CHRISTIANS AND SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
Bible: Colossians 1: 3-14
Verses: COLLOSIANS 1:9-10 – For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Spiritual knowledge and understanding are very important and Christians must have both of them.
In this passage (Colossians 1: 3-14), Paul’s letter let us know that having faith and having spiritual knowledge are 2 different things. That’s why he said in his letter that after he heard they already have faith in Jesus Christ, he prayed for them to have spiritual knowledge and understanding. If both of them came alongside with faith then Paul did not need to pray for those Christians to be filled with them.
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COLOSSIANS 1:4, 9-10 – Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints… For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
In reality there are many Christians who have faith in Jesus Christ, but they don’t actually know much about God and His will, or understand how God works in human life and rules this world.
For example, there are many questions that Christians don’t know how to answer, especially when being confronted by unbelievers: If God is love, why He commanded the Israelites to kill all of the native people in Canaan as it was written in Joshua 10 and 11.
JOSHUA 10: 41 – So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
JOSHUA 11: 11 – And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
As Christians believe that the Bible is true, then those verses mean that Joshua obeyed the command of the Lord to kill all inhabitants of the land including women and children. So, how the God of love could command His people to do something horrible like that?
It’s a hard question to answer and there are many more concerning all spiritual aspects of human life and the world, that many Christians don’t have the answer to.
But in this passage, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said all Christians should have the knowledge of God and spiritual understanding.
Christians should answer clearly why we are trusting God. Having knowledge about Him, His will and understanding how God works and rules in this world will help us speak about our faith and answer every question with certainty.
1PETER 3: 15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Some times later we will explain to you why God commanded Joshua to do what he did to the inhabitants in Canaan. The answer was already written in the Bible. We only need to point them out to you.
But firstly we have to understand this: As the Bible had closed in the time of apostle John so it means that after that time there is no one on Earth has such strong faith to be mention in the Bible. God had revealed all of His plan for mankind and there is nothing or no one who is worthy enough to be added into the Word of God. So after John we Christians should never listen or trusting or believing in anyone who says that they are commanded by God to kill.
We should remember that from Adam mankind has walked farther away from God. They steadily walked so far away from Him that God had sent His only son, Jesus Christ, Who is the Word of God manifesting in human body to preach to the world, but even so people have not listen to Him still this present day.
JOHN 1: 1-5 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
JOHN 1: 10 – He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
JOHN 3: 19-20 – And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Because most of mankind continue to walk farther away from God by doing evil things, big and small, so they have no knowledge of Him or understand His plan for the world. That’s also why the Bible closed after John.
Those few who actually listened to Him and believed Him even don’t try real hard to understand His will or have full biblical knowledge of Him. Rather they believe that the faith in Jesus Christ is just a way to have one kind of religion or worse, to make money for themselves and get rich.
1TIMOTHY 6: 3-5 – If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
We should remember that God wants us Christians to have full knowledge of Him and His truth in the Bible.
1TIMOTHY 2: 4 – Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.