Colossians 1:1-12

Well, brethren, we today are going to start another epistle. We're going to start with the epistle to the Colossians. We're going to start with a brief introduction. And then I hope to cover up to about verse 12 in the first chapter today.

This epistle was written by Paul. We can see that in Colossians chapter 1, verses 1 and 2 says, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Timothy, our brother, to the saints. And so you can see it was him that wrote. Then also in the same chapter at the end, in verse 23, right at the end of verse 23, he says, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

So we can see it was written by him. And also on chapter 4, verse 18, right at the end, at the conclusion of this epistle, says, this salutation by my own hand, Paul. So clearly his internal evidence is overwhelming that it was written by Paul. And he wrote from prison in Rome. Now, this imprisonment is discussed right at the end of the book of Acts in chapter 28. Write the last few verses starting from verse 16 to the end. And it is, therefore, referred to as one of the prison epistles along with Ephesians, Philippians and Philharmon. So these are defined as the prison epistles.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome. He arrived there about A.D. 59, and there were a number of visitors that are mentioned that came and visited him, such as Epaphroditus from Philippi, Tychicus from Ephesus, Epaphras from Colossae, and then is also mentioned of John, Mark, Luke and Timothy. So we can see that these prison epistles, amongst them there are some similarities, particularly between Ephesians and Colossians. Colossians may have been written contemporarily or at the same time with Epistle to Ephesians, and initially Colossians were sent with Ephesians from what we can see, and Philippon by Tychicus.

If we read in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21, Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21 and 22, it says, But that you may also know my affairs, and how I'm doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you. So he was sending this, the Ephesian letter via Tychicus, which he says, whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

Likewise, in Colossians chapter 5 verse 7 and 8, says, Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I'm sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts. So we can see very similar wording in both Ephesians, and therefore we believe that they were sent at the same time by Tychicus along with the Epistle, the Philharmon Epistle. Also, the names of Timothy, Aristarchus, Arcypus, Mark, Epathras, Luke, Onesimus, and Demus appear in both Epistles, showing that they were written at about the same time.

The church in Colossae began during Paul's three-year ministry at Ephesus. That was during the beginning of his third missionary trip. That is discussed in Acts 19. The founder of the church in Colossae was not Paul, as he had never been there. When we read Colossians chapter 2 verse 1, for instance, he says, For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those allowed to see it, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.

So he clearly had not been there. And therefore, the founder of the church in Colossae, we believe, was Epathras. When we read in Colossians chapter 1 verse 7, you read, And as you also learned from Epathras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. So they learned it from Epathras. He was a minister and a minister of God. And therefore, what it appears that has occurred or what did occur is that Epathras was converted during one of his visits to Ephesus.

That is when Paul was there during his three-year ministry at Ephesus during the beginning of his third missionary trip. And then he likely then, when he went back home to Colossae, he then started the church there in Colossae. Right, so it was written this epistle around about the year 6061 AD, maybe even as late as 62, but most probably around about the year 1661. This letter or this epistle was also to be read by the brethren in the neighboring southern church of Laodicea.

In other words, Colossae was a little bit north of Laodicea. So if you look at Colossians chapter 4 verse 16, Colossians chapter 4 verse 16, he says, Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is also, it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

So this letter of the Colossians was read in Laodicea, and converse equally a letter that Paul wrote to the Laodiceans would have been read in Colossae. Now, this letter to the Laodiceans was not made as one of the canonized epistles as part of the Bible, but the letter to the Colossians is. And so, in a sense, it could be said that this letter to the Colossians was also a letter to the Laodiceans. So we know that Paul wrote many other letters, and we can understand that some of the letters he wrote were not included as part of the inspired literature, the inspired New Testament Bible.

So one of the things that triggered the writing of this letter, and this is important for us to understand, to give a little bit of background, is that there was a dangerous pagan heresy affecting the world in that time frame. Today, we refer to that heresy as Gnosticism. At that time, it was not referred with that title, but today we refer to it as Gnosticism. The first two chapters of the Cepicel are specifically directed at this heresy.

