THE GOOD NEWS THAT CHANGES LIVES – Colossians 1:3-8
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on January 16, 2013 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group; January 16, 2013
Colossians 1:3-8
Theme: We can wonderfully impact the lives of others when we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
We’re often called upon in life to fulfill tasks or perform duties that have the potential of changing the life of someone else in some way. But this morning’s passage speaks of a particular duty that you and I are called upon by God to perform—a duty that has the potential to change other people in immeasurably powerful ways, and to bring about infinite good for them. When this duty is faithfully performed by us toward others, God Himself steps in and brings about His desired impact in their lives. The impact of our faithfulness in this duty is, in fact, so great that it exceeds any other duty in importance.
Paul himself had a great sense of the importance of this duty. He considered himself a “debtor” to others in performing it (Romans 1:14-17). He knew the power it had to utterly transform others
(1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10). It’s the privilege we have of sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. As we come to the beginning portion of the book of Colossians, we are given great encouragement for confidence in the life-changing power of the gospel; and are given further motivation in sharing it with others.
In writing these words to the Colossians, notice how Paul tells them . . .
I. WHAT IT WAS THAT CAME TO THEM.
A. It is the spoken word of truth (v. 5). Paul writes that he was thankful to God “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel . . .” He of course called it by the Greek word euangelion, which means “good news” or “good tidings”. But he specifies the nature of this “good news” by also calling it “the truth of the gospel”. What came to them is “the truth”—that is to say, “the gospel”. Note also that he also defines it in terms of the form in which it was delivered—calling it “the word” or “the message” of the truth of the gospel. The proclamation of the gospel involves one person telling another the truth—which is the good news—in the form of a clear, propositional message. Evangelism is “truth-telling”. The saving truth of the gospel is not something that God means for people to merely “pick-up on” in the form of subjective feelings or through obscure impressions. What transforms lives is the hearing of a clear, verbal, propositional declaration of the truth (see Ephesians 1:13).
B. It is a message of God’s grace (v. 6). Paul describes the content of that message as one that concerns God’s grace. He told the Colossians that this word of the truth had brought forth fruit in them, “ since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth . . .” The word “grace” here refers to God’s full and complete favor, given to undeserving sinners as a free gift; and Paul eludes to God’s free gift of grace elsewhere in his letter (see 1:12-14, 21-22; 2:13). Salvation as a free gift of God’s grace is the main point of the word of truth. We would, of course, be ‘watering down’ the gospel message if we didn’t tell people that God is a holy God who is wrathful toward sin, and who must judge it. But Paul’s description here of the gospel as “the grace of God in truth” reminds us that the main content of its message is not one of judgment and wrath and damnation; but rather one of the gift of God’s free grace for any guilty sinner who will receive it (Romans 6:23).
C. It is the declaration of a wonderful Person (vv. 3-4). The Lord Jesus Christ is the great “object” of that message of truth. Paul writes, “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus . . .” To proclaim the gospel is to declare to others a Person who loves them and has died for them, and to invite them to come and get to know Him, and to place their faith in Him. Believing the gospel message involves trusting in Jesus alone as the One “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (v. 14).
II. HOW IT WAS THAT IT CAME TO THEM.
A. It came as a part of a world-wide declaration (v. 6). Paul told them that this gospel message “has come to you as it has also in all the world.” Just before He ascended to the Father, Jesus told His apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). This commission crosses over all boarders. And because He sent them out with the promise to be with them always, “even to the end of the age”, it also extends throughout the centuries. There is no place or no time in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is not relevant and is to be proclaimed. It is good news for everyone, everywhere, in every age.
B. It came through a human instrument (v. 7). Paul wrote that it came to the Colossians “as you also learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf”. God could have opened the heavens and declared it Himself. Or He could have given it to angels to declare to sinful man. But that’s not God’s method. Rather, it has always been God’s wise plan to send His life-giving, life-changing message of the truth of the gospel to needy men and women by the agency of other men and women. He does this so that the great plan of His redemption can be “heard” and “understood” by men and women (see Romans 10:14-15). God has ordained no other method for spreading His gospel than by using people like you and me to share it with others.
C. It came in such a way as to be heard and understood (vv. 6-7). Paul rejoiced in the fact that the gospel came to them and bore fruit among them “since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned it from Epaphras . . .” (vv. 6-7). In sharing the good news with others, we need to work to make it sink into the hearts and minds of the people around us. We need to labor to make it understood—laboring and striving in “warning every man and teaching every man” the truths of the gospel (Colossians 1:28).
III. THE EFFECT THAT ITS COMING HAD ON THEM.
A. It brought forth fruit (v. 6). Paul wrote that it came to the Colossians, as it had in all the world, “and is bringing forth fruit” (or “producing fruit and growing”, as it is in the NIV). Just as was in the case of our Lord’s parable of the soils (see Matthew 13:18-23), some of the “seed” fell on good ground and produced abundantly. We are to tell all; and some will hear and understand. And the tell-tale sign that the gospel had been heard and understood is that it results in a transformed life. And in the case of the Colossians, it did.
B. Note from what follows that this fruit shows itself in “faith”, “hope”, and “love”.
1. It manifests itself in faith (v. 4). One of the ways that “fruit” is described is as faith in Christ. Paul wrote that he rejoiced and thanked God for the Colossian Christians, “since we heard of your faith in Jesus”. People aren’t saved by simply hearing the gospel. They are saved by it when they place their faith in the Jesus that it proclaims. Such faith is one of the fruits of the gospel.
2. It results in love (vv. 4, 8). Paul said in verse 4 that he rejoiced over “your love for all the saints”. Later, in verse 8, he spoke of Epaphras, “who also declared to us your love in the Spirit”. They not only loved Jesus, but also loved others who loved Jesus and trusted Him as a result of the gospel. As John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
3. It leads to eternal hope (v. 5). Paul said that he was thankful to God “because of the hope which is laid up for you in haven, of which you heard before in the word of the gospel . . .” They now rejoiced in the glorious prospect of eternal glory in heaven—even through times of trial and testing (see also 1 Peter 1:6-7).
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It’s interesting that—when Paul begins this letter of defense of the sufficiency of Christ against human philosophies, religious legalism, and false visions and dreams—he begins by declaring the glories of the gospel!
And this declaration is practical! In this passage, Paul tells us what it was that came and transformed the Colossian believers—suggesting to us that we need to know this “word of truth” well. Then, he tells us that God uses human instruments to deliver it—suggesting that we need to be alert and ready to share it with those God places around us that need to hear it. And finally, he tells us that God empowers this message as we share it and makes it fruitful—reminding us that we can trust Him as we share it even imperfectly and know that the results are in His good hand.
