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.
