Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe, 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. Little did I realize But a powerful Passage This is for us. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to completely transform your life. Not only will you be reconciled with God and your sins forgiven, but your relationships and your perspective will be forever changed. And today we're being encouraged by three examples as we reach the end of our study in Colossians.
Now, with the final lesson in the series, here's Pastor John Monroe. Have you seen the transforming power of the gospel in the lives of others? Has the gospel transformed you? When we receive Christ as our Savior, we receive all of the benefits of the gospel. And this must change us from the inside out.
In the closing verses of Colossians, Paul is dealing with the impact of the gospel in the lives of different people. Our great God is concerned with each of us individually. At Calvary Church, where I serve as a pastor, We're privileged to have many different ethnicities. nationalities and cultures. It's exciting to see the lives of so many brothers and sisters in Christ being transformed by the gospel.
I pray. that you will be encouraged today And may you see the power of the gospel. in your own life. Turn now with me to Colossians chapter 4. The concluding section.
of this wonderful little letter that we know as Colossians. Here we have the example of the transforming power of the gospel in The church. 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 seven, eight, and nine, We have the example of the transforming power Of the gospel in the lives of the bearers of the letter, namely Titicus.
And anesthemus. 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, 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 workers. Here Titticus is his fellow servant. Servant The Greek word doulos, normally translated slave. Tidacus, like Paul, is a slave in the service of Jesus.
Christ. There's also the example verse nine of anesmus. 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 anesthemus, don't we?
Who was an esimus? 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.
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 is 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.
So fellow believer with him at the time of his imprisonment. Perhaps Aristarchus comes and prays with Paul and Reads him the Old Testament scriptures, ministers to him in practical ways. And says this man. is my fellow Prisoner. 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 Mark comes welcome him Why was it necessary for Paul to say that?
Well, it was well known, wasn't it? And you know this or do 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 marked.
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.
In ministry There can be, as many of us know, sharp disagreements. Ever fallen out with someone? You're serving with? Your team teaching. In the Sunday school, you don't quite get on with that person.
You're singing with someone and You just their personality rubs you. The way they want to do things differs from you. You're serving as an elder. A deacon. You're working together on a on a missions trip and That person just There's something about them.
And you had a sharp disagreement And perhaps it comes to angry. words. But you know the work of the Lord continues. And Paul here in Colossians in chapter 1. Has presented the reconciling work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That our Lord Jesus Christ is the great reconciler. We thought of that this morning, that He makes peace. Not only between God and man, but he makes peace. between Jew and Gentile. and between brothers like Paul and Mark, and Paul and Barnabas.
who have got sharp. disagreements. And it's a great tragedy, isn't it, in ministry. And in the life of the church and in our personal relationship, when sharp disagreements are allowed to continue and there is no biblical. Reconciliation.
Let's learn from John, Mark, and Paul. Aren't you glad that we have recorded their sharp disagreement? That these men had strong opinions, strong convictions, and sometimes they didn't agree. Even Peter and Paul, you remember. Had their disagreement as we read in the book of Galatians.
But whatever the disagreement. Christ the reconciler comes. and brings his peace.
So some brother or sister. A church with whom you have to reconcile.
Some individual in another fellowship that you have to reconcile with, some sharp disagreement. This is the transforming power. of the gospel.
And then verse 11, there's the transforming power of the gospel in the life of this man Jesus who's called justice. We don't know much about justice other than that he, like Aristarchus and Mark, were Jews. Paul refers to them in verse 11. These were the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they've been a comfort to me. What a great description.
True Christian fellowship. Doing The work of ministry. with their brothers and sisters in Christ, working for the kingdom. of God. And they'd been a great comfort to Paul.
You see, there were many Jewish believers in Rome. who are not at all sympathetic to Paul. We read of them in Philippians 1. You remember that some were criticizing Paul and some were preaching a gospel of jealousy and rivalry. But these three men.
Aristarchus And Mark and Justice, converted Jews, We're faithfully working with Paul. And the spread. of the gospel.
