Why bother with telling others? Colossians 4:2-6
A recent survey in the United States of America asked the question,
“If you could ask a supreme being any question, what would it be?”
The answers were very revealing.
16% asked “Why do bad things happen?”
19% asked “What about life after death?” - a surprisingly low proportion.
34% asked “What is the purpose of life?”
Clearly the only person who can precisely answer the last question is the one who put us here. What is disturbing is the number of people who would call themselves Christians who, from their lifestyles are still clearly unsure.
Dr M Lloyd-Jones, the great Christian leader of the last generation, used to run a monthly ‘preachers workshop’. People would ask questions and Martin Lloyd-Jones would constantly reply,
“Which scripture applies to this situation?”
The book of Colossians was written to a young church that he probably hadn’t visited. However the apostle Paul wanted each of the Christians there, and elsewhere, to be clear about their priorities - what they were Christians for.
1. Live with Heaven in Mind
Colossians 3 v. 1 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is . . . .”
3 v. 2 “Set your minds” – literally have a mind set on pleasing Christ. This will involve both refusing to do some things and actively doing others
Be Negative - Don’t do anything that displeases Jesus. We Christians are called to keep close to the Lord and to keep praying, “Do you want me to do this?” No-one drifts into living like this, it requires the discipline of committed disciples.
v 5 ‘Put to death, therefore whatever belongs to you earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed, . . . ’ – we must be decisive and ruthless in our refusal to play with sin.
v 8 ‘But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other . . . ’ Note the urgency, we must not do these things and we must start refusing now.
Be Positive – We are to put on or clothe ourselves with behavior like that of Jesus. We might not feel like it, but we must do it. After all we have been given his Holy Spirit to enable us to do just this.
v. 12 ‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.’
Talking with a young Christian recently, he said “I want to be true to myself, I want to be true to my character.” But that is not Bible teaching “Do what is right – whatever you feelings – and that makes you the person you are”.
It is interesting that none of the common languages used in Israel in Jesus’ time (Greek, Latin and Hebrew), had words for ‘character’. A man was reckoned to be what he did, not what he thought himself to be.
So the first requirement is that we determine to become more like Jesus and ‘live with Heaven in mind’.
2. Live Biblically
3 v 16. ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you . . . ’
How this needs to be said today when so many Christians are suffering from ‘Biblical malnutrition’. Many Christian groups today appear to be moving away in one direction or another from the lifestyle that Jesus wants, that he has revealed in Scripture. When the Lord sees us, does he see a people in whom the Bible is central? Are we all studying our Bibles daily? Are we getting to know the background and outline of the different books in the Bible? Are we learning key verses? Are we all in Bible study groups? Are we sharing what we are learning with others?
The problem with our churches in England has this as the root cause. It is interesting that in Hebrew thinking the central point is usually the key point. It is because we tend to take such scant regard for the Bible, and how God thinks, that many get their priorities or emphases wrong.
3. Live Evangelistically
Everything we do is to give honour to Jesus.
3 v. 17 ‘Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
Whether they were speaking or writing, Paul and his friends had this constant desire to draw people to faith in the Lord Jesus. Earlier in this letter he wrote,
1 v 28 ‘We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.’
This must be an ambition for all of us. Remember these words of Jesus:
Luke 11 v 23 ‘He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.’
Each one of us is part of the solution or part of the problem.
Just as I had got this far in my preparation, there was a ring at the door. Standing there was a senior member of our church. He wanted us to support his political party in the local election. He is very active politically and devoted to his party, but I wonder if he is so active for the Lord. We certainly need more Christians to be active in politics but not at the cost of their keeping quiet about their devotion to Jesus. To compromise in this would be most stupid in the very long term, when eternity is reckoned with.
We are all called to be in ‘the fellowship’, partners in the business of Christ, living for the honour and reputation of Jesus and so drawing others to him.
Read Col 4 v 2-6 and feel the passion of the apostle. The early Christians were obviously expected to be partners in this fellowship, the business of sharing the gospel.
This passage makes it abundantly clear that evangelism, winning others for Christ , consists of two things:
Prayer.
