Colossians 1:1-1:14
In our second week in this study, we continue to keep in mind the prayer for one another, lifting one another up continually that we would “stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.”
We will continue to read looking for those portions that will be a springboard for prayer, and for those portions that we want to preach to our own souls. This passage especially is a very wonderful springboard for prayer, as it contains Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossae.
This letter is to the saints and faithful brethren; do not be swayed by current murmurings in the American churches that urge us to simply admit we are faithless. We come together as His people, He keeps us! He has been at work in us. In His work of regeneration God gave us a new heart, brought us to LIFE! We were dead, and now in Christ Jesus, we are alive!!! Let the wonder of that fill your heart with thanksgiving! (more on that later, as get to verse 14)
We are saints, for He has set us apart from the world–in Galatians God describes this as us being crucified with Christ, crucified to the world and the world to us. We are not of the world though we live here as sojourners.
This letter is directed to those who share in (partake in) the risen Life of Christ our Sovereign Ruler! We share in His life, beloved! Verse 3, faith–Paul had heard of their faith. Remember, Paul had not been to this town, and heard of them and their needs from Epaphrus. This faith is not “mere academic learning” though it is not less than that. They heard the word of truth, they heard the doctrines that were, and are, being handed down. Their faith was in all that they heard and understood concerning Jesus Christ. This faith is never disconnected from our hope, our hope is part of the Gospel! To have faith is to believe God’s promises concerning our hope, a word we will see in many portions of this letter.
The Gospel Fruit
The true Gospel bears fruit of Christlikenss, beginning in regeneration to true Life and Knowledge of God. This transformation is His work in us, He speaks and it is carried on, He begins it and continues it until He takes us Home. John Owen, my favorite non-conformist, speaks of this often as ‘renovation.’
The Gospel was bearing fruit in them that could be seen. Only God sees hearts, but believers begin to look like Christ, to love like Him, to grow into their true identity. Epaphrus had taught them, shepherded them, and is able to see their faith and love. In fact, he tells Paul of their “love in the Spirit.” God is love. All earthly shadows of love fall short, and humanity has redefined ‘love’ so many times since the fall. It is nothing new that our generation also tries for redefine love.
True love is a fruit of the Spirit at work in us, abiding in us. True love was shown to us on the cross (see Romans 5:8) and has been poured out within our hearts (see Romans 5:1-4); and this love pours out of our hearts in word and deed, in labors of love. True believers will love one another as Christ has loved us (see John 13), and will grow in understanding this love, abiding in this love, and letting this love compel us. “One another” please remember refers to fellow disciples, the household of faith.
The Prayer for Colossian believers
This is a passage worthy of memorizing. I have had so many sweet times of prayer, letting these words lead me as I pray for my family, my local church, my brothers and sisters in Christ; each rich phrase as a springboard for my prayers.
Filled with a knowledge of His Will. His revealed will, revealed in Scripture which is the word of God. This knowledge is never apart from Scripture, it is the fruit of abiding in His Words (see John 8, 13-16). His will is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, to be sanctified, to love what He loves. Spend some time in Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:1-2, Acts 22:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:14-24.
Walk in a manner worthy…Worthy, what a misunderstood word. Some feel the weight of the Pharisees on their shoulders as they hear this word. This word carries with it the notion of bringing honor to God. Sinclair Ferguson has written a helpful study on this word which will encourage you in this. Nearly every letter uses this word, it must be learned, and as He teaches you, “His commandments then become their happy choice.” (Come ye souls by sin afflicted, hymn.
Increasing in knowledge, knowing Jesus Christ, and knowing the One True and Living Triune God through Him. This knowledge is always in relation to Christ, not apart from Him. We know because He gives us understanding (see 1 John 5:20), because He reveals and invites us come to Him to learn. (And as women, we ought to take this call very seriously. Throughout the history of the world most societies have reserved the ‘right’ to learn for men. Not so in all societies, ancient Timbuktu for example. Jesus changed all of that! He made sure His disciples knew that Mary, sister of Lazerus, was right where she ought to be, and had chosen the good portion. Don’t squander Jesus’ work of opening up for us what fallen humanity has deemed to be for men only!) Take heed though, to how John 5 informs our growth in knowledge–we come to Him as we study, we never study on our own. Our reading, studying, meditating, memorizing, etc is all done by “coming to Him that we might have life.”
Power for…
We pray next to be strengthened with all power, which sometimes leads us to think of accomplishing massive amounts of physical labor–yet, this power, according to His glorious might, is what we need for “the attaining of all steadfastness and patience.” We are not steadfast or patient by nature. And even those who have an outward show of it are quite often inwardly stewing and boiling. The Holy Spirit brings joy and peace and order and beauty to our inner man, working in us the Christlike qualities we need and otherwise lack.
This is what we see the Spirit doing in Luke 4. The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, through the time of testing and temptation, and as the Spirit leads Jesus Christ–we see in Him a steadfastness in following God’s Word, believing and walking in the Truth, we see patience as He waits for God to usher in the Kingdom rather than following Satan’s quick schemes, and all this while in the presence of wild beasts, feeling the overwhelming effects of hunger and thirst. Can the Spirit work steadfastness and patience in us? Yes beloved! Let us join in this prayer, and pray this for one another continually!
Prayer with thanksgiving, directed to the Father, who has qualified us. Christ’s work on the cross accomplished our atonement, our reconciliation; but who qualified us? The Father, who sent His Only Begotten Son, and has drawn us in to hear the Gospel. Let us always delight and wonder in the Unity of the Trinity at work, and praise each Person in the Godhead! (Have you read John Owen’s Communion with God yet?) He who has numbered our days, and determined each one (Psalm 139) has qualified us for an inheritance! He who dwells in inapproachable Light has given us a inheritance “in Light,” where He is, in the land where righteousness dwells, in the very perfection of beauty and goodness our souls long for.
Transferred, consider His finished work! He has transferred us from the domain of darkness where we once lived, incapable of saving ourselves, or of discovering a way out. We are now in the Kingdom of His Beloved Son! Adopted as sons and daughters, having the birthright culturally only given to firstborn sons. We come boldly before His throne, crying out “Abba! Father!” in the knowledge of our acceptance, of belonging, of being loved.
In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We are redeemed from the power and guilt of our sin, of every lawless deed, thought, word; from every wayward affection that once led us astray and waged war with our soul. Once enslaved, not any more! What a glorious meditation to lead us into the Easter season, as we ponder the completeness of His work.
Make some time to memorize this prayer from Colossians 1:9-12, use it as your springboard for praying for your local body of believers that God has put you in.
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