The Seed, Soil, and Fruit of Faith
Colossians - The Supremacy of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
How do you know if you are saved?
This is certainly a question that each and every one of us ought to consider. And this is a question that we should each be able to answer.
How do you know if you are saved?
Well to help us answer this question, let’s consider a similar question. How did Paul know that the Colossians are saved?
You see, despite having never met the Colossians, Paul confidently calls them Christians.
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
How can Paul call them saints when he has never met them?
Paul continues,
Colossians 1:3–5 (ESV)
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.
How can Paul know that their faith is a genuine saving faith?
How can Paul know that their love is a Christian love?
How can Paul know that their hope is rightly fixed upon heaven?
This morning’s text answers these questions. And this text will also help us answer our own question as well. That question being; how can we know if we are saved?
Hear what Paul says,
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
In this sentence, Paul lays out the three necessities of saving faith. And for the sake of this sermon, we will pick up on the agriculture imagery that Paul uses, and I am going to call these three objects
The seed of faith
The soil of faith
And the fruit of faith
All who are saved, we will poses each of these objects. Let’s consider them one at a time.
1. The seed of faith - hearing the Word
1. The seed of faith - hearing the Word
Even though Paul doesn’t compare the Word to a seed in this tis text, this passage parallels Jesus’ parable of the sower. In that Parable, Jesus likens the word that is heard to a seed that is sown.
The proclamation of the Word is the seed of faith, for apart from the word, no one can have faith.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
hearing the Word of Christ is a necessity for faith, and faith in Jesus Christ is the ground of salvation. One part of Paul’s confidence in the Colossians faith is owing to them having heard the Word.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
Of this you have heard… of their faith, love and hope, from the previous sentence, of your this you have heard…
Saving faith in God doesn’t spring from one’s imagination
Faith does not come from a feeling
The source of hope isn’t found through optimism
The Colossians had faith love and hope, because they heard a message
But the seed of faith isn’t just hearing any message… faith comes through hearing the Word.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
Paul has three different names for the Word of God in this sentence. But we shouldn’t take these different names to be three different objects.
My wife calls me her husband, my kids call me their dad, and my parents call me their son. While I go by three different names, I’m far from being three different persons.
So it is, Paul calls the Word of God by three different names, so that we would know three different aspects about this seed of faith. Let’s consider them one at a time.
The word of truth
It’s important that this distinction is made, because there are false teachers in and among the Colossian church, and there are false doctrines among us as well. Listen to the news, or spend time on the internet, take to the streets, perhaps even talk with other Christians, and you will hear all kinds of messages that don’t line up with the word of truth. But just because a word is spoken, and just because a person calls it the gospel, does not mean that their word is in fact true.
We need more than a word of encouragement if we wish to have saving faith
One might flatter you all by saying you all look lovely this morning. Or some may tell you at least you are better most of the world that is going on from bad to worse. But a word of encouragement will not produce saving faith.
We need more than a word of advice to be saved
One might give you tips for financial success. Or another might give you a list of ways to live your best life now. But a word of advice will not produce saving faith.
We need more than a word of caution to be saved
You can be told buckle your seatbelt when you drive. And you can be told that you should lock your doors at night. But a word of caution will not produce saving faith.
What we need, is not a word of encouragement, a word of advice, or a word of caution. What we need is the word of truth.
The word of truth isn’t a word from the the world. Everyone seems to “speak their truth”. But unless one hears the word of truth, they will not have saving faith.
The Colossians heard the word of truth because Epaphras accurately delivered the message to them… unlike the some of the false teachers who were teaching the church the philosophy of their day.
We are going to come back to the gospel in just a minute… go to the last description of the Word.
The grace of God in truth
The word ‘truth’ is used again to describe the Word of God. And while the entirety of God’s word is true, it is possible to hear only a part of the truth, and miss the that which leads to salvation.
We can be given the law, wich is certainly good and true… and we can be told that those who disobey God’s law will die, which is also true. But we know that through the law comes only a knowledge of sin. The law is unable to save anyone, because mere man can keep the law. While the law is true, we need more than the law in order to be saved. We must hear the of the grace of God in truth.
So if you want to hear grace and truth, listen to those who will make Jesus known in their proclamation of the Word. For in Jesus we have the fullness of grace and truth.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel....
The gospel
It’s the word of grace and truth is what makes this message good news. The gospel is the message of God’s grace and truth. The truth being that the penalty for sin is death, but God’s grace given when Jesus died for the sins of the world when he hung upon the cross. The gospel is the message of Jesus Christ and him crucified. The gospel is the message of Jesus’ death in our place. The message of the gospel is the word of Jesus’ resurrection in the past that foreshadows what our resurrection will be like in the future.
