People constantly say to me how different the gospel of Jesus Christ really is. Sometimes they speak of its simplicity. Other times they talk of the profound changes it has made in their lives.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is different. Paul made that difference evident when he wrote to the church at Colossae.

Paul wrote Colossians because of the struggles the church faced. False teachers had made their way into Colossae and maybe even into the church. They preached a secret, exclusive gospel which promised wisdom and secret knowledge to the initiated few.

This is how almost every perversion of the gospel works. False teachers seek to steal converts by offering their secret information which is for the enlightened and the few.

It is in these areas that the gospel is very different.

Paul affirmed that the gospel is for every man over the entire world. Paul affirmed that the gospel had gone out into the entire world and was making a difference in people’s live by giving them hope and God’s revelation. “. . . In the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing–so among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth” (Colossians 1:7).

Notice the worldwide aspect of this gospel of truth. Notice also that the gospel is for every man. “Him, we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:27). The gospel is not about secrets; it is about all becoming like Christ in maturity.

Paul wanted the Colossians to know that they had received the life-changing gospel that was going throughout the world.

The world still needs to hear this message that redeems us and makes us knew in Him.