Sunday 03:02:14

Colossians 1:24-29 V. 24a 1. Paul is glad to suffer for the cause of Christ He's not talking about people reacting to him being annoying. Paul is so convinced of the supremacy of Christ that he sees the cause of Christ as being worth suffering for. Jim Elliot, missionary to an Auca Indian settlement in Ecuador. They spent 3 months getting ready to make contact with a tribe known to be hostile, even violent, to outsiders. People warned the young men about how dangerous their plans to contact the tribe was. Before he even met any of them, he wrote in his journal, "I would gladly give my life for these people." January 8, 1956, Elliot and four others were murdered by the Indian tribe. Some years later a wife and a sister led a number of the tribe to Jesus Christ. Jesus said that people should consider the cost of following Him. Paul and Jim Elliot and countless other followers of Jesus considered the cost and determined, "I am glad to suffer for Christ." V.24b " I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions" What is missing in Christ's afflictions? His suffering perfectly fulfilled God's will for Jesus to suffer for us, for the penalty for our sins. In that regard, the Bible is clear that there is nothing lacking in Christ's suffering. His sacrifice completely satisfied God's wrath. There is nothing left for us to do but cling to the cross in faith that Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient for me. I don't need to avoid God when I sin. I don't need to pay some penance. As the great hymn declares, "Jesus paid it all." Paul is saying here that just as Jesus suffered for the church, we can expect to suffer for the church as well. Jesus was the first to suffer for the sake of the church, but he is not the only one called to suffer. The sufferings endured by God's people are a continuation of Christ's suffering. In that way, we supplement or complete the suffering of Christ. The church is built by repeated acts of self-sacrifice of saints and martyrs who followed the example of their savior. I want to be the kind of Christian who willingly sacrifices time, talent, money - everything - that God's people might be built up. Not only for God's current people, but also for people who will come to know Christ. I want to be an instrument for the great cause of Christ. I have considered the cost and found Christ's cause to be worth sacrificing everything. V. 25 Paul is a servant to the church, appointed by God Paul's specific calling is apostle and teacher. But we are all called to serve each other, exercising our gifting, but for the purpose of building each other up. I want to be glad to suffer for Christ. I want to serve to build up his church. V. 26 - this word that he teaches them is a mystery - something that God kept hidden for millennia. But now God revealed this mystery that was hidden is now revealed to us. The mystery is revealed to us and in us. V. 27 - The mystery is revealed to us by God's choosing. This mystery involves the glorious riches of Christ living in you. Glorious riches - that we have in Christ (from God it is forgiveness, grace, and mercy. In us it is changed hearts, renewed minds, changed lives. We are declared not guilty, but righteous. We are set apart as saints. We become priests of the new covenant. The mystery is that Christ lives within them. He is living out His life in the individual lives of believers. Christ is alive in you. The hope of glory - our salvation and redemption concludes with glory as our reward for believing in and following Christ. I want to be amazed by the mystery of Christ in me. V. 28 - Paul says, "I proclaim Christ." The goal of Paul's teaching is that men and women would be presented to God fully mature in Christ. V. 29 - Paul struggles, contends, toils, strives. With Christ's energy, which works powerfully within me. Paul says he struggles for the sake of Christ, but that it is divine power that works in him, not his own. I want to fight for Christ's cause with Christ's power within me. Close. I want to be glad to suffer for Christ. I want to serve to build up his church. I want to be amazed by the mystery of Christ in me. I want to fight for Christ's cause with Christ's power within me.