Colossians 4:2-18
In this passage, Paul touches on relationships both inside and outside the church. He’ll show us that all of these relationships are important, but they are not all the same. In every relationship that we have we are to be either a witness or an encouragement.
Through the whole OT, especially the Psalms and the Prophets, we see that the nations would eventually worship the God of Israel. But though we get any number of hints about Jesus and God’s desire to reach all nations that they might praise Him, we are never clearly told how this would ever come about. In the NT we finally find this out. Jesus, after his death and resurrection, goes to back heaven, the Holy Spirit comes in His place, and God begins building His church.
In Acts 11 we see three types of subject matter that need to be communicated by God’s servants.
11:20 preaching euaggelízō to announce good news, “evangelize”. This is to unbelievers. They really just need to hear the gospel. Until they grasp that nothing else really matters very much.
11:23 encouraging parakaléō to call alongside, exhort, admonish Related to parakletos, a title used of both Jesus and the Holy Spirit. (See John 14:16, 15:26, 16:7 and 1 John 2:1) This is especially to new believers. They need to go beyond the gospel itself and hear about commitment to Christ, growth and perseverance – so that they don’t see trials and fall away. More mature believers also still need this from time to time because, let’s face it, we get discouraged and need motivation.
11:26 teaching didáskō (like “didactic”) to impart instruction, explain or expound a thing, instill doctrine. This is educating Christians about God and the Christian life, communicating all that God has revealed to us – from A to Z, Alpha to Omega, the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation, the Contents to the Maps. Teaching nourishes and matures a church. It is sorely needed in the church today. Many Christians are ignorant of the Scriptures and are therefore weak in their faith (Romans 10:17). We their pastors need to feed it to them.
This is the last of five faithful sayings, which all appear in the pastoral epistles. This is the only one not given to Timothy, but rather to Titus.
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.These things are good and profitable to men.” – Titus 3:8 (NKJV)
The people of God are to be known for doing good. A righteous life, a life of charity and blessing to others, is the essential outcome of a life-changing faith. Somewhere I’ve heard it said that “Faith that does not change your lifestyle cannot change your destiny.”
O how true that is. Consider the woman I spoke with at an Indianapolis bus stop the other day while handing out gospel tracts. In an apparent effort to positively identify with my faith in Christ, she smilingly told me, “My baby’s daddy is a preacher. And he’s trying to get a divorce right now so that we can get married.” I’m ashamed to say I was so astonished that I was nearly struck dumb at that point. In disbelief I think I blurted out a “What!?” only to have her repeat herself and cheerfully reinforce the gloomy truth. No coherent response even entered my befuddled mind. Where’s Paul the apostle when you need him? Suffice it to say his counsel is still needed:
“These things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.”
Central Reflections 