Fully Knowing God’s Will VS Fully Knowing God’s Mystery

 

Fully Knowing God’s Will VS Fully Knowing God’s Mystery

Colossians 1:9 "Therefore, since the day we heard, we have continually prayed for you, that you may fully know the will of God in all spiritual wisdom and understanding."

Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts may be comforted and united in love, so that they may be richly assured in understanding, and fully know the mystery of God, which is Christ." 

Aspect	Fully Knowing God’s Will (Col. 1:9)	Fully Knowing God’s Mystery  (Col. 2:2)
Meaning	To have a full and proper knowledge of God’s eternal, central, and great will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.	To arrive at a rich, assured, and complete knowledge of God’s mystery through love and inward comfort.
Reason	God does not want His people to live in religion, philosophy, or regulations, but in His eternal purpose.	God Himself and His intention are exceedingly deep and mysterious, requiring revelation and assurance to be fully known.
Core Content	God’s will = Christ (in Christ, centered on Christ, and for Christ).	God’s mystery = Christ (the all-inclusive One who is life and the unique person).
Focus	Emphasizes what God wants and His purpose.	Emphasizes who God is and what He is.
Way of Knowing	Spiritual wisdom (in the spirit to perceive) + understanding (in the mind to interpret).	Being knit together in love + encouragement of heart + full assurance in understanding.
Distinction	Concerns God’s plan and direction.	Concerns God Himself and His intrinsic reality.
Illustration	Seeing the architectural blueprint—knowing what God intends to build.	Entering the finished building—touching, enjoying, and dwelling in the reality.
Explanation	God’s will is not about daily decisions (marriage, job, residence) but about Christ being everything to us.	God’s mystery cannot be explained merely by doctrine; it must be unveiled through experience.
Relationship	The entrance and direction into God’s mystery.	The content and ultimate fulfillment of God’s will.
Spiritual Progress	Knowing that God’s will is Christ.	Knowing Christ as God Himself revealed to us.
Examples (Colossians)	Not being distracted by Jewish rituals, human philosophy, or ascetic practices.	Being fully satisfied in Christ without adding anything else.
Application	To marry, work, serve, and act in Christ.	To take Christ as life, person, content, and expression.
Burden	That believers would not deviate from God’s eternal center.	That believers would not only know Christ, but fully gain Him.
Significance to the Church	Causes the church to walk according to God’s purpose.	Causes the church to become the expression and reality of Christ.
Prophesying Guidance	Declare: God’s will is not outward matters but Christ Himself.	Testify: God’s mystery has been revealed—Christ.
Potential Deviation	Reducing God’s will to moral rules or life choices.	Turning God’s mystery into abstract theology.
Ultimate Result	Living and serving according to God’s heart.	Being filled, saturated, and constituted with Christ.
Conclusion	Fully knowing God’s will gives the right direction.	Fully knowing God’s mystery supplies the real content.
Summary	God’s will points to Christ.	God’s mystery is Christ Himself.
Expanded Scriptures	Col. 1:9; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 1:9–10; John 6:38	Col. 2:2–3; Col. 1:26–27; 1 Cor. 2:7–10; John 1:18

 

Core One‑Sentence Summary: 

Fully knowing God’s will shows us that God wants Christ; fully knowing God’s mystery enables us to gain Christ Himself as everything.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, The Most Important Aspects, Week 9: Implementing the Father's Will So that We May Enter the Father's Kingdom on "That Day," the Day of Christ's Judgment Seat.