we have not ceased praying for you and asking so that filled of knowledge, of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord, to the extent all pleasing, bearing fruit in all good works and increasing in knowledge of God, empowered in all power according to his glorious might that to the extent all endurance and long suffering, with joy giving thanks... - Colossians 1:9-11
There is a difference between doing good works and bearing fruit of good works. The first puts much emphasis on the flesh, doing works, living to laws, rules, principles, serving, giving... while the later puts emphasis on growth, being filled to the fullness of God where the fruit comes through maturity. When the church is brought to maturity, we are "filled of knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord." Fullness, "bearing fruit in all good works and increasing in knowledge of God, empowered in all power according to his glorious might" is quite different from doing good works.
Paul is laboring like a Olympic athlete would contend in a race, striving, toiling, laboring to present all the church mature in Christ. And he is laboring according to the energy that is supplied to him through the grace of God. The goal was that they be "filled of knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord, to the extent all pleasing, bearing fruit in all good work and increasing in knowledge of God, empowered in all power..." Paul was thanking God for the news he had received of this church and how through holding fast to the work of life, they were growing, becoming mature, just as the truth of the gospel was bearing fruit and growing in all the world (Colossians 1:6-7). It is interesting that Paul writes the gospel had spread to all the world. Surely the Roman roads allowed for this.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide," (John 15:16)
whom we proclaim putting to mind all men and teaching all men in all wisdom so that presenting all men mature in Christ. To this like as also laboring, contending according to his power that energizes me, in me - Colossians 1:28-29
In order to present you holy and without blemish, this is why we were reconciled in his flesh, the body, that through his death, Paul writes (Colossians 1;21-23). Paul could boast in Christ as they bear fruit or as they could boast in Christ of bearing fruit. This is why Christ reconciled them, to present them holy, Paul writes, if they continue to abide, are founded, not moving away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). Oh how important is a foundation built upon Christ and not the shifting sand of doctrines and traditions of men. "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples" (John 15:8). Oh may the church grow up to bear fruit that glorifies God. "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). "You will recognize them by their fruits... every good tree bears good fruit," (Matthew 7:16-17). "For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true" (Ephesians 5:9).
And he is before all and in him all holds together and he is the head of the body, the church, who exists the first brought forth from the dead so that he comes into existence preeminent in all. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him - Colossians 1:15-19
This Jesus, is a man, the first brought forth from the dead, the one to lead many sons to glory, and he is God, in bodily form God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him. And God placed him over all and head of the church, so that all is filled in him. Holding fast to the word of life, the head, we grow up into mature adulthood, into the full measure of the stature of his image. Through the Spirit, truth in love, we grow up into him who is the head. In Christ is all wisdom and understanding, and the glorious mystery is that Christ is in us. This is whom we proclaim, putting to mind, teaching everyone in all wisdom so to present everyone mature in Christ, "so that filled of knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord, to the extent all pleasing, bearing fruit in all good works and increasing in knowledge of God, empowered in all power according to his glorious might..."