So we can see Paul making subtle reference, let's call it initially, and then pretty straightforward reference about errors from this heresy. Now, this pagan heresy is important to understand that it was a kind of approach to religion, and it affected all religions. It was like a way of thinking that affected all various religions, particularly paganism, but it also affected Judaism, and obviously affected the early church. Now, Gnosticism was basically around the belief that God is good, but physical matter is evil.

This belief had further variations or facts about it, and one of them was what they called spiritual emanations. They were different, like spiritual emanations down through the different planets, which they defined as gods, and they descended from God. And so when this these concepts embraced Christianity, it stated that Christ was one of such emanations, in other words, being less than God, and that one required special secret higher knowledge above or over and above the Bible, and therefore the term Gnosticism, which basically is knowledge, and therefore people require that special secret knowledge to be quote-unquote enlightened, and therefore to be able to receive salvation.

This belief of secret knowledge is in part also related to Gnosticism. Gnosticism being a secret and direct personal relationship or union with God beyond ordinary understanding or reasoning. In other words, it's a secret type relationship. Now, this actually goes back all the way to Numerod and Semiramis. When Numerod died, Semiramis established what is called a mystery religion. Secret ideas then were put forward, and later on with the Greeks, those ideas were changed or modified into what is now understood as Gnosticism.

And so those ideas were put forward, and only those who were quote-unquote initiated could understand what the real true mysteries represented. Its central teaching, therefore, I'm repeating what I mentioned earlier on, is that spirit was entirely good and matter is entirely evil. So under that concept, the body, the human body, is considered evil because it's matter. And therefore salvation is quote-unquote escape from the body. There we get the concept of a soul leaving the body. In other words, escape from the body, which is achieved not by faith in Christ.

You know, salvation in their minds was not achieved by what Christ has done for us, but by special knowledge. Well, since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly. And therefore, there was these concepts of maltreating the body. Some of those concepts even propagate today into Catholicism, as some Catholics may, people that were previously Catholic, may recognize that.

Gnosticism was characterized by the need of mediating beings, the beings that mediated. In other words, spirits that were out there to mediate and people would pray to these spirits, quote-unquote demons. So we have this mystery religion, which pretty well ties into scriptures like Revelation 17 verse 5, where it talks about this Babylon, this mystery Babylon the Great.

So we can see this concept of religion has kind of shaped in different forms over the ages, but conceptually is still in the world today. This secret special knowledge led to the denial of the divinity of Christ. One of the most common teachings of Gnosticism is what they call dulcetism. Now, dulcetism is a teaching that Jesus and Christ are not the same person. Yeah, because their understanding is spirit is good, physical is evil, so there has to be a separation. So they say Jesus and Christ are not the same person.

So those Gnostics, many of them believed that Christ was a spiritual being that entered into the man Jesus. Therefore, you can see why some people have the idea well, and I've seen when I've talked to some people in other countries, the concept of saying, well, it came into Jesus when he was baptized, quote unquote. So that's a misunderstanding there clearly, but that's how they interpret that. And then they say, and withdrew this Christ's spirit being came into Jesus, but then withdrew just at the crucifixion leading to that concept being, let's put it this way, encouraged by the wars of Christ that said, why have you forsaken me?

So they take it to a different meaning rather than Christ being fully human and having human emotions like we all have when we go through great trials and we feel God has forsaken us. So Christ went through those emotions as well. So they believe that separation. Also, some taught as an extension of that, that Jesus Christ never came into flesh. You know, because of that, Christ never came in the flesh. He was not really born in the flesh, but Christ entered into the man Jesus and then left.

So he only appeared temporarily. In other words, he was only in the flesh temporarily. And that's why we read in in 2nd John chapter 1 verse 7, when it says, for many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. So this whole concept has morphed into many modern ideas with different variations, but we can see the roots of how this developed. Gnosticism through these beliefs of human nations and secret knowledge, it also embraced the worship of angels, quote unquote, or more accurately, the worship of demons.

