CONTEXT: Our Gospel Witness

A. Speaking the Mystery of Christ

1. In Colossians 4:3-4 Paul speaks about his desire for believers to pray for him to have OPPORTUNITY to speak the MYSTERY of Christ.

a. Eph. 6:19 – preaching the mystery of the gospel.

b. This mystery is the previously unrevealed truth that during the present time frame, God is building His Body… the Church…. Jew and Gentile on equal footing in Christ.

c. This church consists of born again people… who are IN Christ positionally (in the body) and Christ is in them (indwelling).

d. Eph. 3:2-3 – Paul explains the dispensation of the grace of God…
• This stewardship was given to Paul, and we LIVE in an age during which the mystery of Christ has been revealed.
• This mystery is NOT to be kept a mystery any more. It has now been REVEALED.
• God wants the whole world to know!
• This is the age in God’s program to make KNOWN the grace of God.

e. The dispensation of the grace of God will END one day…
• And when it ends, it will be followed by a period of unprecedented judgment… the Tribulation Period… the time of Jacob’s trouble.
• Hence, there is the need for us today to let people know that they are on their way to Hell apart from faith in Christ!
• It is a most serious and sobering matter.
• Hence, the command in Col. 4:5 – to REDEEM the time… buy up opportunities we have today to make known what God is doing in the world today!

f. John 9:4-5 – Jesus knew that He had only a limited time on earth during His earthly ministry.
• He saw that time as opportunity to WORK… to preach… to shine forth as light… but He also acknowledged that that time would come to an end…
• He said, “The night is coming when no man can work.”

g. Our time is quite limited too.
• This is the age of grace… a time when God expects His Body… the church… to LIVE out a life manifesting the indwelling Christ…
• And God expects us to SPEAK forth this wonderful mystery too… as we OUGHT to speak!
• Time today from God’s perspective means opportunity to MANIFEST the indwelling Christ in our daily lives…
• AND that will attract some men to the light… and cause them to be curious and ask us a reason of the hope that lies in us.

h. As we walk in wisdom and LIVE the Christian life out in the world—doors will open… and when the door is opened, we OUGHT to speak!
• It is our privilege AND responsibility to manifest Christ in the time God gives us on earth…
• As we stay close to Christ… the indwelling LIFE of Christ our Savior is manifest to those around us…
• God will give us plenty of opportunity to let others know the good news of the mystery of Christ…
• And we OUGHT to speak… a moral obligation.

B. Walking in Wisdom (vs. 5)

1. As we walk in wisdom we function as His WITNESSES before those without Christ…

a. We haven’t all been called to the foreign mission field. But we have all been called into the “fellowship of His dear Son.”

b. And from that life of communion with the Lord doors will open for us to speak forth the glorious message: the gospel of God’s grace!

2. Our task is to draw near to Christ… a life that overflows with HIM… His grace, His holiness, His truth, His compassion for the lost.

a. As we draw near to Him… and LOVE the Lord with all our heart… opportunities will ABOUND to tell others.

b. And when we speak forth the gospel of God’s grace, it will come forth in the power of the Holy Spirit!

c. A wise walk will be a life that redeems the time and takes advantage of opportunities to speak up for Christ…

d. As God’s witnesses upon earth, BOTH are important parts of our testimony before the Lord: our walk and our talk.

e. We OUGHT to speak and tell others about Christ.

f. We also OUGHT to walk in wisdom… wise and sensible.

3. It is in this context that Paul mentions gracious speech in vs. 6.

a. Of course this passage taken by itself can be applied in LOTS of various ways.

b. Gracious speech is always a good ides.

c. But in Colossians 4:6, the context is our testimony in the world as ambassadors for Christ…
• We say that because Paul has been speaking about our walk and our talk with respect to telling others about Christ.
• He mentions “them that are without” (vs. 5)
• He mentions “answering every man.” (vs. 6)

Use Gracious Words

1. In a context of sharing the gospel, Paul says that our words are to be characterized by GRACE.

a. We need to be careful about our walk before the unsaved.

b. We also need to be careful about our talk before them.

c. Our walk should be wise; our talk should be gracious.

2. Grace defined:

a. Zodhiates: unearned and unmerited favor.

b. It is good will or a favor done without expecting anything in return; finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver.

c. Eph. 2:8-9 – it is the BASIS upon which God saves sinners like us!

