Ian & Jocelyn Barker

In Paul’s thought, God’s “will” speaks of the desires of God’s heart and His purposes in redemption. As believers, we have been predestined into adoption as sons “according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:5, 11). In Colossians, he writes, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself” (1:19-20).

His desire is that “all things” would come into right relationship with Him. In attempting to accomplish this, He was pleased to send His Son as the “image of the invisible God” (1:15). He goes on to say, “To them [the saints] God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:27). The centerpiece of the gospel is that Christ dwells in believers as an agent of renewal and a promise of future glory (3:1-4). Understanding His will is to be captured by His covenant commitment to redeem a people for Himself. We are to look back to His cross, and look forward to our future glory. Paul wants the believers to have deep understanding of His desire because “right knowledge leads to right behavior” (F. F. Bruce).