In our last post we thought about the three changes that occur in the Christian: conversion, sanctification, and being “made perfect in holiness” at death. The change that happens at death is obviously out of our hands. But the first two, conversion and sanctification, involve human activity. No one is converted who does not repent and believe the gospel. While only the Holy Spirit can enable someone to do that, no one is saved who does not do that. In the same way, our progress in holiness is both enabled by the Spirit and advanced by our obedience. This is what Paul says in Phil.2:12-13 – “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you (enabling) both to will and to do (obeying) of his good pleasure.” That is the lifelong change we call sanctification. The Holy Spirit is at work in you to lead you into a life of obedience. He directs that obedience through His Word.
Some people have said that this work of sanctification is a mystery. They don’t know how it happens. And as far as God’s part is concerned it is unseen, mysterious, and something that is beyond our comprehension. However, sanctification has two sides to it. From our side of things, there is no mystery about it at all. The Bible is perfectly clear about the process of our continual progress and growth in grace. God’s Word outlines our contribution to this process of change we call sanctification. That outline is found in – see if you can find it before tomorrow’s post.
Change is what Sanctification is all about.
In Colossians Paul prayes for the Colossians (and us) that they by filled with the full knowege of His Will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I like the footnote in the RcV:
ReplyDelete"Here God's will is His will regarding His eternal purpose, regarding His economy concerning Christ (Eph. 1:5, 9, 11), not His will regarding minor things."
Before we get to "Do I marry Jill or Jane" God's desire is to bring us into the revelation of His Eternal Will and purpose beginning in Genessis and consumating in Revelation 21 and 22.
Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and respond to it. I am sorry that I am not familiar with the RcV.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of God’s will I am reminded of what Jesus said about it. He said that loving God and loving our neighbor summed it all up (Mark 12:29-31). As far as change goes, I know that I do not love God with all my heart nor my neighbor as myself. I need to grow in self-denying love, and change those lingering self-centered attitudes and habits into ones that will be consistent with what Jesus said.
As far as Paul’s prayer in Colossians goes (as well as his other ones), in the context of the epistle, it seems that Paul is being used by the Holy Spirit to answer that prayer by making God’s will known to the readers in the remainder of the epistle. It certainly goes a lot farther than making sure they are new creatures in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us a lot of definite commands in chapters 3 and 4 that help us better understand what loving God and our neighbor are all about. In the light of those commands, it seems that what some might call “minor things” are not so minor after all.
Again, thank you for making this a dialog.
Steve, God's will in the context af Colossians as Art Nurenberg points out in his series on Colossians is not on particular matters but His overall will and eternal purpose. As in Ephesians "To enlighten All that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages was Hidden in God...".
ReplyDeleteIN Ephesians "The Economy of the fullness of the times" is to "head up all things in Christ..." And Ephesians looked at comprehensivly reveals God's Eternal Purpose to produce and build up the church as the Body of Christ, the household of God, the kingdom of God, the temple and dwelling place of God, Bride of Christ, and the corporate warrior to deal with God's enemy.
This is God's will and consumates in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21 and 22) Which is the "Bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb".
Anyhow, just some thoughts
Your 2 year room mate and brother
Pat Cooksey
Hey, Pat, old roommate. You remember when...? Thanks for taking the time to read these ramblings and even to share your thoughts on them.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your response:
Then what are all the commands for? The purpose of being "filled with the knowledge of His will" is "SO AS to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." How do we know what "every good work is" if God doesn't tell us? How do we DO them if God doesn't tell us? How do we please Him if we are not engaged in good works? How do we know what that worthy manner is?
I believe the "practical" section of exhortation that often follows the doctrinal section of Paul's letters gives us specific details as to what God's will is. I believe Ephesians also has a load of imperatives as well. What are all these for?
We can certainly speak of "God's will" in the general sense of His sovereign providence and decrees. However, the "will of God" also has personal application to us regarding our behavior. That is the way I am taking it in the context of Colossians 1:9.
Thanks again for the input. I'll try to get around to all your comments.