Introduction:
A. Years ago, one of the powerful figures on Wall Street fell in love with an actress.
1. For many months he was seen escorting her about in the fashionable circles around town.
2. Before he married her, he decided to hire a private investigator to look into her former dealings and friends in order to guard himself against any future problems.
3. Finally, when the report from the private investigator arrived, he read it immediately: “Your fiancé enjoys an excellent reputation. Her past is spotless. Her associates have been above reproach. The only hint of scandal is that, in recent months, she has been much seen in the company of a business man of doubtful reputation.”
4. Ouch! Sometimes the truth hurts!
5. How is your reputation? Do you have an excellent reputation?
B. Today, as we continue our new sermon series on Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we learn that the church at Colossae enjoyed an excellent reputation.
1. In our sermon today, we will be examining verses 3-8 of the first chapter of Colossians.
2. In verse three, Paul wrote: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you…
3. Wouldn’t you agree that this was a great way for Paul to start the letter?
a. Paul says that when he prays for them, he always offers a prayer of thanksgiving.
b. Are there people you always give thanks for in prayer? I am sure there are.
c. Don’t you want to be the kind of person that people are always thankful for? I hope so!
4. The apostle Paul was a great encourager and a good example of expressing thanks.
a. We are going to see why Paul gave thanks for them in the next few verses, and as we will see, there was good reason for his appreciation for them.
b. Paul mentions thanksgiving in five other places in this short letter (1:12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2)
c. When we remember that Paul wrote this letter while in prison, then his example of thankfulness is even more impactful.
5. Like Paul, we too should be generous with our expression of thanksgiving to God for people and especially about their progress in the Gospel.
6. Before we move on, I want to direct our attention to an interesting phrase in verse 3.
a. Notice that Paul said, “we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
b. Why didn’t Paul just say, “we thank God?” Why add “the Father of our Lord Jesus?”
c. I don’t know for sure, but there are interesting aspects to making that distinction.
d. First, let me emphasize that God the Father is Jesus’ Father - not in the sense of biological origin, but in the sense of relationship.
1. Both God the Father, God the Son and, God the Holy Spirit were co-existent and equal for all eternity – they have no beginning or end.
2. The terminology of Father and Son indicates close relationship, but also a working relationship where the Son submits to the Father.
e. Second, let me emphasize that the statement “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” reminds us that they are two separate Beings.
1. This is part of the mystery of our faith - in our limited understanding, we are unable to comprehend how they can be one and yet be distinctly separate at the same time.
2. That perfect oneness yet distinctness can only exist between spirit beings.
f. So, God the Father was Jesus’ heavenly Father and He is our heavenly Father as well!
C. Let’s turn our attention to the reason that Paul was so thankful for the Colossians.
1. In Paul’s expression of thanksgiving, we are able to trace the stages of the Colossians’ spiritual birth and growth and this is the right pattern for everyone’s spiritual birth and growth.
I. The Colossians Heard the Gospel.
A. Paul wrote: You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace. 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. (Col. 1:5-7)
1. Last week, we talked about the fact that Paul had not planted the church, but that Epaphras had likely become a Christian through Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (100 miles away) and then Epaphras brought the Gospel to Colossae, his hometown.
2. The desire of new Christians should always be to take the Gospel back home to their personal family and friends.
3. The first step in becoming a disciple of Jesus is always hearing the Gospel.
a. It is impossible for a person to believe in and obey the Gospel without knowing about it.
b. In Romans 10:14, Paul asked the questions: How can they believe without hearing? And how can they hear without a preacher?
B. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul declared: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…
1. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus the Christ has solved the problem of sin through His death, burial and resurrection.
2. The word “Gospel” means the “good news.”
3. Some people think the Gospel is “bad news” and it certainly contains the bad news that we are sinners and that our sin separates us from God, but then it quickly moves into the good news of God’s love and what God has done to take care of the problem of sin.
4. The Gospel centers in the person of Jesus – without Him and His perfect life and complete sacrifice, there would be no salvation.
