Wise Witnesses for Christ

The Big Idea: Wise witnesses walk with wisdom and talk with grace to those who are not yet Christians.

Now, as we come to the close of our study in Colossians, we see how being “rooted and established” in Christ has impacted our relationship to our selves, to those closest to us, and even now Paul is finishing up the letter with instructions on how we related to those outside our faith...

We are all representing something in life. For Christians, we have all been called by God to be his witnesses in our world. I’ve seen two extremes in witnessing. Many say, “I don’t have the gift of evangelism and I’m not good at talking with people, so I’ll just live the Christian life before them.” If that’s your approach, you’re going to have to live the Christian life better than either Jesus or Paul did, because they both not only lived the life; they also spoke to sinners about salvation. While a godly life should be the foundation for bearing witness, it’s not adequate if you never tell people about Jesus. They’ll just assume that you’re a moral person.

On the other hand, a few Christians come across as “bulls for Jesus.” These folks are the type who sell vacuum cleaners door-to-door or work in telemarketing and love it. They have no problem confronting total strangers and giving them the pitch, even if the poor people show no interest in talking. Unfortunately, the person who has been run over makes sure that they never again get near another religious fanatic. And those who are “silent” witnesses for Jesus gain a further excuse for why they won’t talk to others about Christ: They don’t want to be like those rude, insensitive fanatics!

But the Lord doesn’t want us to be “silent witnesses” or “bulls for Jesus.” He wants us to be wise witnesses who live godly lives and who take advantage of every opportunity to talk graciously to lost people about our Savior.

Let’s take a look at Colossians 4:2-6

Colossians 4:2–6 ESV

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

To be a wise witness, walk in wisdom.

“Walk” is a metaphor for steady a way of life that is headed in a particular direction. “Wisdom” in the Old Testament comes from a word for “skill.” It is used to describe the craftsmen who built the tabernacle (Exod. 36:1, 2). The Book of Proverbs often contrasts the wise man with the fool. The fool disregards God’s commandments about how to live, but the wise man skillfully orders his life according to God’s Word so that the results are like a finely crafted piece of furniture. To walk in wisdom produces a beautiful life.

When Paul says that we are to walk with wisdom toward outsiders, he means that we are to live in line with God’s Word so that those who are not Christians will see the beauty of our lives and relationships that reflect Jesus Christ. They ought to be able to see the fruit of the Spirit in us, which should draw them to the Savior.

People are watching us. Witness is always an overflow of our walk. To be wise witnesses, we must learn to walk with wisdom toward outsiders. But a wise walk always begins in private and then spills over into public. So there is a connection between verses 2-4 and verses 5-6: Private prayer lies behind public witness.

Walking with wisdom begins with private prayer.

Colossians 4:2 NIV

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

A private walk with God in prayer is the foundation for verbal witness.

So, prayer is the first step in wise witnessing. Before you talk to a person about God, talk to God about that person. One of the most helpful books that I’ve read on evangelism is Concentric Circles of Concern [Broadman Press, 1981], by the late Oscar Thompson. He taught his students to make a list of the people in what he called “concentric circles of concern.” You are in the center of the circle—you’ve got to be right with God before you can be His witness. Moving outward, in the next circle is your immediate family, then your relatives, close friends, neighbors and business associates, acquaintances, and finally, “person X,” someone you don’t know.

You list each person’s needs and begin praying for them, that God would engineer the circumstances in their lives to draw them to Christ. Also, pray that He would use you as His channel of love and give you the opportunities and boldness to talk to the person about Christ. Meanwhile, look for needs that you can help meet in each of those circles. In the context of praying and lovingly meeting needs, God will give you opportunities for witness.

Thompson’s thesis was that the most effective evangelism takes place in the context of loving relationships where lost people can see the changes that Jesus Christ is making in your life. For example, teenagers, if you come to Christ and go home and tell your unbelieving parents about your new faith, it is almost certain that they will not be open to the gospel. What will open them to the message? Go home and start cheerfully obeying them. Cheerfully clean your room without being asked. Cheerfully help out with family chores. Cheerfully be home when they tell you to be home. After they recover from severe shock, they’ll want to hear about why you’re different. That’s when you tell them!