And so Gnosticism also merged with manmade Jewish legalism, and then it also became known as asceticism. You know, it was touch not, you know, you read some scriptures where it says touch not and things like that. That is that ascetic belief coming through. So this minister of God, Epaphras, was so concerned about this heresy that he traveled from Colossae to Rome. We can see that in Colossians 4 verse 12 and 13, it says Colossians 4 verse 12 and 13, Epaphras, who is one of you, a bond service of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

For a bearing witness that he has a great zeal for you and those who are in Laudasir and those in Iareopolis. Iareopolis was a town also near Laudasir and Colossae, so there were those three little towns kind of laboring each other. And so, Epaphras, being so concerned, he went to Rome, where Paul was a prisoner, and then Paul writes this letter of concern to the Colossians and, as we mentioned by extension, to the Laudasirians against this heresy and sent a letter with Tychicus, who was accompanying the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master Philharmon, which was a member of the Colossian church, as we can see in Colossians 4, verse 7 through 9.

It says, Tychicus, a beloved member, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, I'm sending to you for this very purpose that you may know your circumstances with, verse 9, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you, and they will make known to you all things which are happening here in Rome. So, Epaphras then remained in Rome. We see that from right at the end of the brief letter to Philharmon in verse 23, perhaps to receive further instructions and teaching from Paul.

So that gives us a pretty comprehensive introduction to the Book of Colossians, the heresy that was affecting them, and therefore gives us background to some of the comments in chapter 1 and 2. So let's start now by reading Colossians chapter 1. We're going to read verses 1, 2, and 3. First Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, who are in Colossa.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So we can see at the beginning in his first two verses Paul's usual instruction. We can also see that Timothy was there helping Paul while he was in prison. And then he says in verse 3, he says, we give thanks to God. So he is very grateful to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying always for you.

So he's saying, we're praying for you. And it just shows Paul's concern for the brethren praying for the church. Now in verse 4, it starts touching how the church started in Colossa. He says, yes, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.

So, yeah, is that he heard. He was not there. So he's complimenting them. He's starting the letter and we heard about your faith. And therefore he says, we're praying for you. Verse 5, because of the hope. Let's just read the whole verse 5. Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. In first place, yeah, we have the hope.

What is our hope? The hope is that we will have a spirit body. We will be in the kingdom of God and you and I will receive as children of God a new body, a healthy body. And we'll receive that at the time of the resurrection. We don't have to go through other scriptures to prove that. In Corinthians 15 and others, we know them very well. And so that is a hope that we have of being in the kingdom of God and being changed, being transformed from this physical body to a spiritual body.

And it says, the hope which is laid up for you in heaven. So Christ and the Father are in heaven. Our names are written in heaven. But it does not say we go into heaven. It's saying there is hope. The hope is there. It's laid out for us. And we know that Jesus Christ will return and reward us, give us that spiritual body. We will be changed. We will be transformed. So of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. And that is the truth of the gospel. That is the message that we understand that is being preached because of Christ's death and His resurrection.

The hope that we have of this gospel. Not only that, but not only for the Jews, but for everybody, Jews and Gentiles. So, and then it reads here in verse 6. Which has come to you as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit as it is also among you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth. So how has the truth of the gospel come to us and also to all the world?

How is it spreading out? Does it mean that the whole world has heard the truth? Well, let's first read Romans chapter 10. Romans chapter 10 verse 14 through 17. Romans 10 14 verse 17. This is a really encouraging scripture in this section where it says, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

And so the gospel has to be preached, and God has to send ministers, he's appointed worms to preach the gospel as it's written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. And so it is a beautiful message, and how beautiful it is when people come and bring those good news. It is always a blessing.

For instance, we've just come back from the feast. And what is the first thing we talk about? We had great messages. We had encouraging and uplifting messages. Yes, we had lovely fellowship. We had encouraging fellowship. But we had great messages. We had this encouragement of the preaching of the gospel of peace, of the good news of the kingdom. And that is very uplifting and continue in verse 16 and 17. But they have not followed by the gospel.

For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? For then faith comes by hearing by the word of God. And so preaching had to be done. Now, let's look also at Isaiah 55 verse 11. Isaiah 55 verse 11. And now we see in Isaiah 55 verse 11. Let's just get to that. Isaiah 55 verse 11. And there, 52, 54. There we are, 55 verse 11. He says, And so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.

And so the word goes from God through his ministers. They are sent to preach God's truth. And it says, It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please. And it shall prosper in the thing which I sent it. God's word will not return back to God void. It will bring forth fruit. So let's go back then to Colossians chapter 1 verse 6, where we read this gospel of the truth of the gospel which comes to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit.