3. Acts 20:24 – Paul refers to the gospel as the “gospel of the grace of God.”

a. Gospel OF the grace of God: grace in the genitive case
• Genitive describes or defines here…
• The gospel is described as a “grace kind of good news.”
• The gospel we preach is characterized by the grace of God.
• Grace is seen here as the distinguishing feature of the gospel.

b. The gospel MESSAGE is a message ABOUT God’s grace.
• It is not the gospel of the judgment of God.
• It is not the gospel of the wrath of God.
• It is the gospel of the GRACE of God.
• It is a message of good news for guilty sinners: GRACE is available through faith!
• The gospel highlights the marvelous grace of God.

c. Of course the gospel of God’s grace INCLUDES and will never OMIT the fact of sin and condemnation.
• Unbelievers NEED to hear that…
• It is an integral part of the message.
• If men are unaware of what God thinks of sin and what condemnation lies ahead, they see no need to get saved. Saved from what?
• But the fact that men are sinners on their way to Hell is NOT good news.
• It is a necessary precursor to the good news.
• The good news is that God’s grace is sufficient to deal with our all of our sin and deliver us from eternal condemnation! That’s good news indeed!
d. The gospel of God’s grace is good news to guilty sinners (like us) who are worthy of eternal judgment… but to whom God offers grace, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life as a gift through faith.

4. Romans 1:16-17 – The gospel reveals the JUSTICE of God.

a. Some might object: the gospel isn’t just about God’s grace. It’s also about His justice!

b. Certainly Paul says that in this passage.

c. The gospel REVEALS God’s justice… in that justice demands that the soul that sinneth, it shall die!

d. The gospel of God’s grace never VIOLATES God’s justice. God is BOTH just and gracious… and so is the gospel message.

e. God’s justice demanded that sin be paid for in full… and Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world.

f. God’s justice was meted out on His Beloved Son. Christ died FOR us… in our place… as our Sin Substitute…

g. Rom. 8:32 – God spared not His Son! The full penalty for sin that divine justice demanded fell upon Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus paid it all!

h. The fact that God spared not His Son reveals the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in the gospel message.

i. But that does not change the character of the gospel as that of GRACE.

j. The gospel of God’s grace is good news for sinners like us.
• The infinite weight of God’s wrath fell upon the Lord Jesus on the cross… and He BORE it for us. That is good news of grace.
• God’s justice was eternally satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. (He is the propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world.)
• While God’s justice was meted out on His Son, God’s grace is extended to us!
• While God’s wrath fell upon His Son, God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness is extended to us.

k. So while the gospel REVEALS righteousness… it is CHARACTERIZED by grace.
• Justice and divine wrath upon Christ… (revealed)
• Infinite grace extended to sinners…
• This was unthinkable agony for Christ… but it is good news for us… from our perspective.
• The gospel is all about God’s grace to sinners like you and like me.

5. Everything about the gospel is gracious!

a. Our salvation is on the basis of God’s grace.

b. We are the recipients of God’s grace.

c. The gospel magnifies God’s grace.

d. Once saved we become trophies of God’s grace.

e. The message is characterized by God’s grace to sinners.

f. We are to preach the gospel of God’s grace.

g. With this as a backdrop, let’s consider the exhortation in Col. 4:6.

6. God has chosen to communicate the message of His grace through individuals who have been transformed by His grace!

a. I Cor. 15:9-10 – Paul, the least of the apostles!
• He persecuted Christians and had them killed.
• He watched approvingly as Stephen was stoned.
• Then one day he was introduced to Jesus Christ… who was full of grace and truth… and was saved by grace… and transformed by grace.
• He acknowledges here it that it was because of God’s grace that he is what he is… an apostle and a preacher.
• He acknowledges it was God’s grace that was bestowed upon him… he deserved God’s wrath!
• He also acknowledges that whatever labor he is engaged in, it is God’s grace working in and through him AS he preached the gospel.

b. God has not appointed angels to preach the gospel of grace.
• Angels have not experienced the grace of God as we have!
• Angels know of God’s other attributes… (love; holiness; etc.) but have never been redeemed or experienced His grace.
• They are not as fit to communicate this truth as we are.
• God has appointed US… sinners saved by grace… to communicate this marvelous message to others sinners.

c. When Paul met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and experienced His grace, that grace gripped his heart in such a way that he was never the same again!
• He went about the world preaching that grace to others!
• He wanted the whole world to know that God is extending grace to them too! (Hence, Col. 4!)
• Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them that the Word of God should dwell in their hearts and that they should minister and sing with GRACE in the heart. (Col.3:16)
• The author of Hebrews states that our hearts should be established in grace.
• Grace ought to be IN the heart of one who has been saved by grace.

