The Will of God: His Delight for You (Colossians 1:9-10)Sunday July 26, 2026
Intro:
What is God’s will for mankind? Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
What is God’s will? His good pleasure, His delight.
What is God’s will? It is not idle – “walk”.
Col 1:10-12 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father …
What is God’s will? His authority and the sphere of His delight.
Isa 46:10 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';
Made alive: Rom 6:1-9.
Rom 6:1-9 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
Indicative: what is reality. Example: Sun: Ps 19:4-5 In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
When there is an indicative and imperative the imperative always follows.
Col 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above
Trickier: Where is the indicative? Phi 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Who you are, that reality [indicative], is to manifest itself [imperative].
What has changed from death to life?
The difference is not freedom: The old was free - from righteousness.
Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness
The difference is not slavery: The new is a slave to righteousness.
Rom 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
The difference is the nature (sphere - kingdom of light) of freedom and the new direction of servitude.
They have become theocentric or Christocentric.
A new sphere of choices and a new servitude.
Sin and self lead to death. God and righteousness lead to life.
Gal 5:1 (freedom); Gal 5:13-15 (servitude).
Gal 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Gal 5:13-15 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Then… Gal 5:16 – We are still potentially influenced by death, so there is war in life. Death longs for significance.
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk [imperative] by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
The imperative is founded on the indicative. The indicative is the reason for the imperative. Example: Sun (indicative); light and heat (imperative). Psa 19:6-7… Psa 19:14.
Examples: Freedom: Rom 8:15-17
Peace: Gal 5:22-26.
Joy: 1Th 5:16, 19
Gratitude for discipline: 2Ti 3:16; Heb 12:11, 4
Conclusion:
Indicative and imperative: now and once.
Indicative is the reason for the imperative. The imperative is vital because those in Christ can fail, can become casualties, and not live the life they’ve been given, not glorifying the Lord, but glorifying self and the world.
Exhortations concerning false doctrine and war reveal how important Paul’s prayer is. Be filled … so that …
2Co 10:3-4, yet we enter with victory behind us and before us daily (1Co 15:54; 2Co 2:14). These are indicatives - Christ has won the victory.
Now what will you do with that wisdom? |