I have been refreshed time and time again recently by the short, four-chapter letter of Paul to the Colossians. I’m pretty sure the thing I like most about this letter is that Paul talks a lot about Jesus Christ and how great He is. Paul’s words help me refocus when I am beginning to turn my gaze away from Christ and onto myself. With that being said, I guess you could call this writing the first installment of my attempt to share some soul-enriching truth from the pages of the Letter of Paul to the Colossians. I will try to avoid biting off too much text in one sitting, but I make no promises because I am eager to put some thoughts down on “paper.”
Chapter 1:3-14
Paul starts off by saying, “we always thank God for you when we pray for you.” Right away I am convicted that I don’t spend nearly enough time thanking God for the salvation of my friends and family who I pray for! And I certainly don’t tell my fellow Christians how thankful I am to God for their salvation in order to encourage them and remind them of the Gospel. Paul does both at the beginning of his letter (v. 3). I want to be more like Paul here.
Why does Paul thank God? Because upon hearing of their faith in Jesus, he knows the hope that God has stored up for them in Heaven (v. 4-5). Paul knows that these believers are anchored to the Winner of souls, King Jesus, and will never be removed from the Kingdom of Heaven. What greater grounds could there possibly be to be thankful to God than eternal security through the blood of Jesus Christ? That’s the Gospel, and Paul praises God as he sees it functioning in the lives of his fellow Christians.
Paul offers a great example here of why we should thank God for the new life that others have in Jesus Christ. We do it because it glorifies God and gives Him honor and praise for the work He has done through Christ. And we do it because it encourages those in Christ by pointing them to the Cross and to the glory of Jesus.
Without having to shift gears (because the Gospel is central), Paul focuses his readers’ attention of the Gospel. He tells the church that they know the hope laid up for them in Heaven because they have received the Gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 5-6).
Notice a couple of things that Paul says in regards to the Gospel. First, he says that these Christians heard it (v. 6) and learned it from Epaphras (v. 7). The Gospel was spoken to them and then explained to them. It wasn’t a message that they received simply by observing the mannerisms of a Christian. It was spoken, and, upon hearing it, they believed. In Romans 10:17, Paul writes, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Second, Paul says that the Gospel is bearing fruit in the world and also among those who have received it! I don’t know about you, but that gives me great confidence to continue praying for others’ salvation and Christians’ sanctification. God promises that the Gospel is bearing fruit in the whole world and growing His Kingdom.
In verses 9-12, Paul outlines a typical prayer that he would pray for his churches. There is great wisdom here for us if we can see the types of things Paul prays for and gain an understanding of his passionate care for others.
The first thing Paul prays is for the church to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (v.9). Apparently God’s will is a big deal if the Apostle Paul’s prayers begin by petitioning for an understanding of it!
Now here is a fascinating connection. In verse 10, Paul makes a direct connection between knowing God’s will and our ability to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. (Much of Colossians is Paul’s attempt to teach the church about the actions that cultivate a godly life.)
It’s no coincidence that Chapter 1:15-23, Chapter 2:6-15, and many other sections of the letter speak of the supremacy of Jesus Christ. God’s will was put on display at the Cross of Christ, and, by pointing us to the Gospel, Paul gives us a critical source used to understand the will of God. At the Cross, we see that God is a God of justice and wrath. He is a God who hates sin. But, more than that, we see a God who loves us enough to send His own Son to die in our place. We see a God who is forgiving and merciful. We see a God who spared no expense in redeeming a people for His prized possession. We see a God who is faithful and will follow through with all of His promises. The more we grow in our understanding of God through the Cross, the more we will be able to discern the will of God and walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Paul continues praying that the church “be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (v. 11-12).”
Whose power strengthens? God’s power strengthens.
What does God’s power provide? Endurance and patience with joy.
And, by the way, God has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light!
As if Paul hadn’t clubbed his readers over the head with the Gospel enough at the point, this section of the letter concludes with these glorious words:
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
That is REALLY Good News! Another word for “delivered” is “rescued.” God saved us when we were incapable of saving ourselves. Then, as if saving us from our sin wasn’t enough, He transfers us to the Kingdom where Jesus reigns forever in complete freedom from sin and heartache and worldly troubles!
What a great God! What a glorious Savior!
I pray that the Gospel is functioning in your life. If it is not, there is hope in Jesus Christ. If it is, trust God when He says that it will continue to bear fruit. Let Paul’s words be an example for us to follow. Let us encourage one another. Let us thank God for His work in our lives. Let us cling to Jesus Christ for He anchors our souls with His righteousness forever.
For the glory of Christ.
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