7. Col. 4:6 – The gospel of God’s grace is to be communicated by one whose heart has been transformed by grace, and that glorious message is to be embedded in words of grace.

a. It is to be communicated in a gracious spirit.

b. As God’s witnesses… as the ambassadors for Christ… we REPRESENT the message we communicate!

c. The message that “God’s grace can save you and transform your life” is to be communicated by a life that has been transformed by that very same grace!

d. If our hearts have been truly transformed by grace, then our speech will be gracious in communicating that message.

e. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

f. If God’s grace isn’t gripping our hearts… then the words we say might be accurate, but the message communicated by our lives might belie the words we speak…

8. It is possible to speak forth accurate information about the gospel, but to do so without one ounce of grace!

a. In Eph. 4:15, Paul tells us to speak the truth in LOVE.

b. In Col. 4:6, he tells us to preach the gospel in GRACE.

c. The fact that we need to be exhorted to do so indicates that we don’t always do it!

d. Sometimes we speak truth and lack love.

e. Sometimes we preach the gospel and do so without gracious words or a gracious spirit.

f. And that undermines the message we are trying to communicate!

g. If we come across to the person with a pompous, arrogant, holier than thou attitude, why should he respond to the message? (If that’s what the gospel produces, no thanks!)

h. In preaching the gospel, be careful with your pronouns.
• It might be accurate to say, “You’re a sinner.” But it’s more gracious to say, “We are all sinners.”
• It might be accurate to say, “Apart from Christ, you are going to hell.” But it’s more gracious to say, “Apart from Christ, we are all going to hell!”

i. We ought to put ourselves on the same level as they are… (not condescendingly) because we are no better!
• It might be accurate to refer to yourself as a saint and to them as a sinner… but it’s not very gracious. You are going to come across as arrogant…
• They are much more likely to hear what we have to say if we put ourselves on the same ground as they are… one sinner saved by grace talking to another sinner!
• One man put presenting the gospel this way: one hungry beggar telling another hungry beggar where the bread is!
• We are not just communicating the message of God’s grace with words, we are communicating a message in the WAY we present the truth.

9. Speaking the gospel of God’s grace is to be conducted in the power of the Holy Spirit… manifesting the LIFE of Christ.

a. When the Spirit is in control, our hearts WILL be filled with grace…

b. The character of the indwelling Christ Himself will be manifested through us. (His love for the sinner… His holiness… His truth… His compassion.)

c. A parrot can say words. But a parrot can’t communicate genuine compassion… an interest in the sinner’s life… a concern for his eternal destiny… a love for him…

d. That’s why God didn’t chose to send the gospel out by parrots or by angels… but by Spirit filled believers in whom Christ lives… sinners saved by grace.

e. Therefore we can speak forth the truth of the gospel, and do so with a genuine heart for the sinner!

f. We are to communicate the gospel with our whole being… intellect, emotion, and will… not just cold hard facts.

g. Christ’s love and compassion for him manifested through YOU… through your gracious words… your compassion… your concern… for Christ lives in us!

h. It adds more than just a personal touch. It adds a DIVINE touch!

i. II Cor. 5:20 – we are ambassadors for Christ…
• And when we speak as His ambassador, GOD is beseeching the sinner to be saved through us!
• It is God working in us to reach them!
• And when God speaks to a sinner, it is with compassion… concern… love… urgency… not willing that any should perish… a heart to see him saved!
• We are to be that yielded vessel… through which God speaks to the hearts of sinners… convicting them of sin… and convincing them to believe on Christ.
• God seeks to work through clean, yielded, compassionate, warm, living vessels… Christlike vessels…

j. Hence, our words are to be Christlike when presenting the gospel.

k. Luke 4:20-22 – When Jesus preached in the synagogue in Nazareth, the people wondered at “the gracious words” which proceeded out of His mouth.

