THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL
COLOSSIANS 1:3-8
1. Illus. of Homer and The Odyssey (HNTC, page 276)
• Ulysses wanted to hear- plugged ears of crew and lashed himself to mast of ship.
• Orpheus- played and sang so beautifully that the siren’s song held no appeal to the sailors.
2. There are a thousand “siren songs” in the world today that would tempt us away from “Christ alone” and “His Word alone.” All of them seem appealing at first, but eventually lead to spiritual shipwreck.
Siren song of the cults. “You have the Bible, but that’s only half the story. The Book of the Mormon contains the rest of God’s revelation.”
Siren song of legalism. “Now that you are saved, here are a set of rules you have to live by. No hair touching your collar, no skirts above the knee, no missing your devotion. The Christian life is a checklist, and if you’re not checking everything off then you’re not pleasing God.”
Siren song of Faith teachers. “You’re not called to take up a cross- you’re called to be healthy and wealthy. Jesus death on the cross is not enough- there’s more, and only I can teach you the truth!”
Siren song of new age movement. “There are other powers and truths you need to embrace. There is nothing wrong with seeking a spirit guide or having your horoscope cast.”
3. How are we as Christians to protect ourselves? Should we follow the example of Ulysses, and stop our ears to all spiritual error? There is a lot to be said for that approach. However, so often we don’t realize we are listening to error until its too late. Paul tells us that we should follow the example of Orpheus. We should fill our minds with truth so that we instantly recognize error and so that it has no appeal to us!
4. Before he addresses the errors (chapter 2), Paul talks about truth (chapter 1): The truth about the gospel, the truth about pleasing God, and the truth about Jesus.
5. Text: Paul uses the personal testimony of the Colossians to remind them that the gospel of Jesus is all they need to be right with God.
6. Today: The gospel of Jesus is all we need to be made right with God.
7. Interrogative: Why is the gospel of Jesus all we need to be made right? Three reasons.
I. THE GOSPEL GIVES US THE ASSURANCE OF HEAVEN
1. See
Vs 3-4a- Paul rejoiced in the Colossians each time he prayed because of their saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Why did he rejoice? See vs 5.
2. For us, hope is when we are wishing for something to happen, but we are not sure that it will. Hope in the Bible is far different from that. Biblical hope is the attitude Christians have when God has promised us something, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Biblical hope is not a question of if, its just a question of when!
3. The NLT hits the nail on the head when it translates this verse this way: “You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven- as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.”
4. Principle: The truth is that the Gospel, without anything else, gives us the assurance of heaven.
5. Illus. of little Johnnie
• Had been promised a puppy for his 8th birthday.
• Dad carried him to local pet store, where he had a hard time deciding among the dozen or so candidates.
• Finally say one little puppy whose tail was wagging like crazy!”
• “I want that one daddy!” “Which one?” “That one daddy, the one with the happy ending!”
• Only the Gospel can give life a happy ending!
6. See John 14:1-6
7. Why should we pursue any way to God besides the Gospel? The truth of the matter is that the gospel can give us the assurance of heaven.
II. THE GOSPEL PRODUCES A CHANGED LIFE
1. See vs 6a. …the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you… What is Paul talking about? All across the civilized world, when people heard the Gospel their lives were changed. When the Colossians heard the gospel, their lives were changed too. They began to produce spiritual fruit.”
2. When Paul talked about spiritual fruit, he was referring to actions and attitudes that glorified Christ. Things like their love for the saints (vs 5) and their love in the Spirit (vs 8).
3. Principle: The Gospel, without anything else, can transform your life!
4. Illus. of Kathy Trocolli (Campus Life, 1994)
• As a teenager began to rebel against an over-protective mom. By the time she was in her late teens, she was partying all night with her friends, and singing in nightclubs to pay her way.
• During the summer she took part time job at a pool to make ends meet. One of her coworkers, another teen named Cathy, began to talk with her about Christ.
• Cathy gave her a little New Testament, and told her to read the gospel of John.
• “I knew that if Jesus was who he said He was, I had to respond. I knew that my whole life would change. And on August 15th, 1988, at 3:00 in the afternoon, it did!
5. See II Corinthians 5:17. Can you imagine God coming to live in you, and it NOT transforming your life? Of course not!
6. The Gospel of Jesus can change your life!
III. THE GOSPEL IS BASED ON GOD’S GRACE
1. See vs 6b- If you have the KJV or the NKJV, then it’s a little hard to get your hands around the meaning of that verse. Let me give it to you in a couple of other translations:
Col. 1:6 “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” NIV
Col. 1:6 “Just as [the Gospel] is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.” NRSV
2. The idea is this: All the other religions of the world are based on some esoteric secret knowledge, or on religious ritual, or on some experience of enlightenment. The foundation for the Gospel is the grace of God (the unmerited, unearned favor of God). When the Colossians heard the Gospel, they realized God was willing to give them as a gift something they could never earn for themselves: forgiveness of sin, salvation etc.
3. Illus. of Dennis the Menace cartoon
• In a recent Dennis the Menace cartoon there was a vivid picture of grace.
• Dennis was shown walking away from the Wilson’s house with his friend Joey. Both boys had their hands full of cookies. Joey then asked, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?” Dennis delivered an answer packed with truth. He said, “Look Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.”
• That’s a perfect picture of grace, isn’t it? Jesus wasn’t crucified, buried, and resurrected because of who we are. He was crucified, buried, and resurrected because of who He is!
4. See Ephesians 2:8-9.
5. The Gospel is based on the grace of God.
