God Did It

Colossians 1:12 (NASB95) — 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

____

I think a lot of times we read over texts and just think, "Oh, okay...I get that," and move on. But I submit to you that that isn't the best way to read the Bible. The texts of the Bible are best understood when you let them sit for awhile, like you would when eating a cough drop.

In this text Paul is saying that we should give thanks to God the Father......why?

Well there's 3 reasons that I see given in this text:

1.  He has qualified us...

There are a few images/concepts I'd like to point out in this picture that Paul is trying to paint here. First, you by your own abilities are not qualified. If you were, there would be no need for the Father to qualify you. Paul is emphasizing who is responsible for you being able to believe in the gospel. The gospel writer/apostle John also emphasizes this same point when he records Jesus saying:...

John 6:44 (NASB95) — 44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

then again

John 6:65 (NASB95) — 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

To qualify you is to make you eligible or capable of......God does that.

2. ...to share in the inheritance...

Because God has granted it, we can share in the inheritance. Share implies that it's not all about you! Just as you have to tell little children to share (their natural inclination is...."mine!") so Paul is telling us here that the inheritance isn't all about you...it's about us. Just as you've been granted to partake of the inheritance so you should extend that same courtesy to others. Tell others about this!

The inheritance....this word is powerful. Here's what inheritance means, "to come into possession of something as a right that is not yours upon the death of the previous owner." The inheritance that we share in is righteousness.....but not our own. Christ's righteousness, his perfect life can be reckoned to you when you believe in Him. God looks at you (you are unqualified remember) and says, "that man's/woman's sins were paid for on the cross, I see you now as Holy and blameless."

Colossians 1:21–22 (NLT) — 21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

3. ...of the saints in Light.

Saints are those that we would see as holy or virtuous. This isn't you, you are unqualified for this.....BUT......even though you are not holy or virtuous or qualified, God qualifies you and says that you too will be seen as Holy and virtuous.

Paul in his letter to the church in Rome makes the point that this is how it has always been, even back to the "olden days" of Abraham.

Romans 4:3-5 (NASB) — 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

When Jesus is talking to Paul, telling him what to do, he says that Paul is to go to the Gentiles (people who are not Jews) and tell them about Himself (Jesus...who is the Light). 

Acts 26:18 (NLT) — 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

The way you become a saint in Light is by believing in Jesus as the Son of God, letting go of the control of your own life and giving it all to Him.

The phrase "saints in Light" is saying/meaning the same things as "the people who are in Jesus".

Here's the whole picture of what Paul is saying, starting with the verse we've been talking about...

Colossians 1:12–14 (NASB95) — 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

This is the power of the gospel!

God is the one who you qualifies you to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. God makes you eligible to share in Christ's righteousness along with the other people who have already believed in Jesus. God does all of this. God gets all the glory.

So what do you do with all this information?

Ephesians 4:17–24 (NLT) — 17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

 Ephesians 5:8–9 (NLT) — 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.