with us, was a soft drink called Kofola.

The story goes that during their time under communism, the Czechs were unable to purchase western goods.

One thing that couldn’t be imported was Coca-Cola.

Someone took advantage of the situation and created his own version of Coca-Cola, Kofola

I can only describe it as a mix between:

RC Cola

Dr. Pepper

Cherry Pepsi

And Black Licorice.

It certainly has a … unique taste.

Though it’s trying to be the Real Thing, it’s no Coca-Cola.

Today, we find ourselves in Colossians.

Paul is writing to a church he’s never visited.

The famous Paul:

Apostle to the Gentiles.

The one who loved to preach to people who never heard the Gospel.

The Colossians were converted through the preaching of a man named Epaphras.

He’s not as famous as Paul.

He’s not as influential as Paul.

The question is were the Colossians the real thing?

Did they receive the real thing or was this the Kofola version of the Gospel.

And so Paul writes this letter to the Colossians.

He writes to affirm that what they heard is true.

He applauds the work of Epaphras.

Epaphras isn’t passing off a kofola Gospel.

He’s a faithful servant of Christ.

He’s there on Paul’s behalf.

Paul writes giving thanks to the Colossians, because he knows they’re the real thing.

Look at verse 3.

His prayers are filled with thanks, “… praying always for you.”

He writes with confidence.

This morning we will see 4 evidences to know if you are the real thing, a real Christian.

First evidence is there is a Real Faith.

Look at verse 4, Paul says “since we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus ...”

Somehow the idea has spread that faith is a private thing.

That it’s only internal and cannot be observed.

Many times I’ve met people while evangelizing and I ask what their faith is?

It’s not uncommon to hear, “My faith is private.”

Paul says something different.

“We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus.”

It is verifiable because this faith is heard about and proven by others.

Notice that this faith is in someone.

It’s rooted in someone, Jesus Christ.

It’s the confidence and assurance that He achieved something for you.

And this is what Paul is hearing about.

So what do people hear when they hear you speak and watch you live?

If you are the real thing, then like the Colossians, people are hearing of your real faith.

It’s known.

The next evidence of being the real thing is that there is Real Love.

We see this in the second half of verse 4.

Paul says that he has heard of their faith, and also that he has heard of the love that they have for all the saints.

Another mark of genuine faith is that a person loves the church.

And it’s not just Paul who says this, these were Jesus’ own words.

John 13:35 says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This is a visible and active love.

I know people say our faith and religion are private, but according to Jesus, that simply can’t be.

The love that we are to have for each other is demonstrated.

And for it to be demonstrated … we have to be around each other.

Don’t let virtual church become a habit.

Internet church doesn’t work when it comes to real love.

Virtual church doesn’t work when it comes to real love.

We have to be around each other.

And what is the motivation for our love?

Let’s be honest … sometimes we are hard to love.

Sometimes you’re just a little bit grumpy.

So how are we to love one another … when it’s hard.

Our motivation to love is found in what we believe in, in what our faith is.

Our motivation for loving is found within the Gospel itself.

Each of us are sinners.

And in that sin … we are unloveable.

Your sin is gross.

Your sin is offensive.

Your sin is hated by God.

And yet, God has shown love for those who are unlovable.

He has shown love by dying for those who are sinners.

His justice called for our death.

The wages of sin is death.

His love satisfied His justice, and made peace with us.

We also love those who have sinned against us.

The second proof of you being the real thing is that you have real love, that is rooted in the Gospel, and shown by loving the unlovable.

Paul continues affirming what a real Christian is by saying there must be Real Hope.

Verse 5, “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel”

I’m not a good spontaneous traveler.

I like to make sure everything is ready.

I like a map.

I like to know where I’m sleeping at night.

I’d like there to be a reservation waiting for me.

“Here you go Mr. Kirkendall. Here is your key.”

Paul says that the Colossians had a hope laid up for them in heaven.

When it says that hope is laid up in heaven, it means it’s set aside, it’s reserved, it’s being held.

There is a reservation in heaven.

There’s a reservation, and it won’t be given away.

John 14:2-3, Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Something is being held by Christ Jesus Himself, who is preparing a place for you, right now.

And holding it.

He knows each and every reservation and will secure it

And the payment that was given was His very life.

Do you have hope?

If you were to die and find yourself before God what would happen?

Many think they will go to heaven, but they’re not sure.

They approach death like the spontaneously traveler.

Who drives across the country and looks for hotels based on whether or not the sign says vacancy or not.

There’s no substance behind that hope.

Hebrews 9:27 says, “... is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

There is a real God.

There is a real judgment for sin.

And hoping that God will simply overlook your sins is not a good hope to have.

That hopes that God is inconsistent and a poor judge.

For the Christian … our hope has substance.

The hope is that Jesus died for sin.

When Jesus died for sin, justice was served.

A payment was given.

A place was secured and reserved up for you in heaven.

What a great confidence that is.

Before Jesus died, He said He was preparing a place for those who are His.

And when we get there, He’ll open that giant book.

Revelation calls this book the Book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

He’ll check for a reservation.

He’ll find your name.

He’ll see that the payment was given.

And He’ll welcome you in.

Do you have this hope?

This is the hope of a Christian.

The final test of being the real thing is there is Real Growth.

The Colossians heard the real Gospel from Epaphras.

They weren’t established by Paul.

And the thought is, “are they a real church?”

And what does Paul say in verse 6?

“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,”

What was happening in the other churches is also happening in the Colossian church.

Paul compares the church to a tree.

It’s bearing fruit.

And it’s increasing.

Both happening at the same time.

Think of an apple tree.

It’s not just growing fruit.

But its branches are spreading, and its roots are sinking deeper.

It’s bearing fruit … and increasing.

How does this happen?

It’s when the church is utilizing her gifts, and using them to build the kingdom of God.

This is an active church, that is firing on all cylinders.

Paul has heard good things about the Colossian church.

They have faith in Christ and a love for each other.

They have a hope of something reserved for them.

And now he hears that they are growing, and bearing fruit.

This must be goal as well.

Notice the very end of verse 6, “even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.”

This isn’t something we need to prepare for.

It begins in an instant.

“the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.”

At the moment of conversion.

At that moment of regeneration, you are brought into the kingdom of God and made a part of His glorious church.

And you start increasing and bearing fruit.

Proof that you are the real thing is that you are growing and bearing fruit.

You are actively maturing in Christ.

And you are actively being used by Him.

Can you look back on where you were 10 years ago and see growth in Christ?

Paul thanks God because the Colossian Church is the real thing.

They have real faith, a real love a real hope.

They are growing and bearing fruit.

When you have these things you know that you are the real thing.

These are what separate you from being kofola.

I want to thank God for what’s in you.

And so may:

Your faith be heard.

Your love be for each other.

Your hope be in Christ.

And may you be growing and bearing fruit as you serve the body.

Pray