Speaking effectively.
Prayer
Last year I was visiting the Kings Center Church in Chessington, and was introduced to a man in his eighties who had only been a Christian for 3 years. Perhaps I was feeling a bit cheeky but I said,
‘That’s wonderful, but what do you do for Christ now?’
‘I’m a prayer warrior’, he confidently affirmed. (I learnt later that he also loved to talk about his Lord).
Prayer is so vital; no one will be admitted to God’s Kingdom unless God’s spirit convicts him or her. We are involved in a spiritual war, so this instruction in v2 is for you and me. We are told
“Devote yourselves to prayer”.
Bishop JC Ryle wrote,
“No Christian duty is neglected as much as private prayer. I used to think that most people who called themselves Christians prayed. But I have come to a different conclusion now. I believe that a great majority who say they are Christians never pray at all. Prayer is a strictly private matter between God and us, which no-one else sees, and therefore there is a great temptation not to bother.”
What are we to pray for?
Obviously we are to pray for our own needs and opportunities, but note the fifth word in verse 3 - ‘And pray for us too’. It is assumed that we pray for ourselves and our own evangelism, but we are reminded that we should also support in prayer the active Christians in our Churches. Note what the specific things are that we should pray for each other.
That God may open a door.
Many Church people say today, “I don’t know any non-Christians well.”
We won’t catch a fish without a line in the water. So let us pray, as Paul asks here, for ‘open doors’ Often that door will be our own front door, so let us invite people round for meals or other activities such as watch England beat Scotland on TV.
Yet so often today the Church is just seen as a social center with fetes and money collections for social needs. These are good things, but they are not the primary role of the Church. This must be to help people recognize who Jesus is, what He has done for us on the cross and what His claims over us are.
Talking of the reputation we have for collecting money reminds me of one Church magazine which had this entry – ‘Would the congregation please note that the bowl at the back of the church labeled “For the sick” is for monetary donations only.’
2. For our message
A churchwarden once said to me, “I don’t believe in thrusting my opinions down peoples’ throats, I wait for them to ask me why I’m different.”
I was tempted to ask him how often they asked that but managed to bite my tongue!
We have a message that people need and that God longs for them to hear. We have been given a secret – a mystery (v3) that they need to know and understand.
This word ‘mystery’ is a key word in Colossians. Today most people think the mystery is why anyone is involved with church. They desperately need to know.
Col 1v26 “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed.”
Col 1v27 “ God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery.”
What is this mystery? It is nothing less than the hope of eternal life and how we can obtain this. Col 1 v. 27 gives us this secret,
‘Christ is in you, the hope of glory.’
These are riches indeed – for better that knowing the secret numbers for the national lottery or any other secrets of material success.
Col 2v2 says, “My purpose is . . . so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God.”
We know the secret of God himself – namely ‘Christ’. Doesn’t that thrill you? It obviously thrilled Paul. The Greek word Paul uses for ‘message’ is very interesting, it is ‘Logos’, meaning the WORD. At the beginning of John’s version of the gospel, Jesus is described as being the ‘Word’.
In this epistle Paul describes this mystery- this secret - in no uncertain terms. It is well worth reading chapter 1 verses 16 –20.
1) Col 1v15 says, ‘By him all things were created’. Jesus is God, the creator who made this world - this universe. The Lord Jesus is described as Lord, JAHWEH, because he created and cares for everyone and everything. Note in verse 16 that ‘all things were created by him and for him’
2) This Jesus has overcome the divide we all have between God and ourselves. By coming and dying for us on that cross he took on himself our sin. It is only because of who he is that he could achieve this.
‘He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death, to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. If you continue in your faith not moved from the hope.’ Col 1 v. 22,23
Our sin has created a barrier between God and us, which religion cannot remove. However the sinless Lord Jesus did just that when he died on our behalf. Paul keeps coming back to this. In Col 2v13 he writes, ‘When you were dead in your sins . . . God made you alive with Christ. That is our secret; ‘Jesus is God, and he can give us eternal life.’
