Yesterday in Scott’s sermon, he pulled five statements out of the first chapter of Colossians. Each statement went so well with our recent study of the book of James by Beth Moore (Mercy Triumphs, 2011). I would like to spend this week looking at each one of the five points.
1. There is no FAITH without FRUIT
As we learned in the book of James, God wants our faith to be evident in the way we live out our lives – the way we persevere through hard times, the way we treat those around us, the way we study God’s word, the way we speak to others, and the way we submit to God – in our fruit.
James 2:14, 24 (The Message): “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?…Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?”
Let’s look at how these verses in James agree with Paul’s letter to the Christians at Colosse and then how they agree with Christ’s own words.
Colossians 1:9-11a
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…
So how can we live a life worthy of our Savior and please Him in every way:
– Bear fruit in every good work
– Grow in the knowledge of God
– Be strengthened by Him so that we may have great endurance and patience
Well we are off to a good start then because we are spending time in His word, studying Scriptures and asking for wisdom and understanding so that we may know His will for our lives – so we may grow in the knowledge of God. And what happens when we ask God to fill us with wisdom?
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
And what is the product of the life of those given wisdom?
James 3:13 – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James goes on to describe this wisdom in verse 17 – “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
When we spend time in God’s presence and in the study of His Word, we begin to grow in wisdom and we are strengthened in our faith. It is this wisdom from God that produces the deeds. The result of this relationship – this intimacy with God – is evidenced in our fruit as we remain in Him all day.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” – John 15:5.