Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Colossae from Rome in 61 AD. He expresses his constant thankfulness for their faith, love, and hope, which comes from the gospel - the word of truth. The gospel has spread throughout the world, with all who hear it understanding it and believing through God's grace. Paul is thankful that Epaphras shared the gospel with the Colossians.

1. Being Thankful for the Word of Truth
Colossians 1:3-8

2.  Written by Paul
 Written to believers in Colossae
 Written from Rome
 Written in 61 AD
 Written because of the Colossian heresy
 Written to show the supremacy of Christ

3.  What is an Apostle?
 Who was Timothy?
 What is Grace?
 What is the result of Grace received?

4.  Paul’s thankful heart, vv 3-5a
 Faith, love and hope
 The word of truth, the gospel, v 5b
 The essentials of the gospel
 The universal impact of the gospel, vv 6-8
 Constant fruit bearing, and the eternal nature of love

5.  A present state of thankfulness, v 3a
 Paul in Rome, under the threat of death
 Lack of thankfulness is a step towards sin, Rom 1:21
 Believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing, no
matter our circumstances
 Our hope is in the Lord, not our circumstances
 Praying always for you, v 3b
 Continuous participle, it is an ongoing action
 Pray to the Father

6.  Faith, love and hope: the trilogy of virtue
Dr. Norman Geisler
 Faith: our source of righteousness, Rom 1:16-17
 Bible definition: Hebrews 11:1
 Love for all the saints
 The primary trait of a Believer, 1 John 4:7
 God is the source of our love
 Love of God is the bond between Believers, John 13:34-5
 Hope is being continually laid up in heaven
 We look forward to (hope for) His coming again, John
14:1-3, Titus 2:11-14

7.  The Gospel: the death, burial and resurrection of
Christ, 1 Cor 15:3-4
 Not just believing historical facts, but the reason behind
them, Hebrews 9:22
 The necessity of the Gospel, 1 Cor 15:16-19
 The importance of loving others
 Included in the “word of truth”
 We will be judged on how we lived and loved others, 1
Cor 3, Romans 14:10

8.  Spread through the whole world
 Paul in Ephesus: all of Asia
 Roman Empire stretched to Britain, 61 AD
 Constantly bearing fruit
 God’s word does not return void, Isaiah 55:11
 The process of salvation, v 6b
 Hearing
 Understanding
 Believing, i.e. faith
 Grace of God in truth is for all people
 “… just as in all the world…”

9.  Two aspects of the gospel, v 7
 Hearing, understanding and faith for salvation
 Hearing, understanding and faith for sanctification
 All false religions teach works based salvation
 Only Biblical Christianity teaches faith for salvation
and sanctification.
 Leave out the word, and we revert to works… or guilt.
 Walk the same way we received Him, Col 2:6-7
 Firmly rooted, built up, established in our faith
 Overflow with gratitude

10. God
His
Word
The
Believer
Trust,
Thankful

11.  They learned it from Epaphras
 Beloved fellow slave
 Servant of Christ, represents Christ to others
 Full circle back to love, the premier virtue
 We need faith in the past and present
 Hope is the source of our present strength
 Only love is eternal, 1 Cor 13:13

12.  Paul’s thankful heart, vv 3-5a
 Faith, love and hope
 The word of truth, the gospel, v 5b
 The essentials of the gospel
 The universal impact of the gospel, vv 6-8
 Constant fruit bearing, and the eternal nature of love