In this section of Colossians we will be considering the “riches of the glory of this mystery”–mystery, something previously unrevealed or hidden, which God has now made known to us in Christ. This is not something we are tasked with discovering, it is revealed to us. We will also hear much of our key word: full, or fullness.
Our text this week:
1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
We begin with Paul’s claim to be suffering, with a view toward why he is suffering. While all true believers will suffer and endure tribulations, Paul is only speaking here of his own sufferings. Many read themselves into this passage, but this is improper–rather let us learn from the text about the unique role Paul played in building up the church, in carrying out Christ’s mission to take the Gospel beyond the borders of the Jewish towns Jesus preached in. He was made a minister in this unique role–Paul was called to suffer much for Jesus sake, and was the apostle first taking the light to the Gentiles on a large scale. While Jesus had interacted with a few Gentiles, His focus was on showing Himself to be the Messiah first to the house of Israel.
Acts 9:15…“he [Paul] is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul joins in this mission with vigor, he really does rejoice in his sufferings–because in his sufferings Paul experiences the power of God at work in him and through him. He rejoices to see the Gospel at work (remember chapter 1:5-8?) as he preaches and teaches and exhorts and shepherds–and especially as those he has taught go and do like wise, as in the case of Epaphrus.
Paul’s suffering was unique to him, not the same sufferings mentioned in other New Testament books that speak of the general suffering all believers will encounter. Yet, his sufferings were for Jesus, but were not the same as Jesus’ sufferings. Paul did not atone for anyone, or suffer in our place taking the wrath of God. Rather, his sufferings were groundbreaking as the Gospel was shining forth in a dark world for the first time. The preaching of the Gospel began with Christ, and Paul takes it to the Gentiles, as indeed then all believers are called into the “great commission” of Matthew 28, making disciples of all the nations.
Fulfilled: Achieving its purpose. Fullness, filling up, full, complete, perfect
Paul rejoiced to suffer in this way if it led to: “that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God” Now is a good time to notice Paul’s use of this word over and over in the book of Colossians. Take a moment to peruse the whole book looking for all the forms of this word, delight and muse upon what God is revealing!
God’s design was for the Word to be fully preached amidst suffering, and believed. Not partially, ever. No snippets or soundbites. No boiling it down to what someone might decide are the essentials. Fully preaching, fulfilling his ministry. Preaching the fullness of Christ, who is the fullness of God!
When preached in this way, the mystery is revealed which God designed to be understood in this way. Mystery–not secret knowledge that we chase after and figure out, but that which God hid, and has now revealed–but only in this manner. Remember, the “Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God!” (see 1 Corinthians 1).
“…riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This is no ten minute sermon. These riches are foundational and nourishing: Union with Christ, Christ in you. (see John 14-17) Robert Letham calls this the most profound mystery and the most basic truth (The Work of Christ, IVP, 1994; pg. 84).
Christ in me, the hope of glory–the hope, which is sure and steadfast, and anchor for my soul; that He has gone to prepare a place for all His own, and that we will be like Him when we see Him face to face! He will complete His work in us, He will do all that He has promised. (see 1 Thess 2:19; 2 Cor 4; Eph. 4:13; 1 Cor 13:10ff). This is indeed the culmination of His fullness working in us!
Complete, Perfect
Admonishing and teaching, so as to present every believer complete in Christ! A word translated in other passages as “perfect.” Also meaning “mature.” A word repeated later in Colossians, and found in James, 1 Corinthians, Philippians, Matthew…related to our call to be holy as He is holy. This call goes back to Deuteronomy, click here, in which the call to be holy, to be complete and perfect, is correlated with listening to Him rather than any other. Which should also hearken you back to Genesis, when Adam and Eve chose to listen to another call rather than God’s, to another source of ‘wisdom’ and towards the end of gaining knowledge apart from a complete reliance of God. And so God sends His Son, fulfilling that Deuteronomy passage, and His Son sends Paul, and the work of the minististry is still carried out today by pastors, teachers, and believers who are able to teach and admonish one another (Romans 15:13-14; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 5:7-14).
