Faithful Servants of Christ

Introduction

Key Point: As faithful servants of God, we have been entrusted with the gospel to make it fully known to all people so that we would build up the church of Christ.

Colossians 1:24–29 ESV

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.

Colossians 2:1–5 ESV

1 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, 2 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 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.

In verse 1:23, Paul told us that he had become a minister of this gospel.

In this next section he intends to give a defense to the Colossians of the faithfulness of his ministry so that they can receive the faithfulness of his message.

In contrast to the false teachers, Paul loves the Colossians, and is working with all his might to make God’s word fully known to them so that they can become mature and complete in Christ.

Thus, as a faithful servant of Christ and steward of the mystery of the gospel, Paul provides us with three examples of his ministry that we should also imitate to be faithful servants of Christ:

1. Suffer as Ministers of the Church (v. 24-25b)

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,”

Paul is filled with joy and happiness in his sufferings on behalf of the Colossians because through his suffering, the Colossians share in his suffering and thus share in Christ’s comfort and salvation (2 Corinthians 1:5-6).

Another reason Paul rejoices in his suffering for the Colossians is because it will give them confidence to speak the word of God without fear.

Philippians 1:14 ESV

14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul knows the Colossians need boldness to confront the false teachers in their church. So, seeing Paul’s suffering would empower the Colossians to stand firm in the gospel.

The last reason Paul rejoices in his sufferings is because he says “in his physical body he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, the church.”

Is Paul saying that there is something lacking in the suffering and atoning death of Jesus that he must complete?

NO. . . because Paul has already stated in 1:14 that it is only in Christ that we have forgiveness of sins and in 1:19-23, that it is only in Christ that we are reconciled to God.

Interpretation principle: less clear texts should be interpreted with texts that are abundantly clear.

So then, what is Paul saying that Christ’s afflictions are lacking that he must complete?

Jesus said that many who follow him must suffer for his name for the sake of the gospel to allow it to advance (Mark 13:19-24; Revelation 6:9-11).

By Paul being willing to suffer, in one sense, he takes the place of the church, so they don’t have to suffer. Therefore, he portrays an attitude very similar to Jesus.

This is how Epaphroditis’s ministry to the Philippians is described in Philippians 2:30

Philippians 2:30 ESV

30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

God has entrusted the church to Paul and he has become its steward, so he gladly suffers for them to strengthen their faith and allow the gospel to go forth.

This is the same truth for us today.

As servants of Christ and his church, we must be willing to suffer to spare our brothers and sisters in Christ from suffering to further the influence of the gospel.

Two Examples:

Judah being willing to die so that Benjamin and the rest of his brothers would be spared from Joseph’s command.

Bormier in the Fellowship of the Ring, being willing to show boldness and courage to fight against the orcs that rallied Merry and Pippen to fight.

I know for most of us, this is a hard pill to swallow. . . I mean, none of us want to suffer.

But what this really boils down to is. . . Do we trust God?

God has been gracious to give us promises in his word, that he will be with us in our suffering.

Isaiah 43:1–3 ESV

1 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Also, God has even joined us in our suffering through Christ. We also know that our suffering is only temporary and will pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed to us.

Therefore, because God is unchanging and his promises never fail, we can put our trust in him and step out in faith by. . .

Squelching gossip when we hear it.

Telling our friends that they are on the path of destruction that leads to hell if they do not turn from their sin and trust in Jesus.

Taking ownership for something that maybe we did not do, but were still responsible because it fell under our leadership to spare our co-worker.

Giving up our time and finances to serve our friends and family who are in need.

This is how faithful servants of Christ live. . . so we must be willing to suffer joyfully as ministers of Christ’s church.

Second, faithful servants of Christ. . .

2. Strive for the Mission of the Church (v. 25b-29)

What is the mission of the church?

To make disciples of all nations so that God would be worshipped and glorified in all nations.

Paul lays out the two-fold work of the Great Commission: Evangelism and Discipleship.

Evangelism

“To make the word of God (mystery), fully known.”

Just as Paul wanted the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of his will, his task as God’s servant was to make God’s word fully known to all people.

Paul says that the word of God is a mystery that was once hidden but is now revealed.

But what is this mystery?

Verse 27 tells us that it is that God chose to make known the riches of his glory among the Gentiles. . . and that both the Gentiles and the Jews can be included in the Kingdom of God through Christ.

This was a mystery because in the OT, it was not made completely clear that the Gentiles would be included in God’s Kingdom. . . although, there were hints pointing to this truth.

Yet, now, through the life and ministry of Christ, the veil has been removed and the saints can know that it was God’s plan all along to include all people, both Jews and Gentiles in his Kingdom through faith in Christ.