This is our message: Jesus alone is Lord of creation. Jesus alone can forgive us, and present us as forgiven people before His father, because he alone was qualified to take our sins on himself on that cross.
Contrast this message with what is happening in so many of our Churches, where many teachers seem to be unclear. Wallace Benn, now Bishop of Lewes, was on a Church Selection Committee, selecting future Lay readers. He asked all the candidates, “Do you think Jesus is the best way to God, or do you think that Jesus is the only way to God?” All twelve answered, ‘the best way to God’. How could any Christian, let alone potential leaders, belittle the Lord Jesus in such a way?
The apostles didn’t muddle anyone, they knew who Jesus was. Peter, speaking to the Jewish rulers of the Sanhedrin, which included Annas the High Priest and Caiaphas, said,
“Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name, under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4v12
Consequently Colossians 4 v. 3 must be our prayer,
“That we may proclaim the mystery of Christ”.
This plea is not just for church leaders; it is for every one of us. We do not become Christians and choose whether we want to be involved in sharing Christ. Christ chose us to be Christians in order that we should be his representatives.
People think of evangelism as big meetings, and special people such as Billy Graham. Please rethink that idea, evangelism is primarily one person talking to another to explain the gospel, lending them a book or inviting them to hear someone else so that they can hear and understand this mystery.
D L Moody, a great church leader last century said,
“The way to reach the masses is one by one”.
Charles Spurgeon similarly said,
“The best fruit is hand picked”.
So let us make the most of every opportunity we have to share this gospel, let us look for openings. When I was younger I used to play a lot of squash and tennis. I used to invite my opponents back to my room for a much needed drink. One technique I used to help move the conversation onto spiritual matters was to leave a well chosen Christian book on the table or sideboard near where they were sitting. When their eyes glanced at the book, I would ask, as casually as I could,
‘Do you know that book?’
The reply was nearly always the same.
‘No, what’s it about?’
Many fruitful conversations followed.
Working as a surgeon I meet many patients who are having to face difficult times. I love to ask them,
‘Do you have a faith that helps you, or are you unsure about such things?’
Many have responded, ‘I wish I had’ or’I’m not sure’. Such an opener reveals that many people are desperately searching, usually beneath the surface, for answers to the mystery of life.
Today there are many who still attend church but who are unsure about Christian things. After befriending such visitors and gaining their confidence by chatting over coffee, I love to ask them casually,
‘Are you a convinced Christian yourself or are you still uncertain about these things?’
It is striking how many are openly uncertain and would like the opportunity to get some answers.
3. For Clarity
Very few people understand the gospel today. Even worse, most Christians can’t explain it clearly. Paul recognized the need for clarity so that his hearers could understand and in Col 4 v. 4 says,
“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”
Last Saturday I was sitting in the lounge at home, preparing a talk. My Bible, commentaries and some other books were lying about. The doorbell went and there was a representative for cable telephones and television. He came into the lounge , sat down and discussed what he had to offer. He noticed the books and said,
“I see you are religious. Do you know that you can have the Christian channel free?”
“Oh,” I replied, “that’s interesting. Are you interested in Christian things yourself?”
“Well, sort of. I would call myself a Christian but I don’t go to church. I feel such things are personal and private.”
“Yes, I do understand - but there is a major problem with that view, it means that people do not discuss these things much, so it is difficult to be sure that they understand them correctly.”
I then asked him,
“Are you sure yourself that you have got these things clear?”
“I hope so,” was his rather uncertain response.
It was perfectly obvious from this reply that he was not clear, so I then asked,
Would you be offended if I briefly summarise what Jesus taught so that you can check out your ideas?”
Whether it was because he was keen to keep in with me, or because deep down he wanted to know, I am not sure, but he replied,
“That would be interesting.”
So I started to explain the very fundamentals.
“The God who created this world did so through Jesus, and God gave all authority in this world to Jesus. He is our eternal King. The problem comes with us when we decide that we don’t want Jesus to be God, we want to live independently of Him. In fact we all naturally want to put ourselves in His place. We want to put ourselves at the centre and not have Jesus there. We want to decide what is right or wrong and we want to live as if God doesn’t matter.”
