Pastor’s Post – Book of Collosians Part 2 of 2
Sermon delivered at Bethany Pentecostal Chapel,
Manitouwadge, Ontario, Canada,
by Reverend Gary Burt, Number 2 in Series
Last time we learned that we need to keep in mind that the Apostle Paul is writing to Christians.
*“1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.” Colossians 1:1-2
We also spoke briefly of the importance of mentoring and of how Paul poured himself into the life of Timothy. You and I are called to mentor. We are called to discipleship.
The text then and today is Colossians 1:3-7.
*“3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints — 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” Colossians 1:3-7
Three key points:
Paul commends them in regard to:
- Their faith toward the Lord (1:4 a)
- Their love toward each other (1:4 b)
- Their hope toward the future (1:5-6):
They are looking forward to the joys of heaven.
We have already looked at Their Faith Toward the Lord.
Today:
2. Their Love Toward Each Other [part 1]
“. . . the love you have for all the saints” ( Colossians1:4b )
What an interesting word , “LOVE”.
Used 560 times in the Bible. ( NIV )
Love for food. Love of a person. ( master, child, spouse, stranger, neighbor ) Love of God. ( He loves us, we are to love Him ) We cannot look at love for one another without spending time looking at the Love of God.
After all, the love of God is why we are here.
John 3:16a. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,”
You cannot separate true love for one another from love for God. They must be connected.
* “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7.
Notice this next verse.
*“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
You see, love for God and one another are inseparable. The Christians at Colosse had a love for one another and a love for God. Faith in God and faith in one another.
We know that without faith it is impossible to please God.
* “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.
Without love for one another we will not please God either.
1 John 4:7 again * “ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Reminds me of James words, show me your faith — James 2:14-20
*“14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless.”
Just as faith without deeds is dead, so love without deeds is dead. Show me your love for God without love for one another and I’ll say you don’t have real love for God. Show me your love for God without doing good for one another and I’ll say you don’t have real love for God.
Sound harsh?
1 John 3: 16-19.
*“16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.”
1 John 4:7,8.
*“7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Did you get that? Whoever does not love does not know God, . . . ( because God is love ).
You tell me you are a Christian and don’t love your brother/sister in the Lord, I’ll tell you, “YOU HAVE A BIG PROBLEM!”
Back to 1 John 4.
1 John 4:9-12
*“ 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
*1 John 4:8b “. . .because God is love.”
Not: God is about love or God loves. GOD “IS” LOVE.
When you step into the presence of God, you are stepping into pure love. When He comes into your life upon your invitation, pure love comes into you. What you do with that pure love is your choice. You can allow His presence to permeate your being or choose to allow that pure love to merely influence you. God is love!
I have often been confronted with a statement when attempting to lead an individual in a different way than he/she is going. Christians who have received erroneous teaching which is detrimental to their spiritual well-being and may eventually be destructive to them personally, to others, and to their relationship with God. When showing them a truth in the Word of God in an attempt to lead them back to the straight and narrow Way.
Remember, Jesus talked about the narrow way and the broad way?
Matthew 7:13-16
*“13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
As a spiritual shepherd my responsibility is to care for the sheep. But in warning of false doctrines and pointing to God’s Word, or pointing to servants of God who have written great books, here’s the statement I have all too often heard; “Remember Pastor, you have to balance it with love.”
That statement indicates that the individual making it has a profound misunderstanding of the love of God. I don’t understand that statement— “Remember Pastor, you have to balance it with love.”
You see, first of all,
1. The Christian life isn’t a balance of good and evil, love and hatred, gentleness and anger. The Christian life is about diving into the love of God. Daily walking in the Spirit and becoming more like Christ.
We used to sing “To be like Jesus, To be like Jesus, All I ask is to be like Him. All through life’s journey from earth to glory, all I ask is to be like Him.”
That’s my desire. I fail miserably sometimes but nevertheless that’s my desire, my goal— to be like Jesus. At the end of each day I don’t place a scale on the table to measure how much love I have used as opposed to anger, hatred, judgement, etc.
I attempt to live in the love of God.God IS love and I am His child.
Some will say, “But Pastor/Teacher/Friend, you have no right to judge me.” They deem instruction/rebuke to be judging. Not at all.
Giving direction , instruction, or rebuke according to Word of God to attempt to bring someone out of a false teaching is not judgement! It’s following God’s commands.
*[ Leviticus 19:16-17, Proverbs 9:8, Ezekiel 33:7-8 , Luke 17:3 , 2 Timothy 4:2-4 ; 3:16-17 ]
*Leviticus 19:16-17. 16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. 17 “‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.”
*Proverbs 9:8. “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Ezekiel 33:7-8 [ THE MESSAGE ] 7 “You, son of man, are the watchman. I’ve made you a watchman for Israel. The minute you hear a message from me, warn them. 8 If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked man, wicked woman, you’re on the fast track to death!’ and you don’t speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I’ll hold you responsible for their bloodshed.”
*Luke 17:3 Jesus said “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.”
*2 Timothy 4:2-4. 2 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
*2 Timothy 3:16-17. “ 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Of course, instruction in the Word of God must be done in love , gentleness and respect for the individuals will. It’s their choice what they do with it.
But is MUST be done. If we really care.
