The saints at Colossae had a reputation which went far and wide—they were known for their faith in Christ Jesus and their love which they had for all the saints.
Why did the saints at Colossae have this amazing faith in Christ Jesus and love for all the saints? Because of the hope laid up for them in heaven! The Colossians had heard about the hope laid up for them in heaven in the Word of Truth—the Gospel.
How did the Colossians hear about the Word of Truth? Through Ephapras, a beloved fellow bond-servant and a faithful servant of Christ on Paul’s behalf. He was the one who informed Paul of the Colossians’ salvation—of their love in the Spirit.
They didn’t just hear the Word of Truth though—they learned it from Ephapras.
The Greek word for “learn” is manthano. Manthano means to gain knowledge or skill by instruction. In other words, Epaphras was not just a traveling preacher, but a gifted teacher—we know, because the Colossians understood what he taught them! As a teacher, he taught them knowledge. He taught them the knowledge of the truth… the Word of Truth… the Grace of God… the Gospel!
Exactly what did the Colossians hear and understand? The Grace of God, the Word of Truth—the Gospel…
Exactly how did the Colossians hear the word of truth? Exactly how did the Colossians understand the gospel? In truth…
So then, belief is dependent upon hearing the word of truth in truth…
And when you do—fruit happens!
From the day the gospel came to the Colossians (and they believed) it constantly bore fruit and the fruit constantly increased!
What about the rest of the world? What happens when the Gospel, or the Word of Truth, comes to those who are called? It does the same thing as it did to the Colossians—it constantly bears fruit and the fruit constantly increases.
Jesus expounds on the idea of bearing fruit in John 15:1-17.
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.
Paul gives an in depth description of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
