Colossians: Walking in a Worthy Manner
to walk worthy of the Lord into all pleasing in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the full experiential knowledge of God Colossians 1:10
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Thanksgiving (εὐχαριστία)
Thanksgiving (εὐχαριστία) is derived from the concept of ‘good grace’. It is an attitude of gratitude, expressing appreciation.
As grace spreads, it produces thanksgiving in expressing a proper opinion of God (2 Corinthians 4:15). Through sharing physically things to meet the needs among the saints, thanksgiving to God abounds (2 Corinthians 9:12). In contrast to filthiness, foolish talking, and coarse jesting, Christians are to express an attitude of gratitude as they walk in love towards their fellow saints (Ephesians 5:4). Let no one deceive you with empty words. Although we once were darkness, we are now light in the Lord and are therefore we are to walk as the children of the light (Ephesians 5:6-8).
Those who base their salvation on the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) belong to God. Therefore, rather than being anxious, in everything by prayer and supplication, after giving thanks, we are to let our requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6). It is the peace of God that guards our hearts and the working of our minds keeping us unruffled in our thoughts concerning the things of this world (Philippians 4:7). Let us not seek after changing our appearance or social status in light of salvation. Instead, we are to walk in a manner worthy of our Lord in the same state in which we received salvation. Thus, being rooted and built up in Him we are established in the faith, abounding with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7).
We are in the times that the Holy Spirit expressly foretold would be a time when many will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons. From among them will rise teachers who have their conscience seared, […]
Boldness in Speech (παρρησιάζομαι)
Boldness in speech (παρρησιάζομαι) is to clearly speak a word openly.
After Paul’s conversion to Christianity and three years in the desert learning from Christ to serve as the steward of the dispensation of grace, he returned to Damascus, speaking clearly and openly, with boldness of speech, showing from Scripture that Jesus is the Messiah, Acts 9:27.
While Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch of Pisidia sharing the gospel of the Christ in the synagogue, the Jews were filled with envy because of the great multitude of Gentiles following Paul; therefore, they began to speak falsely against and oppose what Paul was saying. Their attempt to thwart the good news Paul declared to them only caused Paul and Barnabas to grow in the openness and clarity of their speech, telling the Jews since they did not desire to follow God and counted themselves as unworthy to receive enteral life, they would turn to the Gentiles, Acts 13:46.
In Ephesus, when Apollos, a man from Alexandria, spoke accurately concerning the things of the Lord, knowing only the immersion of John the Baptist, as he began to speak openly in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla heard him. They then took him aside and filled him in on all that had happened since the immersion of John, more accurately explaining to him the way of God, Acts 18:26.
When defending himself against false charges from the Jew before Festus and Agrippa, after Festus called him mad, Paul spoke freely to King Agrippa because Paul was convinced that the King already knew about this matter, Acts 26:26. Because of his openness and clarity of words, Agrippa responded saying, “You almost persuade me also to become a Christian.” However, the matter at […]
Self-Control (ἐγκράτεια)
Self-control (ἐγκράτεια) means to have strength over one’s appetites through regulating emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of impulses or temptations.
Self-control is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:23. Since it is a part of the fruit belonging to the Spirit, we cannot obtain it through law or self-effort. Those who seek to be righteous through their works, although having a word of wisdom through self-imposed religion, humility, and the neglecting of the body, do not through these enjoy freedom over the indulgences of the flesh, Colossians 2:23. Self-control is a product of walking by the Spirit; therefore, self-control is an ingredient of the characteristics of Christians who are Spiritual, Acts 24:25.
As we work out our faith, we gain knowledge. To this knowledge, we are to add self-control, through which we can apply godliness to our lives, 2 Peter 1:6. As we continue to mature, we add to godliness a fondness for the brethren that gives place to seeking the best for the ones loved, so the we abound and are not unfruitful or barren in the full experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, self-control is a natural result of seeking out and governing our lives by the desires from the Holy Spirit, so that in freedom we maintain strength over our appetites, emotions, thoughts, and behavior in a worthy manner that glorifies God as the Holy Spirit produces the character of Christ through us.