5. Later in this first chapter of Colossians, Paul will proclaim the wonders of Jesus and His preeminence.
C. In Colossians 1:5-7, we learn some important things about the Gospel.
1. First, we learn that the Gospel is “the word of truth.”
2. The idea of truth is absolutely vital for the Christian faith.
3. We live in a time when so many people believe that truth is relative or that there is not such thing as truth.
4. We do not need to search for the truth, because we already have it, and we must start from it.
5. Jesus said that God’s word is truth (John 17:17).
6. Jesus said that He is the truth (John 14:6).
5. The Gospel is the truth and it is this truth that sets us free (John 8:32).
D. Second, we learn that the Gospel is the message of God’s grace.
1. God’s grace is poured out on us through Jesus as we receive the forgiveness of our sins through Him.
2. We are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Eph. 2:8).
3. The false teachers in Colossae were teaching a system of salvation through ritual, works and knowledge, but Paul counters that false teaching with the truth of the Gospel of grace.
4. When the Colossians heard the Gospel, they developed an appreciation for God’s grace.
E. Third, we learn that the Gospel is powerful and effective.
1. Paul wrote in verse 6 that this Gospel is “bearing fruit and growing all over the world.”
2. The Bible says that the Word of God is active and sharper than a double-edged sword (Heb. 4:12) and so it should not surprise us that the Gospel is powerful and produces fruit, because it is the Word of God and the Word of Truth.
3. The Bible says that God’s Word will accomplish what God intends and will not return empty or void (Isaiah 55:11).
4. So, let’s keep planting the seeds of the Word of God – let’s keep sharing the Gospel, because the power is in the seed and God will cause it to grow.
F. So, after the Colossians heard the Gospel from Epaphras, they went on to the next stage of spiritual development – they obeyed the Gospel.
II. The Colossians Obeyed the Gospel
A. The obeying of the Gospel and becoming disciples of Jesus is implied in all that Paul wrote in these verses we are looking at today.
1. Paul wouldn’t be giving thanks for the Colossians if they had heard the Gospel and rejected it and Paul wouldn’t be able to praise them for their development in Christ had they not obeyed the Gospel.
2. So, obviously, many of the Colossians who heard the Gospel from Epaphras believed in Jesus, repented, made the good confession and were baptized into Christ.
B. Several times later in the letter, Paul reminded the Colossians of their conversion to Christ.
1. In 2:6, Paul reminded them: So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him.
2. In 2:12, Paul reminded them: you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
3. In 3:9-10, Paul reminded them: Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self.
C. Obeying the Gospel puts us into Christ and we receive forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38-39)
1. It is that moment that we die to self and are raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
2. It is that moment when we cross over from death to life (Jn. 5:24).
3. Perhaps there is someone listening today who has heard the Gospel about Jesus and is ready to obey the Gospel, we would love to help you repent, confess and be buried with Christ in baptism.
4. You can respond by coming forward during the invitation song in a few minutes.
D. So, the Colossians didn’t just hear the Gospel and obey the Gospel, they also moved on to the next stage of spiritual development – they became faithful in Christ – faithful to the Gospel.
III. The Colossians were Faithful to the Gospel
A. It was their faithfulness in Christ that Paul praised them for.
1. They had heard the Gospel, obeyed the Gospel, becoming disciples, and then were faithful to Christ, but their faithfulness was being threatened by the false teachers and their teachings.
2. Paul described and measured their faithfulness in three ways:
a. Their faith in Christ.
b. Their love for the saints.
c. Their hope in heaven.
3. These three aspects of faithfulness are excellent evidence that a person is a disciple of Jesus.
a. Although these three aspects of faithfulness are internal, they do result in external evidence of their presence and their depth.
4. Notice that their growth and faithfulness had come because they came to truly appreciate God’s grace.
a. A person will struggle to grow and remain faithful if they don’t understand and appreciate God’s grace.
b. God’s grace is the foundation and the motivation for spiritual growth and faithfulness.
c. God’s grace is able to produce hope, faith, and love.
d. Let’s look at each of these elements of faithfulness individually.
B. Paul says that he had heard of their faith and love that came from the hope reserved for them in heaven.
1. Christians have great hope because we know and trust in our heavenly rewards.
2. Our heavenly hope is not a “hope so” hope, but a “know so” hope.
3. The only way any of us can have this kind of “know so” hope is because of the promise of God’s grace.
4. If we were saved by works, then none of us would have assurance of our salvation, rather we could only have a “hope so” hope that we have done enough or been good enough.
