Colossians 3.15c-The Colossians Must Continue to Be Characterized by Thankfulness
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday October 2, 2016
Colossians: Colossians 3:15c-The Colossians Must Continue to Be Characterized by Thankfulness
Lesson # 88
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NASB95)
“And be thankful” is composed of the following: (1) conjunction kai (καί), “and” (2) adjective eucharistos (εὐχάριστος), “thankful” (3) verb ginomai (γίνομαι), “be.”
This time the conjunction kai is again functioning as a marker of result meaning it is introducing a command which the Colossians must obey as a result of the Father effectually calling them into union with one body, the church of Jesus Christ in order to experience the peace of God.
The adjective eucharistos means “thankful” since the word pertains to expressing thanks to someone for receiving some benefit or blessing.
Here it refers to the Colossians expressing thanksgiving to the Father as a result of effectually calling them into union with one body in order to experience the peace of God in their lives.
The verb ginomai pertains to possessing a particular characteristic which is identified by the eucharistos.
Therefore, this verb speaks of the Colossians possessing the characteristic of thankfulness as a result of the Father effectually calling them into union with one body at the moment of their justification.
The second person plural form of this verb means “all of you” referring to the Colossian Christian community as a corporate unit and is used in a distributive sense emphasizing no exceptions.
The present imperative form of the verb ginomai is a customary present imperative which has the force of continuing to perform an action habitually.
Here the idea is that the Colossians must continue to habitually possess the characteristic of being thankful.
They must continue to be characterized by thankfulness.
This interpretation of the present imperative is supported by Paul’s teaching in Colossians 1:3-5 and 2:5 which affirm the Colossians were already obeying the commands in this epistle.
Colossians 3:15 Consequently, the peace produced by the teaching of the one and only Christ must continue to habitually rule within your hearts. For which purpose, each and every one of you were effectually called into union with one body. Therefore, each and every one of you must continue to make it your habit of being characterized by thankfulness. (My translation)
The apostle Paul issues another command in Colossians 3:15 which is the result of the Father effectually calling them into union with one body, the church of Jesus Christ in order to experience His peace.
Therefore, as a result of being effectually called by the Father at their justification in order to experience the peace of God, Paul wants the Colossians to continue making it their habit of being characterized by thankfulness to God in prayer.
Melick writes “The combination of thankfulness and peace is a logical one. Generally a lack of peace results from self-seeking or dissatisfaction with things as they are. Thankfulness points one to the realization that all things are provided in Christ. There is no room for ill will or bitterness if thankfulness prevails. The epistle provides ample reasons for thankfulness.”
This is not the first time Paul has mentioned thanksgiving in the Colossian epistle since in Colossians 1:3-5, he shared with the Colossians that he made it his habit of giving thanks to the Father for their faith at justification and that they were living according to the command to love one another.
In Colossians 1:12, the apostle Paul states that while the Colossians lived in a manner worthy of the Lord so as to be fully pleasing to Him, they would be giving thanks to the Father.
One of the characteristics of a productive prayer life is that of thankfulness (Matt 15:36; 26:27; Mark 8:6; 14:23; Luke 22:17-19; John 6:11; 23; 11:41; Acts 27:35; 28:15; Rom. 1:8; 7:25; 1 Cor. 1:4; 11:24; Eph. 5:20; Col. 1:12; 3:17; Phlp. 1:3-4; 4:6; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13).
We should never forget to thank God in prayer.
Our gratitude demonstrates our respect and appreciation for God’s grace policy, which blesses us without us ever earning or deserving blessings.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. (NASB95)
Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. (NASB95)
Also, the believer should always give thanks to the Father for His gift of salvation, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man Savior.
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (NASB95)
Psalm 50:23 teaches that the believer who offers thanksgiving to God the Father in prayer honors Him.
Psalm 50:23 He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. (NASB95)
We are to give thanks with other believers in our congregation.
This too glorifies God, if done with the proper motivation, which is to worship God in prayer, not to make ourselves look holy.
Psalm 35:18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. (NASB95)
We are to give thanks to God for both adversity and prosperity, since both come from Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In all circumstances give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NASB95)
The humanity of Christ employed thanksgiving to God in prayer when performing miracles (Mat 14:19; 15:36; Mark 6:41; 8:6; Luke 9:16; John 6:11).
One particular account was when Christ resuscitated Lazarus.
The Lord Jesus Christ, in His humanity, showed immense gratitude towards His Father for hearing His prayer.
John 11:41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” (NASB95)
The Lord Jesus Christ also offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father when instituting the Lord’s Supper for the Church (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17, 19; 1 Co 11:23-26).