*[ 2 Corinthians 10:1 , Colossians 3:12. 1 Peter 3:15 ]
Paul said to the Corinthian church— *“By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:1
*Colossians 3:12. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
*1 Peter 3:15. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Getting back to the balance thing again;
As I see it, Love isn’t the balance. If it were, that would indicate that on the other end of the scale is something opposite to love. Love must always be the motivating factor. Instruction, correction, etc, has to be motivated by love for God and the person. Surrounded and bathed in love. Balance is involved, I think, when we look at HOW we approach, deal with, and speak to the person. Are we balancing the correction, instruction, etc with gentleness and respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience? Are we setting apart Christ as Lord of our lives and Lord of the situation?
So, as I said earlier, I don’t place a scale on a table at the end of the day to see how much love I have used as opposed to anger, hatred, judgment etc. The goal is to love with no hatred, anger and so on. Live in the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit and allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow in our life.
*Galatians 5:19-24. “19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
So firstly:
1. The Christian life isn’t a balance of good and evil, love and hatred, gentleness and anger. The Christian life is about diving into the love of God. Daily walking in the Spirit and becoming more like Christ.
And that involves caring enough for one another that we attempt to bring those who may have strayed back to the fold.
Second:
2. Any instruction from God is always, completely, eternally, given in Love.
Remember, one of the truths of God is — God IS love.
When He commands: *“Honor your father and your mother, “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:12-16 . 1 Cointhiansr 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Matt 5:44 ( . . .) Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When He gave these commands and others, or when the Holy Spirit speaks into your life through the written Word or otherwise, understand this— These are given IN love, OUT OF love, FROM love, BECAUSE OF love.
God never speaks into your life out of a desire to make you feel rotten, but always with a desire to bless you and draw you closer to the heart of Father God.
When the preacher/teacher/evangelist stands with the Word of God it must be presented IN love with gentleness, respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience.
When a Christian speaks into the life of a Christian brother/sister it must be IN love with gentleness, respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience.
Paul wrote later in Colossians regarding these virtues; Colossians 3:14
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Love is certainly the key factor. The message must be given with gentleness, respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience. When a Christian loses these that is a clear indication he/she is not operating in the love of God.
My responsibility is to hear the heart of God, to receive from Him, and to present what I receive in love with gentleness, respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience.
Illustration:
If you as a parent in your relationship with your child, whom you love dearly, if you reach a place where discipline is required, what do you do? You discipline. Correct? The discipline may take various forms.
Supposing I were there at the time and said to you, “Your discipline must be balanced with love.”
Of course you are disciplining in love. With gentleness, respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience.
My comment could infer that I believe you disciplining your child indicates you do not love him/her?
When I say to God, God’s servant, or His Word, “Don’t forget, you must balance it with love”, that to me is saying, I don’t trust God enough to believe He loves me and has my best interest at heart.
My Bible tells me that God loves us with an everlasting love. ( *Jeremiah31:3 )
Psalm 86:5 . *You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
We read 41 times in the Bible, “His love endures forever.”
Notice 1 Chronicles 16:34 and check out Psalm 136.
*Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
The next time you hear someone say, “But you must balance the teachings, commands, instructions of God with love.” Please say, “You know what, God always speaks, directs, corrects in Love. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.”
Conclusion:
I’m not suggesting that every preacher/teacher , Christian author , is speaking/writing in love.
However, let’s not use the excuse of “balancing with love” , when really what we are saying is, “I don’t want to receive what’s spoken or written.”
We have a responsibility to one another; [ Luke 17:3-4 , 2 Timothy 4:2 , Revelation 3:19-20 ]
Luke 17:3-4
*”3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
2 Timothy 4:2
* “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”
Revelation 3:19-20 (Jesus is speaking here and His words are to Christians. )
*19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the ,door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus would say to you and I today—
*Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door of your life and knock. If you hear my voice and open the ,door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.
Have you heard the Lord knocking at the door of your life?
If so, what will your answer be?
The Colossians were known number one for their faith toward the Lord (*Colossians 1:4 a)
Their faith involved action.
Secondly for their love toward each other (*Colossians 1:4 b)
Their love involved action.
Their love toward each other involved correcting, teaching, rebuking, disciplining whenever needed, but always in love with gentleness, respect, compassion, kindness, humility and patience.
Their love toward each other involved meeting together on a regular basis. Coming together at church.
*They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47
May we not be among those who will not put up with sound doctrine. But instead, to suit their own desires, gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. And turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Lord Jesus, help us to remain true to Your Word! May we be commended for our faith toward you and our love toward each other. Amen
========
Next time;
Paul commended them for
Their hope toward the future (Colossians 1:5-6):
They are looking forward to the joys of heaven.
TO CONSIDER:
- How is your faith in the Lord?
- Do you have a faith in Jesus Christ? Not a faith about Him, a faith in Him?
- Is He Saviour and Lord of your life?
- What about through the tough times in life. Do you turn to Him for strength?
- How about when things are going great, do you continue to place your faith and trust in Him?
You can come to know Jesus Christ today.
The Bible tells us:
*“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” ~Romans 3:23~
*“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 6:23
*“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8~
*“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” ~Romans 10:9-10~
*“for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~Romans 10:13~
Take God at His word and claim His promise for your salvation.
You can accept Jesus right now.
Pray a prayer similar to the one below.
Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross for my sins and you were raised from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I am placing my total trust in you. Lord, come into my heart; forgive me of my sins, and save me. From this day forward, I will live for you. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you have further questions why not give me (Pastor Gary) a call at 826-3358
My prayer is that you will find Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord and experience forgiveness of sins and the peace only He can give.
* Unless otherwise noted, a Scripture references are from the New International Version of the Holy Bible.
