INCREASING IN THE
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Col. 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(a) Increasing = Means to grow
(b) We are to grow in the knowledge of God
(c) To grow in this knowledge will help us to walk worthy of the Lord, will help us to please the Lord, and will help us to be fruitful in every good work.
I. KNOWLEDGE OF GOD OUT OF THE
BOOK OF COLOSSIANS
(1) Col. 1:12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(a) Qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints.
(b) This refers to every promise and provision of the gospel for believers who are delivered from the power of Satan and are translated into the kingdom of God
(2) Col. 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
(a) Here it means to deliver from Satan and his power and kingdom of sin, sickness, and depravity to be placed under the government of the Son of God's love. This transfer is made possible by redemption through the blood of Christ
(3) Col. 1:14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
(a) Redemption = This word means “to release a prisoner by the payment of a ransom.”
(b) Paul did not suggest that Jesus paid a ransom to Satan in order to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness.
(c) By His death and resurrection, Jesus met the holy demands of God’s Law.
(d) Satan seeks to accuse us and imprison us because he knows we are guilty of breaking God’s Law. But the ransom has been
paid on Calvary, and through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been set free.
(a) Forgiveness = Redemption and forgiveness go together. The word translated forgiveness means “to send away” or “to cancel a debt.”
(b) The freedom of forgiveness.
(c) God’s forgiveness of sinners is an act of His grace.
(d) We did not deserve to be forgiven, nor can we earn forgiveness.
(e) Knowing that we are forgiven makes it possible for us to fellowship with God, enjoy His grace, and seek to do His will.
(f) Forgiveness is not an excuse for sin; rather, it is an encouragement for obedience.
(g) And, because we have been forgiven, we can forgive others
(h) An unforgiving spirit always leads to bondage
(i) If you have an unforgiving spirit, you don’t know the freedom of forgiveness
(j) Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
(k) No other person could redeem us, forgive us, transfer us out of Satan’s kingdom into God’s kingdom, and do it wholly by grace.
(l) The phrase, “through His blood,” reminds us of the cost of our salvation.
(m) Moses and the Israelites only had to shed the blood of a lamb to be delivered from Egypt. But Jesus had to shed His blood to deliver us from sin.
(4) Col. 1:21
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
(5) Col. 1:22
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
(6) Col. 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
(7) Col. 1:26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
(8) Col. 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
(9) Col. 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