Season with Salt

1. Seasoned defined: To prepare, arrange, with respect to food; to season, make savory.

2. Our speech (lit = logos = words) are to be seasoned… prepared… arranged properly.

a. In other words, we are to be careful about the words we choose…

b. When a woman prepares a savory meal for a guest, she puts a lot of work into making it taste right… adding just the seasoning… in just the right amount. She is also careful about the presentation… fixing up the table… making sure the dishes and silverware are shiny clean…

c. We should put the same effort into presenting the gospel.

d. We should carefully ARRANGE our words… and season the things we say… to make it as palatable as possible to the hearer.

e. One man put it this way: We are to be a witness, not a judge or a prosecuting attorney. We are to be witnesses of His grace… speaking forth the gospel of God’s grace in the dispensation of the grace of God… as living examples of His grace. Our witness is the whole package!

3. Speaking the gospel with words that have been SEASONED does NOT mean that we water down the message… or alter the message in any way.

a. Col. 4:6 is not talking about the message, but the MANNER in which it is communicated.

b. There is an offence to the gospel message… and there is no way to present the gospel and avoid that offence.

c. The message of the cross IS offensive to proud sinners.

d. Although the message itself is offensive, WE should not be offensive in the way we present the truth!

e. If people are offended, let them be offended by the message, not the messenger.

f. A host may prepare a meal of chicken and broccoli. Some people don’t like that and no matter how much effort you put into the preparation, they won’t eat it.

g. If they choose not to eat it because they don’t like chicken and broccoli, that’s their problem. You did your best.

h. But if they don’t eat it because they saw you chopping the chicken on a filthy countertop, and you left the broccoli worms on, and you presented the meal on dishes left unwashed since the last meal… that’s your fault!

i. When we present the gospel, some people will be offended by the message of the cross.

j. When we present the gospel and WE are offensive in the manner in which we present it, that’s our fault!

4. Have you ever heard the gospel being presented in an offensive manner?

a. I have heard preachers screaming their fool heads off!

b. I have heard Christians present the gospel in an obnoxious way… pushy… crass…

c. You can tell a person truth… but MAKE it offensive by the way you present it!

d. “You’re a filthy sinner and you’re going to burn in hell forever!” may be true, but it is a terrible way to present the gospel.

e. It lacks compassion… the love of Christ… concern… kindness…

f. There should be a lump in our throats as we present the gospel to an unsaved person.

g. It is not the kind of message to be presented in a light and frivolous manner either. This is serious business.

h. Treat him like a friend… someone you genuinely care about…

i. Instead of saying, “You’re a filthy sinner and you’re going to burn in hell forever!”… season those words with salt… be GRACIOUS in your message.

j. Don’t forget, it is the gospel of God’s GRACE we are sent to share.

k. Why not say, “God sees you and me and all of us in the same boat. We have ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God… but God in His rich mercy sent His Son to die for a sinner like me… and like you. God loves the world and isn’t willing that ANYONE should perish in hell… so He sent His Son to die for us and pay the penalty of our sin.”

l. You are saying the same truths… nothing is omitted or watered down… but they are presented in a gracious manner… well arranged words and thoughts… truth seasoned with salt.

m. The message of the cross has its built in offence. But that can be seasoned by a gracious spirit… putting yourself in the place of a sinner… showing concern and compassion…
• Paul says in Col. 4:6 that our words are to be “IN” grace…
• IN grace indicates not the CONTENT of the message but the MANNER of delivery.
• We can tell a sinner that he is on his way to the Lake of Fire in a harsh, demeaning, arrogant, self righteous, and cruel manner…
• OR we can deliver the very same truth IN grace… in a gracious manner.
• The message is the same. The presentation is quite different.
• Paul tells us that we are to deliver the mystery of the gospel of God’s grace ALWAYS in a gracious manner… IN grace… ALWAYS.

n. In a sense, we are like a doctor telling the patient his diagnosis and potential treatment.
• It’s a painful message the doctor has to communicate…
• It’s a message nobody wants to hear…
• But a little bedside manner can make it much easier to digest.

o. Paul admonishes us as we attempt to tell others about Christ, to exhibit a little bedside manner!

p. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.