The first eight verses together, let's read.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
to God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ,
grace and peace to you from God our Father.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
because we've heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have for all God's people.
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.
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.
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Well, follow along with me, you can see the headings on the screen.
Well, something wonderful and beautiful has happened in this city of Colossae,
which is in modern-day Turkey.
The gospel has come to their town.
Look at the end of verse 5.
The true message of the gospel has come to you.
Well, where did they hear this gospel message from?
Well, look at verse 7.
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,
who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf.
Epaphras.
It's a great name, isn't it?
I think we should reintroduce it to children as they're born.
I don't know any Epaphrases living today, but here we have him.
He lived in Colossae, and he heard the gospel from the Apostle Paul.
He was on his third missionary journey,
and he stopped in Ephesus.
And as we read other scriptures in parts of Acts,
we learned that the message from there spread out to other places.
And it seems that Epaphras heard the gospel when Paul arrived.
And he believed it.
And he couldn't contain it.
And he had to teach it to his friends and to the community in which he lived.
Epaphras shared with the people in Colossae the true message of the gospel.
Now, we're familiar with the word gospel.
We use it all the time.
We've read it here this morning.
And it simply means good news.
And in this context, it's the good news of God's salvation through Jesus.
And we have a lovely summary of it in verse 13,
if you just jump ahead to verse 13.
Here, if you like, is the gospel in summary form.
For he, that is God,
has rescued us
from the dominion of darkness,
a kingdom
of utter emptiness
and hopelessness.
He's rescued us
from the kingdom of darkness
and has brought us
into the kingdom
of the Son he loves.
And what is it about this kingdom?
Well, it's the kingdom of his Son
in whom we have
redemption.
We've been set free
from all our guilt
and shame of the past
and we receive
the forgiveness
of all of our sins.
A move from darkness
into light.
A kingdom without hope
to a kingdom of redemption
and forgiveness.
How wonderful
and how beautiful is that?
And so this is the message
that Epaphras received
and he has passed on
to his community.
And so a church
was started
in that city.
Now the problem is
there were other gospel
messages
that were also being taught.
Other so-called
good news messages.
And Epaphras is concerned
that this new church
in Colossae
is going to get
pulled away
from the true gospel.
In fact,
he sends a report
to Paul
to tell him
what has happened.
So if you jump ahead
to chapter 4
verse 12.
Epaphras has taken
a journey it seems
to Paul
to tell him
what is going on
in the church
and the help
that they might need.
Chapter 4
verse 12.
This is Paul writing
to the church.
He says,
Epaphras
who is one of you
and a servant
of Christ Jesus
sends greetings.
He is always
wrestling in prayer
for you
that you may
stand firm
in all the will
of God
mature
and fully
assured.
So Epaphras
has gone to Paul.
he is concerned
for them
he is praying
for them
that they will
be strong
and he is telling
Paul all the things
that are happening.
He gives a report
and as Paul
receives this report
he now writes
this letter
to the church.
So let's go back
to chapter 1
and verse 1
where it tells us
that Paul
an apostle
of Christ Jesus
by the will
of God
and Timothy
our brother.
This is who
it's from
he's writing
to the church.
And his whole message
the message
that he gives
to the church
can be summarised
for us
in chapter 2
and verse 6.
This is the big
theme
of the letter.
He says to them
So then
just as you
received Christ
Jesus as Lord
continue to live
your lives
in him.
He's saying
to the church
you started
with Christ
now I want you
to continue
on with Christ
and to
finish
with Christ.
You received
him
now continue
in him.
But there's
something else
he has to
tell them
verse 8
See to it
that no one
takes you
captive
through hollow
and deceptive
philosophy
which depends
on human
tradition
and the
elemental
spiritual
forces
of this
world
rather than
on Christ.
You see
this is his
message
make sure
that you
keep to the
true gospel.
You started
with Christ
now finish
with Christ.
Don't get
sucked in
by these
empty
philosophies
and these
human traditions
that have
nothing to do
with Christ.
Start with
Christ
and finish
with Christ.
And this
is the message
to Carigaline
Church as well.
We start
with Christ
and we
continue
with him.
Be careful
of other
so-called
gospel
messages
that are
just human
tradition
and empty
philosophies.
