Text: Colossians 1:23-29
Theme: The glory of the Gospel of the indwelling Christ.
Intro:
- As we round of Chapter 1 of the book of Colossians the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be faithful and stand confidently upon the truths of the Gospel message.
- Secondly, Paul instructs us in the riches of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which has blessed us with the presence of the indwelling Christ to empower us for Christian service
I. Paul Ministered to the Faithful (Vs 23)
- Paul’s exhortation to the faithful (Vs 23a)
To be grounded is to be firm on something. It refers to consolidation.
The implication is that the Christians had heard the gospel and had settled their faith on it and now they were building upon that faith. - Paul’s ministry to the faithful (Vs 23b)
We mentioned previously that the Apostle Paul hadn’t actually been to Colossi, but it was probably as a result of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus that Epaphras had been saved and brought the Gospel back to Colossi.
Paul was faithful in preaching the Gospel and now he was concerned that the Christians at Colossi should continue in the same pattern.
II. Paul Ministered in the Church (Vs 24-26)
- Paul’s suffering for the church (Vs 24)
– What does it mean to “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ”?
– It does not refer to the redemptive work of Christ. The Lord Jesus already purchased out redemption through his sacrificial work at Calvary. In fact, the words translated ‘afflictions’ is never used in reference to the redemptive work of Christ.
– It refers to the persecution of Christ and his body, the church.
– Remember how, when Paul was persecuting the church, Paul met Jesus Christ while on the road to Damascus and the Lord said, “Saul, why persecutes thou me?” The persecution of the church is actually persecution of Christ.
– When we suffer for Christ, it is for His sake, and it is therefore the afflictions of Christ. We are privileged to be afflicted for His sake. - Paul’s ministry to the church (Vs 25-26)
– Paul is saying that God had ordained him to be a steward of the Gospel, which he was commissioned by God to deliver to the Gentiles.
– Paul’s ministry in the Gospel was in fulfilment of the Word of God.
III. Paul Ministered by Striving (Vs 27-29)
- Paul’s revelation of the mystery Gospel (Vs 27)
– The Gospel of Jesus Christ is described as being a mystery that was hid in ages past but is now made manifest to the saints. (A mystery is something that was previously unknown but is now revealed.)
– Remember the context of this letter is that Paul was writing to the church at Colossi to address the Gnostic heresies that were being brought into the church.
– The Gnostics were saying, “You’ve found Christ, now what you need is a bit of that higher knowledge that will really take you to the next level spiritually.”
– Paul has already begun combating this in his exposition of the preeminent Christ, and now he adds to that by explaining that the revelation of the Gospel is the summit of all “higher knowledge” necessary for spiritual enlightenment. (Paul further expands on this in verse 27 as he describes this mystery as containing the riches of glory.) - Paul’s preaching of the mystery Gospel (Vs 28)
Paul’s ministry involved 3 things
– Warning every man of impending judgement.
– Teaching every man the Gospel of grace.
– Instructing every man in the wisdom if the gospel. - Paul’s striving in the mystery Gospel (Vs 29)
– Paul was willing to spend himself in the work of the ministry.
– Paul recognised that the life he was now living was not in his own strength but in the strength of Christ living in me.