5. But because we are saved by grace, we know there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1).
6. Therefore, we know our heavenly home is a reality – it is only a hope because we have to wait until we get there to enjoy it.
7. Later, in chapter 3, Paul encouraged the Colossians to set their minds on things above for that is where our real life is found.
8. We must not take our eyes off the finish line and the glorious prize in heaven that awaits us.
9. Present day Christianity in many churches focuses too little on that hope stored up for us in heaven and they turn people’s attention to false promises in the present by promising them of earthly wealth and health.
10. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so that we could have toned bodies, large bank accounts, and fancy cars, no He died to set us free from sin and give us eternal life.
11. That is our hope and everything else springs from that.
C. Paul commended the Colossians for their faith in Christ which sprang from their hope in heaven.
1. Mark Twain said that “faith is believing what you know ain’t so.”
a. That, of course, is the opposite of what the Bible says that faith is.
2. In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible says that faith is:
a. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)
b. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (NIV)
c. Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. (CSB)
d. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (ESV)
3. In other words, we believe in Jesus and the promises of Jesus even though Jesus isn’t physically or overtly present and His promises are yet to be completely realized.
4. And so, we are called to walk by faith and not by sight, just as the Colossians Christians did.
5. Ultimately, faith is more than our convictions and beliefs, it is our trust and obedience.
a. We are saved by faith that produces action.
1. In Mark 16:16, Jesus says: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”
2. In James 2:17, James wrote: Faith without deeds is dead.
b. We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).
c. We work by faith (1 Thess. 1:3).
6. So, let me ask you: How is your faith?
a. Is your faith strong, alive and real?
b. Is your faith springing from your hope?
7. The faith of the Colossians had been alive and strong, but it was being undermined and threatened by the false teachers, but Paul’s letter, filled with the truth, would strengthen their faith.
D. Finally, Paul commended them for their love which also sprang from their hope.
1. The New Testament often points to love as a distinguishing mark of being born of God and being a disciple of Jesus.
a. Jesus said that all people will know we are His disciples if we love one another (Jn. 13:34- 35)
b. The apostle John wrote that everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7-8).
2. We are given a love and called to share a love that is something that the world does not have or understand.
a. Many people in the world know the joys of family love and community love, but unless they belong to Christ and have the Holy Spirit, then they don’t know the love of God.
3. God is love and His love is greater and deeper, purer and more powerful than any earthly, human love.
a. God’s love is poured into us and it fills us and completes us and compels us.
b. God’s love makes us into a family without boundaries or limits.
c. God’s love enables us to love the saints and even love our enemies.
4. By living a life of love, we are able to keep the family of God strong and healthy, and we are able to draw others into the family of God for everyone needs true love and is looking for it.
Conclusion:
A. Paul was so thankful for the Colossian Christians because of their excellent reputation.
1. They had heard the Gospel.
2. They had obeyed the Gospel.
3. They had become faithful to the Gospel.
a. That faithfulness was demonstrated in their hope, faith and love.
B. How are each of us doing in comparison to the Colossian Christians?
1. Do we have an excellent reputation?
2. Have we heard, obeyed, and been faithful to the Gospel?
3. Are our lives powerful examples of hope, faith and love? I hope so.
4. How strong is your hope in heaven, your faith in Christ, and your love for the saints?
C. If any of us have not obeyed the Gospel of been faithful to it, then now is the time to take action to obey the Gospel and to be more faithful.
1. To obey the Gospel a person must believe in Jesus, confess their faith in Jesus, repent of their sin, and be baptized into Christ.
2. Those who have already been baptized into Christ, but have not been growing in their faithfulness to Christ, need to simply repent and renew their commitment to living for Jesus.
3. Jesus is merciful and faithful to receive all who believe, repent and commit themselves to Him.
Resources:
Colossians, by Warren Wiersbe, in The Bible Exposition Commentary, Victory Books, 1989
Colossians, by David E. Garland, in the NIV Application Commentary, Zondervan, 1998
Colossians, by Owen D. Olbricht, in the Truth for Today Commentary, Resource Publications, 2005
