Donna Williams Supporter

We learn from these verses that He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is unity between the Father and the Son, in whom we have received grace and peace.

The glory and honor belong to God the Father, and the one to whom we pray. See Matthew 6:9-13.

It is God who has given us faith, hope, and love in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is the will of God that the word of truth of the gospel be heard in all the world. And as a result, much fruit is being produced by the hearing of the message of grace. 

It is also the will of God that we be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 

We learn that God wants us to walk worthy of the Lord and to fully please Him. To be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of who He is. He desires to strengthen us with the power of His might, to bear the fruit of patience and longsuffering with joy.

It is God the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

We see the goodness of God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

12 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

1. God is the Father of OLJC (3) -- OLJC = Our Lord Jesus Christ. When I say God is the Father of OLJC, I think it needs to be made clear that Jesus is ALSO God. (John 1:1, 14; 10:30).
2. Paul thanks Him when he prays for the Colossians for their faith, love, and hope (3-5)
3. God's grace in all its truth can be understood in a day (6)
4. God can be petitioned continually when we intercede for [other] Christians' sanctification.
5. We can/should follow Paul's example of asking God to fill others with knowing God's will (9)
6. We can do this with another Christian on behalf of a church somewhere. (9-11)
7. The Father can and should be thanked who has qualified us as Christians to be eligible for heaven (12) NET

When I say God is the Father of OLJC, I think it needs to be made clear that Jesus is ALSO God.

10 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What can be learned about God from Colossians 1:3-14?

Source of Grace and Truth: God's grace is revealed through the Gospel, which brings "truth" and bears fruit worldwide.

The Father of Jesus: He is identified as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is God, to whom believers owe their faith and love.

Rescuer and Deliverer: God actively rescues people from the "dominion of darkness" and transfers them into the kingdom of His Son.

Source of Power and Growth: God strengthens believers with "glorious might" for endurance, patience, and joy.

Source of Spiritual Knowledge: He desires for believers to be filled with knowledge of His will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding.

Redeemer: Through His Son, God provides redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

spiritual comprehension: That is, an understanding of spiritual things imparted by God's Spirit. It includes "the accurate knowledge of [God's] will." The person with such spiritual understanding sees things as God does.

Such accurate knowledge should be sought by all Christians (Eph 1:15-17; Php 1:9; 1Ti 2:3, 4), as it is important for putting on "the new personality" and for gaining peace.—Col 3:10; 2Pe 1:2.

Colossians 1:8: "...who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit." This expression describes the kind of love shown by the Colossian Christians. It is the unselfish, principled love that God's holy Spirit produces in people who submit to its influence.—Ga 5:22.

Paul gives thanks for the Colossians' faith in Christ and for their love. They have learned of the undeserved kindness of God as a result of Epaphras' preaching the good news among them. Since hearing the report concerning them, Paul has not ceased praying that they may be filled with "the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, to walk worthily of God" and "to endure fully and be long-suffering with joy."

Conclusion

Paul (and Timothy) are always praying for their brothers and sisters at Colossae. Because of Paul's role in the church, he knows the Colossians will listen to what he has to say. However, he isn't just writing them a letter telling them to "get with the program." He genuinely loves them and constantly puts their concerns before our Father in Heaven. He is identifying himself as a brother to them and a servant of Jesus. Ever since they heard that there was a church in Colossae, they have been praying for them.

What can I learn about the way Paul is praying for these Christians?

When Epaphras visited Paul while in prison, Epaphras mentioned some cultural pressures that were tempting them to turn away from Jesus. So, Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Colossians and address the issues Epaphras had raised. 

Our understanding of God's will should lead us to live lives like Jesus. This is a byproduct of the Spirit's work inside us. It is insight that the Spirit of God gives us that enables us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.

Remember, he has not met these brothers and sisters, but that doesn't stop him from praying for them, often.

Do we follow this wonderful example set by Paul?

10 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report