We often think of witnessing as going out on the street to person X, whom we do not know and probably will never see again. There’s nothing wrong with telling person X about Jesus. But you don’t have to be living a consistent Christian life to witness to person X. And because person X doesn’t know you, he may not be impressed with the changes that Christ has made in your life.

But to witness effectively to your family, to relatives, or to those who know you well, you’ve got to repair your damaged relationships by asking forgiveness. You’ve got to demonstrate a cheerful attitude of joy of Christ. You’ve got to show the peace of Christ on the job when the boss puts stress on everyone.

That’s why thankfulness in prayer is important (4:2). A life of thankfulness stems from submitting your life to God’s sovereign hand. Paul says (Phil. 2:14-15) that if you don’t grumble and complain, you’ll stand out as lights in this grumbling, complaining world. And so if you begin your day with thankful prayer, and you exude that thankful attitude throughout the day, those around you will notice. It opens the door for verbal witness.

Walk in wisdom outwardly taking advantage of every opportunity.

Colossians 4:3 NIV

3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

God has to open the door, but we need the boldness to speak about Christ when the door opens. If we bash in the door without God’s opening it, the message probably will not be well received. But if God opens the door and we don’t go through, the opportunity will be lost.

Colossians 4:4–5 ESV

4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

“Making the most of the opportunity” (4:5) is literally, “redeeming [or, buying up] the opportunity.” “Buying up” pictures a businessman or investor who knows an opportunity to make money when he sees one. He quickly moves in before the opportunity is gone. Or, picture a careful shopper who knows that all of the sale items will be gone within the first hour. So she gets to the store early to take advantage of the good deals. A wise witness is on the alert to buy up opportunities to share Christ with lost people.

I often miss such opportunities because my mind is on other things or I’m in a hurry. Recently, I went to Wal-Mart for something. I was locking my bike when a homeless woman approached me. I braced for her to beg for money, but instead she wanted to sell me $10 worth of food stamps for $5. I was in a hurry to get back to the office and I didn’t want to hassle with food stamps, so I told her I didn’t want to do it. Then after I went into the store I realized that I could have said, “I know what you’re after. You want cash so you can buy drugs or alcohol. That stuff is ruining your life. But Jesus Christ can deliver you from bondage to those things.” I could have given her a tract or a Gospel of John. But I missed the opportunity.

Paul asked for prayer so that when God opened the door, he would speak forth the gospel. He was confined in prison, but he still was looking to buy up the opportunities. That should be our mindset as well.

Let’s assume that you’re walking with wisdom, showing the reality of Christ in your daily life and asking God for opportunities. Suddenly, you get an opportunity to talk with a lost person about Christ. What do you do?

To be a wise witness, speak with grace to non-Christians.

There are two things here:

First, there is the content of the gospel itself; then, there is how we talk about that content.

Speak what you know about the Gospel

Have you ever felt that you muddled the gospel message? You’re in good company! Paul (4:4) asks for prayer so that he would make the gospel clear! That is Paul, the theologian who wrote 13 New Testament epistles, asking for prayer that he would be clear in presenting the gospel! He refers to it as “the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned.” He does not mean that the gospel is mysterious or difficult to understand. Rather, the word “mystery” refers to a truth that was previously unknown, but now has been revealed. It especially referred to the truth that salvation, which had previously been revealed only to the Jews, was now available to the Gentiles. Every person, whether Jew or Gentile, now can enjoy right standing and equal access to God through faith in Christ (Col. 1:26-27; Eph. 2:11-3:7).

The main content of the gospel concerns our need as sinners. Our sins have alienated us from the holy God. Because He is holy and just, God cannot just brush away our sins. The penalty must be paid. God has declared that the penalty for our sins is death, which means, eternal separation from God. No amount of good works can pay that penalty. But what we cannot do, God did. In love, He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human. He lived in perfect obedience to the Father. His death on the cross was substitutionary. He paid the debt that sinners deserve. God raised Jesus from the dead and now offers a full pardon and eternal life to every sinner who will turn from his sins and trust in the risen Christ alone to save him.

