The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks: “Offer to God thanksgiving…” (Psalm 50:14), and ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord…’ (Psalm 92:1). Then in the final book of the Bible, John records that the 24 elders said, “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty…” (Revelation 11:17). We also see Jesus giving thanks repeatedly (Matthew 11:25; John 6:11; 11:41). This is something the Apostle Paul picks up on in several of his letters: ‘…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…’ (Ephesians 5:20); ‘…I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me…’ (1 Timothy 1:12), and in the header scripture: ‘…giving thanks to the Father…’.

There are many things that we can and should give thanks to God for, but specifically in this passage in his letter to the church at Colosse, Paul expresses his thanks to God for our salvation in Christ: ‘…giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.’ (Colossians 1:12-14 emphasis mine). There are three great realities of salvation that Paul highlights here:

Inheritance – The most glorious aspect of the Christian inheritance is the hope of eternal life. This hope is not a vague hope or wishful thinking, but a confident expectation grounded in the resurrection of Christ. It assures believers that their ultimate destiny is to dwell in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy and eternal peace (1 Peter 1:4). 

Deliverance – Spiritual deliverance involves breaking free from the chains of sin, addiction, fear, and any stronghold that separates believers from the fullness of God’s grace. The ultimate deliverance came through Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection secured freedom for all who believe in Him.

Transference – We undergo a transformation of identity. No longer are we defined by our past failures or the labels the world places upon us. In Christ, we are new creations: ‘…old  things have passed away; behold, all things have become new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). In being transferred into the kingdom of God’s Son we align our lives with his will and purpose, walking in the light, as he is in the light (1 John 1:7). It means bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might (Colossians 1:10-11). As kingdom citizens, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ, his representatives in a world that still dwells in darkness (2 Corinthians 5:20).

There is so much here for us to be thankful for in the salvation God has provided for us, and that in turn should mean that ‘…whatever [we] do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’ (Colossians 3:17).

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church