Listen to the sermon here: 2775813
Colossians 1:6 NLT
The Fruit of the Gospel is Changed Lives
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
Changed – According to Webster is “To Make RADICALLY Different”
The Gospel – The Good News
Colossians 1: 15-23
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Colossians 2: 6
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Don’t drift away…
Paul says the Fruit of the Gospel is Changed Lives
Colossians 3:5-9 God’s Word Translation
5Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). 6It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him. 7You used to live that kind of sinful life. 8Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 9Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, 10and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator.
Paul says in essence – Some have heard the Good News and changed for a while but many have forgotten.
Where are you?
Colossians 3: 12-17
12As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly. 15Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. 16Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about God’s kindness. Sing to God in your hearts.17Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Paul says in essence – Some have heard the Good News and changed for a while but many have forgotten.
Where are you this morning?
Amen