C. H. Spurgeon once said: "People have often asked me, 'What is the secret of your success?' I always reply that I have no other secret but this, that I have preached the gospel - not about the gospel - but the gospel; the full, free, glorious gospel of the Living Christ, who is the Incarnation of the Good News. Preach Christ, brethren, always and everywhere."

Introduction:   We live in a day that is filled with a variety of religious beliefs.  Much emphasis has been placed upon denomination, affiliation and participation as a basis of eternal destiny. Today the pillars of truth that have stood for years; and, served as a foundation for our nation, are being torn down. Many believe there are no 'moral absolutes,' or no such thing as 'absolute truth.' The prevailing opinion is that man can get to God a variety of ways. Sadly the cause of this delusion rests with the church. We have drifted from the fundamentals of the faith and have succumbed to the opinions of men. We have become more concerned with being 'political correct' than 'theologically correct.'  Thus, we are preaching a 'social gospel' that seeks to make man feel good, rather than a 'sacred gospel' that shows man how bad he really is. The apostle Paul faced the same issues as he wrote to the church at Colossae.  It was a church surrounded by a false teaching and beliefs. The truth about the Christian life was being distorted, and the truth about Christ Himself was being deluded. The apostle Paul writes this letter, to the Colossian believers, to give them a right view of Christ. And, to remind them that Christ is both supreme and sufficient for every need. The key verse, and theme of the book, is found in Colossians 2:10, "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Every need of our life is found, and met in Jesus. We are complete in Him! Verse 6 says that when it comes to the Gospel, it's time to get back to the basics. 3 wonderful truths are spoken about the good news of the Gospel. First of all, notice:

I.          THE PRINCIPLE OF THE GOSPEL THAT CONNECTS US!

One of the first benefits the gospel extends to us is that it connects the pieces of life's puzzle together.  When one comes to Christ, life is finally connected.  Life finally makes sense. In fact, once we are connected, there are two new things that are given to us in our new life in Christ. First of all:

A.        We are Given a New Relation! (2a)

We are related as "saints." The word "saint" literally means, "the set-apart ones."

·         The term "saints", in the New Testament, embraces all aspects of 'sanctification.' It reminds us that once God saves us, He sets us apart exclusively unto Himself. We have a new relation, not only to Him, but also unto our fellow "saints and faithful brethren in Christ."

·         (2b), both familiar greetings of that day are used. The word "Grace" was the common Greek word used in a greeting. The word "Peace" was the common Hebrew, or Jewish, word used in a greeting. However, now brought together we’re reminded that "in Christ" 'Grace and Peace' are brought together.

·         These two are twin sisters in the Bible. They are always found together. First, God bestows upon us His grace, and then God brings to us His peace. In Christ, life is elevated to a brand new meaning. We find that which we could never find in the world; and, we are given a new relation. However, we're not only given a new relation; but:

B.        We are Given a New Location! (2b)

Geographically speaking, their location was in Colossae. Spiritually speaking, their new location was "in Christ." They were now a citizen of two worlds. They possessed a physical address, but now as the 'saints of God', they possessed a new spiritual address.

·         The Lord Jesus Christ is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven.  Therefore, if I am in Christ, I am positioned with Him in the Heavenlies. I am as sure for Heaven as if I was already there, because I am "in Christ."

·         I have been given a new relation, and a new location, because of the fact that the gospel connects life.  Notice, the second truth Paul outlines about the gospel.

II.        THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL THAT CHANGES US!

There is enough power in the gospel to save the world a trillion times over. The gospel does what nothing else can do: it changes a man. It does not seek just to inform, or reform; it seeks to transform. There are two things that Paul mentions are transformed by the gospel.  First,

A.        It Transforms the Inward Man! (4a)

·         Paul is giving thanks for what has taken place in the lives of the saints.

·         They heard the gospel. They received the gospel. And, they were transformed by the gospel. It had transformed the inward man.

B.        It Transforms the Outward Man! (4b)

·         The beginning work of salvation takes place in the heart of man. It is an inward work. However, the automatic result of a transformed inward man is a transformed outward man.

·         The gospel has transformed their attitudes, as well as their actions. It has transformed the inward man, as well as the outward man. Where there was once bitterness, now there was forgiveness. Where there was once resentment, now there was reconciliation. Where there was once hatred, now there was "love...to all the saints."

·         That is the transforming power of the gospel. It changes us completely. It begins with the inward man, and it continues with the outward man.

III.       THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL THAT COMPLETES US!

The purpose of the gospel is to produce fruit in our lives. It makes us complete, in the Lord Jesus, by making us fruitful, productive Christians; so that we may become all that God wants us to be. There are 3 words used here which make up the basic ingredients of life: "faith, love and hope." Those three attributes complete life and incapsule 3 of the greatest needs people have:

1. Something To Believe In! 2. Someone To Love, or To Love Them! 3. Something To Look Forward To! The Christian life, that is produced by the gospel brings these 3 ingredients into life, and completes it. As a result,

A.        We Can Now Rely on Faith! (v.4)

·         They believed something; or, to be put it better, they believed SOMEONE!  Their belief had become their behavior.

·         The faith, of which the Bible speaks, is not a blind leap in the dark. It takes what God has said and believes it as if it has already taken place. And, the truth of the gospel gives us a reason to believe, a right to believe; and, a resource to believe. We not only can now rely on faith, but:

B.        We Can Now Remain By Love! (v.4; v.8) 

·         It is interesting that verse 8 is the only time the "Spirit" is mentioned in the entire book of Colossians. And, it is mentioned in relation to love. We are commanded to love all the saints; and, because we ought, we can; and, because we can, we must. Finally, we can now rely on faith, we can remain in love; and:

C.        We Can Now Rest In Hope! (v.5)

The word "for" = "because of, or through." Paul completes the trilogy of the basic needs of life: faith, love and hope. The gospel satisfies every one of those needs.

·         Because of the gospel, we can rely on faith. We have something, and someone to believe in, and lay hold of.

·         Because of the gospel we can remain in love. The Holy Spirit, who indwells us, gives us the ability to love what we once hated, and hate what we once loved. 

·         And, because of the gospel we can rest in hope. We can endure the troubles, trials, and tribulations of this life because of the hope ", which is laid up for us in heaven."

·         The hope in which we can now rest is not some fancied feeling of future bliss. It is a present experience, which gives composure to everyday life. Hope reaches into the future and brings it back to the present.  Hope reaches up to heaven and brings it back down to earth.

·         The hope of the believer is that God's way is the best way, and the only way. This hope is the confidence that it is better to stake one's life on God than to believe in the things of this world.

·         We now realize that this life is not all that there is. We know that there is something beyond this life. We know that this world is not our home, we're just passing through. Thus, that living hope motivates our love, and strengthens our faith. (Illus:  I was that man).

Does that description sound familiar? If you are saved, it should; because, that is exactly what God did the day that we responded to the truth of the Word of God through the gospel. He altered our course. He changed our ways. He transformed our lives. 

Conclusion:     The principle of the gospel is that it connects life. The power of the gospel is that it changes life. And, the purpose of the gospel is that it completes life. We have attempted to shy away from preaching the only thing that can offer any help to hurting humanity, and that is the gospel. We have sought to employ the use of many other means to reach people, and attempted to make it so difficult that no one is able to understand it. I believe that it's time to just get back to the basics. It is the gospel, and it will still work today.