Because He First Loved Us

Colossians 1:9-20

When I was about 10, my dad was in charge of building a church building in Missouri. He had assigned myself and several college students the job ob building the roof trusses, and assembled a truss for us as a pattern, then went to help layout the walls for other crews. One of the students decided that it would be easier to put some of the bracing in a different way. Because I was so much younger, my objections were discounted. Several trusses had been assembled before Dad got a chance to check on us.

The truss design was specified in the plans, designed by an engineer to meet safety requirements. Any changes from the design would change the engineer’s design, and could compromise the strength of the roof, and make it unsafe. The building inspector would have condemned the construction. It was critical that job be done exactly as specified.

While the church had faith and love, there was danger of their becoming like Israel. “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:1-3). Like changing the design of the trusses could cause disaster, changing God’s plan can have serious results. While they had examples and direction, there was a need for them to understand and do certain things.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; “(Colossians 1:9-11)

It is impossible to please God consistently without knowing what he desires. II Timothy 2:15 instructs us to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” As we study, John 16:13 assures us, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” We will obtain both the knowledge and the understanding needed to please God. This will result in our being fruitful Christians.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the things God wants as Acts 1:8 tells us. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:”, and we are informed that the Christian life, “the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” in I Corinthians 4:20. Patience and joy are fruit of the spirit, and result from the power and knowledge he gives. It is a lot easier to be patient when you know what the outcome will be.

Increased understanding of what Christ has accomplished for us will result in greater appreciation of what was required and our inability to do anything for ourselves. We were enslaved by sin, and were delivered by Christ sacrificing his own blood, as Romans 6:17-18 tells us. “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” As a result of that effort, Ephesians 2:19 tells us, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” He made us fit to receive his promises.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:12-15)

That Jesus is God there is no question. John 1:1 tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“ Jesus himself stated “I and my Father are one,” in John 10:30, and that “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father,“ in John 14:9. As God, he was involved in every aspect of creation. John 1:3 tells us “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17)

Without Christ, nothing would exist. Everything was created by his action, and continues to exist by his power. The song says he’s got the whole world in his hands. There wouldn’t be a world if he turned loose. This is who came as a baby and lived here on this earth, dying on the cross to pay for our sins. He voluntarily did this. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

Because he was willing to do so, God the Father has promoted him. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:18-20)