Hello and welcome to Walking With Christ. I'm Jeremy and I sincerely thank you for listening today. As we go verse by verse through these chapters of the Bible, we'll seek not only to understand God's Word just a little bit more, but to apply it and to let it shape how we live, think, and walk with Christ each and every day. So let's begin our time together now with hearts open and our Bibles open to what God wants to show us. Today we are studying Colossians 1, verses 5 to 6, and we'll be looking at the importance of bearing fruit in our walk with Christ. If you have your Bible, read along with me. Again, Colossians 1, verses 5 to 6, and we'll be reading from the ESV. Paul writes there, "...of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, 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." Continuing the introduction in his letter to the church in Colossae, the Apostle Paul touches on one of the most important traits that true believers will experience in their walk with Christ. As we begin expositing this passage, we start with, of this you have heard before. So, what is this? Well, going back just one sentence, one verse, we see Paul is referring to the hope laid up for you in heaven, which we looked at last time. This hope is what the Colossians had heard of before, quote, in the word of truth, the gospel, unquote. There are several key parts to the true gospel, which Paul says is the word of truth. One is our understanding of the gravity of our sin and the need for a savior. See Romans 3 verses 23 to 25. Another is that Christ is the only Savior of mankind, who was and is worthy to cover all our sins before God the Father. See Acts 4.12 and 1 John 1 verses 8-9. And then there is the earthly outcome of our salvation, bearing fruit. We all know salvation is a gift from God, but it's a gift that demands action on our part. As the Apostle James wrote, What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? That's James 2, verse 14. And for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. That's James 2, verse 26. As clearly stated throughout Scripture, we are not saved by works, but instead, we are saved for good works. Reference Ephesians 2 verses 8-10. Those good works are fruit in our lives, and it is often the subtle things like being gentle with others, helping those in need, working heartily as though for the Lord, and trusting God in difficult situations. There are probably a million ways that the gospel bears fruit in our lives, but the mark of a true Christian is that we are indeed bearing fruit that is always increasing. Paul says, as indeed in the whole world, as it does among you, meaning that the fruit we bear through our obedience to the gospel is evidence to everyone around us, both Christians and unbelievers, of our genuine thriving faith and the truth of God's word. And that fruit continuously increases as we remain attached to the true vine, our Lord Jesus Christ. For more on that, read John 15. Paul tells the Colossians that the fruit of the gospel has been increasing since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. While our walk with the Lord should be maturing each and every day, once we are saved, the fruit begins to grow immediately. As young believers, we may not bear as much fruit as those who have been on the road with the Lord for decades. However, if we continue steadfast in the faith, walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, and pursuing the fruit of the Spirit we read about in Galatians 5, the fruit will indeed come. And it's important to remember that the fruit of the Spirit is not something we intentionally can produce. It is the outcome of our faith and good works. Those things, the fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, are what the Holy Spirit produces in us as we remain attached to Jesus Christ, the Vine. We can really do nothing without Him. And Paul says all of this comes from understanding the grace of God in truth. This goes back to the core tenet of the gospel, which is that we need a Savior and that He was given to us by the Father through grace and love. Salvation is undeserved and unwarranted and absolutely impossible to earn or buy. Through this truth, we humbly approach God, recognizing and repenting of our sins, and daily seeking His mercy and the immeasurable gift that He has provided to us through Jesus Christ His Son. Again, thank you so much for listening today and spending a few minutes in God's Word. As you go about the rest of your day, remember the words of Colossians 2 verse 6. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. May the Lord strengthen you to walk faithfully with Him, step by step, verse by verse, and day by day. Until next time, keep walking with Christ.