Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you do the things you do? Paul did. In his letter to the Colossians, after laying out the glorious truths of the gospel, he prays a specific prayer for them—and in it, he answers the “so that” question for every area of the Christian life. This sermon walks through the good “so that’s” (walking worthy, bearing fruit, growing in knowledge), the difficult “so that’s” (endurance and patience in trials), and the inevitable “so that’s” (the inheritance that awaits God’s children). It’s a message that reframes why we gather, why we suffer, and why we can have joy no matter what we’re facing.
The “So That” of the Good
Paul opens his prayer in Colossians 1:9 with a request: “asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” He distinguishes between three kinds of understanding. Knowledge deals with facts—it answers the question what. Wisdom is about application—it answers how. Understanding sees the big picture—it answers why. Paul is praying that God would reveal all three to the Colossians (and to us) in every area of life.
And when you understand the what, how, and why of God’s will, Paul says the results follow. Here’s the first “so that”:
So That We Will Walk Worthy
verse 10 picks up: “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.” In the Bible, “walk” refers to daily conduct. And as followers of Jesus Christ, our daily conduct should reflect our new identity. Paul gives a concrete picture in Ephesians 4:1–3:
“Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
— Ephesians 4:1–3
Walking worthy means the fruit of the Spirit is manifesting in your life. It means being humble when you’d rather be proud, gentle when you’d rather be harsh, patient when you’d rather snap. And notice—almost all of these qualities describe how we interact with other people. Most people live for themselves. But our calling is to live like Jesus, who “put our needs before his own glory” by dying on the cross (Philippians 2:3–8).
So That We Bear Fruit
The next “so that” in Colossians 1:10: “bearing fruit in every good work.” Before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Good works do not save us—but we are saved so that we will do good works.
“You have been freed from sin and enslaved to God… in order that you may bear fruit for God.”
— Romans 7:4
Peter gives us a detailed picture of what this fruit looks like in 2 Peter 1:5–8—a chain of qualities running from faith all the way to love. And here’s the warning: “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 8). If you’re not growing in these qualities, something is wrong.
So That We Increase in Knowledge and Are Strengthened
Paul adds two more good “so that’s” in Colossians 1:10–11: “increasing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might.” The more you grow in God’s Word, the more you realize how much more there is to learn. And the more those connections click—like when a New Testament passage suddenly illuminates an Old Testament passage—the more amazed you are at the depth and wisdom of God.
The “So That” of the Difficult
Paul doesn’t let the Colossians (or us) ignore the reality of suffering. The next “so that” is one we don’t naturally embrace: “for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).
Jesus Himself said: “In the world you will have tribulation… but take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Notice Paul doesn’t say we should just grit our teeth and endure suffering. He says we endure and are patient with joy. How? Because the same God who fills us with the knowledge of His will fills us with the joy that comes from knowing who we are in Christ and what He has promised us.
Paul illustrates this from his own experience. He was writing from prison—ultimately leading to his martyrdom—and yet look at how he closed his final letter:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7–8
Paul was ready to go. The best part of his existence wasn’t behind him—it was ahead. That’s the perspective that allows endurance and patience with joy. Romans 8:18 puts it this way: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Every one of us is dealing with something—health struggles, financial uncertainty, relational difficulties. God doesn’t make light of those things. We should absolutely bring them to Him in prayer. But those difficulties may also be our greatest opportunity to experience the joy of our salvation—if God doesn’t remove them or doesn’t remove them the way we hoped. What God has done and will do for us is better and greater than anything we face in this life.
The “So That” of the Inevitable
Paul closes this section with the ultimate “so that” in Colossians 1:12–14:
“Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
— Colossians 1:12–14
This is the inevitable “so that”: God has already qualified us, delivered us, and transferred us. We have redemption. We have forgiveness. We have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. And as Paul builds this argument throughout Colossians, we see that knowing where our faith is going gives us hope—and hope is the source of our motivation to live differently today.
So Why Are You Here?
Back to the opening question: Why are you in church this morning? Paul narrows it down. You are here so that you will know how and why to walk worthy. You are here so that you will bear fruit. You are here so that you will grow in knowledge of Christ. You are here so that you will experience joy in difficult circumstances. And ultimately, you are here because the best part of your existence is not behind you—the best part is ahead.
The question is: Do these “so that’s” describe your life? Are you walking worthy? Are you bearing fruit? Are you growing? Are you experiencing joy even in what you’re enduring? God has not called us to float through life aimlessly. He has revealed His will to us, and it changes everything.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.
Scripture References
- Colossians 1:9–14 — Paul’s Prayer and the “So That’s” of the Faith
- Ephesians 4:1–3 — Walking Worthy
- Philippians 2:3–8 — The Mind of Christ
- John 15:8 — Bearing Fruit
- Romans 7:4 — Freed to Bear Fruit
- 2 Peter 1:5–8 — The Chain of Qualities
- John 16:33 — Trouble but Take Heart
- Romans 8:18 — Future Glory Outweighs Present Suffering
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8 — The Good Fight, the Finish Line