To communicate that content clearly, learn some key verses to go with each point:

Romans 3:23 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NIV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

You almost always have to resist the idea that God will grade on the curve and we are good enough to go to heaven because we aren’t “really bad sinners.” Here is where the offense of the cross comes in: If we are good enough to go to heaven, then Jesus did not need to die on the cross. His death on the cross for my sins confronts my pride in thinking that I’m good enough to deserve salvation. Since the message of the cross is foolishness to the world, as you share pray silently that God would graciously open the person’s eyes to the truth.

Speak about the Gospel with authenticity.

Colossians 4:6 NIV

6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:6 NLT

6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Be gracious.

“Let your speech always be with grace….” In light of Paul’s repeated emphasis on grace, this probably means that our presentation of the gospel should be permeated with God’s grace, the message that He gives salvation as a free gift to sinners who deserve His judgment. But, also, it includes speaking graciously to others. As a sinner who has received grace, you won’t speak in a condescending or condemning manner to another sinner. You will be kind and humble, letting the other person know that we’re all sinners who would be on the way to hell, were it not for God’s grace.

Be interesting.

Let your speech always be … “seasoned with salt.” He doesn’t mean to use “salty” language, as sailors use, of course! Salt had two main uses in Paul’s day. It was used as a preservative from spoiling, which implies that our speech should be pure and free from corruption. It should show those whose lives are spoiled due to sin how they can be restored through the gospel. But, also, salt was used as a spice, to make food more tasty. Our presentation of the gospel should stimulate people’s taste to want more.

In this regard, have some helpful illustrations to explain the gospel. To illustrate that truth is narrow and there is only one way to God, use the analogy of taking the right medicine. To illustrate that it is impossible to save ourselves by good works, picture swimming to Hawaii with no boat or flotation devices. No one can do that. To illustrate God’s justice and His love, tell about a judge who must sentence his son for a crime, but who steps off the bench and offers to pay his son’s fine. To show what it means to trust in Christ, talk about getting on an airplane or use the story of the tightrope walker carrying a man across Niagara Falls on his shoulders. Explain that faith is only as good as its object. Jesus and His death on the cross must be the object of our faith. Ask pointed questions: Have you sinned against God? If you died right now, where would you spend eternity? Would you like to trust in Christ as your Savior and Lord right now?

Be sensitive.

Paul says that you must “know how you should respond to each person.” This is where you must be careful in using a memorized presentation of the gospel. One person may need to understand sin and judgment, whereas the next person may need to understand God’s abundant grace for sinners who repent. Study Jesus’ witnessing encounters in the gospels. He confronted the proud Pharisees, but was gentle (although He still dealt with sin) with those who knew they were guilty. Pray for wisdom as you speak, so that you will know how to respond to this person’s unique needs.

Always keep in mind that every person’s primary need is to meet Jesus Christ personally. Each person must see that he is a sinner under God’s righteous judgment. He cannot save himself. But God in mercy sent the Savior, who bore the penalty for all that will trust in Him. If the person raises issues that take the conversation off of Christ, try to bring it back to Christ.

Don’t forget that the person you’re speaking with is an “outsider.” He is outside of Christ, outside of God’s forgiveness, and headed for eternal judgment. He needs to repent of his sin and trust in Jesus Christ before it’s too late. Like seeing someone in a burning building who needs to be rescued, seeing his desperate situation will help you overcome your fears. Buy up the opportunities to tell sinners the best news in the world!

Examples of wise witnesses in Paul’s life:

But then when you get to the end of his letters, something remarkable happens. Because Paul starts listing all these other people who helped him. It’s like the credits at the end of a movie. We see the director’s name at the beginning of the movie and we get the idea that he made the film all by himself. But then the credits run and we are amazed at all the people it takes to bring a movie to the screen.

Well Paul didn’t do it all alone either. He had plenty of help and encouragement along the way. He followed Jesus’ example with the disciples and always traveled with companions. He loved to praise others for their part and to give people credit where credit was due. Paul was no cowboy. Rather he was the ultimate team player.

One of the things we learn from a passage like this at the end of Colossians is that even the apostle Paul needed help. Paul’s ministry was successful because he enlisted others and he was part of a team. With that in mind I’d like us to look at the people Paul names here in Colossians 4. There is such a rich variety and tapestry of people and names here and we can learn so much from them.

