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The Fruitful Gospel of The Fruitful Gospel of HopeHope

Colossians 1:3-8Colossians 1:3-8

The Fruitful Gospel of HopeThe Fruitful Gospel of Hope• 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will

of God, and Timothy our brother, of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 2 to the to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ who saints and faithful brothers in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. from God our Father. 3 3 We always give We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, Christ when praying for you, 4 4 since since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; the love which you have for all the saints; 5 5 because of the hope reserved for you because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in in heaven, of which you previously heard in the message of truth, the gospel the message of truth, the gospel (Colossians 1:1-5)(Colossians 1:1-5)

The Fruitful Gospel of HopeThe Fruitful Gospel of Hope• 6 6 which has come to you, just as in all which has come to you, just as in all

the world also it is constantly bearing the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and spreading, even as it has been fruit and spreading, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the truth heard of it and understood the truth about God’s grace; about God’s grace; 7 7 just as you learned just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow slave of Christ, who is a faithful servant slave of Christ, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, of Christ on our behalf, 8 8 and he also and he also informed us of your love for others informed us of your love for others which comes from the Spirit. which comes from the Spirit. (Colossians 1:6-8)(Colossians 1:6-8)

The Nature of Christian The Nature of Christian GrowthGrowth

• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, praying for you, 4 4 since we heard of since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; which you have for all the saints; (Colossians 1:3-4)(Colossians 1:3-4)

The Nature of Christian The Nature of Christian GrowthGrowth

• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, praying for you, 4 4 since we heard of since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; which you have for all the saints; 5 5

because of the hope reserved for you in because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you previously heard heaven, of which you previously heard in the message of truth, the gospel…in the message of truth, the gospel… (Colossians 1:3-5) (Colossians 1:3-5)

FaithFaith• 5 5 The apostles said to the Lord, The apostles said to the Lord,

“Increase our faith!” “Increase our faith!” 6 6 And the Lord said, And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:5-6) and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:5-6)

FaithFaith• Now faith is the assurance of things Now faith is the assurance of things

hoped for, the conviction of things not hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. seen. (Hebrews 11:1)(Hebrews 11:1)

• 6 6 And without faith it is impossible to And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)(Hebrews 11:6)

FaithFaith• We walk by faith, not by sight. We walk by faith, not by sight.

(2 Corinthians 5:7)(2 Corinthians 5:7)

• So faith comes from hearing, and So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)10:17)

LoveLove• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the We always give thanks to God, the

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, praying for you, 4 4 since we heard of since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;which you have for all the saints;(Colossians 1:3-4)(Colossians 1:3-4)

• and he also informed us of your love for and he also informed us of your love for others which comes from the Spirit. others which comes from the Spirit. (Colossians 1:8)(Colossians 1:8)

LoveLove• The love of God has been poured out The love of God has been poured out

within our hearts through the Holy Spirit within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

• 34 34 “A new commandment I give to you, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one have loved you, that you also love one another. another. 35 35 By this all men will know that By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

LoveLove• ““This is My commandment, that you love This is My commandment, that you love

one another, just as I have loved you.” one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)(John 15:12)

• For God is not unjust so as to forget For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have your work and the love which you have shown Him, by having ministered and shown Him, by having ministered and by still ministering to the saints. by still ministering to the saints. (Hebrews 6:10)(Hebrews 6:10)

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LoveLove• This is His commandment, that we This is His commandment, that we

believe in the name of His Son Jesus believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. (1 John 3:23)He commanded us. (1 John 3:23)

• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, praying for you, 4 4 since we heard of since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints… which you have for all the saints… (Colossians 1:3-4)(Colossians 1:3-4)

LoveLove• We know love by this, that He laid We know love by this, that He laid

down His life for us; and we ought to down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. and sisters. (1 John 3:16)(1 John 3:16)

Chuck ColsonChuck Colson

The Basis of Christian The Basis of Christian GrowthGrowth

• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, praying for you, 4 4 since we heard of since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; which you have for all the saints; 5 5

because of the hope reserved for you in because of the hope reserved for you in heaven of which you previously heard heaven of which you previously heard in the message of truth, the gospel…in the message of truth, the gospel…(Colossians 1:3-5)(Colossians 1:3-5)

HopeHope• Therefore, prepare your minds for Therefore, prepare your minds for

action, have self-control, fix your hope action, have self-control, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)(1 Peter 1:13)

HopeHope• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the We always give thanks to God, the

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, praying for you, 4 4 since we heard of since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; which you have for all the saints; 5 5

because of the because of the hopehope reserved for you in reserved for you in heaven of which you previously heard heaven of which you previously heard in the message of truth, the gospel…in the message of truth, the gospel…(Colossians 1:3-5)(Colossians 1:3-5)

The GospelThe Gospel• So, for my part, I am eager to preach the So, for my part, I am eager to preach the

gospel to you also who are in Rome. gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Romans 1:15)(Romans 1:15)

• Now to Him who is able to establish you Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ… (Romans preaching of Jesus Christ… (Romans 16:25)16:25)

• ……on the day when, according to my on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:16)through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:16)

The GospelThe Gospel• 20 20 For the creation was subjected to For the creation was subjected to

futility, not willingly, but because of Him futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope who subjected it, in hope 21 21 that the that the creation itself also will be set free from creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:20-21)God. (Romans 8:20-21)

• ““The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

The GospelThe Gospel• The Scripture, foreseeing that God would The Scripture, foreseeing that God would

justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” [Gen. 12:3] YOU.” [Gen. 12:3] (Galatians 3:8) (Galatians 3:8)

• ……the blessed hope and the appearing of the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus… Christ Jesus… (Titus 2:13)(Titus 2:13)

The Fruitful Gospel of HopeThe Fruitful Gospel of Hope• 3 3 We always give thanks to God, the Father We always give thanks to God, the Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for of our Lord Jesus Christ when praying for you, you, 4 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; the saints; 5 5 because of the hope reserved because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, of which you previously for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the message of truth, the gospel heard in the message of truth, the gospel 6 6

which has come to you, just as in all the which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly world also it is constantly bearing fruit bearing fruit and and spreadingspreading, even as it has been doing in , even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and you also since the day you heard of it and understood the truth about God’s grace… understood the truth about God’s grace… (Colossians 1:3-6) (Colossians 1:3-6)

The Fruitful Gospel of HopeThe Fruitful Gospel of Hope• 9 9 For this reason also, since the day we For this reason also, since the day we

heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, wisdom and understanding, 10 10 so that you so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit bearing fruit in every good workin every good work and increasing in the and increasing in the knowledge of God… (Colossians 1:9-10)knowledge of God… (Colossians 1:9-10)

Howard HendricksHoward Hendricks

The Fruitful Gospel of HopeThe Fruitful Gospel of Hope• For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it

is the power of God for salvation to is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

Little AnnieLittle Annie

The Fruitful Gospel of The Fruitful Gospel of HopeHope

Colossians 1:3-8Colossians 1:3-8