Because of the Hope Kept Safe in Heaven

Summary: Paul and Timothy give thanks to God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, as they pray for the Colossian believers. Their thanksgiving is prompted by what they have heard about the believers’ faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all the saints. This faith and love are connected to the hope reserved for them in heaven, a hope they had already heard about through the word of truth, the gospel. That gospel had come to them, just as it was bearing fruit and increasing throughout the whole world. In the same way, it had also been bearing fruit among the Colossians from the day they heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. The Colossians learned this gospel from Epaphras, who is described as a beloved fellow bond-servant and a faithful servant of Christ on their behalf. Epaphras also made known to Paul and Timothy the Colossians’ love in the Spirit.   Teaching: When we hear the gospel we have received, we must come to understand the grace of God. The Word records the grace of God. Therefore, when we read and hear the Word, we should perceive and understand God’s grace. This requires understanding in the heart and a deep sense of being moved. If we learn the Word only as knowledge, there will be no fruit. To understand means to be moved inwardly, to experience a change in our thinking, and to move forward into action. Only then can fruit be produced. When all of us are built up in Christ, we become fellow workers. If we all remain in Christ, hear the Word, understand it, and carry out the work, then we become coworkers together. A person who is in the Holy Spirit is in Christ Jesus, and a person who is in Christ Jesus is in the Word. In order to remain in the Word, one must also remain within the church. Therefore, let us all be in Jesus, in the church, and in the Holy Spirit, so that we may become faithful workers of God. Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, June 3, 2026 Colossians 1:3-8