Gospel Charity (Colossians 3:14) | John Owen

Deep Dive into Gospel Charity (Colossians 3:14) by John OwenJohn Owen's sermon on Colossians 3:14 explores the foundational nature of gospel charity, which he identifies as the principal grace and duty expected from believers, particularly within church fellowship. Unlike natural affection or alliances formed through shared earthly interests, this evangelical love is a unique fruit of the Holy Spirit and a direct effect of faith. It binds the souls of believers together, prompting them to deeply value one another and actively promote each other's temporal, spiritual, and eternal well-being.Owen emphasizes three primary reasons for the absolute necessity of this love. First, it serves as the ultimate testimony to the world of the gospel's power and of Christ's divine mission, as this unique spiritual union restores the relational harmony that was originally shattered by sin. Second, it is the defining evidence of true Christian discipleship. Christ issued love as a new commandment and set the ultimate example through His own sacrificial condescension, meaning that without this love, individuals lack true grace regardless of their impressive spiritual gifts or parts. Third, love is the very lifeblood and formal reason of the communion of saints. While believers might faithfully participate in the same church ordinances or follow the same pastors, genuine communion only exists when these actions are fully animated by love.To ensure believers have a practical environment to exercise this crucial grace, Christ instituted particular local churches to serve as immediate testing grounds for their obedience to His command. Owen concludes by warning Christians against allowing a sour natural disposition or worldly advantages, such as wealth and social status, to create distance between themselves and the meanest members of the congregation. Ultimately, believers are urged not merely to perform outward duties, but to ensure their actions flow genuinely from the internal, Spirit-wrought grace of love.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730