How Are You Walking In The Lord?

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14 
KingdomView, Vol. V, Issue 16

Sermon Summary

KEITH ‘WONDER BOY’ JOHNSON AND THE SPIRITUAL VOICES wrote and sung the gospel hit, "May the Work’s I’ve Done Speak for Me." Verse 2 says,

"May the life I live speak for me.

When I’m resting in my grave,

there’s nothing more to be said;

may the life (the life I live)

let it speak for me, (for me)."

In Colossians 1:10, Paul says, ". . . Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord." The word "Walk" here carries the idea of lifestyle, specifically, how a believer is living his or her life. The gospel artist, Keith ‘Wonder Boy’ Johnson, nailed it when he said how we live would speak for us. This thought raises a fundamental question for the professing Christian, which is, what can be said about our Christian walk before others, because every Christian should be walking worthy of the Lord. Some believers struggle in their Christian walk and it has an adverse effect on their public witness. There are many contributing factors to such a disappointing state, but Paul in our selected text is not dealing with that issue per se. However, he is concerned about what enables a Christian to walk worthy of the Lord. According to Paul in Colossians 1:9-14, he cites three attainments that enable a focused Christian to walk worthy of the Lord and in biblical principle they are:

1. The focused Christian is enabled to walk worthy of the Lord when they attain a complete knowledge of His will (Colossians 1:9-10). Because of Epaphras’ favorable report regarding the Church at Colossae (Colossians 1:1-8), Paul would burst into joyful prayer on their behalf. He prayed that they would attain to a full (or complete) knowledge of His [God’s] will. MacArthur writes, "Paul wants the Colossians to be totally controlled by knowledge. Epignōsis (knowledge) consists of the normal Greek word for knowledge (gnōsis) with an added preposition (epi), which intensifies the meaning. The knowledge Paul wants the Colossians to have is a deep and thorough knowledge." It is this deep and thorough knowledge of God and His will with proper application that enables the Christian to walk worthy of the Lord. Such a full knowledge of God that affects one’s walk pleases Him, especially when it produces a fruit bearing life of good works (Colossians 1:10). Thus, the goal is not to be satisfied with a superficial knowledge of God, but that we diligently immerse ourselves in the riches of His revealed will, the Sacred Scriptures (Psalm 19:7-11).

2. The focused Christian is enabled to walk worthy of the Lord when they attain His energizing power (Colossians 1:11-12). The Christian life cannot be lived by mere human will or energy. This is the function of the indwelling Holy Spirit that empowers believers for victorious Christian living when their life is yielded to His control. The Christian does not need more power for they already possess all the power from the indwelling presence of the Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 John 4:4). Therefore, the issue is not power but control. Paul illustrates this truth as he contrasted fermented wine with the person of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:18. When a person consumes too much alcohol, the result is often inebriation. An intoxicated individual will sometimes act out of character because he is under the influence (or control) of alcohol. Likewise, when a believer lives a yielded life under the Spirit’s control, then he will live a life in a manner that is worthy of the Lord and produce much fruit because Be Enlightened, Encouraged and Equipped! Copyright 2013 JW Henderson Ministries

the Spirit is in control (John 15:4, 5). Additionally, MacArthur provides us with another insight; he says, "Although the outer, physical person becomes weaker with age, the inner, spiritual person should grow stronger through the Holy Spirit, who will energize, revitalize, and empower the obedient, committed Christian for sustained Christian living." This outcome is possible when believers relinquish control per se of their life and allow the Spirit to have dominion.

3. The focused Christian is enabled to walk worthy of the Lord when they attain a right understanding of their new residency in Christ (Colossians 1:13-14).

When a person surrenders his life to Christ, he is transferred from the power and rule of the Kingdom of Darkness, which is governed by Satan and is placed into a new realm, the Kingdom of Light whose head is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13). Before coming to Christ, we were dead in our trespasses and sins and under the rule of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2). Outside of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, we were without hope (Ephesians 2:12). However, Paul breaks forth with this powerful declaration and says,

Ephesians 2:4-9

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (NASB)

Now, allow me to say a brief word about redemption. The word ‘redemption’ carries the general sense of "Being delivered from the slave market of sin" and Jesus’ atonement for our sins purchased this freedom. The Greek word lutrōsis conveys this idea. However, the Biblical writers when they wanted to intensify the idea of Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary; they would use the Greek word apolutrōsis. The prepositional prefix apo gives the intensity, maybe an illustration here will help. Before I became weight and health conscious, I often ordered a Number Two Combo from Wendy’s (a double meat sandwich with cheese, fries and a soft drink). Boy, that combo was good! However, I could intensify my order by saying "biggie or super size it." That meant instead of receiving a small fry and soft drink, they would increase them to a large fry and soft drink. Well, apolutrōsis here in Colossians 1:14 is biggie sized by Paul as he conveys the idea of our not only being "purchased from the slave market of sin" by Christ’s atoning work at Calvary, but it closed the door on our ever returning to that state once transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light! Consequently, the efficacious work of Christ on the cross sealed the deal for those who would place their faith in His atoning work alone as He forgives our sins and imparts eternal life to those that believe (John 10:28-30). Let Him "Super size your life today" by accepting Him as your Savior.

Go Deeper:

1. Tony Evans - The Kingdom Agenda: Life Under God

2. Robert P. Lightner - Sin, The Savior, and Salvation 
　

3. Earl D. Radmacher – Salvation

4. Tony Evans – Totally Saved

5. Jerry Bridges – The Pursuit of Holiness