THE MESSAGE: ETERNAL HOPE
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Message
a) Understanding the Message of Christ is essential to fulfilling his mission. Our duty is to "proclaim Christ" (Colossians 1:27-28). Only the message of Christ is "the word of truth" and "the faith" (Colossians 1:5-6, 23). Paul is worried that the Colossians will turn aside from this teaching and become captives of false doctrines and commandments. How important it is, therefore, that we understand the message of Christ and are able to distinguish it from the many false messages in the world.
b) What is the Message of Christ? The message of Christ is what he said about himself and what he commands us to do, both to become "holy and blameless before him", and to "continue in the faith firmly established" (Colossians 1:12-23).
2. Eternal Hope
Colossians 1:5-6, 12, 23
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the [b]saints in Light.
23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
a) The hope of eternal life in heavenly glory depends upon the message of the gospel. Paul writes about "The hope laid up for you in heaven, which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel" (Colossians 1:5-6). He shortens this, when he mentions it again later, to simply "the hope of the gospel" (Colossians 1:23).
b) The hope of heaven is not like the hope of winning a fortune. It is not chancy. It is more like the hope of an inheritance. It is yours already and you simply wait patiently for it to come and do the right thing in the meantime. You can trust it, plan on it, and work toward it with certainty and expectation. So Paul speaks of this hope as "the inheritance of the saints in light" and says that the Father has qualified Christians to share in this inheritance and they should already be thanking him for this glorious hope and expectation (Colossians 1:11-12).
The End ...
1. The Messagea) Understanding the Message of Christ is essential to fulfilling his mission. Our duty is to "proclaim Christ" (Colossians 1:27-28). Only the message of Christ is "the word of truth" and "the faith" (Colossians 1:5-6, 23). Paul is worried that the Colossians will turn aside from this teaching and become captives of false doctrines and commandments. How important it is, therefore, that we understand the message of Christ and are able to distinguish it from the many false messages in the world.
b) What is the Message of Christ? The message of Christ is what he said about himself and what he commands us to do, both to become "holy and blameless before him", and to "continue in the faith firmly established" (Colossians 1:12-23).
2. Eternal Hope
Colossians 1:5-6, 12, 23
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the [b]saints in Light.
23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
a) The hope of eternal life in heavenly glory depends upon the message of the gospel. Paul writes about "The hope laid up for you in heaven, which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel" (Colossians 1:5-6). He shortens this, when he mentions it again later, to simply "the hope of the gospel" (Colossians 1:23).
b) The hope of heaven is not like the hope of winning a fortune. It is not chancy. It is more like the hope of an inheritance. It is yours already and you simply wait patiently for it to come and do the right thing in the meantime. You can trust it, plan on it, and work toward it with certainty and expectation. So Paul speaks of this hope as "the inheritance of the saints in light" and says that the Father has qualified Christians to share in this inheritance and they should already be thanking him for this glorious hope and expectation (Colossians 1:11-12).
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