Gospel Metrics

• Colossians 1:6 (ESV)

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"[the gospel] which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:6 ESV)

This verse seems to indicates two metrics for gospel fruitfulness:
1. It grows through numerical expansion
2. It leads to personal AND LOCAL-CHURCH transformation*

*As a matter of fact, Paul's primary meaning, more than likely, is the gospel's effect on the corporate body of the Colossian church rather than singular change on individual believers that allows them to rest better at night. The result is the love for each other and faith in Christ for which he praised them in verse 4. This is often overlooked in our individualistic church culture. Of course, this cannot happen unless individuals are transformed. But it is critical to distinguish between change for my own benefit and gospel-motivated change that, in its purest form, is motivated to strengthen the body of Christ. In short, we seek change in our lives for the betterment of the body of Christ. And it is our activity within the body of Christ that is the perfect training ground to learn to add value and love to others - especially those who are more difficult to love. This idea crescendoes in 2:2, when Paul teaches that such a loving, grace-filled community of believers is actually a means to nurture a deep assurance in believers' lives.

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