CHRIST WE PREACH

Colossians 1:28 NKJV

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Background: Credible NT Scholars agree that the Epistle to the Colossians which was also to be read at the congregation in Laodicea is one of Pauline Prison Epistles written around 60-62 AD during his house arrest in Rome.

Context: Among several issues discussed in this epistle, Paul aims to deal with two major philosophies which have infiltrated the Colossian Church unsettling the believers. These are:

The Greco-Roman philosophy which proclaims daily circumstantial salvation attained by venerating their idol deities.

The Judaistic Salvation through the legalistic following of the Old Testament Law.

Even today, we have modernized syncretic ideologies of a similar nature being proclaimed in our society only tweaked and tagged with various names (Legalistic Churches, Cults, Extreme Pentecostalism {Papalism}, Spiritists, New age, etc).

Therefore, Paul tells the Colossians that the only solution to deal with these toxic-to-faith philosophical and cultural traditions is to hold on to our God who is the Christ our Savior and the Head of the Church by being filled with the knowledge of Him and His will.

Colossians 1:28 (NKJV)

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The Syntactic Analysis of the Verse:

“Him we Preach” is an independent relative clause answering the question of who do we preach?. It is like a whole Gift Box with it’s content in it. Everything that follows in this verse is flowing from this main thought. They are meant to provide the flavour of the meat.

“Warning every man” and “Teaching every man” are the Participle clauses conveying more information about the dimensions of preaching Christ.

“That we may present every man perfect in Christ” is a Subjunctive Clause expressing a hypothetical outcome the preachers anticipate.

We Proclaim Christ.

The Christ we proclaim to you is the begotten eternal Son of God who is preeminent above all there is. In His omnipotence, He has already conquered, disarmed, and put to shame everything you’re afraid of that you think could stand against you before God. This is the Christ in whom the fullness of God is pleased to dwell.

This proclamation ought to be both in words and actions. On the pulpit and in privacy. On the public and in our homes.

The Dual Dimension of Proclaiming Christ.

Warning in all wisdom

The Proclamation of Christ brings both a warning to those who are not adhering to His wisdom both believers and unbelievers. It a message which calls the world to accountability before God.

Believers warned of the judgment seat of Christ unto the Eternal Kingdom of God, and unbelievers of the White Throne of Christ unto Eternal Punishment.

Teaching in all wisdom

The proclamation of Christ also teaches the right knowledge of and wisdom of the what God has done for His people in Christ and what that means to them. It demonstrate the victory of the believers who abides in Him over the power of sin and the law.

The Objective of Proclaiming Christ.

To prepare everyone for the coming of Christ.

The goal of Christ’s proclamation in this Epistle is to help the believers abide in Christ alone to attain the spiritual maturity which Christ expects of us as His disciples.

This is the message of James, John, and Peter.

Why only Proclaim Christ, and Nothing Else?

We aim to preach Christ and Christ alone because our eternal hope of salvation is in Him. God’s grace can only be obtained in Him.

Our Sanctification is in Him. Our victory is in Him. There is no one like Him. He is preeminent. Indeed, the fullness of God is pleased to dwell in Him.

We are in Him, He is in us as our hope of Glory. When he appears, we shall be like Him.

What else must we endeavor to preach but Him. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen!