Grace Bible Church of Auburn, Ca.

Transcription

1 How Would Paul Thank God for Us? Col 1:3-8 (Part 3) I. How Would Paul Thank God for Us? A. Today Finish Paul s Thankfulness for the Colossians B. He s following a typical pattern for opening his letters and the USUALLY includes Thanking God for the Church/individual that he s writing C. Today See that he STOPS while Giving Thanks TO TALK ABOUT THE GOSPEL the GOOD NEWS that God has sent a Savior for our Sins! D. Of course, the Gospel is the MAJOR theme of the NT BECAUSE The Gospel IS Jesus Christ and His work on the cross! 1. Matt 4:23 Jesus Proclaimed it 2. Mark 16:5 Jesus told us to proclaim it 3. Phil 1:17 We are to defend it! 4. Rom 1:16 We are not to be ashamed of it 5. 1 Cor 9 We are not to hinder the Gospel 6. Phil 1:27 We are to labor in it 7. 2 Tim 1:8 We are to suffer for it 8. Phil 1:5 We are to enjoy fellowship in it! 9. 1 Thes 1:5 We are divinely powered to Preach it! E. We will see multiple names for the Gospel today and there are many in Scripture! 1. Only Gospel 2. Good news of the grace of God 3. Good news of the Son of God 4. Glorious Good news 5. Good news of Peace 6. Everlasting Gospel! 7. etc. 1

2 II. F. What s the Content of the Gospel? Ro 1: 1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name s sake, REVIEW: Paul s Thanks to God for the Colossians A. Source of Thanks Col 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1. Where is Paul s THANKS FOCUSED? ABOVE to GOD! 2. give thanks = continually give thanks a) Colossians were on Paul s MAIN PRAYER LIST! b) AND not just there for PETITIONS he was regularly thanking God for them! 3. Col 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a) Key Thanks GOD the Father as SOURCE of EVERYTHING! b) NOTE: Paul mentions Christ THREE TIMES in this SECTION and FIVE TIMES in just the first EIGHT verses! c) WHY? primary reason for writing Colossians = Deal with the Colossian heresy false teaching. (1) Denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ for salvation. (2) = a philosophy (2:8) and human tradition (2:8) (3) This tradition NOT a tradition according to Christ, but rather legalism / ceremonialism according to the elements of the world. d) Therefore - CHRIST is EVERYWHERE in LETTER! 2

3 e) Paul: TEACH them about CHRIST, AND AFFIRMING / ENCOURAGING their FAITH in CHRIST! 4. Transition: Source of Thanks = God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Be THANKFUL to GOD! B. Means of Thanks Col 1:3 praying always for you, 1. Literally = WHENEVER we pray for you. 2. BUT it is a CONTINUAL activity = when he prayed he never forgot the thanks part! 3. praying = common word for praying! 4. Again let me repeat Paul DIDN T JUST pray INTERCESSORY prayers Prayers of PETITION for these churches HE PRAYED a LOT of THANKSGIVING! C. Reasons for Thanks: faith and love! 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. 1. Paul interupts his flow to put the parenthetical comment about the Gospel in 1:5-7 and finishes his thought in v.8! 2. What is Paul thanking God for that he SEES in the LIVES of the COLOSSIANS? A: FAITH and LOVE! 3. 4 since we heard of = BECAUSE we heard a) = REASON he is thanking God D. your faith in Christ Jesus 1. KEY: NOT SAVING faith a) Paul s not saying We heard you ve been saved and now have faith in Christ! 2. faith = LIVING FAITH a) = LIVES of FAITH b) faith in Christ Jesus = CHRIST-CENTERED LIVES! E. Love for all the Saints Col 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus 3

4 Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. 1. What Does it mean, then, that the Colossians were known for the love which you have for all the saints??? 2. Greatness of their love: the love which you have for all the saints a) Again a SMALL CHURCH like ours KNOWN for LOVE for ALL the SAINTS b) NOT just loving own - Loving beyond their small town! c) One place their love reached Laodicea to the North Col 2: 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, (1) having been knit together in love, = past tense = already have lives intertwined by LOVE! 3. Grounds of their love: 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit a) How does this show that their love is GROUNDED in the Holy Spirit b) Simple Love is a FRUIT of the SPIRIT c) SO You can Love ALL the SAINTS (1) When you WALK by the Spirit (Gal 5:16) (2) = WALK in OBEDIENCE to God (3) = NOT carrying out the desires of the Flesh d) What did Epaphras see that he reported back? (1) Obedient living with the right heart attitude (2) Godly living that was SHOWING FORTH LOVE to ALL the saints 4

