Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. As we read these verses, ask yourself this. In what way? Has the gospel of Jesus Christ transformed my life? In what way is it transforming my home?
In what way does it transform my relationships? In what way, if any, does it transform the way I do business? in the workplace. Welcome to the Verdict with Pastor John Monroe. There's an important question that John has posed throughout our study in the book of Colossians.
What difference does the gospel make in your life? Because for followers of Jesus Christ, every area of our lives should reflect His Lordship. people should see a difference in our lives.
So today we're thinking of this marvelous transformation of the gospel.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe. We're nearing the end of our study in the book of Colossians. And today we come to the closing verses of chapter four. Paul has given us much to consider about how the gospel of Jesus Christ. impacts the lives of his followers.
Isn't it exciting to see the power of the gospel change the lives of people? Paul is certainly a great preacher, but he is also a man of love. Here at the end of his legger we see his heart. As a shepherd. You matter to God.
God not only knows your name, He knows all about you, and He loves you. Let's learn to value and honor each individual and follow this great example of Paul. As he traces the transformation of the gospel in the lives of various individuals. Colossians It consists of only four chapters. But I'm sure that you will agree.
With me as we've studied it, that we've come to realize that it's packed with rich theology and also practical advice for living a life which pleases the Lord. Paul magnificently presents the supremacy and the preeminence of our Lord Jesus Christ. There were false teachers at Colossi as there are today. Who subtly seek to detract from the supremacy and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ? But Paul presents the irrefutable proof That in all things Jesus is preeminent.
There is no higher knowledge, he is saying, than knowing Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden. all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Questions two. Verse 3. And as Paul presents his case so eloquently, he moves from the doctrinal to the practical, as he tends to do in his letters.
Paul's doctrine, however, is always practical, and his practical is always rooted in solid doctrine. Because Paul wants these believers at Classy, as the Spirit of God wants us, not only to understand these great truths about Jesus Christ. But to live out the transforming power of the gospel. That the Christian faith makes a difference. and how we live.
We come to the conclusion of Colossians, but Paul is not simply signing off. In these verses, the transforming power of the gospel is seen in the lives of the number of individuals. I must confess that when I began to study this this week. I thought, well, we've got all of these names. I guess I've got to wade through them.
Little did I realize What a powerful Passage. This is for us. And in these verses, I think we will see his pastoral heart. as he brings this magnificent letter to this riveting conclusion. Our subject this evening is the transforming gospel.
And as we read these verses, ask yourself this. In what way? Has the gospel of Jesus Christ transformed my life? In what way is it transforming my home? In what way does it transform my relationships?
In what way, if any, does it transform the way I do business? in the workplace. Turn now with me to Colossians chapter 4. And we're going to read from verses 7. to eighteen, the concluding section.
of this wonderful Little letter that we know as Colossians. Colossians 4, then, verse 7. Titicus will tell you all about my activities. He's our beloved brother. and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
I've sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. And with him, Anesimus, our faithful and beloved brother. Who's one of you? They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions.
If he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus, who's called Justice. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God. And they've been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you.
Always struggling on your behalf in his prayers that you may stand mature. and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that that he's worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea in Hierapolis. Look. The beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodicians, and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Arcipus, See that you fulfil the ministry that you have received in the Lord. I Paul. Write this greeting with my own hand.
Remember My chains. Grace. Be with you. Here we have the example of the transforming power of the gospel in The church. You'll notice in verse fifteen that Paul refers to a church in the house of Nympha.
It appears that the believers in Laodicea, according to verse 15, met in the house of Numpha, who may have been a very wealthy widow. Clearly, she's well known. By Paul. Paul begins the letter of the Colossians in chapter 1, verse 2. And he writes, he says, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.
And here he's asking that this letter also be read in the church of the Laodiceans. He wants the Colossians to read the letter. From Laodicea. You see the gospel. not only transforms us individually, it certainly does that.
But it links the transformed believer To other transformed brothers and sisters in Christ, namely, The church. And Paul is a man who has a great love and a great concern. for the local church. In the early church, it appears it was common for believers to have their church meetings in homes. There people gather to worship God.
To be instructed in the word, to pray for one another, to baptize and to break bread, and to have Christian fellowship and friendship. This is the transformation. Of the gospel. How wonderful that when God saves us, He doesn't leave us as isolated individuals, but He brings us together and links us. With our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now, what were some of the characteristics of the house church? such as is mentioned here at the conclusion of Colossians.
Well, a church in a home, when you think of it, would have been very distinctive. as this was a clear break from the synagogue and the temple of Judaism. You see, what is important in the New Testament church is not the place of meeting, but the focus of meeting. That is, as believers in Jesus Christ, we're not to be concerned with the external structure. But we are together in the name of Jesus Christ.
He is the focus. Remember him, how he said in Matthew 18, verse 20, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am among them. And a church, our focus is never to be on a building, big and impressive it may be. But our focus is always to be on Christ. Because it's possible to call yourself a church.
and not be the true church. In fact, this Laodicean church that Paul refers to here in verse fourteen, fif in verses fifteen and sixteen. is the very church that the Apostle John has to write to. In Revelation chapter 3. And to say and to call them to repentance.
And says to them that the Lord Jesus is, in fact, outside the church. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. That while we use it in individual evangelism, The context is that the Lord Jesus is outside the church. Behold, I stand at the door. And knock.
If any man Hears my voice and opens the door. I will come into him and sup with him, and he with me. The possibility that we could meet and call ourselves a church. And yet the Lord Jesus be Outside.
Now our focus. is always to be on Christ. Not the externals.
Now the concept of the host church then, I think, would have focused on the reality that Christ was in their midst, that they were gathering Not to denomination. which they didn't have any obviously. Not to an apostle. But to Christ. And the concept of the house church, I think, also.
would have emphasized something that we need to emphasize, and that is community. The family. Here is the transforming power of the gospel. Just as a family meets in a home, So the church is the family of God. Paul in 1 Timothy 3:15 refers to the church of the living God as he says, the household Yeah.
And so we have I think beautifully. in the house church particularly the emphasis on the family. And that trust that church. We understand something. of that, that we are a family.
But also the concept of the House Church would have emphasized the significance of each individual. In your home. Each member of the family is significant. Each person has value, at least in a good family, in a healthy family. I come from a large family, but there was no question that in our home, each one of us.
Whether it was mom or dad or our brothers, my brothers, each one of us was significant. When my grandparents came, it was clear that we were to treat them with respect. If guests came to our home, we were taught how to treat them in a certain way, that each person is of value, is of significance. And what is true in our natural family should certainly be true in the spiritual family. that each one of us has value that each one of us has significance.
that no member is to be discarded. That we all matter to God, that we're loved by God, that we are gifted by God, that God has put us here for a purpose, and so there's to be mutual love and respect. And we value, yes, the community, but we value the individual. In the church at Causey, there were Jews and Gentiles, there were slaves and free, there were men and women, but they're all united in Christ. Paul refers to them as saints.
and faithful brothers.
Now, what we see in these concluding verses that I've just read is this sense of family. Is this the sense of the significance of each individual? And Paul here. I think wonderfully gives examples from his own pen of the transformation of the power of the gospel in the lives of several people. In verses 7, 8, and 9, We have the example of the transforming power Of the gospel in the lives of the bearers of the letter, namely Titicus.
And anesimus. This man, verse 7, Tidicus, is mentioned several times in the New Testament as a humble. Servant. Paul refers to him here. With this great sense of love as a beloved.
Brother. Here we see the heart of Paul as a great pastor. It is not afraid to express his love for others. He also refers to anesimus. Verse 9 as a beloved brother.
He refers to Luke in verse 14 as the beloved. Physician. that these individuals are loved. By Paul. He also calls verse.
Seven, he calls Tidacus a faithful minister. In Greek pistos diakonos. The word diakonos, translated minister, is the word from which we get our English word deacon. This man Titticus, who is bearing the letter from Paul, to the church at Caucas. is a faithful Servant.
We also see from verse 8 that he was an encourager. He's the kind of individual who encouraged others. And so Paul is sending him to Colossi, that as he's encouraged Paul, so he would encourage the saints. At Colossi. In all likelihood, then, one of the ways that Tiddychus served Paul was by way of encouragement.
He's described also as a fellow servant in the Lord at the end of verse 7. I'm reading from the ESV. A fellow Servant. The emphasis on fellowship. and community with that little word Fellow.
Paul refers to Aristarchus in verse 10 as my fellow prisoner. He refers to the Jewish believers in verse 11 as my fellow believers. workers. Here Titticus is his fellow servant. The Greek word doulos, normally translated slave.
Tidacus, like Paul, is a slave in the service of Jesus. Christ. Titicus must have been delighted. His heart must have been bursting that here's the mighty apostle riding. and he refers to him as my beloved brother.
As a faithful servant, as a fellow servant in. The Lord. How would the people who know you? describe you. as you serve.
Perhaps you're a Sunday school teacher, you're you're in the choir, you're you're an usher, you Mm-hmm. You're involved. in prison ministry, in feeding the homeless. How w how would people describe you? As a faithful Servant, someone who's reliable.