So as
Paul writes
he's reminding
us of the
true gospel
and it's
all about
new beginnings.
Three things
we're going
to take
from these
first eight
verses of
chapter one.
A new
community
to live
in,
a new
priority
to live
by
and a
new
reality
to live
for.
New
community,
new
priority
and a
new
reality.
This is
what happens
when the
gospel
comes.
First,
a new
community
to live
in.
You see,
it's the
gospel
that forms
a new
community
of people.
Look how
they are
addressed.
Verse two.
To God's
holy
people
in
Colossae.
Now to
be holy,
well,
we might
think of
people who
are holy
as those
who are
kind of,
oh they're
very saintly
kind of
people.
They stay
indoors all
day and
wear dark
clothes and
pray on
their knees
and read
their Bibles
all day
long.
Nothing wrong
with praying
and nothing
wrong with
reading your
Bible at
all,
but is
that holy?
Well to
be made
holy,
to be
God's
holy
people,
is to
be made
pure
and right
before God.
This is
what happens
when we
believe and
trust in
Christ.
jump ahead
to chapter
1 verse
22.
Well it's
telling us
because of
what Christ
has done,
verse 22,
he has
now reconciled
you to
God by
Christ's
physical
body through
his death
to present
you
holy
in his
sight,
without
blemish
and free
from
accusation.
isn't
that
extraordinary?
Isn't
that
amazing?
That
because of
what Christ
did,
you now
stand,
if you are
trusting in
him today,
you now
stand before
God
as holy,
blameless,
free from
any accusation.
God
God cannot
point his
finger at
you and
condemn you
for your
sin.
God's
holy people.
But God's
people are
also a
family people.
You see,
if we're God's
people, that
doesn't mean we
just live in
isolation,
doing our
own little
thing as
holy people.
people.
No, when
God saves
us, he
saves us
into a
family.
Look at
verse 2
again.
To God's
holy people
in Colossae,
the faithful
brothers and
sisters in
Christ.
You see,
God's people
are a
family people.
We're
brothers and
sisters.
In other
words, we're
not living our
lives in
isolation and
independence from
each other.
We are
dependent on
one another.
Look at the
rest of
verse 2.
Grace and
peace to
you from
God, my
Father.
Now, I
don't have a
different Father
to you.
We have the
same Father,
Father God.
We share in
and have
access to
the same
generous
Father who
gives his
good and
great gifts
grace and
peace to
his
children.
You see,
we're not
here as
individuals doing
our own
thing.
We are
gathering
together as
his family.
Now, all of
this shapes how
we view
ourselves and
how we treat
each other.
Maybe you're
here this
morning and
you're thinking,
well, I'm
just a mess.
I'm ashamed.
If you could
only see the
things I've
done this
week, no
way can
you say
I'm holy.
Or maybe
you come
reminding
yourselves of
promises that
you made last
week that, yes,
I promise I'm
going to pray
and I promise
it's going to
be different
this term and
already this
week you
failed in the
promises you
made to
yourself.
There's no
way that I
could be
called
faithful.
Well, listen
again to how
the gospel has
changed you if
you are trusting
Christ.
Listen to
this, to
God's
holy
people,
faithful
brothers and
sisters.
brothers.
That is how
God sees you
and that is
how we must
see ourselves.
In fact, the
gospel demands
that this is how
we treat each
other.
We treat each
other in exactly
the same way.
We're gathered
here this morning
with no one
thinking they
are inferior
and nobody
thinking they
are superior.
we are the
same family.
We have the
same father
who has made
us holy
and faithful.
So we don't
come in here
this morning
looking across
at another
seat and
thinking they're
awful people.
Desperate.
You should have
heard what they
did.
You should have
heard what they
said.
No, we
look at each
other as
God looks
at us and
treats us
holy and
faithful.
Now this
family also
has a
double location.
We have a
physical location
and a
spiritual
location.
Again, maybe
you picked it
up already
in verse 2
to God's
holy people
in Colossae.
And we can
say exactly
the same
thing, can't
we?
We are God's
holy people
living and
located in
Carigaline.
That's what a
church is.
We're not
living isolated
individual lives.
We are a
local gathering
of God's
people set
apart to
represent God
and reflect
God in
Carigaline.
This is who
we are.
We don't do
our own
thing.