At this point the salesman interjected,
“Yes, that is true.”
He continued to listen intently as the story continued,
“The Christian good news in summary is that God has decreed that anyone who returns to live under the authority of Jesus, is regarded by God as if he or she has never rebelled. They are given a complete pardon and even more are accepted as part of God’s personal family, with all the benefits that that involves. However if people persist in rejecting their creator, in that they won’t allow Jesus to be their Lord, they will face eternal rejection by God himself. The stakes are high.”
“I have never heard it talked in terms like that, but it does make sense,” he exclaimed.
Then for about thirty minutes we discussed these things. Before he left I asked him if I could give him a copy of my book ‘Cure For Life’
“This explains in more detail the claims that Jesus made, what hard evidence there is to support those claims, and then in essence what he taught.”
“I would like that,” he replied. “I promise I will read it and will come back to let you know what I make of it.”
Only time will tell how that man will respond to the claims of Jesus, but he will make a decision about Him, everybody has to. There are really only two possible paths to take, either accept what Jesus says and go along with him, or reject him. There are of course some who put on a pretence of accepting the Christian faith, but Jesus is very aware whether people are trying to live under his authority and do God’s will or whether it is a sham.
Note that we will not be effective if we are preaching at them, the aim is to get into a discussion with questions and answers. Billy Graham was at a dinner when his neighbour asked him,
“Have you always enjoyed going to church?” He wisely replied,
“No, I used to hate Church until I was 18, and then something happened that changed my mind.” There is only one response to that and sure enough back it came,
“What happened when you were 18?”
4. With Grace
4 v. 6 says ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace’.
We must try never to argue and never to let the conversation become heated. A gentle, sympathetic and caring
approach, explained with confidence, is much more effective at helping people think about these eternal issues. The heart of the gospel is God’s love for us, so we must demonstrate this love to others.
5. With a tang
“Let your conversation be always . . . seasoned with salt.”
This means it should have some bite - a challenge. The stakes are very high. Jesus himself said
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him”. John 3v36
When I first qualified as a doctor I had a brief talk with one of my patients who had disseminated cancer.
“Do you have a faith that helps you at a time like this, or aren’t you sure?” I asked.
“I wish I had” came the reply.
As I didn’t know how to deal with this then I suggested that I ask the chaplain to come and have a talk with him. The chaplain did come but all he did was to talk about possible plans for his next holiday. Soon after I asked the chaplain how he had got on and how the patient had responded. The chaplain was hesitant.
“Did you get around to explaining the gospel?”
“Um, er . . , no, I didn’t think he was ready.”
The patient died shortly afterwards. This made me determine to learn how to help such patients.
To be a disciple of Jesus will bring opposition, Jesus warned us of that. This opposition comes not because we are kind and thoughtful, it is because of God’s uncompromising message.
Martin Luther understood this clearly,
“If you would think right of the gospel, do not believe that its cause can be advanced without turmoil, trouble and uproar. The word of God is a sword.”
6. Preparation Needed
Col 4 v. 6 says, “So that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Can we all do this? Is everyone who has said to the Lord Jesus “You are my Lord”, committed to sharing his gospel with others? If we are not, are we really committed to Jesus? If we are, we will need to work hard at learning how best to respond effectively to others queries.
In summary, what are Christians for?
Colossians 4 v. 2-6 stresses that we have been selected to live for Jesus Christ. We are to put his reputation above our own, we are to live the way he wants even if it is not easy. We are to do our utmost to remind others that they are responsible for the way they live and will be judged by this same Jesus. The only hope we will have when we face God will be a free pardon that we have not earned. That pardon is promised to those who respond positively to Jesus. Unfortunately time does not allow us to explore the evidence by which we know that this wonderful good news is true. God has never asked us to have a blind faith in Jesus, but He does expect everyone to respond to the gospel of his Son because the story is true, really true.
So what are Christians for?
To live constantly with Heaven in mind, in a way that pleases Jesus.
To live biblically.
To live evangelistically, by praying and sharing.
“You know that you also have a Master in heaven”. (Col 4 v. 1)
BVP
