The reason for thanking God the Father (8)
[Colossians 1:1-8]
In today's passage, Colossians 1:3, the Apostle Paul expresses gratitude to God the Father whenever he prays with Timothy, who possesses genuine faith, for the faithful saints in Colossae. Ultimately, Paul, remembering his spiritual son Timothy, consistently gives thanks to God the Father while praying for the saints in Colossae. Reflecting on this, it becomes evident that faithful believers with genuine, unfeigned faith, like Paul and Timothy, praying together and expressing gratitude as they intercede for others, create a beautiful image for the Lord. For instance, if applied to our church, envisioning Elder Yoon, who possesses genuine, unfeigned faith, while praying and expressing thanks to God the Father, and remembering both Elder Yoon and the faithful members of Victory Presbyterian Church, creates a beautiful representation in the eyes of the Lord.
The third lyric and chorus of the hymn “Encamped Along the Hills of Light”: “To him that overcomes the foe White raiment shall be given Before the angels he shall know His name confess'd in heaven. Then onward from the hills of light, Our hearts with love aflame, We'll vanquish all the hosts of night In Jesus' conqu'ring name. Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory, That overcomes the world.” As we fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2), the author and perfecter of our faith, let us fight against ourselves, sin, the world, Satan, and death until the end. May we be clothed in white and partake in eternal blessings beyond the dark world, believing in the power of Jesus. As we strive for this, let us diligently seek the growth of our faith. Romans 10:17 in the Modern Korean Bible says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Let us earnestly desire to hear the word of Christ. We must make an effort to regularly and consistently listen to the Lord's words.
Personally, the type of faith I aspire to is the "faith that speaks even after death." Hebrews 11:4b says, "He (Abel) though he died, he still speaks by his faith." Abel, who offered a better sacrifice through faith, although physically dead, still speaks to us, encouraging us to listen to the gracious voice of Christ. The blood of Christ, a better and more powerful sacrifice, speaks louder to us. Therefore, we must proclaim the message of the blood of Jesus Christ. By doing so, the gospel of the blood of Christ, who bore all our sins and died on the cross, will continue to be preached even after our physical death to our children, descendants, and many others.
In the past Sunday's message, we learned that the reason Apostle Paul thanked God continuously with ceaseless prayers, remembering his beloved spiritual son Timothy day and night (2 Tim.1:3), was because Paul recognized the genuine faith (faith without deceit, sincere faith, genuine and not fake faith) in Timothy. Additionally, we learned that they expressed gratitude to God the Father together whenever they prayed for the faithful saints of the Colossian church. Reflecting on this genuine faith, we considered three aspects of Abraham's faith mentioned in Romans 4:18-21: (1) Abraham's genuine faith was a belief in the midst of the impossible (Rom. 4:18). Like Abraham, we also need to believe and hope in the Lord when there seems to be no hope, even in seemingly impossible situations. (2) Abraham's genuine faith remained unwavering even in impossible situations and, in fact, became stronger and more steadfast, giving glory to God (vv. 19-20). Similarly, we must walk in a faith that doesn't weaken even in situations that appear increasingly difficult or impossible. In the face of challenges that worsen over time, we should advance with a faith that doesn't doubt but grows stronger—a faith against the impossible. (3) Abraham's genuine faith was a conviction that God could fulfill His promises (v. 21). We should not only hold on to God's promises but also live our lives being held by His promises. Therefore, especially in seemingly impossible situations, we should be led even more by His promises and rely solely on His power.
Looking at Colossians 1:4-6, we see that when Apostle Paul prayed for the faithful saints in Colossae, he expressed gratitude to God the Father, even specifying four reasons:
First, Apostle Paul thanked God for the genuine faith found in the faithful saints in Colossae, faith that was rooted in Christ Jesus.
Look at Colossians 1:4a: " because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus ...." What could be the joy of both Elder Yoon and me? What might bring joy to the church session? Wouldn't it be that all the saints in the church believe in Jesus Christ well? Wouldn't it be the continuous growth of faith in all saints? I'm reminded of 3 John 1:4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (Modern Korean Bible). Also, 2 John 1:4 comes to mind: "I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father." Isn't this your joy as well? Wouldn't you be extremely pleased to hear that your children and descendants, whom you love, remember daily and pray to God for, are walking in and living by the truth? Apostle Paul, as he wrote letters to the faithful saints in Colossae, mentioned that the reason he and Timothy thanked God continuously when praying for them was because of their faith (Col. 1:4). In a modern translation, the first reason Paul and Timothy were thankful was that the saints in the Colossian church believed well in Jesus Christ. So, how did the faith of the faithful saints in the Colossian church lead Apostle Paul to express gratitude to God when praying for them? Colossians 2:5 (Modern Korean Bible) provides some insight: "For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ." When we look at this verse, we can understand that Apostle Paul thought highly of the faith of the faithful saints in Colossae because they stood firm in their faith in Christ with a "solidity" described by the Greek word "stereōma," which is a military term meaning "solidity." This term speaks to the unyielding nature of their faith, firm and true to Christ. Therefore, Apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:7, "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness" (Modern Korean Bible).
Do you know what the largest tree in the world is? According to my internet search, it's the "General Sherman Tree" in Sequoia National Park, California, USA. The tree stands at 84 meters (275 feet) tall, with a circumference of 31 meters (103 feet), and its branches grow to about 18 meters (60 feet) each year, comparable to the size of an average tree. The estimated age of this General Sherman Tree is around 2,200 years (Internet). The reason I became interested in the world's largest tree is because of what Apostle Paul mentioned in Colossians 2:7: "rooted and built up in him" (Modern Korean Bible: "deeply rooted in him"). To believe in Jesus well, it's crucial to root oneself deeply in Him. This means that to have a robust faith in Jesus, it is imperative to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. In other words, the deep and firm roots of a faith that believes well in Jesus are grounded in understanding Jesus Christ. This is the unyielding nature of our Christian faith, firmly rooted in the knowledge of Jesus Christ ["...the root of the righteous will never be moved" (Prov. 12:3)].
We should strive for a faith with deep roots. Even in the face of persecution and adversity, we should seek an unshakable faith (Prov. 12:3). Colossians 1:23 states: "if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard..." (Modern Korean Bible). We are urged to pursue a faith that remains stable and steadfast, unwavering in the hope of the gospel. This gospel is proclaimed to all nations, and Paul sees himself as a worker for this gospel. To live a life of unshakable faith, we need to root ourselves deeply in Jesus Christ, making Him the foundation of our lives (1 Cor. 3:11). Amidst this, we should walk in Christ and find joy in the midst of tribulations, just like the Thessalonian believers. As we imitate the Lord, we become examples to all believers, and the news of our faith spreads far and wide (1 Thess. 1:6-8).