It's bringing... it's not coming to God void. The gospel is being preached to the known world as God opens doors. And people are hearing that truth. And yes, some people are responding, some are not. But the gospel is being preached. One thing, just between brackets here, that I found out while I was in Brazil, is that we are now producing... Okay, I knew that. We are now producing Beyond Today programs in about 13-minute segments. And then we put two of those segments together for those that go on TV.

So on TV, then we have about 30 minutes, which is two segments of 13 minutes, makes 26, plus a little advert in the middle, a bit of an introduction and conclusion. It makes that half an hour program. But those 13-minute segments are now put on YouTube. And the interesting thing while I was in Brazil, a few brethren were showing me that Yah is the Beyond Today programs on YouTube.

And they transcribed in Portuguese. And you know what? It's nothing that we have done. It's nothing that the Church has done. Now, if this is true in Brazil because of the language and things like that, people receive it in their own language. And so it will be true in other countries. And so God has opened a door for the gospel to be preached to the whole world. And some of the things, it's just the door that God has opened.

It really is encouraging. So God has opened a door and this knowledge through YouTube is automatically being translated into different national languages without us in the Church actually doing it. Okay, maybe the translation might not be perfect, but it is there. And it really is something that I believe God will leverage it. So the gospel of the kingdom is preached unto the whole world, as it says, Matthew 24, 14, and in the end will come.

Reverend, that is really, I think that is inspiring and significant. But anyway, continuing, yeah, this gospel is going into the whole world and is going to bring forth fruit. It's going to bring forth fruit. Now, some of the fruit will only be during the Great Tribulation when people will say, hey, I heard that. I knew that. I better repent now. So, but we'll still bring forth fruit. Maybe not today, but later. And so continuing, yeah, it says, bring forth fruit as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.

Now, how did the Colossians here, because of the work of Paul? No, the work of Adam minister, in this case, Epathras. But look at other apostles. Other apostles went out into other parts of the world. Some apostles went into India. Some apostles went into Europe. Some apostles went into Africa. And the word in that age was being spread around the world. They went preaching.

And we are in the New Testament have the example of Paul. But God equally backed other apostles with great power and authority and surely miracles and signs and wonders. So, whenever they went. And so the gospel was preached. And God does things today. And gospel is being preached today as well. And so Paul, in this context, is showing that the gospel is not hidden. It's not secret knowledge as the Gnostics and ascetics would want them to believe.

He's saying, no, this gospel is open, is available. It's up to people to pay attention to and repent and change and respond to it. All right. Continue now in verse 7.

And this is what Paul is now going to be addressing. And so he says now in verse 9, for this reason, we also Marius Paul and Timothy and others that we are with him. For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you. He was praying for these churches and for the well-being and that they would not fall under this heresy. He was concerned about them. And to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will, you know, wisdom and spiritual understanding. Filled with. Filled with means filled completely, filled to the full. And then he says with the knowledge, not hidden knowledge, not secret knowledge, knowledge which is full and accurate of what? Of God's will. So that they and us with the knowledge, according to God, that's what we need to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For what? So we walk like Christ walked. Look at Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 15 and 17. It says, See them that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. How? Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And so, as we are back here to Colossians, it says that we may be filled, or that they may be full, but for us as well, it's applicable to us, with the knowledge of God's will so that we could walk. In other words, in all wisdom, and again, look at it, he's actually addressing this concept of Gnosticism because Gnosticism was based on false philosophies and show of wisdom. You know, it was a show, an appearance. Oh, we are wise. Look in Colossians chapter 2 verse 8. Colossians chapter 2 verse 8. Beware, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditional man, according to basic principles of the world. That's the Gnosticism. So he's saying, hey, that is false philosophy. But yeah, in Colossians chapter 1 verse 9, it says that you be filled with the knowledge of God's will with all wisdom, but that is godly wisdom. Godly wisdom, not false philosophy or not a show of wisdom. Look at also in Colossians chapter 2 verse 23.

