June 19, 2024
Praying Friends,
The gospel is heaven’s good news first preached by Jesus Himself and the early apostles. It is the same powerful word that transforms our lives today. The gospel we received when we first believed saved us from the penalty of our sin, but never forget it is at work each day of your life. The gospel is your life!
The book of Colossians mentions the word gospel four times and each of them is found in Chapter 1. Let’s take a brief look:
Firstly, Paul writes about the truth of the gospel. “The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you” (Colossians 1:5-6a NIV).
Think about the first time you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you were a child like me, you may not have realized you were hearing it, but if you first heard it as an adult like many of these Colossians, you would have been struck by the trueness of the message. One of your first thoughts might have been that this message has a true ring to it.
The reason it has a ring of truth to it is because it finds its origin in God. It is not like the rules and regulations of men and women. It doesn’t have the tricky undertones of the switch and bait scams of the enemy. It is a message that resonates with the human spirit because God knows our every need.
As you live the gospel today, it will speak truth into your life. It tells you that you are loved by God and are therefore His cherished child. When you sin, as you most definitely will, it will lead you to honest confession and reception of God’s amazing forgiveness. When you’re feeling down and out, it will lift you with truth that speaks of security and strength that comes from the Holy Spirit within you.
Never stray from the truth of the gospel.
Secondly, Paul talks about the fruit of the gospel. “In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace” (Colossians 1:6).
The word “fruit” indicates that something is alive and productive. A healthy grapevine will yield many clusters of rich, juicy grapes to the delight of the taster. In the same way, the gospel is the life of God at work in our lives.
The above text may be referring to the quantity of people who were hearing and receiving this glorious message in the first century. It was spreading like wildfire across Europe and into the vast reaches of the then-known world.
It may also be referring to the quality of the message itself and how it is producing fruit in our lives to the glory of God. This comes out more precisely in verse 10: “bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
There is produce that flows from our lives both for the benefit of those we come in contact with and also pleasure for the heart of our God.
Thirdly, Paul reminds God’s people about the hope of the gospel. “But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (Colossians 1:22-23a).
The gospel is not a flash-in-the-pan type of thing. It is not something you receive today and leave tomorrow. It is lasting. Once you receive it, your life is changed forever. You may stray from it or even fail to enjoy its fullness at times, but if you have the Holy Spirit of God within you, you will be established in the message.
It is the gospel that will keep you going in rough times. It is the gospel that will hold you firm when accusations and temptations come your way. It is the gospel that will someday present you blameless and holy in His very presence.
Lastly, Paul speaks very personally about his service in the gospel. “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Colossians 1:23b).
In being a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, he was a servant of the gospel. He brought it to many regions and with many hardships, but it was his joy to honor His God with faithful committed service.
It is our privilege to do the same. We live in a different time period than Paul, and we are not apostles like him, but we have the same message to share with a dying world.
People all around us are hurting. Sin has caused untold devastation. And we have a message of life. May God help us to live in such a way as to make His gospel attractive and appealing to those around us.
Thank you for praying for our prodigals and for revival among us.
Love in Christ,
Bryan and Rachel
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