please turn in the please turn in the New Testament New Testament

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Colossians 1Colossians 1

Two Great Doctrines in Two Great Doctrines in One PrayerOne Prayer

Colossians 1:9-14Colossians 1:9-14

Colossians 1:9-10Colossians 1:9-10• For this cause we also, since the day we heard For this cause we also, since the day we heard

it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:11-12Colossians 1:11-12• Strengthened with all might, according to his Strengthened with all might, according to his

glorious power, unto all patience and glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:light:

Colossian 1:13-14Colossian 1:13-14• Who hath delivered us from the power of Who hath delivered us from the power of

darkness, and hath translateddarkness, and hath translated us into the us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:forgiveness of sins:

What does it say about a What does it say about a nation that calls itself nation that calls itself Christian and elects a Christian and elects a

President that completely President that completely ignores the Bible?ignores the Bible?

The Apostle Paul will Answer The Apostle Paul will Answer Christianity Today Christianity Today

In His Prayer for the In His Prayer for the Church at ColossaeChurch at Colossae

The Doctrines of The Doctrines of

JustificationJustificationSanctificationSanctification

Verse 9Verse 9• Do not cease to prayDo not cease to pray

• Filled with:Filled with:– Knowledge of His [God’s] WillKnowledge of His [God’s] Will

• In all wisdomIn all wisdom• In Spiritual UnderstandingIn Spiritual Understanding

Wisdom and UnderstandingWisdom and Understanding

Paul isn’t praying that they have Paul isn’t praying that they have historical information—names, places, historical information—names, places,

etc.—or an INTELLECTUAL assentetc.—or an INTELLECTUAL assent

This is spiritual wisdom and This is spiritual wisdom and understanding about God’s will understanding about God’s will

from God’s Spirit.from God’s Spirit.

Why does Paul want God to fill Why does Paul want God to fill them with wisdom and them with wisdom and

understanding about His will?understanding about His will?

Col 1:10Col 1:10

•That That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,

being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

PurposePurpose

Two MisunderstandingsTwo Misunderstandings

Both interfere with my relationship Both interfere with my relationship with Godwith God

Your WalkYour Walk• Colossians 1:10 Colossians 1:10

– That ye might That ye might walk walk worthy of the Lord worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, unto all pleasing,

Walk is Lifestyle

Deuteronomy 13:3b.-4Deuteronomy 13:3b.-4• for the LORD your God proveth you, to know for the LORD your God proveth you, to know

whether ye love the LORD your God with all whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. your heart and with all your soul.

• Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.cleave unto him.

Your Walk: LifestyleYour Walk: Lifestyle

A LIFESTYLE that pleases God includes:A LIFESTYLE that pleases God includes:1.1. A healthy fear and reverence for God.A healthy fear and reverence for God.2.2. Keeping His Commandments.Keeping His Commandments.3.3. Obeying His Voice.Obeying His Voice.4.4. Serving Him.Serving Him.5.5. Persevering (remaining faithful).Persevering (remaining faithful).

FACTFACT

Alternative lifestyles which ignore God’s Alternative lifestyles which ignore God’s Commandments are not pleasing to the Commandments are not pleasing to the

LORD!LORD!

Both!Both!

This is why Paul is praying that they This is why Paul is praying that they be granted spiritual wisdom and be granted spiritual wisdom and

understanding!understanding!

1. Earn my salvation?1. Earn my salvation?

What does Paul say in Col 1:12—?What does Paul say in Col 1:12—?

Colossians 1:12Colossians 1:12• Giving thanks unto Giving thanks unto the Fatherthe Father, which hath , which hath

made usmade us meetmeet [qualified] to be partakers [qualified] to be partakers [share] of the inheritance of the saints in light:[share] of the inheritance of the saints in light:

• Fact: I can’t qualify or make myself suitable!Fact: I can’t qualify or make myself suitable!

CommentaryCommentary

• The Gr. Word translated The Gr. Word translated meetmeet means “to means “to make sufficient.” make sufficient.”

• God qualifies us only through the finished God qualifies us only through the finished work of the Savior. Apart from God’s grace work of the Savior. Apart from God’s grace through Jesus Christ all people would be through Jesus Christ all people would be qualified only to receive His wrath.qualified only to receive His wrath.

Colossians 1:13-14Colossians 1:13-14• Who hath delivered us from the power of Who hath delivered us from the power of

darkness, and hath translateddarkness, and hath translated us into the us into the kingdom of his dear Son: kingdom of his dear Son:

• In whom we have redemption through In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

What is redemption?What is redemption?

““to deliver by payment of a ransom” to deliver by payment of a ransom” and was used of freeing slaves from and was used of freeing slaves from

bondage.bondage.

RedemptionRedemption

1 Peter 1:18-201 Peter 1:18-20

• God Father HasGod Father Has::– Qualified me in Christ JesusQualified me in Christ Jesus– Made me a partaker of the Inheritance of Made me a partaker of the Inheritance of

the Saintsthe Saints– Delivered me from DarknessDelivered me from Darkness– Shined His Light into my SoulShined His Light into my Soul– Moved me into the Kingdom of ChristMoved me into the Kingdom of Christ– Redeemed me from Slavery to SinRedeemed me from Slavery to Sin

» Forgiven my SinsForgiven my Sins

Why did God the Father do all that Why did God the Father do all that for me through Christ Jesus?for me through Christ Jesus?

Answer: To enable me to walk in a Answer: To enable me to walk in a way that pleases Him in order to way that pleases Him in order to

bear much fruit!bear much fruit!

Holy LivingHoly Living

• Why am I seeking to know His Will?Why am I seeking to know His Will?– Because God expects me to walk according Because God expects me to walk according

to His Will or live a holy life.to His Will or live a holy life.– Moreover, God’s will or revelation is limited Moreover, God’s will or revelation is limited

or proportional to my obedience to what or proportional to my obedience to what He has revealed.He has revealed.

Colossians 1:10Colossians 1:10

– That ye might That ye might walkwalk worthy of the Lord worthy of the Lord

unto unto all pleasingall pleasing,,

–being fruitful in every good workbeing fruitful in every good work, and, and– increasing in the knowledge of God;increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:11Colossians 1:11• Strengthened with all might, according to his Strengthened with all might, according to his

glorious power, unto all patience and glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;longsuffering with joyfulness;

– The Christian walk is Hard! The Christian walk is Hard! • We need God’s strengthWe need God’s strength

–We need His glorious powerWe need His glorious power» We need the Joy of the LordWe need the Joy of the Lord

Colossians 1:12Colossians 1:12• Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath

made us meet to be partakers of the made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:inheritance of the saints in light:

• Why did he move me to the light?Why did he move me to the light?

Colossians 1:13Colossians 1:13• [God] Who hath delivered us from the power [God] Who hath delivered us from the power

of darkness, and hath translatedof darkness, and hath translated us into the us into the kingdom of his dear Son:kingdom of his dear Son:

• Why does he deliver me from the power of Why does he deliver me from the power of darkness?darkness?

Colossians 1:14Colossians 1:14• In whom we have redemption through his In whom we have redemption through his

blood,blood, even the forgiveness of sins: even the forgiveness of sins:

• Why does he deliver me from slavery from Why does he deliver me from slavery from sin?sin?

• Why does he forgive my sins now?Why does he forgive my sins now?

What’s our Choice?What’s our Choice?

““Just two Just two choices on the shelfchoices on the shelf—pleasing God and —pleasing God and pleasing self.”pleasing self.”

Quoted in Jim Berg, Quoted in Jim Berg, Changed Into His ImageChanged Into His Image