What does Colossians 1:5-8 mean, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: as you also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit
What is the Hope which is laid up in heaven in Colossians 1:5?
في كولوسي 1:5 Paul wrote to the saints at Colosse about the hope which is laid up in heaven, whereof they heard before. The saints at Colosse knew their position in Christ Jesus. They knew what hope was laid up for them in heaven, because it was all revealed to them by the Word of God.
They heard it in the word of the truth of the gospel that came to them. Through the hearing of the word they received all the riches that they inherited in Christ, Who is in heaven and seated above all principality, قوة, قد, and dominion and every name (أ.و. افسس 1:21, كولوسي 2:10).
They heard the gospel of Christ and considered the truth of the gospel as the ultimate truth.
Because of the fact, that they believed the truth of the gospel (the good news) and walked therein, it brought forth fruit in their lives. Just as the truth of the gospel was bearing fruit in all the world.
The Word of God never turns back void. It will always produce the fruit of life.
What is the grace of God in truth?
The saints knew the grace of God in truth. The grace of God in truth means that we are:
- Reconciled with God through Jesus Christ and by His blood
- Restored (شفيت) from the fallen state and made whole again (from the fallen state to the healed state)
- Have become holy and righteous in Christ and received His Holy Spirit.
- Belong to God and are born of Him and are called the sons of God (وهذا ينطبق على كل من الذكور والإناث)
- Seated in Christ and received all the power and authority to become like Him, lead a godly life, reign over sin and destroy the works of darkness.
- Yes the grace, that we received the full inheritance in Christ, because of His redemptive work and not our works. This is true grace!
The grace of God is not a license to sin and to pick up your sins from your old life as the old creation; a sinner. Because if you do, you will be in bondage again and live in darkness.
saved by the grace of God
When you’re born again, you have been delivered from your old nature. You have become a new creation in Christ. By the grace of God, you received power and authority in Him. This power and authority is meant to rule over darkness and sin. Instead of being a slave of sin and live in the power of darkness. (اقرأ أيضا: ‘The purpose of the armor of God‘ و ‘Walk in the dominion that God gave you’).
The saints at Colosse accepted the truth of God’s Word. They yielded to the Word and applied the Word of God in their lives. The saints knew that by the grace of God, they were saved. They were not saved by their own works or by keeping the (religious) traditions and laws of men. But they were saved by Christ’s perfect work of redemption.
When they became a خلق جديد in Christ and received the nature of God by the Holy Spirit, they automatically did the works of the Holy Spirit. They walked according to His will and bore the fruit of the Spirit.
Epaphras, who was a fellow bondslave (a fellow servant) and a faithful minister of Christ to the saints at Colosse, informed Paul about their love and how the saints walked in the love of God; the love in the sphere of the Spirit.
"كونوا ملح الأرض."’
