Colossians 1:3-8: Faith Bearing, Love Increasing Hope

Intro:

Can you find Colossea?

Outline:

Prayer: “When We Pray for you” (vs. 3-5)

The Word of Truth: “The Gospel” (vs. 5-6)

A Messanger: “Epaphras” (vs. 7-8)

Summary: Faith bearing, love increasing hope is only found in the gospel

Prayer:

Prayer: “When We Pray for You” (vs. 3-5)

Consistent (v. 3)

We always thank God- What is it that can provoke this kind of statement? By the way, Paul is going to clarify the “God” that he is thanking...

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ- this is a bit unique, Paul does not often refer to God as the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we see this in John 14-15.

When we pray for you (3 synonymns)- intercessory prayer

“Prayer”- proseuchomenoi, the activity itself

“Give thanks”- eucharistomen, a specific aspect of prayer

“Asking”- aitoumenoi, 1:9 a specific request

Pray, repent/rejoice, ask, yeild

Since we heard of ...

Specific: 3 virtues (v. 3)

Your faith

in Christ Jesus- “Jesus is the sphere in which faith lives and acts”- Pillar.

Of the love that you have

for all the saints- the “holy ones”, the church.

because of the hope

laid up for you in heaven- since that is where Jesus is! He is the object of our hope

“Because of the hope”- Hope is the basis for love and faith, it is the driving factor in faith in Christ and love towards the saints. Why? not because I feel it, but because it gives assurance that how I think is important and how I act matters. These are the only two things that will be laid up in heaven.

The praise worthy virtues that are the most important to Paul are what will last for all of eternity

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:5

Faith is the soul looking upward to God; love looks outward to others; hope looks forward to the future. Faith rests on the past work of Christ; love works in the present; and hope anticipates the future.

Paul believed that the hope offered in Christ inspires assurance and, as a result, produces spiritual fruit. The basis of believing Christ (faith) and serving others (love) is that this world is not the end. There is an afterlife where the deeds done here will be evaluated and rewarded. Christians have an understanding of the rewards and blessings of heaven.

Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 197.

Application/Implications:

What are you thanking God the Father of our Lord Jesus for these days? Turn and tell you neighbour one thing you are thankful for today

In what ways does this passage of Scripture teach you to pray with better content

Of the three virtues, which one would you say you are the strongest in? which one could use some growth?

Faith: Renewing your mind in the Scriptures about the finished work of Jesus (Worship)

Love: Engaging your heart through conversation in Christ-like community (Grow), with the Saints!

Hope: Enlisting your body to share the hope of the gospel with your neighbour (Serve).

Paul presents something very challenging in this section. If you are struggling in your faith in the finished work of Jesus or your love for the saints, it probably has something to do with misplaced hope. Chances are, you are placing your anticipation on something that is not laid up in heaven.

I hope that gas prices are going to come down

I hope that I can get a seat at that concert before it sells out

I hope that I will find that one person that will make me feel complete

I hope that my child will sleep through the night

I hope that the diagnosis will be favourable

Transitional phrase: Paul’s thanksgiving was very specific. Since he heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints he points out that Faith can only bear fruit if there is hope, love can only increase if there is hope. So where do we learn about this hope that was laid up in heaven...

The Word of Truth: “The Gospel” (vs. 5-6)

Heard before (v. 5)

Of this you have heard before- this is not the first time they have heard this…Paul said, “since we heard of your faith, love, and hope”.

in the word of the truth- reliablility and authenticity, the written and verbal communication with Paul. Remember, they do not have the full Canon of Scripture yet… But they do have...

the Gospel- in contrast to false teaching.

Bearing fruit and increasing (v. 6)

Which has come to you

as indeed in the whole world it is

bearing fruit- in the lives of believers

and increasing- spreads in influence to others. The gospel that came to them was not uniuque in that it only included them. This is importnat when challenging false teaching.

The grace of God in truth (v. 6)

As it does among you

since the day you

heart it

and understood

The grace of God in truth

Application/Implications:

What Paul was discussing was not anything new to the Colossians, So far, there isn’t anything new in what we have been seeing in the text.

The gospel is not stagnant nor does it leave people to stagnate. What do I mean by that, well, look at what the gospel does, it bears fruit, and increases. Therefore, to know the word of the truth, the Gospel is to be bearing fruit and increasing. Bearing fruit and increasing in what? Faith in the lord Jesus, love for all the saints, hope laid up for you in heaven.

“If someone is into theology and not into loving others, the problem isn’t that he’s spent too much time learning about God; it’s that he never took to heart what he learned. In fact, 1 John warn he may not even be a beleiver at all” (The Compelling Community, 48).

Hearing something and understanding it are two different things. We all hear our doctors or dentist tell us what is going on, but it is another thing to understand it and take it to heart and start eating differently and flossing our teeth.

Transitional phrase: Paul has talked about prayer, he has listed 3 virtues, and discussed the gospel that is meant to bear fruit and increase. All of these things sound a little theoretical, idealistic. What does this actually look like?! Well, I am glad you asked…now Paul moves from the message to the messanger.

Messanger: “Epaphras” (vs. 7-8)

Character (vs. -)

Just as you learned it- Praise the Lord that we are able to learn!

“It”- the word of truth, the gospel of the grace of God. The authentic and life-transforming reality of the finished work of Jesus.

from Epaphras- probably the founder of the church in Colosse, from Colossea

Epaphras is short for Epaphroditus (Phi. 2:25; 4:18) could be the same guy, might not be, this was a popular name at the time. He is mentioned in Philemon v. 23.

His name litterally means: very foamy. By implication it means dedicated to Aphrodite or dedicated to love or beauty

our beloved fellow servant

He is a faithful minister of Christ on your/our behalf- there is a textual variant here which leads to two possible translations. it would seem by the context that the prefered translation would be “our” behalf since he is a beloved fellow servant of Paul and faithful to the ministry of Christ.

and has made known to us your love in the Spirit

Involvement (vs. -)

He has made know to us- Not only have Epaphras been a minister to the church of Colosse but also to Paul on behalf of the church at Colosse

your love in the Spirit

Application/Implications:

Who is the Epaphras in your life? Who was the beloved fellow servant and faithful minister of Christ who shared the Gospel with you?

Who is someone this week that you can make known the truth of the gospel of the grace of God to?

Who do you need to encourage this week and thank them for the love they have shown you?

Transitional phrase:

Summary:Faith bearing, love increasing hope is only found in the gospel

Song: You never let go

“We’ll live to know you here on the earth” Today can be a a day of bearing fruit in faith, increasing love for others all because of the hope we have in the gospel.

I am going to be at the front if you have any questions or would like to pray together.

Prayer

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

?

?

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