Renewed In Knowledge

Introduction

The theme of this Gospel Meeting has been ‘Renewed Christians.”

The hope this week has been to remind us, God’s children, how we God saved and how we stay saved.

Over the last two lessons we have focused on being “Renewed In Steadfastness” and being “Renewed In Strength” which are both vital at the point one “comes back from sin.”

Today, we are going to study being “Renewed In Knowledge” from the great chapter three of Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:10.

Colossians 3:9-10 reads…

Colossians 3:9–10 (NKJV)

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him

Paul’s focus here isn’t with “coming back from sin,” but rather understanding what it takes for one to stay saved, i.e., stay in the image of Christ.

How one is to “work out their own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) each day so that they man say as Paul did in Galatians 2:20, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

So the question is “how is being renewed in knowledge” help those of us who have obeyed the gospel, stay saved?

What does knowledge have to do with it?

Let’s being to answer that by first defining…

The Word Knowledge

Knowledge Defined.

There are five Greek words translated as “knowledge” in the NKJV out of the 48 times we find it in the New Testament.

Of those four words “gnosis” is the most translated at 28 times and “epignosis” the second most at 17 times.

So 45 out of the 48 times we find the word knowledge in the NKJV.

Now these two words are fascinating words.

Gnosis means “to seek and acquire information.”

The idea is that of examining something with the intention of receiving knowledge.

Epignosis means “to gain a full understanding.”

The idea is that when one has information or knowledge it is only “full” or “complete” if understood in its fullness.

When I was in school to be a welder we began what was called the “study phase” wherein we studied from a book full of information the different types of metal, welding equipment, and much more. We then moved to the “practical phase” wherein we took that new knowledge and applied it into a “full understanding.”

This is the basic difference between these two words, but why is it important to understand this?

Summary

Because in Colossians 3:10 Paul uses the word “epignosis” and he uses it in the present tense.

Colossians 3:10 (NKJV)

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him

In other words, Paul is telling the Colossian church and thus us that we, “the new creation,” is “being continually renewed into the knowledge of the image of God.”

That means when a child of God strives for righteousness he/she is constantly “gaining knowledge and wisdom” about what it means to be in the image of God.

So what must we continually be renewed in knowledge concerning being in the image of God.

What must we have a…

Full Knowledge Of God’s Image

We Are Seeking To Be Hidden.

Paul would write in Colossians 3:1-4…

Colossians 3:1–4 (NKJV)

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Romans 13:14 (NKJV)

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Like the Hebrew writer described Jesus being an “express image” of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) we too are to be an express image of our teacher.

There is a reason why ever time we read the word “Christian” in the New Testament we find the world expressing it about those they were witnessing.

They were witnessing “Christians” i.e., Christ-like men and women.

To be renewed in knowledge of the image of God means to understand that we are hidden in Christ and not our own now.

Paul then explains that being renewed in knowledge of the image of God means…

We Are Killing Unrighteousness.

Paul continues in Colossians 3:5-8

Colossians 3:5–8 (NKJV)

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

As God’s faithful we are not to give in to “friendship with the world.”

Are we going to sin and fall short of the glory of God, yes (1 John 1:8-10).

Are we going to stray off the old path from time to time, yes.

But there is a huge difference between walking in the light and sinning occasionally than become “friends with the world and an enemy of God.

James 4:4 (NKJV)

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

To truly be continually renewed in knowledge of the image of God we must constantly be trying to better control our sinful desires.

Paul lastly explains that being renewed continually in knowledge of the image of God means…

We Are Putting On Righteousness.

Paul writes in Colossians 3:12-14.

Colossians 3:12–14 (NKJV)

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

It’s simply not enough to “try and do no evil” we must seek out righteousness.

Matthew 12:43–45 (NKJV)

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Because we were created for good works not simply “doing no evil.”

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Summary

If we are going to be continually “renewed in knowledge” of the image of God in our lives we must…

Constantly remember we have been clothed with Christ and hidden in him.

Constantly remember we are to fight and destroy ever sinful thing in our lives.

Constantly remember to seek out righteousness and be filled with it.

Conclusion

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Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 NKJV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 NKJV

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Acts 17:30 NKJV

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32–33 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 NKJV

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

1 John 1:7 NKJV

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.