Colossians pt3

Suffering brings insight. There, I said it. We do not truly know or understand what we have in Christ, until we suffer with Him. There is not going to be a follower of Jesus who gets thru this life unscathed and unscarred. And there are going to be some of us who have more marks and more trouble than others, and that is not an indication of how much God loves you, or how much He thinks you can take, or any other measure.

Yet we will endure.

Paul writes this letter to a church he has never met from a prison cell. He is in a tough spot. A Roman prisoner was fully dependent on those outside the prison walls for their sustenance and well being. If no one took care of Paul, he would die. Yet his focus, was not on his own well being- even though he was suffering- but on those who Jesus had called him to.

See Paul saw suffering as an opportunity to gain and hearing and to make much of Jesus. As we look at this passage today, please consider with me this question. How is your suffering serving Jesus? Other people? Your own sanctification?

God redeems suffering.

(Read all verses)

At first glance, Paul sounds almost like a masochist. “Rejoicing in suffering” sounds really odd to our ears. But is is the purpose of his rejoicing that is telling, and takes him from a masochist to someone who sees their suffering as a part of a greater plan. And that plan is to see the Gospel go to all the world.

Colossians and Philemon C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5)

Paul did not found the church at Colossae, nor has he visited the church (2:1; cf. 1:8). Yet in some manner the suffering that Paul undergoes in his gospel ministry has benefits for the Colossians. Paul never explains quite how this can be, but the rest of the verse suggests a possible answer.

Paul is in prison because of his commitment to following Jesus- particularly in planting churches especially churches with Gentiles in them. And this is suffering that is holy. It is suffering he endures as he is seeking to be obedient to Jesus- and is in a way continuing the suffering Jesus endured while He was on earth- that’s the reference there to Jesus’ “lack”

And look what he is doing! His suffering is advancing the Gospel. He is writing to people who he has never met, from prison, for their growth and defense of the Gospel. His position in prison, allows him to do this. Without prison, what is written in Colossians is never captured. And since several prison epistles make up the NT, you can see God’s hand in Paul’s suffering.

Colossians and Philemon C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5)

And, of course, as a prisoner for the gospel, Paul is suffering for them even as he writes. As members of the fellowship of those raised with Christ and forming therefore part of Christ’s body, we also are the beneficiaries of Paul’s suffering.

Why is he doing this? Because of the stewardship he has as a minister we talked about last week! Look at verse 25-26- “to make the word of God fully known.” And his suffering, was an act of service, to the Church, the Colossians, and ultimately to Jesus.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon To Complete the Word of God (1:25–27)

Paul saw his role as a servant (diakonos) of the church

You know who gets a lot of attention for a season? Those who are in pain. Stop and think about it. At moments when you are at your lowest, people gravitate to you. To comfort you. To support you. To grieve or be angry or to show their love. In those moments, you command their attention. You can say and do things, you would never be able to do otherwise. What do we do with those moments?

(The story of It Is Well With My Soul: https://www.staugustine.com/article/20141016/LIFESTYLE/310169936)

This is the power of authenticity. It is why it is one of our cornerstones. We are at our strongest when we can be real about our weaknesses and walk together in those struggles and sufferings. But in order for authenticity to be useful to the Kingdom, it must be rooted in a faith that is seeking Jesus.

And why do we do it? Because, as verse 27 says- it reveals a mystery. And that mystery is the Gospel- how God encounters us and saves us and gives us the faith and hope that goes beyond the grave.

Colossians and Philemon C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5)

Paul emphasizes the point, of course, to remind the Colossians that it is by receiving (1:5) and holding fast (1:23) to the gospel that they have access to this ultimate knowledge—not via the program of the false teachers

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon To Complete the Word of God (1:25–27)

Christ was also their “hope of glory” (1:27). The expression means that Christ was their hope of receiving and participating in glory. Because of what he did—his death and resurrection—the Gentiles could expect to share in glory. Here again Paul stated that the only hope of glory is Christ. Gentiles, like Jews, must rely on him for their salvation.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Paul’s Message, Method, and Purpose (1:28–29)

Paul’s message was Christ. Clearly Paul conceived of the hope as Christians resting in a person. The gospel is not a system, hierarchy, or set of regulations. It is the person and work of Jesus, which is, indeed, the message

(Gospel presentation here)

And the message is not just for the lost, but for those who are followers of Jesus as well. Look at verses 28-29- the goal is to present everyone “mature in Christ” and it is a “toil” or struggle.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Paul’s Message, Method, and Purpose (1:28–29)

Paul willingly exerted himself toward that end. The term “struggling,” which occurs here and in the next verse (2:1), was used of athletes who painfully pursued athletic glory

I don’t know if you know this, but being a follower of Jesus who is active in other people’s lives is tough. It is draining. When you really commit to discipling and building up the Body, you see a lot of things. You get hurt. You watch people make bad choices as you plead with them to listen to the voice of Jesus.

And when they don’t, you rely on Jesus to see you through. And you trust His power to bring them back. Even when they seem lost forever. His energy- which Paul references here- keeps you going and helps you move on to the next person…even when you just want to quit.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Paul’s Message, Method, and Purpose (1:28–29)

Although there were struggles in the ministry, this revelation from Scripture motivated Paul to spread the message of salvation to the churches, a task which brought with it so many personal sufferings on their behalf

And we should be thankful for those who make it easy- because they are an encouragement to us, and thankful for those who make it hard, because they drive us to rely on Jesus- who is our source and as Paul says in vs 29- “our energy.”

What does this maturity look like that we are seeking for one another? What are we pursuing as Jesus sanctifies us? Look at 2:1-5:

Encouragement (2a)

Colossians and Philemon C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5)

Encouraged in heart” or “to have hearts encouraged” is therefore a way of referring to an encouragement that touches the deepest part of our being and that affects every aspect of our persons.

Unconditional love for one another (2b)

a deeper understanding of Jesus and His Word- knowledge and wisdom (2c-3)

Colossians and Philemon C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5)

Paul is again piling up words in order to hammer home the truth that Christ, and Christ alone, is the source of every conceivable bit of spiritual knowledge worth having

a defense against lapsing into heresy or believing lies (4)

Colossians and Philemon C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5)

This verse is the christological high point of the letter. It does not match the “hymn” of 1:15–20 for exalted language in reference to Christ, but it expresses beautifully and compactly the cutting-edge christological point that is Paul’s driving concern: Christ is the one in whom is to be found all that one needs in order to understand spiritual reality and to lead a life pleasing to God

In short, a church that can withstand all the Enemy will throw at them. (5)

We develop this together. And when we see it happen, we rejoice!

So this morning:

If you are suffering, how is your suffering pointing others to Jesus?

If you are ministering to a sufferer, how are you encouraging them to deepen their faith?

For all of us, how are we pushing one another towards a more mature faith? Where are we rejoicing when we see one another growing? And how are we encouraging those who are weary in seeking to disciple others?