The Word to the World
“With great power comes great responsibility.” This popular saying summarises what Paul teaches in Galatians 5:13–15. The Galatians had been freed from maintaining certain Jewish practices; they were justified by faith apart from works. We learn from this that we are not to use our
Christians are called to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, and forgiving one another. But this cannot be done apart from the gospel. Love for the gospel is the root cause and enabler for Christians obey this command.
In Colossians 1:15–23, Paul urges the Colossians believers to continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel they had heard. The text makes the same exhortation to us.
The call to encourage one another and build one another up is far more than merely developing good neighbourliness and a positive community spirit. Rather, when Christians are reminded of their glorious transformation and victorious future, they are enabled to truly encourage their fellow believers