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 (Colossians 1:5-8)
What is the hope which is laid up in heaven?
In Colossians 1:5-8 Paul wrote to the saints at Colosse about the hope which is laid up in heaven. The saints at Colosse knew their position in Jesus Christ. 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 word they received all the riches that they inherited in Christ, Who is in heaven and seated above all principality, power, might, and dominion and every name (a.o. Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:10).
They heard the gospel of Christ and accepted the truth of the gospel.
Because of the fact, that they believed the truth of the gospel (the good news) and walked therein, it brought forth fruit in them, as it was bearing fruit in all the world.
The Word of God never turns back void. It will always produce the fruit of life.
The saints came to know experientially the grace of God in the sphere of truth. The grace, that we are:
- Reconciled with God through Jesus Christ and by His blood
- Restored (healed) in our state (from the fallen state to the healed state) and made whole again
- Have become holy and righteous in Christ and have received His Holy Spirit.
- Seated in Christ and received all the power to become like Him and lead a godly life.
- Yes the grace, that we have received the full inheritance in Jesus Christ. What a grace!
Grace 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, to rule over darkness and sin. Instead of being a slave of sin and the kingdom of darkness. (Read also: ‘The purpose of the armor of God‘ and ‘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 of men. But they were saved by Christ’s perfect work of redemption.
When they became a new creation in Christ and received the nature of God and 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.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