But more
than that
is our
spiritual
location.
Look again
at verse 2.
We are the
faithful brothers
and sisters
in
Christ.
To be
in Christ
is to be
united to
Christ.
so that
all that
Christ has
achieved is
now ours to
share in and
to enjoy.
That is why we
can say we are
holy and faithful
because it's his
holiness that has
been given to
us.
It's his
faithfulness that
becomes our
faithfulness.
All that we
have and all that
we ever need is
found in
Christ.
This comes all
the way through
the letter.
Let me just
give you one
little hint of
what we are
going to be
seeing.
Chapter 2
verse 3.
Chapter 2
verse 3.
In whom
or in
Christ
are hidden
all
the treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge.
This is our
spiritual
location.
We are in
Christ.
We have all
that we need
in him.
So let's
try and put
all this
together what
we have
looked at in
the first
couple of
verses.
When we
hear and
believe the
true message
of the
gospel,
we are now
God's holy
and faithful
family,
children of
the same
Father God
who generously
gives us
grace and
peace.
who have
everything we
could possibly
need for
our Christian
life in
Christ,
gathered
together to
live out our
lives in
Carragalline.
This is who
we are.
This is the
new community.
This is the
true message
of the
gospel that
we are to
start with
and to
continue with
and not
move from.
This is the
new community
that we
live in.
Second,
then,
there's new
priorities
to live
by.
When we
become part
of God's
family,
there is a
certain way
to live.
We have
new priorities.
Let's read
verse 3
and 4.
We always
thank God,
the Father
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ,
when we
pray for
you,
because we
have heard
of your
faith in
Christ Jesus
and of the
love you
have for
all God's
people.
So the
first priority
is that we
would be a
people of
faith in
Christ.
We've
heard of
your faith
in Christ
Jesus.
Faith in
Christ is
where it
starts and
it is faith
in Christ
where it
continues.
As a
family,
we live
each day
by faith
in the
promises of
God.
So,
will I
trust that
all I
need for
my Christian
life is
found in
Christ?
Or will
I go
looking
elsewhere?
Will I
trust that
when God
calls me
holy and
faithful,
I am
holy and
faithful,
even when
I don't
feel it?
Will I
trust what
God says
about me
is true?
Will I
trust that
what God
says about
gathering
together is
best for
me, even
when I
think other
things are
more important?
You see,
faith isn't
just a ticket
into heaven.
It's not
just where we
start.
Faith is
about trusting
God's
promises to
us,
promising or
obeying
his word.
It's the
way God's
family live.
Our
second
priority
is love
for others.
He
reminds them
of the
love you
have for
all God's
people.
love.
You see,
love isn't
a choice.
It's a
command.
Love isn't
something I
do when I
feel like it
or when it
suits me or
when I think
the other
person deserves
it.
No, love is a
command from
God to his
family, love
one another.
In fact, it's
not a selective
love, it's
actually an
all-inclusive
love.
Did you pick
it up in
verse 4?
The love
you have
for all
God's
people.
You see, we
are a family
of brothers
and sisters,
so we don't
get to choose
which members
of the family
we love and
we don't
love.
And I
recognise that
that's hard,
isn't it?
because like
our families
that we may
live in, we
fall out with
each other and
it's no
difference within
the church
family.
Brothers and
sisters can
have fallings
out.
Sometimes
there's
arguments and
disagreements.
Sometimes
people will
frustrate you.
Some people
will let you
down.
And the
easiest way
to respond
and say,
oh well I've
been hurt by
them.
And the
response is
not to
love.
Perhaps not
by being
vindictive,
but by just
taking the
position,
well I'm
just going to
avoid them,
I'm not
going to
talk to
them anymore,
I'm not
going to
engage,
not going
to send
them messages.
But that's
not love.
Love is
seeing each
person as
God sees
us and
treats us,
remember who
we are in
verse 2?
We are
holy.
We're
holy in
his sight.
God
treats us
as faithful
brothers and
sisters.
And that's
what we're
to do with
each other.
Love doesn't
hold grudges.
Love doesn't
hold sin
against each
other.
Love
forgives.
Love
continually
moves out
to one
another.
It gives
and it
gives and
it gives
because we're
family.
Never saying
it's easy,
but this is
our priority.
So faith
and love
are the way
we are to
live.
