Sermon Extras

Colossians 1:3-8 “Truly Knowing and Truly Showing”

INTRO> To help us with today’s test I want to introduce you to two men. John and Charles Wesley. John Wesley is most famously known for being the founder of the Methodist Movement. Charles is the lesser known brother but has had just a great of impact on Christianity and the Church. When they were at Oxford together they were apart of what they called, “The Holiness Club” They would meet with other men to pray together, discuss theology and if anyone would have thought anyone was a Christian, it would’ve been this club. The shocking thing about all of this, is everyone who was in that club would later go on to describe that they weren’t saved and tell of their conversion stories. In May of 1738 Charles Wesley went to church and came back and wrote in his journal, “I received the sacrament today but not Christ.”

APP> What is he saying here? He is saying basically, “I was just going through the motions today.” I did all the stuff, but there isn’t a change in me. “I know all the right things but there isn’t a change in me.”

CONTEXT> In these six verses the Apostle Paul is so excited about what we has heard about this church from the report of Epaphras, their founding pastor. He is “giving thanks”v3 to God for them but… Why? Well that’s found in verse 5-6 “… the gospel, 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.” Do you see that there? It’s one thing to hear the gospel, is another thing to hear the gospel and understand it! The word used here ἐπιγινώσκω epiginosko means “a knowledge which perfectly unites the subject with the object”

Notice the order:

• “you heard it..” v6 (Information)
• “you learned it…” v7 (Investigation)
• “you understood it…” v6 (Application)

APP> How do I know that I’ve heard, learned and understand the good news of Jesus?

Big Idea > If we truly know Jesus it will truly show in our lives.

APP> I see 4 things that Paul says you can see in someone’s life..

• You have faith in Jesus. v4b
  • “ since we heard of your faith in Jesus Christ…” Faith is the thing in the NT, it’s the thing!

*ILL> My car dying this week, jumper cables!

APP> Faith is the funnel through which salvation flows!

• “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

APP> Faith is an internal conviction that leads to an external action. *ILL> In the 1800’s there was a great entertainer by the name of “The Great Blondin” who walked on tight ropes across Niagra Falls. He walked across, then with a wheel barrel, people taking bets, Blondin in the restaurant, man saying he believes blondes can but doesn’t get on his back.

APP> A profession of faith without an expression of faith means no possession of faith.

*What is a practical first step of faith?! BAPTISM!

2) You have love for one another.v4b

• “and of the love that you have for all the saints…” This is THE mark in the NT of the NT church and of God’s people
• “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

*ILL> This week i asked a question on social media about Christians loving each other.

• “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

APP> Love is most clearly seen in sacrifice.

APP> Sacrifice is giving up something you love for somone you love even more.

APP> When is the last time I freely gave up something I loved for someone in this church?

3) You have hope in heaven

• “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven..” The way that this is worded, Paul is saying that they have a Hope that causes faith and love.
• But what is hope? it’s not “hope so” “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain..” Hebrews 6:19-20

APP> Hope is the confident expectation that what God has said will happen.  *ILL> Buying something off of Amazon, tracking number.

APP> Hope is holding onto the promises of God despite how I feel.

Big Idea > If we truly know Jesus it will truly show in our lives.

1. You have Faith in Jesus.
2. You have Love for One Another.
3. You have hope in heaven.

4) You have a trusted source. v7

• “just as your learned it from Epaphras…” look at the words used to describe this man. “beloved” “servant” “faithful” “minister”

*ILL> Roman collecting coins, coin shop in Cape, guys gave him a book for currency.

APP> Just because it’s in a Christian bookstore doesn’t mean that it is Christian.

APP> Christians fight dissection by discernment. Discernment- the act to perceive truth from error. *ILL> Being convicted about not having my bible in my hand when we preach and not putting scriptures on the screen.

Big Idea > If we truly know Jesus it will truly show in our lives.

Close> Back to Charles Wesley, when we were converted he wrote in his journal that “The Spirit of God chased away the darkness of my unbelief” and he went on to write a number of hymns. One of which we are going to sing now….