Colossians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Paul & Timothy
“To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.”
SAINTS?
All the redeemed are Saints!
Adoption….
Saints…Christ-followers …Christians
3 QUALITIES of Genuine Disciples (3 Parts of Spiritual Anatomy) Head Heart Hands
Colossians 1:3-5 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.
Colossians 1:5-7 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, 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, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
The GOSPEL is simply…
Colossians 1:5-7 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, 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, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
3 Parts of Spiritual Anatomy Head Heart Hands Faith Hope Love
Which part of our spiritual anatomy is involved in… 1 Which part of our spiritual anatomy is involved in… 1. “Heard”…”the day you heard it”--It is a message, something heard (2 x) Head 2. “Word of the truth”…”in truth”--It is Truth…absolute truth (2 x). It involves a verbal message. Head 3. “Gospel”--It is good news. Heart 4. “Has come to you”--It is something that can be given away and received/embraced. Heart & Hands 5. “In the whole world”--It is for every people in every culture. It is trans-cultural. Head & Heart
Which part of our spiritual anatomy is involved in… 6 Which part of our spiritual anatomy is involved in… 6. “Is bearing fruit”--It produces good things, blessing Hands 7. “Increasing”--It isn’t stagnant or static but grows, changes lives, brings an abundant life. Hands & Heart 8. “Understood”…”learned it from Epaphras”—it is something that requires mental and spiritual understanding. Head & Heart 9. “the grace of God”—it is by grace (blessings that are not earned or deserved in any way). Heart 10. “Learned from Epaphras”—comes to us because someone else chooses to share it with us. Head
Head without heart = intellectualism X X X Head Heart
Heart without head = emotionalism X X X Head Heart
Hands without head = humanism X X Head Hands
How this Gospel affects our HEADS: (characteristics 1, 2, 5, 8 & 10) 1 How this Gospel affects our HEADS: (characteristics 1, 2, 5, 8 & 10) 1. “Heard”…”the day you heard it”--It is a message, something heard (2 x) 2. “Word of the truth”…”in truth”--It is Truth…absolute truth (2 x). It involves a verbal message. Head 5. “In the whole world”--It is for every people in every culture. It is trans-cultural. Head & Heart 8. “Understood”…”learned it from Epaphras”—it is something that requires mental and spiritual understanding. Head & Heart 10. “Learned from Epaphras”—comes to us because someone else chooses to share it with us. Head
Uncritical tolerance says… all = truth
Absolute objective truth says… cannot all = truth.
What are the absolutely foundational truths of the Gospel? 1. We have a PROBLEM—Rm. 3:23 2. God has a SOLUTION: Jesus--(I Cor. 15:3,4; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21; I Peter 1:18, 19.) 3. We have a CHOICE--(John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 6:23)
How this Gospel affects our HEARTS: 3. “Gospel”--It is good news How this Gospel affects our HEARTS: 3. “Gospel”--It is good news. Heart 4. “Has come to you”--It is something that can be given away and received/embraced. Heart & Hands 5. “In the whole world”--It is for every people in every culture. It is trans-cultural. Head & Heart 7. “Increasing”--It isn’t stagnant or static but grows, changes lives, brings a fuller, more abundant life. Heart & Hands 8. Understood”…”learned it from Epaphras”—it is something that requires mental and spiritual understanding. Head & Heart 9. “the grace of God”—it is by grace (blessings that are not earned or deserved in any way). Heart
There is an inseparable union between TRUTH & HOPE. Lies lead to hopelessness Truth leads to joy, peace & hope.
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Truth embraced… (Jesus Christ) changes our hearts… and leads us to active love.
What is Spokane seeing and hearing about the love we have for people?
Truth embraced… (Jesus Christ) changes our hearts… and leads us to active love.