But sadly,
and I think
we can all
identify with
this,
our faith
and love
can very
often grow
cold.
instead of
a burning
fire that's
easy to
live out,
it just
fizzles down
to little
spark or
a flame.
How do we
reignite our
faith and
our love?
Well, look at
the third
priority.
The hope
to come.
Look at it
in verse
five.
It's talked
about the
faith and
love and he
says,
now this
faith and
love that
spring from
the hope
stored up
for you
in heaven
and about
which you've
already heard
in the true
message of
the gospel.
Here we
have motivation
which sets
our faith
and love
on fire.
It rekindles
us and
gives us
motivation
and encouragement
to live
as we
should.
God has
stored up
for us
an eternal
glory,
hasn't he?
Verse five.
Heaven awaits
all his
family.
His children
have a
glorious
future.
One writer
explains our
hope like
this.
This is a
quote.
There is
total
shalom.
That is a
sense of
sheer
well-being.
Every
need is
met.
Every
longing is
fulfilled.
Every
goal is
achieved.
Every
sense is
satisfied.
We see
him.
We are
with him.
He holds
us and
hugs us
and whispers
this is
forever.
This is
our hope.
This is
the glorious
hope that
death has
been defeated.
And I
need reminded
of this and
you need
reminded of
this.
You see,
faith will
mature and
love will
grow as
we begin
to speak
the gospel
hope into
each other's
lives.
As you
tell me
the gospel
hope,
hope and
remind me
of what's
to come,
it encourages
me to
keep on
in my
faith because
one day I
will receive
the goal
of my
faith,
our eternal
home.
And as I
tell you and
as I share
with you the
gospel hope,
it will
encourage you
to keep on
loving all
God's people
because one
day we will
experience the
fullness of
love because
we will be
with Christ
and like
Christ.
So this is
our priority
as a
family.
We're to
tell each
other not
what the
weather is
like,
what you
can do.
You can
talk to each
other about
the match
yesterday and
who played
well and
who didn't
and where
you're going
to be and
what you're
going to do.
but please
can I
encourage us
that we
would speak
gospel hope
to each
other?
Because when
we do,
it will
mature our
faith and
it will cause
our love to
grow.
That's why
we're here
today.
That's why
we gather
on Wednesday.
We come
to talk to
each other
over tea
and coffee
to remind
each other
of the
true message
of the
gospel.
These are
the priorities
that we
live by.
So a
new community,
new priority
and a
new reality
to live
for.
You see,
the true
gospel not
only forms
a new
community of
people who
have new
priorities to
live by,
the gospel
reveals a
new reality
in which
we live
for.
It gives
us a
purpose,
it gives
us a
meaning for
waking up
every day.
The gospel
is effective.
It has a
power to
change and
transform our
lives and
the lives of
others both
locally and
globally.
power to
power.
This is the
gospel we
have.
It is a
gospel of
power.
Look at
verse 6.
We'll pick
it up at the
end of verse
5.
The true
message of
the gospel
that has
come to
you.
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.
As the
true gospel
is heard and
believed,
people are
declared by
God to
be his
holy people,
to be his
brothers and
sisters in
Christ.
The gospel
seed is
bearing fruit.
When that
word is
planted,
something
takes root
and something
begins to
grow and
there is
fruit.
the word
that is
explained and
taught is
powerful and
effective.
It leads to
a brand new
beginning.
That's what
happens at
Rock and
Rooted.
That's what
happened to
over 50
children.
Yesterday,
on Friday
afternoon and
evening,
the powerful
gospel went
out.
Seeds were
planted.
wanted.
You see,
we don't
make the
gospel powerful.
It already
is.
We simply
declare it
and God
does his
work by
his spirit
in the
lives of
those who
hear.
But it's
not just
bearing fruit
in individuals
coming to
faith.
It's
growing,
we're told.
Not just
new life,
but there
are new
churches.
Have a
look at
chapter 4
verse 12
again with
me.
Here we
get an
insight to
what has
happened.
We have
already seen
that Epaphras
heard the
message.
He told
it to the
people in
Colossae.
And then
in verse,
let's read
verse 12,
Epaphras,
who is one
of you and
a servant
of Christ
Jesus,
sends
greetings.
