The Preeminence of Christ
Colossians 1:9-12 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being 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.
Epaphras had come to Paul when he was under house arrest and told them that there was trouble in his home church at Colossae. There were false teachers from varying sources all around them that wanted their attention and to draw them away from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In response, Paul wrote a letter about the preeminence of Jesus Christ, first in doctrine, then in the face of danger, and then in their Christian duty. Paul wanted to encourage them by reminding them of their spiritual heritage: They had heard the gospel, they had placed their faith in Jesus Christ, they had been discipled by Epaphras, and they had become faithful in Christ.
He Prayed for Spiritual Intelligence (v9): The false teachers promised enlightenment to those who “had not arrived.” Consequently, Paul, knowing his audience had arrived used similar words, knowledge, wisdom, spiritual understanding. Paul knew that the Gospel had come to them, and they had received it (v1:6). The false teachers were saying you need a new experience. Paul was praying that they would learn from the experience that they had already had, knowing that the Colossians were complete in Jesus Christ (v2:10).
Now, he was asking God to help them understand this truth. The use of the word “filled” is important in Colossians. Paul used it many times. Being filled means to be full, or to be complete. The idea that Paul was trying to emphasize here is one of being fully equipped. In the New Testament the word is often used to convey “control.” One who is filled with the Spirit is one who is controlled by the Holy Spirit. Every Christian needs to know (Acts 22:14) and understand (Ephesians 5:17) the will of God.
We understand the will of God through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit teaches us as we submit to Him. The general will of God for believers is given in the Scriptures. The specific will of God for believers in every situation is given by the Holy Spirit and it always agrees with the general will of God given in the Word of God. The better we know God’s general will, the easier it will be for us to determine God’s specific will for us as we live out our lives. Paul knew that the Colossians do not need visions or voices or new experiences for assurance, but rather, he prayed that they would go deeper into God’s Word. We need the WU – Wisdom and Understanding.
He Prayed for Practical Obedience (v10): False teachers offer “special knowledge,” and this is usually appealing to the flesh. However, their special knowledge did not yield a life worth imitating. Paul knows that in the Christian life there is no separation between learning and living. Consequently, Paul now turns to applied wisdom. He prayed that the knowledge and understanding of God’s will would lead to appropriate daily living. All Biblical truths are practical; we need to seek to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God:
Colossians 1:10 ESV so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Note the line of W’s. We cannot Work for God, unless we Walk with God. We cannot Walk with God if we don’t know God’s Will. We know God’s Will by gaining Wisdom through His Word. Consider another “W”, Worthy! Paul urges the Colossians to walk in a manner that is worthy of God, fully pleasing to Him (v10).
- Ephesians4:1: We should walk worthy of our calling
- Philippians1:27: We should walk worthy of the Gospel
- Thessalonians2:12: We should walk worthy of God
Sometimes we think that we work for God. A better perspective is what we learned from Philippians:
Philippians 2:13: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
As we obey God in our walk with Him, our efforts will bear fruit. As we mature in our faith this will start to occur constantly. A significant bonus to our walking in obedience with Him is an increase in our knowledge of Him. Where the false teachers wanted the Colossians to “see things their way,” or share in this “new experience,” that they had invented to please themselves, Paul was saying look at Jesus when He was ministering on the earth, He served others, then He retired to pray.
He Prayed for Moral Excellence (v11): Paul knew that it would be a mistake to connect knowledge and service without linking them to personal character. Remember, they had heard the gospel, they had placed their faith in Jesus Christ, they had been discipled, and they had become faithful in Christ, and now, Paul was praying that their personal lives would be touched by God’s power and that they would mature. Personal character comes when we yield to God’s inherent power and manifested power. Christian character can only come when we let God work in us, but sometimes, we want God to exercise His power in our timing. Paul understands that God will exercise His power in His timing for our benefit. Consequently, Paul says, “wait it out.” Be patient! Endure! And be joyful and thankful while you are waiting, knowing that our faithful God will do what He says He will do. The Christian life is an appreciative life. Paul knew this and was praying that the Colossians would exhibit these characteristics as they continued to walk with God.
