Experience - Walking Worthy of the Lord unto All Pleasing
(Colossians 1:3-12)

(Class Notes)

• Thanksgiving (Colossians 1:3,5,12)
  • Thanksgiving for the HOPE RESERVED for them
    • The HOPE LAID UP in HEAVEN for us is our being SEATED together with Christ in HEAVENLY places (Ephesians 2:6)
    • We are BLESSED in Christ with ALL spiritual BLESSINGS in HEAVENLY places (Ephesians 1:3)
  • Thanksgining for them being FITTED for the HOPE
    • God has FITTED us already for our HEAVENLY inheritance by SEALING our SPIRIT with His Spirit (Ephesians 1:13 cf. Romans 8:16)
    • God will COMPLETE the FITTING at His coming for us when He FASHIONS our BODY like unto His own (Philippians 3:20-21 cf. Romans 8:22-23)
    • At His coming for us we will FULLY POSSESS our HEAVENLY inheritance having been FULLY OUTFITTED (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 cf. I Corinthians 15:50-54)

• Testimony (Colossians 1:4,6-8)
  • The FRUIT of the GOSPEL in them
    • FAITH in Christ Jesus is acknowledging our IDENTIFICATION with Christ at the Father's right hand in the HEAVENLY places (Ephesians 1:19-20 cf. Ephesians 2:5-6)
    • LOVE unto all the saints is produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we learn to FELLOWSHIP with God through TRIBULATIONS (Romans 5:1-5)
  • The FRUIT of the GOSPEL in the world
    • GRACE of God in truth is LIVING godly in this present evil age while LOOKING for His appearing (Titus 2:11-13)
    • Fighting the good fight of the FAITH by ENDURING opposition to it is to LOVE His appearing (II Timothy 3:10-12 cf. II Timothy 4:6-8)

• Petition (Colossians 1:9-11)
  • Filled with the FULL KNOWLEDGE of His will
    • Knowing His will means knowing the MYSTERY concerning His purpose in Christ, which is the only TRUE WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE (Colossians 2:1-3 cf. Ephesians 1:8-10)
    • God's PURPOSE in Christ is to make Him the Head of a RECONCILED creation - both EARTHLY and HEAVENLY (Colossians 1:16-20) - in which the CHURCH constitutes the HEAVENLY part KEPT SECRET until revealed to Paul (Ephesians 1:19-23; Ephesians 3:7-11)
  • Walking worthy of the Lord unto ALL PLEASING
    • WALK as DEAR children in LOVE (Ephesians 5:1-2)
      • LOVE is expressed in SACRIFICIAL giving of which Christ is the Supreme Example (II Corinthians 8:9)
      • Other SACRIFICIAL giving examples include:
        • Paul (Philippians 2:17-18)
        • Timothy (Philippians 2:19-22)
        • Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27)
        • the Philippians themselves (Philippians 4:15-18)
    • WALK as children of LIGHT bearing the FRUIT of the LIGHT (Ephesians 5:8-9)
      • GOODNESS is part of the FRUIT of the SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22-23) as is LONGSUFFERING and JOY (Colossians 1:11) - all of which describe SPIRITUAL ATTITUDES
      • RIGHTEOUSNESS is putting on the NEW MAN which results in RIGHT ACTIONS (Ephesians 4:24,28)
      • TRUTH is putting on the NEW MAN which results in EDIFYING SPEECH (Ephesians 4:24,25,29)

Study Outline

Audio Message (Parts 1-3) Audio Message (Part 1) Audio Message (Part 2) Audio Message (Part 3)