The REAL Gospel

[WISDOM]

The book of Colossians, as no other book in the New Testament, presents the ABSOLUTE supremacy and authority of JESUS CHRIST in ALL things - the family, the church, and ALL creation. This book uniquely and beautifully pictures CHRIST in HIS rightful place as HEAD of ALL things. To have a truly deep journey into spiritual maturity you must understand exactly WHO our LORD/SAVIOUR is.

People today desperately need the book of Colossians because they are denying absolutes AND authority. The secular world is promoting a lifestyle DAILY where "anything goes." You and I live in a day when people reject any claim of authority on their lives, and the result is sexual immorality, violence, broken homes, and an "IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT" lifestyle/mentality. This is where the truth and beauty of the book of Colossians comes in to play for the true born again Christian. It presents the ageless, timeless, eternal CHRIST as the ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY in life and solution to our problems. Furthermore....it is applicable today MORE THAN EVER because people are looking for something that works and makes a difference in life.

Here in the United States millions of people every day consult the horoscopes in more than 1,200 newspapers, seeking some kind of direction in life. People are not concerned about pre-destination, election, or other argumentative theology, BUT they are interested in something that can give purpose and direction to their lives. They're looking for something REAL!! Colossians can meet those needs. It is more up-to-date than tomorrow's newspaper because it speaks to the greatest human needs of our day.

Every one wants peace in some way, shape or form. But before we can experience GOD's peace we must first experience HIS grace, for peace is the result of grace. A tragedy of our age is the human pursuit of peace through drugs, alcohol, sex, money, etc. However, apart from experiencing our LORD's grace, real peace CANNOT be found. When sinners experience GOD's grace, the RESULT is peace. When we experience GOD's grace the "spiritual war" with GOD in our hearts and minds is over! As a bonus we get a supernatural peace in our hearts that provides tranquility in the storms of life we face daily.

In Colossians 1:3, the Apostle Paul follows his greeting with a prayer of thanksgiving to our FATHER for the Believers at Colosse. I found this to be significant because Paul KNEW HOW to encourage Believers. Nothing....I repeat, NOTHING is more UPLIFTING than to hear someone thank GOD for YOU or something you have done. In the next verse Paul thanks GOD for their faith in CHRIST and love for ALL Saints. FAITH in CHRIST always results in love for ALL believers. Please take a look at verses 5-8, and you'll see Paul describe the REAL Gospel that the Colossians had originally received and he preached (though Paul had NEVER visited there or met the Believers there). First, Paul says the Gospel is one that gives a hope which is laid up for you/me in Heaven. The Greek word translated "laid up" means "reserved". Basically, it is a divine "lay-away plan" (Hebrews 6:19).

If you and I have received JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOUR, we have a long, LONG chain with an "anchor" on the end of it. That anchor has been thrown into the Holy of Holies in Heaven and hooked to the very throne of GOD. I've read where the AUTHOR of Hebrews describes it as "an anchor of the soul....within the veil". We have an UNBREAKABLE, UNSHAKABLE connection with the throne of our FATHER. Though our hope will not be fully realized UNTIL we receive our glorified bodies when CHRIST returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), we are able to enjoy the benefits of our hope because WE KNOW it is SECURE.

Our FATHER's Word is a living Seed, and when it finds good soil (a receptive heart....notice the operative word, RECEPTIVE) it takes root, grows, and bears fruit (Galatians 5:22). The REAL Gospel is not just the story of a great TEACHER like some people would have you to believe. Instead, it is a fruit-bearing force that transforms a life and causes it to bear fruit. It is all about the Living GOD. The Gnostics had introduced the Colossians to false teachings. They considered themselves "spiritual intellectuals" with superior knowledge who could help "lesser" believers obtain a higher level of spirituality. The word "Gnosticism" comes from a Greek word, "GNOSIS", which means "to know".

The Gnostics taught that our LORD/SAVIOUR was not the CREATOR, the incarnate GOD, and that HE alone was not enough for Salvation. What I love is that Paul NEVER directly attacks the teaching of the Gnostics, but in the very beginning of this book he describes the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST in a way that EXPOSES their heresy. There has always been and will always be those who will try to change or add to the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. This shouldn't surprise any of you who know the REAL Gospel already. We have our modern day Gnostics who think that people who believe the Bible and rely upon it as a guide for life are uneducated, ignorant and out-of-date. There are those who would "enlighten" us with their superior knowledge by having us add the teaching of some human being to the Word of GOD.