The world needs this gospel, which is Word of God, for it is the seed of faith. This is the work of missionaries… The work of missions isn’t to feed the poor, or to build homes for the homeless (although Christians ought to be about doing acts of mercy for those who are in need). But the work of missions is the work of proclaiming the gospel! For apart from the Word of grace and truth, no once can be saved.
This isn’t just the work of missionaries though. We need this seed. For salvation does not come apart from the Word of God. This is why our mission statement says this - at LWC we are about forming passionate followers of Jesus. And the way this is is accomplished this mission is by proclaiming the gospel of the glory of God.
If we wish to sow the seed of faith, then we must proclaim the gospel.
Let’s continue and consider the second necessity of saving faith - which is the soil of faith.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
2. The soil of faith - understanding the Word
2. The soil of faith - understanding the Word
Jesus’ parable of the sower makes this abundantly clear. It’s not just the seed that is scattered that produces saving faith. What I mean is this. Hearing the word isn’t enough to save. But saving faith is only possible for those who hear and understand the Word.
Matthew 13:23 (ESV)
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.
We wouldn’t be surprised if a seed doesn’t take root in the sand of the Sahara Desert. So too, we shouldn’t be surprised if Word does not produce faith when it is not planted in good soil. If we to have faith, we must have good soil. For it is there that the seed of faith can germinate and grow.
Every one of us who has heard the first part of the sermon, has recieved the seed of faith, which is the gospel. But this does not mean that every one of us is in fact saved. For there are many who will only hear the gospel but they will never come to understand the gospel.
Certainly, not understanding the Word might in part be owing to a poor preacher. But not understanding the Word isn’t always the preachers fault. It certainly wan’t Paul’s fault when he preached the gospel to the Jews in Rome.
Listen to the diligence of Paul’s proclamation of the gospel
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “ ‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
I sat under the Word of God for years without being able to understand it. I went to church in the morning and the evening. I went to YG every Wednesday. We did family devotions every night. Throughout all that, I heard the Word of God over and over again. I even played on the music at church and helped run the slides and sound in the sound booth. I heard the Word of truth for years. But for a many of those years I did not understand the Word of Truth.
I say that, because there may be some here this morning who might not even realize that they are spiritually deaf. What I mean, is you have heard the gospel proclaimed for years, but you still do not understand it and believe in it.
Do not settle for only hearing the Word without understanding the Word. Hearing the Word of God without understanding it, is as helpful as hearing a sermon in a language that you do not understand. There is a reason our liturgy is not in Latin, and there is a reason the Scripture was not read in Greek. Everything we do is in English, because our aim is not only to hear the Word but to understand the Word!
Kids if you don’t understand the gospel, ask your parents to explain it to you. Parents… if your kids don’t understand the gospel, then explain it to them. If anyone wants me to try to help them understand the gospel, I’d be glad to do what Paul did… if I could win one soul for my King, I would give the rest of my day to walking you through the Scriptures so that you might understand the gospel.
I’m not content with the Word being proclaimed only for it to not be understood. And you shouldn’t be content with that either. And you don’t need to stay in your confusion, because the Lord, in his kindness, gives the church aids to help us grow in our understanding. Look again at the means God gave to the Colossians.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
While opening the ears of the deaf is a work that only God can do, God most often uses men and women to teach the Word to his people so that their deaf ears might be opened. He uses men like Epaphras, who upon hearing and understanding the Word of Truth from the apostles, took it to his hometown so that he could proclaim the gospel to the people there. And he didn’t stop his work when the Colossians were converted. He continued by planting a church so that the believers can grow and learn under his teaching.
God calls older men to teach younger men, and older women to teach younger women. God calls parents to instruct their children in the way that they should go. God appoints ordinary people like Epaphras and ordinary people like myself, to teach the mysteries of the gospel to God’s people so that they might understand what was once hidden to them.
God gave the church pastors and teachers to tend to the soil of our hearts so that the seed of faith can grow. This is the language Paul used to describe the work of the ministry.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
Let me give us five ways, in no particular order, but five ways we can all tend to the soil of our souls so that the Word can grow
Gathering with the saints - that is be a part of a local church
I realize that I am preaching to the choir here… but for those who have yet to commit to a local body, and for those who do not regularly sit under the preached Word of God let me give you this exhortation from Hebrews 10.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Smaller gatherings
By which, I’m talking about our CG’s, men’s group, women’s group, Youth Group, and things like these. These are yet another way in which we do what Hebrews 10 told us to do. To stir one another up to love and good works... So if you feel dry, and you want to water the Word, I’d encourage you to joining one or multiple of these groups if you haven’t done so already.
Even smaller gatherings - 2 maybe 3 people - this will take some creativity on your part and the part of others. But imagine if every member was being discipled by an older saint, and if every member was discipling a younger saint. Some of you are already doing this. Some of you have never thought of doing it. Some of you might think that you aren’t ready to disciple someone - and you might be right… but if you’re not ready to disciple someone, perhaps you should find someone who would disciple you.