He is
always wrestling
in prayer
for you that
you may
stand firm
in all
the will
of God,
mature and
fully assured.
I vouch
for him
that he
is working
hard for
you and
those at
Laodicea
and Hierapolis,
which were
two other
little towns
very close
by.
So Epaphras
has been
there to
proclaim the
good news
as well.
And there
are churches
in those
places.
You see,
our reality
is so
often based
on our
experience.
Perhaps we
don't expect
anyone to
believe the
gospel anymore.
I mean,
it's an ancient
message.
Who needs
to hear it
and who
will even
listen?
Maybe we
don't expect
anyone to
believe it.
We don't
say anything
because we've
come to think
the gospel
is powerless.
But look
what it
says in
chapter 1
verse 6.
The same
way the
gospel is
bearing fruit
and growing.
When Paul
wrote to the
church in
Rome,
he says
this,
I am not
ashamed of
the gospel
because it
is the
power of
God that
brings salvation
to everyone
who believes.
This is our
new reality.
The gospel
is powerful.
The gospel
is bearing
fruit and
growing.
But not
only is it
powerful,
there is a
gospel expansion
taking place,
both locally
and globally.
That's the
message of
verse 6.
It's growing
throughout the
whole world.
just as it
has been
doing amongst
you.
The gospel
is at work
in the
world.
In Paul's
day and
all these
centuries
after,
it continues
to take
effect.
Here in
Ireland and
across Europe,
there are
gatherings of
God's holy
people,
just like us
today meeting
now.
Holy people,
brothers and
sisters in
Christ,
in a
particular town
or city.
family.
I spoke
to our
partner
Mickey this
week.
He shared
of one
lady in
a very
difficult
situation,
sharing with
her the
good news
of Jesus
and praying
and trusting
Jesus,
but having
to keep it
quiet for fear
of what her
family might
do.
the gospel
taking effect.
I got a
message from
Raj, my
friend in
India this
week,
talking about
the pastors
that he had
recently visited
in Bhutan
and Nepal,
representing
hundreds of
small village
churches.
They've heard
and believed
the gospel
is growing.
In 1979
in Iran,
there were
an estimated
500 local
believers.
Today,
there are
hundreds of
thousands.
Andy shared
with us last
week that
40 are
attending his
church in
Sheffield.
In China,
one of the
most closed
and restricted
countries in
the whole
world,
the estimated
number of
believers are
68 million.
in house
churches.
The gospel
is bearing
fruit and
growing throughout
the whole
world.
This is a
reality.
But it's
not just a
local global
expansion.
It's a
local one
too,
verse 6,
as it was
amongst you.
The gospel
was bearing
fruit and
growing in
the church
at Colossae.
This new
community,
who were
living out
their new
priorities,
had this
beautiful and
wonderful reality
of gospel
fruit and
growth.
And this
is what
Carigoline
Baptist Church
is called to
live for.
This is our
vision.
This is our
truth.
This is why
we wake up in
the morning,
because there
is a gospel
message to
tell.
and when
it is told
and when
God works,
it leads
to new
communities
with new
priorities
and new
realities.
God's
holy people
gathering as
brothers and
sisters in
Christ,
encouraging
each other
with gospel
hope,
resulting in
fruitfulness
and growth.
You see,
our gathering
here today
is a
reminder of
fruitfulness.
Every one of
you who is a
Christian has a
story to tell of
God working in
your life.
each one of
us can tell
how God is
working in
us,
making us
more mature,
of churches
being planted
in the
surrounding
areas.
It's a
reality.
Live by
it.
So here
we have our
introduction to
the church
at Colossae,
which reminds
us of who
we are,
God's new
community,
living lives
of faith
and love,
and speaking
gospel hope,
and as a
result,
seeing fruit
and growth
throughout the
world and
in our own
lives.
Let's pray.
Father God,
we thank you
for the true
message of
the gospel,
for its
power,
for its
effectiveness
to change
and transform.
form.
We thank you
that if we
believe,
we thank you
for that gift
of salvation.
And we ask
if we do
not believe,
that you would
give us faith
that we might
trust you,
that we too
might become
part of your
holy people,
part of your
family,
living a
new way.
Father,
please would
you use us
through this
week in all
that we do
individually and
corporately
together to
share of your
good news.
We pray this
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.