The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of truth. That word “truth” not only speaks of the facts of the gospel that are absolutely accurate, but here it also means that the gospel is a message of reality. Do you ever hear people say to you, “Get real, man” or “Be real, sister”? Well, if you want me to be real with you, then let me share with you the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1).
Jesus Christ is all about reality, for truth is reality. The Colossian church was coming under the enemy lies of legalism, mysticism, secular philosophy, and asceticism (Colossians 2:8-23). The singular response of Paul to these Satanic attacks was the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:5,23). Isn’t that powerful? The Bible is not a book of human ideas or opinions, but it is God’s book of truth. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Beloved, we can have full confidence in this sacred sword of The Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) as our one response to any and every attack upon the gospel.
But is this truth, or reality, all a bunch of head knowledge that makes us no earthly good? Not at all! When the truth of the gospel is made real to us by The Holy Spirit, it grants us a blessed hope of glory that brings forth a living faith and love (Colossians 1:4-5). May the truth of Jesus Christ and the reality of His gospel penetrate deep within our souls! May they cause us to be a God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-filled congregation, who are motivated by the hope we have in heaven. And may that hope inspire us to live for the glory of God on earth (Colossians 3:17,23; Matthew 5:16).