Personal reading and meditation of the Word.
I’m sure many of us had this as a goal for the New Year. And now that we are half way through January, I’m sure many of our goals for 2022 have already been lost. Don’t give up even if you are behind. Get in the Word. Read it. Memorize it. Meditate upon the word. If you are feeling dry, you must water the soil with the Word of God.
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Finally, read good books. Climb on to the shoulders of those who can show you things that you would have never seen had God not given us godly saints who have have dedicated their life to studying the Word.
Those are five ways we can all be watering the soil that has recieved the Word. Whatever you do, do not be content with hearing and not understanding.
But the goal of tending to the Word is not to have a robust knowledge of the Word. Gaining knowledge about God is not a parlor trick to show off at church or CGs.
The vinedresser does not tend to the soil and the to the vine just so he is able to show off his lush vineyard to his friends. The vinedresser and the farmer alike labors in the field so that they might enjoy and profit from the fruit of their labor.
Our goal is not simply to understand the Word for the sake of knowledge that puffs up. Our goal is to understand and know the Word of God so that through the Word, God can produce in us every good fruit.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
The third object that is needed for saving faith is
3. The fruit of faith - obedience done in love through the Spirit
3. The fruit of faith - obedience done in love through the Spirit
Obedience is not how we are saved… we are not saved by our works… Obedience is the fruit of salvation. Our love for one another is the evidence of our salvation.
At the beginning of the sermon I asked us to considered how we can know if we are saved.
Let’s consider one more question. How do you know if the tree in your backyard is an healthy apple tree? It’s quite simple, all we need to do is look at the fruit! The fruit on the tree will tell you what kind of tree it is.
So it is of a Christian. Paul knows that the Colossians are saints, because they have heard and understood the Word. And the effect of the word in their hearts is this: They are bearing fruit, namely the fruit of love.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
There it is… the fruit of faith is love for all the saints
And again we hear this at the end of our paragraph:
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
How can you know that you are a Christian? - Simple… look at the fruit of your life! Every Christian will bear good fruit.
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
It’s not just some good fruit… it’s an abundance of good fruit!
Listen to John 15.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
We have heard the positive effect of the word. Hear now the negative effect of those who do not hear and understand the word. When talking about false teachers, Jesus said,
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
All who are saved will bear good fruit!
Good fruit is not the cause of our salvation. Good fruit is the result of our salvation.
This is why Paul can confidently call the Colossians Christians. He does so, because they have heard the the Word, they have understood the Word, and the effect of all this is they now bear good fruit!
Let’s consider the primary fruit of every every believer: Love. Do you possess the fruit of love that that demonstrates that you are Jesus’ disciple?
And I’m not just talking about a love for your family… although that’s far from being excluded. But let’s consider: Do you love your brothers and sisters in this congregation? Do you love the saint in this congregation or perhaps the congregation down the road who doesn’t share your political position? Do you love all the saints, including those who test your patients? Do you love the saint who differs in a minor theological viewpoint from you?
Do you possess an abundance of the fruit of love?
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
How are we doing? Do we possess this fruit of love?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we belong to Christ Jesus, we will bear this fruit in abundance.
And bearing this good fruit is not a cultural thing… I’m from Montana, and there are certainly some differences between MT and WA. The other day some of you had a good time teasing me for the way I pronounce a certain word. I say all kinds of words in goofy ways that were never brought up until I moved out here!
People from around the world have different accents. But every saint in every region of the world, and in every generation will possess this same fruit in abundance.
Colossians 1:5–7 (ESV)
5b Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7a just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
Paul doesn’t need to be among the Colossians to have confidence in their faith. He has seen the fruit of faith it before in other saints, and he has heard of their fruit now from Epaphras…
You know the saying: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
So it is of all the saints. If you have heard the word, understood the Word, and if you bear good fruit as a result of the Word, then you are a saint who belongs to Christ.
The Colossians are were indeed saints. And so are all who bear the good fruit of love because of the work of the gospel.
But what do we do if we lack this good fruit? Do we need to start working up the willpower to think and act differently?
What would we do if our apple tree stoped producing apples? Would we go to the grocery store to pick up apples to staple to the tree?
Or perhaps more fitting for most of us, what would you do if your lawn started turning brown? Would a can of green spray paint bring it back to life?
Of course not… if you do not have good fruit in your life, then plant the seed of the Word and then tend to the soil around it.
If you do not have good fruit… it might be owing to the fact that are not saved. If that’s you, then do this: Don’t try to fix yourself and get your life straightened out. Instead, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
And if we have faith, but our soil is dry, then water the soil with a deeper understanding of the gospel. For this is how God produces fruit in his people.
We are Christ’s field. May we bear much fruit for his glory.