He says, these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility and neglect of the body. Yeah, because physical things are evil, neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. And so he is addressing these Gnostic concepts, saying, hey, we cannot be in this false philosophy, this show of appearance of wisdom, which is fake, which is false. Look at Ephesians chapter 1, also Ephesians chapter 1 verse 8 and 9. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 8 and 9. It says here, which he made to abound towards us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of God's will.

God has shown us his wisdom and his will for us to be his children in his kingdom. This is not a hidden knowledge. It's clearly explained in the Gospels and in the Bible. And so Paul is right here, starting in verse 9 of Colossians chapter 1, starting to address these Gnostic beliefs of special hidden knowledge. And he says he was praying for them to be completely filled with the knowledge of God's will, not some special knowledge about angels or demons, in other words, because Gnostics believed that that spirit of man, quote unquote, that soul would have to return to heaven.

And so that has various concepts of different stages. Even in the Catholic Church, you have different stages like purgatory before heaven and things like that. In those days, they had eight stages of moving up to, quote unquote, to be the highest level.

So Paul was praying for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will, not some esoteric knowledge, but also in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. God's Word fills us with all knowledge, complete knowledge. We don't need additional secret knowledge. We don't need additional things about what's happening with these angels and demons and things like that.

I come across that sometimes when I deal with people in the world that ask me questions. I come across these weird ideas, and you can see that coming in from this root of Gnostic beliefs of paganism that is still existing in some people's minds. And so, and he says, yeah, in wisdom, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Now what is spiritual wisdom? Because when he says wisdom and spiritual understanding, it really is relating to spiritual wisdom.

And so what is spiritual wisdom? Spiritual wisdom is the ability to put together, organize principles in the Bible and take all these spiritual principles and put them together and have wisdom, have spiritual wisdom. And then understanding, because it says, yeah, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Understanding, then, is the ability to put these principles, this wisdom into application. Is us being able to live it, to live this on our daily lives.

And so the question is, how do we apply it in our lives? How do you and I live our lives? And so he now goes on in the next few verses about a few action words, a few action words. In other words, things that we ought to be doing.

An action word is a verb. It's something we ought to be doing. In verse 10, he mentions four action words. In verse 11, he mentions the first one. And in verse 12, he mentions a six action word. So let's look at these action words starting in verse 10. Because in verse 10, he asked four. Let's just read verse 10. That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

He asked the four action words, walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing God. That's the second action. The third action is for us to be fruitful in every good work. And the fourth action is to be increasing in, as it says here, in the knowledge of God. And so, first, we ought to walk worthy of the Lord.

And that is ties in with Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1. We went through that when we studied the book of Ephesians. But it says, I therefore, prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. We need to walk worthy of this calling.

And then it says, fully pleasing God. In other words, is God pleased how we use our time, the manner we do things, the motives that we have? Is God pleased with our disposition, our thoughts, the purpose and the design of our actions? Is He pleased? Are we fully pleasing God? And then it says, fruitful in every good work. And that is, in a sense, a manifestation of walking worthy, because then we bear fruit as we walk worthy, pleasing God, then we bear fruit. And fourthly, increasing in the knowledge. In other words, by the complete full knowledge.

And this is not Gnostic, secret knowledge, but it's knowledge, understanding the knowledge. We are to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And then what do we do with that? We use that Godly knowledge and we use it to walk worthy in our conduct. And what is our conduct? It's how we act graciously with God's grace. And so that's why Peter says, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And that is walking worthy by putting into practice the principles that we've learned. And so through that, we are fully pleasing or trying to please God in all we do. And so those are the first four action words. The first action word is now in verse 11. It says, strengthened. That is the first action word. Word, strengthened. Now the word for strengthened is a strengthen with all might. Strengthen what?

With all might. What I meant to say, Abhi Aparna, is the word might. The word might is the Greek 1411, dunamis, force, miraculous power. In other words, we are strengthened with all miraculous power from God. Now, remember in Acts chapter 1 verse 8? Let's go there. Acts chapter 1 verse 8. Where Christ told the apostles in Acts chapter 1 verse 8 to wait.