5 (a) First in Colossae (b) Second to Laodicea (c) Third to all the world (3) How might they have loved TO THE WORLD of Saints? (a) One author suggested that maybe they were a big part of the Collection taken for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (b) Probably something like that 4. KEY HERE a) FOCUS on the GROUNDS of Love FIRST Obedience / Walk by the Spirit b) Don t PASS up ANY opportunity to Love IOW serve needs beyond your local body if they arise! c) God will bring opportunities into our lives we need to prayerfully respond and not just serve ourselves! III. Foundation of Thanks! (1:5-7) Context: Col 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; Foundation: Col 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, A. What was the FOUNDATION / MOTIVATION for the LIVES of FAITH and LOVE that Paul was thankful for? B. A: The GOSPEL as focused on its COMPLETION in ETERNITY! C. This is EXACTLY what we talked about for 3 weeks at Christmas/New Years! 5

6 D. Now how do you understand these verses? E. A: Simple once you see the Structure it s a chiasm 1. What s a chiasm? It s a A-B-B -A structure A: because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel B: 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, B : even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; A 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 6 IV. The Simple Facts of the Gospel A. It is a Future Hope because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, 1. Everyone should be an expert on this after our 3 week series at Christmas! 2. Hope is the Biblical term for the COMPLETION of our Salvation our future in heaven for all eternity 3. Remember Biblical hope is NOT what we commonly think about hope in the world a) I hope you enjoy the nice weather this afternoon = A WISH, DESIRE! b) Biblical Hope = Certainty (1) hope Dictionary (2) American Heritage Dictionary: hope To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. 2. Archaic. To have confidence; trust. c) Satan has turned Hope into a DESIRE / a WISH (1) Biblical HOPE = CERTAIN FUTURE d) Our Generation of Christianity does not FOCUS on HOPE as IT SHOULD! e) Missing element of the Christian experience we like this

7 life too much! f) Hope = Christian s attitude toward future! (1) In essence, is same substance as faith (2) = believing / trusting God (3) Faith = believing / trusting God for the present (4) Hope = believing / trusting God for the Future (5) Faith believes what God has done (6) Hope believes what God has yet to do. (7) Faith accepts, hope expects (8) Faith appropriates, hope anticipates 4. the hope laid up for you in heaven a) laid up = reserved / stored b) Hope has three components (1) PERSON (2) PLACE (3) PERFECTION c) PERSON: Jesus Christ, Himself is our Hope! d) PLACE: (1) Jesus promised it s preparation at the last supper Jn 14:2 In My Father s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (2) Peter told us the it is already ready! 1 Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this 7

8 you greatly rejoice, (3) And the author of Hebrews told us THIS HOPE is an anchor sure and steadfast! Heb 6:18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, (a) This sure sets hope up as a guarantee! (b) two unchangeable things One author wrote: The two unchangeable things are God s promise and His pledge, His promise and His oath. They are immutable, without any possibility of change or variance. The term (ameta-thetos) was used in relation to wills. Once properly made, a will was ametathetos, unchangeable by anyone but the maker. God has declared His promise and His pledge to be ametathetos, even by Himself. They cannot be turned around or altered. You re secure, He says. Come to Christ; there s nothing to fear. I ll hold you; I ll never let go of you. Our security is not in our never letting go of God but in His never letting go of us. (4) PERFECTION: (a) Not only is hope the person of Christ, the place Christ prepares, but is ALSO OUR PERFECTION (b) WHEN all is complete we will be glorified and like Christ! Ro 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the 8

9 revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (5) Let s move on to the next fact of the Gospel (6) Cannot resist saying: I hope that by now you understand biblical hope! B. It Comes by hearing the word of truth of which you previously heard in the word of truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf 1. We all KNOW a) You CANNOT be BORN a CHRISTIAN b) Becoming CHRISTIAN doesn t JUST HAPPEN (1) Doesn t happen by being born into a Christian family (2) Doesn t happen by attending church (3) Doesn t happen by ANYTHING BUT (a) HEARING the GOSPEL (b) ACCEPTING the GOSPEL (c) CONFESSING it! c) Paul said it soooo clearly to the Romans! 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and 9

10 10 believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. d) BUT he also goes on to MAKE an IMPORTANT POINT! 13 for WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED. 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Ro 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS! e) V = Simple, progressive logic! (1) Only those who call upon the name of the Lord can be saved (2) Only those who have believed in Him can call upon Him, (3) Only those who have heard of Him can believe in Him, (4) Only those who have a preacher can rightly hear of Him, (5) and finally, no preacher can preach the true gospel who has not been sent by God. f) In the other direction, (1) If God did not send preachers no one could hear, (2) If no one could hear no one could believe, (3) If no one could believe no one could call on the Lord, (4) If no one could call on Him no one could be saved. g) KEY to the ARGUMENT = understanding of the truth must precede saving faith. 2. That is why Paul calls it the word of truth! a) COMMON SYNONYM for the Gospel! 2 Co 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 2 Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. Jas 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by

