WHAT ARE YOU REALLY?

COLOSSIANS 1:1-8

Rick Jackson

Colossians is one of the prison epistles (along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon). Thus called because Paul wrote it while in prison (1:24, 4:18). But as II Tim. 2:9 declares, "the Word of God is NOT bound!"

Last week we saw, "Who are you really?" This week the question is, what are you really? Look first at:

I. THE WAY TO BE [V. 2a]

1. Be a Saint [one set apart for God by salavation, I Cor. 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:]

2. Be faithful [we can't all be talented, can't all be rich, can't all be... but we can all be faithful. I Cor. 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.]

3. Be one of the "faithful brethren in Christ" Don't side with the world, the flesh and the devil against the brethren.

II. THE REASON TO BE [V. 2b-4]

1. We are recipients of grace and peace directly from God [v. 2b]

2. We are the cause of thanksgiving and prayer directly to God [v. 3]

3. We can bear a testimony of faith and love as directed by God [v. 4]

III. THE REALITY OF BEING [V. 5-8]

1. The truth of the Gospel secures our future [v. 5]

2. The truth of the Gospel secures fruit [v. 6, Ps. 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.]

3. The truth of the Gospel sounds forth from the faithful in the Spirit [v. 7-8]