Our Goal: Maturity in Christ

Our Goal: Maturity in Christ Colossians 1:24-29 October 6, 2019 We Serve, Because God Called Us to Be Stewards. (v. 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, 25 o THE BIG IDEA: Paul’s personal testimony about his life and ministry reveals truths that are the reality of all Christians. God chose to reveal Himself to us; Christ lives in us; God called us to serve Him; sometimes we will suffer; and, we are intentional about becoming and helping others become spiritually mature. Colossians 1:24-29 (ESV) 1 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. We Serve, In Spite of Difficulties & Suffering (v. 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, o What Paul is NOT saying is that something is lacking in the saving work of Christ’s suffering for our salvation. o What he does seem to be saying is that Christians will continue to suffer for faithfulness to Christ and His Church, until He comes again. o Christ’s promise is not immunity from suffering, but that He will be with us in the suffering. o Romans 5:3-5 o Paul states that he has made a conscious choice in how he will respond to suffering – he will rejoice in it! 24 o o Paul’s story is that he would never have chosen Christ or ministry with the Church on his own. God interrupted Paul’s life and called him to faith and service. Serving God is a stewardship! Every Christian is a minister with a God-given ministry in the Church. (Ephesians 4:11-13) We Proclaim the Mystery of Christ in You, the Hope of Glory (vv. 26-27) 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. 26 o o We didn’t “solve” the mystery – we couldn’t! God chose to show us what He is doing and what we need to know! • This is in contrast to the false teachers in town who promised to let others in on the spiritual secrets they claimed to know. • David Garland wrote, “God never intended for the church to be a holy ghetto where ‘our kind of people’ gather.” • Paul says God deals in an open secret that He doesn’t hold out from people, but gladly reveals to true seekers of Christ! And what is the mystery? That Christ, the Son, can be in you! We Proclaim Jesus That Everyone May Be Presented to Jesus as Mature Christians (vv. 28-29) 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. 28 o “mature” à fully grown and developed; complete; fully formed o And, both for our own spiritual growth and in helping others mature in Christ, Paul declares, “This is hard work that can only be done if we are energized by Christ Himself!” God will … “equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:21 (ESV)