Look at Acts chapter 1 verse 8 says, well, to put it in context, he says they were assembled. We read that in verse 4. And he said, but to wait for the promise of the Father. The promise is wait for God's Holy Spirit, which they received about 10 days later or so on the day of Pentecost. And so he says, therefore when they came together, they asked him, saying, Lord, is the bullet of the star, will you restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said, it's not for you to know that, but he says in verse 8, but you shall receive power.

Dunamis, power, force, miraculous might. Right? You shall receive power. Okay? When the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You see, God's Holy Spirit, it gives us that miraculous power, that force. And that's why he says here in verse 11 of Colossians chapter 1, strengthened with all might, with all power, all the miraculous power from God's Holy Spirit. You see, our strength is spiritual. It comes through God's Holy Spirit. According, that's what it says. Let's go on reading. According to His glorious power, and now in this second case, according to His glorious power, the word is kratos, which means dominion, His strength.

So according to God's great dominion, great strength, therefore, we can expect that to come from God. And then He says, continue reading, for. In other words, be strengthened. This is the action word, the first action word for us to be strengthened with the power from God's Holy Spirit. For what? For what?

For all patients and long suffering. It's interesting, and obviously with joy, but it's interesting. Patients, think about patients, is enduring difficult circumstances. Patients is enduring difficult circumstances, difficult trials and tests. That's patience.

And so God gives us power for enduring difficult trials and circumstances through the power of His Spirit and long suffering. Now long suffering is enduring difficult people.

You see, patience is enduring difficult circumstances. Long suffering is enduring difficult people. Long suffering and maybe in your marriage, long suffering, how you deal with somebody else or when somebody treats you badly.

It is long suffering enduring when we deal with different difficult people with joy.

In other words, God gives us peace of mind. God gives us that internal joy because we know we're doing the right thing. We're doing it according God's way.

And God's Holy Spirit gives us that power to endure difficult circumstances and to endure difficult people with peace of mind, that internal peace of mind and internal joy.

As we read, for instance, in Romans 5 verse 11, we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now receive reconciliation.

We know that we are at one with God. We're trying to do what's pleasing to God. We are in a bondness at one with God. We are reconciled with God. And so, it says, therefore, walk worthy, fully pleasing God, bear fruits, increase in understanding who Christ is and the knowledge of God, and be strengthened with all power for or to endure difficult trials and tests, and endure difficult people. And that is with God's joy. And then in verse 12, we have the sixth action word. It says, giving thanks.

And that is, and whatever we do, we got it. Demonstrate gratitude and thanksgiving to God. Always giving thanks to the Father.

Now, look at this. Who has qualified us? Now, you may have not noticed this, but God the Father has qualified us.

The word qualified is the Greek 2427. He can now, which means He's made us able, He's made us sufficient, He's empowered us, He's authorized us by the Holy Spirit. How?

Because He's empowered us, He's qualified us to be sons, to be begotten and as His children. We are now qualified as children of God.

Yes, begotten, not yet born, but He has qualified us. That's what it says here. It says here, who has qualified us is once for all is rendered as fit to be His children.

Sure, through the help of God's Holy Spirit, we are in the process of sanctification, of improving ourselves, but understand God the Father has qualified us.

I think sometimes we say it incorrectly. We say it incorrectly, oh, we need to qualify ourselves. Brethren, we can't qualify ourselves, but God has qualified us.

If we are qualifying ourselves, that means we would be saving ourselves and we're not. God has qualified us. God has made His children. God has given His Spirit and He's qualified us upon repentance and baptism by the laying on our hands. We receive God's Holy Spirit. We are now His begotten children. He has qualified us to be His children. He has empowered us to be His children.

In other words, as it says here, continue it, qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light, to be partakers of the inheritance in the light.

He has had a lot of things about light and darkness in the wrong way and He is saying, hey, the true light, the true light comes from God. The true origin of light is God and our inheritance. What is our inheritance? It's to ultimately to inherit the whole universe. You can read that in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 2 and 3. You read that in Hebrews chapter 2, 6 through 8. And you read in Romans 8 verse 17, we are to be co-inheritors with Christ. So our inheritance is ultimately to inherit the whole universe. So we got to give thanks to God as we go through and we have these action words. Let's not forget the last one is to be grateful to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of that inheritance. He's done it already. Now it's up to us to continue on that path and not give it up.