Paul was never half hearted, half baked, numbers driven, or one to have an alter call or any big tent revivals that leave lots of confusion in it’s wake as the preacher skips town to preach “the essentials” elsewhere. NO! Paul preached, taught, admonished in the same fullness as Jesus.
He spent time; he discipled. His ministry was full. He was known in Ephesus to have taught for several hours each afternoon, while most in the city took a nap in the heat of the day. He taught, and people listened and learned and grew, daily (not a mere ten minutes one morning a week). Epaphrus took this same teaching and style back to the churches in the Lycus valley region, Colossian churches included. The Riches of the Glory of this Mystery!
All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge!
All the treasures? Or just some? Believer, we must ponder this truth often, write in on the tablet of our hearts, and steadfastly believe it, even when the world around us attempts to redefine truth, or try to say truth can be found everywhere in all creation, and therefore so can wisdom and knowledge. Once again, chew on this portion of Colossians 2:
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
God wants our hearts to be full of both the LOVE that is the fruit of the Spirit as well as the assurance that cannot be had apart from His Spirit, but which the Spirit works in us through the Word, which is the sword of the Spirit! All the wealth! The wealth of this true fellowship under the Word, fellowship full of love, hearts knit together by His unchanging love, hearts fully assured in understanding and true knowledge. Hearts, not minds? Yes! It is a later philosophical idea that separates hearts and minds; God does not dice up His people into parts–heart, in a Hebrew mindset, was used of the inner man, of thoughts and plans and desires and ideas and knowledge and feelings and, well, everything inner.
Apart from God’s revelation we have a fragmented view of the world, and of humans; not so once we are in union with Christ!
Concerning this knowledge, hear this from Puritan, John Flavel, vol. 1, pg. 21:
Knowledge is man’s excellency above the beasts that perish (psalm 32:9) the knowledge of Christ is the Christian’s excellency above the heathen, 1 Cor 1:23-24. Practical and saving knowledge of Christ is the sincere Christian’s excellency above the self-cozening hypocrite, Heb 6:4, 6, but methodical and well digested knowledge of Christ is the strong Christian’s excellency above the weak, Heb 5:12-14. A saving, though methodical knowledge of Christ will bring us to heaven, John 17:2, but a regular and methodical, as well as saving knowledge of Him, will bring heaven to us, Col 2:2-3.
For those who have been hanging around since we began this Colossian study, remember we opened with the important idea that all good theology is practical, not just theoretical; it leads us to the end (or ultimate purpose) of living a godly life (enjoying God and glorifying Him!).
There will always be persuasive arguments against Christ’s love and knowledge, dressed up as ‘truth’ or ‘common sense’ or political ideas or new cultural ‘norms’–yet Paul rejoices because these believers have good discipline and stability of faith.
These two, discipline and stability, are inseparable. The Spirit will be at work in us, conforming us to the image of Christ: orderly, beautiful, harmonious, peaceful and faithful. Paul elsewhere instructed the Philippians to practice what they had heard and seen and learned and received from him. The Apostles handed down doctrine, tradition, and practices–they passed down to us a whole person faith, that we could be well ordered in our inner and outer man.
Do you long for stability, but find your heart a see-saw? Perhaps now is the season to reignite, to fan to flame, what He has put in you. Take the time to think about the “good discipline” you need: daily reading, being devoted to prayer, memorizing passages, setting aside moments to meditate (perhaps while walking?), dig deep into a study with your local Body, and seek out fellowship with those who will “encourage you all the more while it is still today” and who will not let you forsake from gathering and being devoted to Him together!
Hebrews 313 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
Hebrews 1023 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
And let us keep praying for one another, that we may stand perfect, fully assured in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12)!
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