The Goal: Knowing What is Beyond Knowledge

In Paul’s letter to the Colossian Christians, he writes this concerning his desire for them: “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2:2-3.

When I stopped to meditate on this passage I got to thinking what an amazing goal this is. I’m especially focusing on the phrase “and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding….” Paul’s desire for his people is that reach and discover all the riches of full understanding. How does this take place? I think it takes place on two fronts. The first is in the heart of the person and their desire to grow in their understanding and the second is in the instruction they receive in their local church.

When God saves a person He gives him or her the desire and motivation to grow. God’s seed is in him (1 John 3:9), and he has the Holy Spirit indwelling him. These changes that take place when a soul is regenerated are essentially the giving of spiritual life when there was none before and this life has the natural desire for spiritual food, just like a human infant has a desire for food (1 Peter 2:2). So it is appropriate for Paul to have this as a prayer request and vision for his people.

Second, it’s important for the individual Christian to be regularly attending a local gathering of believers where the Word of God is taught in all its fullness and power. Each one of us needs to have the Word of God opened and exposed to our understanding so that we begin to see the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Romans 11:33). The depth of God’s wisdom cannot be plumbed, nevertheless, Paul frequently prays that people would see the bounds of what is boundless and understand what is beyond understanding (see Ephesians 3:18 for example). 

So for this desire and prayer of Paul to be realized, each of us must eagerly approach the Word with all of the spiritual discipline we can bring to bear and pastors must expound and explain the Scriptures in such a way that the people begin to fathom the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Memorization Monday - Colossians 1:19-20

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19–20, NKJV) 

Jesus Christ is the fullness of God. It pleased the Father that all fullness should abide in him. And then there is the need for reconciliation. One of Jesus Christ's missions is to reconcile all things to God. This includes both the things that are on earth and the things that are in heaven. And he accomplished this reconciliation through the blood that he shed on the cross. Why is there need for reconciliation? Because when sin entered the universe and ultimately the world and mankind, a great chasm was opened that separated us from God. Jesus Christ bridges that chasm and reconciles all things to God. God takes back from Satan that which he had stolen from God in the first place. And now there is peace through the blood of his cross.

Memorization Monday - Colossians 1:9-10

Some of us are memorizing the book of Colossians. Here are the two verses for this week.

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Colossians 1:9–10, NKJV) 

One of the things we notice about New Testament prayers is that they are mostly focused on spiritual requests. Most of us focus on our needs for health, safety and wisdom. These are always worthwhile things to pray about since God wants us to come to him as our heavenly father and share our needs with him. But he is primarily focused on that which is good for us spiritually. His focus is on the advancement of his will and kingdom and therefore he tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will take care of itself (See Matthew 6:33). 

So in these verses we see Paul praying that people will be filled with the knowledge of God's will and that they would walk worthy of the Lord and that they would be fully pleasing to him. These are the kinds of requests that need to be the focus of our prayer life.