Colossians Chapter 1:12 — Made Meet to Be Partakers of the Inheritance

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” — Colossians 1:12, KJV

Colossians 1:12 calls believers to thanksgiving because our place in God's kingdom is not something we could earn for ourselves. Paul says that the Father “hath made us meet,” meaning that God has qualified or made us fit to share in what He has prepared for His people.

This is important because our qualification does not rest upon our own righteousness, accomplishments, education, position, or religious works. God is the One who makes us fit to participate in the inheritance. Our salvation is an expression of His grace.

Paul calls believers “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” The language of inheritance reaches back into the Old Testament, where God gave Israel an inheritance. In Christ, Paul speaks of a greater spiritual inheritance belonging to God's redeemed people.

The expression “in light” also prepares us for the contrast in the following verse:

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” — Colossians 1:13, KJV

Notice the movement:

Made meet → Made partakers → Delivered from darkness → Translated into Christ's kingdom.

The believer has experienced a change of spiritual position. We have been brought out of the dominion of darkness and into the kingdom of God's beloved Son.

Personal Application

Sometimes we may feel that we are not worthy enough to receive what God has promised. Colossians 1:12 redirects our attention from our qualification to God's grace.

The Father “hath made us meet.”

Therefore, our response should be gratitude. We do not boast as though we earned our inheritance; we give thanks to the Father who has graciously qualified us to receive it.

We were not qualified by our works.
The Father made us meet.
We were under the power of darkness.
He delivered us.
We were outside the kingdom.
He translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.