Sunday, January 14, 2018

Colossians 1:1-8 The Fruit of the Gospel

You Can Listen to This Sermon Here

Colossians 1:1-8 The Fruit of the Gospel


I. Paul’s identity (verse 1)
II. Paul’s greeting (verse 2)
III. Paul’s thanks to God (verse 3 & 4)
IV. Paul’s confidence in Christ (verses 5 & 6)
V. The Fruit of the gospel (verses 6-8)


Application

We each ought to imitate Paul in these things:
1.      Our identity is in Christ, not of fleshly things. Yes, we love our parents and grandparents and we rejoice when any of our earthly family is reconciled to God. But fleshly genealogies are fables – fleshly and unable to save. The Jews had fallen into the pit of thinking their fleshly relationship to Abraham insured their right standing before God. It is by grace through faith in Christ that we and anyone else is saved. He is our life – we are complete in Him. Let us not add to or subtract from the One Who gave Himself for us.

2.      We should love one another, all who are in the family of God, not thinking we or anyone else is better than another. We must take care not be swayed by those who have money and nice clothes, preferring them over one who has nothing and wears rough clothes. Skin color, social status, rank – none of these have any place in the body of Christ as things that should divide us.

3.      As Paul wrote in another place, we should (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Envy has no place in our midst. When one suffers, we all suffer. When one abounds, we all rejoice. We work together as God has gifted us, for the equipping of the saints – each other. Thankful to God He has called us to Himself and given us to one another.

4.      Just our identity is in the Lord Jesus, so our confidence is to be in Him. It is all too common for Christians to get burdened down with cares of this world and forget the One they are yoked to. Worry and anxiety about earthly things crowd out the joy we to have as God’s children. We should keep our mind fixed on heavenly things, where Christ is seated. He is our strength and strong tower when the storm gales of this age blow.

The fruit of the gospel is what we seek – not fleshly things the world values. When we see Christians concerned about big, fancy buildings, flashy programs, entertainment – all designed to look attractive to the world and bring in unconverted people by the score, we see those who have lost sight of the power of God unto salvation. He will bring every lost sheep back to His sheepfold and He has given us His gospel as the means of serving Him in this redemptive plan.