A Marvelous Mystery

Continuing our series through Colossians.

Colossians 1:24–2:5 ESV

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, 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, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 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. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

A Mystery Revealed

Everything that is discussed in this passage centers around the idea of this mystery that Paul talks about.

We see this word that Paul uses, mysterion, to refer to God’s “mystery.”

This word invokes the idea of a divine secret, or something that was once hidden.

When we consider what a “mystery” is, we know it to be something that doesn’t make sense to us, or something that is not clear.

Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys

The mystery of God is salvation by grace through faith in Christ.

The Gospel.

That God would take sinners, and save them.

The mystery was hidden for ages and generations.

What people thought was happening VS. what was actually happening.

The Pharisees thought they were righteous, when really they were religious hypocrites.

The Jewish people thought the Messiah was coming as a conquering king, when he first came as a suffering servant.

That rather than people being justified through their works (rather condemned) they should be justified through Christ.

If you ask most people how you get to heaven, may would say it is up to your good works.

The poll by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that 48 percent of U.S. adults affirm the statement that “a person who is generally good, or does enough good things for others, will earn a place in heaven.”

One in three Americans (33 percent) say they consider themselves to be a Christian and affirm the statement that “when you die you will go to heaven only because you have confessed your sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior.”

Additionally, 63 percent of adults believe “having faith matters more than which faith you have.”

The mystery of God is that just like in many other cases, he does not do things the way that would be expected.

This is wonderfully summed up in Ephesians 2:1-10.

Verses 1-4 make it clear that all people are sinful and all people are deserving of wrath…

If it were left to our good deeds earning a place in heaven… we would be found to be sorely lacking in that department.

Verse 5 on. But God being rich in mercy made us alive with Christ Jesus by grace through faith.

This, the Gospel, is the the wonderful mystery of God. That all of us. Each and every one of us though sinful, might be called righteous.

A Mystery Worth Suffering For

The idea of rejoicing in sufferings.

How is Paul suffering for the sake of the Colossians?

“Filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, the church.”

From Colossians commentary. What is lacking, then, needing to be “filled up,” are the tribulations that are inevitable and necessary as God’s kingdom faces the opposition of the “dominion of darkness” (cf. v. 13). As members of Christ’s own body, his people participate in the sufferings of Christ himself.

Paul is explaining how what he is doing benefits the body because suffering must occur.

Some Christians must suffer, Paul is glad to bear that burden on behalf of the Colossians and other Christians.

How do we approach suffering in our lives?

Do we have this same attitude as Paul?

Would we be willing to suffer on for the sake of our fellow Christians?

We must first look at the cause of the suffering in our lives.

Internet meme about God giving us his toughest battles.

Suffering that is regular and in accord with the normal pattern of life is not necessarily what this is talking about.

Stubbing your toe is not suffering that this passage is calling you to rejoice in.

Paul is specifically rejoicing because of persecution because of his faith.

He was in jail at this time, because of his faith.

Suffering that is because of our faith in Christ is suffering that we can rejoice in.

We know that our suffering is glorifying and honoring to God.

We know that our suffering helps build up the body.

There will always be suffering in the church, and when we suffer, we take on that role.

When we suffer well, we are an encouragement to believers, as well as a witness to non believers?

A Mystery Worth Working For

The stewardship of the ministry of the church is what God has given to Paul.

To make the word of God fully known. (The Mystery of God)

Proclaiming Christ

Warning everyone

Teaching everyone

Presenting everyone mature in Christ.

That hearts might be encouraged.

Reach the reaches of full assurance of understanding.

Able to withstand plausible arguments.

Firm in the faith.

Maturity and Steadfastness of the Believer

A Mature Believer is one that has continually progressed in their relationship with God and looks more and more like Christ.

What are the marks of a mature believer?

Faith

One who has believed in Jesus Christ.

Possessing hearts that trust in the Lord (encouraged)

A Mature Christian has great faith in the Lord and His Promises

Knowledge

One who has been taught and learned the truth of God.

A Mature Christian has advanced in their knowledge of the Lord.

Able to stand against plausible arguments.

Righteousness

How is the Christian walking in Righteousness?

A Mature Christian is a Christian that lives a life that is marked by righteousness.

Evangelism

How is the Christian engaging in Evangelism

A Mature Christian is a Christian that is engaged in sharing the Gospel.

Discipleship

How is the Christian engaging in Discipleship?

A Mature Christian is a Christian that is engaged in making disciples.

His stewardship, executing the task that God has given him is only possible by relying on the power that he gets from God.

What is the Stewardship that God has given to you?

We all have been given things that we should steward on God’s behalf.

Everything that we have is a gift from God.

What are the things in your life that God has entrusted you with?

We should not assume that God does not care about the small things.

You may not be like Paul at this point in your life with a specific identifiable ministry and mission field, but you have been entrusted with things you are called to care for.

The Parable of the Talents.

One given 5, one 2, one 1.

Example of how this works with children. (if you do the bare minimum it is abuse)

This is the mission that He has given you to fulfill in life.

Your Job

Your Marriage

Your Family

Your Friendships

Your Time

Your Money

Anything you have, is a gift given to you by God, to be used and cared for to His Glory.

How it all ties together...

Because this wonderful mystery has been revealed to us. This truth that even though on our own we are sinful and deserving of punishment, God has given us the ability to be saved from our sins because of what Jesus has done for us.

This mystery is so great, that Paul rejoiced because of any suffering that happened because of it. We too should not be discouraged by this kind of suffering, but rejoice.

This mystery also includes the reality that we have all been given a stewardship. Each is unique to us, but because of what Christ has done for us, we work hard to take care to complete the task that we have been given.