[12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12
I have spoken on this verse many times in preparation of and when explaining believers baptism. However this time I want to focus on a fascinating and interesting phrase found in this verse where Paul says that our faith is “in the powerful working of God.”
This isn’t to deny or ignore the fact that we put our trust, and put our faith in the person of Jesus Christ, who of course is God, but there seems something significant here in the fact the Paul says our faith is in the working of God’s power.
Now, some have translated this verse to read “through faith of the power of God,” which is to say, “through faith that comes from God” or is “produced” by God. It is true that faith is a gift of God that is evoked in us by the Holy Spirit, but I believe it is highly unlikely that Paul is saying that here.
The word translated “powerful working” (ESV) is the same Greek word (energeia) used earlier by Paul in Colossians 1:29 where he tells us that he is struggling with all Gods “energy” to accomplish all that God has given him to do.
So, we have to ask, “why would he say that our faith (saving faith) is in God’s “energy” or “power?” Some say that we shouldn’t differentiate between God and his “power.” In other words, our faith is in God whose power is responsible for raising us to newness of life in Christ.
I definitely agree with that. It isn’t just any power at all, as if raw, independent power has saved us. It is specifically “God’s” power. Indeed, it is the very power that was manifested and expressed when God the Father raised God the Son from the dead.
[19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 1:19-20
Having said all of that, we are still left with the fact that Paul thought it important, for whatever reason, to highlight the power of God as the focus of faith. In what sense do we “trust” in or “believe” or exercise “faith” in God’s power?
Part of the answer is in the verses that follow. In verse 23 Paul says we were “dead” in our trespasses. To bring to spiritual life what was formerly dead is no small feat! Nothing could accomplish this other than the “power” of God regenerating and renewing our lifeless hearts.
As if that were not enough, God also forgave us our sins by cancelling the debt that stood against us, by nailing it to the cross (vs 14). He also triumphed over and disarmed demonic spirits through the work of Christ on the cross. Massive, huge, immeasurable!
These are clearly “powerful” expressions of divine grace and activity on our behalf. Only God could pull it off. If we do not have faith in the fact that God did this in and through Christ we cannot be saved. Meaning
that we are saved through “faith in the powerful working of God.”
Saving faith is a confidence that God and God alone is able and powerful enough to deliver us from spiritual death and the guilt of sin. Also faith in Christ as the one who by his death and resurrection made it all possible.
But here in verse 12 Paul wants his readers, and therefore us, to see the importance of faith in God’s “power.” That is to say, it’s important for us to know and trust in the omnipotence of God, the limitless energy of the divine will, to do for us what we are helpless and hopeless to do for ourselves.
If we go back to the gospels for a moment we can read that Jesus highlights deliberately those who trusted in his power; people who were open and receptive to his ability to perform a miracle.
[28] When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” [29] Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
Matthew 9:28-29
Jesus asks the two blind men only if they believe he is “able” to heal them. He wanted to find out what they thought about him, specifically whether or not they trusted his ability. “Yes, Lord,” came their response. “According to your faith be it done to you,” he replied, and they were instantly healed. Jesus regarded their confidence in his power to help them as “faith.”
This is the kind of faith that pleases Jesus. You can almost hear Jesus say: “Yes! I was waiting to hear you say that. It’s so important that you really believe that I am capable of doing this.”
The leper in Matthew 8 said to Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (vs 2). The leper didn’t question Christ’s ability. He seemed to know, without hesitation, you “can” make me clean but he is less certain about the willingness of Jesus to do it. Jesus didn’t rebuke him for his doubts. Jesus healed him because of his confidence that he “could” do it, not that he necessarily “would” do it.
In another gospel fact, the woman suffering with an issue of blood in Mark 5 was healed when she simply touched Jesus’ garment. “Your faith has healed you” (vs 34), said Jesus. In other words, “What I respond to is your simple confidence and trust in my ability to make a difference in your life.”
So, going back to Colossians 1:12 there is a greater challenge that we have traditionally set ourselves in this verse. Let me try and explain and maybe throw out a question.
I just wonder, for example, if the reason we see fewer healings than we do (or even any divine supernatural activity) is related to our lack of faith in God’s power to perform them?
Should we take a more deliberate approach to the word of God in encouraging each other about the belief that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine? To actively pray about being more dependent and reliant on the Holy Sprit. To cultivate a more vibrant belief that God can really bring huge things to pass? To create, without hype, an atmosphere of expectation in God’s ability.
Here’s my question, “would God do more in the way of the miraculous if our faith in his power were deeper, more intense, more consistent, and less plagued with hesitation and doubt?“ I’m just asking, but it’s worth spending some time working that out surely!
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