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Colossians 1:24-29 Suffering and Perfection in Christ

Colossians 1:24-29 The mystery of Christ and the perfection in Christ

Paul received a stewardship from God to preach this divine Christ (shown in verses 9-18) who had reconciled the world (vv. 19-23). It was Paul’s ministry, but we, too, are responsible to God to preach Christ.

Paul’s enemies used his imprisonment against him. The Colossian false teachers probably ridiculed Paul and used this as a weapon to fight the truth of the Gospel. But Paul being Paul, turned this attack around and used it to defeat his enemies and to build a closer relationship with the Colossian church. Had Paul compromised with his enemies and stopped ministering to the Gentiles, he could have been spared a great deal of suffering. But he could not abandon his calling just for personal safety and comfort. God had made him a minister, he had been given a “stewardship” (dispensation), and he had to be faithful to his calling (1 Cor. 4:2). It was not a matter of choice: he was called to fulfill the Word of God.

Paul’s special message regarding the Gentiles had to do with what he called the mystery. To us today, a mystery is something eerie and perhaps frightening; but this was not the way the word was defined in Paul’s day. The false teachers used this word to describe the inner secrets of their religions. A mystery is a “sacred secret,” hidden in the past and now revealed by the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 3:1–13).

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (ESV)

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Because of what Christ did, we can expect to share in glory. We must rely on Jesus for our salvation, not on works or rules, but solely on Him who saved us by grace through faith.
  • We are servants of God called to do His will, whether in good times or bad times.
  • Knowing the truth about the power of the gospel and the person of Christ is the believer’s best protection against deception.

CLOSER LOOK:

Verse 24: Paul was rejoicing in this suffering because he was counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Also, Paul was the chosen apostle to the Gentiles and is now suffering because of them. This reconciliation by Christ of Jews and Gentiles to God in one body is a mystery revealed only in Christ. Paul rejoiced that he was able to suffer for them what was still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions. It is important to note, however, that these sufferings had nothing to do with the sacrificial sufferings of Christ on the cross. Only Jesus could die for the sins of the world (Jn 1:29). Paul is not saying that Christ’s death on the cross was insufficient (2:11-15; cf. Rom. 3:21–26; Heb. 10:10–14) or that he was a co-redeemer with Christ. He was speaking not of salvation but of service. Christ’s suffering alone procures salvation (1 Pet 1:11; 5:1; Heb. 2:9). But it is a believer’s privilege to suffer for Christ (2 Tim. 3:11; 1 Pet 3:13–14; 5:9; Heb. 10:32). The word “affliction” (thlipsis) means “distress,” “pressure,” or “trouble” (remember, Paul had plenty of trouble; 2 Cor. 11:23–29).[1] Generally, it refers to trials in life, not the pains of death. Christ does indeed continue to suffer when Christians suffer for Him. He asked Saul (later called Paul) on the Damascus Road, “Why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4) Since the church is Christ’s body, He is affected when it is affected. For the sake of Christ’s body, Paul willingly suffered (Phil. 1:29).[2]

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