Or are you the kind of person who cancels a commitment at the last time? Promising much, but delivering Little. How about encouragement? Here in the family of God, We need encouragers, don't we? Would those who know you describe you as an encourager?
or a critic. All of us need encouragement. And all of us. need to demonstrate. Out of love.
for others. There's also the example verse nine of anesimus. Anesimus and Tidacus are taking the letter that Paul is writing. to the saints at Colossley. Notice how he describes Anesimus verse 9.
I was faithful. And beloved, Brother, who is one of you? He's a Colossian. Isn't that amazing? Because we know from the little letter that that Paul writes to Philemon.
We know a bit about anesthesis, don't we? He was an essimist. He was a runaway slave. He ran away From his master. And Paul has such confidence in this former runaway slave.
That he is one of the bearers of the letter, and he describes them so beautifully: our faithful. And beloved, Not slave. Beloved, Brother who is one. of you. This is the transformation.
of the gospel. In the little letter of Philemon, verse 11, Paul writes to Philemon, who was Anesimus' master. He says, Paul says, He formerly was useless to you. But now he is indeed useful to you and To me. And so Paul is sending Onesimus Back to Philemon.
This church at Colossi. as an individual transformed by the gospel. And he's coming back, Paul says in Philemon verse 16, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother. Oh, he had been a slave in Philemon's house. He had run away.
But in God's amazing grace, We don't know the circumstances, but he had come into contact with Paul, had been converted, and this man, who was formerly useless, a runaway. is now transformed by the gospel. and has been serving. the mighty apostle. and is now bearing this letter back to his home.
Time. saved and on his way back. Bearing. the letters and he According to verse 9, he and Tittychus will tell the believers at Costa everything that has taken place. Here.
Notice the confidence that Paul has in anesimus. One's useless. Once I'm faithful, once I run away. But now faithful.
Now useful.
Now, a beloved brother in Christ. This is a transforming. Power. of the gospel. Anyone here got a checkered career in the past?
Perhaps been imprisoned. Perhaps run away from home. Perhaps embezzle funds from your employer. Disgrace yourself and your family. Anyone like that here?
I'm sure there are some. All of us. Without God's grace, they are useless. Self-centered, self-absorbed. But now in the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This man, Onesimus, who once was useless, is now useful. and is ministering to Paul. and it's going to minister. to the Colossians.
Now we have another example of the transforming power of the gospel in verses 10 and 11 in the lives of three Jewish Christians. Verse 10. First of all, the transforming power of the gospel in the life of Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner. Aristarchus as Paul's fellow prisoner. We know a little bit about Aristarchus.
From the book of Acts. Chapters 19 and 27. He was a Macedonian from the city of Thessalonica. and he appears to have been imprisoned with Paul. It must have been, when you think of it, a tremendous encouragement.
For Paul. To have a fellow believer with him at the time of his imprisonment. And says this man is my fellow Prisoner. And he says in verse 11 that Aristarchus and these two other Jewish believers, these men of the circumcision, have been a great comfort. To me.
Paul doesn't describe the nature of the comfort which Aristarchus gave him, but I'm sure his very presence. was a great comfort. You ever been in a tough spot? Perhaps ill bereaved down, discouraged over ministry. Difficult time.
And you remember well, don't you, that individual who comes to you. Not so much often what they say. Or perhaps even what they do, but their very presence. They are a fellow prisoner, as it were, someone who enters into, to some extent. Your situation, and Aristarchus is that kind of man.
Here is Paul, a man who loves the open air, a man who loves to preach. in the open air and now he's imprisoned and suffering in his imprisonment. Perhaps Aristarchus comes and prays with Paul and Reads him the Old Testament scriptures, ministers to him in practical ways, the transforming. Power. of the gospel.
But we also see it in verse 10: the transforming power of the gospel in the life of Mark. Verse 10, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you've received instructions, if he comes to you, welcome him.
Now, why was it necessary? For Paul to say now if Mar comes welcome him. Why was it necessary for Paul to say that?
Well, it was well known, wasn't it? And you know this if you know the if you know the book of Acts that John Mark had deserted Paul on a missionary journey. Paul had been very disappointed. And in fact, there had been a very sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over the supposed defection of Mark. And Paul and Barnabas had had such a sharp disagreement that they in fact Had parted.
John Mark going with his relative Barnabas and Paul taking. Silas. But in the grace of God. There must have been a beautiful reconciliation between Paul And Mark. In 2 Timothy 4, verse 11, Paul says, Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me.
Ministry. Here is the transforming power. of the gospel. This is the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe. Well, what's your verdict? Do you feel that your spiritual leaders know you? Have an interest in you and encourage you in the Lord. One of the great joys for followers of Jesus is to see the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others.
Encourage those around you. Remember, God knows you by name. Do you know him? Do others see the transformation of the gospel in your life?
Next time we'll conclude our series on Colossians. Don't miss it. as we continue to think of the transforming gospel. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