For the kingdom. of God. This is the transforming power. of the gospel.
And then we have in verses 12 through 14 the example of the transforming power of the gospel in the lives of these three Gentile Christians. First of all, in verses 12 and 13, the transforming power of the gospel in the life of Epaphras. Verse 12, Epaphras. Who is one of you? Again, he's from Colossi.
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 he's worked hard for you. And for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis, what a commendation.
Epaphras. A native of Close described here. as a servant of Christ Jesus. And this is one of these kind of brothers that has an unusual love. for his fellow believers in his home church.
We're all to love one another. But isn't that wonderful in the fellowship? of believers, there are individuals who have a special love. They're just people of warm, warm Hearts. Unselfish, working hard.
for others and the Paphras Is one of these selfless individuals who works hard for others rather than himself. In fact, his love is not just for the believers in Colossae, his hometown, but also in Laodicea and Hierapolis. And this transforming power of the gospel. Is seen in a paphras. Not only is he a faithful minister, Of Christ on your behalf.
But he also has a deep ministry. in prayer. Look back to chapter one. Colossians 1. Verse 7.
He says, just as he talks about the grace of God in truth, verse 7, just as you learned it from Epaphras. Our beloved fellow servant. See Paul's love for this man? He's a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. And has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
And so from the day we heard, we've not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled. with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and Understanding. And again here. In Colossians 4. Verse twelve.
We see that Epaphras is struggling. The Greek word is agonizing. agonizing as he prays for the Cautions. A great love. for his brothers and sisters in Kalasi.
I wonder how many people at church we have. who are agonizing. as they pray. For us.
Now I'm sure we pray for one another, but here Is this dear man? who is struggling on your behalf. in his prayers. Was he praying? that you may stand mature and fully assured in all The will of God.
If you're a parent. You probably know something of struggling. in prayer. On behalf of of your family. But Epaphras is praying not just for his own family, I'm sure he does.
but praying for the family of God. at Colosse. Perhaps Epaphras taught Paul about prayer during the time he was in Rome. Praying that you would stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. What a great prayer.
I'm I'm sure that Epaphras knew of some of the physical needs of the Colossians, but his prayer is at the deeply spiritual level, isn't it? Remember Paul says in Colossians 1 verse 28 Regarding Christ, he says, We proclaim Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Paul is struggling, is working hard as he is preaching and teaching the word of God that the church will be mature. He is preaching.
But here's this faithful servant, Epaphras. who perhaps did not have the gift of teaching so much as Paul. But he is agonizing in prayer.
So that as Paul is preaching Epaphras is praying. that the Colossians will stand mature. and fully assured In all the will of God. He's joining Paul in the hard work. of bringing believers in Christ to full maturity.
This is the transforming power of the gospel. I wonder how many Epaphrases we have at church.
Some of you perhaps Think well I'm at home a lot. And I'm not as active physically as I once were. Here is a wonderful ministry. But for all of us. to struggle in prayer.
Would some of you accept that challenge? to be like Epaphras. And then there is verse 14: the transforming power of the gospel in the life of Luke. Verse 14, Luke the beloved physician, greets you.
Now, Paul doesn't say much of what Luke did. We know that Luke accompanied him in the missionary journeys from the book of Acts, but he describes him as. The beloved Physician. Think what it must have meant. to Paul.
To have A beloved physician, a Christian. Physician. At his side. Did Paul have any Medical needs? Yes.
He's beaten. He's stoned. He's shipwrecked. He's thrown in prison. He's left half dead.
We know he had physical problems, perhaps something wrong with his eyes. Certainly as he comes towards the end of his life, Well a comfort To have A brother-like look. A man who's skilled who strained Trained as a physician. And brings that experience and that expertise for the furtherance. of the gospel.
And Paul says, I'm sure not glibly. is the beloved. What a blessing Dr. Luke must have been to Paul. All of his medical training.
All of his experiences placed under the lordship of Jesus Christ. And what a blessing are. And I've known many over the years. What a blessing. Christian physicians.
