ROOTS AND FROOTS
COLOSSIANS 1:1-8
INTRODUCTION
READ COLOSSIANS 1:1-8
I. THE ROOTS OF THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH
The roots of the Colossian church are ones that run deep. The letter to them is written by the Apostle Paul who was the founding force of all the Gentile churches. Paul had a ministry in Ephesus for many years and would have influenced people even in Colossae. He traveled around and planted many churches in the area as did those who ministered with him. Verse 7 tells us that a man named Epaphras was the one who began the work in the Colossian church. Epaphras was a faithful servant of Jesus that started the church in Colossae, but was also a companion of Paul (Philemon 23). There are other roots of the church mentioned like Archippus who held some official position in the church and Paul calls him a ’fellow soldier’ in the Book of Philemon. He was doing some work that God wanted him to do and Paul encourages him to continue his work in the Lord at the end of Colossians (4:17). I mentioned the Book of Philemon a few times because both Onesimus and Philemon were also part of the Colossian church. We know from the Book of Philemon that Philemon was a fellow worker of Christ and that a church even met in his home (verse 2). All of these people provided a good faithful foundation for the church in Colossae.
This church was full of people that were strong Christians. This church had itself rooted in these strong leaders, but also, most importantly, in Jesus Christ Our Lord. How do I know that the Colossian church had strong roots in Christ? I can tell because of their fruit.
II. THE FRUIT OF THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH
The Apostle Paul commends this Colossian Christians for their fruit. Bearing fruit is a command from God Himself. Jesus says in John 15, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (verse 5). He also says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit– fruit that will last” (verse 16). The Apostle Paul says elsewhere (Romans 7:4), “So my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” Bearing fruit is a natural part of abiding with Christ and living the Christian life. What was the fruit of the Colossians?
The first area where Paul commends the Colossians is in their faith in Christ Jesus. Paul tells them that he has ’heard’ about their faith. What does that mean? How could he have heard about their faith? I think Paul could have heard about their faith because they were communicating it with other people. They were not keeping it to themselves. Had the Colossian Christians kept their faith and the message of Jesus to themselves, Paul would not have heard much about them. As it was, they were a group that communicated all about this faith in Jesus. Paul is thankful that these Christians share their faith with those around them.
The second area where Paul commends the Colossians is in their love for all the saints. Acts 20:28 says, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” The care of those around us should be on eof the distinct things about Christians. It was in Colossae. People should know that the church is the place to go when you are hurting, in need, suffering, or in pain. The church in Colossae was a loving group of people. They loved one another and they showed it.
The third area where Paul commends the Colossians is in their hope in Heaven. There is a certain way that Christians should live because they have a hope in Heaven. People who have no hope live their lives with money, success, pleasure, entertainment, material things, and the newest feel-good trends. They hold on to their lives because it is the only thing that they have. They look for meaning in themselves, others, drugs, their job, sports, or anything else that they think will give them a sense of self-worth. Christians ought not live that way. Christians do not need to live that way.
We know that we have a sure hope after this life.
We know that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us.
We know that this world is not our home and we are just pilgrims passing through.
We know that true meaning is found in a relationship with God Almighty.
We know that purpose in life is found through Jesus Christ.
The fourth area where Paul commends the Colossians is their understanding of grace. I will have to tell you that I am impressed with the Colossian Christians if they understand all about Gods Grace. I must confess that I sure don’t understand it fully. I do not think any human being can. So what could the Colossians have understood? I think they understood that they had received grace and they in turn were gracious with one another. That was what Paul wrote Philemon about. He was wanted Philemon to be gracious to Onesimus when he returned home. The church at Colossae was a grace-filled place where everyone could come and heal and learn and grow. They knew that they had not earned God’s favor, but that He gave it freely. They knew that they did not deserve to have Jesus die for them, but He did willingly for them. That grace was received by them and they also gave it to one another. III. THE ROOTS AND FROOTS OF OUR LIVES
So, what about us? What about you? What about me? If Paul were writing this letter to our church, would he have the same kind words to say? Could he say that we are bearing fruit? I want to encourage you today to bear fruit. We all know without me having to explain it that a plant or tree that does not bear fruit is dead. Are you dead? Are you spiritually dead? I want us to be honest with ourselves and our God about this issue of bearing fruit.
[this section to the conclusion is from Charles C. Ryrie, So Great Salvation, (USA: Victor Books, a Division of Scripture Press, 1989), pp. 49-50]
What are fruits which a Christian can bear: The New Testament gives several answers to the question:
One, a developing Christian character is fruit. If the goal of the Christian life may be stated as Christlikeness, then surely every trait developed in us that reflects His character must be fruit that is very pleasing to Him. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in nine terms in Galatians 5:22-23, and Peter urges the development of seven accompaniments to faith in order that we might be fruitful (2 Peter 1:5-8). To show these character traits is to bear fruit in one’s life.
Two, right character will result in right conduct, and as we live a life of good works we produce fruit (Colossians 1:10). This goes hand in hand with increasing in the knowledge of God, for as we learn what pleases Him, our fruitful works become more and more conformed to that knowledge. When Paul expressed how torn he was between the two possibilities of either dying and being with Christ or living on in this life, he said that living on would mean fruitful labor or work (Philippians 1:22). This phrase could mean that (1) his work itself was fruit, or (2) fruit would result from his work. In either case, his life and work were fruit.
Three, those who come to Christ through our witness are fruit. Paul longed to go to Rome to have some fruit from his ministry there (Romans 1:13), and he characterized the conversion of the household of Stephanas as the first fruits of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15).
Four, we may also bear fruit with our lips by giving praise to God and thankfully confessing His name (Hebrews 13:15). In other words, our lips bear fruit when we offer thankful acknowledgment to the name of God. And this is something we should do continually.
Five, we bear fruit when we give money. Paul designated the collection of money for the poorer saints in Jerusalem as fruit (Romans 15:28). Too, when he thanked the Philippians for their financial support of his ministry, he said that their act of giving brought fruit to their account (Philippians 4:17).
To sum up, fruit includes: (1) a Christlike character, (2) a life characterized by good works, (3) a faithful witness, (4) a pair of lips that praise God, and (5) a generous giving of one’s money.
CONCLUSION
So I ask you today... are you bearing fruit. The Colossian Christians certainly were. They were bearing fruit in their faith. They were bearing fruit in their love for one another. They were bearing fruit in their hope in Heaven. They were bearing fruit in grace. Are you? Or are you, as John 15:6 described, a withered tree that needs to be cut down, thrown in the fire, and burned?