Colossians 4:7–8 NIV

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

Tychicus > fellow worker; carried letter to Colossians

So Tychicus is the mail man. He is the one who actually delivered this letter from Paul to the Colossians. Now this was no easy task. Paul was in prison in Rome over 1,000 miles away. Tychicus would have to cross Italy on foot, then sail across the Adriatic Sea, cross Greece on foot, sail across the Aegean Sea and then walk an additional 100 miles on foot to Colosse. You think your mail man has a tough job?

But Tychicus was more than just the mailman! Paul calls him “a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” Tychicus was a fellow worker with Paul who accompanied Paul faithfully on his journeys. He had returned with Paul to Jerusalem on Paul’s third missionary journey through Macedonia. (Acts 20:4) He was there with Paul in Rome now. He will be with Paul when Paul writes his letter to Titus. (Titus 3:12) He will be with Paul again during Paul’s final Roman imprisonment when he writes his second letter to Timothy who is pastoring in Ephesus. And when Timothy has to leave Ephesus, Paul will send Tychicus there as an interim pastor. (2 Timothy 4:12). Tychicus is a great example of someone who was faithful in small things being entrusted with greater things. Tychicus is “a faithful servant in the Lord.” We’ve been talking about living the Christ-centered life, and here we see that Tychicus’ service was centered in the Lord.

Paul was sending him not only to deliver the letter, but also to share with the Colossians about Paul’s circumstances, to fill them in on the “newsy” stuff, and then also to encourage them. Tychicus is a faithful minister, and he will encourage the Colossians and strengthen their hearts.

Onesimus > runaway slave; subject of letter to Philemon

Colossians 4:9 NIV

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.

Tychicus is carrying two additional letters with him: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and Paul’s personal letter to Philemon. Onesimus is a faithful messenger who will fill them in on Paul’s situation.

Mark > restored to ministry; wrote the gospel of Mark

Colossians 4:10 NIV

10 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.)

This is the same Mark who wrote the gospel of Mark, and we learn quite a bit about him from the book of Acts, too. Mark began the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:5), but then deserted them on the road. (Acts 13:13) Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement over Mark and parted company on their next journey. (Acts 15:37-39) Later on we find Mark with the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13), but at this point Mark is in Rome with Paul. He may have already written his gospel by now, which means Paul would have been familiar with his gospel.

Now remember, Mark lost trust with Paul when he deserted him during his first missionary journey. But now Mark is working with Paul once again. Paul even tells the people at Colosse to welcome him, probably because some people may have still been holding something against him for deserting Paul earlier. Later on Paul will call for Mark to come to him during his final imprisonment at Rome. (2 Timothy 4:11)

Mark is a great reminder that God is not finished with you, even if you’ve failed. Everybody’s got a past. But just because you have a past doesn’t mean you don’t have a future. God is the God of second chances, and just as Mark was restored to ministry, God can restore you, too.

Epaphras, the prayer warrior

Colossians 4:12–13 NIV

12 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. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Luke > Paul’s personal physician; wrote Luke and Acts

Luke was a Gentile believer who was Paul’s good friend and personal physician on his missionary trips. I guess you could say Luke was the first medical missionary! Luke is also the writer of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts in the Bible. In fact it’s fun when you read through the book of Acts to notice when Luke shifts from writing “They did this or they did that” to “We did this or we did that.” Every time he shifts to “we” is when he joins Paul for that part of the journey. Remember Mark was with Paul at this time, too, so we actually have two of the gospel writers with Paul in Rome at the same time. Luke may have also written his gospel by now, so Paul may have read them both!

Paul himself ends the letter.

Colossians 4:18 NIV

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

A personal greeting in his own handwriting

Reminding them to remember the reason he is in prison

He began (1:9) and ended (4:18)the letter with GRACE.

Colossians 1:2 NIV

2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

The book of Colossians is an amazing letter with this amazing theme: God calls us to live the Christ-centered life, to be rooted and established in Jesus. We have walked our way verse by verse through the entire letter and seen this theme over and over again. Christ is central, he is supreme and he is sufficient! He is central to creation, he is central to redemption, he is central to the church, he is central to the gospel, he is central to relationships, he is central to ministry, he is central to life. Whatever problems you may be dealing with, the answer is always the same: stay close to Jesus. Seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 NIV

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.