Notes from a sermon on Colossians. www.flushingbiblechurch.com

1. Suffering for the Ministry of the Mystery
Colossians 1:24-29

2.  Written by Paul
 Written to believers in Colossae
 Written from Rome
 Written in 61 AD
 Written because of the Colossian heresy
 Written to show the supremacy of Christ

3.  Qualified us for a share in the inheritance, v 12
 Transferred us from “domain” of darkness to the
Kingdom of His beloved Son, v 13
 Christ is qualified to “reconcile” ALL things, vv 15-20
 He will “present” us at the Judgment Seat of Christ, vv
21-23
 Paul labors for the Gospel of this Age, vv 24-29

4.  Rejoice in suffering for the Church, vv 24-25
 The Mystery that was hidden, v 26
 The Mystery revealed, v 27
 Judgment awaits, so follow Paul’s example, vv 28-29

5.  The spiritual life leads to suffering
 Rescued from the domain of darkness, i.e. the world
 We used to be God’s enemy, v 21
 “Now I rejoice in MY sufferings for you and filling up
for you that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ
in MY flesh for His body, which is the church.”
 Paul rejoices to suffer for the Church
 Christ’s atonement on the cross is complete
 Christ suffers when we suffer, Acts 9:4-5, 15-16
 He is doing his part for the Church

6.  Afflictions – θλιψις (thlipsis)
 They build perseverance, Romans 5:3
 They are our destiny, 1 Thessalonians 3:3
 They help us to comfort others, 2 Corinthians 1:4
 They cannot separate us from the love of Christ,
Romans 8:35
 Suffering matures us! (2 Cor 4:17, 1 Pt 4:12-13, Matt 5:10-
12)
 Never used to describe Christ’s suffering on the cross

7.  Paul serves the Church
 He is a διακονος (diakonos), always used to mean
“servant”
 Given the ministry from God, Acts 9
 Minister for this stewardship - οἰκονομιαν
(oikonomian)
 Dispensation – House rules
 Given to Paul to fulfill the Word of God
 Paul suffers for the Church to bring them the complete
Word of God

8.  Word of God for this dispensation was a mystery
 A μυστηριον (mysterion), not previously revealed
 Mystery = Gentiles participating in the Kingdom
 Gentiles saved, Psalms 22 and 67
 Dispensation of Grace/Church Age = Gentiles playing a
role in the Kingdom
 Rule and reign with Christ, Revelation 2:25-29
 Mystery revealed to the Saints through His word

9.  Rejoice in sufferings for the Church, v 24
 For the Church he was made a minister to fulfill the
Word of God, v 25
 The Word was a mystery revealed to His saints, v 26
 The mystery is Christ in Believers, our hope of
glory, v 27

10.  It was God’s will to reveal the mystery
 Not discovered through mystic practices
 Discovered in His word, v 25 (2 Tim 3:16-17)
 Christ in Believers is our hope of glory
 The only way to be “transferred,” v 13
 Only in Christ do we have righteousness
 Only in Christ do we have hope for the future
 Our future is not “just” heaven, but the Kingdom

11.  Rejoice in sufferings for the Church, v 24
 For the Church he was made a minister to fulfill the
Word of God, v 25
 The Word was a mystery revealed to His saints, v
26
 The mystery is Christ in Believers, our hope of
glory, v 27
 Him (Christ) we proclaim, admonishing and
teaching…

12.  Him we proclaim continually admonishing (present,
part.)
 Admonishing - νουθετουντες (nouthetountes) –
counseling, instructing people from the word how to
live.
 Him we proclaim continually teaching (present, part.)
 The necessity of teaching and learning
 In all “wisdom” – true wisdom from God, not human
 Purpose of teaching
 “… so that we MIGHT present – παριστημι (paristeemi)
EVERY man COMPLETE in Christ

13.  He “labors” – toils, works hard, works until weary
 He is “agonizing” over them
 Paul worked harder than ALL, 1 Cor 15:10. How?
 By Christ’s “energy” - ἐνεργειαν (energeian)
 Christ’s “energy” “energizes” him
 Abide in Christ, John 15:1-5
 Note well, verse 2, He prunes us, θλιψις, so we are MATURE
 Note well, verse 5, we can do NOTHING without HIM

14.  Rejoice in suffering… it is making you mature, v 24
 Maturity means we are influenced by the Word, vv 25-27
 Be taught by the word so you will be presented complete,
v 28
 Follow Paul’s example. Be energized by Christ.
 He is SUFFICIENT