Living a Life Worthy

Introduction

Last week we stopped at verse 9 of Colossians 1. This morning we are going to begin with verse 9.

Colossians 1:9 NIV

For this reason. . .

Paul begins by saying, “For this reason.” Paul is referring us back to the idea found in verse 6. Because the gospel message is bearing fruit and growing throughout the entire world, Paul is going to pray for the church at Colossae.

Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians

Colossians 1:9 NIV

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

First, he says that he has not stopped praying for them.

This should be a key for us as well. We should never stop praying other believers. Prayer is a major way we can support the ministries that other believers have.

Paul prayers continually for this church. This is a key reminder that we should always maintain an attitude of prayer (cf. Lk. 18:1; Rom. 12:12; Phil. 4:6; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17).

Specifically he prayed that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will (cf. Romans 12:1–2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ).

This has the idea of completing their knowledge of how Christ wants them to live.

The Greek word for “know” is gnosis. In Paul’s day there was gnostic philosophers that were infiltrating the church, preaching that you had to have special knowledge and that they (the gnostic philosopher) were the only ones with that knowledge. Paul prays that the Holy Spirit, rather than some man, would reveal spiritual knowledge to the Colossians.

He prayed that they would have all spiritual wisdom that the Spirit of God gives. In this way they would have complete wisdom (cf. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” ).

Paul also prays that it doesn’t stop with wisdom, but also prays that the Spirit would give them complete spiritual understanding! In this way they would know how to practically apply spiritual wisdom to the actions of their lives.

As previously stated, both spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding are given by the Spirit of God!

The Purpose of Paul’s Request to the Lord on Their Behalf

Colossians 1:10–12 NIV

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Paul’s desire is that the believers in Colossae would live a life (Gk. peripateo—walk up and down; walk about; traverse; behave, live) worthy of the Lord (v. 10a). This means that Paul wanted them to live one day at a time in a way that would bring glory to God.

As Christians we are to live our lives, or walk, in such a way that we are worthy of all that God had done for us!

Bringing glory to God is accomplished by Paul’s longing for the church. He longs for them to please the Lord in everything that they do and say (v. 10b).

We live worthy lives (walk worthy) and please the Lord when we:

Bear fruit in every good work. This is bearing fruit in both our character and our conduct (cf. Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ) (v. 10c).

Growing in our knowledge of God (cf. Phil. 3:10; 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” ) (v. 10d). We should NEVER stop growing in our knowledge and understanding of God. Sanctification (the process of becoming like Jesus) is a life-long process.

Being strengthened by the power of the Lord Almighty (cf. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”) (v. 11a). Note that this power flows out of God’s glorious might.

It produces great endurance (cf. Romans 15:5 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” ; Heb. 12:1-3; Jam. 1:2-4) (v. 11c). The Greek word hypomone is often translated as endurance, patience, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance and has the root meaning of remaining behind.

It also produces great patience (v. 11b). The Greek word here is makrothymia which is often translated patience, long-suffering, steadfastness, endurance. It has the root meaning of “long-suffering” (cf. Gal 5:22-23).

Finally, when we are living a life worthy of the Lord, we develop an attitude of joyful thanks to God the Father (cf. Ephesians 5:20 “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”; Phil 4:6; Col. 3:17) (v. 12a).

It is God the Father who qualified us to share in the inheritance of His glorious kingdom of light (cf. Acts 26:18) (v. 12b).

Colossians 1:13 NIV

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

We give thanks to the Father, because He is the one who rescued us (Gk. rhyomai, Eng. guard; protect; conceal, save, rescue, deliver, preserve) (v. 13a).

God rescued us from the dominion of Satan’s darkness (v. 13b). Don’t miss the power of this statement. God moved us from enemy of God (living in the camp of the enemy) to child of God (living as a son/daughter) in God’s kingdom!

Colossians 1:14 NIV

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Because of our relationship with the Father we have two magnificent gifts (v. 14a):

We have redemption (Gk. apolytrosis, Eng. redemption; ransom; release; deliverance) (cf. Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” )(v. 14b).

We also received the forgiveness of sins (cf. Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” ) (v. 14c). Forgiveness is going to be an important theme in this letter (cf. Col 2:13; 3:13).

So What?

Here is the key! We walk a life worthy of the Lord, because of all that Jesus has done for us!

We bear fruit because Jesus qualified us to share in inheriting the kingdom of light.

We continue to grow our knowledge of God because He rescued us from the dominion of darkness.

We live out our lives with great endurance and patience because we—you and I—have been redeemed and our sins have been forgiven!

So, let me ask you a question. How are you doing with living your life worthy of the Lord?

[PRAYER]