The Book of Colossians Pt. 4 Has The Gospel of Jesus Christ Impacted You?

Paul's letter to the church at Colosse is a very important one. It addresses some key doctrinal issues because Gnostic heresy and Greek philosophy were being promoted by false teachers. 

They were trying to influence the Colossian believers to listen to a voice other than the voice of God.

Impact of the gospel upon the Colossians

Colossians 1:3-8  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4)  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5)  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6)  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7)  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8)  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 

Epaphras first brought the gospel to Colosse and was used of God to start this church. He was a good man and a faithful co-worker in gospel ministry with the Apostle Paul. 

The word "dear" comes from the Greek word "agape" which expresses the infinite love of God toward mankind (See John 3:16).  It means that Epaphras was especially beloved to the apostle Paul. 

The problems were serious enough that Epaphras traveled 1,200 miles from Colosse to Rome to visit with Paul. He needed  apostolic guidance for resolving these issues. 

Three problem areas were identified: doctrinal concerns, practical concerns as to how they should live and leadership issues. 

As we progress in our study we will see how Satan seeks to trip up believing people. The Devil attempts to upset the settled faith in a believer's heart, such that confusion, doubt and discouragement begin to creep in.  

We have seen that Paul will not address the problems at Colosse, until he has first magnified the Lord Jesus Christ, for this church belongs to Christ. Thus, Jesus Christ is directly mentioned twenty five times and indirectly sixty five times.

Paul commended the Colossians for their faith in Christ and their love for one another. He reminded them that their ( our) hope is secure and laid up in heaven like a most precious treasure. 

Paul verified the accurate transmission of the gospel of Christ that Epaphras brought to them. He also elevated the authority and power of the scriptures, reminding them that this Word of God spread everywhere and took root, producing fruit. 

Jesus Christ is preeminent in all things. 

Colossians 1:15-18  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  

Paul used the simple word "all" thirty-two times in this letter to underscore the prominence and preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things. 

Notice how in these few verses that the pronouns "who", "him" and "he" refer to Jesus each time that we find them. Therefore, in four verses we find Jesus Christ lifted high for all to see, nine times!

Epaphras communicated clearly to the apostle Paul, the impact of the gospel upon the new believers at Colosse. 

Paul prayed that the Colossians would grow spiritually.

Colossians 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

As soon as the apostle Paul learned about the believers in Colosse, he began praying for them and he refused to stop praying for their needs as new believers in Christ. He cared for them and loved them, even though he had not personally visited the church. 

Paul prayed passionately to the Father with very specific requests for the church at Colosse. He prayed that they might be knowing, intelligent Christians who were filled with the knowledge of God's will. He wanted them to experience spiritual growth in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 

Why? Because the knowledge of our duty is the best knowledge. Possessing a mere empty knowledge of truth from God is insignificant. Our knowledge of the will of God must be always practical in nature, such that we know it in order to do it. 

We must both hear and do the Word of God.

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

James warned us about being mere hearers of the Word of God. This is why there are so many aberrant and abhorrent beliefs spreading in America's churches today. 

Today, many professing believers in Christ have acquired a head knowledge of the things of God, but it has not dropped into their hearts to impact how they think speak and act. 

It may be that they heard the gospel but the devil snatched away the good seed of God's word before the sinner could be regenerated. 

It may be they briefly felt good about the gospel, until the reality of the challenges of living for Christ, became apparent.

Or, they may have heard some gospel truth but cared more deeply for the things of the world, rather than the things of God (See Matthew 13:19-22).

Our knowledge is a blessing indeed when it is filled with God's wisdom, as the Lord begins to show us how to apply our knowledge to our particular circumstances.

Christians should endeavor to be filled with knowledge, not only to know the will of God, but to know more of it. We must seek to increase in the knowledge of God by growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour  (See 2 Peter 3:18).

How to live a God pleasing life!

Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

Good knowledge of the things of God without living a godly life is empty and vain. Our understanding becomes spiritual understanding when we exemplify it in our way of living.

Paul's goal for all believers is "That you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing". In other words our manner of conduct and behavior (our walk) must match what we say we believe. 

Otherwise, we are hypocrites who say they believe the gospel but who live for self and the world. 

Walk the worthy walk for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:1-3  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2)  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3)  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Encouraging believers to walk a worthy walk is a familiar theme in Paul's letters to the churches. We are called to be Christians, uniquely related to God through faith in Jesus Christ, and united to each other by the indwelling Spirit of God. 

How should we act with one another as believers? The worthy walk means we will have a meek spirit and a humility from God that guides our thoughts, words and actions toward one another. 

It means we will be patient with one another. Mature believers in Christ cannot expect a new believer in Christ to have the same strong, spiritual convictions, that God has worked into them over many years. 

We must be patient and disciple new believers in the things of God, trusting the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in their lives.

Those who walk worthy in the Lord will be patient and willing to allow new believers the time and space to grow into mature believers. 

Walking worthily for Christ results in the Spirit of God keeping us walking together with one mind, as we seek to live for the glory of God.

What we do will show what we believe.

John 7:17,18  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18)  He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 

The aim of God is that each believer becomes fruitful in every good work that He gives us to do.  Good words without  good works are just empty, vain talk. We must abound in good works, and in every good work. 

Jesus said that our conformity to the will of God is an indicator whether what we do matches what we say we believe.

The idea is that we are willing to do whatever God places before us to do. We do not pick and choose what we think we want to do. Rather, we seek to understand and meet the needs within our local church family.  

There must be a consistent conformity to all the will of God in each one of our lives. The more fruitful we are in good works, the more we shall increase in the knowledge of God.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

How has the gospel of Christ made an impact upon your life? 

If we say we are born again, but have no evidence of fruit or of the Holy Spirit's work in us, then our profession of faith is not genuine. It is time to earnestly seek God with repentant faith.

If we can see how God changed us with the gospel and continues to work in our lives, then we should be filled with praise and thanksgiving for His redeeming work.

Let us ask the Spirit of God to open our eyes to the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things. This is the doctrine that will settle our souls and anchor our faith, so that we are not vacillating believers.

Let us ask the Spirit of God for His power and working to help us live a God pleasing life. 

Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us as we walk through this life, so that we might walk worthy of our Lord.

Let us vigorously pray to be hearers and doers of God's word, seeking to have the Spirit of God develop a desire for consistent conformity to the will of God. 

Let us be ever mindful that people hear what we say we believe and watch how we live. Friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors will see that we are sincere if our actions match our beliefs.

May the Lord of glory keep working His holiness into us, and may He find us waiting, watching and working until Christ calls us home.

Bob