Others say the Bible is out-of-date, and we need to begin tearing out pages that no longer apply. AS Believers we must NEVER retreat from the FACT that the Bible is the INSPIRED, INERRANT, COMPLETE Word of GOD! IF it is ANYTHING less it CANNOT be our authoritative guide in life. In Colossians 1:7, Paul mentions "Epaphras", who had been a "faithful minister" to the Colossians. We don't know much about Epaphras of Colosse, who should not be confused with "Epaphroditus of Philippi". It is probable that Epaphras became a Believer during Paul's three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31), was discipled by Paul, and then returned to his hometown to begin a church. WHOEVER he was, he was an OUTSTANDING Christian!

The "Church" is in desperate need of people like Epaphras. He left Ephesus, took his study notes of what he had learned from the Apostle Paul, and went to Colosse to share the Gospel that CHANGES lives. That's how GOD works today. HIS life-changing message DOES NOT get out without a messenger. The presence of love in the life of a believer is the "acid test" of whether a person has responded to the REAL Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. It is not mere human love, but "love in the SPIRIT", which means the SPIRIT of GOD has produced a supernatural love. None of us are easy to love. I know I'm not! Oh, we ALL look so sweet and nice at church when we are at our Sunday-best. Or maybe when we're at a Bible study class or hosting one in our home. You know, with the little "fat rat in the cheese factory" grins we like to wear?!

But what about when we are at our worst. When we are short with our children, husband, or wife, we are not so easy to love. What about those bad days when we are grumpy with everyone about everything?! In all my life I have found only one person who is easy to love, and I MARRIED HER! *smile* Truthfully, there is ONLY one way I can love most of you, and that is "in the SPIRIT".

The fact that we are going to be together in Heaven for ALL Eternity should ENCOURAGE us to love each other on earth. However, the truth of the matter is as the poet puts it:

To live above, with saints we love,

Will certainly be glory.

To live below, with saints we know,

Well,.....thats another story.

The REAL Gospel of JESUS CHRIST results in the ability to live with saints we know and to LOVE them. There is one REAL test of whether you have experienced the transforming power of the Gospel that saves and CHANGES you. It is NOT what YOU believe, which church/denomination YOU attend, OR how much of the Bible YOU can quote.Our LORD gave us the acid test of true discipleship: John 13:34-35.

Our FATHER wants the world to judge us by our love. The love of the SPIRIT is not the result of compulsion from the outside, BUT of a CHANGE ON THE INSIDE caused by the REAL Gospel. This amazing news (or should I say, GOOD NEWS) brings men and women to repent and through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT be transformed into the likeness of JESUS CHRIST. This is "the truth of the gospel" (Colossians 1:5). It includes the message that leads to salvation, the instructions in GOD's Word, and the power of HIS SPIRIT, all of which are requirements for a "journey into spiritual maturity".

[eric]

Hi WISDOM.Nice to see your name on the board again, even if you are only passing through. You are an encouragement to all.

[Guest shadow2b]

AHHHHHHHH--the WISDOM of my beloved BROTHER--WISDOM------THANK YOU AGAIN MY BROTHER--------

THE little gems you bring forth are ALWAYS just at the RIGHT time---------MAY GOD BLESS YOU & KEEP YOU

IN THE SHADOW OF HIS HAND----------------------------------your brother in the LORD----{Gary}---

[WISDOM]

Eric and Gary....TYVM for the kind words. I've missed being a regular partner of this Board (best on the NET). As I noted previously, whenever I get the opportunity I will continue to post threads as the HOLY SPIRIT leads.

I'm thankful for those such as yourself who hear HIM "speak". Please continue to maintain that strong spiritual insight! Our FATHER is good all the time!!

[traveller]

Gary, you said it brother!

WISDOM, you post these treasures always at the right time!!

Wonderful to see your posts WISDOM! Like a breath of fresh air!

[angels4u]

Hi Wisdom,

We missed you here and I'm glad to see your name show up again.

I hope you get more time to post again!!

You are so right that we need the Bible to grow up spiritually and only through the Word we get to know who Jesus is.

Thanks I'm going to read Collossions tonight again,

Love your sister in Christ,Angels