And nurses. Those in the medical profession are. who take their skills and minister to the people of God and others. With love. and with compassion.
and great skill. Often behind the scenes, often unknown.
So that Paul really doesn't tell us what Luke actually did. We'd like to know, but he just says, No, this is my beloved. Physician. And he's with me. And he Great cheer.
the transforming power Of the gospel. And then there is the example of Demas, also, verse 14. He just says. Luke, the beloved physician, greets you as does Dimas. No commendation is given to Demas other than saying, Demas, Great show.
Perhaps Paul saw something in Demas which concerned him. He's not described as beloved, he's not described as faithful, but simply. By name. Do any of you remember what happened to Demis? Second Timothy 4, verse 10, Paul's last letter.
Paul writes, For Demas. In love with this present world, he has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Can you imagine spending time with the great Apostle Paul and then deserting him? Even more sadly, Paul says, This man is in love with the present. World.
No doubt he saw the hardships of Paul. Perhaps Dimas had Superficially embraced Christianity thinking he was going to get something out of it, perhaps some reflective glory in being close to Paul. Rather, he sees the suffering, the imprisonment, the persecution, the loneliness. And rather than being transformed by the gospel, he turns back. into the world.
In love. with the present world. A solemn warning For all of us, it must have been a real heartbreak for Paul to have someone so close to him. and then to leave him. But isn't that the reality as we serve the Lord?
All of us have been close to people who we thought were following closely to Jesus Christ. I can think of many that I've spent. A lot of time meeting with them, encouraging them, praying with them, helping them, but today. They've gone back, back into the world. What's the answer?
Keep close. to the Lord. Keep close to your fellow brothers and sisters, and keep Your eyes. on Christ. Here is the transforming power of the gospel then.
Can you describe yourself as a faithful servant of the Lord? Are you the encourager? Are you someone who stands with others in the cause of the gospel? Notice Paul's injunction to Arcipus here in verse 17: see that you fulfill the ministry that you've received in the Lord. Each one of us is gifted by God, and each one of us has a part to play in the furtherance of the gospel.
Make sure. That you fulfill. That stewardship that is entrusted Two years. Yes, we are transformed by the gospel. conversion, but God wants this transformation process to continue.
So that we are increasingly faithful, increasingly in love with Jesus Christ, increasingly loving our brothers and standing with them in the cause. Christ. One of the greatest joys of being a follower of Jesus is to stand with fellow believers, isn't it? All of us need a Titicus, an Aristarchus, and Epaphras and a Luke. And we also need to be that.
to others. And Paul now concludes as I do in verse eighteen. And you can hear the pathos in his voice as he writes, Remember. My Chains. Easy to feel forgotten, isn't it?
Easy to feel underappreciated. Paul wants the Colossians to remember him, to pray for him. And he is so thankful for their encouragement of him through members of their own church. He began. In chapter 1, verse 2, and saying, Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
He finishes by saying, as I say to you, Grace. B. With Yeah. And may God's grace transform us. that we are like these faithful men and women.
who love Christ. and to love others. and they're faithful to the calling. that God has given us. Help us to do that, Father.
We thank you for this passage of scripture that Perhaps we're inclined to read over very quickly, but we think of these real. Man and woman. Who lived? and who were with the Apostle. People similar to us.
similarly tempted. And yet they stood. for the furtherance of the kingdom of God. We pray that for ourselves, Father, that we will be found Faithful. And that we will encourage one another and pray for one another.
So that the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue as we seek first the kingdom of God and your righteousness. Help us then to be faithful. Christ's name. Amen. 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. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity.
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? We spent quite some time in the little book of Colossians. As you think back, what have you learned? Has the gospel made a difference in your life? What would the leaders in your church say about you?
Are you faithful? Are you a person of prayer? Are you a consistent servant of Jesus Christ?
Next time we begin an exciting new series in the first six chapters in the book of Daniel. Will see God work in mighty ways in the life of this courageous Old Testament prophet. 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.
