“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness – the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Introduction

During our last time together, we considered Paul’s teaching that the message of the church is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He reconciled us to God the Father. Now Paul teaches us that the ministry of the church is to present the “word of God in its fullness” to all people (1:25) so that “we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (1:28). “It’s All About Christ” is the theme for the ministry of the church.

When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you were adopted into the family of God. Fellow believers are now your brothers and sisters in Christ. Your salvation brought you out of sin and to God; it was not given to you so that you could go on your merry way in solitude. You belong to Jesus. He is your Master, the One you serve and the One you seek to honor and glorify. As His servants, we pray daily, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

We are commissioned by Jesus to go into all the world and make disciples, as stated in Matthew 28. The apostle Paul emphasized this in his letter to the Colossians, as stated in today’s text. We who comprise the church, individually and collectively, are to present the Word of God in its fullness to all people so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Let’s take a closer look at this passage.

Colossians 1:24-27

We learn in Colossians 1:24-27 that Paul was a servant of God whose role was to present the hope of glory. There are three important aspects of Paul’s ministry noted here. The first important aspect of Paul’s ministry is that it involved suffering for the sake of the gospel. The gospel message of Jesus Christ was controversial in New Testament times. Many people received it with faith, while others opposed it because it confronted their sin and challenged their beliefs. The message was not offensive because it was false or heretical, but because it is Truth. People who live in darkness and people who live by a false light are taken aback when confronted by genuine light. It is human nature to persecute what people do not understand, especially when the message brings their sins, pride, and self-centeredness to light.

The ultimate example of One who suffered for the sake of Truth is our Lord Jesus. Paul writes that he rejoices in suffering for the sake of Christ’s body, the church. His suffering did not add anything to Christ’s completed work of atonement, but it was part of the suffering Paul endured as he carried out Christ’s mission.

The second important aspect of Paul’s ministry is that the ministry of the church is to present the Word of God in its entirety, the Word of God in its fullness. Paul did not present the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways designed to avoid offense, nor did he seek to win favor with others. He presented the Truth in love so that listeners would turn to Christ. The church must follow Paul’s example by proclaiming and living the entirety of the Word of God, not just the portions that make people feel good about themselves. A good standard by which to evaluate our presentation of the gospel is whether our teachings and examples glorify Christ. If a teaching or example seeks to bring glory to anyone other than God, then it is not of God and is not truth.

The third important aspect of Paul’s ministry seen in this passage is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. Society in New Testament times was very class-conscious. But as we discussed earlier in our study of Colossians, each person in the church is of equal value and importance to Christ. Therefore, we must honor one another as brothers and sisters in the Lord. The mystery had been hidden through past ages and generations but was now revealed to God’s people. This mystery included the glorious truth that Christ was also among the Gentiles, giving them the hope of glory. The gospel revelation was offered to everyone, including the Gentiles, those who are not Jewish. Therefore, we are to present the gospel to everyone and welcome everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord into the family of God.

Paul taught us that the ministry of the church involves suffering, that the church must present the Word of God in its fullness, and that the church must present the gospel to everyone. He then explains in greater detail how this is done.

Colossians 1:28-29

Colossians 1:28-29 tells us that the ministry of the church must focus on Jesus Christ. “It’s All About Christ!” There are secondary aspects of church life, such as religion, rules, regulations, traditions, dogma, doctrine, and worship styles. Each of these aspects has a proper place in the life of the church. But the centerpiece of the church, the heart of the church, and the One who matters most is Jesus Christ. We must proclaim Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord.

We then admonish and teach others with wisdom to follow Christ. The starting point for influencing others toward Jesus is our testimony of what Christ did for us and how He changed our lives. We then counsel and teach from the Word of God, the Bible. We are not to teach our own thoughts or proclaim current philosophies. We consistently turn to the Bible to learn from God’s Word and to obey what it teaches us.

We are to admonish and teach with wisdom. Wisdom comes from the Lord. The Bible says that we can ask for wisdom, and the Lord will give it to us. Wisdom is needed to apply God’s Word to our daily lives. Wisdom is needed when we must choose the best method for communicating God’s Word. Wisdom is also needed when we must select the appropriate Bible verse for the situations of life.

The point of the ministry of the church is to present everyone perfect in Christ. The word “perfect” does not mean that we are without mistakes or faults. The word means that we are mature in the Lord. It means that we put aside childish things and the things of this world and instead focus our lives on bringing glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

Application

The ministry of the church is to present the “word of God in its fullness” to all people (1:25) so that “we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (1:28). This was Paul’s focus in ministry and the reason he labored. This, then, is our focus in ministry: “It’s All About Christ!” We must work diligently to be examples in word and deed to others and to help them grow in spiritual maturity. May the Lord find us faithful. Let’s pray.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, I ask for Your help so that I might understand and live the truth of Your Word. I pray that You will use me as Your servant to lead others to grow in spiritual maturity. Lead us as we seek to be all that You want us to be. Amen.

For You to Consider

• How should we respond to suffering when it is for the sake of the gospel?
• What must you do to live according to the Word of God in its fullness this week?
• How would your life be different if you truly believed that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, including people who have different values, political views, and motivations?
• List three actions you can take to improve your ability to teach others the Word of God with wisdom.
• What goals do you want to accomplish this month that will help present others “perfect” in Christ?