11 11 the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. b) Peter reminds us that we are saved through the word! 1 Pe 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER. And this is the word which was preached to you. c) Finally note the two words Paul uses in Col 1:5 and 1:7 for the communication of the Gospel of which you previously heard in the word of truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, (1) heard has a wider range of meaning than just yeah, I heard you (2) learned = learned by being taught (3) My favorite verses using thes words are Eph 4:20-21 (4) Paul writes to the Ephesians: Eph 4:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, (5) Those verses TIE HEARING, LEARNING, TRUTH AND JESUS CHRIST ALL TOGETHER! (6) When you tie the ALL TOGETHER, what do you get? THE GOSPEL! (7) Eph 4:20-21 TWO aspects of learning Christ : heard Him / taught in Him (a) you have heard Him (b) = BIBLICAL hearing = hearing UNTO OBEDIENCE (i) = Listening, Learning, Understanding, Internalizing, DOING! (ii) = YOUR SALVATION =When You HEARD

12 12 ABOUT CHRIST you CAME to SALVATION in OBEDIENCE to the Gospel. (c) But our learning Him doesn t end there! (8) Eph 4:21 and have been taught in Him, (a) = Taught IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM! (b) =In COMMUNION with Him (c) As I said before this GOES BACK to your SALVATION and EVERYTHING SINCE! (d) Then Paul concludes Eph 4:21 with an interesting phrase (9) just as truth is in Jesus, (a) = Jesus is the embodiment of Truth! (b) = WHEN you LEARN the PERSON, Your are LEARNING TRUTH (c) FOCUSING on LEARNING HIM while LEARNING TRUTH (d) Jesus, HIMSELF, Said this! Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (i) I am truth /Truth IS ME! No TRUTH APART from ME! (ii) Since I AM TRUTH, I GIVE TRUTH to those who know me! (e) truth is a major emphasis of Paul! (10) So Hearing / Learning REALLY say the same thing! (a) You HEARD and Understood and obey (b) You LEARNED and understood and obey! 3. Transition: The Simple Facts of the Gospel a) It is a Future Hope b) It comes by hearing the word of truth

13 C. It is the ONLY Good news 13 the gospel 1. gospel = Good news! a) Word used in Roman Empire for declaring Good News! b) Messengers would travel through the towns and update everyone on the events of the Empire c) You could have the good news (1) Of military victories (2) Of marriages / children born, etc. to the Emporer (3) Etc. 2. the gospel IS NOTHING MORE than the good news that God has made a way for you to be forgiven your sins through Jesus Christ! 3. REALITY is THAT THIS IS TRULY THE ONLY GOOD News The ULTIMATE / BEST Good NEWS! 4. You can see hear that Paul has now used THREE synonyms for the the Gospel! a) Hope b) Word of truth c) The gospel d) All refer to the same thing but PLACE EMPHASIS on a DIFFERENT ASPECT of what God has done and will do through SALVATION! 5. Transition: The Simple Facts of the Gospel a) It is a Future Hope b) It comes by hearing the word of truth c) It is the ONLY Good News D. It is the result of the Great Commission 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world 1. Paul You have had brought to you something that a) Is bigger than Colossae b) Is bigger then even the Roman Empire!

14 14 c) You have been given something UNIVERSAL for the WHOLE WORLD d) Yes, you received it, individual by individual e) BUT you are part of God s UNIVERSAL, WORLD-WIDE Plan of Redemption! 2. The Great Commission is OFTEN mis-interpreted! Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations a) What s the main verb there? b) It s not GO It is make disciples c) Real meaning As you go about your daily life, MAKE DISCIPLES! d) Gospel doesn t spread by huge worldwide marketing campaigns e) It spreads one person at a time f) On changed life at a time that reaches to another life g) As it does it spread so the WHOLE world 3. Paul has both the LOCAL and UNIVERSAL nature of the Great Commission here in v.6 a) which has come to you = Local b) just as in all the world = universal 4. I m not against missions! a) BUT the Bible doesn t really use the words missions, missionaries, etc. b) It uses DISCIPLES c) Why? (1) Does God NOT want us doing missions? NO! (2) A: God DOESN T WANT us FORGETTING that people are only saved ONE PERSON AT A TIME (3) You have to WITNESS to EACH PERSON (4) You have to answer their QUESTIONS and objections (5) You have to NOT ONLY BEGIN with their salvation but

