Thanks to God

Colossians 1.3-8     Thanks to God
 
Paul's purpose in writing:   1.28
 
A.  ONLY GOD CAN GIVE LIFE
 
    1.  Only GOD can give life
 
        a.  The evidence of life  [4]
 
        b.  The origin of life  [1 Thess 1.2-5]
 
        c.  Thanks to God for life!  [1.12-14]
 
    2.  Only God can give LIFE
 
        a.  Our hope in heaven  [5]
 
        b.  Our hope in Christ  [1.26-27;  3.1-4]
 
        c.  Our hope is our life  [Psa 16.11]
 
B.  ONLY THE GOSPEL OF GOD CAN OFFER THIS LIFE
 
    1.  A message from God
 
        a.  Gospel  [5]
 
        b.  Word of truth  [5;  Titus 1.1-3]
 
        c.  Grace of God in truth  [6]
 
    2.  A message that is active and living  [1.5-6]
 
        a.  Heb 4.12-13
 
        b.  Acts 6.7;  12.24;  19.20
 
    3.  A message passed on by people  [7-8;  4.5-6]
 
C.  ONLY THE GRACE OF GOD IN THE GOSPEL CAN MAKE THIS LIFE A REALITY  [4]
 
    1.  The grace of faith  [Eph 2.4-5, 8-10]
 
    2.  The grace of love  [Rom 12.4-5, 9-10]