We will be studying chapter 1 verses 3 to 8 in more detail in this lesson, and we will be meditating on the meaning of the Word of Truth. We hope that you have been able to read the whole Letter to the Colossians; so that you have a better idea of ??everything that is happening.
Refer to the introduction to the letter to get a quick context of the letter. In this series, we won’t do an exhaustive study, but we will be challenge us to yearn to be conformed to the image of Christ.
We saw in the introduction that the purpose of the letter is to exhort the Colossians to remain in the Truth and not be led by false teachings. We mentioned that Paul does not provide details of such teachings, but instead focuses on highlighting the truths that they have already learned.
In these verses we will study, Paul reminds the Colossians that they are continually in their prayers because they have heard, believed, and borne fruit by the Word of Truth, the Gospel.
The Gospel: the Word of Truth
The first thing we have to ask ourselves is: What is the Gospel? We can use a variety of phrases or models to explain the gospel, as a children’s teacher, I can see how different presentations can be very useful to us in different situations.
However, there are several facts that we need to be clear about in our lives to understand not only what the Gospel is, but also the impact it has on our lives. We will see this impact in the next chapters of the letter.
God, is a Holy God
Which is beyond the capacity of our understanding; all powerful, all knowing, perfect, sinless. We could continue to develop the nature of God to what our minds can handle, but the most important thing is that we can establish the great chasm of separation between God and us.
His Creation
We are his creation, who has rebelled by wanting our desires more than obeying and honoring him. Later, we will see that Paul prays that they can (and that we can) know the will of God; because we rebel against his will when it is perfect for us.
Christ alone
In our rebellion, disobedience and sin, we cannot have a relationship with the Holy God. For this reason, Jesus Christ takes the form of a man to live the perfect life that we cannot live. In his death on the cross, Christ paid the price for our sin by granting us his righteousness so that we can have a relationship with God again.
Repentance
Upon hearing this good news, we must respond in humiliation and joy for God’s mercy and grace for our lives. We respond now by longing for Him to be the center of our lives and for our lives to be pleasing to Him.
We live in the hope of his return for us, of an eternity in his presence. This is the “Word of Truth” that Paul refers to when he tells the Colossians, “you have heard before.”(1:5) The Colossians heard this word through Epaphras. In another lesson, we will talk more about his role in the ministry and the example he is for our lives.
Fruitful
The Colossians had not only heard, but also believed in the Gospel, and Paul reminds them of the impact of the Gospel in their lives and throughout the world. In verse 6 he tells them: “as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.”
Believing the gospel is not an action of a moment and now; it is the beginning of our new life in Christ.
Fulfillment of the promise
In the introduction we mentioned that Paul is on a mission of highlighting the supremacy of Christ; because it is in Him that the gospel becomes fruitful, that the promise given in Genesis 3:15 and confirmed to the different patriarchs during the Old Testament is fulfilled.
We can see how Matthew begins his narrative (Matthew 1:1) making reference to the lineage of Jesus, mentioning Abraham who received the promise of the blessing on the nation that would come out of him (Genesis 12:1-3); and to David who received the promise that his kingdom would be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:16)
In Christ all these promises are fulfilled, but this is not the only fruit of the gospel. Matthew ends his narrative with the great commission:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (v. 18-20)
In Christ, the gospel continues to bear fruit constantly throughout the world, in the Colossians, in us. As we meditate on the impact and fruits of the gospel through the work of Christ.
Our response
We cannot end this conversation before asking ourselves if we have listened and have put our faith in that salvific work.
- Are we part of that offspring that receives the promise?
- Are we hidden in Christ?
- Do we live in our day-to-day life aware of the hope that we have in store for us in heaven?
It is my prayer that if your answers were yes, we can grow together in longing for the fruit of the gospel in our lives and in keeping our eyes on our hope. May the Lord allow us to know him more so that we are not deceived by false teachers, but rather live awed by his Grace.
If any of your answers was no. It is my prayer that the Lord will provide you with women of faith who can guide you in knowing the Word of Truth, the Gospel.
Lord, help us to be able to see your promise fulfilled in our lives. Amen
