Knowledge of God’s Will

May 2, 2010

Lesson: Colossians 1:1–14

Key Verse: Colossians 1:9

Introduction

It was during the time of Paul’s first imprisonment that he wrote to the church at Colossae. Paul desired to strengthen the Church by encouraging both their faith and walk in Christ. Paul encouraged the saints to be firm in both doctrine and in practice, to know the truth and to walk in that truth. The first two chapters of Colossians deal with the doctrine or teaching of Christ as “head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18). “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:9–10). Chapters three and four emphasize our character and walk in Christ: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. …Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:2–3, 12).

We Heard of Your Faith and Love—Colossians 1:1–8

Paul writes the saints, the elect, chosen and faithful in Christ. His benediction for the church is “Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is by the grace of God, and the knowledge that we are at peace with God because of the precious sacrifice of Christ, and forgiveness of sins, that the church is able to hear the Word of God, to walk in his way.

Paul lifts up the saints at Colossae, saying that he and Timothy “give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” A pastor always gives thanks to God our Father for the congregation. He does this by praying for them. When we pray for one another, we are giving thanks to God for one another. We can do nothing less for those for whom Christ died. That is why Paul calls them “faithful brethren.”

Paul’s prayer before his heavenly Father is motivated by what he has heard about those who are called by the name of Christ. A message of faith and love in the church at Colossae came to Paul through Epaphras, who declared their love in the Holy Spirit. In other words, the saints were a Spirit-led people. Our heart’s desire is to know Christ and love each other as Christ so loves us. Epaphras was a fellow servant of Paul, and a faithful minister of Christ on behalf of the church at Colossae. The character of the Christian shines in this twofold message which Paul received: Faith in Christ and Love for all the Saints!

The faith we have in Christ is a gift of God. By grace we are saved through faith. The love we have for the saints is the love of God in us. It is the result of the covenant relationship which God has established between himself and his people. In this relationship, we shall love the Lord our God with all our hearts and our neighbor as we would love ourselves. As the church at Colossae was enabled to demonstrate their faith and love, so can we. This faith and love is attached to “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.”

By reminding them of their hope, which is laid up for them in heaven, Paul is giving to them that assurance of the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Because we have such an assurance of our salvation—the forgiveness of sins and eternal fellowship with our Father in heaven—our faith and love are encouraged. This hope is not a groundless trust; it rests upon the “word of the truth of the gospel.” As with the Colossian saints, we too have this assurance of faith through the Word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which we have heard. We also rest upon the revelation of the truth of the Gospel as written in God’s Scriptures. Not only have we heard, but we, as with the saints of Colossae, have our faith confirmed with the fruit of the Gospel, “as it is among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.” Calvin reminds us, that “no one has ever tasted of the gospel but the man that knew himself to be reconciled to God, and took hold of the salvation that is held forth in Christ.”

Discussion: In what ways do we express our faith and love in Christ?

We Pray for You—Colossians 1:9–12

As Paul has shown his joy for the saints at Colossae with thanksgiving, he reveals his attachment to them in his prayers. Love for the saints results in a special care for their welfare and walk in Christ. Since the first day of Paul’s learning of their faith and love, he brought them before the throne of their Father, as one would bring a treasure before a king. Paul did not cease to pray for them.

What petitions did Paul bring before the Father that would edify the saints of Christ Jesus? They are petitions which we bring before God for this church, and others of the Body of Christ. They are petitions which do not see Christians as having already obtained heaven, but are pilgrims, sojourners on this earth. Therefore, because of their faith and love of the Gospel of truth which they heard and believed, Paul prays:

1. That the saints would “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” The only rule of right knowledge and truth comes by revelation. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can we receive the knowledge and wisdom that is in the will of God. Therefore, we must go to the Word of God. Only in the Spirit can we know and love God, for we are spirit, created after the image of God. Scripture teaches us that “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29). Spiritual wisdom which comes from the knowledge of God’s will flows from heavenly glory which cannot be sought after by man, but only received as the Spirit teaches us. The wonder of the glory of God in revelation is expressed by Paul: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out” (Rom. 11:33).
2. That the saints may “have a walk worthy of the Lord.” Not a life lived on our behalf, or according to our wills, but a walk worthy of the Christ who gave his life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. This worthy walk is characterized by the following: that it be fully pleasing to the Lord, fruitful in every good work, and, increasing “in the knowledge of God.” When we walk, or seek to live to Christ, we ask ourselves three questions:
   Is the Lord Jesus Christ pleased with what we am doing or thinking?
   Are our daily good works, in the home, church, or work, glorifying God or self?
   Have our activities of faith and love, etc., gained us some new knowledge of God?
3. That the saints be “strengthened with all might.” Strengthened with “dunamis”—dynamite, power, inherent, inborn power—which power of moral character is instilled in the Christian at the time of his new-birth. Paul prays for the strength and ability to live for Christ. We must pray for the power that rejuvenates our living for Christ each and every day. This power is not according to our strength, but to “his glorious power.” This word, power, is different from “dunamis”; it is “kratos”—which means, dominion, a force or strength, as manifested by God, as in 1 Peter 5:6: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you.” Accordingly, we are to walk worthily of the Lord in “all patience and longsuffering with joy.”

Discussion: How should our prayers reveal our walk with Christ?

Christ is our Savior—Colossians 1:13–14

God our Father teaches us that “he has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Here is described the kingdom of darkness, the Savior who delivers us, and the means by which He delivers us.

God’s people are delivered from “the power of darkness.” It is the power or authority of darkness from which man must be delivered. When we think of our salvation, we must understand that our Savior has delivered us from that which had complete authority to do with us what it pleased to do. The prince of darkness is Satan, “under whose tyranny we are held captive, until we are set free by Christ’s hand… the whole world, with all its pretended wisdom and righteousness, is regarded as nothing but darkness in the sight of God, because, apart from the kingdom of Christ, there is no light” (John Calvin). Therefore, since the darkness of the kingdom of sin and transgression has such a hold on us, we must need an authority greater than ourselves to deliver us from this darkness.

This Authority is Christ who alone can deliver his people from sin and darkness. This word “delivered” means to draw with force and violence, to drag or pull. In other words, Christ, in his work of saving grace on the cross, received the fierceness of the wrath of God upon his own soul, having become sin for us, who knew not sin, thereby dragging us with a violent pull out of the darkness. It is recorded in 1 Peter 2:9 that we are to “proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Our Savior is also called, “the Son of his love,” the Son of the Father’s love. Here echoes the voice of the Father who honors the Son, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17), spoken at the time of his baptism. Peter records these same words, remembering the ‘Transfiguration’ experience, relating it to the Gospel message: “we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to him from the Excellent Glory: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (2 Peter 1:16–17).

Christ is the only Deliverer. His authority or power is greater than that of the kingdom of darkness. This deliverance is in Christ, “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Christ has redeemed the sinners, those in captivity to sin, by the payment of a ransom price; “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things… but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18–19). Christ took upon himself the wrath of God for us, that we might know the forgiveness of our Father for our transgressions against him.

Discussion: What does it mean to have Christ as our Savior?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.