15 15 also Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you (6) Baptize them and DISCIPLE them TO MATURITY! d) The great commission came to Colossae through a PERSON carrying out the great commission Epaphras! 5. Transition: The Simple Facts of the Gospel a) It is a Future Hope b) It comes by hearing the word of truth c) It is the ONLY Good News d) It is the result of the Great Commission E. It bears fruit and increases! also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it 1. This should be obvious to all of us who have been saved and are witnessing! a) We ourselves are evidence of the Gospel s fruit b) We see the increase as people are saved and added to the body of Christ! 2. fruit is a biblical term for Spirtual results! a) Attitude fruit = Fruit fo the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) b) Action fruit = Obedient living Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; c) ADDITION FRUIT = New Christians! Ro 16:5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. (1) first convert = literally first fruit 3. increasing = Something they saw dramatically in their day!

16 16 a) Less than 500 disciples at Christ s ascension b) 3000 Saved on Day of Pentecost c) Over 20,000 in first two monts after Pentecost! 4. Paul even reinforces the bearing fruit and increasing IN THEIR LOCAL BODY! even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it a) That is sooo important! b) The best way for a church to grow is through Evangelism! c) I don t pray for growth through TRANSPLANTS! d) I pray for growth THROUGH TRANSFORMATIONS! - through evangelism! e) I m excited every time some one brings (1) A new Christian (2) Someone their witnessing to! (3) Children from unsaved families who are friends of their children (4) Unsaved Adult children in their own families! f) GOSPEL GROWTH is the BEST GROWTH! 5. Why are we STILL HEAR on EARTH? a) A: God ISN T DONE bringing in ALL THE ELECT! b) He isn t done SAVING PEOPLE! c) bearing fruit and increasing WILL CONTINUE UNTIL He s done! 6. Transition: The Simple Facts of the Gospel a) It is a Future Hope b) It comes by hearing the word of truth c) It is the ONLY Good News d) It is the result of the Great Commission e) It bears fruit and increases! F. It is all of Grace!

17 17 and understood the grace of God in truth; 1. Really this is part of the example Paul was just giving the Colossians about the work of the gospel in their midst 2. BUT Paul uses YET ANOTHER synonym for gospel 3. Why is the Gospel GOOD NEWS? 4. A: BECAUSE we GET WHAT WE DON T DESERVE! 5. We deserve Death, we get eternal Life! 6. Grace has to do with OUR GUILT a) We are GUILTY in a judicial sense of BREAKING GOD S LAW b) The wages of sin is Death c) We are sinners! d) We DESERVE DEATH ETERNITY in HELL. e) When we Say Grace is unmerited favor (1) = UNDESERVED blessing to one who deserves DEATH! f) GRACE DEALS WITH OUR GUILT as sinners g) (BTW Mercy deals with our pitiful condition due to sin). 7. in truth has an interesting meaning! a) = truthfully heard and understood b) Has to do with simplicity, genuineness, clarity c) IOW They heard and understood a CLEAR, STRAIGHTFORWARD gospel message from Epaphras d) = Heard the WHOLE gospel and heard it clearly! e) Today Gospel presentations aren t clear or accurate ON PURPOSE! Don t want to OFFEND ANYONE with those sin and hell words! f) Fortunately, Epaphras wasn t one of those watered-down evangelists! V. CONCLUSION A. Transition: The Simple Facts of the Gospel 1. It is a Future Hope

18 2. It comes by hearing the word of truth 3. It is the ONLY Good News 4. It is the result of the Great Commission 5. It bears fruit and increases! 6. It is all of Grace! B. Paul gave us a nice section of teaching on the Gospel! C. BUT remember the context! D. The GOSPEL was THE FOUNDATION for their 1. LIVES of FAITH 2. LOVE for all the saints E. This was ALL THEY NEEDED to MOTIVATE them to Godliness 18 F. GOING to SAY AGAIN - What s REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THIS Colossian CHURCH It s just like us! 1. Remember Colossae is a SMALL TOWN middle of nowhere 2. Church is SMALL - Probably meeting in Philemon s house (Philemon 2) 3. SO this Church COULD EASILY BE OUR CHURCH! 4. Paul wasn t writing to a church of thousands a) Some could carry the load of ministy b) Make the church well-known! c) NO! In a church this size EVERYONE had to do their part for the church to be known outside of the Lycus Valley! G. World today AND Church today HAVE to be MOTIVATED and FEEL GOOD before you can obey! H. That s NOT the WAY to PLEASE GOD! I. OBEY based on WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU! J. We spent 3 weeks learning to focus on the HOPE we have ahead of us! DON T STOP!

19 K. AND Go out and SHARE this HOPE with OTHERS WITNESS and EVANGELIZE! 19 L. Even a small church like ours CAN BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT the WORLD for Lives of Faith and Love for all the Saints!