“Christ in you”- Jesus now dwells in Gentiles and Jews, and now, even Gentiles can have the hope and assurance of being in God’s presence for all eternity.

Through this statement, Paul demonstrates that it is Christ living inside the Colossians that gives them this hope of glory. . . not asceticism, festivals, or angel worship.

Discipleship

Paul uses four verbs to describe the discipleship process in verse 28.

First, we should proclaim Christ and Christ alone in helping believers grow in their walk with Jesus.

The body can only grow if it is attached to the head, thus we always should proclaim the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ to build up the church.

Second and third, we should warn and teach with all wisdom.

warning communicates admonishing or counseling someone in the way they are living.

If a Christian is living a lifestyle contrary to the gospel. . . Drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, gossip, jealousy, pride, mistreating others. . . discipleship entails we must loving warn them and counsel them.

Teaching communicates instructing believers with the knowledge and skills of how God wants us to live.

We don’t just admonish a believer’s sin but we come alongside them and teach them how to live. . . we bear their burdens and help them walk in the will of God.

Notice, we must do this “with all wisdom.” We must not practice discipleship flippantly or foolishly, but rather rely on the wisdom of the Lord.

The fourth verb gives the purpose of discipleship: “so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

The word “mature” means “completion” and is the Greek word Telos. . . which is the “end goal” or “destination.”

Just as Jesus reconciles us and makes us holy and blameless to present us to the Father, we must seek to help the church grow so that we can present our brothers and sisters complete and mature to God in Christ.

Also, don’t miss the threefold repetition of “everyone,” in verse 28.

Paul makes clear that the gospel and the process of discipleship is for all people who trust in Jesus.

Therefore, God cares for all people, and the gospel is inclusive for all people, Jew, Gentile, black, white, asian, hispanic, latino, strong, weak, rich, poor, male, and female, but exclusive in that it is only through faith in Jesus.

In verse 29, Paul reminds us the difficulty of discipleship, for he “toils” and “struggles” to help the church grow.

Toil communicates wearisome labor.

Struggle comes from the Greek word agonizomai and is where we get our english word “agonize.”

Discipleship is hard work!

However, look at where Paul’s strength comes from. . . “all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

Paul says it is Jesus, his energy, and his power, that works in him to give him the ability to help the church become mature.

We must remember this truth when we seek to disciple our friends. We must ask the Holy Spirit for his power and strength and have faith that God will help us have the patience, wisdom, grace, and love we need to help our friends grow in their walk with Jesus.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, he promised he would always be with us, so we can know we are never alone as we strive as faithful servants to complete his Mission.

So, faithful servants suffer as ministers of the church, strive for the mission of the church, and. . .

3. Strengthen the Members of the Church (v. 2:1-5)

In Colossians 2:1-5, Paul shifts from the church in general to specifically speaking to the Colossians and Laodecians so that he can strengthen them in their faith.

First, we can strengthen the church by working hard to unify each member in the love of Christ.

Paul’s effort and struggling for their maturity is so that the church would be united and held together by love. . . and it is through the church being unified together in love that they will reach the full confidence and assurance of understanding the knowledge of God’s mystery.

Second, we can strengthen the church by helping them have a complete understanding of the treasures of wisdom that are found in Christ.

Once more, Paul says in verses 2 and 3 that the God’s mystery is Christ himself and the access the Colossians and Laodecians have to him as Gentiles.

Christ himself is the wisdom of God and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in him.

In verse 4, Paul strengthens the church by alarm, for he reminds the church that it is only in Christ that the full treasures of wisdom reside so that they won’t be persuaded by the clever arguments of the false teachers.

Notice Paul says their arguments are “plausible,” which means they are reasonable and believable.

“you do you,” “love is love,” “follow your heart,” “be true to yourself”. . . These lies Satan offers us are persuasive, but we must be firm in Christ, he is the fullness of all wisdom and knowledge.

Third, we can strengthen the church by assuring them of our presence and their perseverance.

Even though persuasive arguments will be offered to the Colossians, and Paul will not be physically present to help them, he assures them that he will be with them in spirit.

We can assure believers of our presence through continuing to pray and intercede for them so that they will not fall into believing the lies of the enemy.

Paul ends verse 5 the way he started this section. . . by rejoicing. . . because he knows he will see the Colossians godly life and firmness of their faith in Christ. . . in other words, Paul knows that the Colossians will persevere in their faith and rejoices as he thinks about what it will be like to finally see the completion of their faith in glory.

Response

Fully Know the Gospel

Make the Gospel Fully Known to build up Christ’s Church.

Be willing to suffer as a minister

Die to self, share in the sufferings of Christ.

Strive for the mission

What are you toiling and struggling for? Your own mission or God’s?

Strengthen the members.

Use your spiritual gifts to strengthen the church and always seek to maintain unity.