Colossians 1:3-6 – Hope Laid Up In Heaven – audio

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Text: Colossians 1:3-6

Introduction

A Christian has something to look forward to that anyone living as the world does not. If we remain faithful till death, we will receive a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Paul commended the Colossians for their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all saints (Colossians 1:4).

If there was no life after death, nothing would be lost. However, if there is life after death, then there is everything to gain. That is what we hope for!

Body

I. Christ has begotten us to a living hope.

Peter tells Christians exactly where that hope comes from: the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Because of what God’s only begotten Son did for us, we can inherit an eternal reservation in heaven by being His faithful children too.

II. Christ is getting our reservations ready in heaven.

Jesus had to go to heaven first (after his death, burial, and resurrection) so we can go after our death (unless the Lord returns first). Simon Peter did not understand this as Jesus explained that He was going somewhere we could not follow immediately (John 13:33,36; John 14:1-6).

Once there, Christ is getting ready for us.

III. We have the hope through the word of truth of the gospel.

Paul preached the gospel of Christ to give everyone the hope of salvation, for the power is in the gospel (Romans 1:13-16).

The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that gives us hope to live again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

That gospel will be preached throughout the entire world to give hope to every individual (Matthew 24:14; 28:19; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:18).

Thus, the gospel is bringing forth fruit (Colossians 1:6; John 15:16) as Christ intended.

IV. There is only one hope, and it comes from obeying one gospel.

Paul taught the Galatians about that one gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), and the Ephesians about the one hope (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Timothy learned about that one hope that comes through that one gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 1:8-10).

Conclusion

We should strive to realize that hope! We should live every day as faithful to the Lord as we can so that we can enter into heaven (2 Peter 1:10-11).

When people see how we live, they will ask us about it. We must always be ready to give them a reason of the hope that is within us with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).

Hopefully we can do that now.